Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Chapter 404: 404 Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion’s Thick Skin

”Brother, may I ask for your distinguished name?”

As the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion, Gong Qizhen was well aware that his interference was a bit irregular, so he spoke quite politely. He needed to clarify this young man’s background first in order to handle the next steps appropriately.

”My name is Yun Xiao, and I am not from Xuri City!”

Yun Xiao saw no reason to hide this information since he hailed from Xuanyue Empire, and he was an unknown entity in Lingtian Empire. He feared someone might look into his background.

However, Yun Xiao’s gaze was fixated on Gong Qizhen, and he did not notice that when the words ”Yun Xiao” were uttered, a figure in red trembled violently, her grip on something in her palm tightened more than doubly.

”It really is you!”

The woman in red radiated a strange gleam in her beautiful eyes - a mixture of shyness and joy, a complex meld of emotions.

”Yun Xiao?”

Not just Gong Qizhen but also the onlookers seemed puzzled by the name. They theorized that with such a unique insight, the young man must hail from some notable family or sect. Yet in the southern territory of Lingtian Empire, which family bore the surname Yun?

The crowd racked their brains but could not remember, concluding that this youth likely was not a native of the southern territory of Lingtian Empire. Considering Yun Xiao’s words, they grew contemplative.

”So, it seems you are the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion. Is it not inappropriate for you to act like this?”

Yun Xiao did not dwell on this matter, instead transferring his gaze directly to something Xi Qizhen’s hand was pressing on the table, his words laced with mockery which caused the Pavilion Master’s expression to darken.

The truth was, after spotting many fakes in the Treasure Pavilion, Yun Xiao already nursed a poor impression of the Pavilion Master who had not shown his face. Though he usually did not like getting involved, he would not back down when it directly affected him.

Yun Xiao had already learned the rules - in this peculiar section, identifying any object entitled one to its possession. Now the Pavilion Master’s intervention was merely because he realized Yun Xiao had exceptional discernment and did not want the treasures to end up in his hands.

Pawning off fakes to make a profit was acceptable, but now that real treasures were about to change hands, the Pavilion Master stepped in to intervene. How thick-faced could Gong be?

”Hehe, you jest, my lord. These items were mistakenly taken by a careless servant; however, I, the Pavilion Master, am magnanimous. The three items you’ve already identified won’t be taken back, but these remaining few...”

Xi Qizhen appeared not to notice the irony in Yun Xiao’s words. After speaking, he directly swept up the remaining three objects into his Waist Storage.

This act dumbfounded the onlookers. They had seen thick-skinned, but never to this extent. Gong Qizhen’s move certainly stunned everyone.

”Hmph, to see the Pavilion Master of the Treasue Pavilion act so shamelessly, Miss has truly seen it all today!”

Just as Yun Xiao was still reeling, a cold snort suddenly came from the side. It was the red-dressed girl, who seemed even less willing to see Yun Xiao deceived after knowing his name.

”The affairs of the Treasure Pavilion are not for you, girl, to meddle in!”

Despite the extraordinary demeanor of the red-dressed girl, she seemed a bit inconsequential in front of Gong Qizhen, the Pavilion Master. After all, face mattered little compared to treasures. Today, he was determined to be utterly shameless.

Swish!

After speaking, Gong Qizhen swept his sleeve and three completely new oddities landed on the table. Most onlookers shook their heads disdainfully upon seeing them.

Two of the three items were all too familiar, ordinary items one could see anywhere, things so worthless they’d lie on the ground unbent.

Yet Gong Qizhen had presented these as treasures for appraisal, infuriating the crowd even more than the Red Sunflower and Fire Pine Dog Feces.

As for the last item, it appeared to be an insignificant broken stone. Everyone believed that if the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion could casually throw it away, it probably had no value. Seeing another treasure today seemed unlikely.

Yun Xiao’s expression turned extremely dark. The mysterious seventh item had piqued his interest, ready to claim it, when unexpectedly, it vanished.

But against this almost Late Stage of Meridian Union Realm Pavilion Master, he truly had no good options. After all, this was the Treasure Pavilion, and the man was the Pavilion Master. He couldn’t just forcefully take it, and it was doubtful he could overpower him.

”Yun Xiao, you must get that stone; it’s greatly beneficial for the growth of the Dragon Summoning Tree!”

In the midst of Yun Xiao’s silent anger, a somewhat urgent voice suddenly emerged deep in his mind, causing him to become alert and his gaze uncontrollably shifted towards the dim and lightless stone.

This voice, naturally, came from the Golden Snake Worm. Although Yun Xiao prided himself on being the reincarnation of the Long Xiao Battle God, the more he interacted with this creature, the more he felt like a country bumpkin.

