Chapter 598 - 594: Dao Mark Ancient Tree

The first shop mainly sold miscellaneous goods.

It had everything, from weapons and Pills down to plants, tables, and chairs.

Hong Yu's gaze swept past, but then it froze on an object in the corner—a piece of a dry, yellowed tree trunk.

It was covered in strange patterns and a thick layer of dust, clearly untouched and uncared for for many days.

"Huh? I can't believe they actually have something like this here."

Hong Yu muttered to himself, his expression one of keen interest.

He then walked over, casually examining the surrounding merchandise and asking for a few prices. Finally, as if discovering it by accident, he pointed to the trunk and asked in feigned confusion, "Shopkeeper, what is this thing? Why would you put a piece of dried-up wood here? You're not planning to scam someone, are you?"

"My esteemed guest, you are mistaken. We're doing business in the Four Kings Hall; how would we dare sell fake goods?"

The Shopkeeper was a Bear Person who looked simple and honest, but his eyes occasionally flashed with a sly, mercenary light. He chuckled. "This is a real find, a priceless Treasure my Young Master acquired for ten thousand Soul Stones. It's said that this was found in the lair of a Jade Forest One-Horned Flood Dragon! That Flood Dragon considered it a precious Treasure, and it was snatched away only at a great cost!"

"Heh, who are you trying to kid? Everyone knows the Jade Forest One-Horned Flood Dragon is a Water Attribute Tier Seven Wild Beast. Their bodies are wreathed in a misty vapor that could turn a desert into an oasis. If this thing really came from its lair, it would've been rejuvenated long ago. How could it possibly still be this dry?"

Hong Yu said with a grin.

"Uh... Well... This..."

The Bear Person Shopkeeper was at a loss for words.

He had just made that story up on the spot. If his Young Master hadn't insisted on putting this piece of wood up for sale, he would have thrown it out long ago.

Now, seeing that Hong Yu was clearly someone who knew his goods and had called his bluff, even the thick-skinned Shopkeeper couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

Hong Yu found this amusing, but he put on a contemplative expression. "Although it didn't come from a Jade Forest One-Horned Flood Dragon's lair, I do quite like the patterns on it. If I took it back and did a little carving, it could probably become a decent piece of art. Shopkeeper, how about it? Will you sell it for one Soul Stone?"

"Huh? One Soul Stone?"

The Bear Person stared, his eyes widening in shock.

"No sale?" Hong Yu asked.

The Bear Person nodded vigorously. "Sold, sold, sold!"

He remembered his Young Master's instructions when he'd left the thing here: sell it if anyone makes an offer, even if it's for free. It was only his merchant's instinct that made him habitually try to swindle people. As a result, though a few people had inquired at first, eventually, no one showed any interest at all.

The Young Master had mentioned the trunk again a few days ago, and he had been worried sick about how to get rid of it.

Now that Hong Yu suddenly wanted to buy it, he was more than happy to be rid of it. "Take it, please! Be my guest!"

...

Hong Yu paid the Soul Stone without fuss and turned to leave.

Once Hong Yu was a good distance away, the Bear Person took a Sound Transmission Stone from under the counter. "Young Master, that piece of wood you told me about has been sold."

"Oh? Do you know who it was?"

A pleasantly surprised voice came from the other end of the Sound Transmission Stone.

The Bear Person replied respectfully, "He was wearing a cloak and seemed unwilling to show his face. You instructed me not to 'startle the snake in the grass,' so your subordinate didn't pry. However, I saw he was with two young humans, and I believe one of them was Zhao Hu!"

"Yes, you've done well. You don't need to concern yourself with this matter any further. In a few days, Shopkeeper Wang on the second floor is retiring. You can go and take his place," the Young Master said calmly.

"Thank you, Young Master!"

The Bear Person Shopkeeper was ecstatic. He immediately ended the call on the Sound Transmission Stone.

On the highest floor of the Four Kings Hall...

In an incredibly luxurious private room, a young man in brocade robes lay on a soft waterbed, attended by four stunningly beautiful women.

The young man's lips curled into a playful, intrigued smile. 'Someone finally bought it. Heh. I should go see just who has the keen eye to recognize that thing. Mother always said that anyone who can identify it must be among the absolute best of Spiritual Craftsmen. If he's willing to help, my Xishang King Tribe can finally escape its current predicament!'

At this thought, the young man slowly stood up and walked out of the room.

...

Hong Yu and the others were strolling through the Four Kings Hall.

The First Layer was filled with ordinary goods, and nothing else caught Hong Yu's eye. Zhao Hu and his sister, however, seemed to be hesitating to speak the entire time.

Finally, Zhao Feng'Er couldn't hold it in any longer. "Brother Beichen, wasn't that just a piece of a dead tree trunk? If you wanted one, I could get you plenty. Why did you pay for it?"

"Haha, I was wondering when you two would finally ask!"

Hong Yu chuckled and playfully tapped the little girl's nose. "This isn't any ordinary piece of wood," he explained. "This thing has quite a story behind it!"

"Oh?"

Zhao Feng'Er's eyes went wide.

Beside her, Zhao Hu also pricked up his ears.

Hong Yu smiled. "What you see as an ordinary tree trunk, if I'm not mistaken, is a piece that peeled off a tree called a Dao Mark Ancient Tree."

"A Dao Mark Ancient Tree?"

The two siblings were stunned.

Hong Yu nodded. "A Dao Mark Ancient Tree is an incredibly precious and rare type of tree. Legend has it that every one of them is born when an extremely powerful existence comprehends a Supreme Martial Dao Law. As that being undergoes a baptism by the Laws of heaven and earth, a nearby tree gets caught in the process. It too is washed by the Laws, which causes it to form patterns of the Martial Dao Law."

