The Treasure Pavilion was empty, with Lin Shiming the only person inside.
Lin Houyuan had already left, initiating a war campaign wasn't a trivial matter after all.
As the Family Head, he had to coordinate everything. This also signified that the decision-making layer of the family was shifting from the generation of those named 'Yu' to those named 'Hou'.
Lin Houshou walked past the door and patted Lin Shiming on the shoulder with one hand.
"Good lad, well done!"
"Second Uncle flatters me, Shiming still has much to learn from you!" Lin Shiming humbly replied.
After a brief conversation, Lin Shiming followed Lin Houshou to the third floor of the Treasure Pavilion.
Compared to the familiar first and second floors, this was Lin Shiming's first visit to the third floor.
He couldn't help but think about that doubt that had lingered in his mind since childhood.
Whether the old Family Head, who was over 150 years old, was actually healing on the third floor. However, it clearly was not the case.
The rooms on the third floor were smaller, built entirely out of a type of spiritual wood unknown to him, but the carvings and decorations were more abundant. And all the decorations followed specific patterns, with some even exuding Spirit Might.
It was obviously a complex Formation that Lin Shiming didn't understand!
"You little rascal, follow me closely, and don't touch anything carelessly. All these carvings are part of the Formation, even the ones without Spirit Might!" Lin Houshou turned his head and warned Lin Shiming.
Lin Shiming nodded.
After entering the wooden room, what caught his eye was a row upon row of ancient display shelves, all made from fine, dark heavy ironwood, nurtured by Spirit Formations, which made them seem even more vibrant with Spiritual Energy.
But the shelves seemed somewhat empty, not displaying too many items.
"Shiming, don't be fooled by the sparse-looking ironwood shelves. At its peak, our Lin Family filled this place with Third Rank treasures!" Lin Houshou explained proudly, apparently noting Lin Shiming's confusion.
Lin Shiming was also aware that after a series of changes, the Lin Family had initially broken the streak of Purple Mansion cultivators during the 'Ming' generation. They had spent most of their foundation to obtain the Purple Heart Spirit Fruit to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm.
But to their dismay, things fell short, the foundation was nearly depleted, and that 'Ming' generation ancestor died in gloom not long after.
During the 'Xian' generation, to have a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the family again, they started trading all of their remaining resources for Foundation Establishment Pills. Fortunately, Elder Lin Xianzhi's promotion was successful, allowing the Lin Family to retain the title of a Foundation Establishment family.
Lin Shiming followed Lin Houyuan to the front of the wooden shelves.
The shelves were divided into two rows, one displaying the Foundation Establishment Stage portions of Yellow Rank Techniques. The latter part of Lin Shiming's Qing Mu Art was also here.
The other row showcased the Lin Family's Spirit Weapons and Spirit Talismans.
Lin Shiming was here this time to select a Spirit Weapon.
All the Spirit Weapons were covered with a specific light shield of Spiritual Power, intended to prevent the loss of Spiritual Energy from the weapons, affecting their strength.
Lin Houyuan was at the very front, introducing each item to Lin Shiming.
"Shiming, this is the Qing Que Sword, an absolute masterpiece among Second Rank Superior Grade Magic Artifacts. It is forged from Qing Que Profound Iron, extremely sturdy, and for cultivators of the Wood Attribute and Water Attribute, it can amplify their Spiritual Energy several times over. A single slash, even late-stage Cultivators would have to dodge!"
"This one is the Fire-returning Fire Sword, another masterpiece, but not suitable for you!"
"This one is the Heavy Water Profound Mountain, extremely powerful. Once unleashed, it transforms into a giant mountain. Very few enemies can withstand it. However, the drawback of this Profound Mountain is that it consumes too much Spiritual Energy. But for you, it can still serve as a trump card."
...
Lin Houshou introduced them one by one, and Lin Shiming considered each in turn. Although there were not many Magic Artifacts, all were meant for offense.
However, just then, the system notification appeared once again.
"Please choose a pile of seeds that seem useless, and you will obtain snake vine flower seeds that rival supreme grade magic artifacts!"
Lin Shiming was already prepared to choose the Profound Water Chong Shan, but he hastily stopped upon this prompt from the system.
He began searching again on the wooden shelf, going around one circle, then two.
This made Lin Houshou somewhat unsettled.
Skimming through items at such speed, was he selecting treasures?
Just as Lin Houshou was about to lecture Lin Shiming, he saw Lin Shiming stop excitedly next to a small box in the corner.
The small box had no lid and not even a spiritual power light shield; inside were more than a dozen dark and unslippery-looking pills, as if they were discarded elixir pills.
"Second Uncle, I choose this one?" Lin Shiming picked up the box, thrilled.
This was something that could compare to a supreme grade magic artifact, something he could use as his trump card.
"Shiming, are you sure?" Lin Houshou asked, perplexed.
"These are just useless pills that have been identified by generations of elders in the pavilion!"
"This is it, Second Uncle. I feel that this seed artifact suits me very well." Lin Shiming replied firmly, holding the box, full of joy.
"Are these seeds?" Lin Houshou asked in confusion, then waved his hand and generously said:
"You lad, although I don't know what you're planning, I won't let you be at a disadvantage. Here's what we'll do: you choose one superior grade magic artifact, and with fifty contribution points, you can exchange for these seeds!"
"As treasures from the third floor, I can't be too arbitrary and drive the price too low."
"Thank you so much, Second Uncle!" Lin Shiming quickly expressed his gratitude. Fifty contribution points? He would be willing even if it were five hundred!
Then, Lin Shiming chose that one piece of Profound Water Chong Shan, a mighty weapon.
As a trump card, of course, it needed to have great power. At a crucial moment, it would be a battle-decider. He had the Wood Vine Technique, so choosing Profound Water Chong Shan could not be more appropriate.
Lin Shiming took out the Profound Water Chong Shan from the spiritual power light shield.
The entire Chong Shan was bronze in color, not large, just palm-sized.
When he held it in his hand, he only felt a terrifying gravity reaching his palm.
He nearly dropped it to the ground, which greatly startled Lin Shiming.
This gravity—no wonder this magic artifact had so impressed Lin Houshou.
To think this was without inputting spiritual power, which when added, would increase the weight a hundredfold.
If it were to be dropped, even a second rank late-stage powerful demonic beasts would probably not withstand the impact!
If it were to fall on a cultivator, Lin Shiming couldn't imagine any chance of survival they might have.
"Thank you, Second Uncle, for allowing me to acquire several treasures!" Lin Shiming bowed in thanks, then he took out a small wine jug and handed it to Lin Houshou.
"Second Uncle, this is the Monkey Wine I have captured; most of it has been handed over, but this is what I've kept for you!" Lin Shiming initially didn't give it to avoid making Lin Houshou embarrassed, creating a situation where the family head's son was bribing the pavilion's guardian.
But after taking the treasures, giving it then became a gesture of respect for an elder.
"Good!" Lin Houshou also did not hesitate and accepted it with a relieved face.
He looked at Lin Shiming with increasingly satisfied eyes.
Having acquired two treasures, Lin Shiming then redeemed several Spirit Talismans from the Treasure Pavilion, especially the second rank, superior grade Water Shield Talisman, for which he spent another two hundred and fifty contribution points to buy one.