Chapter 100: The Emergence of the Mystic Heaven Mirror

“Buy it?! Spend five hundred thousand gold coins just to purchase this mysterious item?!” Du Long was startled by the spirit guardian beauty’s words, and he exclaimed inwardly, “Ling’er, I need an explanation. If you don’t clarify this time, I absolutely won’t spend that much money on such a worthless thing! Five hundred thousand gold coins, my goodness! After all those days of raiding houses in Fengli County, I haven’t earned that much!”

“If you didn’t earn that much from the raids, then surely the gold bars confiscated from the three gold mines are enough, right?!” the spirit guardian beauty shouted excitedly. “In any case, I don’t care what means you take, this item must be bought for me! Otherwise, I won’t talk to you anymore!”

“Ling’er! Do you think now is the time to throw a tantrum?! If this thing only cost a hundred or eighty thousand, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy it. But you’re asking me to spend five hundred thousand—at least tell me what it actually is.”

“Very well!” The spirit guardian beauty finally relented. “It’s called the Profound Heaven Mirror! Remember, never mention its name to outsiders. Like the Profound Heaven Technique, it is an invaluable treasure beyond any price! Even if it cost five million or fifty million gold coins, it would still be worth every penny!”

“The Profound Heaven Mirror?! What kind of item is that? What’s its function?” Du Long pondered.

“All I can tell you is that it’s a terrifying existence beyond even the level of a divine artifact. Once your strength reaches a certain level, you will be able to use some of its functions. At that time, moving mountains and overturning seas will be nothing!” The spirit guardian beauty answered solemnly.

“Beyond the level of a divine artifact?!” Du Long struggled to understand the magnitude of such a classification and couldn’t help but ask again.

“That’s right! The Fire Cloud Cauldron in your hand, if undamaged, can barely be considered a divine artifact. But this Profound Heaven Mirror surpasses countless divine artifacts. In my former master’s world, it was called a super divine artifact!” The spirit guardian beauty continued to explain.

At last, Du Long understood that this purchase would cost him dearly. From the raids in Fengli County and the confiscation of three gold mines, his total assets had already surpassed one million gold coins.

However, his territory required enormous public expenditures. Due to decades of exploitation by corrupt officials, the entire domain was in a state of decay.

At this stage, Du Long’s investment was necessary before any profit could appear a year later. Honestly, investing a little over one million gold coins into an entire county’s reconstruction was not much.

This time, he had brought back about five hundred thousand gold coins; the rest were entrusted to Fu Bo to manage. Buying the Profound Heaven Mirror would impact many of his plans.

Still, Du Long knew a super divine artifact stronger than the Fire Cloud Cauldron was not worth less than five hundred thousand gold coins!

“Sir!” After a whispered conversation with the spirit guardian beauty, Du Long feigned calm and asked the elderly man, “Since the Treasure Pavilion itself doesn’t know the origins of this item, why did they quote such an exorbitant price?”

“That bunch of fools! According to their understanding, this is absolutely a priceless treasure. Unfortunately, they spent years without figuring out its origins and even asked me to help identify it. That’s when I learned of its existence! To study it, I offered twenty thousand gold coins, but those fools still wouldn’t sell! What nonsense! Hmph! We’ll see if I bother to authenticate their divine weapons in the future!” The strange old man muttered angrily, stroking his beard and glaring.

Though he cursed the Treasure Pavilion, the female attendant who came with Du Long dared not utter a word, remaining silent, seemingly afraid of the eccentric old man.

Du Long, sensing something, grew curious about the old man’s identity and inquired, “May I ask your honorable name, sir? You seem quite interested in these rare and strange materials.”

“Young man! Don’t you know it’s polite to introduce yourself first before asking an elder’s name?!” The old man pretended to be displeased.

“Heh heh!” Du Long chuckled awkwardly. “My surname is Du, given name Long. This is my wife, Huo Feng, and this is my god-sister, Qing Lian.”

“Du Long?!” The old man with the bushy beard paused briefly, then his eyes gleamed. “A distinguished guest able to enter the top tier of the Treasure Pavilion in the capital named Du Long—that must be the Duke Du! Then this little girl must be Princess Huo Feng herself! My apologies, my apologies!”

