boyutpedia Chapter 264 A Treasure Trove in Desperate Circumstances
Chapter 264 A Treasure Trove in Desperate Circumstances
Inside the cave, Gu Liuli slept soundly, exhausted and cold, while the Nine-Tails nestled in her arms, purring softly.
After an unknown amount of time, Gu Liuli slowly awoke amidst a strange light.
She groggily opened her eyes and found that the cave was filled with a faint blue light, as beautiful as a dream.
"This is..." Gu Liuli sat up in surprise, looked around, and discovered that the source of the light was deep in the cave.
The nine-tailed cat was also startled awake. It jumped out of Gu Liuli's arms, its eyes sparkling with excitement, and ran towards the direction of the light.
"Wait for me!" Gu Liuli quickly got up and followed behind Jiu Li Mao.
As she drew closer, the light grew increasingly dazzling, forcing Gu Liuli to squint.
When she finally saw the source of the light, she couldn't help but gasp.
A huge bead was suspended in mid-air in the cave. The bead was crystal clear and emitted a soft blue light.
The surrounding air seemed to be frozen by its light, forming a thin layer of ice crystals that shimmered with iridescent colors under its glow.
Mysterious patterns flow across the surface of the beads, like stars in the night sky, constantly changing shape.
"Could this be the legendary Ice and Snow Pearl?" Gu Liuli felt a surge of excitement.
She had seen records of the Ice and Snow Pearl in ancient books; it was a treasure with magical powers that could control ice and snow.
It also has the power to bring the dead back to life and cure all diseases. I never expected to encounter it in this desperate situation.
The nine-tailed cat excitedly leaped around the ice and snow bead, letting out joyful cries. Its nine tails swayed with its movements, reflecting the light of the ice and snow bead and creating a wondrous scene.
Gu Liuli cautiously approached the Ice and Snow Bead. She could feel a powerful yet gentle energy emanating from the bead, as if it were beckoning her. The moment her hand touched the Ice and Snow Bead, a cool sensation spread throughout her body, and all her fatigue and cold vanished instantly, replaced by an unprecedented sense of comfort.
"It's amazing!" Gu Liuli exclaimed. She gently grasped the Ice Snow Bead, trying to take it off, but the Ice Snow Bead seemed to have a life of its own, slowly falling into her hand, and its light became even softer.
Just then, the wind and snow outside the cave suddenly stopped, and all was silent. Gu Liuli stepped out of the cave and saw that the world outside had been completely transformed. The raging blizzard had completely ceased, the sky was as blue as a jewel, and the sunlight shone on the snow, reflecting a dazzling light. The surrounding mountains and trees were covered in ice and snow, like a dreamlike ice and snow world.
"It seems the Ice and Snow Bead truly possesses magical power; it even calmed this blizzard," Gu Liuli murmured to herself. She knew that the appearance of this Ice and Snow Bead was no accident; it might be the key to her completing her mission.
Nine-Tanuki jumped onto Gu Liuli's shoulder and rubbed its head against her face, seemingly happy for her discovery. Gu Liuli stroked Nine-Tanuki's head and said with a smile, "Thanks to you, otherwise I wouldn't have discovered this Ice Bead."
Gu Liuli returned to the cave with the Ice and Snow Bead and began to carefully study its secrets. She discovered that as long as she concentrated and silently recited her wish, the Ice and Snow Bead could release the corresponding power. She tried to make the Ice and Snow Bead release its warming power, and instantly, the cave became warm as spring, and the originally cold ground also became warm.
"With this Ice and Snow Bead, not only will it help me withstand the cold of this far north, but it might also help solve many problems after I return to the Nanzhao Kingdom." Gu Liuli was filled with hope. She imagined that after returning to the Nanzhao Kingdom, she would use the power of the Ice and Snow Bead to help the people resist natural disasters, cure diseases, and make the country more prosperous.
In the days that followed, Gu Liuli continued her exploration of the secrets within the ruins in the far north. The Ice and Snow Pearl remained by her side, providing her with strength and protection. Whenever she encountered danger, she only needed to call upon the power of the Ice and Snow Pearl to avert peril.
As Gu Liuli gained a deeper understanding of the Ice and Snow Bead, she discovered that its power seemed to extend beyond that. Once, she accidentally cut her finger, and a drop of blood fell onto the Ice and Snow Bead. The bead emitted a bright light, and then, miraculously, her wound healed without leaving a single scar.
