Chapter 1996: Is It Related to Luo Ruoxi?

Before long, they arrived at a sealed room, surrounded by formations everywhere, with four guards at the True Immortal realm.

A middle-aged man with a dark brow and wearing a cloak came forward to greet them.

Old He introduced, “This is Workshop Master Hu of the Wuhai Trading Company. Workshop Master, this is Zhang Xuan, a core disciple of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion! He is a grandmaster of treasure appraisal even more skilled than I am!”

“Grandmaster of treasure appraisal?” Startled, Workshop Master Hu carefully examined the young man before him.

Old He was the appraiser of his auction house, and they had known each other for decades, so he was well aware of his temperament and character. For him to introduce someone so solemnly, this person must have extraordinary abilities!

However, just like in treasure appraisal and medicine, the older one is, the more valuable they seem. At the age of twenty... what could one possibly discern?

Though doubts lingered in his mind, he showed no hint of disrespect on his face and quickly approached: "Brother Zhang, to possess such skill at such a young age—truly a hero born young!"

"You flatter me, Guild Master Hu."

Zhang Xuan replied indifferently.

The man before him was not low in cultivation; immortal energy flowed within him. Although he suppressed it so that not a trace leaked out, under the Eye of Insight, it was still clearly visible that he had reached the level of Half-Step Immortal Lord!

Such cultivation likely ranked among the top in Wuhai City.

"This way, please..."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the three entered the room.

"Brother Zhang, the item I want you to appraise is this..."

Knowing the purpose of the visit, without too much ceremony, Hu Fangzhu pointed ahead.

In the center of the room was something wrapped in black cloth, about the height of a person. Approaching it, he gently pulled, revealing its shape.

It was a blood-cyan stone, its surface smooth as if polished, gleaming with a jade-like luster, resembling blood jade yet distinctly different.

"Just a stone?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

Lingyun Sword Pavilion, such a high-priced task, even the venerable He before him couldn't identify it, and he thought it was something precious... It turned out to be a stone!

No wonder Bai Ruanqing had said earlier that it was somewhat strange.

"Don't underestimate this stone. It looks like blood jade, but blood jade isn't so warm and smooth; it feels like blood xuan crystal, yet blood xuan crystal isn't this tall... I've consulted countless texts, none matching it. Over a hundred appraisers have come to see it, and none could tell its origin or name. That's why I sought help from the Sword Pavilion!"

said the venerable He.

As for why he didn't seek help from the sect elders at a high price—they would surely be more knowledgeable—and instead resorted to a disciple's task... The reason was simple: the elders were extremely powerful, especially the core elders, almost all of whom were at the Immortal Lord level!

Once they sensed the high value of this treasure and became greedy, there would be no way to deal with them.

In a world where the strong prey on the weak, it's not the strong taking by force that is feared, but their covetousness.

Dealing with a disciple was relatively easier.

Zhang Xuan responded.

As he spoke, he observed it with his Eye of Insight for a moment, but even he could not identify it.

Having read through all the inner, core, and elder libraries of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, in terms of pure knowledge, he surpassed many native-born experts of the Upper Firmament. Yet even his Eye of Insight could not recognize it—this stone was probably truly unusual.

"What attributes does this thing have? Have you tested it?"

Without rushing forward, Zhang Xuan looked over.

If it were just an ordinary stone, the other party would certainly not have gone to such expense, summoning appraisers and seeking help from the Sword Pavilion... They must have sensed something extraordinary about it and wanted to determine its name to auction it at a higher price.

"We have tested it. This stone cannot be burned by the strongest flames of the most powerful refiner in Wuhai City, nor can a Xianjun-level weapon leave a mark on it..."

said Elder He.

Knowing that appraising treasures, like diagnosing an illness, requires understanding the attributes to make a better judgment, Elder He did not conceal anything.

"Can't be burned by flames? Can't be damaged by a Xianjun weapon?"

Zhang Xuan was startled.

A Xianjun-level weapon was the pinnacle in the entire continent, yet it couldn't even leave a scratch. Could this stone be an item of that level?

No wonder... they were willing to spend such a huge price. It seemed they wanted to know the exact item and sell it for an astronomical sum.

"I hope Brother Zhang can take a look and identify what it is..."

Elder He clasped his hands.

"Alright!"

Zhang Xuan said no more and walked over to the stone in two steps.

The blood-red stone, heavy and imposing, gave a strong sense of pressure. Even without touching it, he could easily sense that with his current strength, he probably couldn't lift it.

At the peak of the Void Immortal realm, with strength comparable to the peak of the True Immortal realm, he still couldn't lift it... This stone was indeed extraordinary.

"Brother Zhang, do you need tools like a Xuanzang ruler?"

Seeing him approach empty-handed, Elder He looked puzzled.

Normally, when appraising ores and such treasures, one would need items like a Xuanzang ruler or a density meter to accurately measure density, mass, and attributes, which also helps in confirming the item.

