Precious Herbs Worth Ten Thousand Spirit Stones

A short while later, he returned carrying six jade boxes of different shapes.

After setting the jade boxes on the table, Zhao Sheng selected a square one, carefully removed its seal, and opened it.

The moment Han Xuanwu saw the spirit herb inside, he sprang to his feet and lunged toward the jade box like a starving wolf pouncing on prey, his face full of disbelief.

Zhao Sheng smiled. "This Scarlet Fire Ganoderma is over eight hundred years old. It should be worth fifty or sixty thousand Spirit Stones, right?"

"Worth it—more than worth it! Within the Purple Sun Sect, a single High-Grade Foundation Establishment Pill costs at least fifty thousand Spirit Stones, and even then, it is priceless and unavailable. In the outside Markets, you cannot even catch a glimpse of a High-Grade Foundation Establishment Pill."

Han Xuanwu rubbed his hands excitedly, unable to hide the greed in his eyes.

When such a heaven-sent opportunity suddenly appeared before a Qi Refinement cultivator, who could possibly keep their composure?

Zhao Sheng naturally noticed the greedy look in his eyes.

But he was not afraid in the slightest, because...

"It's yours."

"What? What did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly!" Han Xuanwu could scarcely believe his ears and hurriedly pressed him again and again.

Zhao Sheng's expression remained calm, but his tone was exceedingly solemn. "I said, it is yours!"

"Big Brother Zhao, you cannot joke about something like this! Really?" Han Xuanwu immediately sought confirmation again.

Zhao Sheng smiled and explained, "Naturally, it is true. But first, you must agree to one small request of mine."

Overjoyed, Han Xuanwu promptly thumped his chest. "Big Brother Zhao, just say the word. Never mind one request—even ten. Your little brother will not utter a single word of refusal."

Zhao Sheng smiled and waved his hand. "There is no need for ten. One is enough. After you reach Foundation Establishment, I hope you can watch over the Zhao Family for a few years—preferably until Xuan Han or Xuan Lan reaches Foundation Establishment."

At that, Han Xuanwu suddenly burst into laughter. He could not help pointing at Zhao Sheng as he said with a laugh, "Big Brother, what am I supposed to say about you? I think you have spent your whole life living for your family. Xuan Han and Lanlan are my grandson and granddaughter too. If I do not look after them, who else would I look after?"

"With those words from you, I can rest easy."

As he spoke, Zhao Sheng pushed the Scarlet Fire Ganoderma toward Han Xuanwu, signaling for him to put it away.

While Han Xuanwu carefully stored away the Scarlet Fire Ganoderma, Zhao Sheng reached out and opened the remaining jade boxes one by one.

Han Xuanwu froze after only one glance.

Good heavens! That Blood Sword Grass was one chi and seven cun long—at least fifteen hundred years old.

The Amber Stone Orchid, an indispensable material for refining high-grade talisman demons, had grown as large as a palm. It had to be at least seven hundred years old.

There were also a seven-hundred-year-old Miracle Spirit Branch, a five-hundred-year-old Dragon Aversion Fruit, and a Seven Leaf Seven Petal Yin Yang Flower—three special spirit herbs.

Each of those special spirit herbs was worth anywhere from several thousand to over ten thousand Spirit Stones.

The thousand-year Blood Sword Grass in particular was worth at least several tens of thousands of Spirit Stones.

This natural spirit weapon possessed irreplaceable potential for growth and affinity.

As long as its wielder continuously infused it with their own Spiritual Power, the Blood Sword Grass would keep growing, and its might would only become greater and greater.

It might even grow into a Golden Core-level magical treasure—a Natal Treasure, no less.

Han Xuanwu's eyes burned with envy as he said, "Big Brother Zhao, did you dig up a treasure nest or something?"

"Hehe, after gathering herbs for decades, this little bit is all the good stuff I have saved up. For the Centennial Token, I have even dug out my family's old reserves." Zhao Sheng spoke the excuse he had long since fabricated.

He did not intend to reveal the Hillside Spirit Herb Garden to anyone.

The northern face of Heaven Pillar Mountain was far too dangerous. Even Zhao Sheng had only escaped after countless brushes with death. It was enough for the Zhao Family's descendants to cultivate honestly; they should not gamble with their lives.

"This little bit?"

After hearing that, Han Xuanwu wanted to spit in Zhao Sheng's face. Zhao Sheng was truly shameless.

