With the Spirit-Calming Incense in hand, Qin Sang was brimming with confidence.
"What I seek remains unchanged: treasures capable of strengthening divine sense. As for the value of this item, there is no need for me to say more. I am sure everyone present can judge for themselves..."
As he spoke, he cast a meaningful glance at the Nine-Refinement Spirit-Returning Pill.
Trading puppet crystals for the Nine-Refinement Spirit-Returning Pill was acceptable to him, but now that he had brought out the Spirit-Calming Incense, a single pill certainly could not satisfy his appetite.
Upon hearing Qin Sang's condition, the area around the secluded pool fell into a brief silence.
The crowd bore varying expressions. Some stared unblinkingly at the Spirit-Calming Incense, while others scrutinized Qin Sang closely.
For an item of this nature, whether Daoist, Buddhist, ghost, or demon, human or demon beast, orthodox or unorthodox, and regardless of what cultivation method one practiced, there was not a soul whose heart would not be stirred—and the more of it one had, the better.
Inner demons were intangible and formless, impossible to fathom, making treasures that counter them exceedingly rare in the cultivation world and of immeasurable value.
Who would not cherish such a treasure as the apple of their eye upon obtaining it?
None of them had expected to encounter the legendary Spirit-Calming Incense at this treasure exchange.
"We have only ever heard of the Spirit-Calming Incense in legends and never seen it in person. How can we be certain whether this incense is authentic?" someone asked out of caution.
Qin Sang closed the jade box, blocking everyone's view. "Whichever Daoist friend offers a treasure of equivalent value may light this incense. The fundamental reason Spirit-Calming Incense suppresses inner demons is its ability to stabilize the mind and spirit. Even if one is temporarily free from inner demon troubles, one can still perceive its unique effect."
"Can Fellow Daoist only accept that kind of treasure? I have a piece of..."
Before Qin Sang could finish speaking, a black-robed figure sprang to his feet, darting to the edge of the pool in a flash, his tone thick with urgency.
Before the man could name his terms, he was abruptly cut off by the Daoist-robed elder. "This old man hasn't said he won't take it yet. There is no need for everyone to be in such a rush, is there? Fellow Daoist Jiang!"
Ever since Qin Sang took out the Spirit-Calming Incense, Jiang You had kept his eyes glued to the jade box, unable to tear his gaze away.
Hearing the Daoist-robed elder's shout, Jiang You snapped out of it as if waking from a dream, a wry smile surfacing at the corner of his mouth.
With the Spirit-Calming Incense before him, claiming he was not tempted would be a lie, but he had to suppress the greed in his heart.
Six Prefectures Hall was the organizer of this treasure exchange.
As vice hall master, any out-of-line move from him would deal a devastating blow to the reputation of the entire Six Prefectures Hall. They would lose their footing in the cultivation world, forfeiting the greater good for small gain.
Precious though the Spirit-Calming Incense was, it was not worth committing such madness.
Stepping forward to block the black-robed man, Jiang You said in a deep voice, "Please return to your seat, Fellow Daoist. Restrain your impatience!"
Locked on by a hidden aura in the dark, the black-robed man shuddered inwardly. After a moment of silence, he quietly returned to his seat, looking somewhat despondent.
Yet all those present were overbearing figures who dominated their respective domains, wild and unyielding. They were not individuals Jiang You could suppress with a few casual words. Right away, a discordant voice rang out:
"The host may have priority, but the highest bidder must still win by moving this Daoist friend. So long as a treasure meets the requirements, anyone can bid! This seat will not waste words: three Biluo Ginseng Fruits in exchange for this stick of Spirit-Calming Incense. Can the host outbid me?"
Qin Sang looked toward the speaker.
The man was clad in green armor, his entire body concealed within it, completely cutting off anyone's sight.
He had a companion seated to his left, also fully armored in a similar design, though ash-gray in color.
When the treasure exchange first began, the gray-armored cultivator had questioned Jiang You and demanded that the host show himself in a rather impolite tone, which had previously caught Qin Sang's attention.
In the present era, spell cultivators held sway. Even if Nascent Soul cultivators possessed armor-type magic treasures, they rarely wore them on the outside all the time like this.
Perhaps it was done deliberately to conceal their identities at the treasure exchange.
