Chapter 64
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Chapter 64: Treasure
The treasure was an item existing somewhere between talismans and magical artifacts.
It addressed the shortcomings of talismans lacking sufficient power and magical artifacts consuming excessive spiritual energy. Essentially, it sealed a portion of a magical artifact’s power within a talisman.
Only a minimal release of spiritual energy was needed to unleash the might of the magical artifact.
Of course, this power might amount to just ten or twenty percent.
Yet even that fraction was utterly terrifying.
Because only Golden Core powerhouses possessed the ability to wield magical artifacts.
That ten to twenty percent power was more than sufficient to deal with a Qi Refinement cultivator.
However, it seemed the opponent’s magical artifact was relatively low-level, and the user’s cultivation was not profound, so the unleashed force wasn’t as fearsome as anticipated.
Otherwise, that blue long sword would likely have shattered instantly, and Elder Si himself might have faced mortal danger.
After unleashing the treasure, Lu Haotian’s face turned alarmingly pale, as if all his strength had been drained in an instant.
“Are you frightened?” He stared at Lin Tianfang, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Frightened? How many times can that treasure of yours possibly be activated?” Lin Tianfang steadied his mind, sheathed his sword, and stood with hands clasped behind his back.
As the treasure functioned by imbuing part of the magical artifact’s power into spiritual symbols, its uses were limited—unless the user controlled the original artifact to replenish its potency at will.
Which was, of course, impossible.
Thus, the opponent certainly wouldn’t dare to employ it recklessly.
Lu Haotian’s expression darkened slightly, but he said nothing further, merely storing the treasure away.
“Don’t rush. This spiritual mine will change hands very soon.” He cast a cold gaze at Lin Tianfang, spat out the words, then turned and led his clan members away without hesitation.
Lin Tianfang gave no order to pursue.
For it was unknown if a trap lay waiting.
And what puzzled him more was why the opponent had chosen such a crucial moment to unveil their ultimate weapon—the treasure.
Logically, such an item should be saved as a trump card, deployed only at a clan’s uttermost crisis.
It was unlikely the Lu Family could be so extravagant as to waste this single-use treasure merely to test his strength.
The thought made Lin Tianfang frown deeply.
It seemed this matter required informing the family.
Meanwhile, Zhou Luo stared blankly as the battle overhead concluded, his inner turmoil slow to settle.
That terrifying might—he had sensed it clearly despite the barrier.
Had he been caught within it, death would have come in an instant.
Every life-preserving measure at his disposal would have proven futile.
At that moment, Zhou Luo realized sharply: though he was a Second Level Poison Master, a first-level Pill Master, and a spiritual symbol master; though he possessed a spirit beast with potential reaching the Fourth Level, and the Body Refinement Technique…
All these granted him long-term benefits, not immediate salvation.
If one suddenly encountered such a situation as before, one’s means would be completely unusable and one would be instantly killed.
In the end, it was just that their level wasn’t high enough.
Zhou Luo withdrew his gaze and silently walked towards the door of the spiritual mine.
The invasion by the Lu Family was just a small incident; during this period, it happened basically once every half month, and everyone had become accustomed to it.
Anyway, with the Great Elder’s formation in place, the other side would need to pay a huge price to break it.
Back in the room, Lin Shi was still unconscious.
Zhou Luo took out the antidote he had prepared earlier and shoved it into his mouth.
After a short while, Lin Shi suddenly bounced up from the bed, looking bewildered.
"Brother Shi, you’re awake," Zhou Luo said with a delighted expression, and brought him a cup of water.
"What happened to me?" Lin Shi hurriedly asked.
Zhou Luo pretended to be awkward and said with deep apology, "Sorry, Brother Shi, I forgot to remind you…"
Then he shifted all the blame onto Little White.
Upon learning that after scratching someone, Little White could make them sleep for so long, Lin Shi was greatly surprised.
