After some twists and turns, the chat group finally quieted down. Ambitious magic treasures like the Chaos Bell and Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree were forced to abandon their ambition to control Xu Fang.
After all, Xu Fang possessed a unique divine ability in the Great Desolation, allowing him to sense the existence of treasures.
However, the ability to communicate with magic treasures was also Xu Fang's exclusive divine ability; other beings were entirely ignorant of this art.
Even if they were unwilling, they were utterly incapable of relaying messages to their respective masters.
Xu Fang let out a sigh of relief as the dispute finally came to an end.
"So close, so close. For a moment there, I truly felt I was no longer in control of myself."
Xu Fang felt a sense of surviving a disaster and let out a long breath.
He had always known that the existence of this magic treasure chat group was both a colossal opportunity and a grave hidden danger. Once discovered, he would be forced to become what they called a human portable treasure detector.
Indeed, upon hearing of his divine ability to sense treasures, the magic treasures in the group all had their own intentions.
Fortunately, this information could only circulate among the magic treasures and could not be transmitted outwards.
After this incident, Xu Fang understood.
It wasn't just the beings of the Great Desolation who harbored various greedy thoughts; magic treasures also exhibited such tendencies. He would have to be more vigilant in the future and could no longer speak and act as carelessly as before.
However, fortunately, not all the magic treasures in the chat group were like this; there were also presences that warmed Xu Fang's heart.
The Heaven Measuring Ruler, the Ruyi Jingu Bang, and the Six Roots of Pureness Bamboo, after following him, while not necessarily loyal to the death, had, unbeknownst to themselves, become a family, their interests intertwined.
There was also the Yellow Middle Plum on Penglai Island, who was his cheap elder sister and whose concern for him had never wavered.
Treasures like the Chaos Bell and Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree had likely been with their masters for so long that they carried the shadow of their masters.
As for the God-Slaying Spear, it yearned to shine again in the Great Desolation.
As for the Creation Jade Butterfly, the Taiji Diagram, and the Pangu Banner, it was likely due to their current possession by the number one figure in the heavens and earth, Dao Ancestor Hongjun, that they exhibited such an aloof demeanor.
This was likely the current situation within the chat group: the magic treasures had formed their own small factions.
This was a good thing for Xu Fang.
If they were united, they might have dedicated all their efforts to figuring out who the group owner was who never showed their face, which would have been quite problematic.
With the dispute in the chat group quelled, Xu Fang did not let his guard down. He looked back at Kong Xuan and the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird who were following him and solemnly instructed them.
"Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan, Great Bird, I implore you to keep my divine ability to sense treasures a secret and not to leak it."
"Why?"
The Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird asked in confusion, immediately receiving a hefty blow from Kong Xuan that left him seeing stars.
"Are you an idiot? With such a divine ability, if it were known to those with ill intentions, would they simply let it go?"
"Rest assured, fellow Daoist, we will absolutely keep our mouths shut and will not leak this matter!"
Kong Xuan understood very well that the Great Desolation was an incredibly perilous place, where strength reigned supreme. To become stronger, everyone would go to great lengths, even resorting to unscrupulous methods.
If Xu Fang's divine ability to sense treasures were known, he would inevitably be suppressed and imprisoned, becoming a treasure-hunting slave in the hands of others.
Upon hearing this, the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird, realizing the gravity of the situation, quickly cupped his hands towards Xu Fang.
"Senior, rest assured. If I, the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird, were to leak even a fraction of this, may the heavens strike me with lightning and may I die a horrible death!"
This was a matter of life and death for Senior. For him to reveal such a secret to help them, and for them to then expose it, would be utterly ungrateful and unforgivable by heaven and earth!
Seeing the solemn promises of the two brothers, Xu Fang's worried heart finally settled completely.
"Good!"
Xu Fang nodded, glanced at the treasure map beside him, and continued.
"This Phoenix Staff is within the mountain below. Let's go down!"
Xu Fang leaped down. Kong Xuan and the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with joy.
They never imagined that one day they would be able to find the Phoenix clan's supreme treasure again.
Seeing Xu Fang descend, they followed closely.
Looking up, they saw that the Immortal Volcano was not far away. At this moment, they could faintly hear the sounds of battle emanating from the Immortal Volcano, clearly indicating that the conflict was becoming increasingly tense.
However, the place was deserted. Not to mention the Phoenix Staff, there were barely any spiritual herbs or roots. It could hardly be considered a treasure land.
Seeing this, the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird couldn't help but complain.
"In a barren place like this, how could the Phoenix Staff possibly be here?"
"Do not speak nonsense!"
Kong Xuan rebuked, but he too was puzzled. Could this place with its thin spiritual energy truly be where the Phoenix Staff was lost?
"Fellow Daoist, please enlighten me, where exactly is the Phoenix Staff?"
Kong Xuan quickly asked, looking at Xu Fang.
Xu Fang glanced at the treasure map floating beside him, confirmed the location, and then pointed forward.
"The Phoenix Staff is just ahead. It depends on whether Fellow Daoist has the destiny."
Where the cursor pointed, the Phoenix Staff was indeed there. Xu Fang certainly did not believe the treasure map to be wrong.
Upon hearing Xu Fang speak so confidently, Kong Xuan took a step forward, his mana surging.
An attack shot out, striking the direction Xu Fang pointed. Suddenly, a glow erupted, and a great formation slowly materialized.
"A protective formation?"
Kong Xuan exclaimed with delight as the formation appeared.
With a protective formation, it meant that treasure truly existed!
"Big Brother, I sense a trace of energy that seems connected to me, yet I cannot grasp it," the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird said with a frown.
Kong Xuan became even more delighted. He too sensed an energy that was connected to him, and this might indeed be the Phoenix clan's supreme treasure, the Phoenix Staff!
Without further hesitation, Kong Xuan repeatedly attacked the formation, intending to forcibly break in.
Xu Fang nodded as he watched. They did not have much understanding of formations, so this brute force method was the simplest and most effective.
As Kong Xuan's attacks continued, the formation could no longer withstand it and soon collapsed with a deafening roar, vanishing completely.
Boom!
The moment the formation shattered, a thunderous sound echoed, and a powerful aura rushed towards them. A dazzling light shot straight into the sky.
Xu Fang and the others ignored everything else, their eyes fixed on the location of the broken formation. They watched as the light flowed and shimmered, and a treasure slowly emerged from within.
"The Phoenix Staff!"
They exclaimed in surprise. This time, their efforts had paid off effortlessly!
They had finally found the Phoenix Staff!