Volume 4 Chapter 25

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Volume 4 Chapter 25: Treasure Acquired (Part 1)

Xu Qingfan couldn’t see Zhang Hualing’s expression and gaze from behind; he was just silently pondering the words Zhang Hualing had said.

"I still can’t surpass this old fox after all."

Xu Qingfan thought to himself secretly.

Just moments ago, in what Zhang Hualing said, there were many points Xu Qingfan hadn’t considered. Just as Liu Huaxiang had taught, once you understand the shifts in underlying interests, you can see the purpose or even the method behind someone’s actions.

During the recent council meeting, Xu Qingfan thought he had grasped a bit of what Liu Huaxiang taught him. But after hearing Zhang Hualing’s words, Xu Qingfan realized he was still far from it.

It’s true that interests determine purpose, but with Xu Qingfan’s current perspective and experience, he was still unable to see the true changes in interests, let alone the slightest details within.

While contemplating, Xu Qingfan had already walked to the first level of the Jiuhua Secret Library, arriving in front of Jin Qinghan and the others. Seeing their questioning eyes, Xu Qingfan quickly set aside his thoughts and smiled, saying, "Please, elders, follow me."

With that, Xu Qingfan led a group of young elders into the first level of the Jiuhua Secret Library.

Just as with Xu Qingfan’s earlier reactions, seeing countless spirit stones, elixirs, and magical items before them, the elders who hadn’t experienced much of the world were all stunned, even more so than Xu Qingfan had been earlier.

"Ahem, ahem…"

Xu Qingfan’s two coughs snapped everyone out of their daze, and he smiled as he said, "Dear elders, this cycle’s offerings for you are fifteen hundred spirit stones and thirty bottles of various elixirs. You may choose the attributes of the spirit stones and types of elixirs according to your own needs."

With that, Xu Qingfan began to distribute the cycle’s offerings with the elders. For example, Jin Qinghan, who specialized in gold-type spells, received fifteen hundred gold-attributed spirit stones, while Dongfang Qingling, who excelled in water-type spells, received fifteen hundred water-attributed spirit stones.

Besides, because some people’s cultivation methods are unique, the spirit stones they request are also quite varied. For instance, Wang Qingfeng, who is skilled in wind-type techniques, asked for a total of fifteen hundred wood and fire attribute spirit stones. Lv Qingshang, who excels in setting formations, requested some of each of the five types of spirit stones and exchanged some of them for advanced talisman paper for making charms and special materials for formations. A young elder skilled in alchemy used spirit stones to obtain some elixirs.

Although after a cultivator reaches the Condensed Core Stage, they can no longer rely on outside forces to increase their power, necessary elixirs are still needed. For example, a "Clear Heart Pill" for stabilizing the mind, a "Hundred Good Pills" for healing internal injuries, or a "White Spirit Pill" for detoxifying. Each elder requests different elixirs based on their individual needs.

Clearly, these young elders had already decided on the quantity and type of elixirs, spirit stones, or special materials they needed before coming here. When they spoke to Xu Qingfan, they showed no hesitation. Xu Qingfan accommodated each request and carefully recorded the distribution of spirit stones, elixirs, and materials.

However, this was Xu Qingfan’s first time handling such matters. Though his mind was sharp and responsive, his efficiency was inevitably somewhat slow. Fortunately, these young elders now regarded Xu Qingfan as their leader and were very cooperative during the distribution, showing no impatience. As a result, Xu Qingfan gradually became more adept and his speed increased.

Finally, Xu Qingfan finished arranging the offerings for these young elders and, accompanied by a group of elders, proceeded to the second level of the Secret Warehouse. When he calculated the time, he realized that nearly half an hour had passed, making him feel a bit embarrassed as he thought Zhang Hualing might have grown impatient waiting on the second level of the Secret Warehouse.

But when Xu Qingfan and the young elders reached the second level, they found that Zhang Hualing wasn’t as impatient as he had imagined. Zhang Hualing was calmly standing by the stone door, with his head lowered as if deep in thought.

Noticing Xu Qingfan leading the group of young elders towards him, Zhang Hualing quickly lifted his head, his expression returning to its usual calm and authoritative demeanor.

Yet Xu Qingfan couldn’t shake the feeling, perhaps a mere illusion of his own, that at the very moment Zhang Hualing lifted his head, there was a fleeting look of despair and sadness on his face.

Zhang Hualing silently watched as Xu Qingfan led the young elders to stand nearby, then opened his mouth and asked, "Have all of you elders received your offerings for this cycle?"

After the young elders nodded in agreement, Zhang Hualing nodded and said, "Since all the elders have recently advanced to the Condensed Core Stage, significantly increasing their power but lacking suitable magical tools, Jiuhua is giving everyone two items each this time. Please go in and select for yourselves."

As he spoke, Zhang Hualing stepped aside, gesturing for everyone to enter the second level of the Secret Warehouse to choose their items.

After bowing to Zhang Hualing, the young elders quickly made their way to the second level of the Secret Warehouse. Although their expressions seemed calm, their steps were brisk, almost rushing in, clearly eager to explore the treasures inside and afraid the best ones would be taken first.

Once all the elders entered the second level of the Secret Warehouse, only Zhang Hualing and Xu Qingfan remained outside the stone door. Seeing Xu Qingfan still standing there, Zhang Hualing looked surprised for a moment, then smiled and asked, "Why aren’t you going with them to find a suitable magical tool?"

