Chapter 447: Chapter 447: Treasure Room
"By the way, Young Master Ye, while you were at the Artifact Refining Workshop, Elder Yuan Zhen of the Yuan family came looking for you many times. Since you weren’t here, he asked me to make sure I told you to visit the Yuan family estate once you returned."
"Yuan Zhen? Did he say what it was about?" Ye Xuan asked in confusion.
Luo Min shook her head. "He didn’t say."
Ye Xuan nodded. "I understand."
As Ye Xuan and Luo Min chatted leisurely, a storm was quietly brewing in the Imperial Capital.
At that moment...
A storm was quietly brewing in the Imperial Capital.
The phenomenon in the skies above the Imperial Capital, caused by the forging of the Feather of Ethereal Void, had stunned countless experts.
Such a heavenly phenomenon could only be triggered by the birth of a heaven-defying Tier Seven King Level Profound Soldier.
For a time, countless citizens and experts in the Imperial Capital were abuzz, speculating about what kind of heaven-defying Divine Soldier Master Lu Li had forged this time.
The Martial King experts from some of the major powers all flocked to the Artifact Refining Workshop, hoping to pry some information from Master Lu Li.
However, Master Lu Li turned them all away.
Before the refinement, Ye Xuan and Master Lu Li had made an agreement: he was absolutely not to reveal anything about the Feather of Ethereal Void to anyone else.
It wasn’t that Ye Xuan intentionally wanted to hide something, but a treasure like the Feather of Ethereal Void was far too tempting. He didn’t want to bring any unnecessary trouble upon himself.
But Master Lu Li remaining so tight-lipped only made the experts’ speculations in the Imperial Capital even more wild and confusing.
After all, given Master Lu Li’s status and identity, there was no need to hide the creation of a heaven-defying Profound Soldier. Even if he announced it openly, no one would dare to snatch it. They would only bid for it at auction or trade other treasures for it.
That way, both parties would be happy and gain something. Not only would Master Lu Li acquire the treasures he desired, but he would also enhance his reputation.
But this time, Master Lu Li’s abnormal behavior left many people secretly puzzled.
Some said Master Lu Li had discovered some ancient Divine Soldier and didn’t want to reveal it, and the heavenly phenomenon was merely a wisp of its aura leaking out as it was unsealed.
Others said that Master Lu Li had broken through to the peak of the Lord Level and was intentionally hiding the truth to conceal his new strength.
There were even rumors that the heavenly phenomenon wasn’t a Profound Soldier being forged at all, but rather Master Lu Li cultivating some demonic technique, and the leaked aura was from its successful completion.
All sorts of rumors flew around the Imperial Capital like scraps of paper.
Ultimately, these rumors even alerted His Majesty of the Sky Empire, who personally dispatched royal experts to make inquiries.
When facing the royal officials, Master Lu Li offered a brief explanation, informing them that the aura was indeed released when a certain Spiritual Treasure he was refining took shape.
However, he had been commissioned by someone to make it and could not disclose the details.
Only then did the turmoil finally subside.
The turmoil in the Imperial Capital had subsided, but the storm brewing within the Qin family only grew more intense.
「Qin Mansion.」
The entire estate was now shrouded in a gloomy, unsettling atmosphere that made one deeply uncomfortable.
Ever since the brawl in the marketplace, the Qin family’s status in the Imperial Capital had plummeted, and their image among the empire’s Martial Artists had been severely damaged.
Whenever anyone mentioned the Qin family, they all had the same reaction: they would shake their heads, sigh, and wear expressions of contempt.
It was said that the Third Prince was also extremely dissatisfied with the Qin family’s recent performance and had voiced some complaints.
Although the Qin family was still one of the four great houses of the Imperial Capital, they had already begun a steady decline.
All of the Qin family’s businesses were in a slump, and the family’s expenses exceeded its income.
The only reason they hadn’t collapsed completely was that the Qin family still had Martial King experts to hold the line.
As long as the Qin family’s Martial King experts remained alive, the family wouldn’t be completely wiped out. But everyone knew that even so, it wouldn’t be long before the Qin family fell from the ranks of the four great houses.
In the Qin family’s council hall, a weary Qin Feng was currently listening to a report from the intelligence elder, his face heavy with solemnity.
"Are you saying that the heavenly phenomenon from the Artifact Refining Workshop is related to Xuan Ye of the Luo family? Are you sure about this intelligence?"
A look of horror touched Qin Feng’s eyes.
The news was so shocking he could hardly believe it.
"Reporting to the Patriarch, it should be correct," the intelligence elder said gravely. "Our people have been keeping a close watch on that Xuan Ye. According to our inquiries, he entered the Artifact Refining Workshop seven days ago and never came out. He supposedly entered the Artifact Refining Room with Master Lu Li. He didn’t leave the workshop until just after the recent heavenly phenomenon ended. Therefore, based on our observations, it’s highly likely that the Profound Soldier Master Lu Li forged this time is related to that Xuan Ye."
’Could it be that Master Lu Li refined that Profound Soldier for Xuan Ye?’
Qin Feng mused for a moment, then asked in confusion, "But if that’s all it was, why would Master Lu Li bring Xuan Ye into the Artifact Refining Room with him?"
The intelligence elder shook his head. "That we do not know."
Qin Feng murmured, "According to the intelligence our family gathered before, that Xuan Ye seems to have profound attainments in the art of Artifact Refining. That’s how he connected with Master Lu Li in the first place. Could it be... that Xuan Ye also had a hand in refining this Profound Soldier?"
At this thought, Qin Feng’s face was a mask of utter shock.
"That’s impossible, isn’t it?" The intelligence elder was also stunned. "Master Lu Li is a Tier Seven King Level Artifact Refiner. Even if that Xuan Ye is talented in Artifact Refining, given his age, how could he possibly collaborate with Master Lu Li?"