"The power of this Ice and Snow Pearl is truly boundless!" Gu Liuli exclaimed. She knew she bore a heavy responsibility; she had to bring the Ice and Snow Pearl back to the Nanzhao Kingdom and allow it to play its greatest role.
Clutching the Ice and Snow Pearl, Gu Liuli embarked on her journey home with anticipation. After a long and arduous journey, she finally returned to the Nanzhao Kingdom's palace. The moment she stepped through the palace gates, the familiar atmosphere enveloped her, and her eyes welled up with tears. Her heart was filled with longing to return home, eager to reunite with Xiao Jingchuan and the children.
Surrounded by the crowd, Gu Liuli strode towards the Imperial Study. Inside, Xiao Jingchuan was engrossed in handling state affairs. Hearing footsteps, he instinctively looked up. The moment their eyes met, time seemed to freeze. A look of unbelievable surprise flashed in Xiao Jingchuan's eyes, followed by tears welling up. He abruptly stood up and strode towards Gu Liuli.
"Liuli, you're finally back!" Xiao Jingchuan hugged Gu Liuli tightly, his voice full of affection and excitement.
Gu Liuli leaned against his chest, feeling the long-lost warmth, and said softly, "Your Majesty, I'm back. I'm sorry to have worried you."
After embracing for a moment, Gu Liuli remembered her significant gains and quickly took out the mysterious book and the Ice and Snow Bead from her bosom.
"Your Majesty, look! This is what I obtained from the ruins in the far north: this mysterious book and this magical ice bead." Gu Liuli handed the two items to Xiao Jingchuan.
Xiao Jingchuan took the book and the Ice Bead, examining them carefully. The Ice Bead emitted a soft blue light, which amazed him, while the mysterious book's cover exuded an ancient aura through its symbols. He slowly opened the book, only to find that only half of the text was visible; the other half seemed shrouded in a layer of mist, blurry and indistinct.
"What's going on? Why is there only half of the text?" Xiao Jingchuan looked at Gu Liuli in confusion.
Gu Liuli frowned slightly, pondering as she said, "I don't know either. This book was like this when we were in the ruins. Perhaps it hides some secret, and only under certain conditions can the other half of the text be revealed."
At this moment, the Imperial Advisor, having heard of Gu Liuli's return, rushed over. Upon seeing Gu Liuli, the Imperial Advisor first bowed, then his gaze fell upon the book in Xiao Jingchuan's hands.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this book..." A hint of surprise flashed in the Imperial Advisor's eyes.
Gu Liuli recounted her experiences in the far north to the Imperial Preceptor in detail, including discovering the mysterious garden, obtaining the books, encountering the blizzard, and finding the Ice Pearl.
After listening, the Imperial Advisor fell into deep thought. After a long while, he slowly said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, according to ancient records, such ancient and mysterious books often hide great secrets, and the appearance of their text may be related to special powers or objects. This Ice and Snow Bead possesses magical power and may have some connection with the book."
Xiao Jingchuan and Gu Liuli exchanged a glance, their eyes igniting with hope.
"Then what should we do?" Xiao Jingchuan asked.
The Imperial Advisor shook his head slightly: "This old minister is not sure either. Perhaps we can try bringing the Ice and Snow Bead closer to the book and see if there is any change."
Gu Liuli followed his instructions and slowly brought the Ice Bead closer to the book. The moment the Ice Bead touched the book, something strange happened. The previously blurry text in the book began to flicker, and gradually, the other half of the text began to appear.
"We did it!" Gu Liuli exclaimed in surprise.
The three men stared intently at the book, eager to uncover its secrets. However, the text was ancient and obscure, and they could only barely make out some scattered sentences.
"It seems to mention a powerful force that can change the fate of the Nanzhao Kingdom... and there's also guidance about the stars..." Gu Liuli read on, trying to understand its meaning.
Xiao Jingchuan and the Imperial Advisor also studied the book carefully, offering their insights from time to time. As their research deepened, they discovered that the book's contents seemed closely related to the history and future of the Nanzhao Kingdom, with the star guidance mentioned seemingly hinting at an important location.
"Could this celestial guidance be related to the celestial phenomena of the Nanzhao Kingdom?" Xiao Jingchuan pondered.
The Imperial Advisor nodded and said, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. Perhaps we can start by studying celestial phenomena to find the secret of the stars' guidance."
Therefore, Xiao Jingchuan immediately ordered the gathering of officials and scholars in the court who were proficient in astronomy and calendar systems to jointly study the matter.