Chapter 495 - 215: Great Treasure (Part 2)
Its once-dazzling golden feathers were now dull and disheveled. Its left wing had been wounded by some kind of Sharp Weapon, the gash so deep the bone was visible. Every flap scattered droplets of blood.
It struggled, trying to fly toward a steep cliff ahead, which was likely where its nest was located.
Chen Qing’s heart skipped a beat!
An adult Golden Feathered Eagle was, by itself, extremely valuable.
The dozens of longest Sword Feathers on its wings were incredibly hard, making them prime materials for crafting Arrows and Treasure Artifacts. Then there were its incomparably sharp talons... All told, even after deducting the Sect’s processing fees, a healthy specimen could be exchanged for two hundred Contribution Points.
This one, however, was heavily injured. Its strength had to be greatly diminished.
The True Astral in Chen Qing’s body circulated faintly. With a push from his toes, he executed the Startled Swan Escape Shadow Technique to its fullest. His body blurred into a wisp of pale green smoke, streaking after the falling Golden Feathered Eagle.
With a mournful cry, the Golden Feathered Eagle flapped its injured wings with all its might, finally stumbling into a massive nest on the cliff face and kicking up fragments of rock and dust.
Chen Qing lightened his body, scaling the cliff with the swiftness of a gecko on a wall, his eyes fixed on the nest’s interior.
One look, and his heart gave a violent lurch!
Within the massive nest, built from thick, dry branches and soft feathers, lay not only the enormous, dying Golden Feathered Eagle with its fading life force, but also three still Eagle Eggs—each the size of a human head!
And in the deepest part of the nest, nestled beneath a few golden down feathers, a thoroughly crimson plant grew silently, emitting a faint glow and a unique fragrance!
’Three Eagle Eggs! And this... is a thirty-year-old Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng!?’
A flash of incredible joy lit up Chen Qing’s eyes, and his heart hammered in his chest.
Golden Feathered Eagles usually lay only a single egg per clutch, which they then meticulously incubate and raise.
Yet this one had somehow laid a rare clutch of three!
The Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng was an even rarer Treasure Medicine. According to the illustrated guides, this plant contained Supreme Yang Primordial Qi, had wondrous effects for those cultivating Fire and Yang Attribute Techniques, and was a key ingredient in refining many High-tier Elixirs.
A ten-year-old specimen was already quite valuable. Judging by this one’s form and color, it had to be at least thirty years old!
Its value surpassed even that of the three Eagle Eggs—it was worth at least three thousand Contribution Points!
Perhaps even more!
The three eggs and the Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng had a combined value approaching five thousand Contribution Points!
It was enough to drive any Inner Sect Disciple into a frenzy!
Just as Chen Qing prepared to retrieve the Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng,
Two figures suddenly sped over, landing below the cliff.
The newcomers appeared to be a middle-aged man and woman, their auras smooth and profound. Astonishingly, both were Mid-stage Astral Force masters.
Both wore identical dark blue Martial Attire, with a golden lightning bolt embroidered on the lapels of their clothes.
The middle-aged woman’s gaze fell upon the three Golden Feathered Eagle Eggs in the nest, and her eyes immediately brightened. "Three eggs! We’ve hit the jackpot!"
No sooner had she spoken than her gaze was drawn to the crimson glow deep within the nest. As she made out the object’s shape, she became ecstatic. "The C-Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng!? It must be at least thirty years old!"
The man looked up, and an unprecedented, fervent heat flared in his eyes!
The three Golden Feathered Eagle Eggs were an unexpected delight, but the thirty-year-old Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng was a major treasure beyond their wildest dreams!
Its value was greater than everything else they had acquired on this entire expedition!
The middle-aged man suppressed his excitement and took a step forward. His gaze swept over Chen Qing, who was concealed at the edge of the nest. He cupped his fist and said, "Friend, I am Wang Yang of the Thunder Hall, and this is my junior sister, Zeng Xiuzhu. The Thunder Hall paid a hefty price to severely wound this Golden Feathered Eagle with a Vajra Pestle, and we have tracked it all the way here. Everything in this nest is thus destined for the Thunder Hall. I hope you will accommodate us."
His tone was seemingly polite, but when he mentioned "everything in this nest," his forceful, determined intent was palpable.
He clearly didn’t see Chen Qing as a threat in the slightest.
’The Thunder Hall!? They’re a renowned power in Celestial Treasure City and even the entire Land of the Three Paths.’
’I even bought some Thunder Fire Bombs from Shen Xiuyong for protection not long ago.’
’What’s more, their hall’s masters are known for specializing in Thunder and Fire Attribute Techniques. To them, this Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng is likely even more alluring than the Eagle Eggs!’
Before Chen Qing could reply, three more figures sped in from another direction like phantoms. Their forms were elusive, and they landed without a sound. It was the same trio that had previously ambushed the members of the Bai Family!
Evidently, the commotion from the fight and the bird’s cries had attracted them.
The leader of the group, an old man at the Mid-stage Astral Force realm, had his gaze immediately locked onto the crimson glow in the nest!
"Three Golden Feathered Eagle Eggs! And... a thirty-year-old Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng!?" A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
Traces of greed appeared on the faces of the two men behind him as well.
For men like them, who lived by the sword, such a great treasure was undoubtedly a windfall large enough to drive one mad!
The Mid-stage Astral Force elder quickly assessed the scene, a plan forming in his mind. He let out a hearty laugh, breaking the stalemate. "Hahaha, it’s true the Golden Feathered Eagle is injured, but who’s to say you’re the ones who injured it just because you claim you did? Your words are no proof. Who knows? Perhaps this young man arrived first and was just about to collect his prize."
His words seemed to be in the interest of fairness, but in reality, he was just muddying the waters, dragging Chen Qing into the fray. His true goal was all the treasure in the nest.
Wang Yang’s brow furrowed tightly.
’A mere brat at the Early-stage Astral Force realm is easy enough to handle, but with these three added to the mix, things have gotten complicated.’
’Especially with a great treasure like the Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng on the line; there’s no way they’ll give it up easily.’