The next day, after checking the status of over three hundred acres of spiritual plants and leaving Little Gold to recuperate on ※_15_⛬, Li Mu went alone to Qingyun City to attend the ※_1 1_⛬ ※_14_⛬.
Qingyun City's status was more than a cut above Gangyang City.
In Gangyang City's ※_1 1_⛬ ※_14_⛬, Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators could enter.
Qingyun City, being close to the ※_1_⛬ and having a superior geographical location, required Foundation Establishment Cultivators to enter its ※_1 1_⛬ ※_14_⛬, and even then, they had to sit in the main hall; the private rooms were reserved for Golden Core cultivators or Nascent Soul True Lords.
With his title of ‘Great Master Li’ and his Guest Elder token, Li Mu easily secured a private room.
“Great Master Li, please have some spiritual tea here; I’m going to attend to a few Seniors!” ※_13_⛬ smiled and asked Li Mu for instructions.
“Hmm, no need to bother with me, you go get busy!” Li Mu smiled and nodded, watching her leave.
Watching ※_13_⛬ exit the room, Li Mu took out a copy of “southern spirit annals” from his nine storage spiritual pearl and began to read.
As a High Grade Guest Elder at ※_1 1_⛬, Li Mu had already learned in advance about the spiritual items ※_1 1_⛬ itself would be putting up for ※_14_⛬, and none of them were particularly noteworthy to him.
The reason he still came to participate was because this ※_14_⛬ not only featured ※_1 1_⛬'s own goods, but more importantly, it included items consigned by other clients, which might offer good opportunities for a bargain.
Time passed bit by bit.
As the last Golden Core cultivator entered a private room, the ※_1 1_⛬ ※_14_⛬ officially began.
“Welcome, esteemed guests! ※_1 1_⛬’s triennial ※_14_⛬ officially begins today. I, Wan Yuncheng, have been invited to preside over this ※_14_⛬.” A Golden Core Elder, about fifty years old, stepped through the Void Realm and walked onto the ※_14_⛬ stage, smiling as he introduced himself to the audience in the hall and the private rooms on both sides.
“This ※_14_⛬ features many High Grade spiritual items, Spiritual Artifacts, and Medicinal Pills. If anyone is not sufficiently prepared, feel free to bid. After the ※_14_⛬ concludes, you may discuss with the ※_1 1_⛬ manager to use equivalent spiritual items as payment. Additionally, adhering to the rules of fair bidding, please carefully consider your bids using the ※_14_⛬ token after the ※_14_⛬ begins, and do not disrupt the bidding order.”
“Once the ※_14_⛬ begins, you can use your ※_14_⛬ token to participate in bidding. This bidding mode is very discreet and will not expose any of your bidding information. The bidding data will be displayed on the several screens below me for your convenient and timely confirmation of bids, making it very simple.”
After briefly introducing the bidding rules, Wan Yuncheng smiled and said, “Without further ado, let the ※_14_⛬ officially begin.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Wan Yuncheng took out a green Medicinal Pill bottle from the small teleportation array on the ※_14_⛬ stage and displayed it, saying, “The first item for ※_14_⛬ is a third-tier High Grade Soul Breaking Pill, a total of three pills. Consuming this pill can strengthen the Soul and also repair Soul damage. It is a rare Soul Pill, a masterpiece from Great Master Luo Yu, a Great Master of the Pill Dao.”
“This pill can be consumed by both Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Golden Core Immortal Masters, greatly enhancing the Soul. The three Soul Breaking Pills are being auctioned together, with a starting bid of 10,000 medium spirit stones, and a time limit of one hundred breaths. The ※_14_⛬ begins now, feel free to bid!” Wan Yuncheng surveyed the entire venue, nearly a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and a hundred private rooms, and announced loudly.
As soon as Wan Yuncheng finished speaking, the mirror below the ※_14_⛬ stage, which displayed the bids, immediately changed, and the first bidder appeared.
Bid Token No. 143, Bid: 12,000 medium spirit stones, Countdown: 98 breaths.
The next moment, this set of data immediately changed.