Whether it was Mo Qing’s Pure Yang Immortal Body, or Liu Hanyi’s Immortal Poison Body, Yun Xiao had never heard of them even in the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, but they were casually mentioned by the Golden Snake Worm.

That piece looked like a worthless broken stone, and it had been exchanged out by the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion. Initially, Yun Xiao was certain it was useless, but it unexpectedly caught the attention of the Golden Snake Worm.

Yun Xiao knew this creature had exceptionally high standards; many items he valued were considered trash in its eyes. Throughout their journey, only the Dragon Summoning Tree had managed to make the Golden Snake Worm lose its composure.

Moreover, according to the implication in the Golden Snake Worm’s words, this ordinary-looking stone was somehow related to the Dragon Summoning Tree. Although Yun Xiao couldn’t see any clues, he knew this stone was no common artifact.

Initially thinking that he might not get any treasures from the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion this time, he was surprised that an even greater revelation awaited him.

However, although Yun Xiao was excited inside, his expression remained unchanged. He did not pay too much attention to the final stone, instead, his gaze first shifted to the first item thrown out by Gong Qizhen.

”Thick Earth Tiles, cast by ordinary craftsmen, used for high building structures!”

Yun Xiao spoke smoothly, sharing the details about the item, leaving the crowd baffled but slowly nodding because these tiles were common and not worth even a copper coin.

”Extended Mountain Root, grows in the depths of dense forests, can be used to weave carrying baskets!”

Ignoring the surprised expressions of the bystanders, Yun Xiao spoke up, then looked at Pavilion Master Gong Qizhen and seriously stated, ”I recognize these two items; should they not belong to me now?”

”Sir, you truly have a keen eye, they are yours now!”

Although Gong Qizhen’s face showed surprise, he still complimented him with a sneer hidden in his voice. However, anyone could detect the sarcasm in his voice; Thick Earth Tiles and Extended Mountain Root, even a child could recognize, what kind of keen eye was this?

Yun Xiao completely disregarded this, finally stepping up to the ordinary stone. The stone wasn’t very regular in shape, and everyone considered it a mere piece of broken rock. At this point, would Gong Qizhen still produce any treasures for Yun Xiao to add to his collection?

The truth was Yun Xiao didn’t know the origin of this stone, but anything valued so highly by the Golden Snake Worm was definitely not ordinary. The Thick Earth Tiles and Extended Mountain Root were merely a lead-up; his real goal was this stone.

To avoid tipping off Gong Qizhen, Yun Xiao remained expressionless, and after pocketing the first two items into his Waist Storage, he pointed at the stone and casually said, ”Black Grinding Stone, usable for sharpening weapons, and if crushed, it turns into ink powder that won’t fade when written with.”

Yun Xiao spoke nonsense, but since nobody else could recognize what the stone was, and he believed that Gong Qizhen, having put it forward, was prepared for him to take it.

Indeed, neither Gong Qizhen nor the onlookers held any suspicions. After Yun Xiao spoke, he excitedly reached his hand towards the stone but did not expect the turn of events immediately after touching it.

For some unknown reason, the moment Yun Xiao’s finger touched the stone, the crescent-shaped mark in his palm seemed uncontrollably activated, and a strange energy was expelled, directly entering the stone.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

As this energy entered the stone, five streaks of differently colored lights burst forth from it, dazzling everyone present, including Pavilion Master Gong Qizhen who appeared contemplative, his aura whirling around as if ready to take action at any moment.

”What’s happening?”

Yun Xiao was truly shocked; originally, he wanted to secretly take the stone without arousing suspicion, but now that it had caused such a commotion, who wouldn’t know that this stone was extraordinary?

”Uh... sorry, I forgot that you’re cultivating the Ancient Dragon Taming Technique!”

After a burst of angry shouting, a dry laugh echoed in Yun Xiao’s mind, the meaning behind the Golden Snake Worm’s words made Yun Xiao grimace, but now was not the time to fuss over these details.

The pressing matter was how to smooth over this lie?

The once ordinary stone now emitted brilliant, dazzling colors; at this point, anyone who still thought it was ordinary must be a fool.

Especially Pavilion Master Xi Qizhen, the stone was something he had picked up unintentionally, just like the harvested Red Sunflowers and collected Fire Pine Dog feces, meant to deceive, but unexpected depth was revealed.

At that moment, Gong Qizhen resolved not to let this young man take away the stone radiating with colorful lights, for it might just be an extraordinary treasure worth thorough investigation.

For a time, the entire Treasure Hall fell into an eerie silence, only the five-colored lights continuously shining brilliantly.