Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Under three hundred years are Yellow Feather Treasures, under eight hundred years are Cyan Feather Treasures, and above eight hundred years are Purple Feather Treasures.

Further up are Pure Yang Treasures.

Yellow Feather Treasures are initially endowed with spirituality, akin to human infants.

Cyan Feather Treasures, after centuries of incense offering, absorb sufficient nourishment, similar to a child’s rapid development in intelligence, muscles, and bones.

As for Purple Feather Treasures, they are nearly fully developed, with vigorous vitality, analogous to human adolescents.

Pure Yang Treasures represent the peak stage of human life.

"Although treasures can be seen as life forms, they differ from our understanding of life," Li Miaoyin explained.

In many films and dramas, treasures become sentient, even birthing artifact spirits. This is purely human-imagined and anthropomorphic.

True alien life forms are life, but you don’t perceive them as life.

Like stones; no one thinks they are life.

"Life has birth and death, and objects have creation and destruction; even treasures are not exempt and cannot escape the principle of life and death," Li Miaoyin’s eyes slightly narrowed as she looked at the ordinary-looking Black Iron Plate.

"This thing was supposed to be a powerful treasure but almost entirely destroyed in a great calamity."

At this point, Li Miaoyin showed an incredulous expression.

"Didn’t expect it could still be alive after being shattered like this!?"

Zhang Fan’s Black Iron Plate is only half the size of a palm, perhaps only a percent of the original, clearly showing the terrifying calamity it endured.

To survive such a catastrophe is evidently against convention.

Just like Zhang Fan’s Mighty Spirit Demon-Suppressing Gold Seal, it showed slight cracks before, and if not timely repaired, it would lose spiritual energy over time, becoming a lifeless object that could never be restored.

From a human perspective, this treasure is considered dead.

This Black Iron Plate seems dismembered, yet still alive in such a state, which is quite eerie.

"Zhang Fan, I think this thing has a background..." Ge Shuangxiu said in a deep voice.

Just a shard could obliterate a Sect Leader Realm practitioner. Imagine how terrifying it was at full power!?

"Before facing calamity, this thing could very likely have been a Purple Feather Treasure... perhaps..."

Ge Shuangxiu hesitated, the speculation looming, but the three exchanged glances and dared not believe.

"Pure Yang Treasures are unmatched in the world; each has extremely detailed history and heritage. " Li Miaoyin frowned.

Pure Yang Treasures are nearly invincible. What kind of calamity could reduce them to such ruin?

This world likely harbors no such calamity.

"Perhaps it was a Purple Feather Treasure... An invincible level Purple Feather Treasure," Li Miaoyin speculated.

"Do you know how to use this thing?"

Ge Shuangxiu asked the most critical question. Being able to obliterate a Sect Leader Realm practitioner, it’s simply a massive weapon!

"No." Zhang Fan shook his head: "In its current state, this thing can’t be called a treasure and can’t be activated..."

"Try a blood test?"

"Are you kidding?" Zhang Fan rolled his eyes.

"But if you really want to activate it..."

Recalling last night’s activation scene of the Black Iron Plate in his mind, Zhang Fan frowned, unsure: "It might need to be fed with Primordial Spirit..."

"Primordial Spirit!?"

Li Miaoyin’s eyes narrowed. Ge Shuangxiu showed an odd expression.

"Perhaps I need to feed my Primordial Spirit to it..." Zhang Fan murmured but did not say it out loud.

"Primordial Spirit as medicine, this thing somehow aligns with the Wuwei Sect’s methods?" Ge Shuangxiu smacked his lips and couldn’t help but say, "It’s quite heretical."

Buzz...

Just as the words fell, the Black Iron Plate on the table slightly moved.

This tiny movement made the three’s faces change drastically. Ge Shuangxiu shot up like he had been shocked by electricity, hairs standing on end, and terror filling his wide-open eyes.

"Damn..."