13,000, 15,000, ..., 27,000,
One hundred breaths passed in a flash, and the data displayed on the mirror froze.
“Time’s up, bidding concluded! Congratulations to Fellow Daoist No. 29, who won the three Soul Breaking Pills for a price of 35,000 medium spirit stones!” Auctioneer Wan Yuncheng excitedly struck the gavel and announced.
Wan Yuncheng then quickly took out another ※_14_⛬ item from the small teleportation array on the ※_14_⛬ stage and smilingly introduced it, saying, “The next item for ※_14_⛬ is still a Medicinal Pill. It is a Youth Preserving and Longevity Extending Spirit Pill, refined from a fourth-tier Youth Preserving Fruit, Myriad Life Grass, and Sky Net Flower. There is only one of these pills, and it has the effect of eternal youth.”
“What! A Youth Preserving Pill! The second ※_14_⛬ item is a Youth Preserving Pill!”
“My goodness, how could such a Spirit Pill appear? Female Cultivators must be going crazy!”
“Such a Spirit Pill appears as the second item, what else is coming later! Longevity Extending Pills?”
“Oh no! If I don’t buy this Youth Preserving Pill, Matchmaker will blame me!”
“This ※_1 1_⛬ really knows how to stir things up! Why is there only one of these Spirit Pills? Isn’t this just asking for trouble!”
“……”
As soon as this Youth Preserving Pill appeared, the hall erupted in chaos, with Foundation Establishment Cultivators discussing animatedly. Many female Foundation Establishment Cultivators present had red eyes, and the Golden Core bigshots in the private rooms also found themselves with headaches.
Li Mu thought about it and decided not to participate in this ※_14_⛬. He was still young; once the Purple Yang Spiritual Flower and Yin Soul Fruit matured, which would take at most about twenty years, he could achieve Foundation Establishment and Golden Core. At that time, his lifespan, body, and appearance would all become youthful again, making this type of Youth Preserving Medicinal Pill unnecessary for him.
Previously, Li Mu had briefly intervened for the three Soul Breaking Pills, but seeing how fiercely the Golden Core cultivators in the private boxes were competing, he gave up.
The efficacy of three Soul Breaking Pills might not even be as much as the Soul Power boost from one acre of mature Verdant Spirit Fruit!
“Time limit of two hundred breaths. The starting bid for this pill is 50,000 medium spirit stones. Bidding begins!” Wan Yuncheng announced loudly, and the noisy scene abruptly ceased as the Cultivators participating in the ※_14_⛬ quickly submitted their bidding tokens to check the prices.
Indeed, a starting bid of 50,000 medium spirit stones could not stop those female Cultivators who were crazy for beauty, nor those male Cultivators who were paying for their ※_6 1_⛬s.
80,000, 100,000, …
Soon, only a few Golden Core cultivators remained, competing fiercely over the price.
The bidding figure even surged towards 200,000 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
Wan Yuncheng on the ※_14_⛬ stage watched quietly. This fierce bidding did not require his guidance or his fanning of the flames. He only needed to wait for the bidding time to end and strike the gavel to announce the result.
“Fellow Daoist No. 5’s bid: 2 10,000 medium spirit stones, remaining time: 9 breaths. Is there anyone else who wants to bid?” Wan Yuncheng added a timely shout.
As soon as Wan Yuncheng finished speaking, the slowing bidding figures suddenly surged again. Several lurking competitors abruptly exerted their strength, and the bidding once again became fierce.
Finally, 9 breaths passed in a flash, and this Youth Preserving Pill was ultimately won by ※_14_⛬ Token No. 12, at a price of 300,000 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, generating a 6x premium.
“Indeed, this Youth Preserving Pill was destined for a Golden Core Senior; it’s not something we can covet!”
“Alas! This ※_1 1_⛬ ※_14_⛬ is more high-profile each time. Are we just here to watch a show?”
“A Youth Preserving Pill for 300,000 medium spirit stones? Have Spirit Stones depreciated again? Could it be that another large spiritual mine has appeared!”
“So extravagant! 300,000 medium spirit stones could buy several fourth-tier Spiritual Artifacts.”