"Every Dao Mark Ancient Tree is an extremely precious Treasure. Even though this is just a small, dried piece of trunk, in the hands of someone who knows what it is, it could sell for at least several tens of thousands of Soul Stones!" Hong Yu said conspiratorially.

The siblings gasped.

Their eyes flew wide.

They looked at Hong Yu in disbelief. 'The trunk he just bought for one Soul Stone is actually worth tens of thousands of them?'

Hong Yu laughed. "And that's only because this is a small piece. A complete Dao Mark Ancient Tree would be worth millions, if not tens of millions!"

"That's insane!"

The siblings drew in a sharp breath.

They had just been tearing their hair out over a single Soul Stone. Yet Hong Yu could casually spend one and get a treasure worth tens of thousands in return. Thinking back to how thrilled the Shopkeeper looked, the brother and sister exchanged a glance. They made up their minds right then and there: if they ever needed to sell anything, they would definitely look for that Shopkeeper!

Why?

'The guy was a rich fool, of course!'

"Brother Beichen, there's not much else to see in the Four Kings Hall. Let's just go," Zhao Hu said hurriedly, a flicker of anxiety in his eyes when he saw Hong Yu was about to head to the second floor.

Hong Yu paused.

How could he fail to notice the unease in Zhao Hu's eyes? He narrowed his own. "What's wrong? You don't want to go to the second floor?"

"I... I..."

Zhao Hu's face flushed crimson.

Zhao Feng'Er, ever the blunt one, blurted out, "Brother Beichen, the father of that guy you beat up at our house yesterday is on the second floor. He's a Steward in charge of security there, and he commands over a thousand experts. We'd better not go up, or they might see us."

"I see. Alright then, we'll go look somewhere else."

It wasn't that Hong Yu was afraid of them causing trouble or seeking revenge.

But on second thought, he remembered he needed to keep a low profile. It would be troublesome if he revealed his identity and attracted powerful enemies too soon.

Just as the three of them were about to leave, a clear, cheerful voice called out from behind. "Friend ahead, please wait a moment!"

"Hm?"

Hong Yu paused.

He turned to see a youth in a brocade robe hurrying toward them, his steps light and quick. Looking rather urgent, he soon dashed right up to Hong Yu.

"And you are?" Hong Yu asked, puzzled.

'This youth has fair features and expensive clothes. He's clearly from a rich family!'

'But I don't recognize him at all!'

The youth straightened his robes and bowed respectfully to Hong Yu. "My name is Xishang Ling. May I ask, were you the one who purchased a piece of dried tree trunk from the first shop?"

"I was. Why? Are you looking to buy it?" Hong Yu asked in surprise.

The youth shook his head and smiled. "Actually, I was the one who left that piece of wood there. And for that, I must first apologize to you, sir. For certain reasons, when I left that little trinket, I instructed the shop to notify me if anyone purchased it. That is how I managed to find you."

"I see. Then what matter brings you to me? Don't tell me you want it back?"

Hong Yu narrowed his eyes.

'Although it's just a small piece of the Dao Mark Ancient Tree and not of much use to me, if he's thinking of taking it back by force, I might just have to teach him a lesson!'

Xishang Ling quickly waved his hands in denial. He glanced around before saying, "I certainly have no designs on the item itself. I simply have an urgent matter that requires the help of an expert such as yourself, sir. It is a sensitive issue, so I had to resort to this crude method. If you wouldn't mind, would you be willing to accompany me to the top floor for a private discussion?"

Hong Yu continued to size up Xishang Ling.

He found the young man's manner of speaking to be very sincere; he didn't seem to be lying.

Furthermore, his clothes and conduct clearly indicated an extraordinary background. Recalling his own need to acquire a large number of Soul Stones quickly—which would inevitably require interacting with the top powers of the Nanshan Collection—he nodded. "Very well. I will go with you."

A look of pure ecstasy crossed Xishang Ling's face. He began to lead Hong Yu and the other two toward the top floor.

Xishang Ling walked a few steps ahead.

Hong Yu and the others followed, keeping a slight distance. Just as Xishang Ling turned the corner on the staircase, while the three of them were still at the landing, a group of people walked in through the main entrance.

Had Hong Yu been there, he would certainly have noticed that one of them was the same burly man who had followed the villainous young noble to cause trouble at Zhao Hu's house the day before.

He suddenly caught sight of Hong Yu and the Zhao siblings. A glint flashed in his eyes, and he quickly walked up to the leading man in brocade. "Captain," he said, "the guy who crippled the young master's limbs yesterday, he and the Zhao Family siblings just went up to the second floor!"

"Oh?"

The expert's eyes widened, and he grinned fiercely. "He dares to show his face in the Four Kings Hall after injuring the young master? I think he has a death wish. Keep an eye out for him. The moment you spot him, stall him, and I'll bring reinforcements immediately. Right, you newcomers don't know everyone here in the Four Kings Hall, so when you make a move, be sure to check if anyone is wearing fancy clothes. You can't afford to mess with people like that!"

"Don't worry, I'm not that blind!"

The burly man chuckled coldly and snuck toward the second floor.

The captain's gaze turned cold. 'I'll have to report this to the Steward. I was planning on waiting until nightfall to grab the Zhao siblings, but it looks like we'll have to move things up!'

Of course.

Hong Yu was oblivious to all of this. At that very moment, he was being led by Xishang Ling into a secret room on the top floor.

But the moment he stepped into the room, Hong Yu froze...

'What the hell is going on here?'