Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1538 - 832: Jixian Island Observations and Treasure Refining

Shortly after, Zhao Sheng trailed behind Bai Hemi, skirting around a towering ice peak that reached a hundred feet high, and reached a sprawling valley.

The valley spanned roughly seventeen to eighteen miles, its uneven terrain dotted with craters and rough patches, littered with chunks of ice both big and small. It was encircled by ice mountains of differing sizes, each one riddled with numerous large openings.

Boom boom!

Right then, a succession of dull thuds from chiseling ice echoed from the caves, suggesting that people were digging inside.

As they walked, Bai Hemi pointed out, "This is the fresh mining area we just opened; a few miles ahead lies the workshop spot."

Zhao Sheng eyed the various "mines" dotting the mountainside, gave a quiet nod, and kept following further into the valley.

Soon enough, they traversed a mineshaft stretching a hundred feet, ultimately reaching a broad cavern.

This cavern stretched across almost a thousand feet, with luminous pearls set into the icy walls, casting a soft white light that chased away the shadows inside.

The workshop was quite basic, featuring a line of ice huts carved right into the walls, and scores of Immortal Ruins Guests spread out across the space, each one with a assortment of items in front of them, hawking their wares at makeshift stalls.

Upon stepping into the cavern, Bai Hemi's face eased up noticeably.

He faced Zhao Sheng with a grin, saying, "Here we are. Go ahead and browse on your own, Zhao; I'm returning now."

Zhao Sheng offered a faint smile and cupped his hands in thanks.

In response, Bai Hemi pressed his hand to his chest in salute, then his form flickered and vanished from sight.

Hmm?!

Watching Bai Hemi disappear, Zhao Sheng let out a surprised hum, as if he'd just seen something astonishing.

Exactly where Bai Hemi had "logged out," a swirling gray-white portal materialized out of nowhere.

The portal hovered seven feet off the ground, measuring about three feet wide, hanging in the air without any hint of fading.

"Is this perhaps..." Thoughts whirled in Zhao Sheng's head, quickly connecting it to the "Infinite Universe Gate" granted by his Hong-level Talent.

Ever since his reincarnation, this marked the first occasion he'd seen an Immortal Ruins Guest "logging out," so he hadn't yet caught sight of the other incredible feature of the "Infinite Universe Gate."

Zhao Sheng scanned the area, seeing that the Immortal Ruins Guests were still busy selling at their stalls, totally oblivious to the gray-white portal's presence.

Observing this, Zhao Sheng grew more confident; it seemed like only he possessed the ability to perceive this Space-time Vortex.

Thump thump thump...

Suddenly at that point, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the distance via the mineshaft behind him.

Zhao Sheng pulled himself together, stepping deeper into the cavern, whether by design or chance, veering around the Space-time Vortex.

In a short time, a enigmatic shape, fully encased in heavy wrappings, stepped out from the mineshaft, heading directly across the open area toward one of the ice huts.

Zhao Sheng observed how the figure passed right through the gray-white vortex without a single reaction, like they existed in separate realms.

"Ah, so that's the case!" Enlightenment dawned in Zhao Sheng's gaze, and he moved on toward the cluster of sellers.

After some time, he'd explored the whole workshop, and the sights and insights he gathered plunged him into profound thought.

Indeed, none of the Immortal Ruins Guests were simpletons; all prime treasures had been stashed away in their private stores long ago. What was on offer at the stalls consisted of incomplete pieces, unsightly junk, or mere stacks of stone blocks.

Furthermore, Zhao Sheng noted that items involving "texts" carried sky-high prices, frequently demanded in terms of Pocket World Jade.

One standout was a Jade Tablet standing almost as tall as a person, etched with more than seventy ancient "Immortal Seals," for which the vendor boldly requested a whopping hundred units of Pocket World Jade.

Besides that, broken artifacts generally fetched prices several times those of mysterious unknowns, and they seemed quite sought after.

Any time a fairly good artifact surfaced, it would attract a swarm of Immortal Ruins Guests, with plenty jumping in to outbid each other.

Unlike the enigmatic oddities from who-knows-where, these flawed Magic Artifacts, for all their practical value, could deliver unexpected windfalls.

Snagging even one or two Spiritual Treasure Level mighty items, even with their might severely diminished, could swiftly alter the fate of an individual, a clan, or an entire world.

Though he wandered the stalls, Zhao Sheng refrained from buying anything, instead pivoting to enter an ice hut.

True to form, the goods inside the ice huts boasted far superior quality and completeness compared to the outdoor displays. Certain treasures remained flawless, but their costs were staggeringly high.

In a particular ice hut, Zhao Sheng gestured at a silver Sword Pill housed in an Ice Cave, inquiring, "Can I handle this one, friend?"

The hut's proprietor was a strange being cloaked head to toe in a dark robe.

The figure answered curtly, "No."

"Alright then... what's the price for this?"

Without protest, Zhao Sheng indicated another Ice Cave, inside which lay a water-barrel-sized scale armor. It featured diamond-like scales, looking sturdy and tough, with elaborate designs on its surface that gleamed with a subtle, muted darkness.

Zhao Sheng identified the scale armor as an antique Dragon Scale, ideal for crafting a Dragon Scale Shield.

"Minimum three pieces of Pocket World Jade—no bargaining!" The black-robed oddity stayed icy in tone.

Zhao Sheng inclined his head, letting his eyes glide over the seven or eight Ice Caves positioned behind the figure, each holding a valuable item.

Having inspected every treasure, Zhao Sheng drew three pieces of Pocket World Jade from his sleeve and set them down on the ice counter before the figure.

The black-robed figure rose, retrieved the Dragon Scale from its Ice Cave, and laid it on the ice counter too.

Zhao Sheng extended his hand to claim the Dragon Scale, as the figure simultaneously scooped up the three pieces of Pocket World Jade.

Burial Immortal Ruins Rule: Items and money must not be let go of, once parted, both parties must not regret!