Xu Chuan stuffed all these things into his storage ring in one go.
Fortunately, the storage ring he obtained earlier was large enough, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to fit so many things.
Looking at the empty treasure vault, Xu Chuan still couldn't find the spirit crystals.
However, the system had clearly indicated that the spirit crystals were within this underwater treasure vault.
It couldn't be wrong.
"Where exactly did they hide the spirit crystals? Could there be a secret room in this treasure vault?"
Xu Chuan refused to believe it. Today, he would find the spirit crystals even if he had to dig three feet into the ground!
After thinking for a moment, he walked directly to a wall and began to tap and feel his way around with his palm.
This was a common trope in movies and TV shows from his past life.
A moment later, Xu Chuan actually made a discovery!
"It's here!"
Xu Chuan's eyes lit up. He felt a mechanism on a wall.
With a gentle press, the mechanism sank downwards, and then, a door appeared before him.
The moment the door opened, a dense stream of vital energy surged forth.
Without further hesitation, he walked straight in.
Before him, a cultivation secret room appeared.
Within the secret room, a complete spirit gathering formation was inscribed. Countless streams of vital energy converged here, and the dense vital energy had even condensed into liquid.
A mysterious dao charm permeated the secret room.
In the center of the secret room, a treasure about the size of a palm, radiating infinite vital energy, was quietly suspended.
Upon seeing this item.
Xu Chuan finally smiled.
This was precisely the spirit crystal he had been searching for!
"Indeed, the system wouldn't lie to me!"
Xu Chuan let out a long sigh of relief.
After all, he was stealing from someone else's territory, and it was false to say there was no pressure.
If he couldn't find the spirit crystals for too long, Xu Chuan would have no choice but to retreat and seek another opportunity.
The Chen family, after all, had a Divine Ability Realm expert.
Xu Chuan didn't have the confidence to contend with a Divine Ability Realm expert while only in the first level of the Mortal Transformation Realm.
What was the difference between that and being a fool?
Even though he had a talisman from his master that sealed his full power strike.
Using it against a Divine Ability Realm expert would be like using an anti-aircraft gun to swat a mosquito.
One must know that it was the full power strike of a peak Heavenly Passage Realm blade cultivator, with immense power!
Xu Chuan didn't want to use it unless it was absolutely necessary.
Therefore, if he truly couldn't find it, he would definitely leave first.
Fortunately, he had obtained it now.
Next, it was time to let the Killing God Blade shed its mortal form and reveal its true appearance.
After all, it was a weapon capable of slaying a Reincarnation Realm expert by one great realm.
Xu Chuan was very much looking forward to the moment it recovered its true form!
With this thought.
Xu Chuan reached out and took the spirit crystal, preparing to leave this place and find a safe location to refine the Killing God Blade.
However, the moment his hand touched the spirit crystal.
Ding!
A crisp sound emanated from the surface of the spirit crystal.
Immediately afterward, Xu Chuan saw the spirit crystal begin to tremble, and then it exploded into pieces, scattering into crystals that drifted in the secret room.
"Damn, that Chen family ancestor is a sly old fox, setting up something like this!"
Seeing what happened before him, Xu Chuan instantly understood.
The Chen family ancestor had actually set up a formation on the surface of the spirit crystal. If the formation wasn't unraveled before touching the spirit crystal, the spirit crystal would immediately explode.
Even with the Heaven Deceiving Jade Talisman, Xu Chuan couldn't avoid touching the spirit crystal with his hand, thus falling into the Chen family ancestor's trap.
After the spirit crystal exploded, if it wasn't used within an hour, it would completely dissipate into the heavens and earth.
Moreover, because the fragments were too numerous and too fine, Xu Chuan couldn't collect them.
Helplessly, to avoid a wasted trip, Xu Chuan took out the Killing God Blade, placed it in the original position of the spirit crystal, and then activated the blade.
Instantly, the shattered fragments of the spirit crystal seemed to have found their destination, pouring into the blade. Then, a suction force appeared, and the blade began to absorb the vital energy from the secret room.
The refinement of the Killing God Blade began.
Xu Chuan could only brace himself and wait in someone else's treasure vault.
Once this process started, it could not be interrupted, otherwise, all efforts would be in vain.
During the refinement process, countless vital energies also dispersed.
Since he couldn't leave for the time being, Xu Chuan naturally wouldn't pass up this opportunity.
Immediately.
He sat cross-legged and madly circulated the Xuan Yang Art through the great circulation.
