The list of Extraordinary Items was as follows:

A replica of the Blood Race Holy Artifact: Blood Chalice;

A venomously Cursed eyeball soaking in a sealed Alchemy Jar;

A large piece of lapis-gold rare metal containing immense Energy. With the Power of the Wish Space, Zhou Chen sensed a volatile Essence within it, on the verge of erupting, frozen in that final moment by a Sealing Matrix;

A small, exquisite Cursed Puppet in a sealed state. Its eyes could move eerily, but it had started playing dead after being tossed into the Round Table Hall;

And a large quantity of precious and rare Extraordinary Materials like Heart Moon Flower, Cold Gold Essence Sand, Soul Honey Wine, and Essence Crystals.

He had to admit, the Blood Race was loaded. Their warehouse was full of good stuff. And this wasn’t even their main stronghold in Hong City; who knew how many treasures their primary base held.

’I wonder if I’ll ever get the chance to take a look around their main stronghold’s warehouse...’

Sitting on the ancient Obsidian Throne, Zhou Chen picked up the replica of the Blood Race Holy Artifact: Blood Chalice and examined it closely.

During his earlier battle with Pansi in the Li Family’s back Garden, Pansi had used a replica Blood Chalice to dispel the fatal misfortune brought on by the Cursed Blade. That alone demonstrated the replica’s remarkable quality.

The true Blood Chalice was one of the Blood Race’s holy artifacts, and its Ability was a top secret among them, known to very few. Judging from the replica, however, the Chalice’s Ability was likely to cleanse its user of negative effects.

Unfortunately, the replica was a single-use Artifact. After one use, all the Spirituality contained within the replica Chalice would vanish. Moreover, only the Blood Race could use it. Therefore, Zhou Chen planned to find some time to melt down the metal Chalice, which still retained some of its Spirituality, and forge it into a usable Artifact.

He put down the replica Chalice and picked up the sealed Alchemy Jar. Soaking inside was a bloodshot, venomous eyeball. Because of the Sealing Matrix, the entire eyeball appeared very blurry, as if it had been lightly pixelated.

Zhou Chen mobilized the Power of the Wish Space and easily erased the Sealing Matrix the Blood Race had applied.

The blurry restriction covering the Cursed eyeball immediately vanished, revealing a snake’s pupil of verdant green. The eyeball still retained the overwhelming resentment from the moment before death, enough to make one’s blood run cold.

’The Petrifying Gaze, unique to the Medusa Race?’

Zhou Chen was startled. He recognized the highly distinctive eyeball—it was from the Medusa Race.

Medusa was a snake-haired gorgon from Ancient Greek Mythology. There are many versions of her legend.

One version claims that Medusa was the youngest of three daughters born to Phorcys, the father of all monsters, and Ceto the Siren. She was exceptionally beautiful, with golden hair and a fatal allure.

Medusa’s beauty captivated the Sea God Poseidon, who would often transform into a steed to carry on an affair with her. To escape the jealousy of Poseidon’s wife, the two would meet in Athena’s Divine Hall, which enraged the goddess. In her fury, Athena turned Medusa’s hair into venomous snakes and laid a Curse upon her: anyone who gazed into her eyes would be turned to stone.

Other versions claim Medusa, considering herself beautiful, openly challenged Athena to a beauty contest, boasting all over Athens that her hair was more beautiful than the goddess’s. This behavior angered Athena, who transformed her into a hideous monster, turned her beautiful hair into a mass of menacing vipers, and changed her enchanting eyes into a Cursed Gaze that no mortal could look upon.

In any case, there are many versions of the myth. But in the real World, the Medusa Race first appeared in Zone 1999, located in the Mediterranean Sea region.

Inside Zone 1999 is a Demon Empire, home to a multitude of monsters from Ancient Greek Mythology, such as Medusas, Harpies, Minotaurs, Cerberus, and so on. They aren’t true mythological creatures; they have simply developed similar appearances and Abilities under the influence of some unknown Power within the Restricted Area. For ease of reference, people simply named them after the monsters of legend.

The Petrifying Gaze is the signature Skill of the Medusa Race. Under normal circumstances, only a Tier Three Medusa can master this terrifying Curse Power.

’No wonder the Blood Race had to seal it. Otherwise, this thing would petrify anything it looked at...’

Zhou Chen met the gaze of the bloodshot eyeball and tapped the Alchemy Jar. In this space, he was the master; he had no need to worry about the Curse.

The Petrifying Gaze was a very powerful Artifact. It didn’t even require any modification; simply by holding it, everything within its line of sight would be turned to stone.

Putting down the Alchemy Jar, Zhou Chen reached out and stroked the basin-sized, lapis-gold metal. The surface of this naturally formed, bizarre metal was coarse and mottled, and it was exceptionally heavy.

’There’s an Essence Fluctuation inside, on the verge of erupting. It seems to be incubating something.’

Zhou Chen murmured, summoning the fiery-red Hammer of Forging. Unconcerned whether the object inside was good or bad, he swung the hammer and brought it crashing down.

CLANG!

A clear, vibrating chime echoed out as the Sealing Matrix set by the Blood Race instantly shattered. A deep crack appeared on the lapis-gold metal and spread rapidly, and then, like a watermelon, it split in half.

At the same time, Zhou Chen mobilized his Power to suppress the Essence gushing out from within.

As the lapis-gold metal split open, a brilliant white light burst from the crack. A mass of transparent liquid came into view, shimmering with spiritual energy. It was crystal clear, radiating powerful life fluctuations and a sacred aura, as if it could cleanse both body and Soul, purifying one’s entire being.