Seeing that Qin Hanchu was interested in these three flags, the Divine Venerable waved and sent one of them to Qin Hanchu’s front.
Qin Hanchu observed the patterns on the flag with great care, his eyes gleaming as he said, "The divine patterns here are very profound. If they are a set, they are likely top-tier divine artifacts."
"That is natural. It is a pity that it is incomplete," the Divine Venerable sighed.
Qin Hanchu pondered and said, "Fifty thousand divine crystals, I'll buy it."
The Divine Venerable looked at Qin Hanchu in surprise, "You want to buy it?"
"The divine patterns on it are very helpful to me. If I can thoroughly study them, it might greatly enhance my artifact refining skills."
Qin Hanchu had never put much effort into artifact refining. His words were merely to make others believe he valued the divine formations and runes on the flag.
"I didn't expect fellow Daoist to be an artifact refiner. But the materials of this flag are also rare, aren't they?" The Divine Venerable was not foolish. Seeing that Qin Hanchu was an artifact refiner, he began to leverage the flag's materials.
"Name your price. If it's reasonable, I'll buy it," Qin Hanchu said, adding, "If fellow Daoist asks for an exorbitant price, then this item can only remain with you for your continued collection."
The Divine Venerable looked around, "Are there any other artifact refining powerhouses in the audience who wish to participate?"
In the martial world, artifact refiners and alchemists were very rare.
In the Divine Realm, the number of people in these two professions was even more scarce.
Any powerful artifact refiner or alchemist was a target for major forces to recruit.
Whether it was artifact refining or alchemy, it required a great deal of effort to study.
For this reason, the combat capabilities of these two types of people were not very strong.
The Fenghua Banquet was a grand event for warriors, so it did not hold much attraction for these individuals.
Among hundreds of Divine Venerables, there wasn't a single artifact refiner.
Seeing that no one was participating, the Divine Venerable pondered and said, "Sixty thousand divine crystals!"
Qin Hanchu thought for a long time and sent sixty thousand divine crystals to the Divine Venerable, "Alright, sixty thousand divine crystals it is."
Seeing Qin Hanchu send the divine crystals, the Divine Venerable waved and sent the remaining two flags into Qin Hanchu's hands.
Upon receiving the flags, Qin Hanchu eagerly went to the side and began to study the divine formation runes on them.
Seeing Qin Hanchu like this, the Divine Venerable was even more convinced that Qin Hanchu had only purchased these three flags for the divine patterns on them.
"Can five flags form a set?" Axiang asked via telepathic transmission.
Qin Hanchu replied telepathically, "I don't know yet. I'll put them together later to see."
While they were chatting, others inquired about other goods.
In the following time, the Divine Venerables present successively took out their items for sale and exchange.
This exchange meeting not only allowed Qin Hanchu to obtain the three flags but also allowed others to obtain the resources they needed.
Three days later, Qin Hanchu and Axiang finally returned to their cave dwelling.
For greater safety, Qin Hanchu summoned Ba Hai Bangzhu and others to further strengthen the sealing and protection.
Only then did he take out the two flags he had obtained earlier.
Buzzing…
As the five flags converged, they immediately resonated.
The five flags automatically flew up, and streaks of golden lightning connected them.
Under the watchful eyes of Qin Hanchu and the others, the five flags emitted brilliant five-colored light.
Fortunately, there were two layers of seals; otherwise, it would have attracted the attention of others.
"The artifact spirit is awakening, this is a top-tier divine artifact!"
"I'll take it to the main realm of Shenzhou."
Qin Hanchu, fearing that a major commotion would occur here, directly took the five flags into the main realm of Shenzhou.
About two hours later, the artifact spirit of this top-tier divine artifact finally awakened.
A miniature five-colored divine mountain appeared above the five flags.
"Did you cause me to awaken again?" an ancient voice emanated from the five-colored divine mountain.
Qin Hanchu said, "Indeed. I believe you are willing to submit to me, aren't you?"
"Since you caused me to awaken, I am naturally willing to submit."
Qin Hanchu immediately summoned the Imperial Spirit Divine Seal and established a connection with this top-tier divine artifact.
As the link was established, Qin Hanchu began to share the artifact spirit's memories.
"A replica of the Primordial Five Elements Banner!"
Through the artifact spirit's memories, Qin Hanchu finally learned the origin of this top-tier divine artifact.
In the Divine Realm, there was a primordial treasure called the Primordial Five Elements Banner, and this top-tier divine artifact was its replica.
Although it was only a replica, its power was still not to be underestimated.
Returning to the cave dwelling, Qin Hanchu said to Axiang, "It's done. With this, I should be able to contend for the championship title with those powerhouses."
"Good luck. I didn't expect to gather these five flags here," Axiang also felt happy for Qin Hanchu.
Qin Hanchu smiled happily, "These Five Elements Divine Banners were made by the founding ancestor of the Jiang family as replicas of the Primordial Five Elements Banner. Although these Five Elements Divine Banners are only top-tier divine artifacts, their accompanying divine skills were created by the founding ancestor powerhouse as founding-level divine skills."
"Was this founding ancestor also killed?" The Five Elements Divine Banners were scattered, which made Axiang think that the founding ancestor of the Jiang family had fallen.
Qin Hanchu shook his head, "These Five Elements Divine Banners were not used by the founding ancestor of the Jiang family himself. He possessed the true Primordial Five Elements Banner. According to the artifact spirit's memory, this top-tier divine artifact was created by the founding ancestor of the Jiang family for his most outstanding clansman at that time."
"Since it has such a background, will the Jiang family come to demand it from you?" Axiang asked.
Qin Hanchu said, "That's a matter for the future. For now, I'll use it to obtain resources first."
In the following days, Qin Hanchu began to cultivate the divine skills that accompanied the Five Elements Divine Banners.
This divine artifact was his trump card to win the championship.
Cultivating oblivious to the passage of time, there was only a week left until the opening ceremony of the Fenghua Banquet.
Many Divine Venerables were seen leaving the area and returning towards Guhua City.
Qin Hanchu and Axiang also stopped staying there. They put away the sealing divine formation and headed towards Guhua City.
Shortly after the two left, the Tianmu Divine Venerable also put away his divine formation.
"With my current strength, I can definitely break into the top three. As long as I become a core disciple of the Gu Dao Academy, I will have a founding ancestor as my backer."
Previously, the Tianmu Divine Venerable was just a common Divine Venerable realm martial artist, but now he was confident of contending for a top-three position in the Fenghua Banquet.
This showed that the Tianmu Divine Venerable must have gained considerable fortuitous encounters.
"Divine Venerables participating in the Fenghua Banquet, please enter the teleportation portal. It will transport you to the venue."
Upon arriving at the city gate, they saw disciples of the Gu Dao Academy guiding people into the teleportation portal.
Qin Hanchu and Axiang entered the teleportation portal together.
When they opened their eyes again, the two had arrived in an independent world.
Beneath their feet was a vast expanse of calm water, which, like a mirror, reflected everyone's figures.
Seeing that everyone else was flying towards the sky, Qin Hanchu and Axiang followed the crowd and soared upwards.
"The Fenghua Banquet is divided into four stages: preliminaries, elimination rounds, semifinals, and finals."
"The lake surface beneath our feet is the venue for the preliminaries."
"All participants will soon enter the world beneath the water's surface."
"In that world, there is no true death. If you are killed, you will return to the water's surface."
"The preliminaries will end when three thousand people remain."