The forty-fifth layer of the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Refining Method...

Yu Ci gently pressed his forehead, looking at Elder Fan, who was trembling with fear in the center of the banquet. Coincidentally, their gazes met with You Gongquan on the other side. Both of them nodded in acknowledgment, then simultaneously revealed bitter smiles on their faces.

It must be said that he and You Gongquan had both missed out on good fortune!

Yu Ci was originally not interested in these external things, but during this period, he was troubled by the substitute for the Fish-Dragon treasure, and he couldn't help but pay some attention to such treasures.

An artifact refined from the forty-fifth layer of the Magical Instrument might not be as valuable as the Life-Prologing Treasure, but it was a good asset nonetheless. He had just seen that at this Treasure Exchange Banquet, two or three items of slightly lower value could be exchanged for a higher-level Magical Instrument.

"If I had this item, I would surely be more confident today."

A hint of regret suddenly sprouted, shaking his mind. Deep in his consciousness, a certain thought was stirring restlessly. Yu Ci snorted, his spirit revolving in his chest, activating the strange power of the True Purple Smoke Warm Jade, and instantly extinguishing the Heart Demon triggered by the thought.

The residual poison was not yet cleared, which was quite troublesome. As he was being troubled, Bao De next to him wondered, "If there is already a mark of a certain Secret Mansion and Cave Heaven inside..."

Gan Shi Zhen didn't continue, but He Qing glanced over and said, "That would be a priceless treasure!"

Bao De, a usually composed person, couldn't help but grit his teeth. Yu Ci, on the other hand, managed to keep his calm, but was somewhat puzzled, "What exactly is this Secret Mansion and Cave Heaven?"

To this question, Bao De could answer, "The so-called Secret Mansion and Cave Heaven, either it is a treasure land naturally formed between heaven and earth due to some opportunity, or it is a pure land opened up in the endless void by an Earth Immortal using divine power. Although it exists in this vast world, it is beyond our perception. But either way, it is said to be a fairyland on earth, a boundless paradise. Cultivating within, one year can be equivalent to ten years, a hundred years, and there are those immortal treasures, magical treasures, elixirs, more than enough..."

As he was speaking, Bao De suddenly felt a bit embarrassed, because he saw Gan Shi Zhen turn her face away, pursing her lips in laughter, knowing that he had exaggerated too much. However, for them, as Outer Disciples, those Secret Mansions and Cave Heavens were indeed too distant, and when they talked about them, they couldn't help but speculate, inevitably causing laughter among the wise.

He Qing, although strict, wouldn't mind this. At this time, Elder Fan had already handed over the Xuan Cang Ring. It was confirmed by the treasure appraiser in the Random Heart Pavilion and passed around the banquet for inspection. Yu Ci knew that he didn't have the ability to appraise it, so after touching it, he handed it over. At this moment, he suddenly felt a sensation, looked up, and saw Elder Fan looking at him with a surprised expression.

Yu Ci gave a faint smile, acknowledging silently, "Your wish is finally granted, and with an added bonus."

The final appraisal was announced, stirring a mix of joy and regret among the cultivators present.

The Storage Ring was indeed the Xuan Cang Ring. Unfortunately, it bore no mark of the Secret Mansion and Cave Heaven. As such, its value was set at the level of a Magical Instrument refined to the forty or fifty layers, as Gan Shi Zhen had suggested. The Random Heart Pavilion priced it at:

Fifteen Thousand Ruyi Money.

Even among the treasures previously traded, this was a rather high price.

Yu Ci gave Gan Shi Zhen a thumbs-up, praising her accurate judgement. The delicate female cultivator blushed slightly, but still managed a smile. Just as He Qing glanced over, Yu Ci quickly withdrew his hand, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He and Gan Shi Zhen had become quite familiar with each other recently, and she was a very easy-going person, so he had become somewhat casual. Who knew what He Qing might think of this?

At this moment, Lu Wan chuckled, "This price is just right, and the lack of a mark brings peace of mind. Haven't you seen how the North was thrown into chaos over an Underworld Secret Mansion? Nearly a thousand people have died or been injured in the past few months, yet the shadow of the secret mansion is nowhere to be seen. I'm afraid that the secret mansion might be nothing more than a rumor. It would be better to hold this Xuan Cang Ring, travel the world, enjoy the mountains and rivers, and perhaps gain something."

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Most of the cultivators present could tell that there was a deeper meaning behind Lu Wan's words.

The Xuan Cang Ring itself was not a problem, but if it was linked to a Secret Mansion and Cave Heaven, it would instantly become a source of trouble. The Underworld Secret Mansion was a prime example. Even if it was a supreme treasure land, if the power occupying it was insufficient, it would bring disaster and be unable to enjoy the benefits.

Therefore, Lu Wan's meaning was clear: The Xuan Cang Ring is a good thing, but without the corresponding strength and if it becomes widely known, even a baseless rumor could lead to the loss of the treasure and life, losing everything.

