Chapter 261: Rare Treasures

Ye Fan was deeply astonished to find the remains of an Ancient Sacred Body in this small world, which immediately brought many thoughts to mind. He said, "Take me to see it."

"Please," Qin Yao said, "it's the middle of the night. Why would we go look at a corpse? You might not find it unsettling, but I certainly do." She swayed her slender, shapely waist, moving gracefully like a beautiful serpent as she walked out of the house, looking alluring.

"When can you take me to see it?" Ye Fan asked, having gradually calmed down.

"You can't just go see that corpse whenever you want," Qin Yao said, stopping. "You won't be able to see it unless Princess Yan accompanies you inside."

"Why?" Ye Fan asked.

Qin Yao, with her loose hair, soft skin, and languid demeanor, glanced at him. "The remains of an Ancient Sacred Body," she explained, "setting aside everything else, are rarely matched in terms of durability. They can be refined into powerful artifacts, making them extremely valuable. They are currently stored in the treasury, so ordinary people naturally can't see them. Moreover, the Ancient Sacred Body holds many secrets."

"What... refine an Ancient Sacred Body into a weapon?!" Ye Fan stroked his chin, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Scared now, are we? You should be careful," she teased. "Even though you are only in the Dao Palace Realm, judging from your performance earlier today, your body is strong enough, even more resilient than divine weapons and precious blades. It's an excellent material for refining."

"Damn it!" Ye Fan couldn't help but curse. He thought about the problems he might face in the future, realizing that even his own body could become a target for others' covetousness.

Qin Yao chuckled playfully, "So you see, you're quite valuable right now. If it comes to it, you could even sell yourself; someone would definitely pay a high price for you."

"Why would I sell myself?" Ye Fan teased. "If you want, I'll take the hit and offer myself to you."

"Can you let me refine you?" Qin Yao retorted, not missing a beat.

"You're too ruthless."

"Otherwise, what good are you to me?"

Ye Fan's expression turned serious as he asked, "Where was this Sacred Body found?"

"It was discovered right here in this small world," Qin Yao said. "If there's time, I can ask the princess to take you to see it." She let out a small yawn, covering her mouth with her hand, and added, "That's enough talk. I'm going to bed."

"I have a place here, and the bed is big enough," Ye Fan said, smiling with his arms crossed.

"Go to hell, you brat!" Qin Yao rolled her eyes dramatically, then swayed her graceful body and walked away.

In the early morning, a large fiery orb slowly rose from the east, casting a glow like the hues of dawn.

Ye Fan couldn't find Qin Yao, so he woke up Tu Fei and prepared for him to accompany him to the Demon City.

"I say, little Ye," Tu Fei began, "why are you wandering around aimlessly? You're a juicy piece of meat right now; aren't you afraid some old demon will covet you?"

"I want to collect some refining materials to forge my own weapon," Ye Fan replied.

Tu Fei rolled his eyes. "Don't you have a cauldron?" he said. "Why forge another weapon?"

"Many people are envious of it now," Ye Fan explained. "Do you think I can just casually use it?"

"Is there really a need to rush?" Tu Fei asked, a little suspicious.

"Just take me quickly," Ye Fan said. "Besides, I want to see what the Demon City looks like." He also summoned the big black dog, as his real purpose for this trip was to collect materials to break into the Undying Temple.

The Demon City was not very large, but it was very prosperous. When the sun was high, Ye Fan and his companions entered the city.

There were many shops lining the streets, mostly selling spiritual herbs and weapons, and many demon cultivators gathered around them.

Within the city, many strange beings could be seen: some with horns on their heads, others with wings growing from their ribs, and still others with tails dragging behind them.

Many demon cultivators had retained some of their racial characteristics to varying degrees, not having fully transformed into human form.

"A Three-legged Golden Toad!" the big black dog muttered, staring at a demon cultivator not far away. "Its blood is excellent for alchemy."

"Damn it, don't get any ideas!" Tu Fei scolded. "This is the Demon City; words like that will cause public outrage."