But he didn’t blame Zhou Luo; instead, he said with envy, "Brother Zhou, for you to possess such a special spirit beast is truly a great fortune."
Zhou Luo shook his head with a smile, "It’s all luck, luck."
"Oh no," at this moment Lin Shi suddenly slapped his head and hurriedly got down from the bed, "I’ve slept for so long; I’m definitely going to be scolded."
"No, probably everyone is busy sorting out the spoils of battle," Zhou Luo took the chance to tell what had just happened.
Hearing that the Lu Family had invaded again, Lin Shi looked flustered.
If the family found out that he was slacking off, he would likely be punished.
But Zhou Luo said he had already helped cover it up with another reason.
"Brother Zhou, this time all thanks to you," Lin Shi said with utmost sincerity.
According to the rules of the spiritual mine, fleeing during battle was a serious crime; without Zhou Luo covering for him, he would have been done for.
"It was my fault to begin with; when you go out later, don’t let it slip," Zhou Luo reminded him.
"Don’t worry, Brother Zhou," Lin Shi agreed at once.
As he just reached the door, Zhou Luo called out to him again, "By the way, the potions are already brewed."
After saying this, he took out a bag containing several jade bottles inside.
"Brother Zhou, your efficiency is truly high," Lin Shi took the bag and walked out of the room.
Watching the other person leave, Zhou Luo put away his smile and closed the door.
The previous battle had stirred his excitement; since there was free time, he wanted to craft a few low-grade, first-level spiritual symbols for fun.
Who knows, sometimes they might serve an unexpectedly wonderful purpose.
…
Lin Shi, who had slept for several hours, returned to the attic with the bag.
Upon entering the hall, sure enough, someone asked aloud, "Where did you run off to earlier, kid?"
This person was the captain specifically in charge of Lin Shi’s squad, as with enemies invading and squad members not present, interrogation fell under his duties.
Lin Shi recalled Zhou Luo’s excuse and repeated it verbatim without alteration.
Originally, the other party didn’t believe it, but with onlookers testifying, he could not pursue the matter further.
Lin Shi breathed a sigh of relief and placed the bag onto the counter, saying, "Uncle Hui, the potions have been refined."
"So fast?" Lin Hui appeared astonished.
He opened the bag and began counting, discovering that the amount was surprisingly accurate.
"Strange, did this kid pull out the potions he already had on him?" Lin Hui murmured to himself.
He knew very well that a middle first-level Pill Master couldn’t possibly refine so many potions in that short a time.
Unless some were already in his possession.
Only then did it make sense.
The more Lin Hui pondered it, the more he felt such a scenario was possible.
"Uncle Hui," Lin Shi suddenly called out to him.
Lin Hui put away his bag and asked, "Anything else?"
"Is it true that Elder Si said to double Zhou Luo’s potion refining quota?" Lin Shi inquired cautiously.
Honestly, he felt it was simply impossible to refine two hundred potions in two days, so he wondered if he had misheard, and to be safe, he needed to confirm.
"Have him take a break from those potions for now."
Unexpectedly, Lin Hui dismissed it directly.
He pulled out a new bamboo scroll and passed it over, saying, "Have him refine these potions before the night after next."
Upon taking the bamboo scroll, Lin Shi glanced at it and noticed they were all healing potions.
It seemed that in this conflict with the Lu Family, the clan had suffered heavy losses, and now urgently needed potions to heal the injuries.
"Got it," Lin Shi replied, flashing a warm, sincere smile.
Deep down, he genuinely didn’t want the clan to actually assign Zhou Luo the task of refining two hundred potions in two days.
Because by now, he had come to regard the other as a friend.
Theoretically, as a member of the main family, he ought to have been hostile towards Zhou Luo.
However, Lin Shi’s status in the main family wasn’t very high, he didn’t grasp much about such matters, and being naturally carefree and inattentive, he rarely paid attention to these affairs.
Thus, he held no prejudice against Zhou Luo, instead thinking he was a fine friend.
