Chapter 99: Sudden Change

Zheng Songfeng was somewhat displeased with Li Chang’an.

He felt that Li Chang’an’s arrival signified Zheng Qingqing’s distrust in them.

"Qingqing, are you worried my old eyes have grown dim and I might misjudge something?"

He asked Zheng Qingqing directly, his old face stern.

Zheng Qingqing smiled and explained gently, "Grandmaster Songfeng, Daoist Li has had some fortuitous encounters and seen many Treasures. I feel his eye for appraisal should be quite good, so I asked him to come help."

"Seen many Treasures?"

Zheng Songfeng snorted, unimpressed.

He declared proudly, "The Treasures I’ve seen in my lifetime are probably more than the meals he’s eaten!"

To the side, Li Chang’an remained silent.

’I have no desire to argue with an old man like this.’

Just then, Zheng Qingqing quietly sent him a Sound Transmission: "Daoist Li, he’s just an old stick-in-the-mud. Don’t mind him, just focus on appraising the Treasures."

"Rest assured, Young Mistress. I have always respected the elder generation of Cultivators."

Li Chang’an replied via Sound Transmission.

He then began to appraise the Treasures in earnest, searching for the Phoenix Blood Wood mentioned in his Divination.

Most of the Treasures were easy to identify, like Elixir Pills, Talismans, and Magical Artifacts. With his current skill, he could determine their Tier with a single glance.

The other Treasure Appraisers soon revealed surprised expressions.

"He really does have some skill."

However, Zheng Songfeng’s face remained stern.

After a while, Li Chang’an moved to a pile of low-value Treasures.

Zheng Songfeng reminded him coldly, "Kid, I’ve already appraised those items. They’re all of very low value. Do you think I would have misjudged them?"

Li Chang’an said nothing and simply continued his earnest search.

He focused his concentration, his gaze sweeping over one Treasure after another.

’Where could that piece of Phoenix Blood Wood be?’

Li Chang’an carefully tried to distinguish it.

Phoenix Blood Wood was extremely valuable. It wasn’t just for Body Refinement; it could also be used in Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Puppetry, and even Array Formation.

For this reason, almost every time it appeared, it was reserved in advance by major powers.

Even with his current connections, Xu Fugui hadn’t been able to find a piece for Li Chang’an.

If he missed this piece, Li Chang’an didn’t know how long he would have to wait for the next one.

Suddenly, Li Chang’an’s gaze froze on a piece of charred black wood.

’Could this be it?’

He reached out to pick it up. A faint warmth spread through his hand as he touched it.

This warmth was the signature characteristic of Phoenix Blood Wood!

’This should be it, right?’

Li Chang’an glanced at the other areas again.

There were quite a few pieces of Treasure Wood in the entire Treasure Division Tower, but the one in his hand best matched the description.

He observed it carefully for a long time.

Judging by its appearance alone, it did indeed look like ordinary Fire Nan Wood.

Just then, Zheng Songfeng spoke up again. "Kid, that’s a piece of Fire Nan Wood. What are you staring at it for so long for? Don’t tell me you think it’s some rare treasure?"

Hearing this, Li Chang’an rejoiced. ’The old man judged it to be Fire Nan Wood. That matches the Divination’s description.’

Zheng Songfeng continued.

"If you can’t even identify such a Low Grade Treasure, you should leave now. Don’t cause trouble here."

Their exchange quickly caught Zheng Qingqing’s attention.

She was also a bit curious.

Why was Li Chang’an staring at that piece of Fire Nan Wood for so long?

"Daoist Li, have you discovered a problem?"

"It’s nothing."

Li Chang’an shook his head slightly and put down the Fire Nan Wood.

His expression was normal as he continued to inspect other Treasures.

After the entire day, aside from the Phoenix Blood Wood, he didn’t find any other hidden gems.

That evening, as he was about to leave, Li Chang’an privately asked Zheng Qingqing a question.

"Young Mistress, would it be possible to sell that piece of Fire Nan Wood to me?"