*Hiss...*
Before Qin Sang could react, a commotion rippled through the gathering, with many stunned by the green-armored cultivator's offer.
Biluo Ginseng Fruit was a precious spirit fruit that could be directly refined to strengthen divine sense, and its rarity was in no way inferior to Spirit-Calming Incense.
Offering three right off the bat showed his absolute determination to claim the Spirit-Calming Incense!
Qin Sang had heard of the Biluo Ginseng Fruit before, and his heart leaped with joy at the words. "Could Fellow Daoist bring out the celestial fruit for me to see?"
The green-armored cultivator replied flatly, "To tell you the truth, this seat did not bring the Biluo Ginseng Fruits along... In my estate stands a Biluo Ginseng Fruit spiritual root bearing several fruits that will ripen within ten years. You need only make a trip to the Eastern Sea with me, and you will see the truth for yourself. If you have concerns, this seat can first offer several treasures as collateral..."
The green-armored cultivator could not produce the Biluo Ginseng Fruits.
The onlookers had initially felt like mocking him, only to be even more astonished by his subsequent words.
A single Biluo Ginseng Fruit tree was enough to sustain an entire sect!
"Which celestial island master from the Eastern Sea is this?"
"The Xinmiao Sect or Nine Heavens Island? Doesn't look like it!"
"Judging by the style of the armor, it seems to have been crafted by the Water Mirror Seven Islands."
...
For a time, the crowd engaged in wild speculation regarding the green-armored cultivator's identity.
Three Biluo Ginseng Fruits were an enormous temptation.
Unfortunately, spoken words were no proof.
If he followed this man to the Eastern Sea to retrieve the treasure, who could guarantee there wouldn't be a trap waiting for him?
It was still far more reliable to hold the treasure in his own hands.
Qin Sang was in no hurry to take a stance, turning his gaze toward the Daoist-robed elder instead.
While the green-armored cultivator spoke, the elder had kept his head bowed in deep thought.
He seemed to have arrived at a decision. First, he asked the Daoist nun beside him, "Would Fellow Daoist be willing to trade this bottle of Ten-Thousand-Year Azure Cloud Dew for other treasures? This old man has several items on him for you to choose from."
Unexpectedly, the Daoist nun remained resolute. "I only want the Nine-Refinement Spirit-Returning Pill!"
Under everyone's surprised gazes, the Daoist-robed elder picked up the spirit pill and handed it to the nun. "Ten-Thousand-Year Azure Cloud Dew is an item this old man must obtain. Take it, Fellow Daoist!"
He no longer wanted the Spirit-Calming Incense?
The Daoist nun had not expected things to go so smoothly. Slightly startled, she was immediately overjoyed. Carefully opening the pill bottle, she drew a light breath with her delicate nose, wearing an enraptured expression. "The pill is correct. Thank you, Fellow Daoist!"
The elder nodded with a smile and watched her depart. Turning his head, he asked Qin Sang, "It seems you will not change your mind either, sir?"
"Indeed!"
Qin Sang nodded, noticing a slight change in the elder's expression, curious as to what treasure the man could offer.
The Daoist-robed elder let out a soft sigh, saying with reluctance, "This item was originally prepared for myself, obtained only through a stroke of luck. Were it not for you presenting a wonder like the Spirit-Calming Incense, I would never trade it under any circumstances..."
As he spoke, he retrieved a soft silk pouch from his mustard seed bag.
The silk pouch was merely the size of a thumb, extremely delicate, yet its surface appeared very rough. Woven from a kind of grayish-black thread, its stitches were messy and disorderly, bearing little resemblance to a precious object.
The top of the silk pouch was tied shut.
The treasure was not the pouch itself, but what lay within.
The elder held it in his palm, cautiously touching the pouch.
Before the item was even revealed, an extraordinary fragrance seeped out through the pouch.
In an instant, an intense aroma rushed straight into Qin Sang's nostrils—an indescribable sensation that caused him to involuntarily reveal a look of intoxication.
Not only Qin Sang, but everyone else smelled it as well.
The strange fragrance pervaded the entire area surrounding the secluded pool. Aside from this scent, no other odor could be detected.
One gaze after another snapped toward the opening of the silk pouch, only to find that the Daoist-robed elder had not opened it. Instead, he had turned the opening transparent, through which a small piece of glistening golden material could be vaguely discerned.