A grave look crossed Qin Feng’s face. "Possible or not, this Xuan Ye must die. If he doesn’t, then the ones who die next will be my Qin family."
"Continue to have your people monitor Xuan Ye. You must notify me immediately if there is any news."
"Yes, sir!"
The intelligence elder respectfully withdrew.
’I hope my guess isn’t true, otherwise...’
As he thought about his earlier speculation, an inexplicable irritation and gloominess welled up inside Qin Feng. In the next moment...
"Xuan Ye!"
He growled through gritted teeth, his eyes bloodshot. A fierce killing intent suddenly erupted from his gaze, like that of a man-eating wolf.
After resting at the Luo family for a day, Ye Xuan arrived at the Yuan family’s estate the following day.
The Yuan family Patriarch, Yuan Fei, and Supreme Elder Yuan Zhen personally came to the entrance to greet him. This shocked many of the Yuan family’s servants, who wondered who could have come today to warrant the personal reception of the Patriarch and Supreme Elder.
"Haha, Young Master Ye, come and try my Yuan family’s Snow Tea. This Snow Tea comes from the depths of the Atas Mountain Range in our Dream Realm Plain. It takes a full hundred years from budding to maturity, making it exceptionally precious."
In the Yuan family’s reception hall, a pot of the finest Snow Tea was quickly served, its refreshing fragrance filling the entire room.
Ye Xuan smiled and said, "Patriarch Yuan, you’re too kind."
"Not at all. Young Master Ye, you probably don’t know this, but our Yuan family’s profits have grown rapidly these past few days because we became the agent for the Profound Pill Pavilion’s Pills. Even our own industries have developed swiftly. All of this is thanks to you, Young Master Ye."
Yuan Fei said sincerely, his face wreathed in smiles.
"Patriarch Yuan, you didn’t ask me here just to tell me this, did you? If there’s something on your mind, please just say it."
After they had chatted for a while, Ye Xuan decided to get straight to the point.
"Heh." Yuan Fei chuckled and looked at Yuan Zhen. "I’ll let Supreme Elder Yuan Zhen explain."
Yuan Zhen smiled. "Young Master Ye, last time you healed my injuries, and our Yuan family has not yet had a chance to thank you properly. We’ve asked you to come today specifically to express our gratitude by inviting you to our Yuan family’s treasury to select a treasure."
’Select a treasure?’
Ye Xuan was stunned. He never would have thought this was the reason the Yuan family had summoned him.
"That’s right. I said it last time: once you were done with your business, Young Master Ye, you were to come to the Yuan family estate, and we would have a handsome reward for you. As one of the four great houses, the Yuan family has at least that much credibility."
As they spoke, both Yuan Fei and Yuan Zhen stood up. "Young Master Ye, why don’t you come and have a look?"
Ye Xuan laughed. "In that case, let’s have a look."
To be honest, he was also very curious about what kind of treasures were in the Yuan family’s treasury.
Led by Yuan Fei, the group arrived at the deepest part of the Yuan estate, where a well-hidden treasure pavilion appeared before Ye Xuan.
The treasure pavilion was located in the core of the Yuan family’s grounds, surrounded by all sorts of array patterns. Although they didn’t see anyone along the way, the security was clearly lax on the outside but tight on the inside. As they walked, Ye Xuan sensed at least a dozen rather formidable Profound Senses.
The cultivation of the vast majority of them was no lower than Luo Min’s.
The foundation of a great house was more than just a notch above that of a prominent family.
"SQUEAK SQUEAK!"
Before the treasure pavilion was even opened, the Little Purple Mink appeared on Ye Xuan’s shoulder, its eyes shining.
Ye Xuan knew at once that there had to be many rare and exotic treasures in this pavilion. Otherwise, given the Little Purple Mink’s nature, it wouldn’t be this excited.
"Young Master Ye, shall we go in?"
Upon entering the treasure pavilion, Ye Xuan clearly felt astonishing auras circulating within.
"A Tier Seven King’s Will Fruit!"
His eyes fell upon it, and Ye Xuan was instantly shocked. There, amidst rows of rare Spirit Medicines, sat a translucent blue fruit, emitting a terrifying Spirit Medicine aura.
"Young Master Ye has a sharp eye. This fruit is indeed a Tier Seven King’s Will Fruit. A former Supreme Elder of our Yuan family obtained it after venturing deep into the Celestial Cloud Mountain Range and facing great danger. A Tier Six Peak Martial Artist who consumes it can comprehend a king’s martial will, which is a huge boon for breaking through to the Tier Seven Martial King realm. Furthermore, if it’s refined into a Seventh Grade King’s Will Pill, it can increase a Martial Venerable’s chances of breaking through to Martial King by thirty percent."
Yuan Fei explained seriously.
"Originally, this King’s Will Fruit was something our Yuan family was saving for our own Martial Artists to use in their cultivation. But if Young Master Ye needs it, you are welcome to take it," Yuan Zhen said with a smile.
Ye Xuan was truly taken aback. The Yuan family was being far too generous. The value of a King’s Will Fruit was extraordinary. If put up for auction, it would be impossible to win it for less than one or two hundred thousand Lower Grade Profound Stones.
’The Yuan family is actually this willing to part with it?’
As if sensing Ye Xuan’s surprise, Yuan Fei smiled and said, "We said we would thank you properly, Young Master Ye, and we would never make a false pretense of it. No matter how precious a King’s Will Fruit is, at best it can only give a Tier Six Peak Martial Artist a slightly better chance of breaking through to the Tier Seven Martial King realm. You, on the other hand, saved the life of one of our Yuan family’s own Martial Artists. Compared to that, what does a mere King’s Will Fruit count for?"
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