He absorbed and refined the massive amount of vital energy in the cultivation chamber.
"Boom!"
After an unknown amount of time, with the support of this massive amount of vital energy, Xu Chuan directly broke through to the second level of Mortal Transformation.
And the Killing God Blade was still being continuously tempered.
To accelerate the tempering progress of the Killing God Blade, Xu Chuan took out all the artifact refining materials he had obtained from the treasure vault outside, allowing the Killing God Blade to absorb them continuously.
This was someone else's territory, after all, and it was not suitable to stay long.
Once the Killing God Blade was tempered, he would leave immediately, otherwise, he would definitely be discovered.
...
Outside, the Chen family mansion was holding a birthday banquet for their ancestor.
All the prominent figures in Lin'an County were present.
They had all come to wish the Chen family ancestor a happy birthday.
After all.
The Chen family ancestor was one of the few Divine Ability Realm experts in Lin'an County.
This much face naturally had to be given.
"Yang Chen of the Yang family, Lin'an County, represents the family to wish the ancestor a happy birthday!"
"Bai Hua, the steward of the County Governor's Mansion, represents the County Governor in wishing the ancestor a happy birthday!"
"The Green Dragon Gang wishes the ancestor a happy birthday! We wish the ancestor success in cultivation and an early ascent to Nirvana!"
Each announcement represented the arrival of a major figure.
In the blink of an eye, dozens of factions had arrived.
The entire Chen mansion was bustling with noise and excitement, truly lively.
"Everyone who can attend the Chen family ancestor's birthday banquet is a friend of our Chen family. For your support, I, on behalf of the Chen family and the ancestor, express my gratitude to everyone!"
The current head of the Chen family, Chen Dongsheng, came out to speak at this time.
After a brief speech, the guests took their seats.
And the Chen family ancestor, under everyone's gaze, slowly walked out.
At this moment, the Chen family ancestor looked full of spirit, showing no signs of imminent passing.
Many people at the banquet changed their expressions.
They then realized that the rumors they had heard earlier, that the Chen family had obtained a treasure and the Chen family ancestor had made further progress because of it, were not groundless.
But were indeed true.
They had come today to gather information.
If the Chen family ancestor was truly on the verge of passing, then the Chen family would be like a fish on a chopping block, and all the factions present would want a piece of the pie.
"Congratulations to the ancestor for making further progress. This thousand-year-old blood ginseng is a congratulatory gift prepared by my Yang family for the ancestor's birthday!"
Yang Chen, from the Yang family, was the first to react. He congratulated the Chen family ancestor and then presented a brocade box.
Under everyone's astonished gaze, the brocade box was opened.
It revealed a gnarled red ginseng inside, emanating a rich vitality.
"It's truly a thousand-year-old blood ginseng! The Yang family has really paid a hefty price!"
Everyone present was a high-ranking official of their respective factions and naturally recognized this blood ginseng.
They were just surprised that the Yang family would use something like this as a birthday gift.
This blood ginseng, after being consumed, could directly increase lifespan and was a rare heavenly treasure.
Moreover, this was a thousand-year-old blood ginseng, even rarer.
It was imagined that the Yang family had paid a considerable price to obtain it.
"Hahaha, good, good, good! The Yang family is thoughtful. Please send my regards to that old fellow Yang Wen!"
The Chen family ancestor was very pleased.
The fact that they could present such a gift clearly indicated that the Yang family stood on the same side as his Chen family.
Although he didn't need this item now, it didn't mean he wouldn't need it in the future.
"Everyone, since you are here, please enjoy the food prepared by our Chen family!"
The Chen family ancestor waved his hand, and the banquet officially began.
...
Xu Chuan was completely unaware of everything happening outside.
At this moment, he was in the underwater treasure vault, watching the Killing God Blade being tempered.
"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!"
Just then, the Killing God Blade suddenly emitted a dazzling white light.
Xu Chuan understood that the Killing God Blade was about to finish its refinement.
In an instant, the Killing God Blade began to exhale and inhale massive amounts of vital energy. The white light penetrated the secret room and the palace, illuminating the entire lake surface.
Suddenly, the entire lake surface appeared resplendent with various colors.
In the sky, a phantom image of a blade appeared.
Carrying a dense killing intent and boundless malevolent energy, it enveloped the entire Chen mansion.
"Not good, I've been exposed!"
Xu Chuan's expression changed. He hadn't expected that the completion of the Killing God Blade's refinement would trigger such a phenomenon.
It had caught him completely off guard.
This scene would definitely be noticed by the Chen family.