"Who do you think I am? How could I fancy something like that?" the big black dog scoffed. "I was just saying it casually. Speaking of alchemy, Celestial Roc blood is even better."

"Stop showing off and behave yourself," Ye Fan warned.

"What materials do you need?" Tu Fei asked.

"Starstone, Black Ice Jade, Divine Blood Earth..." Ye Fan recited a long list of names, all of which the big black dog had provided to him.

"I say, little Ye," Tu Fei said, shaking his head, "what kind of materials are these? They're all so strange and unusual; they'll be hard to find."

"They're not top-grade materials," Ye Fan said, "so we should be able to find them in the Demon City."

They went from shop to shop along the street, asking, but only managed to find a dozen or so types of materials. The big black dog, on the other hand, had listed thirty-six types, a significant difference.

"This is the Azure Dragon King's secluded abode!" Ye Fan wondered aloud, puzzled. "How can the Demon City not even have all these materials..."

"The key is that the materials you listed are too obscure," Tu Fei explained. "They're rarely used, so it's naturally hard to collect them." At this point, he seemed to recall something. "Oh, right," he added, "there's one place in the city we haven't checked yet. It's a free exchange market, where you can find many strange and unusual things."

"Good, let's go there!"

This free exchange area was in the northern district of the Demon City and was quite crowded. It was similar to a human market, and many people came with the intention of seeking treasures.

There were many stalls here, displaying a variety of strange and unusual materials.

"This is too much of a rip-off!" Ye Fan gasped. "They just dig up an old tree root and dare to sell it as Blood Dragon Wood."

At a stall ahead, an old tree root was placed on a rosewood table. The stall owner brazenly claimed it was the root of a rare Blood Dragon Wood.

"It's a case of buyer beware; that's the rule here," Tu Fei explained. "Sometimes, you really do find good things, which is why many people come here to seek treasures."

They moved on to another stall. On a tattered cloth on the ground, there were only three fist-sized stones, blood-red and polished to a crystal-clear transparency, making them look very appealing.

"Aren't these just red pebbles picked up from the riverbank?" Ye Fan exclaimed, dumbfounded. "He actually dares to sell them as jade marrow!"

"No, that's wrong! Buy them!" the big black dog urgently transmitted a message.

Ye Fan's heart stirred. He asked the vendor, "How much for these three stones?"

"Ten catties of source per piece," the demon cultivator quoted, having first eyed their clothing, clearly tailoring the price to their perceived wealth.

"Why don't you just rob someone?" Tu Fei interjected, blocking Ye Fan. "These three useless stones are clearly a scam. They're just stones from a ditch, don't buy them."

The big black dog grew anxious, grunted, and bit Tu Fei's calf, almost making him stumble.

"Damn it, you stupid dog, you bit me again!" Tu Fei roared, furious. A man-dog battle was about to erupt, and Ye Fan quickly intervened to mediate.

"I'll take these three stones!" Just then, a fragrant breeze wafted by, and Qin Yao appeared. She squatted down and picked up a blood-red stone with one hand.

The big black dog let go of Tu Fei and pounced over immediately.

Qin Yao was startled and quickly retreated, while the big black dog pinned the remaining blood-red stone under its paw.

"Those are what this Emperor fancies!" the big black dog growled, baring its teeth at Qin Yao.

"You fancied them," Qin Yao retorted, "but you didn't buy them."

Qin Yao chuckled lightly. She threw two pieces of source to the stall owner and said, "I've bought them."

Ye Fan knew these stones were certainly not ordinary, so he also dropped ten catties of source to the stall owner.

"Aren't these just pebbles from the riverbank?" Tu Fei asked, puzzled.

"What do you know? These are Demon Blood Stones!" the big black dog retorted, sulking. It then opened its mouth and spat out a stream of light, collecting the red stones.

"What?! Demon Blood Stones? I'm not selling them!" the stall owner exclaimed, wanting to renege on the deal. Unfortunately, both Qin Yao and the big black dog had already quickly put them away.

