168: Chapter 168 The Mysterious Fat Taoist Priest

Xiao Fan's heart also shook violently, his breathing quickened. A Spirit-Connected Weapon!

This was a true treasure, worth a fortune.

For small families like their Xiao Family and Zhang Family, even pooling the entire clan's resources wouldn't be enough to afford one.

Yet before their eyes, there were three!

"Old Jiang, this..." Xiao Fan looked at Jiang Hao, feeling everything was going a bit too smoothly, unrealistically so.

Jiang Hao smiled: "What are you standing there for? Go get them. If someone else comes, they'll be snatched away."

Jiang Hao sighed inwardly, thinking this Ancient Emperor White Deer really knew how to have fun. A dignified Ancient Emperor actually kept little trinkets like Spirit-Connected Weapons around.

Yes, little trinkets. Although Spirit-Connected Weapons are precious to ordinary Cultivators,

to an Ancient Emperor, they are just playthings, like a thousand dollars is to a billionaire—utterly insignificant.

Jiang Hao felt this Ancient Emperor White Deer was deliberate, placing all sorts of treasures in this Small World, of every type, with a very mischievous sense of humor.

Only then did Xiao Fan and the other react, quickly stepping forward.

Zhang Bo picked up one. It felt slightly heavy in his hand. He drew it an inch out of its sheath; the blade shimmered with cold light, faintly emitting a light hum.

He was both shocked and overjoyed: "A good sword, truly a good sword!"

Xiao Fan also picked one up, feeling the spirituality contained within the sword, his heart equally stirred with excitement.

"Old Jiang, this one is for you!" Zhang Bo picked up the final short sword, respectfully offering it to Jiang Hao with both hands.

Xiao Fan also nodded: "Without Old Jiang's guidance, we would never have made it here, let alone obtained such treasures. You must accept it."

Jiang Hao looked at the sincere, grateful faces of the two youths and nodded inwardly.

These two lads truly had good character, not the kind who forgets righteousness at the sight of profit.

He smiled and waved his hand, his tone gentle yet firm: "This old man is of advanced age. What use do I have for things meant for fighting and killing? Carrying it would just be a burden. You young ones need these things for self-defense. Keep them all."

"Old Jiang..." Xiao Fan still wanted to persuade him.

"Keep it." Jiang Hao patted his shoulder. "Use them well. Don't waste this Opportunity. That's the best thanks you can give me."

Xiao Fan and Zhang Bo exchanged a look. Knowing Old Jiang was sincerely refusing, they didn't press further. Solemnly, they put away the short sword and their share of the Spirit Stones.

Zhang Bo muttered: "Old Jiang, in the future, when I find a Medicine King or something that can extend life, I'll definitely bring it to you!"

Xiao Fan also nodded vigorously, clearly taking these words to heart.

Hearing this, Jiang Hao was slightly taken aback, then smiled.

Medicine King? Extend life? For me? I'm afraid that won't do. It would at least require an Immortality Divine Medicine.

For the current Jiang Hao, even an Immortality Divine Medicine would have little effect.

This thought crossed Jiang Hao's mind. Looking at the two youths before him, genuinely concerned for an ordinary old man, he just smiled gently and said nothing.

The sincerity of these two youngsters' intentions was enough. Their having this sentiment was sufficient.

"Alright then, this old man will be waiting."

After storing the treasures, the three continued on their way.

For the rest of the journey, following Jiang Hao felt like they had turned on cheat codes.

They found treasures just by walking, and dangers turned into blessings.

In contrast, other teams were all in sorry states, with heavy casualties.

This left Xiao Fan and the other utterly shocked. Now they only had one thought: Since when has exploring a tomb of a powerhouse of the Ancient Emperor level become so easy?

Is this still exploring a Secret Realm? Is this still an Ancient Emperor's tomb? Is it really this simple? Are we sure this isn't a vacation?

The two of them only needed to do as Old Jiang said to easily obtain resources.