True Yang surged within Ge Shuangxiu, his Primordial Spirit at his brow throbbing, almost ready for an Out-of-Body Experience.

Fortunately, the Black Iron Plate only moved once, like a butterfly wing flutter, then stopped altogether.

"Old Ge, you reacted too strongly." Zhang Fan exhaled and looked at Ge Shuangxiu with a half-smile.

"Am I overreacting? Your killer thing..." Ge Shuangxiu nearly finished his sentence but swallowed it back, his cautious gaze falling on the Black Iron Plate.

"Can you put it away first?"

"Sure!"

Zhang Fan laughed, picked up the Black Iron Plate casually, and pocketed it.

Ge Shuangxiu sighed in relief and slowly sat down.

"This thing is too sinister. I suggest you find a place to hide it or study it thoroughly before carrying it around," Ge Shuangxiu advised.

"Don’t badmouth it behind its back; you already said it’s still alive," Zhang Fan teased.

"..."

"I think you should consider his suggestion." Li Miaoyin said with concern.

"The origin of this thing is unknown, carrying it poses risks."

"Yes, I will consider it." Zhang Fan nodded seriously.

"What do you mean? Your wife’s words are law, huh."

Ge Shuangxiu tapped the table. He often felt unnecessary when Zhang Fan and Li Miaoyin were together.

Li Miaoyin turned away, looking at the lake and morning sun outside the window.

Zhang Fan glared at Ge Shuangxiu fiercely: "What nonsense!?"

"I might as well be blind." Ge Shuangxiu muttered.

"Young man, are you finishing your salted duck eggs on the table?"

At this moment, a calm voice asked from beside.

Zhang Fan looked up, seeing a middle-aged man standing not far away, appearing around fifty, with gray hair at his temples, wearing thick black-framed glasses, sharply dressed in a suit and tie, reminiscent of a returning overseas Chinese.

"Today’s salted duck eggs are gone; I see you have some left here; don’t waste them." The suited middle-aged man pointed at the plate in front of Zhang Fan.

Qin Ancient Town’s salted duck eggs are famous nationwide for their tender whites and oily red yolks, being a local specialty.

For this reason, when Zhang Fan collected his meal, he took ten eggs on a plate.

"Uncle, please help yourself." Zhang Fan awkwardly passed the plate over.

"Thank you."

The suited middle-aged man showed a grateful smile, taking two salted duck eggs from the plate.

"Uncle, is that enough?" Zhang Fan asked.

"Enough, eating too much is overwhelming." The suited middle-aged man chuckled lightly.

He sat at a table by the window with the two salted duck eggs.

"Can you take less next time?" Ge Shuangxiu sneered, unable to resist commenting.

"Self-service breakfast." Zhang Fan explained.

"Are you done eating? I need to go back and catch some sleep."

Li Miaoyin stretched leisurely and slowly stood up.

"I also need to lie down for a while." Zhang Fan stood up with her.

Li Miaoyin looked at him with a playful smile.

"I mean you lie down on your own; I’ll lie on my own, separately." Zhang Fan clarified.

"Cough cough..."

Ge Shuangxiu coughed dryly, leaving without waiting for them.

By the floor-to-ceiling window, golden lake light sparkled, and several ducks frolicked in the water.

The suited middle-aged man sipped porridge, and as he peeled open a salted duck egg’s white, red oil seeped out.

"No wonder it’s Qin Ancient’s specialty. I’ll buy two boxes to take back." The suited middle-aged man remarked with satisfaction.

Just then, a young man hurried into the restaurant, scanning quickly, then heading towards the suited middle-aged man.

"Observatory Master Yuan, Lou Hechuan has been waiting for half an hour." The young man bowed respectfully.

"How many times have I said, it’s Vice Observatory Master!" The suited middle-aged man put down his chopsticks and stood up slowly.

His gaze drifted towards Zhang Fan’s previous table.

"Xiao Wang, pack up all the salted duck eggs from that table; don’t waste them!"