Deng Fang followed Li Hong's instructions. He first paced out of the room, then returned within half a quarter-hour, carrying an extra box carved from purple sandalwood. It was clearly the item Li Hong had told him to bring.
Under the watchful eyes of Xiang Yang, Li Hong, and Li Meng, Deng Fang's chicken-claw-like withered hand gripped the wooden box's lid. With a slight exertion of force, he slowly lifted it, and a treasure light that soared into the heavens burst from the opened box. A fragrance, diffuse as orchids and fragrant herbs, instantly filled the entire room—sweet and faint, yet carrying a salty, fishy tang.
Only after the dazzling radiance subsided and the fragrance had spread throughout the room did Xiang Yang clearly see what lay inside the box: a fist-sized, crimson flesh mushroom that trembled and pulsed as though it were alive.
The flesh mushroom was roughly four inches across, round in shape, its surface pitted and uneven, dotted with scattered bumps the size of little fingernails. A layer of blood-red hue stained it, making it appear exceedingly bizarre. Combined with the lingering fragrance it emitted, it was truly suspicious.
Though it was a treasure, it exuded Evil Qi.
"Blood Flower Spirit Mushroom? Four hundred years old. That truly is an enormous gesture. With it, after I advance into the Dao Attainment realm, I may be able to break through the Physical Body Divine Treasury in the shortest possible time."
Xiang Yang was vastly experienced. Especially after gaining the ability to undergo Primordial Spirit Ejection and Roam the Void Information Ocean, his knowledge had become immense; there were few strange things under heaven capable of stumping him.
At first glance, Xiang Yang had not recognized the flesh mushroom's origins. Only after examining it carefully a second time and