Demon Blood Stones were rumored to be formed from the essence and blood of great ancient demons after their deaths.

Such items were not considered supremely rare treasures; after all, most of the blood essence would have dispersed after many years. However, they possessed some special miraculous effects, such as refining one's own demon blood or tempering demon bones.

The big black dog's eyes gleamed with fierce light; it was very vexed but had no choice. Being in the demon race's territory, it knew the importance of discretion and did not openly threaten Qin Yao.

"Little girl," the big black dog said, "your cultivation isn't high enough; you're far from being able to undergo blood transformation and regeneration. Why don't you exchange it with me?"

Qin Yao let out a silvery laugh. "Something like this is rare to come by," she said. "I may not need it now, but I can save it for later."

The big black dog became even more vexed, and the nearby stall owner was also filled with regret.

"Why are you here?" Ye Fan asked.

"I often come here to seek treasures," Qin Yao retorted. "But why are you running around everywhere?"

"I want to purchase some refining materials."

"I already consulted the princess," Qin Yao said with a chuckle, "and she said she can let you see the remains of the Ancient Sacred Body."

"What?!" the big black dog exclaimed, its eyes lighting up. "Is it a Great Accomplished Ancient Sacred Body? If so, it can definitely be refined into an unparalleled weapon."

Ye Fan wanted to punch it.

"Kid, don't glare at me," the big black dog mumbled softly. "This Emperor doesn't fancy a Sacred Body like yours, which is only in the Dao Palace Realm. I won't come for you."

"I'll go with you to visit Princess Yan in a while," Ye Fan said, expressing his gratitude to Qin Yao.

After wandering around this free market for over half an hour, Ye Fan collected over a dozen types of materials, still missing eight.

"We can come back in a few days," Tu Fei said. "Maybe we'll find more then."

Ye Fan nodded; he was already quite satisfied. Finding twenty-eight types of materials in the Demon City in such a short time truly exceeded his expectations.

If they couldn't gather all of them, they could compensate with source stones. He might as well splurge; this time, he was determined to rescue Pang Bo no matter what.

"We'll act tonight. Let's go see the Ancient Sacred Body remains now!" Ye Fan transmitted a message to the big black dog, telling it to carefully consider how to engrave dao patterns on these materials.

"Don't worry, I can finish engraving them in half an hour!"

Hearing the big black dog's reply, Ye Fan felt a sense of relief. He then went to visit Yan Ruyu with a relaxed mind.

At Yan Ruyu's residence, spiritual energy swirled like dragons, enshrouded in auspicious light. She was flawless and perfect, like Heaven's most exquisite masterpiece, breathtakingly beautiful.

"The Ancient Sacred Body is in the Azure Dragon King's treasury," Yan Ruyu said. "I can only take you in to observe; you can't stay for too long."

"I am immensely grateful!" Ye Fan thanked her.

From this, it was evident that Yan Ruyu held a high status here; she could even enter and exit the Azure Dragon King's treasury.

Ancient sages opened up this small world, leaving behind some ruins. The Azure Dragon King's dwelling was carved out from these ruins.

This was a colossal mountain, towering into the clouds. At its peak were magnificent palaces and jade towers, as if one had arrived in a celestial court.

Besides Yan Ruyu and Ye Fan, Qin Yao, Tu Fei, and the big black dog also came along.

Yan Ruyu stopped in front of a massive palace. This was a forbidden area where trespassers would be killed without question. Some old demons personally guarded it, and Yan Ruyu was very polite to them.

Several of these old demons were clearly nearing the end of their lifespan, looking incredibly ancient. Their wrinkles were so deep they seemed to seal their eyes shut, and their snow-white eyebrows were half a foot long. Their heads, however, were completely bald, without a single strand of hair.

Some were sweeping the ground, some planting flowers, and others playing chess. In the courtyard, they toiled slowly, like ordinary elderly people in their twilight years.

However, no one dared to underestimate them. These old demons were all veteran subordinates of the Azure Dragon King. Although their lifespans were nearing their end, their strength was terrifying; if enraged, they could sweep across an entire region.