……
In the audience, Foundation Establishment Cultivators, unable to participate in such high-level bidding, simply enjoyed the spectacle.
Riding the heated atmosphere generated by the Youth Preserving Pill, Auctioneer Wan Yuncheng quickly announced the third ※_14_⛬ item, also a Medicinal Pill: three fourth-tier ※_19_⛬s.
One hundred breaths passed in a flash, and the third item went to Private Room No. 1 1, with a final bid of 48,000 medium spirit stones.
Next, the fourth item, still a fourth-tier Spirit Pill—※_2 1_⛬. Five ※_2 1_⛬s, final bid: 60,000 medium spirit stones.
Fifth item: One fourth-tier Heaven Mending Pill, capable of mending Aptitude. Final bid: 80,000 medium spirit stones.
Sixth item: One fourth-tier Nascent Soul Condensing Pill, capable of breaking through Golden Core and assisting in Nascent Soul formation. Final bid: 450,000 medium spirit stones.
……
They went crazy!
The Golden Core cultivators in the private rooms all had red eyes from excitement, and the ‘Foundation Establishment Cultivators’ who were watching also went mad!
A large wave of High Grade Medicinal Pills, all of which were things Golden Core and Foundation Establishment Cultivators desperately desired but rarely obtained, suddenly appeared. The Golden Core cultivators in the private rooms all made their moves, decisively taking them.
More than a dozen precious High Grade Spirit Pills were auctioned consecutively, creating an ※_14_⛬ feast.
“Alright! The ※_14_⛬ of Medicinal Pills concludes here. Next, we will begin the ※_14_⛬ of Spiritual Artifacts. The Spiritual Artifacts up for ※_14_⛬ include those refined by our pavilion’s ※_5 1_⛬ Guest Elders, Grandmaster Chen and Great Master Li, as well as Spiritual Artifacts consigned by various customers. All of them have been carefully selected as top-grade Spiritual Artifacts by our pavilion’s Spirit Appraisers.” Auctioneer Wan Yuncheng surveyed the entire venue and introduced in detail.
Wan Yuncheng surveyed the audience below the tower and announced loudly, “Now we enter the Spiritual Artifact ※_14_⛬ segment. Please look at the first item: a fourth-tier High Grade Fire Flame Spiritual Sword, refined by Great Master Li.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a sword box appeared on the small teleportation array.
Wan Yuncheng opened the sword box, reached in, and took out a fourth-tier Spiritual Sword emitting a scorching white flame.
“This sword, refined from fourth-tier Extreme Flame Spirit Crystal, Marrow Flame Essence Stone, and fourth-tier Black Flame Flood Dragon Yao Beast bones, through Great Master Li’s secret technique, possesses extremely strong fire flame spirituality. If a Cultivator with a fire-attribute Spiritual Root and who primarily Cultivates fire techniques wields it, not only will their combat power double, but they can also rely on this sword’s fire essence for auxiliary Cultivation in their daily practice, doubling their Cultivation speed!” Wan Yuncheng picked up the Fire Flame Spiritual Sword from the sword box, and with a casual flick, immediately summoned a scorching white fire snake using the Spiritual Sword. Its temperature was terrifyingly high.
The Foundation Establishment Cultivators sitting in the front rows of the audience turned pale, feeling chills run down their spines.
If that scorching white fire snake pounced on them, they would turn to ashes in less than two breaths. The power of this fire-attribute Spiritual Sword was truly terrifying.
“What a sword, what a terrifying Spiritual Sword!”
“Such powerful spirituality! This fire-attribute Sword Intent can easily materialize! Amazing!”
“The fire snake’s spirituality gathers and doesn’t dissipate; truly a fine sword!”
“Such a peerless sword, Great Master Li truly lives up to his reputation! Could he be the same person as ※_17_⛬ of Qingxuan Sect?”
“It seems ※_17_⛬ of Qingxuan Sect indeed came from the ※_1 1_⛬ as an ※_5 1_⛬ Guest Elder! Truly impressive!”
“This Spiritual Sword is too powerful; it will definitely attract competition from Golden Core Seniors. Even if I went bankrupt, I couldn’t afford it; it’s simply not meant to be!”
