I lent my brother 500 yuan, and he offered his wife as collateral.

……

9:15 PM.

Qin Feng glanced down at his watch, his brows furrowing slightly.

There are less than three hours left until midnight.

The Five Elements Mystery and Trapping Formation has prepared metal and wood, but is still lacking the three main elements of fire, earth, and water.

"What's wrong? Is something on your mind, young friend Qin?"

Gu Yunfeng, an old and shrewd man, immediately noticed Qin Feng's anxiety. He was still playing with the "Blood Jade Cicada" he had just bought for 30 million, his face flushed.

Qin Feng didn't mince words, stating directly: "I need to set up a scheme, but I'm missing a few top-quality old items. They must be the purest Yang fire, the most virtuous earth, and... the purest water."

He glanced around and shook his head: "The items here are of such poor quality that I have no use for them."

Upon hearing this, the corner of Tu Sanye's mouth twitched.

The room full of good stuff was called inferior; only this guy would dare to say that.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yunfeng's eyes lit up.

The opportunity to make friends with extraordinary people has arrived!

"Uncle Fu!"

Gu Yunfeng slammed his hand on the table, startling the bodyguards beside him. "What are you doing? If young friend Qin is in such urgent need, why not open the 'Tian Shu Treasury'?"

"Tian...Tian Shu?" Uncle Fu's hand trembled, almost dropping the teapot, his eyes widening. "Master, that place is never open to outsiders..."

"Nonsense! Is young friend Qin an outsider?"

Gu Yunfeng reprimanded Qin Feng with a stern face, but when he turned to Qin Feng, his expression changed to a warm smile. "Young friend, the Ghost Market is a mixed bag, and good things are indeed scarce. However, my Gu family has a private treasury here. If you don't mind, please come and take a look?"

The old man kneeling beside him gasped, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

Tian Shu Warehouse!

That was the legendary foundation upon which the Gu family stood tall in the antique world of Southwest China. Any single item that slipped out of there would be enough for a connoisseur like him to live off for ten lifetimes!

"Lead the way." Qin Feng didn't stand on ceremony, took Su Qingxue's hand, and said, "Old Gu, I'll remember this favor."

……

Five minutes later.

After passing through several alloy doors equipped with infrared sensors, the group entered a temperature- and humidity-controlled underground vault.

The lights came on, creating a magnificent and resplendent effect.

It's more like a museum than a warehouse.

There were no mountains of gold and silver as one might have imagined; instead, there were only a few dozen bulletproof glass display cases, each containing rare treasures.

but.

Qin Feng had no time to appreciate it and immediately activated his Divine Eye.

In my field of vision, countless data streams cascaded down like a waterfall.

[Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period, Famille Rose Openwork Vase: Genuine, but an ordinary item.]

[Warring States Period Red Agate Ring: Genuine, but an ordinary item.]

【…】

Qin Feng walked very fast, with Gu Yunfeng and Uncle Fu following behind, barely daring to breathe.

Suddenly, Qin Feng stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed on a mahogany box in the corner.

Through the box, he saw a crimson halo, as red as blood.

[Item: Changhua Da Hong Pao Chicken Blood Stone King]

【Attribute: Extreme Fire (Contains the essence of Earth Lung Poison Fire)】

[Value: 500 million (Fire Element Core of the Formation)]

"Old-fashioned, is this okay?" Qin Feng pointed to the box.

Without a word, Gu Yunfeng said, "Wrap it up!"

Qin Feng continued walking and soon discovered a handful of colorful soil in an inconspicuous pottery jar.

[Item: Five-colored Soil from the Ming Emperor's Mausoleum]

【Attribute: Extreme Earth (bears the dynasty's fortune)】

[Value: Priceless (Earth Element Core of the Formation)]

"this?"

"Take it!" Gu Yunfeng declared with boundless pride.

As long as I can make this expert, who can see through my Geng metal and point out my hidden ailments, owe me a favor, what do these material possessions matter?

[Ding! You have gained 100 Treasure Points.]

[Ding! You have gained 100 Treasure Points.]

I have two core items in hand.

however.

When the two reached the end of the warehouse, Qin Feng stopped, his expression turning grim.

Water shortage.

Although this warehouse contains many top-quality jadeite and Hetian jade, and their translucency is excellent, they are all classified as "ordinary" in the system's assessment.

It simply cannot withstand the pressure of the "Five Elements Maze Formation".

If forced to use it, the formation will inevitably collapse.

"That's all?" Qin Feng turned around, his voice somewhat deep.

Uncle Fu wiped the sweat from his brow: "Mr. Qin, this is all we have. The kind of 'pure and yin' water-elemental treasure you requested is truly..."

Time passed by, second by second.

9:25.

Qin Feng took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes.

That's too late.

We can only use inferior materials as a substitute. At worst, I'll put in more effort tonight and take the brunt of the damage myself.

"Fine, I'll take these two. Let's go."

Qin Feng took the packaged chicken-blood stone and five-colored soil, then pulled Su Qingxue and turned to leave.

The atmosphere was somewhat somber.

Gu Yunfeng hadn't expected there to be something he didn't have in his treasure trove, and feeling a little embarrassed, he awkwardly stayed by his side to see him off.

The group walked through a storage passageway outside the warehouse.

There were some cleaning mops and buckets piled up here, as well as some old display shelves that had been replaced from who-knows-where. It was messy and smelled damp and musty.

Qin Feng hurried along, eager to get home and set up his formation.

Sudden.

His clothes were gently tugged at.

It was very light, with a hint of timidity.

Qin Feng stopped and looked back.

