Chapter 1997: True Immortal Realm Heavenly Dao Technique!

Although he didn't know the properties of the object before him, he had extensive knowledge of sacred beasts, immortal beasts, and the like.

Since this stone bore the words 'divine blood,' it must be related to the blood of a deity. No matter how powerful an immortal beast encountered it, it would likely flee.

This method had been passed down from the Lingyun Sword Pavilion.

Within it, the Sword God Hall was such that even the most formidable immortal beasts dared not approach.

This was precisely because it bore the words 'Sword God' left by the founding patriarch.

'This... I'll go find it right now!'

The method was not difficult. Hu Fangzhu and Elder Crane exchanged a glance; the former nodded and hurriedly left.

He was eager to confirm whether it was indeed a divine blood stone.

If it was real, even if he suffered a great loss this time, he would not dare to auction it off.

After all, compared to money, life was clearly more important.

In less than half an hour, Hu Fangzhu returned carrying several jade bottles.

'These are the blood of immortal beasts at the Immortal Lord level...'

Immortal beasts at the Immortal Lord level were few in number; finding one and bringing it here was difficult, but a small amount of blood was not complicated.

Immortal beast blood contained immense energy and greatly aided in improving cultivation. As long as one was willing to spend money, the Tong Shen Hall could easily procure such items.

'This bottle is the blood of an Ink Tiger immortal beast, which reaches the peak of Immortal Lord in adulthood...'

Taking a jade bottle, he poured a drop of blood onto the stone before him.

Though it was just a drop of blood, it contained rich spiritual energy, heavy as gold. As it dripped through the air, it caused the air to whistle.

Whoosh!

Just as the blood was about to land on the stone, it suddenly swayed lightly and flew to the side, as if seeing something it feared, hiding aside and whimpering.

Hu Fangzhu's face stiffened.

If he had doubts before, now he was seventy or eighty percent convinced.

Among the several types of blood he had purchased, the Ink Tiger immortal beast's blood was the strongest. Other blood would tremble and dare not approach, but now, before even reaching the stone, it behaved like this...

This indicated that the stone must emit a power that inspired awe!

Other than... a deity, he truly couldn't imagine anything else!

He dripped the blood from the remaining jade bottles, and all behaved the same, too afraid to approach.

'It truly is a divine blood stone...'

With no more doubts in his heart, he looked at the young man before him, filled with reverence.

Without using any tools, he could tell at a glance that it was related to divine blood. His insight was terrifyingly sharp.

'This thing... do you know when it was obtained, and the exact location?'

Zhang Xuan said no more, having calmed his excitement, and looked over.

'When I bought it, the seller only said it was from the Star-Chasing Sea, without revealing other details...' Hu Fangzhu shook his head.

'Then... can the person who sold you this stone still be found? I have some questions to ask!' Zhang Xuan said.

'I'll try!'

Responding, Hu Fangzhu took out a communication jade token and sent a message. After waiting a while without a reply, he had to shake his head helplessly: 'He disappeared after selling me the stone... I probably won't be able to contact him again.'

Zhang Xuan sighed.

He had hoped to find the seller and ask about the exact location to investigate personally, but now it seemed impossible.

After asking a few more questions and obtaining no useful clues, Zhang Xuan couldn't help feeling disappointed.

'Then... do you know how long the seller had this stone?'

He asked finally.

'I bought it nearly a month ago. At that time, he said he had it for over a month... So, from the time he got it until now, it's been about two months.'

'Two months?'

Startled, Zhang Xuan clenched his fist again.

Luo Ruoxi had stayed in the Master Teacher Continent for over a year.

After she left, he stayed another three or four months before entering the Firmament.

Given the ten-to-one time ratio between the Firmament and the Master Teacher Continent, a year and a half—over five hundred days—corresponded to over fifty days in the Firmament. He had been in the Firmament for over ten days, totaling just over two months!

It seemed...

This object was very likely related to her.

Of course, whether it was or not, he would need to personally visit the so-called Star-Chasing Sea to see.

Understanding this, Zhang Xuan exhaled and continued, 'Fangzhu Hu, do you have any cultivation techniques for the True Immortal realm? The more, the better. Could you lend them to me for a look? I only need a glance; I won't copy or take them away!'

The purpose of coming to help identify treasures was for this. To go to the Star-Chasing Sea and search for traces of Luo Ruoxi, cultivation was crucial!

Only by reaching True Immortal would he have the ability to protect himself.

'Cultivation techniques for the True Immortal realm?'

Hearing this request, Hu Fangzhu paused and nodded: 'I have some here, all backup copies sold by the auction house... If Brother Zhang wants to see them, I'd be delighted!'

This man before him could recognize such obscure items; his appraisal skills were astonishing.

If they could recruit him to their trading company, no treasure would ever slip through their fingers!

Thus, he agreed immediately when asked.

