On Dao-Treasuring Peak, inside the thatched cottage in the Path-Seeking Courtyard, two Daoists sat across a table.
There were no formalities between the fellow disciples. Xuanxu went straight to the point. "Senior brother, I imagine you already know that Wang came up the mountain to offer reparations. The rest is straightforward, but there is one treasure that requires your personal safekeeping."
He took a jade box from his Wish-Fulfilling Pouch, set it on the table, and removed its seal, revealing a jade vial. Before Xuanming could ask, Xuanxu explained, "This vial contains a drop of Spring Blossom Essence."
Looking at the object before him, Xuanming understood why Xuanxu sounded so grave. This was indeed a rare treasure, but precisely because it was so valuable, it brought the Truth-Seeking Abbey more peril than fortune.
The world's treasures were divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow.
Yellow grade corresponded to Essence Refining.
Profound grade corresponded to Qi Refining.
Earth grade corresponded to Spirit Refining.
Heaven grade corresponded to realms beyond that.
The spirit herbs Xuan Yin grew were Yellow grade, while most of the spirit herbs and fruits in the Flood Dragon's treasure hoard were Profound grade. Yet even within the same grade, quality varied.
Heaven and earth were vast and abundant in resources, with countless varieties of spiritual treasures. Long ago, the Great Sheng Divine Dynasty had catalogued the spiritual treasures within its territory, selected the three hundred finest of each grade, and compiled four rankings, which were revised every sixty years. The three Divine Dynasties of Great Xuan, Great Jin, and Great Qian had continued this tradition.
The Flood Dragon's treasure hoard had contained a Profound-grade ranking left behind by a True Person, along with numerous books. Among them were ancient works such as Records of Curious Things