Chapter 210 Three treasures plus 500,000 Thunder Spirit Crystals! We've got them!

Jiang Yun added that condition nonchalantly.

Three treasures plus five hundred thousand thunder-attribute Spirit Crystals were like two massive boulders thrown into the originally calm depths of Elder Liu Lan's heart, stirring up violent waves.

Elder Liu Lan's Face, which had remained as cold and unchanging as an icy lake for ten thousand years, finally showed visible cracks at this moment.

Astonishment, hesitation, a trace of barely perceptible resentment, and a deeper level of weighing and struggling intertwined and shifted within her deep eyes.

Three treasures—the Liu Family could afford that.

Although there weren't many treasures in their vault, every single one was a rare world-class item. Giving up three would certainly be painful, but for the sake of that specific object, it wasn't unacceptable.

Five hundred thousand thunder-attribute Spirit Crystals.

The Liu Family could provide those as well.

As a Hidden Family with a long-standing Legacy, their foundation was profound. The various resources they had accumulated far exceeded ordinary people's imagination. Although thunder-attribute Spirit Crystals were precious and rare, they had quite a few in their storage.

But... adding the two together.

The price was simply too high!

So high that Elder Liu Lan felt her heart was bleeding!

This had already far exceeded her initial expectations, even surpassing the absolute maximum price she had anticipated!

More importantly.

Whether this masked youth, only sixteen years old, could actually appraise the mysteries of that object remained an unknown!

If he went there and ended up as helpless as the Great Masters they had invited before, wouldn't the Liu Family suffer a massive loss?

To lose both the bait and the fish?

"This... Elder Dong Xuan, is this price perhaps..."

Elder Liu Lan tried to maintain a calm tone, but the slight tremble at the end of her words betrayed her inner turmoil.

She looked at Jiang Yun, trying to see some clue through that cold mask. Was this youth asking for the sky while waiting for her to haggle, or was he truly that confident and certain?

However.

The mask blocked all expressions, leaving only those eyes peering through the holes—exceptionally calm, even somewhat innocent—staring back at her quietly.

That gaze seemed to say:

"This is my price. If you think it's okay, then it's okay. If not, then forget it."

An invisible pressure enveloped Elder Liu Lan.

She suddenly realized.

In this psychological game, she had completely fallen into a disadvantage.

The other party held absolute initiative.

It was the Liu Family who needed a favor.

It wasn't Jiang Yun begging to do the appraisal.

Moreover.

Jiang Yun had just received astronomical offers of allegiance from the Qian Family and the War Beast Sect; he didn't lack her particular show of 'sincerity' at all.

Her original strategy of using the mystery of choosing from a Hidden Family's vault and the gift of a single treasure to attract a poor kid had completely failed after the other party had already seen billions in shares and millions of Spirit Crystals.

Jiang Yun saw Elder Liu Lan's hesitation and that flash of panic clearly, feeling no guilt in his heart.

Jiang Yun thought to himself.

He couldn't be blamed for being black-hearted.

You guys were the ones who tried to fool me with just one treasure first.

Three treasures plus five hundred thousand Thunder Spirit Crystals sounds like a lot, but for a Hidden Family with a thousand-year Legacy like yours, it's probably just a drop in the bucket, right?

Since that item is so important to you.

Is paying this small price not worth it?

A brief silence fell over the hall.

There was only the faint crackling sound of sandalwood burning in the incense burner.

Elder Liu Lan's fingers tightened inside her sleeve, her well-manicured nails almost sinking into her palm.

The eager and anxious eyes of the clan Elders flashed through her mind, and she remembered the potential impact on the Liu Family's future of that strange object enshrined deep within the Forbidden Ground that no one could identify... Finally.

As if having made a massive decision, or perhaps having shed a heavy burden, Elder Liu Lan took a deep breath. Her usually straight back seemed to slump slightly for a brief moment.

She raised her eyes.

And looked at Jiang Yun.

There were no more superfluous expressions on her cold Face.

She clearly uttered just one word.

"Fine."

She agreed!

Jiang Yun's brow twitched slightly under the mask.

A surge of joy rose in his heart.

It worked!

Choosing any three treasures from a Hidden Family's vault!

This was simply a massive Treasure Trove!

He wondered if there were any evolution Materials he urgently needed for Little Fire or Little Skylark inside.

Or perhaps other unexpected surprises?

"Elder Liu is straightforward!"

A smile appeared on Jiang Yun's Face.

