Looking curiously at the excited faces of the other seniors, Calum turned toward Yan King and asked, "Senior Yan, what exactly is the Treasure and Information Exchange?"
"Ah? About that, it's pretty much what the title implies: an event that allows participants to exchange pieces of information, rumors, and gossip about the cultivation world of the Luo Empire. Additionally, rare medicinal plants and treasures can be traded. As such, it serves as the grand finale of the banquet," Yan King answered casually.
Calum nodded in comprehension before smiling wryly. Although the event sounded fascinating, he was destined to be a mere spectator. For one, he hadn't been part of the cultivation world long enough to acquire secrets, rumors, or intelligence regarding the Luo Empire. Furthermore, he didn't possess any treasures or rare herbs to offer in trade.
Noticing Calum's expression, Yan King laughed in amusement. "Junior Calum, as you have just joined the sect, nobody expects you to contribute. For now, just observing the event will be a valuable experience."
Calum agreed inwardly; it would be absurd if he could contribute anything meaningful to such a gathering on his very first days in the sect. Still, for someone whose cultivation depended entirely on acquiring treasures, it felt like a missed opportunity.
He sighed and pushed the thought aside. He wasn't one to dwell on "ifs," choosing instead to focus his attention on Fairy Yu, who had stepped forward to outline the rules of the exchange. Her instructions were brief, clear, and direct.
"As many of you already know, the rules of the exchange are quite simple. First, both parties must agree to the trade. Second, whether it be treasures, medicinal herbs, or information, the quality and veracity must be proven. Third, no coercion is permitted. Anyone who infringes upon these rules..." Fairy Yu didn't finish the thought, but a subtle chill rippled down the backs of everyone present.
Nobody in attendance dared to underestimate this angelic-looking woman. In part, this was due to her famously volatile disposition—she could be the most benevolent fairy one moment and a terrifying entity the next. More importantly, it was a matter of raw power. She was one of the seven supreme powerhouses of the core disciples, making her someone well worth avoiding conflict with. Furthermore, she was the Saint's favorite pupil. Any one of these reasons was more than enough to command absolute respect—at least for those who valued their lives.
Noticing that the audience had received her message, her expression softened, and the heavy atmosphere instantly lifted. "Now, may the exchange begin." With those words, she returned to her seat.
A moment later, a disciple stepped onto the stage.
"Dear seniors and juniors, this humble Yül has a treasure I am willing to part with in exchange for a pill helpful for breakthroughs in the 5th state." The speaker was a man with sun-kissed skin and tressed hair, possessing a sharp demeanor and amber eyes as piercing as an eagle's.
"Don't keep us waiting, Junior. If the treasure is interesting enough, I'm sure one of us will agree to a trade," a senior encouraged good-naturedly.
Yül nodded appreciatively. "This treasure was found in the Death Gorge, located south of the Empire." With a flick of his wrist, an eerie black flute materialized in his palm, instantly capturing the attention of the surrounding disciples.
One disciple asked in shock, "You went there, Senior?! That's rumored to be one of the top ten danger zones in the entire Luo region!"
"I did, though not in the deeper zones—just the periphery," Yül answered simply.
The crowd settled down somewhat. While the Gorge was undeniably deadly, its outer fringes were manageable for someone of Yül's caliber. Still, possessing the capability to walk into such a zone and return unscathed spoke volumes about his strength.
"I am no specialist in treasure appraisal, but judging by the power I can sense within this flute—and the tests I've run—it should at least qualify as a mid-grade treasure."
A spark of genuine interest flickered in several seniors' eyes.
"What is its ability?" someone asked.
"Rather than explaining, demonstrating it is far more effective," Yül replied with a confident smile.
Slowly, he brought the flute to his lips. A macabre melody rippled through the hall. Startled gasps echoed immediately as nearly everyone felt their body's Qi draining at an alarming rate.
With a cry of alarm, a senior tried to raise a protective Qi barrier, but before it could fully form, it was completely shredded. Only a handful of senior disciples—alongside the seven supreme powerhouses—remained entirely unaffected by the tune. The others managed to resist only by relying on the protective capabilities of specialized treasures.
