“True treasures! Fellow Daoist Jin speaks boldly. I do indeed possess a few items from the Chaos Myriad Spirit Ranking, their value surpassing even ordinary Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasures. But do you think I would trade them for the Netherworld River Milk?” The old man sneered, refusing without hesitation.
“Haha, I was merely speaking casually. If Brother Xuling is unwilling, then let it be. However, I heard that before your seclusion, you obtained an extraordinary treasure related to Profound Heaven Treasures. I had hoped to take this opportunity to witness it,” Jin Yanhou said with a hint of regret.
“A Profound Heaven Treasure!” Upon hearing this, Qing Yuanzi also showed a flicker of emotion.
“Hmph, you’re quite well-informed. But it’s merely a fragment of a Profound Heaven Treasure, not the real thing. Since Fellow Daoist Jin Yanhou has explicitly mentioned it, it would be petty of me to keep hiding it. I’ll show it to both of you,” the old man Xuling said with narrowed eyes, glancing at Jin Yanhou and Qing Yuanzi before suddenly smiling and agreeing.
“If that’s truly the case, then Fellow Daoist Jiang and I are in for a treat. Despite my years of cultivation, this is the first time I’ll lay eyes on a Profound Heaven Treasure,” Jin Yanhou exclaimed joyfully.
“In my younger days, I once witnessed the power of a Profound Heaven Treasure unleashed, but my cultivation was low then, and I was far away. I’ve never seen the true form of such a treasure either. That said, the Ephemera Clan, as one of the major races of the Wind Yuan Continent, must possess a genuine Profound Heaven Treasure as their guardian treasure, right?” Qing Yuanzi’s eyes also flashed with excitement.
As for Han Li, upon hearing the words “Profound Heaven Treasure,” his heart tightened, and he shifted his gaze from the colorful treasures in the air to the old man.
“Our clan does indeed possess a Profound Heaven Treasure. But it was offered to our Sacred Spirit long ago, so long that even I have only seen its image in ancient texts. True Profound Heaven Treasures are exceedingly rare in the Spirit Realm, numbering no more than a dozen. These are the limits of what this realm can produce,” the old man said indifferently. Suddenly, he rubbed his hands together, and with a muffled sound, a ball of red light emerged between his palms.
Within the red light was an incense burner-like object, its surface pockmarked with faint golden runes flickering intermittently. At its top were engraved several unfamiliar beast patterns—some with eagle heads and horse bodies, others with pig heads and dragon torsos—all missing limbs and appearing severely damaged.
Han Li and the other two naturally fixed their gazes on the object, their expressions varying.
“This is the fragment of a Profound Heaven Treasure?” Jin Yanhou’s gaze held a trace of doubt as he looked at the object in the red light.
Qing Yuanzi also frowned slightly.
“Heh, Fellow Daoists, with cultivation at our level, how could we be fooled by mere appearances?” Seeing their skepticism, the old man Xuling wasn’t angered. Instead, he laughed heartily and suddenly flicked a finger at the incense burner.
With a crisp *ding*, the incense burner trembled, and the golden runes on its surface brightened significantly. Simultaneously, the beast patterns at its top shimmered with red light, their missing parts momentarily restored by the glow.
Then, the old man flicked it a second time.
With a *bang*, the golden runes scattered across the surface of the incense burner, dissolving into countless golden stars that enveloped the entire object. The beast patterns twisted and writhed within the red light, as if they might leap out at any moment.
At the same time, a vast surge of primordial spiritual energy erupted from the incense burner, transforming into an invisible force that enveloped the entire hall.
Han Li, who had been standing, staggered slightly under the immense pressure, his expression shifting.
Qing Yuanzi and Jin Yanhou, though seated firmly, couldn’t help but marvel at the spectacle.
“This fragment of a Profound Heaven Spirit Treasure was discovered by chance in an ancient battlefield deep in the wilderness. I later spent considerable effort refining it before I could wield it. What you just witnessed was but a tenth of its power. At full strength, it rivals even the top ten Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasures on the Chaos Myriad Spirit Ranking,” the old man said proudly, retracting his spell and beckoning the incense burner back into his hand.
