Chapter 2019: Related to Luo Ruoxi?

Soon after, they arrived at a private room, surrounded by arrays and guarded by four True Immortal realm cultivators.

A middle-aged man with dark eyebrows, wearing a large cloak, came forward to greet them.

Elder He made the introduction: "This is Master Hu, the manager of the Wuhai Trading Firm. Master Hu, this is Zhang Xuan, a core disciple of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion! He is a Grandmaster Appraiser, even more skilled than me!"

"A Grandmaster Appraiser?" Master Hu was startled for a moment. He carefully examined the young man before him.

Elder He was the appraiser for his auction house, and they had known each other for decades. Master Hu understood Elder He's temperament very well, so such a grand introduction surely meant the young man possessed extraordinary abilities!

However, like medicine, appraising treasures was a skill that tended to increase with age. What could a twenty-year-old possibly appraise?

Though he had doubts, his face showed no hint of disrespect. He quickly came forward: "Brother Zhang, to possess such ability at such a young age, truly a young hero!"

"Master Hu, you're too kind!" Zhang Xuan replied calmly. The man before him had a formidable cultivation. Immortal power flowed within him; although it was suppressed and showed no outward signs, with his Eye of Insight, Zhang Xuan could clearly perceive that he had already reached the Half-Immortal Monarch level! Such cultivation would likely rank among the top in Wuhai City.

"This way, please..." After exchanging a few pleasantries, the three entered the room.

"Brother Zhang, this is the item I wish to have appraised..." Knowing the purpose of their visit, Master Hu wasted no time on further pleasantries and pointed forward.

In the very center of the room stood an object wrapped in black cloth. It was roughly a person's height. Approaching it, he gently pulled the cloth aside, revealing its form.

It was a blood-cyan stone. Its surface was smooth, as if polished, and it gleamed like jade. It resembled blood jade, yet was distinctly different.

"Just a stone?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

The Lingyun Sword Pavilion had issued such a high-priced mission for this, and even Elder He couldn't appraise it. He had thought it would be something truly precious... but it was just a stone! No wonder Bai Ruanqing had mentioned it was strange earlier.

"Don't underestimate this stone," Elder He said. "It looks like blood jade, but blood jade isn't this warm and smooth. It feels like Blood Profound Crystal, but Blood Profound Crystal isn't this large. I've consulted countless books, but none describe anything like it. Over a hundred appraisers have examined it, but none could determine its origin or name. That's why we sought the Sword Pavilion's help!"

Elder He continued: As for why they didn't pay a high price to seek help from sect elders—who were certainly more knowledgeable—but instead assigned it as a disciple's mission, the reason was simple: elders were extremely powerful, especially core elders, who were almost all Immortal Monarch realm experts! If they realized the treasure was highly valuable and became greedy, there would be nothing they could do. In a world where the strong prey on the weak, they didn't fear open robbery by powerful individuals so much as their covetousness. Dealing with disciples was relatively easier.

Zhang Xuan acknowledged. As they spoke, he observed the stone with his Eye of Insight for a while, but even he couldn't identify it.

He had read all the books in the Lingyun Sword Pavilion's inner, core, and elder libraries. In terms of pure knowledge, many native experts of the Firmament were far inferior to him. If even his Eye of Insight couldn't recognize it, then this stone was indeed quite peculiar.

"What are this item's properties? Have you tested it?" Zhang Xuan didn't rush forward; he looked at them. If it were merely to appraise an ordinary stone, they wouldn't possibly expend such resources, gathering appraisers and seeking help from the Sword Pavilion. They must have sensed something extraordinary about it, wanting to identify its name to sell it for a higher price.

"We've tested it," Elder He said. "The strongest artifact refiner in Wuhai City couldn't damage it with the most intense flames, and even Immortal Monarch-level weapons couldn't leave a mark on it..." Knowing that appraisal, like diagnosing an illness, required understanding the object's properties for a better judgment, Elder He didn't conceal anything.

"Impervious to flames? Undamaged by Immortal Monarch weapons?" Zhang Xuan was startled.

Immortal Monarch-level weapons were among the most powerful on the entire continent. For the stone to remain unmarked, could it be an item of such a high caliber? No wonder they were willing to spend such a significant sum. It seemed they wanted to identify the exact item to sell it for an exorbitant price.

"We hope Brother Zhang can lend your discerning eye and identify this item..." Elder He clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.

"Alright!" Zhang Xuan said no more. He took two steps and stood before the stone.

The blood-red stone felt immensely heavy, exuding an intense pressure. Though he hadn't touched it, he could easily sense that with his current strength, he likely couldn't lift it.

With his Pseudo Immortal realm peak cultivation, comparable to a True Immortal realm peak expert, he still couldn't lift it... This stone was indeed extraordinary.

"Brother Zhang, do you need any tools, like a Profound Measuring Ruler?" Seeing him approach with nothing in hand, Elder He's face showed confusion.

Appraising ore-type treasures normally required tools like a Profound Measuring Ruler or a density meter to accurately measure the item's density, mass, and properties, thus better confirming its identity. Empty-handed, relying solely on his eyes... what could he possibly discern?

