"However, the passage of time is cruel. As you can see, their vitality is almost completely dry. They have hardened into stone. To revive them would require immense care, rare spiritual spring water, and perhaps thousands of years of constant nourishment. Even then, there is no guarantee they will ever sprout."
A collective murmur of disappointment ran through the hall.
In the private rooms, the announcement drew silent scoffs.
Behind the light screen of Room Three, Elder Bai Cang of Alchemy Peak stroked his long beard, looking down with a flat gaze. 'That crafty old man,' he thought. 'He is trying to inflate the price of dead wood with cheap history.'
Further down the pavilion, behind the veil of Room Five, Elder Yu of the Heavenly Phoenix Sect looked down coldly.
'Hmph,' she thought. 'Do you think of us as fools?'
