Obtaining Treasure, Departing

The three of them entered the abode and arrived at the main hall where Su Ru was already waiting. Seeing Xu Yang and the others, she quickly stood up to welcome them.

After they met, they didn't waste time with pleasantries and sat down on the chairs in the hall. Su Ru looked at Ling Feng with an anxious expression, her eyes filled with inquiry.

Ling Feng glanced at Su Ru, took the Taiyin Jade Rabbit bracelet from his robes, and said, "This is a spatial spiritual treasure called the Taiyin Jade Rabbit. It was worn personally by that Nascent Soul Realm female cultivator. The things we are looking for should be within the space of this bracelet."

As he spoke, Ling Feng handed the bracelet to Su Ru. She took the spatial bracelet with a look of joy and examined it carefully in her hands. Afterward, Ling Feng recounted the situation they had encountered inside the abode in great detail.

The dangers he described left Su Ru, who was still happily examining the Lunar Bracelet, looking shocked. Finally, Ling Feng nodded toward Xu Yang and said, "This time, it is all thanks to fellow Daoist Xu Yang; otherwise, I would have perished long ago, and we would never have obtained the treasures within the abode."

After hearing Ling Feng's account, the couple Qin Shuang stood up and bowed to Xu Yang, saying, "My wife and I thank you, fellow Daoist Xu, for your immense help. We will remember this favor."

Xu Yang quickly stood up and cupped his hands, saying, "Many thanks to both seniors. I will not be overly modest; if I have need in the future, I will certainly come to seek your assistance."

Xu Yang did not dwell on this further. Instead, he took out a Qiankun Bag, placed it on the stone table, and said to Qin Shuang, "The treasures obtained from this expedition are in this Qiankun Bag. Aside from the Qi Refining Realm pills that fellow Daoist Ling and I divided, everything else is here. Additionally, the Talisman Treasure, the God-Sealing Lock, is with fellow Daoist Ling."

Upon hearing Xu Yang's words, Qin Shuang's expression shifted. He reached out to take the Qiankun Bag and emptied its contents. Suddenly, the stone table was covered with various treasures, pills, Dharma Artifacts, and spiritual materials.

The couple Qin Shuang were astonished to see this, not expecting that Xu Yang and his companion had obtained so many treasures. A sharp glint flashed in Qin Shuang's eyes, and he felt a sense of approval toward Xu Yang. With so many treasures, Xu Yang had brought them out without a second thought, showing that he was not a greedy person and possessed an excellent character.

Qin Shuang scanned the treasures on the table and said to Xu Yang and Ling Feng with a smile, "You both put in great effort to ensure this mission was completed successfully. You should choose from these treasures first!"

Xu Yang and Ling Feng looked at each other and, without declining, walked straight to the stone table to choose carefully. There were two Dharma treasures on the table: a Flying Sword and a precious mirror. Xu Yang only glanced at them before looking away; Dharma treasures could only be activated upon reaching the Golden Core Realm, which was far too distant for him. It was better to be practical.

Besides those, there were six top-grade Dharma Artifacts: two Flying Swords, a small emerald mountain, a Whisk, a cyan Daoist robe, and a precious mirror. Xu Yang's gaze fell upon the mirror and the small emerald mountain, and without hesitation, he reached out and took them.

Ling Feng, standing to the side, pondered for a moment before taking one of the Flying Swords and the cyan Daoist robe. Afterward, the two of them took some spiritual pills for Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators to increase their cultivation, along with some common refining materials, before stepping away from the table.

Seeing that they had finished choosing, Qin Shuang stepped forward, waved his hand to collect the remaining treasures from the table, and turned to Ling Feng. "Ling Feng, you obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill in the abode. You are about to go into seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, aren't you?"

Ling Feng replied with a joyful expression, "Yes! I didn't expect to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill this time. I have been at the peak of the ninth level of the Qi Refining Realm for a long time; I intend to go into seclusion to break through immediately upon returning."

Qin Shuang nodded and said, "Very good. Once you break through, I will give you further rewards. Go into seclusion now; I imagine you can hardly wait."

Hearing this, Ling Feng could no longer contain his urgency. He stood up, bowed solemnly to Xu Yang, and said, "I ask for your understanding, fellow Daoist Xu. Once I break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, I will thank you for saving my life. For now, I must take my leave."

Xu Yang waved his hand and said to Ling Feng with sincerity, "I can understand your urgency. I wish you a smooth breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm." Ling Feng bowed to Xu Yang, nodded to the couple Qin Shuang, and turned to head toward the depths of the abode.

Watching Ling Feng leave, Qin Shuang turned to Xu Yang and said with a smile, "Ling Feng is like a brother to me; once he breaks through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, I will naturally give him other rewards. Fellow Daoist Xu, however, is different. You contributed greatly to the success of this operation, and I must show my appreciation for your assistance."

Having said this, Qin Shuang continued, "Moreover, I took the lion's share of the treasures from this expedition, and the two Dharma treasures and other spiritual pills are of immense value; I cannot ignore that." After speaking, Qin Shuang rubbed his chin, lost in thought, clearly considering how to thank Xu Yang.

