Chapter 1001, Hidden Value

Translator: Silavin

 

Spiritual Energy surged forth, tinged with green. It was a colour reminiscent of life itself, which immediately refreshed everyone’s spirits.

 

“This hue? Could it be another Mutated Spirit Seed!?”

 

Seeing this lustre, exclamations immediately rang out through the crowd.

 

Immediately, everyone held their breath, not daring to exhale, their gazes fixed intently on the Crystal Cutter.

 

Xu Yuzhu, standing to one side, found his expression darkening in an instant.

 

This Shooting Star Spirit Crystal had been examined by him. At the time, he had experienced a peculiar sensation, which was why he had appraised it. However, under his examination, he had truly discovered nothing special, and so had chosen to abandon it.

 

Yet now, this phenomenon absolutely could not be caused by an ordinary Spirit Seed.

 

“This is…” The Crystal Cutter’s pupils also contracted, his expression growing extremely solemn. His movements became even more careful.

 

As his hands moved, fragments fell away, and that green lustre gradually appeared before everyone’s eyes.

 

The first thing to enter everyone’s vision was a pale green leaf. Upon the leaf were some indistinct patterns, resembling an ordinary tree leaf.

 

“Not a Spirit Seed? What is this?”

 

“A tree leaf? How could there be a tree leaf inside a Shooting Star Spirit Crystal?”

 

The surrounding onlookers all felt their pupils contracting, puzzlement inevitably rising in their hearts.

 

In everyone’s understanding, besides Spirit Seeds and Five-Coloured Profound Stones, there was typically nothing else within Shooting Star Spirit Crystals.

 

Because when penetrating the atmosphere, even the hardest materials would be worn down. Even after falling onto the continent, they would completely lose their original appearance.

 

Of course, beyond the Human Race’s experience, there had indeed been some peculiar objects discovered, though such things appeared perhaps once in a thousand years. Within the Human Race, they had never appeared before.

 

As for tree leaves… such a thing had likely never occurred.

 

“How could such an unusual tree leaf possibly exist?” The Crystal Cutter’s eyes also flashed with puzzlement. However, he showed no hint of distraction, instead becoming even more focused on his work.

 

Under his slow and deliberate cutting, a full quarter-hour passed before the true nature of the object within this Shooting Star Spirit Crystal finally appeared before everyone’s eyes.

 

In the Crystal Cutter’s hands, the Shooting Star Spirit Crystal had been completely stripped away, revealing a small tree barely an inch in size, verdant and full of vitality.

 

“A tree made of jade?”

 

“It doesn’t exactly look like one. What exactly is this thing?”

 

“How could such a thing possibly appear? Could Ancient Jade Pavilion have deliberately packaged a jade tree inside?”

 

“Hmm… quite possible. Looking at this, how could it possibly be a product from within a Shooting Star Spirit Crystal?”

 

Seeing this ancient tree, those who had been holding their breath finally opened their eyes wide. Whispered discussions quietly arose.

 

Among those voices were expressions of astonishment, but more numerous were those of doubt.

 

Because no one dared believe that such a thing could emerge from a Shooting Star Spirit Crystal!

 

This completely overturned their understanding.

 

Regarding the current spectacle, Xuan Mingge, who had selected this Shooting Star Spirit Crystal, wore an expression of complete bewilderment.

 

In his mind, there was only one thought… [What the Hell is that thing!?]

 

Hearing these voices of doubt, the Crystal Cutter’s expression also turned somewhat unpleasant.

 

The saying ‘many mouths make for confusion’ truly applied here. This was clearly something he had personally extracted from a Shooting Star Spirit Crystal, yet in everyone’s mouths, it had become Ancient Jade Pavilion’s deliberate fabrication.

 

Who did not know that Ancient Jade Pavilion had never done anything to damage its reputation?!

 

How could they possibly do something so crude?

 

However, quite obviously, even though everyone understood this in their hearts, those voices of doubt didn’t cease.

 

“*Hmph!* Let’s see how you handle this now!”

 

Xu Yuzhu, standing opposite Xuan Mingge, narrowed his eyes, secretly sneering inwardly.

 

Though he was quite curious about this tree and wanted to study thoroughly what this object was and why it appeared within a Shooting Star Spirit Crystal…

 

However, he could not reveal these thoughts.

 

Once he displayed such interest, it would likely trigger a sensation. At that point, countless experts would swarm over, driving this small tree’s price to astronomical heights.

 

In that case, his wager with Xuan Mingge would end in his defeat, and he would lose all face.

 

As a Heaven Grade Divine Appraiser, disregarding status to wager with a Junior was already quite shameful.

 

Fortunately, Xuan Mingge had previously extracted a Mutated Spirit Seed, which could barely justify things.

 

But if he lost this wager, he would be utterly disgraced, becoming a laughingstock.

 

At this moment, across the entire scene, Xuan Mingge was undoubtedly at a disadvantage.

 

Though this object’s appearance had startled everyone, regarding it, there was more controversy.

 

Fundamentally, its value remained immeasurable.

 

If it was merely an ordinary tree, it would not be worth even a single drop of Spirit Liquid!

 

Of course, if it truly was a product from within a Shooting Star Spirit Crystal, it would absolutely command an astronomical price…

 

As for all this, Qin Yichen appeared to have anticipated everything. His face showed not the slightest trace of concern.

 

In his previous life, this object had been extracted by a Saint Grade Divine Appraiser, triggering an unprecedented sensation. Ultimately, this one tree had sold for an astronomical price, purchased by a great figure from Saints Heavenly Manor.

 

“Brother Qin, what should we do?” Though Qin Yichen remained calm, Xuan Mingge could not sit still.

 

He had only selected two Shooting Star Spirit Crystals altogether. If the first one was declared worthless, he would already lose more than half of all he had!

 

After all, even if by some stroke of dog-shit luck he managed to extract three Peak Grade Spirit Seeds from the final Spirit Crystal, he still could not compare with Xu Yuzhu.

 

“Observe the situation calmly. I never expected to win with this Spirit Crystal anyway.” After a moment’s contemplation, Qin Yichen transmitted his voice casually.

 

Hearing this, Xuan Mingge froze, a bitter smile curving his lips.

 

[You bloody well never expected to win with this Spirit Crystal, yet you still made me buy it? Isn’t this just screwing people over?]

 

Most importantly, regardless of the outcome, he, Xuan Mingge, could bear it. But had Qin Yichen forgotten that he had wagered twenty thousand drops of Spirit Liquid?

 

[Who cares? *Hmph!* Not like my Sacred Master will be furious with me anyway. Right, exactly. It’s always been my Sacred Master losing his temper. I’ve never heard of Sacred Master Yu Qianqiu getting angry. Twenty thousand drops of Spirit Liquid should be enough for him to give Brother Qin a thorough thrashing, right?]

 

Xuan Mingge took a deep breath, suppressing the impulse to erupt in curses, continuously consoling himself.

 

Only, he had no idea what Qin Yichen’s words truly meant.

 

When Qin Yichen said he did not expect to win with this Shooting Star Spirit Crystal, it was not that this ancient tree’s controversial nature would affect its value. Rather, he had no intention of revealing to anyone this ancient tree’s true significance!