Zhang Bo's nature couldn't keep things hidden. Sometimes he wanted to ask, but Xiao Fan pulled him back and shook his head.

Everyone has their own secrets. Since Old Jiang didn't wish to speak more, they shouldn't press.

Regardless, Old Jiang was helping them. That was enough.

Soon, they arrived at a side hall deep within the Small World.

In the hall was a pool of spirit liquid. On a stone platform in the center of the pool rested a jade jar containing an amber-colored liquid, emanating a rich life essence.

"This is Natural Blood Essence. It can temper the Physical Body and strengthen one's Foundation." Xiao Fan's eyes lit up.

This was exactly what he needed most right now!

Jiang Hao nodded: "It's good stuff. Go get it quickly before someone else finds it."

This thing was indeed quite good, very useful for Cultivators building their Foundation.

Xiao Fan and Zhang Bo immediately stepped forward, carefully retrieving the jade jar.

It felt warm and smooth to the touch, and they could sense the vast yet gentle life energy within.

Both their faces showed delight.

"Haha, this Daoist Master's luck is truly not bad."

Just as the two had retrieved the Blood Essence, a round, chubby figure smilingly sidled over.

The newcomer was a Fat Daoist priest, wearing a wrinkled, oversized gray cloth Daoist robe. A wooden hairpin was askew in his hair, with a few unruly strands sticking up.

His face was plastered with an overly enthusiastic smile. His eyes weren't big, but they darted around rapidly, as if appraising something, his gaze lingering especially on the jade jar holding the Natural Blood Essence for a few extra moments.

"You two young friends have profound fortune!" The Fat Daoist approached, performing a proper Daoist salute. "This poor Daoist is Wu Liang. Greetings."

Xiao Fan and Zhang Bo immediately became alert, instinctively moving to shield Jiang Hao behind them while preparing to strike. In this perilous Secret Realm, they had seen plenty of killings for treasure along the way.

Wu Liang acted as if he completely missed their wariness and the sword tips subtly aimed at him, launching into his own performance.

First, he looked at the jade jar with an expression of admiration:

"Tsk tsk, this Natural Blood Essence is truly good stuff! Tempering the body, solidifying the Foundation, nurturing the origin. Rare, extremely rare!"

Then, he switched to a troubled and regretful expression:

"However... using this thing is quite particular. It requires specific medicinal catalysts and a unique refining technique. Otherwise, less than one-tenth of its effect remains. A single misstep could even damage the Meridians, the loss outweighing the gain!"

He sighed heavily, as if pained by the predicament Xiao Fan and the other were about to face. Then, he mysteriously lowered his voice:

"This poor Daoist traveled far and wide in my early years and, by chance, obtained a remarkable fragment of an ancient scripture."

He carefully pulled out a rather ancient-looking Jade Slip from his bosom. The surface of the slip indeed had some blurred, indistinct patterns, exuding an air of age.

Fat Daoist Wu Liang's face showed an expression of extreme reluctance, as if cutting out his own heart. Gnashing his teeth, he said:

"I see the three of you are fated with me. Today, I'll take a loss. I'll exchange this supreme technique fragment, possibly left behind by the Celestial Emperor in his early years, for your Blood Essence, and..."

His eyes darted towards Xiao Fan and Zhang Bo's storage pouches.

"...and for the Spirit-Connected Weapons and Spirit Medicines on your persons. Sigh, this is this poor Daoist's last-resort treasure. Exchanging it for your things... I'm really taking a huge loss, a huge loss! Let's just consider it forming a good connection!"

He wore the expression of someone who had suffered a terrible loss but, for their sake, magnanimously accepted it.

After hearing this, Xiao Fan and Zhang Bo looked at each other, momentarily unsure whether to be angry or laugh.

Zhang Bo, straightforward by nature, almost couldn't hold back: "Left by the Celestial Emperor? A supreme technique? Daoist, are you here to crack jokes? Do you take us for three-year-old children?"