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The Allheaven Blood Furnace!
Su Yi exclaimed, “How did that treasure wind up in the pawnshop?”
To the best of his knowledge, the Allheaven Blood Furnace was a supreme treasure of the Wilds’ peak Demonist faction, Red Dust Demon Mountain. Its monstrous power could easily wash entire landscapes in blood and refine every living creature within them.
Red Dust Demon Mountain had used this treasure to refine the blood and valiant spirits of countless mighty foes. It was a famed demonic weapon amongst the Wilds’ demonic cultivators.
The Touch of Gold Pavilion had once appraised the Wilds’ demonic treasures. They decided that although the Allheaven Blood Furnace was top quality, it was too murderous, and using it risked inviting divine punishment, so their appraisal of it wasn’t at all good.
“My mistress brought it back. She said she’d fought an old devil of Red Dust Demon Mountain, and that this was her trophy,” explained the old pawnbroker. “During that battle, my mistress damaged the treasure. Its treasure spirit has already dispersed, and it’s no longer what it once was. Thus, she tossed it into the pawnshop.”
“So, it was that madwoman…” The corners of Su Yi’s lips twitched imperceptibly.
He understood the pawnshop owner’s personality far too well. When she lost it, she’d kill anyone who stood in her way, be they man, god, or Buddha. There was no one she didn’t dare offend.
The old pawnbroker continued, “But although it’s damaged, it can still achieve miraculous effects when used to counter malevolent spirits or avert calamity. After all, it was a demonic treasure to begin with; it’s killed countless foes and devoured an immeasurable volume of blood and souls. It’s perfectly suited for fighting wicked creatures.”
This was called fighting fire with fire!
Su Yi nodded, then made up his mind. “I’ll take both the Heaven’s Writ Lotus Lantern and the Allheaven Blood Furnace.”
Without waiting for the pawnbroker’s agreement, the scales swayed.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two sealed bronze boxes appeared on the counter.
“Your Excellency Su, please accept them!” the counterweight said respectfully.
The abacus and bell hurriedly repeated, “Please accept them!”
The pawnbroker’s face twitched, and his heart dripped blood. These prodigal trinkets! We hadn’t even discussed a price yet. How could they just give him such precious treasures!?
But immediately afterward, the old-timer plastered an enthusiastic expression on his face. “Consider these treasures a token of my respect, and please accept them with a smile. I trust that if the mistress knew about this, she’d be delighted by our decision.”
Cui Jingyan watched in a daze.
One of the two treasures had belonged to Buddhist Master Hidden Leaf, while the other was from Red Dust Demon Mountain. Both were so precious that even Emperors would drool over them.
They gave them to him… for free!?
Cui Jingyan couldn’t help but rub her face; she almost thought she was dreaming.
“I have no desire to take advantage of the pawnshop, nor do I want to owe your mistress a favor,” said Su Yi. With that, he flipped his hand and placed a jade box on the countertop. “This contains a Xiantian Dao Seed. I’ll leave it with you as collateral for now, but I’ll be back for it within a hundred years.”
A Xiantian Dao Seed!
The pawnbroker gasped. Even in the Nine Provinces of the Wilds, such a treasure could only be happened upon by chance.
Xiantian Dao Seeds were the seeds of Xiantian Divine Lifeforms. They were born of the world’s source, and finding them was a matter of fortune!
Xiantian Divine Spirits grown from such seeds had innate Grand Dao source power, and innate mastery of the Charm of the Dao. They were profound and unfathomable.
The Wilds’ top Buddhist holy land, the Little Western Paradise, had one such Xiantian Divine Life Form: the Sahā World Tree.
They said that “every branch bore the vestiges of the Grand Dao” and “one leaf, one enlightenment.” It was honored as the greatest holy tree of Buddhism, and it was seventh amongst the divine wonders of the Wilds!
Xiantian Dao Seeds could grow into life forms like the Sahā World Tree, but they could also develop into Xiantian Divine Weapons.
The most famous of them was the sword Su Yi had used in his past life, the Tiny Heart of the Cosmos.
The tree was ranked seventh, but the sword was ranked third!
Simply put, a Xiantian Dao Seed’s value absolutely eclipsed that of the Heaven’s Writ Lotus Lantern and the Allheaven Blood Furnace.
Cui Jingyan couldn’t help but be surprised. She would never have guessed that Su Yi carried such a treasure in addition to the Seed of the Azure.
“Your Excellency Su, this treasure is too precious. We…” The old pawnbroker tried to refuse.
However, Su Yi just said, “I told you, I’ll be back for it within a hundred years; I’m not letting you take advantage of me.”
This was the Xiantian Dao Seed he’d obtained from the Jade Bottle Province’s Zuo Family back in the Great Xia. He’d effectively picked up a grand stroke of fortune for free, and he’d carried it on him ever since.
He chose to use it as collateral simply because growing such a seed required unique secret methods, as well as an enormous amount of time and effort. Furthermore, it required an ocean of heavenly materials and earthly treasures as nourishment!
Even the top ancient orthodoxies of the Wilds needed years of preparation to grow a Xiantian Dao Seed.
It wasn’t useful to Su Yi in the short run, so he figured he might as well pawn it.
The old pawnbroker laughed dryly. “Very well. We’ll look after it for you for the time being, Your Excellency.”