It was about the size of a pinky fingernail, resembling gold.
"This is..."
A strange glint flashed through Qin Sang's eyes.
"Sir, have you ever heard of a spirit insect known as the Immortal Fat Bee-Dragon?" the Daoist-robed elder asked, his palm held level as he posed the question to Qin Sang.
The Immortal Fat Bee-Dragon, a wondrous insect of the mortal world!
On the Yuling Sect's Chart of Rare Insects, its rank was even higher than that of the Heavenly Eye Butterfly.
Coincidentally, it was said that the divine abilities of the Immortal Fat Bee-Dragon were related to illusions, making it the natural counterpart to the Heavenly Eye Butterfly. In appearance, it was not a dragon at all, but bore a bee-like form. The word 'dragon' in its name was derived from the mirage dragon.
There were also legends claiming that the Immortal Fat Bee-Dragon possessed true dragon bloodline and could molt into a true dragon in the future.
Comparatively speaking, the first legend was somewhat more credible.
Qin Sang had delved deeply into insect mastery for many years; how could he not know of it?
"Could this truly be Near-Dragon Ambergris?" Qin Sang asked in surprise.
Near-Dragon Ambergris, as the name suggested, resembled legendary ambergris, bearing an incomparable fragrance that, once smelled, was unforgettable for a lifetime.
Seeing it today, it truly lived up to its name.
Near-Dragon Ambergris was actually a wondrous substance secreted by the Immortal Fat Bee-Dragon.
"Sir, you truly possess extraordinary discernment!"
The Daoist-robed elder nodded gently. It was best that the other party recognized it, as he feared dealing with someone who could not appreciate its value. "Only when nurturing offspring will an Immortal Fat Bee-Dragon condense the essence within its body into Near-Dragon Ambergris and secrete it. An Immortal Fat Bee-Dragon only has a single chance to reproduce in its lifetime, which shows how precious this substance is. Offspring of the Immortal Fat Bee-Dragon can molt rapidly by consuming it, while cultivators who refine Near-Dragon Ambergris can strengthen their primordial soul and enhance their divine sense. More importantly..."
Pausing slightly, the elder said solemnly, "This piece of Near-Dragon Ambergris comes from an Immortal Fat Bee-Dragon that had undergone five molts!"
A fifth-molt spirit insect!
A realm equivalent to a Deity Transformation cultivator!
Another commotion stirred through the crowd, with many crying out that this trip had not been in vain.
Spirit-Calming Incense, the Biluo Ginseng Fruit tree, Near-Dragon Ambergris...
Such treasures of supreme rarity were seldom seen even at a treasure exchange of this caliber!
Once these items appeared, no one else dared to make a fool of themselves.
No one noticed that at the edge of the seating, in the shadow of an ancient cypress, a young Daoist sat cross-legged on a prayer mat. He had not concluded a single transaction from beginning to end. Ever since the Daoist-robed elder stepped forward, he had been observing in silence, showing no emotion on the surface.
Not until Qin Sang brought out the Spirit-Calming Incense.
The young Daoist felt the urge to bid several times, only to ultimately abandon the idea in resignation.
...
Qin Sang examined the Near-Dragon Ambergris in the silk pouch, secretly astonished as he sensed the residual aura of a high-stage spirit insect.
If it were Near-Dragon Ambergris secreted by a fourth-molt Immortal Fat Bee-Dragon, he might still weigh the options. Now, there was no need for hesitation whatsoever, despite how small this piece was.
Near-Dragon Ambergris secreted by a fifth-molt spirit insect contained higher-order natural laws, bringing immeasurable benefits that could not be judged by size alone.
Yet Qin Sang was not blinded by the treasure. Looking up, he asked the elder, "How does one refine Near-Dragon Ambergris? Why have you kept it until now, Fellow Daoist?"
It was 'food' prepared by the Immortal Fat Bee-Dragon for its offspring.
For an outsider like him to refine it would likely not be so simple, and it certainly could not be absorbed completely.
The Daoist-robed elder knew that these old Nascent Soul monsters were all as shrewd as ghosts and practically impossible to deceive, so he laid out the flaws of the Near-Dragon Ambergris without reservation:
"First, coming into contact with the outside air accelerates its decay. This pouch was woven from a piece of the Immortal Fat Bee-Dragon's nest, and the ambergris must remain sealed within it for preservation. Once unsealed, it is best to refine it all in one go.
