"Could it be that Brother Lu has some other method of distribution?" Han Li's eyes flickered a few times before he said calmly.
"If that jade box and medicine bottle are also ancient treasures, there'd be no problem with the three of us each taking two treasures. But now, the jade box and medicine bottle..."
"We don't know what's inside the jade box and medicine bottle yet, so naturally we should open them first and distribute the treasures according to their value." The Marquis of Nanlong suddenly interjected, putting forth what sounded like a fair proposal.
Hearing this, the old man surnamed Lu furrowed his brow, but quickly nodded repeatedly: "That is precisely what I had in mind. What do you think, Fellow Daoist Han?"
"I have no objections. I'll go along with whatever the two of you decide," Han Li answered almost without thinking.
"Fellow Daoist Han is so agreeable. Then let this Marquis see what exactly is inside." Hearing Han Li's ready response, the Marquis of Nanlong was quite pleased.
He immediately reached out, and the white jade box flew into his palm with a whoosh. He then flipped his hand and slapped at the box, about to pry open the lid.
But the instant his palm touched the lid, a flash of white light erupted. A layer of hazy white radiance materialized and deflected his hand away.
"Oh! This box has been sealed with a restriction." The Marquis of Nanlong started, but after a brief moment's thought, golden light shimmered across his hand as he grabbed for the lid once more.
This time, the white radiance flared up again, and the golden light wove together with the white glow.
However, after a short while, the radiance clearly couldn't withstand the golden palm. The golden hand slowly closed around the lid and forced it open.
The white radiance immediately dissipated without a trace.
Han Li focused his gaze and immediately saw what was inside — it was an ancient jade slip, faintly yellowed with age.
Under the old man surnamed Lu's surprised gaze, the Marquis of Nanlong hesitated for a moment, then reached out with two fingers, carefully extracted the jade slip, and pressed it to his forehead.
In an instant, his spiritual sense swept through the contents of the jade slip, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
"Fellow Daoists, come and see for yourselves as well!" To avoid suspicion, the Marquis of Nanlong quickly removed the jade slip and tossed it to Han Li.
Han Li's expression shifted slightly as he caught the jade slip and likewise immersed his spiritual sense within.
But after a moment, his brows knitted almost imperceptibly, and he tossed the jade slip to the old man surnamed Lu.
Lu Weiying also hurriedly scanned the contents of the jade slip.
"'Seven Flames Fan'... What kind of ancient treasure is this? I've never heard of it. Is this ancient treasure particularly powerful?" The old man muttered with a twitch of his lips, not even having finished reading.
"I can't say for certain. But seeing as the forging method was recorded so carefully in this jade slip, and most of the materials listed are spirit-grade ingredients... it should be quite powerful, I'd imagine?" the Marquis of Nanlong replied uncertainly.
"Even if it is powerful, it does us no good. The spirit materials required to forge this treasure are simply too many. True, the slip does include methods for tempering spirit materials, but it calls for the fusion and refinement of eighty-one fire-attribute spirit materials, plus a vast array of supplementary materials. Some of which seem to have gone extinct in this realm long ago. This jade slip is practically useless in the present age — only good for studying weapon-forging theory." The old man surnamed Lu shook his head, then tossed the jade slip back to the Marquis of Nanlong.
The Marquis of Nanlong chuckled, looking rather agreeable, and casually placed the jade slip back into the jade box.
"Seven Flames Fan? Master — does this jade slip really record the forging method for that treasure?" Just as Han Li was also concluding the jade slip was useless, Silver Moon's delighted voice suddenly rang through his mind.
Han Li's heart stirred, and he immediately replied via voice transmission: "That's right, that's the name. What — do you know of this ancient treasure?"
"Master, if I'm not mistaken, the Seven Flames Fan is also one of the Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasures. Though its ranking among them seems very low — nearly at the very bottom." Silver Moon's voice trembled slightly as she couldn't help but speak in a rush.
"Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure!" At these words, Han Li was badly startled and froze.
"What?! That Seven Flames Fan is a Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure? Then this jade slip absolutely must be obtained! I've been wanting to study Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasures for ages. To now have a forging method — couldn't ask for better!" Before Han Li could even reply, the Grand Elder Spirit, who hadn't spoken in some time, suddenly burst out in excitement within Han Li's mind.
"You old monster — what are you butting in for?" Silver Moon heard the Grand Elder Spirit's words, and her voice turned ice-cold as she snapped irritably.
"Ha ha ha! You little fox spirit, still holding that grudge, are you? This old man had simply never seen an artifact spirit with its own intelligence before, which was why I suggested borrowing you for a bit of study. Your master didn't agree, did he?" The Grand Elder Spirit laughed it off with an air of nonchalance.