His tone became a bit more warm.

"Rest assured, Elder. Since I have accepted, this Junior will naturally do his best. Even if the item I am to appraise is quite peculiar, I will certainly decipher it clearly for the Liu Family and live up to your trust."

He spoke very skillfully, expressing confidence while leaving room for error, appearing neither arrogant nor irresponsible.

When Elder Liu Lan heard this.

There wasn't much joy on her Face; she merely nodded slightly, her tone remaining flat.

"I hope so."

She seemed unhappy because she had paid a price far exceeding her expectations, and she didn't show much interest in Jiang Yun's guarantee.

She only cared about the result now.

"I wonder when Elder Dong Xuan will have the leisure to travel to my Liu Family's ancestral grounds?"

Elder Liu Lan asked directly.

She just wanted to finalize things as quickly as possible.

Hearing this, Jiang Yun fell into thought.

He did indeed have many things to handle next.

He had to prepare to report to Sky Dome Academy the day after tomorrow, and he also had to find a way to figure out how to obtain a slot for the Molten Fire Grotto Secret Realm... for a while, he really couldn't carve out a solid block of time to go to the Liu Family.

"Elder Liu, you should also understand that this Junior is currently tied down by many trivial matters, and many things need to be arranged."

Jiang Yun weighed his words.

"How about this: within seven days, this Junior will definitely give the Elder a clear answer and confirm the specific time to go to the Liu Family. How does that sound?"

Seven days?

Elder Liu Lan's brow furrowed imperceptibly. She clearly felt it was a bit long, but she also knew she couldn't force it.

The other party was a hot commodity right now, and his time was valuable.

"Fine, we will do as the Elder says. Within seven days."

Elder Liu Lan nodded.

There was still no smile on her Face.

After paying the massive price of three vault treasures and five hundred thousand Thunder Spirit Crystals, yet still having to wait for the other party to find time—no one would feel very happy.

But she wouldn't say it out loud.

This concerned the Liu Family's Face.

Jiang Yun also didn't know something.

The Liu Family vault only had about twenty-some items in total, and every single one was a rare treasure at the Eclipsing Moon Rank or higher, with even one or two clan-protecting treasures touching the Sun-Level!

Giving up three at once.

For the Liu Family, this definitely counted as a significant 'bleeding'!

As for the five hundred thousand Thunder Spirit Crystals, while painful, they seemed secondary compared to the vault treasures.

Elder Liu Lan gave Jiang Yun a deep look. Blocked by the mask, she couldn't see through this youth's true thoughts and could only pray secretly in her heart.

She hoped this little fellow was truly as capable as he appeared... if he was just a fraud.

The Liu Family's loss this time would be massive.

After all, Jiang Yun was now the Grand Elder of the Appraisers Guild.

With President Yun Xi acting as a guarantor.

They naturally couldn't easily go back on their word.

She said no more and flipped her delicate hand.

A warm green Jade Slip appeared in her palm, which she handed to Jiang Yun.

"This is my Liu Family's unique communication Jade Slip. Once the Elder has decided on a time, use this to contact me."

Next.

She waved her right hand again.

Boom!

In the open space in the center of the hall.

A small mountain suddenly appeared!

A small mountain built entirely of crystal-clear, diamond-shaped crystals flickering with violent purple electrical arcs!

It was four or five meters high and covered an area of several square meters!

Terrifying thunder-attribute energy instantly permeated the air. Tiny electrical sparks jumped in the atmosphere, making faint crackling sounds. The temperature of the entire hall seemed to rise several degrees, filled with a scalp-numbing aura of destruction!

Five hundred thousand thunder-attribute Spirit Crystals!

Just like that, they were piled up without any concealment in front of Jiang Yun!

That surging, pure thunder-element spiritual power.

It almost solidified into thunder liquid!

Elder Liu Lan explained in a flat tone.

"Five hundred thousand thunder-attribute Spirit Crystals is too many. I didn't bring extra storage tools, so I have to do this. Elder Dong Xuan, please collect them yourself."

Looking at this mountain of thunder crystals radiating alluring light and power, Jiang Yun's eyes instantly lit up!

He was overjoyed.

As expected of a Hidden Family head.

They really were dripping with wealth!

The resources for Little Skylark to advance to Amethyst Rank.

Weren't they all right here!

"No matter, no matter!"

Jiang Yun immediately stepped forward.

With a wave of his sleeve, an invisible suction force was generated.

