Chapter 365

The Ye Residence’s treasury had neither golden floor tiles nor exquisite crystals . There was no magnificent and ornate velvet . The treasury’s design was simple and generous and its green-tiled wooden shelves were uneven . The soft light allowed observers to admire the exceptional pieces from all angles .

Standing inside the treasury, Ai Hui was in awe .

Ai Hui finally understood the meaning behind “millennium family . ” The treasury wasn’t big . It was more like a small storehouse with roughly five to six hundred wooden racks . If it was a storehouse, it would be the world’s most valuable storehouse .

Each treasure emitted a pure and gentle radiance . Multi-colored rays intertwined and reflected off the walls, brightening up the whole treasury .

The ordinary looking shelves were, in fact, used to seal up prohibited treasures . If not for these shelves, the elemental energy waves released by the treasures would mix together, causing the whole house to shatter into pieces .

Ai Hui’s gaze regained its brightness as he inhaled deeply, calming his inner agitation .

The butler did not expect Ai Hui to regain his senses so quickly and was rather surprised . The Ye Residence’s butler position wasn’t like its counterpart in other residences . It was strictly an inherited status . The butler’s son would start learning the ropes from his father at the age of ten . When the butler turned old, the son would be in his prime and take over his father’s role as the new butler . After nurturing and educating them from a young age, these sons were most definitely loyal to the Ye Residence .

The butler was one of the dearest and most reliable members of the family and was trusted with a lot of confidential information .

In the butlers’ historical records, each guest tour had been observed and noted down, wherein valuable guests were all depicted as being dumbstruck and bedazzled upon entering the treasury . Some were even in a daze for more than five minutes . It must be said that these guests had all been outstanding fighters and held great power and influence . The Ye treasury was evidently amazing for causing them to temporarily lose their souls .

Generations of butlers enjoyed seeing these powerful figures’ blank faces . It made them feel proud and honored .

Yet, Chu Zhaoyang had managed to regain his senses after a mere 22 seconds .

This surprised and displeased the butler . A guest had finally arrived and he was naturally going to record and note down his time for future generations to read . Thinking about how his guest was stunned for only 22 seconds made him somewhat unhappy . This 22 seconds wasn’t the shortest time, but it was within the top three .

He asked with a straight face, in a respectful tone, “Mister Zhaoyang, do you need a few introductions?”

Chu Zhaoyang’s status in the Ye Residence was constantly on the rise . He had saved Madam and the young master’s lives, so even if he had a bad name and was evil, the Ye Residence would still regard him as a VIP .

People started calling him ‘Mister Zhaoyang’ instead of ‘Teacher Chu . ’

Ai Hui never would have thought that the butler would care about how long he had been stunned . He shook his head . “It’s alright, I’ll look around myself . “

Quickly, he noticed quite a few empty frames and asked out of curiosity, “Why are these unoccupied?”

The butler explained, “Some were given away while others are being used by the previous family head . The first family head once said that no matter how good a treasure is, it is useless if not used . It is good to like and cherish treasures, but using them when necessary is a bliss for the future generations . Apart from the first family head, there have been no more Grandmasters . Because successive family heads enjoyed making friends, treated people with passion, and were generous and fair, the residence has managed to expand until today . “

Ai Hui praised, “Mister Huitang is great . The residence is great . “

The Ye Residence’s first family head, Ye Huitang, was also the last swordsman . Not only was he strong, he also knew his way around life and the later generations did not disappoint .

The ancestors were well-celebrated while the descendants were humble and kept a low-profile . Successive family heads were good at networking, straightforward, fair, kind, and charitable .

For a family with such a rich history, there must be something unique about it .

The power the Ye Residence was able to utilize was greater than appearances led one to believe .

The butler smiled slightly . “Madam would like to have you select anything from the treasury . If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me . I have been managing this treasury, so I am familiar with every single item . Of course, I would like to seek your cooperation in preventing thieves, and ask that you do not divulge any of this information . “

Ai Hui nodded . “I understand . “

The treasures in the case emitted different types of light . Although still separated by the seal, Ai Hui could nevertheless feel how frightening the faint elemental energy waves were . Items that could be called treasures were either retrieved from the Wilderness or were formed from special elemental energy, and they usually carried a rich, surging elemental energy . This was also the reason why they were called treasures . Just like the treasures from the Cultivation Era, they were usually filled with spiritual force .

On the contrary, there were few treasures without many elemental energy waves . These treasures were inherently unique . Some had special characteristics, like a blue wisp of flame that Ai Hui noticed . There was a clear shadow flickering within the flame . This blue wisp did not have any elemental energy waves, but it made Ai Hui’s hair stand on end .

