Chapter 493: Heaven-Splitting Disc

Li Huo Sword Venerable didn’t really mind. He was just helping a junior examine an item, nothing major.

However, the moment he saw the disc-shaped Magic Treasure, his entire expression changed.

He straightened up, eagerly taking it in his hands. After examining it carefully for a long moment, he asked with a grave expression, “This… is the Magic Treasure Ru Feng mentioned? The one you snatched from a Demon Cultivator in the Secret Realm?”

As his disciple, Lie Rufeng had naturally told him what had happened in the Secret Realm.

He hadn’t gone into great detail, but this particular point was impossible to omit, so of course the Sword Venerable knew about it.

Lu Sangjiu had a good impression of Li Huo Sword Venerable and was beginning to trust him.

So she didn’t hold back. She simply nodded and said, “That’s right. But it’s ruined now. I figured it was probably an Immortal Artifact or something of the sort, but for some reason, it was later corrupted by Evil Qi, which is why it ended up in this state.”

If it had been an Evil Artifact from the start, it would have been able to regenerate its Evil Qi even after being completely drained, rather than being rendered useless.

After stating her theory, Lu Sangjiu asked eagerly, “So, Senior, have you identified what it is?”

Li Huo Sword Venerable’s expression was grave. After a long moment, he said, “I suspect… this was originally a Divine Artifact.”

“A Divine Artifact?!” This time, even Lu Sangjiu was shocked. She couldn’t help but recall the words spoken by the man in the Secret Realm during their struggle of Divine Sense.

At the time, she had thought he was just spouting nonsense and hadn’t paid it any mind.

But now that even Li Huo Sword Venerable was calling it a Divine Artifact… ‘Could it really be one?’

After a moment, Lu Sangjiu swallowed hard. “Are… are you sure?”

Li Huo Sword Venerable’s expression was not one of someone joking. He began, “First, in terms of appearance, it strongly resembles the legendary Divine Artifact, the Heaven-Splitting Disc.”

“Second, I just examined it for a long time. Although its Divinity has completely vanished, the uniqueness of its material still points to certain things.”

“I believe it is most likely the Heaven-Splitting Disc. I just don’t know what happened to it to leave it so ruined… Alas, what a terrible shame.”

Hearing Li Huo Sword Venerable mention the word “Divinity,” she couldn’t help but recall the man’s words again… ‘So, there actually was a trace of Divinity left on it, and I accidentally absorbed it?’

‘But something that sounds so powerful… if I really absorbed it, how could I have had no reaction at all?’

‘Shouldn’t I have at least broken through several levels in a row? Or at the very least, it should have helped me break through to the Heavenly Immortal realm, right?’

But the reality was… nothing. She hadn’t felt the slightest inkling of a breakthrough.

However, she couldn’t very well mention these things to Li Huo Sword Venerable. So, despite her doubts, she simply said, “I see. Thank you for clearing up my confusion, Li Huo Sword Venerable.”

It was a ruined Divine Artifact. While the materials were still usable, they weren’t enough to stir any greed in someone like Li Huo Sword Venerable. He simply gave a faint nod. “It’s nothing.”

“In the future, find a skilled Artifact Refiner and have them reforge this material into a new weapon for you. But you must choose the person carefully. This thing isn’t exactly a treasure anymore, but plenty of people would still covet it.”

Lu Sangjiu nodded solemnly. “I understand. Thank you for the advice, Sword Master.”

“Mm. You can stay here for the next few days. Go on out; Ru Feng will show you to your quarters.”

“I rarely have outsiders here, so you can make yourself at home. But it’s best if you don’t wander around the rest of the Sect.”

“Understood!”

Lu Sangjiu carefully put away the Heaven-Splitting Disc, took her leave of Li Huo Sword Venerable, and pushed open the door to exit.

Outside, just as he had promised, Lie Rufeng was waiting by the door.

Seeing Lu Sangjiu emerge, he immediately rushed over. “Are you okay? Did my master give you a hard time?”

She hadn’t thought much of it before, but seeing the worried look on Lie Rufeng’s face, it all clicked into place for Lu Sangjiu.

Lie Rufeng knew from the very beginning about the “history” between her and his master, yet he still lured her here.

‘He must be so worried about me because he has a guilty conscience, right?’

At this thought, Lu Sangjiu shot him a reproachful glance and said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, “What did you think would happen to me, Mr. Lie?”

“Heh, or should I say, you knew your master would give me a hard time, Mr. Lie, but you deliberately lured me here anyway?”

Lie Rufeng: “…”

He was a little embarrassed at being so suddenly exposed.

He cleared his throat, then offered a frank apology. “I was indeed less than forthcoming with you before, Ms. Lu… I’m sorry.”

“But I also knew my master wouldn’t be too hard on you, which is why… In any case, I was in the wrong. Whatever you wish, Ms. Lu, I will not complain.”

He sounded so sincere that Lu Sangjiu’s anger dissipated. She just waved her hand dismissively. “All right, all right. It’s not that serious.”

“Besides… your master is actually a good person. He helped me out a lot.”

“So, let’s just forget about you tricking me. We’ll call it even!”

With that, she patted Lie Rufeng on the shoulder. “Your master said I can stay here for a while, so I’ll have to trouble you to arrange a place for me!”

Lie Rufeng was taken aback. “Master is letting you stay? Does he want you to join the Qiyue Sect?”

Lu Sangjiu shook her head. He had indeed asked, but she had refused.

She didn’t tell Lie Rufeng that, however. She just said, “Your master agreed to help me with something, so I’ll have to impose on you for a little while.”

Lu Sangjiu then explained that Li Huo Sword Venerable had agreed to help her, and that she, in turn, had promised to accompany him on a trip to the Demon God Palace’s territory.

Lie Rufeng was surprised. “Master didn’t just let you off, he’s even helping you like this?”

His face was a mask of astonishment. “Tsk, that’s really unexpected.”

Lu Sangjiu just chuckled and didn’t say anything more, simply following Lie Rufeng to a guest room.

The auction was still half a month away, so Lu Sangjiu gave all her savings to Li Huo Sword Venerable in advance.

“The starting bid is one hundred Immortal Stones. No one bid on it last time, so I’m guessing this should be enough.”

“Please, you have to help me get it! If, by some chance, someone else starts bidding… as long as… as long as it doesn’t get too ridiculous, could you please spot me the difference, Sword Master? I’ll be sure to pay you back in full later!”

Li Huo Sword Venerable shot her a disdainful look. “Enough. You don’t need to tell me what to do. I know how to handle it.”

“Instead of wasting time worrying, you should be training with Ru Feng. Otherwise, you might lose your life on the trip to the Demon God Palace, and then you’ll have bought those Ten Thousand Fusion Stones for nothing.”

Lu Sangjiu: “…”

‘Gee, thanks a lot.’