Su Qingxue had her head down, her thin little hand tightly clutching the hem of his clothes, her other finger pointing to a corner of the pile of clutter, her voice barely a whisper: "Brother Feng, that..."

Everyone's eyes followed the direction of her finger.

It was a glass fish tank placed next to the mop sink.

It was probably picked up casually by the gatekeeper. The walls of the jar were covered with green moss, the water was murky and yellowish with a layer of oil floating on top, and the goldfish inside had long since floated belly up, emitting a nauseating fishy smell.

At the bottom of the fish tank, there were several dark, moss-covered, broken stones.

"What's wrong?" Qin Feng asked gently.

Su Qingxue bit her lip, seemingly mustering all her courage: "That fish tank...it looks so comforting. Like eating an ice-cold watermelon on a summer day."

"puff--"

One of the appraisers following behind couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Little girl, this is filthy water used to raise dead fish, does it feel good?"

"They're just too naive to have seen anything like this, mistaking moss for jade, aren't they?"

Even Uncle Fu frowned, feeling that Miss Su was being a bit tactless. Pointing at a vat of stinky water and saying it felt good in this setting was making Mr. Qin lose face.

Although Gu Yunfeng did not speak, he sighed inwardly.

It seems that this expert's only weakness is his poor judgment, choosing such a low-class woman.

Qin Feng ignored the sneers around him.

He stared into Su Qingxue's clear eyes.

SSS-level fortune, blessed with the destiny of a phoenix, bringing prosperity to her husband and wealth.

This is Su Qingxue's comment.

Qin Feng turned around and strode over to the filthy fish tank.

"Young friend Qin, be careful not to hurt yourself..." Gu Yunfeng was about to dissuade him.

Qin Feng rolled up his sleeves and reached into the murky, foul-smelling water, scooping up the largest, blackest stone from the bottom of the vat.

Slippery and disgusting.

There was even a half-rotten goldfish carcass hanging on it.

People around them stepped back, covering their noses and showing disgust.

"Brother Feng..."

Seeing this scene, Su Qingxue wondered if she had made a mistake, and turned pale with fright. "I'm sorry, I was just talking nonsense..."

"No."

Qin Feng smiled slightly, his gaze burning.

[Item: Essence of the Eternal Cold Pool (Sealed by filth and death energy)]

【Attribute: Extreme Water (originating from the core of Kunlun Mountain, extremely yin and pure, never dissolving for thousands of years)】

[Efficacy: Top-grade core of the formation! Also serves as the sole main ingredient in "Heavenly Physician's Divine Complexion Ointment"!]

[Value: Incalculable (The mere sight of this item overshadows all other jade pieces)]

The essence of the frozen pool!

They actually used it as a terrarium rock?!

"Qingxue, what nonsense are you spouting?" Qin Feng couldn't help but laugh as he looked at the anxious girl. "You're practically God's favorite daughter, showered with blessings!"

Before he could finish speaking...

Qin Feng suddenly exerted force with his five fingers, unleashing a surge of hidden power.

"open!"

Click—!

The thick layer of grime and moss covering the stone was immediately shaken into dust and fell off in a flurry.

next second.

A distinct burst of white, chilling energy erupted from the center of Qin Feng's palm!

The surrounding temperature dropped several degrees!

In that filthy fish tank, the originally cloudy and yellowish water was showing signs of freezing!

But it was in Qin Feng's hands.

The stone, which was originally pitch black, turned into a deep blue, crystal clear, as if there was a pool of living water flowing inside.

The audience was silent.

Gu Yunfeng stared wide-eyed in astonishment, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

"This...this is..."

"The cold air takes form, turning a drop of water into ice?!"

"This is the 'Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Frozen Pool Stone' recorded in ancient texts! A legendary object said to exist only at the summit of Kunlun Mountain!!"

Uncle Fu turned pale with fright.

The Gu family, guarding such a treasure, actually used it to weigh down a fish tank?!

What a terrible waste!

What utter blindness!

Those masters who had just been mocking Su Qingxue were now blushing with embarrassment, wishing they could disappear into the ground.

Qin Feng held the Cold Pool Stone, feeling its refreshing coolness, and turned to look at Su Qingxue, who still looked completely bewildered.

"ancient."

Qin Feng shook the gemstone in his hand.

Gu Yunfeng snapped out of his daze and gave a bitter laugh.

"Young friend Qin has exceptional insight, and this young lady is even more... blessed with good fortune. I am truly impressed."

He was truly convinced.

At the entrance of his own warehouse, a frail little girl stumbled upon a tremendous bargain.

This isn't just about eyesight, it's about life!

[Ding! Obtained the top-grade array core "Essence of the Eternal Cold Pool".]

[Gained 400 Treasure Points.]

Qin Feng didn't linger. He put the Cold Pool Stone in his pocket, grabbed Su Qingxue, and left.

"go home."

Now, no one dares to underestimate that thin figure in the white shirt.

……

It's 9:30 p.m.

The black Mercedes-Benz G-Class roared out of the ghost market and drove into the pitch-black night.

inside the car.

Qin Feng held the steering wheel with one hand, while gently stroking the cold, icy stone in the pool with the other.

All the materials are ready.

All five elements are present.

He glanced out of the corner of his eye at the ghost market lights gradually receding into the distance in the rearview mirror.

I owe Gu Yunfeng a favor today.

But it's okay.

If Gu Yunfeng didn't take his words seriously and insisted on wearing that blood jade cicada...

This favor can be repaid quickly.

"Hold on tight."

Qin Feng floored the accelerator, the engine roaring and tearing through the night sky.

There are still two and a half hours until midnight.

Come back home.

Set up the formation!