Chapter 102: Priceless Treasures


    Han Ming sighed and asked, "What do you plan to do? Let him continue like this indefinitely?"


    Vivian shook her head in anguish, "The medicinal herbs are almost depleted, and we can''t find more to sustain Charles''s body. In about a month, he will..."


    "Can''t you take him out of here?"


    "Any creature that dies in the Wild Ancient Forest can never leave its confines. When his body can no longer hold, his soul will dissipate within the forest, and his body will turn into an ordinary tree."


    Han Ming pondered for a long while before asking, "Is there any way to let Charles rest in peace like a normal person?"


    Vivian''s eyes gleamed with determination, "There''s only one way. We need to use a leaf from the Tree of Life before it mutated into the Tree of Destruction to purify Charles''s soul. Only then can he rest in peace. We''ve learned that such a leaf still exists in the world, preserved by the Guger family in the Wild Ancient Forest. We''ve come here to exchange a vast amount of treasure for that leaf."


    Han Ming nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation, and fell silent.


    "Sister, are you done talking? I want to chat with Brother Han Ming," Charles interjected.


    Vivian smiled and replied, "Alright, alright, I can''t stand you, little one. Come over here, Brother Han Ming will keep you company."


    Turning to Han Ming, she whispered, "Thank you. Please keep Charles company. He seems to really like you. In the years since his death, he''s been unconscious for most of the year, only seeing me and the steward. Others who come to the Wild Ancient Forest are cold and ruthless. Charles hasn''t interacted with outsiders for a long time."


    Han Ming smiled, "Don''t worry."


    Charles happily ran up to Han Ming, grinning, "Brother Han Ming, what were you and sister talking about?"


    Han Ming affectionately ruffled Charles''s hair, "We were praising you, saying how smart, brave, humorous, and optimistic you are. You''re a fine young man."


    Charles puffed up with pride, "Of course! You might not know this, but I''m..."


    Charles chattered away like a cheerful lark, never pausing for breath.


    Han Ming continued to engage with Charles, occasionally playfully comparing their magical abilities.


    Ten days passed as the four traveled through the Wild Ancient Forest.


    One day, they arrived before a massive castle.


    The castle was constructed entirely from black tree trunks, with a circular dome and winding walls adorned with eerie, three-dimensional sculptures made from black branches.


    "Sister, where is this? Why are we here?" Charles asked curiously.


    The old steward approached, "We''re here to handle some official business. Once we''re done, we''ll take you around to play, alright?"


    Charles cheered and nodded enthusiastically.


    "Mr. Han Ming, thank you for accompanying my brother. You may leave now. This is the territory of the Guger family, the rulers of the Wild Ancient Forest," Vivian politely extended her hand to Han Ming, grateful for the joy he had brought Charles.


    "Don''t mention it. You''ve helped me greatly too. Without Mr. Maren scaring off those who tried to ambush me, I would have had a lot of trouble," Han Ming replied courteously. Their journey together had been solely for Charles''s sake.


    "Brother Han Ming, you''re leaving? Please don''t go, stay with me a bit longer," Charles pleaded, panic-stricken.


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    "Charles, Mr. Han Ming has important matters to attend to. Don''t be selfish," Vivian chided.


    Seeing Charles''s hopeful expression, Han Ming''s heart softened, "Alright, I''ll stay with you a few more days. I don''t want to leave you so soon."


    Vivian looked at Han Ming gratefully and whispered, "Thank you."


    The four entered the castle.


    Two guards with spears approached, immediately noticing the large, bloody character above Han Ming''s head.


    "Who goes there!"


    The old steward, Maren, chuckled, "Please inform Lord Guger that Maren has come to visit."


    The guards, recognizing the name, quickly dropped their stern demeanor and respectfully said, "Elder Maren, please wait a moment. I will inform the lord."


    One guard hurried inside while the other courteously led the group to a sitting room.


    An elderly man with graying hair, accompanied by two maids carrying fruit, approached and bowed, "Miss Vivian and Mr. Maren, welcome. Please forgive any lack of hospitality."


    Maren smiled, "Steward Guduo, you''re too kind."


    Guduo humbly declined the compliment and informed them that Lord Guger was meditating and would join them shortly.


    Maren nodded, a hint of respect in his eyes, "Has Lord Guger broken through to the second stage?"