“A fourth-tier Spiritual Sword! We can only watch, ….”
“……”
Watching Wan Yuncheng effortlessly cut out a fiery snake Sword Qi with the help of a Fourth-Grade Fire Elemental Spiritual Sword, which lingered for a long time without dispersing, the Cultivators on the scene instantly became incredibly fervent, discussing excitedly.
“Since I do not Cultivate Fire Elemental Cultivation Technique, I can only unleash fifty percent of this sword’s power, so I won’t demonstrate it too much here. This sword is extremely suitable for Cultivators with Fire Spiritual Root or those who have Cultivated Fire Elemental Cultivation Techniques,” Wan Yuncheng said with a smile, then quoted, “The starting price for this sword is 50,000 Medium Grade Spirit Stones. The bidding time limit is 180 breaths. Now, the bidding begins!”
As soon as Wan Yuncheng finished speaking, the screen below the ※_14_⛬ platform, which displayed the bidding prices, immediately showed intense bidding changes.
60,000, 70,000, 80,000… In just a dozen breaths, the bidding price soared to over 100,000 Medium Grade Spirit Stones, and only then did the price slowly stop rising.
The audience fell into a silence, and the Foundation Establishment Cultivators looked on blankly. Some, unwilling to give up, participated in a few bids but quickly gave up.
This Spiritual Artifact had already become a target of frantic competition for the Golden Core Seniors, leaving no room for Foundation Establishment Cultivators to intervene.
…
First Medicinal Pills, then Spiritual Artifacts were auctioned. Even when his own Spiritual Artifacts were being ※r※r 18⛬0⛬ed, Li Mu showed no interest, continuing to read the ancient book “southern spirit annals” to pass the time.
Perhaps because too many Advanced Spiritual Artifacts were refined without Spirit Fusion or the birth of an Artifact Spirit, a Spiritual Artifact without a Soul was considered trash in Li Mu’s eyes. Even if he refined it himself, it wasn't worth his attention.
If it weren't for ※_13_⛬ saying that this ※_14_⛬ would feature some High Grade Spirit Beasts, Spiritual Plants, and special Cultivation Technique books, Li Mu would not have wanted to attend this ※_14_⛬.
To avoid the scrutiny of the Qingxuan Sect’s higher-ups, Li Mu had preemptively used the excuse of going into seclusion, even declining the ※_5 1_⛬ tasks arranged by ※_18_⛬.
Now, there were few things that could capture his attention. Li Mu only wanted to stay at ※_15_⛬ to Cultivate Spiritual Plants, and incidentally, nurture Little Gold, or perhaps contract a few more High Grade Spirit Beasts with better Aptitude to Cultivate them as future assistance. He didn't want to get involved in other matters.
Time passed bit by bit, and the ※_14_⛬ had been going on for more than half an hour.
The Spiritual Artifact segment was a bit long. Li Mu occasionally paid attention. The six Fourth-Grade Spiritual Artifacts he refined all sold for good prices, earning him a commission of thirty to thirty-five Medium Grade Spirit Stones, far less than what he earned from refining artifacts for the ※_4 1_⛬.
However, when considering the discount on purchasing spiritual items provided by ※_1 1_⛬, the cost of using ※_1 1_⛬'s channels to search for High Grade spiritual item resources, and the various invisible benefits provided, the value created by refining Spiritual Artifacts for both parties was not too different.
“Thank you all for your enthusiastic bidding. The Spiritual Artifact ※_14_⛬ segment has concluded. Next, we enter the Spirit Beast ※_※r 19⛬4_⛬ segment. This time, we have received many ※r1⛬s’Delegation to ※_※r2 1⛬4_⛬ a batch of High Grade Spirit Beast cubs, beast eggs, and spirit in※r17⛬ eggs. I will introduce them one by one,” announced the ※r11⛬eer, Wan Yuncheng.
“It’s over already? I haven’t bought a suitable Spiritual Artifact yet!”
“It’s gone already! I haven’t even bought a defensive artifact!”