"Not needed for now..." Zhang Xuan circled the stone once, then extended his palm and gently touched it.

A book instantly appeared in his mind. As his finger connected with the 'book', his eyes fell upon the text within. His pupils contracted, and his body involuntarily stiffened in place.

"Elder He, is this person reliable...?" Seeing the young man prepare nothing, merely touching the stone, Master Hu frowned.

As a trading firm manager, he had seen countless appraisers. This was the first time he'd seen someone so young appraise an item in this manner.

"His discerning eye is countless times sharper than mine!" Elder He nodded. The statue earlier, also a stone, he had recognized at a glance, even through the image array. That alone proved his capability.

He should be able to discern something about this stone as well!

As the two were conversing, they saw the young man turn his head. His muscles were taut as he asked, "This item... where did you get it?"

"A rogue cultivator sold it to me... From what he said, it seems to be from the Sea of Pursued Stars!" Master Hu replied, seeing his reaction, as if he had discovered something significant.

"The Sea of Pursued Stars?" The books in the Lingyun Sword Pavilion's library only covered the continental layout within the Pavilion's influence. He had never seen any mention of the Sea of Pursued Stars.

"The Palace of Pursued Stars, one of the Six Great Sects, is actually an isolated island in the ocean. The Sea of Pursued Stars is the ocean that surrounds them..." Seeing his lack of knowledge, Elder He explained.

"The Palace of Pursued Stars... Du Qingyuan?" Zhang Xuan clenched his fist.

Previously, Sect Master Han Jianqiu had said that if he wanted to know more about the Gods, Palace Master Du Qingyuan of the Palace of Pursued Stars was the best person to ask. However, she might not be willing to speak. No one wanted to say much when Gods were involved. Now, this item had appeared from the Sea of Pursued Stars... Could there be a connection?

"Brother Zhang, have you identified this stone?" Elder He asked.

Ever since they met, the young man before him had always seemed unperturbed, as if nothing could ripple his composure. But now, his expression... Could he have truly identified what this item was?

"Yes!" Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Zhang Xuan nodded.

"What is it?" This time, not only was Elder He excited, but Master Hu also eagerly looked over.

"This is a... Divine Blood Stone," Zhang Xuan said, closing his eyes.

"Divine Blood Stone?" Elder He and Master Hu exchanged a glance, both stunned.

The character "God" (神) must never be used casually; it would surely incur the wrath of the Gods! Divine Blood Stone... they had never heard of it. There was no record of it in any books... Did such a thing truly exist?

"Indeed!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

The reason he was excited earlier wasn't just because the item was related to Gods, but because it might be related to Luo Ruoxi!

The reason he said this wasn't that her name was written in the book, but because it only showed three characters, "Divine Blood Stone," with no further description!

After the Library of Heaven's Path upgraded, it could easily identify Immortal Monarch peak-level treasures. However, when it came to items related to Luo Ruoxi, it could only reveal a name at most. As for their origin or other details, there was nothing.

This was precisely the same as what the stone currently displayed!

Just like the pendant around his neck, which he had secretly examined multiple times with the Library, the books that appeared were no different from what he saw now!

Therefore... this so-called Divine Blood Stone was highly likely related to her!

Of course, this alone wasn't enough to confirm it. But when he approached the stone, the pendant around his neck grew warm. If he still couldn't put two and two together, he would truly be foolish.

"Divine Blood Stone... related to Gods?" No longer able to hold back, Master Hu looked over, a hint of fear in his eyes.

If it were just an ordinary treasure, he was confident he could sell it for a high price. But if it involved Gods... he hesitated!

As people of the Forsaken Continent, what Gods most abhorred was the dissemination of matters and items related to them. If this stone was truly related to Gods and openly auctioned, it might, unexpectedly, attract the attention of the God Temple... By then, they wouldn't even know how they died!

"For it to be called by this name, it must be related to Gods. As for how it formed or what its effects are, I'm not entirely sure..." Zhang Xuan shook his head.

The Library of Heaven's Path only revealed its name, and didn't describe any flaws in detail. Therefore, whether this item could be refined into a weapon, or how powerful it was, even he had no idea.

But one thing was certain: if the Library couldn't even retrieve complete information about it, it must be related to Gods!

"This..." Master Hu hesitated.

He had bought this item at a great price, and spent countless resources on its appraisal. If it truly was related to Gods, what should he do?

To sell or not to sell?

"You say it's called Divine Blood Stone... do you have any proof?" Master Hu paused, then gritted his teeth: "Brother Zhang, please don't misunderstand. I'm not doubting you, but that... word... carries immense implications, and I must be careful..."

"Proof..." Knowing what the other party was thinking, Zhang Xuan said, "Yes!"

"What method?" Master Hu eagerly asked.

"It's very simple... Since it's a Divine Blood Stone, it must be related to the blood of Gods. You can find the blood of the fiercest Immortal Beasts on the continent and try it on the stone... If they instinctively show fear, then it means... my judgment is not mistaken in the slightest!" Zhang Xuan nodded.