Chapter 712: Chapter 712

Mount Song's Elder looked around and continued, "Today's exchange event was also a spontaneous idea of this old man. Everyone knows me; I'm over two hundred years old and can't enter the Immortal Realm. This age could be considered my limit."

As Mount Song's Elder spoke, he even gave a slight smile. "So, the time left for me is not much, being over two hundred years old is already a blessing from heaven. Since heaven has been so gracious to me, I would like to give back to my fellows from the Ancient Martial World. That's why I organized this exchange event today, hoping it can be of help to everyone."

After Mount Song's Elder finished speaking, it indeed brought about a round of applause.

Ding Fan also clapped along with the crowd. Using his Divine Sense, Ding Fan scanned the attendees—just the Heavenly Level cultivators from the Ancient Martial Arts alone numbered no less than seven or eight. The weakest among the rest were probably at the Earth Level Seventh or Eighth Grade.

Ding Fan had attended several auction-like exchange events before, but none gathered as many masters as this one.

"Alright, I'm taking this opportunity to chat with everyone. Next, we shall start exchanging Magic Artifacts..." the Elder said as the applause died down. "Here, I have a word of caution for everyone. The exchange event is meant only for communication and sharing. If anyone here thinks of using force, then don't blame me for being harsh."

At this exchange event, some top-notch treasures would undoubtedly be presented. As the host, Mount Song's Elder naturally had to issue a warning.

Warning those with ulterior motives.

"I'll start by throwing out a brick to attract jade..." Just then, an elder jumped up to the podium as soon as Mount Song's Elder stepped down.

Ding Fan glanced at him; this was the same elder who had just mentioned seeing a Sixth Grade Foundation Building Pill. Ding Fan hadn't expected that this elder would be the first to go on stage.

"I wonder who this person is," Ding Fan mused, assessing the elder when Dongfang Ying snorted softly beside him.

Ding Fan shook his head. "No, I don't know."

"He's called Sun Qi. Although his cultivation isn't outstanding in the Ancient Martial World, he is an expert in Alchemy and is known as the best alchemist of the South Sea. The South Sea Hermit is seldom without benefactors," Dongfang Ying prattled proudly.

Of course, Ding Fan knew that Dongfang Ying was flaunting her extensive knowledge to him; however, he didn't mind.

"Everyone knows I, Old Sun, have devoted my life to Alchemy, which has unfortunately hindered my cultivation. Today, I am here to buy all kinds of Spirit Grass with Crystal Stones. If anyone wants to exchange Spirit Grass for Crystal Stones, feel free to approach me anytime. Starting now, I'll be waiting right here in this camp. Whenever there is an exchange, I am always ready," Sun Qi declared jovially after climbing on stage.

Ding Fan had already felt a good impression towards the elder who seemed quite venerable, and now seeing Sun Qi's amiable attitude, his favorable opinion increased even more.

"Old Sun, it seems you've come all the way to Haijiao to buy Spirit Grass," someone joked from the side at that moment.

The crowd below burst into laughter.

Sun Qi, on the stage, didn't mind and smiled. "My cultivation is modest. Competing for precious treasures is out of the question for me, but collecting some Spirit Grass would make me very satisfied."

After speaking, Sun Qi hopped down from the rock.

Sun Qi's cultivation was only at Earth Level Seventh Grade; competing for major treasures indeed wasn't plausible. His actions, however, were the safest bet for him.

After Sun Qi descended, another Earth Level Peak Martial Artist leaped onto the stage.

This was a skinny man with blond hair that didn't seem dyed. Ding Fan knew that sometimes cultivation techniques could change one's hair color.

The blond man said, "Today, I wish to exchange a treasure—a third grade Artifact of Attack. If anyone with a High Grade Defensive Artifact wants to trade, feel free to come forward."

A third grade Artifact of Attack was already quite noteworthy. Normally, at any standard auction, such an item would be incredibly rare, yet here, someone was using one for trade right at the start.

However, Ding Fan wasn't particularly interested in that Artifact of Attack.

"I'll trade a Fourth Grade Defensive Artifact..." someone from the audience called out.

"Fourth Grade? You might as well go out and rob someone..."

"A Fourth Grade Defensive Artifact for a third grade Artifact of Attack... If such a good deal exists, let me know..."

Amid the jeering, the previous speaker didn't sound off again.

Artifacts of Attack were extremely rare and much more valuable than Defensive Artifacts. A third grade Artifact of Attack could be exchanged for a Fifth Grade or Sixth Grade Defensive Artifact without any issue.

"I Soft Whip; I'll take it. I offer a Fifth Grade Defensive Artifact, Protective Heart Armor," Hua Zhimo suddenly spoke up, having been silent till then.

Many present recognized Hua Zhimo, so after she quoted the price, no one else bid. Even those who didn't know her kept silent.

The presence of a Heavenly Level Martial Artist was not something anyone could easily provoke.

Since no one else bid, Hua Zhimo successfully exchanged her Fifth Grade Defensive Artifact, Protective Heart Armor for the Soft Whip.

After acquiring the Soft Whip, she nonchalantly tossed it to Dongfang Ying beside her. "Keep it for self-defense."