Amidst the chaos, Calum stood out as a complete anomaly. He felt absolutely nothing, primarily because he possessed no Qi for the flute to drain. The surrounding disciples looked toward him in utter bewilderment; given his low cultivation level, he should have been the most severely affected. Seeing him seated casually without so much as a frown on his face proved deeply unsettling.
Notices of their ugly expressions reached Calum, causing him to scratch his head in embarrassment. He glanced at Yan King, who wore an expression of undisguised schadenfreude. Calum could only offer a wry, helpless sigh.
Yül finally lowered the flute, concluding his dreadful performance. The rest of the disciples drew in ragged breaths before hurriedly refining ambient Qi to replenish their depleted reserves.
Calum noticed that Yül looked pale and thoroughly exhausted.
"The reason I am willing to part with this treasure is that it does not discriminate between wielder and enemy. Without a specialized method to shield oneself from its tune, it can be quite detrimental despite its utility," Yül explained after catching his breath.
Calum finally understood why the man looked so drained after playing it, yet his interest in the artifact only grew. Possessing such an area-of-effect suppression tool could prove immensely useful in combat. A predatory smile crossed his face at the prospect of watching his enemies' combat prowess plummet around him.
Observing his expression, Yan King asked, "Do you want it?"
Calum turned toward him, uncomprehending. "What do you mean, Senior?"
"I'm asking if you want it. I can handle the exchange on your behalf. You can simply pay me back in the future," Yan King spoke candidly.
"Seriously?" Calum asked, a flicker of excitement breaking through his composure. He could actually acquire this treasure with Yan King's backing. At the same time, the unusual generosity gave him pause; helping a newcomer to this extent was entirely abnormal, especially within the cutthroat cultivation world.
Even so, Calum wasn't overly concerned. Aside from the fact that he couldn't fall into the psychological traps typically set in such dynamics, he sensed no deceit or duplicity in his senior brother. Hesitating no further, he nodded.
"Yes, please do, Senior."
"You? I have to wonder if you're remarkably naive or simply too gullible," Yan King said with a wry chuckle, raising his palm.
"Senior Yan?" Yül straightened up attentively.
"This is a high-grade Myriad Refinement Pill. It should help you break past all bottlenecks in the 5th state—at least until the 5th tribulation." Yan King tossed over a jade bottle patterned with swirling clouds.
Yül's eyes lit up in delight as he flicked the flute toward Yan King.
Catching the black artifact, Yan King tossed it straight to Calum. A wide smile broke across Calum's face. Acquiring this treasure meant far more than merely gaining an offensive edge; as a practitioner of the Treasure Assimilation Scripture, it represented a direct pathway to further cultivation advancement.
"My gratitude, Senior Yan," Calum thanked him wholeheartedly.
"Think nothing of it. I may well need your assistance down the line. Just treat it as an exchange of favors."
"Understood, Senior," Calum replied before turning his focus back to the flute. He was eager to assimilate it, though he knew he would have to wait until he returned to his courtyard; he had no intention of exposing his unique cultivation mechanics in public.
Intricate, incomprehensible inscriptions were carved across the flute's surface. Inscriptions formed a vast, foundational pillar across all crafting professions in the cultivation world: medicinal practitioners relied on them to regulate flame intensity, treasure refiners utilized them to stabilize materials and imbue attributes, and array masters required them to anchor complex formations.
In short, a mastery of inscriptions provided a universal advantage to any cultivator.
After sweeping his consciousness across the artifact, Calum realized that delicate inscriptions were etched even along its interior channels, and the material itself possessed an extraordinary density.
Good stuff, Calum muttered inwardly, thoroughly satisfied with his acquisition.
"Pay attention now—this is only the beginning of the treasure exchange," Yan King reminded him quietly.
Calum nodded and refocused on the stage. If the very first item presented was this mysterious and potent, he couldn't wait to see what other wonders his seniors had brought along.