“The Spiritual Artifacts ※r 12⛬ed this time were too high-end; we couldn’t even compete for them!”
“I came for nothing! Didn’t buy a single Spiritual Artifact!”
“Why is it over already?! There were too few Spiritual Artifacts ※r 13⛬ed this time!”
…
As soon as the ※r 14⛬eer finished speaking, it immediately drew dissatisfaction from the vast majority of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the audience. They had gone through so much trouble to take time to attend ※_1 1_⛬’s ※_14_⛬, only to end up as spectators. Many people didn’t buy any Spiritual Artifacts, and then there was no more stock.
“Fellow Daoists, please be patient. Due to time constraints, we could only bring out high-end and valuable Spiritual Artifacts for ※_14_⛬. If any of you haven’t purchased a Spiritual Artifact to your liking, you can inquire with our pavilion staff later. Our pavilion still has a large quantity of exquisite Spiritual Artifacts that couldn’t participate in the bidding. At that time, you can choose at your leisure and purchase them at a lower price. Additionally, today, our ※_1 1_⛬ is offering Fellow Daoists extremely high discount benefits!” Wan Yuncheng had anticipated this and calmly indicated.
“So that’s how it is. This is more like it!”
“How much of a discount are you offering?!”
“If we can buy suitable Spiritual Artifacts at a low price, we’ll frequently patronize your ※_1 1_⛬ in the future!”
…
Upon hearing this, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the audience collectively breathed a sigh of relief, immediately showing better expressions.
“Introducing the next item for ※_14_⛬, a Fourth-Grade Yao Beast Egg!” Wan Yuncheng looked at the small teleportation platform and introduced.
As soon as he finished speaking, the small teleportation platform flashed with spiritual light, and a gray-earth colored Yao Beast Egg, over two feet tall and one foot wide, appeared, exuding vigorous vitality. Around the Yao Beast Egg were countless gray dust particles, which were Earth Elemental Spiritual Essence that had gathered on their own.
This indicated that this Fourth-Grade Yao Beast Egg was from an Earth Elemental Yao Beast, and its Aptitude and potential were both very excellent.
“This is a Fourth-Grade ※_10_⛬ Yao Beast Egg. Its Aptitude is outstanding, and its quality is excellent. It is a rare and valuable combat assistant,” Wan Yuncheng introduced with a smile.
“It’s an ※_10_⛬! I thought it was a Profound Stone Tortoise!”
“※_10_⛬s are very ugly! And it’s a Fourth-Grade Yao Beast Egg; who knows how long it will take to raise it to adulthood!”
“Tsk tsk tsk, if it were an Iron Armor Profound Rhino, I would definitely try to get it, but a Rock Lizard… forget it!”
“Who would raise such a gold-devouring beast?! The resources to raise it would be enough to forge one’s own Golden Core.”
…
As soon as Wan Yuncheng finished his introduction, it immediately drew numerous Foundation Establishment Cultivators to complain about its shortcomings, expressing their disapproval and disinterest in participating in the bidding.
Seeing the reaction from below the stage, a hint of awkwardness flashed across Wan Yuncheng’s face, and he quickly moved on to the next announcement: “The starting price for this egg is 30,000 Medium Grade Spirit Stones. The bidding time limit is 60 breaths. The bidding begins.”
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked at the bidding platform to see who would bid for this item.
※_14_⛬ Order 72, bid: 32,000 Medium Grade Spirit Stones.
“Oh! Someone is actually willing to add 2,000 Medium Grade Spirit Stones to buy this egg, and it’s a Senior from the 1!”
“Indeed! An ※_10_⛬! This thing needs to eat spiritual ants to survive. How can anyone afford to raise it?!”
“That’s strange! Why would anyone raise an ※_10_⛬, which is difficult to raise, ugly, and has low combat power?”
…
The Foundation Establishment Cultivators all expressed their confusion. None of the Golden Core cultivators in the 1 competed with him, and eventually, when the 60 breaths were up, this spiritual item was successfully bought by the person in 1.
“Congratulations to Fellow Daoist 72 for successfully bidding on the Fourth-Grade Yao Beast Egg!” Wan Yuncheng, who had originally thought it would go unsold, breathed a slight sigh of relief and quickly announced, not even bothering to state the price.