"Thank you for the generous gift, Master," Dongfang Ying hurriedly said.

Hua Zhimo didn't even look back.

Dongfang Ying, feeling quite pleased with herself, glanced at Ding Fan beside her and flaunted the whip in front of him.

"This is a third grade Artifact of Attack. I believe you've never seen one before," Dongfang Ying hummed, addressing Ding Fan. "That black matchstick you use is really too shabby. If it weren't for considering that you'd be executed by my master after leaving Haijiao, I might have given you my previous Longsword."

Previously, Ding Fan and Dongfang Ying had joined forces against the Demon Cat, so she was aware of Ding Fan's Nine Profound Iron, but she didn't recognize the treasure.

At that moment, Ding Fan didn't respond to Dongfang Ying. A mere third grade Offensive Artifact was not something he regarded highly.

You should know that among the treasures Ding Fan obtained from the experts he had slain, there were more than a dozen magic artifacts of third grade and above...

These were all things Ding Fan deemed unworthy of his attention.

At this moment, after the person who exchanged the offensive artifact, the soft whip, left, another came up to exchange a pill, which was a third-grade Pill.

Ding Fan examined the Pill with his Divine Sense, finding its composition too low-quality; he didn't even consider it worth his attention.

Ding Fan simply closed his eyes, deciding not to say anything further.

As soon as the person with the Pill came up, it quickly attracted numerous bids from the crowd...

At this time, not far from the exchange meeting.

Two figures appeared on top of a mountain peak.

"Is the Immortal Talisman you mentioned here?" At this moment, a young man clad in flowing white robes, serenely gazed down at the exchange meeting in the valley below.

"Senior Brother Zhen, I have already checked; the Immortal Talisman is indeed at the bottom of this valley." Behind the man in white, a somewhat youthful-looking man spoke.

"Ruan Yuan, we are here to select disciples for the Immortal Sect from the Immortal Realm. You need to investigate more thoroughly," Senior Brother Zhen said. "If that person has mediocre talent and lacks spiritual roots, even if he possesses an Immortal Talisman, we cannot allow him to enter our Immortal Sect."

"Understood... I will find a way to get close to him soon, and I will thoroughly assess him. It's not easy becoming a disciple of the Immortal Sect," Ruan Yuan said earnestly.

However, the earnestness seemed somewhat at odds with his youthful face.

Senior Brother Zhen nodded his head.

"Brother, since I descended to the mortal world, Sister Gusu Qingwen has asked me to be mindful of the bearer of the Immortal Talisman after its emergence," Ruan Yuan added.

Senior Brother Zhen looked toward the valley below, his expression not clearly reflecting his feelings of joy or sorrow at the moment.

"Then let's do as she said," Senior Brother Zhen said, after which his figure vanished from the spot.

Ruan Yuan glanced at the valley below, then his figure also disappeared from the spot; once again, the mountain top returned to tranquility as if no one had ever been there.

Although some rare items appeared at the exchange meeting, Ding Fan had no intention of making a move.

Recently, Ding Fan had reaped considerable rewards, accumulating many Crystal Stones, Spirit Pills, and Spirit Grasses. Now, he could be considered wealthy, and ordinary offensive and defensive artifacts no longer caught his eye; what he was interested in now were those top-quality treasures or materials.

Yet, even after many people had gone up, he still hadn't found the treasures he desired.

Just when Ding Fan was getting somewhat frustrated and listless, a person wearing a mask leapt onto a large rock.

Although the person's face was unclear, judging from their physique and movements, this person was not very old. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝔫𝔢𝔱

"I have an ore here, which was brought down from a meteorite that fell in Chagan Lake a hundred years ago," the person announced as they produced a dark ore about the size of an adult's forearm.

This person started speaking, and to Ding Fan's surprise, the person, dressed as a man, had a woman's voice.

And judging by this woman's voice, she seemed to be just over thirty, yet her cultivation was at the sixth or seventh grade earth level. Given her age, that was not weak at all.

What surprised Ding Fan the second time was that the dark ore was no ordinary object; after examining it with his Divine Sense, he realized it was a Sword Spirit Stone.

This ore, once used, could enhance the attributes of a Sword Spirit. Even those without a Sword Spirit could perhaps cultivate one...

This treasure was truly a rare find, sought after by many in both heaven and earth.

Ding Fan's Nine Profound Iron already had a Sword Spirit, but the spirit's presence was weak, and he now urgently needed such an ore to greatly enhance the aura of his Nine Profound Iron's Sword Spirit.

"What is this thing... It's so dark, it looks just like a regular stone..."

"It looks like a useless rock..."

The people around started chattering and dismissing it.

Ding Fan watched them unaware of its value, feeling somewhat relieved. Even if he sold himself in the Cultivation World, he might not be able to obtain such a thing, let alone now with such a large piece of Sword Spirit Stone.

"I don't know what this ore is called; I only know that before my husband died, he told me it's a treasure of the world. If it weren't for my urgent need, I wouldn't consider exchanging it," the woman said.

"This ore isn't worth much, you've been duped, your husband was deceiving you..."

The people around emitted a chorus of hisses.

"This woman is really foolish, holding a broken rock yet treating it like a treasure," Dongfang Ying remarked disdainfully.