Van looked around; there were hundreds of treasures concealed and protected by complex arrays. Any one of them could be the second item he targeted.

"I need cultivation resources. Pills are the most powerful, but if I can find an elixir or potion that would be good too. A powerful herb will also do the trick, but the harmonious compounding effect when herbs are combined into a pill or medicinal item is far better."

The red-haired youth was smiling widely as he drank in the sight of the treasures in the room. There were quite a few cultivation items in the treasury that were very highly-ranked. For example, that moldy-looking lump was actually a portion of Dragon Gra.s.s Root that was extremely prized for its ability to revive a man suffering from a reluctant little brother. Due to its ability to cure a sensitive matter as well as its ability to greatly increase someone's Yang qi, this Dragon Gra.s.s Root could be sold for 500,000 silver taels in Dragon City.

Van was not interested in this herb. He kept looking, nose turned up as if he could scent a powerful medicinal treasure.

The red-haired youth's eyes landed on another item – it was an enticing purple flower with delicate thorns all along its stem.

[The Five Venom Orchid. Each part of the flower can cause death, whether you are p.r.i.c.ked by a thorn, ingest its petals or inhale its pollen. For Poison Art cultivators, the Five Venom Orchid is almost a holy treasure] Jet explained.

Van listened to Jet's words and was impressed but also thoroughly afraid of this sweet but deadly flower.

"Surely there must be some suitable things in here," Van said to himself. He was neither in need of Yang qi or wanted to practice the Poison Arts. He just needed something that would help his cultivation.

The youth had spoken too soon for he was then able to spot three suitable items in quick succession. In the corner of the room was a vial that contained a few small droplets of liquid. Over there, lying inside a chest was a bottle containing three cracked medicinal pills. A few steps over was a large wine jar that seemed to still contain a cupful of sweet-smelling alcohol.

[Take the Pure Celestial Dew. The Brimstone Grape Wine is known to riot around one's body in a tyrannical manner. The three cracked medicinal pills have lost over ninety percent of their efficacy and would be less useful then paying money back in Dragon City to buy some pricy pills.]

Van c.o.c.ked his head.

"But there's only three drops left in the vial of Pure Celestial Dew," he said peevishly, "Surely that's not enough to push me into the 8th rank!"

Jet really wished he had legs so he could kick this stupid peasant in the backside.

[Say that again after you have a taste!] The black ring snapped.

[If you don't trust this granddaddy, then this granddaddy doesn't mind finding someone else to carry him around. Humph!]

Van was amused by the ring's indignation. Of course, he trusted Jet!

There was a saying: "Do not use the one you don't trust, and trust the one you chose."

It could be considered that Jet and Van both 'chose' each other way back when they had met in a strange hole on the mountainside. Since it was already this kind of situation what was the point of not trusting?

Van smiled and without another sound dashed towards the cabinet holding the small jade vial of Pure Celestial Dew.

The two 9th rank Ghost Guard Captains swung their weapons.

BANG!

Slas.h.!.+

A day later, the array cracked and the faint aroma of the Pure Celestial Dew drifted upwards. Van deftly plucked it out of the cabinet and rolled it in his palm.

Suddenly.

In the middle of the treasury, a ripple formed and an intimidating aura spread out.

Van sucked in a deep breath. This time there were ten 7th ranked golems! With rock-like bodies and glowing red eyes, the stone golems were a fearsome sight to behold.

The red-haired youth frowned. Ten 7th ranked demon beasts were no joke – if he did not have the two 9th ranked Ghost Guards by his side he would have had to fight for a few hours just to defeat them.

Counting quickly, he realised that this was already his 5th night in the Underworld Labyrinth. This meant that he was already in the 10th round of the Monster Mausoleum. It was well-known that the current record was the 15th round.

"Attack!" Van ordered.

The golem-like creatures leapt forth and collided with the imposing Ghost Guard Captains. The sound of rock striking steel filled the air. The battle was fierce but concluded quickly. It couldn't be helped, the gap of two ranks was simply too large to overcome – Van didn't even need to lift a finger.

When the golems disintegrated Van breathed a sigh of relief. He sat down on the dusty ground and took a meditative stance. Deftly, he uncorked the vial.

A bright, glistened droplet of dew slid onto his tongue.

Another two followed.

The three droplets slid down his gullet while releasing potent energy. Streams of power entered Van's spiritual river. The power was so pure that the impurities within Van's body started to excrete from his pores.

The youth shook; his face turned bright red from the pain.

Too powerful!

The spiritual energy in those three drops of Pure Celestial Dew was simply too condensed and powerful. The pressure in his veins quickly built up as the spiritual energy rushed in.

The red-haired youth clenched his teeth and endured. However, his body started to shake uncontrollably from the pressure build up. Then – even more terrifyingly – his vision started to blacken at the sides.

[I must hold on!]

Van was unwilling to let the spiritual power overwhelm him. He forced himself to take deep breaths. As he concentrated his mind on his breathing, the pain seemed to become lesser.

The potent spiritual energy was continually sucked into his spiritual river. The banks of the river grew wider and wider.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Breathe in.

Breath out!

CRACK!

Van heard a deafening roar in his core as the spiritual river burst its banks. The river flowed vigoriously into the distance, emitting an aura of endless power.

The red-haired youth smiled.

He finally broke through to the 8th level of Qi Distillation!

With this power, Van was now more confident in his ability to survive in the Underworld Labyrinth. With the two 9th rank Ghost Guard Captains he was even more powerful. Those monster hordes could chase him all he liked but with the Palladium Wind Nympth Sandals on his feet he didn't believe anything below the 10th rank could keep up with him now that he himself had achieved the 8th rank.

Didn't they say that the current record was making it to the 15th round?

A smirk lifted the corners of his face.

[Just you wait and see what result this daddy recieves!]

Besides, there were still countless treasures and mysteries to be found in the Underworld Labyrinth.

After a moment's consideration, Van exerted all his strength and cracked the jade vial. Then he greedily licked the moisture off each piece. The spiritual energy flowed into his spiritual river.

Waste not, want not!