Beneath Yellow Maple Valley's Scripture Pavilion lay an underground treasury, its bluestone vault studded with Night-Luminescent Pearls that bathed the room in flowing spiritual light. Han Li stood before the central jade platform with his hands behind his back. Behind him, the Magnetic Essence Griffin's golden feathers glimmered-it had been formally appointed the sect's guardian divine beast. Now it preened its tail feathers with its beak, occasionally giving a low, rumbling coo, as though keeping watch.
The jade platform was piled with treasures passed down through generations of the Seven Mysteries Sect and Yellow Maple Valley. The Blood-Patterned Jade Disc taken from the Seven Mysteries Sect's treasury could strengthen the divine soul, while star-dust sand could accelerate the circulation of spiritual power. Among the treasures brought from Yellow Maple Valley's treasury, a piece of Spirit-Gathering Jade Marrow held spiritual energy so dense it was almost liquid, Millennium Blood Ginseng contained innate vitality, and yellow maple iron essence could improve a magical treasure's conductivity for spiritual power.
"Palace Master Han, these were accumulated by generations of Yellow Maple Valley cultivators. You..."
Zhou Tong, the hall master of Yellow Maple Hall, followed behind him, his voice lowered almost to a whisper. His gaze swept over the treasures on the jade platform, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. Behind him, Chen Jing, Yellow Maple Valley's Grand Elder at the Core Formation Late Stage, clenched his fists inside his sleeves until his knuckles turned white. Had these treasures remained in Yellow Maple Valley, they would have been enough to cultivate three Core Formation Late Stage disciples. Now Han Li was taking every last one. Anyone would have felt bitter.
Without turning, Han Li lightly flicked the Spirit-Gathering Jade Marrow, drawing a clear, resonant hum from it. "Hall Master Zhou, to your Yellow Maple Hall,