No one knew how many Herb Gatherers on Heaven Pillar Mountain spent their entire lives without finding even a single spirit herb over five hundred years old.

Yet this big brother of his had produced six at once.

No, counting that thousand-year Nine Section Ink Jade Dendrobium, it was seven!

Most importantly, every single one was exceptionally precious.

Yet he had still underestimated Zhao Sheng.

Besides those, Zhao Sheng had also hidden a Scarlet Fire Ganoderma and thousand-year Gold Essence Seeds, two spirit herbs each worth over ten thousand Spirit Stones.

They were trump cards he had left for the Zhao Family. Even Han Xuanwu would not hear about them.

Han Xuanwu carefully fondled the Blood Sword Grass, his face full of fascination.

As a former martial arts fanatic who had now embarked upon the path of sword cultivation, a natural spirit sword embryo like Blood Sword Grass was an unparalleled treasure that could only be encountered by chance.

At that moment, Zhao Sheng suddenly asked, "Stop thinking about the Blood Sword Grass. Estimate how many Spirit Stones these spirit herbs are worth instead."

Reluctantly, Han Xuanwu returned the Blood Sword Grass to its jade box. After making a rough estimate, he said, "Excluding the Blood Sword Grass, the other four should total around sixteen thousand Spirit Stones."

"What if you include the Blood Sword Grass?" Zhao Sheng pressed.

Han Xuanwu pondered briefly before answering seriously, "At least sixty thousand. If more Foundation Establishment sword cultivators can be drawn into bidding for it, the Blood Sword Grass could sell for another ten or twenty thousand Spirit Stones."

Zhao Sheng nodded. The price Han Xuanwu named was close to his own estimate.

Han Xuanwu added confidently, "Big Brother Zhao, there is no need to worry. These few spirit herbs are nothing much within the Purple Sun Sect; they can easily be absorbed internally. Besides, my master is also a sword cultivator, and the old man is extremely wealthy. Sell the Blood Sword Grass to my master, and I guarantee you will not get the short end of the stick."

Han Xuanwu's master was an eighth-level Foundation Establishment sword cultivator, while his martial ancestor was a mid-stage Golden Core sword cultivator.

Sword cultivators were famed for their formidable Combat Strength. Thus, Han Xuanwu's sword cultivator faction within the Purple Sun Sect could be considered a force of its own, the sort that could speak directly with a Nascent Soul Ancestor.

Part of the reason Zhao Sheng had dared to set his sights on the Centennial Token was that he intended to borrow a tiger's hide to raise a great banner.

There was no need to spell that out. Han Xuanwu surely understood it perfectly well.

Zhao Sheng nodded. "In that case, one matter need not trouble two masters. I will leave the matter of attending the Purple Sun Sect auction to you as well!"

It was a trivial matter! Han Xuanwu knew that the Zhao Family was currently too weak to openly bid for the Centennial Token.

With his master backing him, however, he had no fear of competing against ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivation Families.

Especially now that he had this eight-hundred-year-old Scarlet Fire Ganoderma, Han Xuanwu believed his standing in his master's eyes would soar.

But then he suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked, "Brother Zhao, the annual rent of two thousand Spirit Stones is no small sum. Can your Zhao Family hold out? Do you need me to step in and borrow a sum of Spirit Stones from the Spirit Stone Bank to tide you over for a few years?"

Zhao Sheng waved his hand and shook his head. "No need. I can still hold on for three or four years for the time being. With the output from the spirit vein added in, we should be able to last even longer. Perhaps after we secure the Centennial Token, there will still be quite a few Spirit Stones left over."

Han Xuanwu calculated silently for a moment, then nodded.

After that, the two discussed some of the details and difficulties involved.

By the time they had finished discussing business, the sky had already darkened.

Seeing this, Zhao Sheng warmly invited Han Xuanwu to stay the night and visit his grandson and granddaughter while he was at it.

He deliberately did not mention Han Qingqing, because Zhao Sheng knew that the relationship between Han Xuanwu and his daughter Han Qingqing was extremely strained.

He also knew that his daughter-in-law, Han Qingqing, had not truly taken a liking to Zhao Chengle, the eighth.

It was only because Han Xuanwu especially liked the eighth, whose temperament resembled his own, and because he and Zhao Sheng were close, that he had forced his daughter to marry the eighth.

Han Xuanwu naturally agreed. He had not visited the Zhao Estate in some time, and he had long wanted to see his grandson and granddaughter.