Published: August 16, 2025
Chapter 164: The Secret of the Talisman Treasure
“Old Master Ding, could you please take a look at this item? Although I feel it might be a millennial spirit medicine, I’m not very confident, so I hope you can verify its age,” said Shopkeeper Tian humbly, handing over the brocade box.
“A millennial spiritual herb?” Old Master Ding was somewhat incredulous upon hearing this but still accepted the brocade box.
“Please take a careful look! Is it really a thousand-year-old Polygonatum?” Shopkeeper Tian restrained his excitement and spoke somewhat hurriedly.
The elder didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he narrowed his eyes, focusing intently on the shape, color, and even the texture of the herb in the box. He repeatedly brought the box close to his nose, sniffing several times.
Since Han Li had personally nurtured this herb, he naturally knew whether it was truly a millennial spirit medicine. So, he sat calmly to the side, indifferent to the elder’s actions. His main concern was how to negotiate the price with Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
Shopkeeper Tian, on the other hand, was the opposite. He watched every move of the elder without blinking. The composed demeanor he usually displayed when meeting Han Li was nowhere to be seen. His face was filled with complex emotions like anticipation and anxiety.
At last, Old Master Ding gently placed the box on the table, stroked his whiskers, closed his eyes in thought for a moment, then opened them and calmly said with certainty:
“Congratulations, Shopkeeper. This is indeed a Polygonatum older than a thousand years. Moreover, it was just recently unearthed, and its medicinal properties remain completely intact. I can personally vouch for that!”
Shopkeeper Tian’s face lit up with joy. He then respectfully escorted the elder downstairs and, barely containing his excitement, repeatedly examined the spirit medicine in the box.
“Shopkeeper Tian, shouldn’t we discuss the transaction now?” Han Li finally spoke up, noticing that Shopkeeper Tian seemed to have forgotten he was still sitting there.
“Oh… Ah! I’m truly forgetful. Please forgive me, Brother Li,” Shopkeeper Tian said, slightly stunned as he remembered that the spirit medicine didn’t yet belong to Myriad Treasures Pavilion. His face flushed lightly.
“Heh, it’s no trouble! But how do you plan to make the trade? Since you cherish this item so much, I suppose you won’t disappoint me!” Han Li chuckled softly, teasing a little.
Shopkeeper Tian’s expression returned to normal. He put the item back on the table and said:
“Brother Li, since you can produce a millennial spirit medicine, you must not be an ordinary immortal cultivator. So I won’t use the usual business tricks to deceive you. I’ll just offer you a fair price!”
He paused to consider, then continued sincerely, “This spirit medicine can be exchanged for any two brocade-box treasures I show you, or solely for the contents of the last brocade box. If you still don’t find anything you like, Myriad Treasures Pavilion can offer spirit stones that will absolutely satisfy you. How does that sound?”
Feeling the sincerity in the offer, Han Li turned it over in his mind several times and thought the price was reasonable and within his limits. He was nearly ready to agree but first wanted to see what was inside that last brocade box.
Before Han Li could speak, Shopkeeper Tian astutely lifted the lid of the last box and slid it toward Han Li with a smile.
“This box contains the pinnacle treasure of our pavilion. But now it depends on whether you recognize its value!” Shopkeeper Tian said cheerfully.
Han Li’s curiosity flared. He peered inside and was stunned to find a lone talisman paper painted with an image of a golden long brick, shimmering with golden light and lifelike detail.
Upon seeing it clearly, Han Li’s mind raced, immediately recalling his own talisman paper with a small gray sword. Could this be something similar?
“A talisman treasure?” Han Li exhaled deeply and asked uncertainly.