Chapter 627

Chapter 627: Mutated Ghost Fire

After hearing Qing Feng’s explanation, Fang Lie became even more confused.

What kind of place was the Xuan Sect? Though small in numbers, they stood as the undisputed top sect in the world. Their Alchemy Skill reigned supreme, and their strength and wealth overshadowed all others.

Having operated since ancient times through countless transactions, they’d encountered every treasure imaginable without ever bending their rules. Yet now, their actions—though not outright deceitful—lacked propriety. Offering to purchase a client’s custom-ordered treasure contradicted the dignified manners expected of major sects. For the prideful Xuan Sect to resort to this, something extraordinary must have occurred.

The offer itself shocked Fang Lie. Normally, a peak eighth-rank large treasure weapon might rival the weakest Ninth-Rank Treasure in raw power, yet faltered in actual combat due to bulkiness. Ninth-Rank Treasures held spirits with Wisdom matching ancient experts, maximizing their potential through seamless cooperation. Large treasure weapons, cumbersome and inflexible, excelled only against static targets like protective arrays.

Rarity further distinguished them. Eighth-rank large treasures could be forged with sufficient materials, however arduous. Ninth-Rank Treasures remained scarce marvels—even the Mo Sect, renowned for refining techniques across millennia, possessed few. With eighth-rank treasures outnumbering ninth-rank ones by twentyfold, their positions differed vastly.

Yet the Xuan Sect now offered a middle-grade Ninth-Rank Treasure—the Black Steel Mountain Seal, their war-famous Semi-Immortal-level asset—worth five to ten times more than low-grade counterparts. This unsubtle pressure irked Fang Lie.

"What exactly mutated in my treasure?" he demanded.

Qing Feng and Ming Yue exchanged weary glances. "The Netherworld Ghost Fire evolved into Spirit-Devouring Flame," Qing Feng admitted. "Beyond consuming Spiritual Energy, it now burns spirit itself. Seventh-rank Treasures ignite instantly. Eighth-rank ones resist longer but still fall. Even Ninth-Rank Treasures sustain gradual damage."

"Impressive, but impractical in battle," Fang Lie countered. "Who’d let it burn their treasure undisturbed?"

"Its true value lies elsewhere," Qing Feng pressed. "The flames retain harvested spirit. Injecting this into other treasures accelerates their growth. We converted one eighth-rank demonic treasure into three eighth-rank Tao Sect treasures."

Fang Lie inhaled sharply. High-tier treasures’ scarcity stemmed from spirit accumulation requiring millennia. This bypassed nature’s pace—an ability justifying the Xuan Sect’s desperation.

"Big Brother Hei’s offer remains generous," Qing Feng urged. "Though refining consumes seventy percent spirit from an eighth-rank middle-grade treasure to make three low-grade ones, plus three years’ work…"

Fang Lie nearly snorted. Demonic treasures unusable by Righteous Cultivators becoming three Tao Sect treasures? With extramundane demons constantly invading through spatial cracks, the Xuan Sect could fuel endless conversions.

Ming Yue added, "With Zhu Xian and Shi Shen seeking your life, Big Brother Hei’s Semi-Immortal-level protection—"

"Keep your offers," Fang Lie interrupted. "I’ll stick to needing a simple transport. Return my ghost fire."