Chapter 356: The Grand Seal
The system did not answer the question but instead asked, “Host, if all the tasks are completed, what do you want to do in the future?”
Xu Youyou’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. She had already sensed that the system’s tone was off, carrying a hint of farewell.
Now, hearing this question, she couldn’t help but ask, “Are you leaving me?”
She thought she heard a soft sigh from the system.
[There is no feast that does not end. I have enjoyed spending time with you, but sooner or later, we must part ways.]
Xu Youyou felt her nose sting with emotion. Not wanting anyone to see her cry, she quickly asked Xu Fang, who was packing her suitcase in the hotel room, to step out.
Xu Fang thought her behavior was strange but didn’t question it. She simply took the packed suitcase and left the hotel room.
Now alone, Xu Youyou’s tears slowly fell. Since her rebirth, the system had been by her side, helping her rebuild her new life. Even though the system always spoke in a cold, mechanical manner, she had long since regarded it as family.
“Do you have to leave? Can’t you stay?” Xu Youyou asked.
[Don’t worry, host. Even if I leave, the wealth you have gained through the treasure-hunting system will not disappear.]
Xu Youyou shook her head. “I don’t care about money. I already have a lot of it. I’m willing to trade all of it if it means you can stay. Even if I lose everything, I still have my skills—I can support myself.”
The system interface in midair suddenly glitched, displaying a stream of garbled code. It took a full five minutes before returning to normal.
[Host, I’m sorry. Your request cannot be fulfilled.]
Xu Youyou’s face was soaked in tears. “If I never open this safe deposit box, does that mean you can’t leave and can stay with me?”
The system, however, gave a definitive answer.
[Host, if you do not open it and obtain this treasure, I cannot finalize your rewards. But when the time comes, I will still have to leave.]
Xu Youyou pressed on, “When will you leave?”
[Host, all your tasks are completed. I could leave at any moment—I am simply waiting for the call from the Supreme God.]
Xu Youyou desperately wanted to do something, anything, to stop this, but the system had no physical form. No matter what she wished for, it seemed impossible.
“I… I really don’t want you to leave…”
As soon as she said this, a sharp, unbearable pain tore through her chest, as if a thousand arrows had pierced her heart. Her vision blurred, and countless skulls surrounded her, cackling menacingly.
The pain was so overwhelming that she could barely breathe. She tried to cry out for help, but it felt like a wet cotton ball was stuffed in her throat, preventing any sound from escaping.
“It hurts…” Xu Youyou collapsed onto the sofa, feeling as if her soul was being violently ripped from her body. Though no one told her, she had a chilling premonition—if her soul left her body, she would not survive.
[Host?] the system called out.
Xu Youyou couldn’t respond.
[Host, someone has likely cursed you. Quickly, open the safe deposit box! The treasure inside can suppress all forms of dark magic.]
Summoning every last bit of her strength, Xu Youyou grabbed the box. With the key she had obtained from Treasure Island, she shakily inserted it into the lock.
She was so weak that it took several tries before she finally managed to unlock the box. Inside, something was wrapped in silk. Judging by its size, it was about the size of her palm.
She reached in and took out the object.
It was a seal.
The entire seal was made of jade, with a golden patch on one corner—likely the result of an old fracture that had been carefully repaired with gold.
Xu Youyou couldn’t help but wonder: What kind of seal was so precious that, even after breaking, someone had gone to the trouble of mending it with gold?
She flipped the seal over and saw eight strange symbols on its base—some looked like words, others like tiny human figures.
She couldn’t recognize any of them, but, strangely, her pain suddenly vanished.
“What kind of dark magic dares to taint me?”
A deep, commanding voice suddenly echoed in her ears, startling Xu Youyou. It took her a moment to realize that the voice came from the seal in her hand.
She didn’t know how to describe the voice. No matter how many powerful voices she had heard before, none compared to this one. It was majestic, righteous, and seemed to carry the weight of ancient times—a force that could suppress all evil.
“What kind of seal are you?” Xu Youyou asked softly.
The seal remained silent for a long time before speaking. “You don’t recognize me? You truly don’t recognize me?”
It wasn’t surprised that Xu Youyou could hear it speak—it was shocked that she didn’t know what it was.
“Should I recognize you?” Xu Youyou asked curiously.
The seal sighed helplessly. “Bestowed by the heavens, may it bring eternal prosperity.”
Xu Youyou tilted her head. “That sounds familiar… Where have I heard that before?”
Suddenly, her eyes widened in shock. She clutched the seal tightly. “The Imperial Jade Seal!”
Legend had it that the Imperial Jade Seal was crafted from the He Shi Bi. After the Qin state conquered Zhao, Prime Minister Li Si ordered the inscription of the words “Bestowed by the heavens, may it bring eternal prosperity” on the seal, making it a symbol of imperial authority.
As dynasties changed, the seal was passed down. During the Han dynasty, when Wang Mang usurped the throne, Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun, in fury, threw the seal, chipping a corner. Later, it was repaired with gold.
The seal changed hands many times, but its last known owner was Emperor Li Congke of the Later Tang dynasty. Before his death, he embraced the Imperial Seal and perished in flames—since then, the seal had disappeared from history.
Xu Youyou searched online for more information, and suddenly, a thought struck her. Li Congke perished with the seal, and back when Grandpa Wu first saw her, he called her “Miss Li.” Could it be that the Imperial Jade Seal had remained in the Li family’s hands for generations, passing from the Later Tang dynasty to the Republic era, when it was entrusted to Grandpa Wu for safekeeping?
Xu Youyou didn’t know whether to lament the tragic fate of the Li family or admire the Wu family’s integrity. Did they even realize they had been safeguarding such an invaluable national treasure? If they did, the fact that they had never succumbed to greed was truly admirable.
She suddenly understood why the system had made this her final task. Indeed, only such a treasure of the nation could befit the title of “King of All Treasures.”
A belated realization struck her—she had obtained the Imperial Jade Seal. If she died, would people say she had “ascended the throne”? Did this make her the second female emperor?
“Girl, put in more strength! Let’s suppress these dark forces together!” the Imperial Jade Seal suddenly commanded.
Xu Youyou asked, “You know someone is harming me? Do you know who it is? How do we suppress them?”
The seal’s voice was full of indifference. “Why should I care who it is? They are mere rats—one flick, and they will be reduced to ashes!”