"Of course."

That piece of Fire Nan Wood was an auction item provided by the Zheng Clan Territory, not a Loose Cultivator, so Zheng Qingqing had the authority to make the decision.

However, Zheng Qingqing was suspicious.

This Fire Nan Wood was very likely some other, more valuable Treasure.

She took the Fire Nan Wood with her slender hands, a trace of doubt on her pretty face, and observed it closely for a long time.

In the end, she shook her head slightly, unable to find anything unusual.

Soon, the two signed a contract.

And just like that, Li Chang’an bought the piece of Phoenix Blood Wood for the price of Fire Nan Wood.

...

After returning, with a single thought, he sent out a strand of Sword Qi.

With a CRACK, the entire piece of Treasure Wood was split in two.

The cross-section was blood-red, as if blood was about to drip out, looking somewhat horrifying.

"It really is Phoenix Blood Wood!"

A delighted expression appeared on Li Chang’an’s face as he put it away.

Over the next two days, he continued to visit the Treasure Division Tower and found another hidden gem: a Treasure needed for the Eighth Stage of Body Refining.

A Blood-Burning Fruit!

This Treasure was also extremely precious.

Zheng Songfeng had mistaken it for an ordinary Vermilion Fruit and sorted it into the pile of low-value Treasures.

At this point, Li Chang’an was only missing the last two Treasures for the Eighth Stage of Body Refining.

’Over the next few days, I might be able to find more hidden gems.’

Li Chang’an silently looked forward to it.

That night at Midnight, the Divination appeared again.

[Divination has been refreshed]

[Today’s Divination: Auspicious]

[You go to the Treasure Division Tower to appraise Treasures and find the hidden gem "Withered Profound Crystal." Just as you are about to leave, an enemy suddenly appears in the tower and attacks you and Zheng Qingqing, but is quickly defeated by her. You remain unharmed.]

"An enemy?"

Li Chang’an was stunned.

Who would dare attack the Zheng Family’s Young Mistress in Qinghe Marketplace?

After all, Ancestor Zheng Yuandao was not yet dead!

’Could Zheng Lingfeng have arranged it? Does he have the guts?’

Li Chang’an thought instinctively.

’The Divination says it’s auspicious, which means the enemy isn’t very powerful. Maybe it’s just a small probing attack?’

He pondered for a moment.

In any case, he still had to go tomorrow.

The Withered Profound Crystal mentioned in the Divination was a Treasure required for the Ninth Stage of Body Refining.

...

The next day, Li Chang’an went to the Treasure Division Tower.

As usual, he was chided a few times by Zheng Songfeng before he began searching for the Withered Profound Crystal mentioned in the Divination.

Soon, he locked onto a dusty, crystal-like Treasure.

’This should be it!’

Li Chang’an picked it up and observed it carefully for a moment.

Zheng Songfeng’s voice rang out once again.

"Kid, that’s a ’Gray Marrow Crystal.’ It has very low value. Don’t waste your time."

Hearing this, Li Chang’an silently put the crystal down, seemingly following Zheng Songfeng’s advice.

This action of his made Zheng Songfeng feel quite smug.

Time flew by.

Before he knew it, the sun had set, and it was evening again.

"Let’s call it a day. Thank you all for your hard work."

Zheng Qingqing said with a smile, thanking everyone.

Everyone began to pack their things, preparing to leave the Treasure Division Tower.

But just then, something unexpected happened!

BZZZZ—

The entire Treasure Division Tower suddenly trembled.

Immediately after, the world around them seemed to shift.

Thick, cold black clouds suddenly emerged from the void, instantly swallowing everything around them, leaving only the terrified group standing in the center.

"A Quasi-Tier Two Array, the Black Cloud Sealing Heaven Formation!"

Zheng Songfeng recognized the Array, his face a mask of shock.

This type of Array was stronger than a Tier One Array but didn’t quite reach the level of Tier Two, which was why it was called Quasi-Tier Two.