Several old demons gazed deeply at Ye Fan. Then, without a word, they opened the thick white jade door.

In an instant, spiritual energy surged out like a tide. Inside, brilliant light shimmered, so dazzling that people couldn't open their eyes.

As they stepped inside, the thick, meter-deep white jade door behind them rumbled shut. However, the treasury inside was not dark at all; it was as bright as day.

"Damn it, these are all treasures!" the big black dog exclaimed, wanting to pounce into the pile of treasures but still managing to control its impulse.

The treasury was vast, divided into nine halls. Brilliant light shimmered, and heavy treasures were everywhere, creating a dreamlike and fantastical sensation.

A Golden Holy Sword, emitting thousands of golden sword qi, glowed brilliantly, autonomously suspended in the air. Its killing intent was boundless, and it was dazzling to behold.

A Crimson Blood Demonic Spear, veiled in blood-red light, was alluring and sharp. It hung motionless in mid-air, divine power flowing from it, making it impossible to look at directly.

A Purple Copper Divine Bell, radiating divine light and enveloped in purple energy, hung there. Its chimes resonated distantly and clearly, swaying autonomously, like primordial celestial music breaking through time from ancient eras.

A Coiled Dragon Cauldron, ancient and majestic, suppressed the void. True dragons coiled around it, and its patterns were profound and unfathomable, imbued with mysterious power.

All these heavy treasures and weapons were rare masterpieces, dazzling to behold and profoundly shocking.

"These are all heavy artifacts!" the big black dog mumbled softly, voicing its true thoughts. "The Azure Dragon King is too rich; he really should be robbed..."

Ye Fan glared fiercely at it. This cursed dog was too greedy, always wanting to steal treasures wherever it went.

Tu Fei was also speechless. "So many treasures!" he exclaimed. "All nine great halls are stacked full. How many cubic sources would this be worth?!"

Besides the weapons, there were also many precious materials, shining brilliantly and dazzling the eyes.

"That's not just any Blood Dragon Wood; this is definitely real!" the big black dog said, licking its lips. "Not like those fake roots sold on the street stalls."

Ahead, blood-red light gleamed from a withered piece of wood that resembled a true dragon. It was entirely crimson, shimmering translucently, and possessed a dragon-like form.

"A Divine Phoenix Grass is sealed within that jade tablet; it's priceless!" Tu Fei also exclaimed in awe.

Inside the white jade tablet, the Divine Phoenix Grass was incredibly vibrant. Radiant light shot out, vaguely forming the shape of a phoenix.

"What kind of pearl is this?"

Ye Fan saw a massive precious pearl, as large as a human head, with thousands of auspicious colored lights intertwined around it, floating up and down in the air.

"This is a Flood Dragon Pearl, a treasure rarely seen in the world!" the big black dog exclaimed, itching with discomfort and desperately wanting to pounce on it and swallow it whole.

Crimson Refined Copper Essence, Five-Colored Ancient Vine, Starfall Meteorite Iron... various materials, all emitting dazzling rays of light, were all present in the treasury, making one wish they could grab them all.

Countless rare treasures filled this true treasury. The collection of a mighty demon master was truly dazzling and profoundly shocking.

Soon, Ye Fan was drawn by a mysterious aura. He involuntarily took steps, walking towards the deepest part of the treasury.

The surrounding treasures suddenly dimmed. Only that aura deeply captivated his mind.

Stepping into the Ninth Hall of Treasures, his pupils rapidly contracted as he saw the remains of the Ancient Sacred Body.

Here, there were even more treasures, piled up like small mountains, resplendent and dazzling.

In the very center, a cold, desiccated corpse sat motionless in a cross-legged position. Although its flesh had withered, it had not decayed and remained tightly adhered to the bones.

"It's actually imperishable..."

The big black dog and Tu Fei were both astonished. As for Ye Fan, he stood motionless, like a clay or wooden sculpture, rooted to the spot.