“For a mere fragment to possess such power, one can only imagine how terrifying a complete Profound Heaven Treasure must be. Brother Xuling, your fortune is truly remarkable! With this treasure, your chances of surviving the tribulation must have improved,” Qing Yuanzi praised.
“Heh, I hope so. But the Ascension Tribulation is no easy feat. Throughout the Spirit Realm’s history, many have attempted it, each confident in their preparations, yet few have succeeded. Were it not for the inevitability of my next Great Heavenly Tribulation, I wouldn’t dare risk attempting ascension. If I possessed a true Profound Heaven Treasure, perhaps my odds would improve. Alas, the one held by the Sacred Spirit has long been fused with its being and cannot be borrowed,” the old man Xuling lamented.
“However, I recall hearing that several centuries ago, another Profound Heaven Treasure appeared in our Spirit Realm,” Qing Yuanzi said suddenly, causing Han Li’s heart to skip a beat.
“Such a thing happened? How have I never heard of it? Surely you’re mistaken, Fellow Daoist Jiang!” Jin Yanhou exclaimed in disbelief.
“Fellow Daoist Jiang must have heard this from Elder Hua of our clan. It’s true. Upon exiting seclusion, I was informed that a new Profound Heaven Treasure had recently appeared near the top of the Chaos Myriad Spirit Ranking. It’s an exceedingly strange occurrence. Rumor has it this treasure emerged on our Wind Yuan Continent, drawing the attention of even the Horned Race and the Sea Tribe, who crossed continents in search of it, resorting to blood sacrifices—yet they failed. The treasure then vanished without a trace. Whether it developed sentience and hid itself or was claimed by another powerful being who concealed it remains unknown. Even our clan’s divination experts, after expending immense resources, could glean no clues and were forced to abandon the search,” the old man Xuling replied darkly.
“Such a thing is unheard of! How could a Profound Heaven Treasure evade divination? Unless it fell directly into the hands of a True Spirit!” Jin Yanhou shook his head in astonishment.
“Unlikely. True Spirits, though born in various realms, typically leave upon reaching maturity, ascending to higher planes or wandering the void to establish their own domains. They rarely interact with Profound Heaven Treasures. Otherwise, how would our clans procure them as guardian treasures? I suspect this treasure may not be native to our realm. Non-native Profound Heaven Treasures might resist the divination of foreign cosmic forces, especially if they’ve developed sentience,” the old man Xuling mused, his words eerily close to the truth.
“Indeed, your reasoning holds merit. Otherwise, the various races wouldn’t have abandoned their searches so readily. After all, no one wastes effort on futile endeavors. Your insight, Brother Xuling, is truly unparalleled,” Jin Yanhou said admiringly after a moment’s thought.
Qing Yuanzi nodded in agreement.
“Haha, this conclusion was reached collectively by our clan’s elders, not by me alone. Now, young Han, you’ve listened long enough. Have you chosen your treasure?” The old man Xuling suddenly turned to Han Li, recalling the matter they’d nearly forgotten.
Having overheard their conversation, Han Li’s initial tension eased, but the old man’s question brought a strange expression to his face. After a pause, he steeled himself and replied, “Senior, while these treasures are extraordinary, none suit my needs. I wish to keep the Netherworld River Milk for my own use.”
“Nothing catches your eye? Do you truly possess a Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure from the Myriad Spirit Ranking? Very well, if you do, I won’t insist on a trade. But if not, I’ll take it as disrespect and teach you a lesson,” the old man said coldly, surprising Han Li with his restrained anger.
Without further ado, Han Li flipped his hand, and a silver ruler materialized in a flash of light. With a wave, a formidable aura erupted, and countless silver ruler illusions shimmered into existence, exuding profound mystery.
“Oh? A genuine Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure from the ranking, albeit near the bottom. It seems young Han lacks for nothing in ordinary treasures,” Jin Yanhou remarked with amusement, clearly relishing the old man’s predicament.
Qing Yuanzi stroked his chin and sighed.
Seeing his offerings rejected twice, the old man’s expression darkened. After glaring at Han Li for a long moment, he sneered, “For someone of modest cultivation, your wealth is impressive. Since you lack neither pills nor treasures, I’ll offer something you cannot refuse in exchange for the milk.”
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