Extorting the Appraiser (Part 1)

"It must be you, Stone City, who has obtained the pet egg of the divine beast 'Dark Purple Sky Dragon.' You were able to escape the nameless clutches of the Dark Magician's Twin-Headed Crow King and steal the pet egg right under its nose. Impressive!"

"…"

I remain unaffected by flattery and impervious to the sugar-coated bullets of the appraiser. I adapt to changing circumstances without changing myself.

"Hahaha…"

The appraiser burst into laughter, causing his snowy eyebrows and long beard to shake together.

"Stone City, did you indeed obtain the pet egg of the divine beast 'Dark Purple Sky Dragon'? Did I get it right?"

Confusing!

I have never seen the appraiser so amiable and gentle towards me, like an elder who cares deeply for young people. Has the appraiser had a change of heart?

"Yes."

Something's up. The appraiser has an agenda. Nevertheless, I nod and answer the appraiser.

"Grandpa appraiser, what is the origin of the elf path?"

Upon seeing my affirmative response, the appraiser's face was full of expression, which was definitely abnormal.

The difference in the appraiser's attitude towards me is too great. Seizing the opportunity while the appraiser was still smiling, I asked him the question I had just asked to test his tone.

"A thousand years ago, for some unknown reason, the elf tribe sealed their sacred land, the Elf Gorge, and the elf path is the only passage that can enter the Elf Gorge. At the beginning, many brave adventurers went to find the elf path, ready to enter the Elf Gorge to investigate the situation. Unfortunately, the elf gate inside the elf path was sealed by the elf tribe's Five-Element Divine Power, and they couldn't enter without drinking the holy water from the elf tribe's spring of "Life Source." Those adventurers had to return home with no choice. After a thousand years, the elf path gradually faded from people's memory, and the Elf Gorge became one of the forbidden places in the Tianmeng Continent."

The appraiser was actually smiling as he explained this to me in a very friendly manner. What's going on?

"For the current humans, the elf path has become a mysterious place, and few people know its exact location. It's not easy that you found it."

"Appraiser grandpa, does that mean no one has entered the Elf Gorge for a thousand years? Isn't it said that by drinking the holy water from the elf tribe's spring of 'Life Source,' one can enter the Elf Gorge through the elf gate?"

I can't make sense of it. The appraiser is telling me so much information, which is too different from his usual behavior. There must be a problem, so I shamelessly ask him more questions.

"Hmm… Hmm…"

The appraiser sneered twice.

"The Holy Water from the 'Source of Life', the spring of the elven tribe, is a treasure of the Tianmeng continent and the lifeblood of the elven race. It produces only one drop every fifty years, and only the elven queen can use it. If a human were to take one drop, it would strengthen their body. Five drops would transform them, and ten drops would make them invincible. It's not easy for an ordinary person to obtain it."

Wow!

I opened my mouth wide, imagining the taste of such an amazing holy water.

"Grandpa Appraiser, where can I get the Holy Water from the 'Source of Life'?"

I couldn't wait any longer.

"You have a big mouth, young man. It's not easy to get hold of."

The appraiser gave me a contemptuous look and began to explain.

"Before the elven tribe sealed the Elven Gorge, there were only five drops of the 'Source of Life' in the whole Tianmeng continent. One drop was used by a master craftsman to forge the famous priest artifact 'Divine Spirit Battle', which made the Tianmeng continent famous. One drop was used by a master pharmacist to refine the top ten saintly medicines of the Tianmeng continent, 'Heavenly Ascension Pill', but unfortunately, it failed and was wasted. Another drop was taken by Princess Seahorn, the most beautiful woman in Tianmeng continent a thousand years ago, who preserved her youthful beauty for a hundred years, becoming the most beautiful woman in Tianmeng continent after the goddess Tianmeng."

"What about the other two drops?"

The appraiser stopped here and looked up at the ceiling in pain, leaving me anxious to urge him on.

"The other two drops flowed into the rivers and lakes, causing waves of hatred and enmity, but unfortunately, their whereabouts remain unknown."

The appraiser shook his head repeatedly and sighed.

"People die for wealth, and birds die for food. I don't know how many lives those two drops of the 'Source of Life' have ruined."

"Grandpa Appraiser, is there any news about these two drops of the 'Source of Life'?"

The key to entering the Elven Gorge lies with these two drops of holy water, and I nervously looked at the appraiser, hoping for some clues.

Who wouldn't want treasures from all over the world? There would inevitably be struggle and bloodshed. The world belongs to the strong, and there's nothing to lament about that.

Just like someone else has a divine artifact, I want it, but they won't give it to me. So I have to find a way to make them give it up. That's normal, provided I have the strength to do so.

"The remaining two drops of the 'Source of Life' have remained missing, and many brave adventurers have tried to find them, but to no avail. However, it's said that the Medicine Sage Sima Yuanshan obtained one of them in a secret realm years ago and is planning to use it to refine the "Heavenly Ascension Pill."

"What kind of medicine is the 'Heavenly Ascension Pill'? It's amazing that it requires the holy water from the 'Source of Life' to refine."

This was the second time I had heard of the 'Heavenly Ascension Pill'.

"The 'Heavenly Ascension Pill' is one of the top ten holy medicines of the Tianmeng continent. It directly increases one's ability by a hundred levels and greatly enhances one's basic abilities."

"Wow, there's such a crazy medicine!"

I exclaimed in surprise, finding it hard to believe that such a drug existed.

"According to records, the goddess Tianmeng once gave her beloved pet Little Flying Fox a 'Heavenly Ascension Pill'. That Little Flying Fox evolved into the legendary divine beast Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox within a day, becoming the most powerful beast on the Tianmeng continent. Hence, the 'Heavenly Ascension Pill' definitely exists. However, it is as difficult to concoct as plucking stars from the sky. The Sacred Water of Life, the lowest-grade medicinal ingredient required, contains eight sacred medicines that are all rare and virtually impossible to obtain, such as the 'Sacred Dragon Blood', 'Nine Heavens Rootless Water', 'Millennial Bamboo Heart of the North Sea', and 'Pure Yang Divine Fire Essence' needed for refining. Even if one could gather all the necessary ingredients, there is only a ten percent chance of success in making the 'Heavenly Ascension Pill'. It's just too difficult to make!"

The appraiser shook his head repeatedly and emphasized the difficulty of making the 'Heavenly Ascension Pill'.

"Appraiser, do you happen to know where the Sage of Medicine, Sima Yuanshan, resides?"

I am not giving up on the Sacred Water of Life, and Sima Yuanshan's ability to make such a miraculous 'Heavenly Ascension Pill' is impressive. I want to pay a visit to this powerful person and see if I can gain any benefits.

"Sage of Medicine Sima Yuanshan has long since gone into seclusion. If others find out about his whereabouts, not to mention anyone else, the fierce characters under the Devil's hand would be enough to give him trouble. He wants to keep the Sacred Water of Life safe!"

"Oh, I see. Appraiser, you truly have a wide range of knowledge and expertise. Do you happen to know about the four legendary secret places – the Cloud Waterfall, Hidden King Temple, Phoenix Canyon, and Five Element Land?"

I am now certain that the appraiser needs something from me, for he is speaking with me so kindly and patiently, unlike his usual behavior of appraising equipment, where he would raise his mustache, squint his eyes, and display arrogance, not giving me any regard.

Since I have this opportunity, I will make the most of it and take the chance to extort the appraiser a bit.