Chapter 13: Master and Disciple at Odds, Four Thousand Five Hundred Inferior Spirit Stones

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Inside the storage vault, Lin Chuan stood between rows of wooden shelves, his fingers lightly brushing over various unknown treasures. These items, collected by the Destiny Tower yet whose authenticity remained uncertain, appeared almost transparent to him now.

“The black stone on the third shelf from the left is ‘Xuan Yin Iron,’ useful for forging yin-attribute magical tools,” Xiaopang’s voice echoed in his mind. “The bronze kettle on the right shelf is a replica, but there’s a ‘Fire Spirit Pearl’ hidden at its base—worth about a thousand spirit stones.”

Following Xiaopang’s instructions, Lin Chuan memorized the locations of the most valuable treasures. After an hour, they had “appraised” all thousands of unknown items in the storage.

“Strange…” Lin Chuan furrowed his brow, “there isn’t a single item beneficial to the soul.”

“Indeed, it’s odd,” Xiaopang mused. “In such a large vault, there should be at least a few soul-nourishing artifacts.”

Lin Chuan stepped toward the corner of the vault, where some damaged ancient books and scrolls were piled. He casually opened one to find it was a travelogue by a cultivator, recounting his quest for spiritual herbs in the southern marshes.

“Wait!” Xiaopang suddenly exclaimed, “That fragmentary scroll in the bottom right corner!”

Lin Chuan pulled out a half-bamboo slip from the pile, inscribed with archaic characters. Xiaopang’s light flickered faintly. “This is a fragment of the ‘Soul Nourishing Technique’! Though only the basics remain, it’s definitely a soul cultivation method!”

“Would this count as a soul-related treasure?” Lin Chuan wondered aloud. “Why was it discarded here?”

“Because the text is from the Cangxuan Continent ten thousand years ago, and it’s too incomplete for anyone to recognize,” Xiaopang explained. “Besides, soul cultivation techniques require special methods to activate. Even if an ordinary cultivator obtained the full version, they wouldn’t understand its secrets.”

Lin Chuan returned the bamboo slip to its place, his doubts deepening. The existence of this fragment proved that the Destiny Tower did possess some soul-related items, but all other more obvious soul-nourishing treasures had vanished.

“Chuan’er, we need to find out what’s going on,” Xiaopang’s voice grew serious. “I suspect someone deliberately took all soul-related items away.”

Lin Chuan nodded, taking down the two most valuable items from the shelves—a fist-sized crimson crystal and a rusty bronze short sword. According to Xiaopang’s evaluation, these two were worth over fifty thousand lower-grade spirit stones combined.

“Let’s use these two as bait,” Lin Chuan whispered. “See if we can squeeze some information out of Manager Liu.”

As they left the vault, the guards thoroughly inspected Lin Chuan and confirmed he only took the two registered items before allowing him to go.

Back in his appraisal room, Lin Chuan placed the two treasures on the table and pretended to study the books. An hour later, as he was browsing through the "Southern Ridge Chronicles of Strange Items," the door opened, and the round figure of Manager Liu appeared.

“Still hard at work, Lin Keqing?” Manager Liu smiled but his eyes immediately fixed on the two treasures on the table.

When he saw the appraisal results written on the rice paper beside them, the fat on his face twitched sharply.

“Value… thirty… thirty thousand lower-grade spirit stones?” His voice rose suddenly as he strode to the table. “Lin Keqing, this appraisal result is no joke!”

Lin Chuan hastily stood and bowed. “Manager Liu, how dare I speak falsely? These two treasures truly hold great value.”

Manager Liu examined the crimson crystal against the sunlight, then flicked the sword’s blade, listening to its unique echo. His expression shifted from doubt to shock.

“This… this is truly the ‘Scarlet Flame Crystal Heart’ and the mysterious ‘Azure Sword’ of the Xuan rank?” His voice trembled. “How did you recognize them?”

Lin Chuan was ready with an answer and “excitedly” explained, “When I was young, I obtained a fragmentary rare book that described many uncommon treasures. Just a few days ago, I identified a star core fragment outside the city thanks to that book. Today, seeing these two items in the vault, they closely matched the descriptions, so I boldly appraised them.”

To make the lie more convincing, Lin Chuan demonstrated the verification method. He infused a trace of spiritual power, which he had just cultivated through a medicinal bath that opened his minor energy circulation, into the crimson crystal. Instantly, fiery patterns appeared within the stone. Then he wiped the bronze sword with a special solution, removing rust to reveal exquisite cloud patterns on the blade.

“Excellent! Excellent!” Manager Liu slapped the table, his face flushed with excitement. “Lin Keqing, you truly have a rare talent! These two treasures can fetch at least fifty thousand lower-grade spirit stones!”

Lin Chuan feigned modesty and bowed his head. “All thanks to Manager Liu’s guidance that I had the chance to handle such treasures.”

Manager Liu laughed heartily, patting Lin Chuan’s shoulder warmly. “Good lad! From now on, whenever you have questions, just ask me! I, Liu, will teach you everything I know!”

Lin Chuan felt that this promise was sincere, unlike the polite formalities before. After all, this appraisal meant Manager Liu would receive a handsome commission.

When the timing was right, Lin Chuan hesitated briefly then said, “Manager Liu, there is one thing I wish to ask…”

“Speak freely!” Manager Liu was in a great mood and waved his hand generously.

“I read in an ancient text that enhancing soul power can improve memory,” Lin Chuan carefully began. “I want to become an excellent appraiser and need to memorize countless treasure features. So I hope to find some soul-enhancing treasures or medicines… Does the Destiny Tower have such items for sale? Cheaper ones would be best.”

Manager Liu’s smile stiffened, a flicker of caution flashing in his eyes. He scrutinized Lin Chuan as if judging his intent.