That shocking mountain of thunder crystals, like a giant whale swallowing water, quickly shrank and flew up, turning into a purple torrent that poured entirely into a storage ring on his finger.

The whole process was smooth and natural. In just two or three breaths, the hall returned to its original state, leaving only a faint burnt smell and a few stray electrical arcs that hadn't yet fully dissipated in the air.

Having stowed the Spirit Crystals and the Jade Slip.

Jiang Yun was in a great mood.

He guaranteed to Elder Liu Lan once more: "Rest assured, Elder Liu. Within seven days, there will be an answer. When this Junior goes to the Liu Family, I will certainly do my utmost to share the Liu Family's burdens and solve your difficulties."

Elder Liu Lan nodded.

There was still no expression on her Face.

She only said plainly: "Then this old one will await the good news. Farewell."

With that.

She stayed no longer, turning to walk out of the hall. Her pace was still elegant, but seemed a fraction faster than when she arrived. Her water-blue palace dress soon disappeared behind the door curtain.

Watching Elder Liu Lan's departing back.

Jiang Yun shrugged helplessly.

He whispered to himself.

"Sigh, looks like there's a bit of dissatisfaction... but you can't blame me. Who told you to lack sincerity at the start?"

He had absolute confidence in his ability of Manifestation of All Things Entries.

He was very certain in his heart.

Don't worry!

No matter what strange thing you want me to appraise, when the time comes, I'll definitely appraise it clearly for you, making you feel that these three treasures and five hundred thousand Thunder Spirit Crystals were worth every penny!

...Outside the hall.

The crowd in the courtyard had been closely watching the entrance.

When they saw Elder Liu Lan walk out quickly with a cold Face—even showing a hint of displeasure—and leave directly by flying away in a water-blue light without even saying a greeting, everyone was stunned.

"Eh? Elder Liu is leaving already? Her expression doesn't look right?"

"What happened? Could it be... the talks broke down?"

"No way! The Liu Family is a Hidden Family; their foundation is even stronger than the Qian Family, Feng Family, and War Beast Sect! Great Master Dong Xuan rejected even them?"

"Looking at Elder Liu's Face, they obviously didn't reach an agreement! Great Master Dong Xuan's... appetite is too big, isn't it? He didn't even give the Liu Family Face?"

"Tsk tsk, this is getting interesting. The Liu Family isn't easy to deal with. Although they are a Hidden Family, their power is still immense. For Great Master Dong Xuan to offend the Liu Family at such a young age, I'm afraid..."

"Offend what? Don't forget, Grand Tutor Dongxuan is now the Grand Elder of the Appraisers Guild. With President Yun Xi's protection, even the Liu Family probably wouldn't dare do anything to Grand Tutor Dongxuan."

The crowd discussed fervently.

They guessed all sorts of possibilities.

The gazes looking toward the hall became more complex—some curious, some reverent, and some with a hint of schadenfreude.

Old Man Huang Mu, who had been standing to the side with a smiling Face, saw this, and a flash of imperceptible coldness and... relief? appeared in his eyes.

He stroked his snow-white beard.

He chuckled twice but said nothing.

He turned to look at Patriarch Feng Xiao, who had remained composed throughout, as if watching a play.

"Patriarch Feng, it seems Elder Liu has returned empty-handed. Next, this old man will shamelessly take the first step to go in and catch up with Elder Dong Xuan. Patriarch Feng... you shouldn't have any objections, right?"

Hearing this, Patriarch Feng Xiao.

Smiled calmly and made a gesture of invitation.

"Elder Huang, please go ahead. Feng came here only to offer congratulations and has no urgent business. First or last, it doesn't matter."

He indeed wasn't in a hurry.

What the Feng Family sought was different from others; it was more about building a good relationship. Sending gifts and making friends was enough; there was no rush for an immediate cooperative binding.

"Hehe, then many thanks to Patriarch Feng."

Old Man Huang Mu nodded with a smile, leaning on his emerald vine staff as he walked toward the hall with composed steps, his eyes flashing with a deep and seasoned light quite different from Elder Liu Lan's.

And on the main seat outside the hall.

President Yun Xi, who had been leisurely sipping tea as if indifferent to all the disputes and transactions, now put down her teacup. Her deep gaze swept over the direction where Elder Liu Lan had departed, then landed on Old Man Huang Mu's back as he entered the hall.

The usual gentle smile at the corners of her lips...