Bare-handed, relying only on eyes... what could he see?

"Not for now..."

Circling the stone, Zhang Xuan reached out and gently touched it.

Hum!

A book immediately appeared in his mind.

His fingers touched the book, and his eyes fell on the text. His pupils contracted, and his body involuntarily stiffened in place.

"Crane Elder, is this man reliable..."

Seeing the youth, who prepared nothing and only touched it, Hu Fangzhu frowned.

As the head of a trading firm, he had seen countless appraisal masters, but one so young and appraising treasures in such a manner was a first.

"His insight is far superior to mine!" Crane Elder nodded.

The statue earlier was also stone, and through the painting formation, the other could see it at a glance, which sufficiently demonstrated his ability.

This stone should also reveal some clues!

As the two were conversing, they saw the youth turn around, his whole body tense: "This thing... where did you get it?"

"A rogue cultivator sold it to me... From what he said, it seems to come from the Star-Chasing Sea!"

Seeing his expression, as if he had discerned something, Hu Fangzhu said.

"Star-Chasing Sea?"

The books in the Lingyun Sword Pavilion library only covered the continental layout within the Sword Pavilion's domain; the Star-Chasing Sea had never been seen.

"The Star-Chasing Palace, one of the six great sects, is actually an isolated island in the ocean. The Star-Chasing Sea is the ocean that surrounds them..." Seeing his ignorance, Crane Elder explained.

"Star-Chasing Palace... Du Qingyuan?" Zhang Xuan's fists tightened.

Previously, Sect Leader Han Jianqiu had said that if he wanted to know more about the gods, the Star-Chasing Palace's Palace Master Du Qingyuan was the best person to ask, but she might not be willing to speak.

When it came to the gods, no one was willing to say much.

Now this thing appears in the Star-Chasing Sea...

Could there be a connection?

"Brother Zhang, have you recognized this stone?" Crane Elder said.

From the beginning of their acquaintance, this youth had appeared unflappable, as if nothing could stir him, but now this expression... Could it be that he had recognized what this thing was?

"Yes!" Zhang Xuan suppressed the excitement in his heart and nodded.

"What is it?"

This time, not only Crane Elder was excited, but Hu Fangzhu also quickly looked over.

"This is a... [Divine Blood Stone]" Closing his eyes, Zhang Xuan spoke.

"Divine Blood Stone?"

Crane Elder and Hu Fangzhu exchanged glances, both stunned.

The character 'divine' must never be used recklessly; it would inevitably invite divine retribution!

Divine Blood Stone... they had never heard of it, nor was it recorded in any book... Did such a thing really exist?

"Indeed!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

The reason he had been so excited just now was not because this thing was related to the gods... but because it might be related to Luo Ruoxi!

He said this not because any book had recorded her name, but because... there were only three characters 'Divine Blood Stone', with no further record!

After the library upgraded, even treasures at the peak of the Immortal Sovereign level could be easily identified, but regarding Luo Ruoxi's belongings, at most he could detect a name; as for origin and such, there was nothing at all.

It was exactly the same as what this stone revealed!

It was like the pendant around his neck; he had secretly probed it many times with the library, and the books that appeared were no different from this one!

Therefore... this so-called Divine Blood Stone was highly likely related to her!

Of course, this alone was not enough to be certain, but when he approached the stone, the pendant around his neck grew warm. If he still didn't react, he would truly be foolish.

"Divine Blood Stone... related to the gods?"

Unable to contain himself any longer, Hu Fangzhu looked over, a hint of fear in his eyes.

If it were just an ordinary treasure, he was confident he could sell it at a high price, but involving the gods...

He hesitated!

As someone from the Abandoned Continent, the gods most abhorred the dissemination of matters and items related to them.

If this stone was truly related to the gods, publicly auctioning it might attract the attention of the Divine Temple... and then he wouldn't even know how he died!

"Since it bears this name, it must be related to the gods. As for how it formed and what effects it has, I'm not entirely sure..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

The library had only revealed a name, not a detailed description of its flaws. Therefore, whether this thing could be refined into a weapon and how powerful it might be, even he had no idea.

But one thing was certain... since the library couldn't probe its complete information, it must be related to the gods!

"This..."

Hu Fangzhu hesitated.

He had spent a great deal to buy this, and even more wealth to have it appraised. If it was truly related to the gods, what should he do?

Sell it or not?

"You say it's called Divine Blood Stone... but do you have any proof?"

After a pause, Hu Fangzhu gritted his teeth: "Brother Zhang, don't misunderstand. I'm not doubting you, but since that... character is involved, the implications are enormous. I have to be cautious..."

"Proof..." Knowing his thoughts, Zhang Xuan said: "I have it!"

"What method?"

Hu Fangzhu quickly asked.

"Very simple... Since it's a Divine Blood Stone, it must be related to the blood of a god. You can find the blood of the fiercest immortal beast on the continent and test it against this... If it instinctively shows fear, then... my judgment is absolutely correct!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.