Moreover, since he only wanted to look and not copy... it was an easy favor.

'Thank you, Fangzhu!'

Seeing his agreement, Zhang Xuan sighed in relief, then looked at the stone nearby: 'This divine blood stone involves a deity. Fangzhu, it's best not to auction it. Seal it with a special formation and never let the news leak. If I ever learn the refining method or usage, I'll discuss it with you in detail.'

'Thank you, Brother Zhang...'

Hu Fangzhu quickly nodded.

In fact, even without being told, he had already decided.

Anything involving a deity—he wouldn't dare leak a word, even with ten times the courage.

Although his cultivation had reached half-step Immortal Lord, compared to the strong from the Divine Hall... the gap was immeasurable; they were not on the same level.

Most importantly... even if the Divine Hall didn't intervene, the strong from the six great sects would surely come if they learned of it.

He was just a merchant; facing them, he would certainly be unable to resist.

Rather than trouble, it was better to suppress the news and say nothing.

After arranging for the divine blood stone to be stored away, Hu Fangzhu led Zhang Xuan to a room.

Inside, countless books were densely packed, not as many as in the Elder Hall, but still a great number.

'Only seventy-odd volumes...'

After quickly recording them in his mind, Zhang Xuan shook his head again.

There were many books, but only seventy-odd were at the True Immortal realm.

Even with over six hundred volumes, there were still seven flaws. Adding seventy more might not help much.

'Correct!'

With a low exclamation, the library shook, and these seventy-odd volumes merged with the previously collected six hundred-plus.

Picking up a book without much hope, he glanced at it, and his eyes lit up involuntarily.

The seven remaining flaws were all filled! The True Immortal realm Heavenly Dao technique in his hand was now perfect, without any gaps!

'This...'

Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it.

He had thought that seventy-odd volumes might fill one or two flaws at most. How had all been filled?

Hurriedly, he scanned the newly recorded seventy-odd volumes in his mind and immediately understood.

The auction house's collection, though not as powerful as the Sword Pavilion's, included many rare and peculiar techniques—unorthodox methods that didn't follow the normal cultivation path.

For this reason, they could fetch high prices and attract many cultivators.

The Sword Pavilion's six hundred-plus volumes leaned toward orthodoxy; these seventy-odd took a different path... The two complemented each other, and the Heavenly Dao technique was thus fully formed.

'Brother Zhang, which books would you like to see? I can fetch them...'

Hu Fangzhu smiled.

'I've already finished reading them. Thank you!'

Zhang Xuan clasped his hands.

'Finished reading?'

Hu Fangzhu was stunned.

They had just entered, and the young man had only glanced at the books...

It was like taking someone to an unspeakable place, and before they could even drop their pants, the other stood up and said they were done...

Too fast!

Are you sure you came to play... oh, no, to read?

Must it be this fast?

'I just had some cultivation doubts I couldn't resolve and wanted to look through books for hints, to see if I could integrate them... Seeing your books, I found they don't suit me. Rather than reading and disturbing my thoughts, it's better not to read at all!'

Zhang Xuan smiled.

'That... makes sense. My techniques differ quite a bit from the orthodox ones of the Sword Pavilion.'

Hearing this reason, Hu Fangzhu nodded.

In cultivation, learning more isn't always better; greed leads to indigestion. Many who read too much become unable to distinguish truth from falsehood, eventually leading to qi deviation.

'Brother Zhang, thanks to you identifying the divine blood stone, you saved me from disaster. This is just a small token; please don't refuse...'

Leaving the room, Hu Fangzhu handed over a pouch of Divine Coins, seemingly over a hundred.

Spending so much at once, he had truly invested heavily to win Zhang Xuan over.

'Fangzhu, you're too kind. I was just completing a task...'

Waving his hand, Zhang Xuan did not accept.

A gentleman loves wealth, but taking it by force is fine.

He didn't care for such a small amount of Divine Coins.

Of course, mainly he didn't want to be too deeply involved with him.

'Farewell. I hope we meet again!'

Declining the other's warm hospitality, Zhang Xuan turned and left the trading company.

His purpose in coming was to find techniques and complete the True Immortal realm Heavenly Dao method. Now that it was done, he should return to find Bai Ruanqing and quickly improve his cultivation!

Once he reached the peak of True Immortal, with the Tongchang Sword, he could even fight peak Immortal Lord experts. Then, going to the Star-Chasing Sea to search for Luo Ruoxi would no longer be a concern.

Leaving the trading company, he noticed that the sky outside was completely dark. The moon hung, stars seemed about to fall, and all around was serene and quiet.

Walking along the street toward the Tong Shen Hall, he had taken only a few steps when his pupils suddenly contracted.

'Who's there?'

He quickly turned and saw that the originally flat street twisted, all the buildings seemed to vanish, and he appeared in a wilderness. Then, several figures abruptly appeared before him.