Among those present, those who could be considered powerful included He Qing and others representing the Lichen Sect, Lu Wan from the Random Heart Pavilion, and Bi Chao from the Rakshasa Sect. As for the likes of the Thousands Spirits Sect, they would have to rely on the Lichen Sect. Even if they acquired this treasure, if the Immortal wanted to borrow it, could they refuse?

Hence, the real competition for this treasure was among these three families. Of course, it didn't rule out the possibility of others participating with a glimmer of hopeful luck.

After a round of discussion, it was time for the exchange of treasures.

However, before anyone could make a bid, Elder Fan, who had been stuttering and unable to articulate a complete sentence in the center of the banquet, somehow mustered the courage to tremble out:

"May I say something?"

Everyone was slightly taken aback, but Bi Chao, the host of the banquet, nodded in agreement.

In the case of a treasure coveted by many, while the bidding prices might vary, according to the rules, it was ultimately up to Elder Fan to choose the one he favored. Therefore, even though Elder Fan was the weakest here, when it came to the ownership of the Xuan Cang Ring, he was the one with the most say.

With the permission granted, Elder Fan gathered a bit more courage. His speech was still cautious, but it had become considerably smoother:

"Respected Immortal Elders, and fairy ladies, when I brought out this Storage Ring, I didn't initially intend to exchange it for a very valuable treasure..."

He swallowed, then continued: "I understand how precious a Magical Instrument refined to forty or fifty layers is. But even if I were to acquire such a treasure, I fear I wouldn't be able to use it in my lifetime. I would have to be constantly careful, fearful of exposing the treasure and inviting disaster."

At these words, everyone was greatly surprised, not expecting such clarity from him.

Elder Fan continued: "My family is in the south. I already have a partner and a son who is fourteen this year. Two years ago, by a stroke of luck, he was accepted into the Sky Law Nimbus Sect to cultivate the path of immortality. His future is certainly brighter than mine. Now, I don't seek any personal achievements, I focus all my attention on my son. I came to Sky Rift Valley for his sake. So, therefore..."

At this point, Elder Fan suddenly realized that he had been talking a lot, but he hadn't yet clarified the important issue, and he was a bit taken aback. However, many of the attendees, having experienced a lot, had already guessed a lot from the mention of "Sky Law Nimbus Sect".

The Sky Law Nimbus Sect was one of the more powerful medium-sized sects in the south, famous for taming spiritual birds and beasts. It seemed similar to the Thousands Spirits Sect, but the former had more authority in the cultivation of living beings. In such a sect, apart from one's Cultivation Level, the quality of the spiritual creatures one possessed was very important.

Sure enough, Elder Fan, after some hesitation, finally stated his intention: "I want a spiritual bird, one that can accompany my son in his cultivation, like, like the big bird that Immortal Yu Ci has..."

Yu Ci was taken aback and looked up, only to find all eyes on him.

Elder Fan was also staring at him, his prematurely aged face almost crumpled into a ball.

Yu Ci didn't expect that after so many days, Elder Fan was still thinking about the "jerk". He couldn't help but feel both annoyed and amused, shaking his head and saying, "Elder Fan, I've told you before, I'm not selling that bird..."

No sooner had the words left his lips than he felt a flush of heat on his face, sensing a sharp glance from He Qing. He furrowed his brows but didn't think to correct himself, only to phrase his words more delicately:

"My bird, by no means, can compare to your Xuan Cang Ring in terms of value. How could we possibly exchange? However, if I were to add something else to the deal... I apologize, but all the items I possess are currently earmarked for something from Manager Shen, and I can't divert them under any circumstances."

He casually probed further and, as expected, Shen Wan cast a glance his way, yet made no other response.

At the adjacent table, He Qing frowned, clearly dissatisfied with Yu Ci's response.

Elder Fan's face grew even more bitter, but he couldn't persist in his argument at this gathering, leaving him dumbstruck.

The cultivators present were taken aback by the exchange between the two. Had times changed so much that people were now pushing away easy gains? Some were curious about the object Yu Ci was so focused on, even at the expense of the Xuan Cang Ring.

Others were amused by Elder Fan's naivety. Why was he so fixated on one thing? With the wealth of the Random Heart Pavilion and the power of the Rakshasa Sect, how difficult could it be to find a spiritual bird?

Strangely enough, neither Lu Wan nor Bi Chao made any comments.

At this moment, a soft voice sounded:

"What about the spiritual bird, plus two 'Heaven Opening Pills'?"

A buzz of discussion arose among the cultivators. The Heaven Opening Pill was a well-known foundation-building elixir in this realm. Whether consumed by humans or beasts, it could greatly enhance intelligence and double the efficiency of cultivation. This was a great deal tailored for Elder Fan's son!

Yu Ci was stunned and turned to see that the speaker was Gan Shi Zhen from the neighboring table.

Seeing Yu Ci's gaze, the female cultivator slightly lowered her face, subtly pointing towards He Qing.

Without looking, Yu Ci knew that He Qing must not be pleased at this moment. Gan Shi Zhen was helping him out of a tight spot.

Yu Ci chuckled. Although he didn't understand why He Qing valued this object so much, he was a bit stubborn: if He Qing pushed him too hard over this external object, then they could just have a standoff in public!

...