“Why… why do you suddenly ask this?” His voice lowered.

Lin Chuan wore a “puzzled” expression. “I only wish to improve memory to master appraisal skills faster… If I’ve offended, please forgive me, Manager Liu.”

After staring for a long moment, Manager Liu seemed convinced Lin Chuan had no other intentions and relaxed, motioning him to sit.

“Lin Keqing, you can’t be blamed for this,” Manager Liu lowered his voice. “You’re new here, so it’s normal not to know. It’s not just the Destiny Tower; all cultivation cities across Destiny City and even the entire Cangxuan Continent have soul-related treasures strictly controlled by the Dao Court.”

“The Dao Court?” Lin Chuan’s eyes widened in surprise. “Why regulate these?”

“Ten years ago, the Dao Court suddenly issued a ban, confiscating all soul-related treasures, techniques, and medicines,” Manager Liu said. “Anyone secretly keeping them would be treated as rebels—at best their cultivation is stripped, at worst their entire clan is exterminated.”

Lin Chuan gasped. “That serious?”

“Absolutely!” Manager Liu shuddered. “When the ban was first issued, some powerful families tried to hide soul-nourishing treasures, but overnight their clans vanished, their mansions reduced to ruins.”

Xiaopang laughed coldly in Lin Chuan’s mind. “Quite a heavy hand!”

“So… where did all these treasures go?” Lin Chuan asked curiously.

Manager Liu shook his head. “Who knows? Since then, no soul-related items have appeared in the market. Occasionally, some slip through to the black market, but prices are absurdly high.”

Lowering his voice further, Manager Liu glanced around cautiously. “Lin Keqing, that’s enough on this topic. Don’t mention it again, and don’t say I told you. The Dao Court is very sensitive about this. One slip-up and you’ll bring trouble upon yourself.”

Lin Chuan nodded quickly. “Understood. Thank you for your advice, Manager Liu.”

Manager Liu smiled again, patting Lin Chuan’s shoulder. “You did great today. I’ll report to the main tower immediately. If the appraisal is confirmed, your commission will be at least five thousand lower-grade spirit stones!”

Lin Chuan “gratefully” thanked him. After seeing Manager Liu out, his smile vanished. Closing the door, he sat down, deep in thought.

“Dao Court…” Xiaopang’s voice was icy. “Looks like my earlier suspicion was right.”

“What suspicion?” Lin Chuan asked in his mind.

“My good disciple must have his eyes on me,” Xiaopang’s voice was filled with suppressed anger. “Three thousand years ago, I took on a disciple and made him the Dao Court’s official founder. But I never told him about the secret chaotic heavenly soul-seizing array related to Earth.

Later, he sensed I was hiding things and showed signs of rebellion. But even then, though I was just a soul, I was still one of the universe’s top powers. Crushing him was as easy as crushing an ant, so he never really rebelled.”

Lin Chuan frowned. “If you knew he had rebellious thoughts, why didn’t you stop him back then? And since he knew your former strength, how could he be sure you can’t crush even an ant now, yet still dare to make a move on you? Why did he suddenly ban all soul-related treasures ten years ago?”

“For the first question, I can’t tell you yet,” Xiaopang said gravely. “The second, I don’t know. As for the third… I suspect they’re looking for me.”

“Looking for you?”

“I don’t know how he confirmed my power had waned to an extreme, but knowing this, he’d realize I need many soul-related treasures to recover,” Xiaopang explained.

Lin Chuan gasped. “Then aren’t we…”

“Don’t worry,” Xiaopang’s tone softened. “Though my good disciple knows I’m weak, he doesn’t know where I am. Otherwise, he’d have found us already.”

Lin Chuan pondered, then asked, “Wait, if the Dao Court is after you, then what about the Destiny Tower…”

“The Destiny Tower answers to the Lord of Destiny City, and the city lord is subordinate to the Dao Court,” Xiaopang warned. “From now on, we must be extra cautious. Especially your exceptional appraisal skills—too outstanding might raise suspicion.”

Lin Chuan nodded, but a new plan was forming in his mind. Since official channels couldn’t provide soul treasures, the black market, ruins, or other secret paths were the only options. To access these, he needed more resources and higher status.

“Five thousand spirit stones…” Lin Chuan stroked his chin. “Enough to buy a small house and get city residency in Destiny City. But rather than spending on housing, it’s better to invest in myself—find better cultivation resources.”

“Don’t rush to spend,” Xiaopang advised. “First, we need to find out where the city’s black market is and how to trade safely.”

Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Lin Chuan immediately ceased his mental conversation with Xiaopang, adopting a joyful expression.

The door opened, and Manager Liu entered, face flushed with excitement, holding a small pouch.

“Lin Keqing, the chief appraiser at the main tower has confirmed your appraisal!” Manager Liu handed over the pouch. “Your commission this time is five thousand two hundred lower-grade spirit stones! To make it easier for you to carry, I went ahead and bought you a lower-grade spirit-tier storage pouch at a discounted price, costing seven hundred lower-grade spirit stones.”

Lin Chuan opened the pouch to find it contained five open chests. Four were filled with shimmering spirit stones, while the fifth was half full.

His heart rejoiced; this was even smoother than he had hoped.

“Thank you for your support, Manager Liu!” Lin Chuan bowed deeply. “I will double my efforts to live up to your expectations!”

Manager Liu nodded approvingly, gave a few more reminders, then left.

Closing the door, Lin Chuan took out the spirit stones, forming a small pile that emitted a faint spiritual aura.

“Chuan’er, with this money, you can easily break through to the Spiritual Martial Realm in a short time,” Xiaopang’s voice brimmed with excitement. “Buy the improved medicinal bath formula I designed, and within a week, I’ll help you break through.”

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