After a moment, Qin Shuang clapped his hands, took a pile of items from his Qiankun Bag, and said to Xu Yang, "These are items from my personal collection. Some are of great value, while others are things whose uses even I do not know. Fellow Daoist Xu, you may choose three items as a token of my gratitude."

Xu Yang felt a surge of curiosity; he wanted to see what treasures Qin Shuang had collected. He immediately walked to the stone table and looked down at the items.

There were only five items on the table: a blackened piece of tortoise shell, two white insect eggs the size of ping-pong balls, a red crystal the size of a fist, a piece of Deep Sea Cold Iron the size of a fist, and a piece of Geng Metal the size of a thumb.

The tortoise shell did not look complete, missing more than two-thirds of its original form. The two white insect eggs were of unknown origin, and Xu Yang did not recognize the red crystal at all. However, the Deep Sea Cold Iron and Geng Metal were of immense value and rarity, typically used only by cultivators at the Golden Core Realm or higher.

Xu Yang pondered for a moment before choosing the broken tortoise shell, the two white insect eggs, and the red crystal. He made this choice partly out of curiosity and a desire to find a hidden gem, and partly to leave a good impression on Qin Shuang. After all, the Deep Sea Cold Iron and Geng Metal were too valuable, and he had no use for them in the near future; it was better to improve the couple's favor toward him.

Seeing Xu Yang's choices, Qin Shuang was somewhat surprised and secretly praised him, Good lad. He didn't even take the Deep Sea Cold Iron or the Geng Metal, resisting their temptation. If this boy can always be like this, he will surely achieve great things. Thinking of this, Qin Shuang held Xu Yang in even higher regard.

Since Xu Yang had made his choice, Qin Shuang swept his large sleeves and put the Deep Sea Cold Iron and Geng Metal back into his Qiankun Bag. At the same time, he introduced them to Xu Yang, "The Geng Metal and Deep Sea Cold Iron were obtained from the Ancient Cultivator Abode. As for the three items you chose, I obtained them at a marketplace. That tortoise shell is incredibly hard; even top-grade Dharma Artifacts can barely scratch it, and I don't know why!"

"As for the two white insect eggs, after much investigation, I discovered they are eggs of the Ice Centipede. The Ice Centipede is an extremely powerful demonic beast; once it reaches adulthood, it possesses Golden Core Realm cultivation. As for that red crystal, even I do not know what it is, only that it is extremely hard, no less so than the tortoise shell."

Hearing Qin Shuang's explanation, Xu Yang nodded in understanding and placed the three treasures into his Qiankun Bag. Afterward, Xu Yang said solemnly to the couple, "The two seniors must give the Lunar Bracelet to Yaoyao as soon as possible. Only Yaoyao can refine the bracelet and open its space."

"I believe Yaoyao should receive the inheritance of that Nascent Soul Realm female cultivator as soon as possible. After all, the current situation in Yue Province is somewhat chaotic, and there is another abode in Yong Province waiting for Yaoyao to inherit. But centuries have passed; who knows what the state of that abode is now? Therefore, the higher Yaoyao's cultivation, the better."

"Furthermore, that female cultivator had some enemies in Yong Province. What if they come looking for her one day?" Hearing this, the couple Qin Shuang's expressions changed slightly. They had been so caught up in their joy that they hadn't considered this. Now, reminded by Xu Yang, a sense of urgency immediately rose within them.

The couple looked at each other, and Su Ru said to Xu Yang with gratitude, "Thank you for the reminder, fellow Daoist Xu. Otherwise, we would not have thought of this. I will go inside to find Yaoyao now and have her refine the Lunar Bracelet. Please excuse me." After speaking, Su Ru stood up, bowed to Xu Yang, and walked toward the inner chambers of the abode.

After Su Ru left, Xu Yang and Qin Shuang began to chat pleasantly. Taking this opportunity, Xu Yang humbly asked Qin Shuang about the doubts he had in his own cultivation. Qin Shuang did not hoard his knowledge and explained things in great detail, leaving Xu Yang feeling enlightened. His difficulties were resolved one by one, and his mind felt remarkably clear.

After the exchange, Xu Yang admired Qin Shuang immensely. He had not expected him to be so knowledgeable, with a deep understanding of various cultivation issues, leaving Xu Yang truly impressed.

After chatting for a while longer, Xu Yang noticed Qin Shuang glancing frequently toward the inner chambers and immediately understood that he was worried about Yaoyao, fearing an accident during the refinement of the Taiyin Jade Rabbit. Xu Yang stopped the conversation, stood up, and said to Qin Shuang, "I have been enlightened by your guidance today, senior, and I am truly grateful."

"Since you are worried about Yaoyao, I will not disturb you any further. I shall take my leave now so that you may go and check on her. I will come to visit again in the future."

Qin Shuang stood up and said to Xu Yang, "I am indeed worried about them, and I ask for your understanding, fellow Daoist Xu. Since you are leaving, I will not see you out. If you need to contact me in the future, you can send me a message via this Sound Transmission Talisman." As he spoke, Qin Shuang tapped his Qiankun Bag, took out a Sound Transmission Talisman, and handed it to Xu Yang.

Xu Yang took it, placed it in his Qiankun Bag, bowed to Qin Shuang, and turned to leave. Qin Shuang watched Xu Yang leave the main hall of the abode before immediately turning to walk into the inner chambers to check on Su Ru and her daughter.