Free Web NovelChapter 68: Chapter 41: Clash (3)
When a magic treasure is refined to a certain point, it will face a heavenly tribulation. If it passes the tribulation, it can then condense a true form.
At this stage, the treasure’s spirituality is advanced enough to be called a treasure spirit. It can leave its vessel to travel and will autonomously increase its power. A treasure spirit, initially naive upon attaining its true form, gains experience and wisdom over time. It also faces tribulations. Aside from its powers being reliant on its main body, it is virtually identical to a Primordial Spirit True Man of the Daoist Sect.
Yet this bronze mirror in Xuzhuang’s hands had been sitting in the Dragon Palace Treasure Vault for an unknown length of time. For its spirituality to have not yet faded and its internal restrictions not to have degraded was quite remarkable.
Seeing Xuzhuang cradling the bronze mirror in his hand without moving, Shishi murmured softly, "Has Young Master seen enough?"
"This is the first time I’ve had the chance to examine such a perfect and flawless magic treasure. My apologies if I seemed foolish," Xuzhuang said with a hearty laugh. He suddenly tossed the bronze mirror, which flew straight up into the branches and was caught by Shishi.
"It’s no matter. If Young Master wishes to see it again, you may find me at any time," Shishi said.
"Once you have refined this treasure, I wouldn’t dare to approach it so casually again," Xuzhuang said.
"What are you saying, Young Master? Would I ever do anything to harm you?" Shishi covered her mouth with her hand as she giggled. She then held out her hand. "Oh, right. You haven’t returned the Five Demons Transport Map to me yet."
Xuzhuang smiled. "Oh? Didn’t I ask you to take out all the remaining treasures from the map for me to see?"
Shishi’s brow furrowed, but Xuzhuang’s smile remained unchanged as his fingers suddenly tightened on the scroll.
Shishi’s brow suddenly relaxed, and she let out a chuckle. "Young Master is as perceptive as they say, seeing right through my little trick. This last item is nothing special, though. It’s an ancient cultivation method from the Demon Sect, so it’s useless to you. If you don’t believe me, feel free to take a look."
As she spoke, the red-skinned demon in the painting let out a mournful cry, opened its great mouth, and fell prostrate. It spat out a black jade slip, which then appeared on the surface of the scroll.
Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow. He picked up the jade slip and toyed with it in his hand. "Is that so? Then I won’t stand on ceremony."
After a moment of thought, Xuzhuang sent a wisp of his Spiritual Sense to probe the slip, ready to sever the connection at a moment’s notice.
With the jade slip in his possession, Shishi indeed had no reason to lie. A single probe was enough for Xuzhuang to confirm that it was, in fact, a cultivation method from the Demon Sect.
The title at the beginning read: *Primordial Venerable Dao Transmission and Demon Refining Scripture*!
Xuzhuang felt a jolt in his heart but immediately suppressed it, his expression remaining neutral. "So it is," he said lightly. He then rolled up the scroll and tossed it back along with the jade slip.
Shishi caught the scroll and the jade slip. No longer hiding her intentions, she carefully inspected the jade slip first before breaking into a smile. "Young Master Xu," she said, "it has been a pleasure."
Without waiting for Xuzhuang to reply, she vanished from sight.
The rustling of leaves was once again the only sound in the forest. Xuzhuang did not return to his meditation, instead gazing calmly as the wind rolled the clouds across the sky. After about an hour, Lieyun suddenly appeared, clutching the small pouch Xuzhuang had given it in its claws.
Lieyun flew to Xuzhuang’s side and called out, "Master."
Before Xuzhuang could reply, Lieyun let out a long sigh. "Master, why were you so aggressive just now? I was getting really nervous watching you."
"Showing weakness to an enemy is the most dangerous thing you can do," Xuzhuang said faintly.
Lieyun set the small pouch down in front of Xuzhuang. "It’s a good thing it didn’t come to a real fight," it said with relief. "Otherwise, who knows if these five hundred Red Fire Gang Thunders would have been enough to kill that woman."
Xuzhuang didn’t respond, his eyes half-closed.
’In the end, I didn’t gain much of an upper hand in that confrontation. Still, at least it solved my most pressing problem.’
’Next time we meet, I won’t be so passive.’
A cold glint flashed in Xuzhuang’s eyes.