Then, Wan Yuncheng quickly moved on to the ※_14_⛬ of the next item, introducing it with an impassioned tone: “The next item for ※_14_⛬ is a Third-Grade Golden-Winged Cloud Eagle Yao Beast Egg. There are a total of three such eggs this time, and they will be ※r 15⛬ed one by one. The first one is now up for ※_14_⛬, with a starting price of 50,000 Medium Grade Spirit Stones. The bidding time limit is 150 breaths.”
“Wow! A Third-Grade Golden-Winged Cloud Eagle! ※_11_⛬ can actually bring out such a Yao Beast Egg to sell!”
“It’s indeed a good item, much better than the Fourth-Grade ※_10_⛬. Although there are three, I’m afraid we won’t be able to bid for them!”
“That’s right! Compared to the ※_10_⛬, it’s like heaven and earth!”
“Forget it! Such a good item! We definitely won’t be able to get it.”
…
As soon as the ※r 16⛬eer finished his introduction, the audience once again erupted in an uproar. However, compared to their previous disdain, this time they were all incredibly excited, wishing they could successfully bid, and the atmosphere was completely different.
“I announce that the bidding for the first Golden-Winged Cloud Eagle Yao Beast Egg begins!” Wan Yuncheng announced loudly and excitedly.
The next moment, the bidding price immediately underwent drastic changes: 70,000, 80,000… The bidding continued to rise sharply, soaring to over 150,000 in the blink of an eye.
…
In 1, Li Mu watched them bid for the Cloud Eagle Yao Beast Egg with a smile, not participating. Attending this ※_1 1_⛬ ※_14_⛬ today and successfully bidding on that Fourth-Grade Yao Beast Egg meant he hadn't come in vain today.
Everyone saw that it was an ※_10_⛬ and was immediately deterred by the Yao Beast’s ugly appearance, difficult rearing conditions, and its timid nature, lack of combat prowess, and so on. Even though its price was extremely low and it was a Fourth-Grade, no one dared to easily make a move.
However, Li Mu possessed the Divine Ability talent of Identifying Myriad Spirits! A Divine Ability that could see through the essence of all things.
That Yao Beast Egg was indeed an ※_10_⛬, but it was also a mixed-blood Yao Beast Egg. It was just that its other half, a High Grade Yao Beast Bloodline, had not manifested!
No! It should have already manifested! It’s just that no one noticed, nor did they think in that direction, or rather, they didn’t want to think in that direction!
Around that Fourth-Grade ※_10_⛬ Yao Beast Egg, a large amount of Earth Elemental Spiritual Essence gathered, which was one of its anomalies. This was a Yao Beast Egg produced from the mixed blood of a Fourth-Grade ※_10_⛬ and a Sixth-Grade Ink Jade Flood Dragon.
The Dragon has nine sons, all strangely shaped, and the Dragon’s nature is lustful; Flood Dragons are also like this. Because the Flood Dragon’s Bloodline is inherited from the Dragon, it also inherits its nature.
This was a decent find, but Li Mu still hoped that the hatched Rock Lizard would resemble its father more and not be too ugly!
In “Yao Beast Illustrated Guide,” a book introducing various Yao Beasts, Li Mu had seen the appearance of the ※_10_⛬: long body, short snout, somewhat like a pangolin magnified a hundred times, incredibly ugly, covered in thick rock-like scales. He wondered if that Ink Jade Flood Dragon was extremely repressed or wanted to try something new, to actually go for an ※_10_⛬.
This point was probably something the vast majority of Cultivators present couldn't have imagined!
Li Mu looked at the ongoing Auction, a happy smile on his face, waiting for the next item.
If he could gather five Five Elements Yao Beasts, refine their Natal Spiritual Artifacts, and then use the Spirit Control Impartation Technique to teach them how to set up the Five Elements Formation, or even the Five Elements Sword Formation, it seemed like it would greatly enhance his overall combat power and assistance!
Suddenly thinking of this, Li Mu’s heart stirred.