Xu Qingfan replied, "As a Jiuhua Deacon Elder, I’m not sure it’s appropriate to join them…"

Before Xu Qingfan could finish speaking, Zhang Hualing interrupted, "You should seize the opportunities. I didn’t make you a Deacon Elder to restrain you. Go in quickly. Remember, you can choose three items. There are some good ones in there, whether you can find them depends on your eye for treasures."

Xu Qingfan, too, could barely contain his excitement, knowing from the information he had found on the green slip beside the stone door that several powerful tools were on the second level. However, due to his current position, he refrained from joining the others in treasure hunting. But upon hearing Zhang Hualing’s encouragement, Xu Qingfan took no further courtesy, bowing to Zhang Hualing before swiftly heading to the second level.

Upon entering the second level of the Secret Warehouse, Xu Qingfan found the elders who had gone in before him wandering through the place, their expressions full of struggle and indecision.

The treasures on the second level of Jiuhua’s Secret Warehouse were at least low-grade Earth-level magical tools, a great gain even if one picked any at random. But since there are always better options, the place not only holds ordinary low-grade Earth-level tools but also extraordinary high-grade ones. These young elders wanted to secure the most powerful tools, and faced with the multitude of stone shelves filled with various dazzling magical tools and other items, they couldn’t easily make up their minds. They seemed like a bear choosing between sesame and corn kernels.

What was even more frustrating was that these magical items were unsealed at the moment, and their spirit energy was hidden. Although each item had a name, level, and function written below it, it was impossible to assess their power or determine which was most suitable for oneself. The elders couldn’t quickly decide which of the many magical items before them was corn and which was sesame. The distress and helplessness felt were akin to facing Zhang Xusheng’s multitude of demons twenty years ago, something difficult to express to outsiders.

Compared to the young elders guessing like blind men feeling an elephant, Xu Qingfan had two significant advantages. First, Xu Qingfan could obtain three magical items, one more than others, increasing his chances of acquiring a rare item. Second, while recording information in the green slip earlier, Xu Qingfan had browsed through what magical items were in the second layer of the Secret Warehouse, gaining slightly more information. So, Xu Qingfan could be more targeted in his treasure hunt.

Xu Qingfan first approached a stone shelf in the corner of the Secret Warehouse, where various bell-type magical items were displayed.

From the green slip, Xu Qingfan learned that over a thousand years ago, before Zhang Xusheng betrayed Jiuhua, he and Li Xuhan, along with three other Mahayana Stage elders, worked together to forge a magical artifact called the "Five Spirit Bell." To create this artifact, the five of them spent over ten years collecting materials and took three more years to finally complete its forging.

Sadly, just as this artifact was about to be completed, one Mahayana Stage elder suddenly experienced Qi deviation. The remaining four elders hurried to help suppress it. Although the elder was eventually unharmed, the artifact’s creation still failed.

Saying it failed isn’t quite accurate; the artifact could still be used. However, its effectiveness was far less than originally envisioned, lacking the spiritual quality it should have had, making it just a reasonably good Earth-level high-class magical item. The greatest intended function of the "Five Spirit Bell"—freely controlling and transforming the five elemental spirit energies of the surrounding world—was impossible to use.

Helplessly, the Master of Jiuhua, Zhang Xusheng, could only regard it as an ordinary high-class Earth-level magical item and stored it in the second layer of Jiuhua Secret Library, awaiting someone destined for it.

As for Xu Qingfan, he was precisely looking for this magical item. To him, this "Five Spirit Bell" would be his greatest gain from the Secret Warehouse, even though several other items in the green slip were rated higher.

Unlike other new elders, Xu Qingfan actually didn’t lack magical items. Before his death, Xiao Huazhe gave him three items: the attack magical item "Rainbow Ruler," an Earth-level middle-class item; the auxiliary item "Earth Mirror," an Earth-level low-class item; and the "Starry Stone," which could enhance magical item levels. Thus, compared to offensive and supporting items, Xu Qingfan needed a defensive magical item more.

After Xu Qingfan reached the Condensed Core Stage, his previous "Green Spirit Arm Protector" could no longer meet his needs.

However, the "Five Spirit Bell" perfectly compensated for Xu Qingfan’s defensive weaknesses. Although the crafting of this artifact failed and it lost its ability to freely convert heavenly Spirit Qi, it was made with many rare materials and its defensive capabilities were barely affected. In terms of defense, it was no worse than those heavenly-level artifacts.

So when Xu Qingfan heard about the "Five Spirit Bell," he was very intrigued and almost immediately decided to choose this artifact.

Thinking about the information on the "Five Spirit Bell," Xu Qingfan quickly found it among a pile of bell-shaped artifacts.

It was a small bell, only the size of a child’s fist. After being sealed, it appeared dull and had a bronze hue, looking rather unremarkable.

Below the small bell was a wooden plaque with an inscription. Upon closer inspection, Xu Qingfan saw it was the description of the "Five Spirit Bell."

"Name: ‘Five Spirit Bell’; Grade: High-grade Earth level artifact; Type: Defense, Support. Effects: Its sound can travel miles, its shockwave can shake one’s soul, and it can disrupt heavenly Spirit Qi. Its defensive power is especially remarkable."

Seeing this description, Xu Qingfan smiled slightly, waved his right sleeve, and slipped the "Five Spirit Bell" into his sleeve before quickly moving on to the next target. That object had an appealing appearance, and Xu Qingfan worried that it might be taken by another elder before him, urging him to hurry.