    Guduo stood a bit straighter, pride evident, "Our lord has reached the fifth stage, third tier."


    Guduo chatted with the group for a while, occasionally glancing at the conspicuous bloody character above Han Ming''s head but refraining from asking about it.


    "Hahaha, Brother Maren, it''s been over a decade since we last met. What brings you here today?" A robust man with a ruddy complexion and long black hair strode into the room, looking much younger than Maren.


    Maren stood to greet him, shaking hands warmly, "Brother Guger, you look well. Congratulations on breaking through to the second stage and reaching the fifth stage, third tier. You''re as formidable as ever, while I''ve grown old and stagnant."


    Guger laughed heartily, pulling Maren to sit with him.


    "This must be Vivian."


    Vivian nodded respectfully.


    "And this is..." Guger''s eyes fell on the bloody character above Han Ming''s head, intrigued.


    Maren chuckled, "This is a young friend of mine."


    "Lord Guger, I''m Han Ming," Han Ming introduced himself respectfully.


    In the presence of such formidable figures, Han Ming knew his place and remained courteous. Besides the two fifth-stage powerhouses, Vivian''s status was undoubtedly high, given that she had a first-tier Battle King as her steward.


    Guger, however, was fascinated by Han Ming, scrutinizing him and noting his first-tier grand mage status.


    "Young friend, what did you do to earn a kill order from those serpents?"


    Han Ming smiled, unwilling to delve into personal matters, "Just some private disputes." He couldn''t help but think that referring to the Desert Serpent Clan as "serpents" was quite bold.


    Seeing Han Ming''s reluctance to elaborate, Guger didn''t press further. Someone of Han Ming''s caliber was beneath his notice, were it not for the kill order.


    Guger then turned his attention to Charles, studying him for a long while before signaling for the servants and steward to leave.


    He gave Charles a meaningful look before asking Maren, "Brother Maren, what brings you here?"


    Maren smiled, "Nothing escapes you, brother. I planned to discuss this tomorrow, but since you''ve asked, I won''t keep it from you."


    He produced a small pouch from his waist, opening it to reveal three small wooden boxes.


    Guger watched silently as Maren opened the first box, revealing a long claw, seemingly from a massive beast.


    Guger''s expression turned serious.


    Maren explained, "This is a claw from a dragon''s descendant, a flying dragon, obtained two thousand years ago. Though only one, its value is immeasurable. Forged into a weapon, it would be indestructible, a true treasure."


    He opened the second box, revealing a ginseng-like root.


    "This is a ten-thousand-year cold ginseng, grown on the snowy mountains of the Elven Forest. Consuming it offers unparalleled benefits. For those below the sixth stage, it can elevate three tiers for those below the third stage, two tiers for the third and fourth stages, and for you, brother, it could push you from the third to the fourth tier."


    Han Ming was astounded by the treasures Maren presented. Each was a priceless artifact that could incite fierce competition if revealed to the world.


    "Brother, what is this..." Guger was visibly moved, especially by the cold ginseng. For experts at their level, advancing even a single tier was a monumental task, often taking decades or even centuries.


    Maren smiled, "Don''t rush, brother. Behold the final treasure."


    He opened the last box, revealing a round orb that emitted a dazzling green light, illuminating the entire hall. The orb''s surface shimmered like a tranquil green pond, exuding a serene aura.


    Guger stood up abruptly, his hands trembling, "Is this... a sixth-stage wood-type magical beast core!?"


    Maren nodded, "A sixth-stage Wood Spirit Demon core. In the southeastern continents, no sixth-stage magical beast has appeared in thousands of years, especially the Wood Spirit Demon, which was on the verge of awakening. This treasure has been passed down in our family for over ten thousand years. Among the five major territories of the Wild Ancient Forest, the strongest is the lord of the Wild Fire Prison, the old monster Fantian, whose beast soul is only a fifth-stage Fire Spirit Demon."


    Seeing Guger''s growing greed, Maren added fuel to the fire, "If you, brother, can absorb and refine this sixth-stage Wood Spirit Demon core, you would dominate the five major territories of the Wild Ancient Forest."


    Guger''s heart raced as he sat back down, "Brother, what are you proposing?"


    Maren nodded slightly, "I offer these three priceless treasures in exchange for your leaf from the Tree of Life."