He couldn’t help but inquire, “What flame is that?”

The butler looked at it before answering, “Blue Soul Fire . Legend has it that a human soul is trapped within it . It is a piece that belongs to the seventh family head, who found it among historic relics when he was out exploring the world at a young age . The successive family heads became really interested in it, but no one has managed to unfold its secrets . “

Ai Hui felt that the figure inside the flame was watching him, and while he was a gutsy person, it sent a chill through his bones .

Suddenly, Ai Hui stopped in front of a big tree and asked in shock, “Is this… a

message tree?”

It seemed as though the butler was very pleased by Ai Hui’s surprised look . He replied in a mild manner, “Yes, this is a message tree . To be precise, it is the first message tree . “

Ai Hui opened his eyes wide . “The first?”

“Yes!” The butler tried to sound composed but his pride couldn’t be concealed . “Its advent greatly changed the avalon while also significantly altering our lifestyles . The family head at that time saw the revolution coming, so he spent a huge fortune to purchase it . While its practical value isn’t as high as other treasures, it has witnessed the change of an era, and so is extremely precious . “

Ai Hui stared blankly at the message tree . His heart swelled with the realization that this message tree was exactly the same as the one he’d taken away from Vanguard Training Hall .

Pride quickly turned into relief, as it was apparent that Madam Ye and the Assembly of Patriarchs shared a deep relationship . According to the Ye Residence’s style of handling affairs, it wasn’t at all strange that she had such a good relationship with the assembly . It was even possible that this tree was brought over from the assembly .

Perhaps the elementalist who had invented this tree was from the assembly?

The Assembly seemed to hold more power than he’d thought .

The butler was unaware of the many thoughts that were running through Ai Hui’s mind, but seeing his astonished face pleased him very much .

Such ‘one and only’ treasures like the first message tree were not things money could buy . This was a real display of a family’s influence .

“Your residence is really terrific . “

Mister Chu Zhaoyang’s praise and admiration fed the butler’s pride and joy .

Ai Hui continued walking forward and quickly realized that many of the swords were rusty and difficult to use .

Noticing this, the butler explained, “These swords are mostly treasures from the first family head’s generation . Seven of out ten treasures are swords . Some are still spiritual in nature, while others were once well-known . When elemental energy was first created, these swords contained spiritual force, but as generations passed, the last bit of spiritual force dissipated, leaving these swords rusty and obsolete . Because the first family head really adored these items, they have been kept all this while . “

Ai Hui was fascinated .

Being good at discerning thoughts from body language, the butler added, “I do not recommend that you choose a sword . The swords from the cultivation era are mostly unusable . Swordsmanship has resurfaced these two years, so the contemporary master craftsmen are only just starting to attempt building treasure swords . Treasure swords from the past, no matter their significant history or how exquisite they are, are of no practical use in battles . “

Ai Hui was slightly disappointed, but very grateful . “Thank you!”

What the butler said made a lot of sense .

Swordsmanship had declined over a long period of time and sword users were pathetically few in number . So far, no famous swords had been created by famous craftsmen either .

Finishing his words, the butler gave Ai Hui time to look around .

To any individual, choosing a treasure from such a dazzling line up was extremely challenging . Each treasure had its own appeal and many contained intense elemental energy waves . Separated by the seal, Ai Hui could still feel the sharp consciousness of the elemental energy waves, as though they were about to pierce through the seal .

A few times, Ai Hui palpitated with eagerness . Some ingredients were extremely valuable . If he could find a skilled workman to fashion a sword out of them, it would definitely become an exceptional sword .

Ai Hui forced himself to hold back . He decided that no matter what he saw, he would first tour the whole treasury before making a decision .

The butler nodded as he observed Ai Hui . Chu Zhaoyang was a man of extreme willpower . Each treasure was shockingly enticing and some could even aid elementalists to enter a higher realm . Few had been able to browse the whole gallery before selecting something .

Madam had initiated this tour not only to repay his kindness for saving her life, but also to build a good rapport with him . The Ye Residence often used this method to ensure its continued existence .

Madam made such a decision because she really looked favorably upon Chu Zhaoyang . Experience had taught successive generations that they must not be petty when investing in a talented individual . They would reap exponential benefits if they invested at the right time, when the talent was still nameless .

The butler did not know if Chu Zhaoyang had good prospects, but greatly admired his determination .

Ai Hui stopped in his tracks .