Chapter 32: Treasure Body Can Communicate with Spirits

The entire dock erupted in a commotion as sixteen chests of jewels were unloaded from the ship under everyone's watchful eyes. It had been quite some time since the fleet last brought in such a huge haul—no, actually, it was just a few months ago!

Since when did salvaging sunken treasures from the seabed become so easy? Or had the waters near Liumi Island become so abundant that treasures were simply everywhere?

The islanders were plunged into deep doubt. But then, their mood turned even more fervent. Who wouldn't dream of getting rich overnight?

Countless excited people rushed home to share what they had witnessed at the dock with their families. They, too, wanted to go to sea and salvage treasures from the seabed!

Consequently, the news of the Cangyuan's massive treasure haul spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of Liumi Island.

***

Tianbao Pavilion.

The woman in yellow was intently appraising a newly acquired batch of items when she suddenly heard hurried footsteps.

"Manager! Manager!"

Sun Zhang burst in without so much as a greeting.

"What's wrong?" the woman in yellow asked, a little surprised.

"Treasures... over a dozen chests... the Cangyuan..." Sun Zhang stammered, panting heavily.

The woman in yellow remained unfazed. "It's just a dozen chests of treasure. Is there any need for such a fuss? To process these goods on the island, they'll still need to go through Tianbao Pavilion's channels anyway..."

As the woman spoke, her expression suddenly changed. "Wait, did you say the Cangyuan? Is that the ship where that Li Fan fellow is staying?"

Sun Zhang nodded vigorously.

The woman in yellow was stunned for a long time before she finally came to her senses. "No wonder that fellow was so confident he could persuade Manager Zhao. He must have been absolutely certain he could find treasures just by going to sea..."

"Exactly, exactly! That skill is just like our Tianbao Pavilion's head manager!" Sun Zhang exclaimed, filled with both envy and admiration. "It's a good thing you, Manager, had the foresight to give him a small courtyard earlier, establishing a connection. Now that he's returned from this voyage, he's sure to become famous, and trying to win him over again would likely cost us a fortune."

The woman in yellow interrupted Sun Zhang, simply instructing him, "Go immediately and arrange a time to invite him for a meal. Also, send someone to clean up Listening to You Pavilion, and then deliver the deed to him."

Sun Zhang was surprised, but this time he said nothing, rushing off to carry out the orders.

Only the woman in yellow's soft whisper remained in the room.

"An Aura-Sensing Physique..."

Legend had it that an Aura-Sensing Physique could instinctively sense rare treasures within a certain range. The head manager of Tianbao Pavilion, Yin Yueting, who was also the woman in yellow's elder sister, possessed this special physique. It was precisely this extraordinary ability that allowed Yin Yueting, over the past decade, to build the Wanbao Tower, a vast merchant association spanning the Congyun Sea, from the ground up.

***

Unaware that he had been mistaken for someone with an Aura-Sensing Physique by the people of Tianbao Pavilion, Li Fan was currently at Manager Zhao's residence.

"Your talent is truly extraordinary," Manager Zhao exclaimed, beaming with a smile. "Sixteen chests of treasure on your first voyage out—what a pleasant surprise you've given me!"

Li Fan simply smiled, offering no reply. Knowing Manager Zhao had the ability to discern truth from falsehood, he deftly changed the subject. "This haul is indeed significant, but it will likely be difficult to achieve such a quantity again in the future."

Manager Zhao waved a hand dismissively. "That's only natural. One can't expect such luck every time." He then added, "However, this single haul is enough for me to arrange a dedicated fleet for you."

Li Fan nodded. "In that case, thank you very much, Manager Zhao!"

"I hear you've been working tirelessly to obtain a spot in the Net Body Spiritual Pool?" Manager Zhao asked suddenly, taking a sip of tea.

"That is correct," Li Fan replied, sighing with deep emotion. "I experienced a great change and only then understood that all worldly glory and wealth are but fleeting clouds. Even with inexhaustible treasures, after a hundred years, they will turn to dust. Only by seeking the path of immortality and attaining longevity can one truly say they have lived in this world!"

Manager Zhao stared at Li Fan for a long time before finally sighing. "At your age, to still possess the heart to seek immortality... I am not as good as you!" A complex expression appeared on Manager Zhao's face as if he had recalled something. "More than a decade ago, when I was your age, I coincidentally saved an immortal master. The immortal master asked if I wished to follow him and cultivate, but I knew I had long passed the optimal age for cultivation. Even if I cultivated, I might not achieve anything, and furthermore, the older one gets, the more deeply rooted the internal miasma becomes, making its removal more painful. So, I merely asked for a job. Now, as I grow older, I secretly feel a sense of regret. Alas, the great mistake has been made, and there is no medicine for regret," Manager Zhao lamented. He then looked at Li Fan again and praised him, "Among the hundreds of thousands of mortals on Liumi Island, those like you are truly few."

"You flatter me!" Li Fan said. "I wonder, Manager Zhao, regarding this matter of the Net Body Spiritual Pool spot..."

"I cannot help you with this matter," Manager Zhao explained, shaking his head. "The Net Body Spiritual Pool requires an immortal master on the island to preside over its opening, and the spots are also determined by the immortal master. One year before the pool opens, the immortal master will announce the necessary materials. Each household collects the materials on the list and submits them, and the spots are decided based on the amount of contribution." He then continued. "However, you don't need to worry. Tianbao Pavilion has branches on various islands throughout the Congyun Sea. When it comes to gathering materials, there are not many on Liumi Island who can surpass them."

The image of the woman in yellow appeared in Li Fan's mind, and he nodded.

After staying a while longer at Manager Zhao's residence, Li Fan took his leave.

***

As soon as he returned to his small courtyard, Sun Zhang arrived at his door, clearly having been waiting for a long time.

"Your manager invited me to dinner?"

What a coincidence, indeed. Li Fan had been planning to meet her again, so he readily agreed. As for the deed to Listening to You Pavilion that Sun Zhang brought, Li Fan did not accept it. He planned to meet the woman in yellow that evening before making a decision.

***

As night fell, the lamps began to glow.

Li Fan arrived at Tianbao Pavilion. There was only one person in the room. She had changed into a purple silk dress, and her face was no longer veiled.

"Allow me to formally introduce myself," she said. "I am Yin Yuzhen, manager of Tianbao Pavilion on Liumi Island."

"Li Fan."

Yin Yuzhen chuckled. "You certainly are a man of few words, Mr. Li."

"Just a mortal," Li Fan stated honestly, "there's really nothing worth mentioning."

"Is an Aura-Sensing Physique also not worth mentioning in your eyes, Mr. Li?" Yin Yuzhen asked, looking at him with a faint, knowing smile.

"Oh?" Li Fan's heart stirred, but he said without changing his expression, "I don't know what an Aura-Sensing Physique is."

"Then how did you find the location of the treasures in the vast ocean?" Yin Yuzhen pressed, clearly not believing him.

"I simply had an intuition," Li Fan replied.

"And you still say you don't have an Aura-Sensing Physique?" Yin Yuzhen demanded, frowning and gritting her teeth. But seeing that Li Fan genuinely seemed unaware, she reluctantly explained the matter of the Aura-Sensing Physique to him.

"So, your elder sister also has an Aura-Sensing Physique?" Li Fan asked, narrowing his eyes. "How old is she? What does she look like? Where was she twenty years ago? And where is she now?"