Treasure Hunting
"Since we're already here, let's take a look around," Xiao Tian said with a smile, watching the two little ones eagerly tiptoeing and looking around.
Although there's a very small chance of finding anything worthwhile, it's worth the time if it makes the two little ones happy.
"Yay! Daddy, you're my number one!" the two little girls couldn't help but cheer.
"I'm second already?" Xuan Yi looked at the two of them dangerously. This morning he said he was the first one, and now it's someone else.
"Hehe, you're all our number one darlings, our number one darlings! You're all our beloved ones. Let's set off quickly, I'm sure I'll find the treasure!"
Xuan Yi and Xiao Tian exchanged a glance, shook their heads helplessly, and looked at their two lively daughters, but their hearts were filled with warmth.
"Then I'll take you to discover the treasure." Xuan Yi was also infected by the two's joyful mood, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
"Yay!!" The two little girls cheered and skipped along, pulling on the Xuan Yi as they went inside.
Xiao Tian watched their excited backs, his eyes full of doting affection. As his people, they should be carefree and happy.
Xiao Tian ignored the three of them and instead started wandering around on his own.
Xiao Tian walked in front of the various stone platforms, looking at the various items placed on them, but did not find anything of value.
After walking for about half an hour, we've covered half the area.
"Hmm?" Xiao Tian stopped discreetly in front of the stall of an old man who wore Fifth Grade Alchemist badge on his chest.
The stall was inconspicuous and even somewhat cluttered, displaying various metal fragments, unusual stones, and Medicinal Herb Fragments.
But Xiao Tian's gaze was drawn to something among a pile of stones that looked like Amber.
"Interesting." Xiao Tian narrowed his eyes, subtly shifting his gaze and pretending to examine the other items on the stall.
"Young friend, come and see the items here. These are my treasured possessions from many years ago, which I only recently took out to display." The old man said with a smile when he saw Xiao Tian stop, but his eyes kept glancing at Xiao Tian out of the corner of his eye.
Xiao Tian casually picked up a red Medicinal Herb Fragments and asked nonchalantly, "These?"
"Young friend, you have a good eye. This is one of my prized possessions. It's a part of the Earth Vein Ganoderma, containing many Ganoderma Spores that can be cultivated into new Earth Vein Ganoderma, which is a medicinal material for refining Rank 8 Pills."
The old man pointed to the thick red fragments on Xiao Tian's body and explained, his eyes constantly watching Xiao Tian's every move.
"Old man, you're only fooling those who aren't skilled enough. This thing does have fungal spores, but to cultivate Earth Vein Ganoderma, let alone needing a place with the Earth Power, the activity of the fungal spores in your fragment is probably less than one-tenth of what it used to be, right?"
Xiao Tian gently placed the Ganoderma Fragment back on the stall, tapped the stone surface lightly with his fingertips, and looked at the old man with a half-smile.
"Young friend, you have excellent eyesight!" The old man's smile froze for a moment, then spread even wider.
Xiao Tian did not reply. He picked up a few more inconspicuous items, nodding occasionally, but always avoiding looking at the Amber.
Seeing Xiao Tian pick up a black stone, the old man lowered his voice and said, "Young friend, this is the most precious thing I have here."
"This was passed down from my great-grandfather. He said it was given to him by an Rank 8 High-Grade Alchemist when the alchemist was on his deathbed, when he was working as a medicine apprentice under that Alchemist."
"This might contain the lifelong insights and experiences of that Alchemist. If you really want it, I'll give it to you cheaply; just one scroll of a Rank 6 Intermediate Soul Clarity Pill recipe will do."
Xiao Tian watched the old man spouting nonsense with such conviction and couldn't help but chuckle, "Old man, since this thing is so precious, you can keep it and ponder it slowly."
Before the old man could say anything more, Xiao Tian picked up the Ganoderma Fragment from before. "I'm more interested in this than your stone."
"This is one of my prized possessions." The old man wanted to repackage it, but seeing Xiao Tian put down the item and prepare to leave, he hurriedly said, "If you only want any one Sixth Rank- Intermediate Pill, this is yours."
"It's too expensive. This stuff is just fragments after all, and there's a high chance it'll all go down the drain. You should keep it and grow it yourself slowly."
Xiao Tian casually tossed four or five items and fragments together on the stall, including the piece of Amber. He said nonchalantly, "With these and the Ganoderma Fragment, I can give you a mid-grade Sixth Rank Intermediate Pill."
The old man frowned, his gaze sweeping over the items. He found they were all things he considered junk, but he still wanted to haggle. "Young friend, this is too much. These are all treasures of mine."
Xiao Tian ignored the old man's nonsense, turned around and left, his steps neither hurried nor slow, yet revealing a resolute air.
Seeing that Xiao Tian was about to leave, he hurriedly raised his voice and called out, "Young friend, wait!"
Xiao Tian paused slightly, but did not turn around; he simply stood there quietly.
He forced a smile and rubbed his hands together, saying, "Young friend, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Let's discuss it some more."
"You know the quality of your stuff yourself. I've already offered a fair price, which is reasonable enough. If you don't think it's worth it, then forget it," Xiao Tian said calmly, looking at the old man.
The old man naturally knew the value of his Ganoderma Fragment. He had obtained three pieces before, but two attempts to sell them had failed; otherwise, he wouldn't have put them up for sale.
The old man gritted his teeth, a warm smile spreading across his face.
"Young friend, don't misunderstand. It's not that I think it's not worth it, it's just that these are my treasured possessions, and I'm a little reluctant to part with them. How about this, considering your sincerity, the deal... the deal will be done as you said!"
"Here is a Rank 6 Intermediate Bear Heart Pill." Xiao Tian flipped his hand, and a Jade Bottle appeared in his hand. He tossed it to the old man, who hurriedly reached out and caught it.
The old man hurriedly opened and examined the items. After confirming that everything was correct, he pushed the pile of items that Xiao Tian had chosen towards Xiao Tian and said with a smile, "Young friend, no problem, please take these."
Xiao Tian casually put the five items into his System Space: "Farewell."
After saying that, Xiao Tian turned and slowly walked away, then disappeared into the crowd.
Half an hour after Xiao Tian finished shopping.
Xiao Tian found two young girls, who were sitting dejectedly on a stone platform, looking utterly miserable.
Xuan Yi squatted down to be at eye level with the two little ones sitting on the stone platform, a faint smile playing on his lips, but he tried his best to appear serious.
"What's wrong, our little treasure hunters? Are you already discouraged?" She gently tapped Xiao Meng and Xiao Meng's noses, causing the two little girls to pout.