As he spoke, he carefully put the jade box away, while Su Yi slipped the two bronze boxes into his sleeves.
Cui Jingyan suddenly asked, “Brother Su, is this the ‘Pawnshop of the Heavens’ I’ve heard rumors about?”
Su Yi laughed. “You’ve only just realized that? Stupid.”
Cui Jingyan, however, wasn’t at all upset. On the contrary, she seemed excited. “It really is? In that case, could I pawn something off for treasure too?”
The old pawnbroker stroked his beard and laughed. “But of course!”
Cui Jingyan repressed her excitement. “Uh, let me think for a moment. There are just too many treasures I want…”
Su Yi looked at the copper bell. “They call this treasure the ‘Heart-Inquiring Bell.’ It can see into your heart and determine what’s most in line with your desires. Have it help you decide.”
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As soon as he said this, the soft voice of the Heart-Inquiring Bell rang out. “Miss, would you like to try it?”
Cui Jingyan’s eyes sparkled, and she nodded repeatedly.
The long, clear sound of the bell resounded in Cui Jingyan’s ears, like a rock falling into the lake of her heart, stirring up a ring of ripples.
“Well?” Su Yi and the old pawnbroker looked at the Heart-Inquiring Bell.
But the bell was silent.
After a while, it said, “Your Excellency Su, this young woman’s Spirit Dao cultivation base is extraordinary, but… it seems few of the pawnshop’s treasures suit her…”
The bell’s voice trailed off, as if it were embarrassed.
Cui Jingyan instantly felt awkward. She muttered, “Forget it, then.”
Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh. “I think I know what ‘treasure’ suits you best.”
“What is it?” asked Cui Jingyan.
“Diligent cultivation,” said Su Yi. “You’re the daughter of the Cui Family; you have no lack of treasures, nor of legacies. The only thing you lack is hard work.”
Cui Jingyan froze, then pursed her lips. “I naturally understand all that.”
As they conversed, the bell suddenly said, “Pawnbroker, customers have arrived.”
The pawnbroker was instantly solemn, and he subconsciously looked at Su Yi. “Your Excellency, it’s about time for us to open our doors. If you’re in no rush to leave, why not stay to help oversee things?
He was obviously saying that to be polite. Reading between the lines, he was saying, “If there’s nothing else, you can leave.”
But against all expectations, Su Yi nodded. “Sure, I can stay a while longer.”
The old pawnbroker’s smile stiffened, and it seemed forced. “That would be just wonderful.”
“Alright, Miss Jingyan and I will hide. You can go ahead and welcome your customers.” Su Yi promptly rose, then brought Cui Jingyan to a shadowy corner of the pawnshop.
The power of a mysterious formation obscured it. No matter who came, they could forget about discovering him or Cui Jingyan.
When the pawnbroker saw this, he strode out of the pawnshop. Before long, he returned with a customer, a tall man in gray robes and a conical hat.
As soon as he entered, he inclined his head in greeting. “I’ve come here to exchange treasures.”
The old pawnbroker stood behind the counter and smiled warmly. “Might I ask what you’re after?”
The man in the conical hat said, “Something that can suppress malevolent spirits. Ideally an Imperial-level treasure.”
The old pawnbroker was stunned; the two treasures Su Yi had just traded for matched that description perfectly!
Was this a coincidence?
After a moment’s thought, the old pawnbroker shook his head. “My apologies, but we no longer have any such treasures in stock.”
“You don’t?” The man in the conical hat obviously hadn’t expected that. “But I heard that Buddhist Master Hidden Leaf of the Wilds’ Little Western Paradise pawned off the Heaven’s Writ Lotus Lantern!”
The old pawnbroker smiled and laughed, “I’m afraid someone else has already acquired that particular treasure.”
“Who?” asked the man in the conical hat.
The pawnbroker smiled but said nothing.
The man in the conical hat obviously knew the pawnshop’s rules. “My apologies; that was presumptuous of me.”
He continued, “I know that according to the pawnshop’s rules, since I’m here, I have to make an exchange. Fellow Daoist, do you perhaps have treasures useful for defense, evasion, or improving combat strength?”
The old pawnbroker smiled and nodded. “I do indeed!”
Finally, the man in the conical hat traded an Imperial treasure for clothing that could boost his defensive ability.
Cui Jingyan watched him leave. She couldn’t help but transmit, “Brother Su, why do I get the sense that he was here for the same reason as you?”
Su Yi’s eyes flashed. “Although he disguised his appearance and aura, I dare say with certainty that he was an Emperor. I’m afraid he wanted the Heaven’s Writ Lotus Lantern to help deal with the Cui Family. It’s even possible that he’s from the Qu, Hong, or Tantai Family.”
Cui Jingyan exclaimed in disbelief, “Why do you say that?”
“Instinct,” Su Yi said casually.
“....”
Before she could say anything, the old pawnbroker led in his next customer, a woman shrouded in black. Only her bright phoenix eyes were visible, and her gaze was extremely cold and sharp.
Surprisingly, she’d come for the same reason as the man in the conical hat. She too wanted treasures that could be used to suppress malevolent entities.
Furthermore, she too requested the Heaven’s Writ Lotus Lantern by name!
By now, even the pawnbroker, Heart-Inquiring Bell, Scales of Judgment, and Starry Abacus had realized something wasn’t right here.
Why was it that tonight, all of their customers were after the same treasure?