My Divine Beasts Are Really Not Evil Gods-Chapter 71: Rule-type Secret Treasure

In a chair by the door of the Round Table, a slender, Black-robed Person wearing a Crow Mask took out an Amethyst Cauldron, on which were carved mysterious runes surrounding a Dark Giant Mouth.
He placed it on the table before him and introduced it:
"This is an extraordinary Rule-type Secret Treasure…"
"Rule-type!?"
"There's actually such a good item tonight?"
"…"
Before he could finish, the entire room was in an uproar, and everyone's gaze instantly focused on it.
A Rule-type Secret Treasure, as its name suggests, exists based on a certain set of rules. As long as the rules are met, a price paid will inevitably yield a corresponding return.
For example, if there were a magic box, you could exchange 100cc of fresh blood for one hundred kilograms of rice.
Although it might seem evil, it adheres to the principle of equivalent exchange—no more, no less.
It's like a single-function wishing machine. If used well, it could function as a conceptual ability and produce miraculous effects.
However, everyone quickly thought of a problem. Rule-type Secret Treasures are generally extremely valuable, with the simplest use being a means to infinitely acquire a certain resource.
Some high-level Rule-type Secret Treasures could even alter the laws of the world.
Many factions, including the Alliance, have been acquiring Rule-type Secret Treasures at high prices.
They could easily be traded for a large quantity of rare treasures or top-tier Pet Beast cubs, making it unnecessary to bring one out for exchange.
Unless…
Lu Yu, under his Yellow Robe, suddenly spoke:
"Something from the Spirit Food School…"
His voice was world-weary, tinged with a bit of emotion, as if reminiscing about an old acquaintance from a long-forgotten age.
The person in the Crow Mask abruptly looked up, his expression horrified as he stared at the yellow-robed figure.
"So it's one of those…"
The others were also enlightened; they were not unfamiliar with that name.
Every mature professional system is the result of long years of exploration and evolution.
The Spirit Food School was one of the early branches of the Cultivator system.
Unlike those who made ordinary pet fodder, they specialized in using Extraordinary Materials to create spirit food, harmonizing the Spirituality within.
Although it sounded similar to Lu Yu's Secret Food, its ability was completely different.
What he mastered was the refinement of primal power, a great miracle.
Spirit food, on the other hand, could promote a Pet Beast's growth after consumption, possessing miraculous effects similar to a Magic Potion.
But while consuming too many Magic Potions could easily lead to spiritual disorder and Aberration, spirit food was much gentler, causing no problems even with frequent use.
However, this glorious school suddenly vanished one day.
No one knew where they went, or whether they were dead or alive.
At their former sites, however, seven World-level Secret Treasures containing the power of rules were left behind, possessing terrifying might that triggered a scramble among many powerful experts.
In the end, two were taken by the Alliance, one was seized by another school, one was shattered, and the last three vanished without a trace.
The fragments were divided among many experts and forged into imitations of varying quality in an attempt to replicate a portion of their power.
However, these inferior imitations not only came with all sorts of harsh conditions for use, but their only ability was to make delicious food.
The spirit food made with them was merely tasty, with a slightly higher food quality, but its effect on enhancing a Beast Tamer's strength was negligible.
The glory of the Spirit Food School thus faded into silence.
But these imitations were highly sought after by ordinary people, who called them Dream Kitchenware, implying they could create legendary delicacies.
Thinking of this, most of the Beast Tamers present lost interest. It would be far too extravagant to buy a scam of a Rule-type Secret Treasure just to satisfy one's appetite.
What shocked them even more was that this mysterious [Collector] seemed very familiar with something from a hundred years ago, even a bit nostalgic.
Could he be one of the experts who participated in the scramble back then?
An old undying monster who has lived for ages?
Having been exposed, the person in the Crow Mask could no longer hide it and explained:
"That's right, this is a piece of Dream Kitchenware called the Gluttony Cauldron.
It can improve the quality of prepared food, making it more delicious. The price is the random loss of a part of your body.
If you forcefully refuse, it will turn into a period of Mental Pollution.
"Although it has many drawbacks, it is also the last relic of the Spirit Food School.
Perhaps an ancient inheritance could be discovered from it…"
After hearing about the side effects, the various Beast Tamers just watched coldly.
As for inheritances, setting aside whether one could even learn it, they generally improve with development unless they involve the level of laws.
The current Cultivator system had already inherited part of the Spirit Food School's research and, after a century of development, had reached a new peak.
Except for some of the Spirit Food School's special Secret Arts, the rest was meaningless.
To lose a part of your body just to satisfy your appetite, to lose a body part for a single meal—if it was a crucial part like an eye, even a healing-type ability would have trouble restoring it.
And refusing would be like applying a negative buff to yourself, increasing the chance of Aberration.
Only a crazy epicurean would do something like that.
The person in the Crow Mask gave a bitter smile, feeling the dead silence.
He figured it wouldn't sell this time either.
But just as he was about to put it away, Lu Yu spoke again: "It's a decent Collection Item.
What do you want for it?"
The others glanced over, but considering the [Collector]'s identity, it seemed reasonable.
This sort of strange item was very suitable to be a Collection Item.
Moreover, judging by the Collector's tone, he was likely one of the contenders from a hundred years ago. Perhaps he was just buying it as a souvenir.
The persona Lu Yu had crafted was beginning to take root in their minds.
The person in the Crow Mask was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed, and he quickly said:
"A Soul-type treasure of Gold quality or higher will do!"
Even the worst Rule-type Secret Treasure was worth at least one Morning Star Rank treasure, but these imitations of the Spirit Food School's World-level Secret Treasures could only be sold at a low price.
Lu Yu nodded. He silently scraped off a bit of bark from the Ghost Tree—a piece he had nurtured with dozens of souls during a previous mission.
It was useless to the Ghost Tree, but it came in handy now.
He gently pinched it between his fingers, ground it into powder, secretly wrapped it in paper, and tossed it onto the table.
The person in the Crow Mask carefully opened it. A single glance was enough to make him tremble with excitement.
Although the amount was pitifully small, the soul essence it contained was extremely high. It could be used as a versatile material for any Soul-type Magic Potion, with a high chance of improving its quality.
This treasure had already surpassed the Morning Star Rank; it was a higher-grade material. And the fact that it was tree shavings made him unable to resist thinking of the seven Divine Trees that existed only in legends…
He dared not think too deeply.
If it was truly related to that kind of top-tier existence, then what kind of terrifyingly powerful expert was the Collector?
The person in the Crow Mask was both terrified and afraid that Lu Yu would go back on his word. He nodded like a pecking chicken.
After the trade was complete, he was so paranoid about being robbed that he didn't even look at the subsequent items and left in a hurry.
This scene secretly startled everyone.
Even Morning Star Rank materials had appeared at the Mutual Aid Society several times, yet no one had ever been in such a rush to flee.
Just what kind of treasure was it to warrant such caution?
The Collector truly lived up to his name!
Lu Yu calmly took the item, but his heart was in turmoil.
His hand under the Yellow Robe trembled slightly.
Because this item, was related to a Mythical-grade Material