Chapter 160: Sword of the Holy Gemstone

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"Sword of the Holy Gem (Epic)
Description: An epic-grade weapon forged at a heavy cost by the Gem Turtle Marquis family centuries ago. It is the heirloom of the Gem Turtle Marquis family. Embedded within this sword is a tricolor gemstone, which seals the lair of a Marquis-grade lair creature, the Gem Turtle.
Traits:
1. Wielders who hold this sword and control the Gem Turtle lair can accelerate the birth rate of Gem Turtles, halving the time required for a Gem Turtle to be born.
2. When commanding Gem Turtles in battle, the wielder can temporarily elevate the biological level of up to ten Gem Turtles by one tier."

"Lair: Gem Turtle (Level 55) (Marquis-grade)
Produceable Lair Creature: Gem Turtle (1 every 2 years)
Status: Core state unexpanded
Time until the next Gem Turtle is produced: 2 years
Lair Lifespan: 500 years"

"Gem Turtle (Level 55) (Marquis-grade)
Description: A massive sea turtle with a shell composed entirely of multicolored gemstones. It is a powerful Marquis-grade lair creature capable of firing searing beams of light from the gems on its back to pierce through anything. The gems on the back of a Gem Turtle shed once a year. These shed gems are not only of exceptional quality, making them superb ornaments, but they can also serve as transcendental materials for crafting transcendental items.
Evolution Paths:
1. After the lair is expanded, it can undergo lair evolution by feeding it the lair core of a Pure Light Bird.
2. After the lair is expanded, it can undergo lair evolution by feeding it the lair core of a Photonic Sprite."

Inside his private room, Li Ju stroked a longsword resting in his palm, completely inlaid with tricolor gems.

This epic weapon, known as the Sword of the Holy Gem, was the resulting form after three swords of gems were merged together. Li Ju had imagined many possible abilities this Sword of the Holy Gem might possess, but he had never expected that this epic weapon actually harbored a Marquis-grade lair within it.

Without a doubt, although the Sword of the Holy Gem provided no direct enhancement to the wielder's combat capabilities, the Gem Turtle lair contained within it alone was enough to make the Sword of the Holy Gem a top-tier epic weapon.

A Marquis-grade creature's lair!

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This was something countless people in this world dreamed of obtaining. Even the royal family of the Sea Serpent Kingdom could not ignore the value of any Marquis-grade lair.

Throughout the entire Sea Serpent Kingdom, aside from the royal family and the four Grand Dukes who controlled Duke-grade lairs, those holding the rank of Marquis commanded the highest status and strongest power. Even the royal family and the various Grand Dukes had to court them to bolster their own factions.

If an Earl could still be considered a mid-tier noble title within the nobility, a Marquis undoubtedly stepped into the ranks of the high nobility.

At this moment, Li Ju, who controlled a Marquis-grade lair, could be said to have stepped in a single bound into the top twenty most powerful and influential nobles in the entire Sea Serpent Kingdom.

It could be said that the Sword of the Holy Gem had given Li Ju an unexpected and massive surprise.

"Aside from this Gem Turtle lair sealed within the Sword of the Holy Gem, I also control an Earl-grade Crystal Beetle lair, and two Baron-grade lairs of the Golden Tiger and the Crimson Fire Poison Ant."

Thinking this, Li Ju looked out the window toward a foggy area not far from the castle where he resided.

Upon becoming the newly appointed Earl of Iron Gold, Li Ju had immediately commanded the entire Iron Gold family to migrate to his original knightly fief situated beside the Wisteria River.

This territory along the Wisteria River possessed various warning and defensive arrays personally set up by him. It could be said to be extremely safe and highly suitable as the main stronghold for the Iron Gold family.

Unfortunately, that Crystal Beetle lair, due to its immovability, had been left behind in the original family estate established by Sace.

However, now that he had this Gem Turtle lair, Li Ju no longer cared much about the Crystal Beetle lair. If not for the fact that the Crystal Beetle lair, as an Earl-grade lair, provided a fairly substantial feedback-boost to his power, he would have even considered bestowing this lair upon one of his subordinates.

"A Marquis-grade lair creature, the Gem Turtle's lair... I wonder how much it will enhance my Mind Essence..."

Li Ju murmured softly as his hand caressed the blade of the Sword of the Holy Gem.

To him, the most important function of the lairs in this world was the enhancement of Mind Essence brought by the lair's feedback.

He could not take away the lair creatures produced within the lairs, but the power of Mind Essence fed back to him by the lairs could be taken with him. His emphasis on collecting lairs was not merely to utilize their power to clear instances, but also to harness them to strengthen his own power.

Li Ju gently pressed his finger into the center of the Sword of the Holy Gem and plucked out a gemstone radiating multicolored light, at the core of which was a tortoise-shaped pattern.

The controller ritual began...

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This was a pyramid composed of giant stones. Standing over a hundred meters tall, it was piled from countless neatly cut blocks of stone. The giant stones on the outer layer of the pyramid were engraved with circles of exquisitely detailed relief sculptures depicting giant dragons writhing and surging across the earth.

Viewed from afar, the entire pyramid appeared exceptionally magnificent and intricate, resembling a divine miracle that existed only in paintings.

At the summit of the pyramid sat a towering white stone throne. Ten meters high, it bore a massive, dim-yellow halo behind it. A tall figure clad in heavy armor sat upon the throne, gazing into the distance.

Dozens of colossal sandstorms that connected the earth to the sky endlessly swirled around the pyramid. They were arranged neatly around the perimeter with the throne as their center, as if consciously guarding the throne.

Swish!

A figure riding a massive flying bird pierced through the clouds. The moment before it was about to make contact with the sandstorms, the flying bird emitted a faint glow and crossed right through the sandstorms without suffering any harm, approaching the white stone throne perched atop the pyramid.

"My lord, news has come from the royal capital that the royal family intends to confer upon the Earl of Iron Gold the title of Marquis of Iron Gold, while simultaneously providing massive resources to help the Iron Gold family develop their territory."

"Furthermore, the royal family has already dispatched numerous court nobles to contact nobles across various regions. Judging by the situation, they seem to be preparing to muster their forces."

The figure riding the flying bird dismounted, lowered his head, and knelt on one knee below the white stone throne.

"Has contact been made with the other three Grand Dukes?"

The figure upon the throne spoke slowly. His voice was extremely harsh, resembling the sound of grinding rocks.

"The other three Grand Dukes have all stated that everything must await the day when the Millennium Holy Covenant concludes."

The figure kneeling beneath the throne replied.

"Then... continue to wait."

After uttering these words, the figure upon the throne fell completely silent.

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