"Second, Near-Dragon Ambergris contains an extraordinary energy. Offspring of the Immortal Fat Bee-Dragon can ingest it directly, but this energy is harmful and of no benefit to us cultivators. The loss of its power is secondary; when subjected to the impact of this energy, one must carefully break it down and expel it from the body. As for how long this process takes, even this old man cannot say for sure—a century or even several centuries are entirely possible. That was precisely the reason for my earlier hesitation... However, if you are a soul cultivator, sir, it should be much faster."
In the elder's eyes, nothing else had caught Qin Sang's attention, and he had explicitly demanded only treasures of this type, making it highly probable that he was a soul cultivator.
In fact, others shared this suspicion.
Soul cultivators were even rarer than body cultivators.
There were sects in Zhongzhou that produced soul cultivators, but top powerhouses rarely emerged among them.
Qin Sang mentally counted his own advantages.
The secret technique *Fire Seed Golden Lotus*.
The Nine Nether Demonic Fire.
The Soul-Nurturing Wood.
...
Even true soul cultivators did not possess so many supreme treasures.
More importantly, there was the jade Buddha.
He wondered what kind of impact the Near-Dragon Ambergris would bring, and whether the jade Buddha could block it.
The elder clearly would not offer a detailed explanation.
Perhaps he did not know either.
His thoughts racing, Qin Sang made up his mind. He parted his lips, just about to speak, when the gloomy voice of the green-armored cultivator suddenly rang out:
"The value of this seat's Biluo Ginseng Fruits is not inferior to Near-Dragon Ambergris, and they can be refined directly without hindrance, yielding immediate results! This seat can add one more fruit. I urge Fellow Daoist to think twice!"
Qin Sang cupped his hands and said politely, "Pardon my short-sightedness, but I only recognize what is before my eyes."
The green-armored cultivator snorted angrily.
To everyone's surprise, seeing that he could not persuade Qin Sang, he changed targets and barked at the Daoist-robed elder, "Old Daoist, what about you? Biluo Ginseng Fruits in exchange for your piece of ambergris... As for the treasures you want, this seat can offer some of them as well! Having the nerve to host this treasure exchange, you wouldn't be as cowardly as this kid, would you?"
Others among the crowd were also tempted by the Near-Dragon Ambergris and made tentative bids.
However, the hidden dangers the elder had described scared off the majority.
Ever since the elder stepped forward, he had not concealed his cultivation base, revealing himself to be a late Nascent Soul great cultivator. Even he dared not refine the Near-Dragon Ambergris lightly, proving that its risks were by no means exaggerated.
If it took too long, the cost of stalling one's cultivation would be far too great, even if one's divine sense grew substantially.
Heavenly tribulation hung like a sword overhead.
Most cultivators dared not divide their attention.
Comparatively speaking, the crowd wanted the Spirit-Calming Incense even more.
Unfortunately, Qin Sang and the Daoist-robed elder each happened to desire the other's treasure, leaving no opportunity for anyone else to intervene.
Under the green-armored cultivator's cold gaze, Qin Sang pushed the jade box forward.
The Daoist-robed elder carefully unraveled the restrictions on the jade box and lit the Spirit-Calming Incense. Verifying its authenticity, he could not suppress a broad smile and swiftly handed the Near-Dragon Ambergris to Qin Sang.
A joyful outcome for both sides!
Qin Sang inspected it thoroughly as well, stored it into the Qianjun Ring, and lingered no longer. As he stepped down from the pool, his figure paused almost imperceptibly.
The treasure exchange continued.
*Smack!*
The elder placed a mustard seed bag upon the water platform, producing a rather heavy sound.
"A vast quantity of Floating Light Silver in exchange for treasures other than the Ten-Thousand-Year Azure Cloud Dew. Floating Light Silver can be purchased with spirit stones outside, but as you all should know, Floating Light Silver from the same vein can be refined into Xuanji True Silver—the greater the quantity, the higher the value. All of my Floating Light Silver comes from a single vein, more than enough to refine Xuanji True Silver of extremely high purity for crafting pseudo-spirit treasures. Its value cannot be measured in spirit stones. Of course, if anyone can produce supreme-grade spirit stones, that would be another matter..."
Chapter 1593