Though he recognized the princess, he merely bowed slightly, showing little regard for royal status.

“My name is Ou Yezi, just an old blacksmith who loves forging!” he laughed.

“Ou Yezi?! Could you be Master Ou Yezi, the finest craftsman on the Star Continent?!” Originally somewhat displeased with the strange old man, Princess Huo Feng now exclaimed in surprise upon hearing his name.

“Heh heh! That’s just an inflated title others have pinned on me. No need to mention it, no need!” Ou Yezi spoke humbly, yet the proud stroke of his beard betrayed a different sentiment.

“So it’s Master Ou Yezi! My apologies, my apologies!” Du Long’s eyes brightened. Ou Yezi’s name was a golden brand across the continent, earning deference even from emperors of many empires. No wonder he didn’t mind the princess’s status.

“You brat!” The spirit guardian beauty grew impatient as Du Long politely conversed without mentioning the purchase. She shouted angrily, “Are you going to buy that thing for me or not?! If someone else gets it, I won’t forgive you!”

Remembering his task, Du Long flipped out a gold bar and said to the attendant beside him, “Miss, I want to buy this, but I don’t have enough cash. Can I pay with gold bars like this?”

“Buy it? This thing?!” The attendant, intimidated by Ou Yezi, kept her head low and hadn’t dared approach closely. Du Long’s sudden question caught her off guard, and she blankly replied.

Not only the attendant but Princess Huo Feng, Xia Qing Lian, and Ou Yezi himself were stunned. Though they sensed Du Long intended to buy the mysterious mirror, they found it hard to believe their ears.

“I mean, can I use these gold bars to buy this treasure?” Du Long propped up a gold bar and pointed to the item valued at five hundred thousand gold coins.

“Yes, yes! Of course!” The attendant finally snapped out of her daze. Hearing the conversation, she now understood who her client was.

She never expected such fortune to fall upon her. Just thinking about the terrifying commission made everything feel unreal.

The treasure appraisal room on the first floor soon became occupied by a mountain of gold—five thousand gold bars piled high—dazzling everyone present.

“Duke Du, here are five thousand gold bars. If we count each bar as worth one hundred gold coins, that totals five hundred thousand gold coins. If you agree, our Treasure Pavilion will accept these bars and hand over this treasure valued at five hundred thousand gold coins! By the way, I heard you also ordered a second-grade spirit elixir. I’ll authorize it to be given to you free of charge!” The manager of the Treasure Pavilion’s main store personally attended to Du Long due to the large transaction.

“Alright! Then I won’t refuse!” Du Long smiled happily. Free gifts were never to be turned down.

At last, under Ou Yezi’s gleaming gaze, a bottle of second-grade spirit elixir and a black mirror were handed over to Du Long, who quickly stored them in his Pan Snake Ring space.

“Heh heh! I say, young Brother Du Long, can I discuss something with you...” Watching his coveted treasure slip into someone else’s hands, Ou Yezi’s mouth twitched as he forced a flattering smile.

“Old Brother Ou, speak freely!” Du Long immediately saw through the old man’s intentions and found it amusing.

“Well... don’t call me ‘old sir’ all the time! We’re kindred spirits beyond age. How about I call you ‘little brother’ and you call me ‘big brother’?” Ou Yezi pleaded shamelessly.

“Sure! No problem! You do come across as sincere. From now on, we’ll be like family!” Du Long nodded.

“Ha ha! That’s right, that’s right!” Ou Yezi was thrilled. “In that case, big brother has a bold request!”

“Big Brother Ou, just say it. If it’s not too difficult, I’ll be glad to help,” Du Long replied cheerfully.

“Well, this is a bit shameless. I just want to borrow your mirror for some research. I promise not to damage it in the slightest. I only want to find out what material it’s made from!” Ou Yezi said earnestly.

“Hmm...” Du Long’s mood suddenly soured. As he hesitated, Ou Yezi grew nervous, anxiously watching for a refusal.