Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Lost Their Minds
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“The standard Foundation Establishment Pill recipes circulating in the market have three main ingredients: Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit, Profound Ice Jade Marrow, and Illusory Heart Grass.”
“The Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit is the rarest. It grows at the top of thousand-year-old parasol trees, needing to absorb a hundred years of the sun and moon's essence, forming alongside the condensing Purple Cloud Qi.”
“It has three major effects: opening spirit roots, harmonizing the five elemental spirit meridians in the body, and repairing impurities in the spirit roots, allowing spiritual energy to flow like a mighty river.”
“Solidifying the primordial foundation, replenishing innate qi, strengthening the physical body and internal organs, and resisting the excruciating pain of metamorphosis during Foundation Establishment.”
“Drawing celestial essence, the purple cloud patterns on the fruit's surface can connect with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, forming the prototype of a 'Spirit Gathering Formation' in the sea of qi and dantian, accelerating the absorption of spiritual energy.”
Chen Jianghe listened to Alchemist Zhuang's transmitted introduction, his heart filled with silent shock. He couldn't help but look at the object covered by red silk on the auction stage.
No wonder all these cultivators looked so excited, especially the late-stage Qi Refining cultivators in the back, their eyes brimming with greed.
So it was a main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill, and the most difficult one to obtain at that.
“A standard recipe? Could there be other recipes?”
Chen Jianghe asked in confusion.
“In the cultivation world, there have been countless alchemy pioneers, so naturally, there's more than one recipe for the Foundation Establishment Pill. It's just that the standard recipe circulating in the market is the most complex, requiring the most ingredients—three main and thirty-six auxiliary.”
“According to rumors, the Tiannan Sect's Foundation Establishment Pill recipe, while also having three main ingredients, only requires twenty auxiliary ones.”
Alchemist Zhuang chuckled lightly. This wasn't a secret, so telling Chen Jianghe was no issue.
In his mind, the other party only needed to ask Gao Peiyao to find out about the different Foundation Establishment Pill recipes.
The standard Foundation Establishment Pill recipe was much like the one for the Youth Retaining Pill; basically, any high-grade alchemist would know it.
But knowing it was useless.
Not only were the main ingredients hard to find, but even several of the spiritual items among the auxiliary ingredients were also very rare.
Therefore, many ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators would choose to pool their resources for the ingredients and then hire a second-tier Alchemy Grandmaster to refine the pill.
However, the cost of hiring an Alchemy Grandmaster to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill was extremely high: two thousand spirit stones, or one Foundation Establishment Pill.
Alchemist Zhuang intended to befriend Chen Jianghe, so he naturally wouldn't hide such things, greatly satisfying Chen Jianghe's curiosity.
He even mentioned the popular practice of crowdfunded alchemy among cultivators.
When refining Foundation Establishment Pills, if one was lucky, a single furnace could yield three standard-grade pills, and perhaps even one supreme-grade pill.
Even with bad luck, one could still get one standard-grade pill and two inferior-grade ones.
As for the furnace exploding.
It could happen, but it was rare.
It might happen once in a hundred attempts.
That's why many cultivators chose to crowdfund the alchemy. It was their only hope of obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill.
After all, even an inferior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill could ensure one's life was not lost when attempting to break through to Foundation Establishment.
“I'm already at the eighth level of Qi Refining. The Foundation Establishment Pill isn't a distant goal for me, but it's just too hard to obtain.”
Chen Jianghe sighed inwardly.
His gaze fell upon the auction stage. The old auctioneer slowly lifted the red silk, revealing a fist-sized fruit with purple patterns on its surface, yet it emitted a cyan glow.
“As for the effects and uses of the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit, there's no need for this old man to elaborate, is there? I'm sure my fellow Daoists are more familiar with it than I am, haha~”
“Alright then, without further ado, let's begin the auction for the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit.”
“The starting price is five hundred spirit stones, with each bid increase no less than ten spirit stones!”
The starting price was very low.
But no one cared, because they all knew it was impossible for anyone to win the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit at a low price.
Not even the Foundation Establishment cultivators backing Qinghe Market City could do it.
“Nine hundred spirit stones.”
The first bid jumped directly to nine hundred spirit stones, an increase of four hundred.
A standard-grade Foundation Establishment Pill had a market price of about two thousand spirit stones.
They were rarely available for purchase.
At auctions, a standard-grade Foundation Establishment Pill usually sold for around three thousand spirit stones.
The Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit was the rarest main ingredient for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, so its price naturally couldn't be low.
“One thousand three hundred spirit stones.”
The second bid soared directly to one thousand three hundred spirit stones, instantly extinguishing the hopes of the eager late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.
But there were also disciples from prominent families and high-grade artisans.
“One thousand three hundred and ninety spirit stones.”
“One thousand five hundred and twenty spirit stones.”
“…”
“A Foundation Establishment Pill is two thousand spirit stones, and this Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit is just one of the main ingredients. How can it fetch such a high price?”
Jiang Ruxu asked Alchemist Zhuang in a hushed voice, her mouth agape in surprise.
“A successful batch of Foundation Establishment Pills yields at least three. Besides, where can you buy a Foundation Establishment Pill for two thousand spirit stones?”
Alchemist Zhuang glanced at Jiang Ruxu and said with a chuckle.
“Grandpa, didn't you tell us that a Foundation Establishment Pill costs two thousand spirit stones?”
“Er... that's the normal price. It naturally fetches a premium at an auction.”
“Alchemist Zhuang, what price do you think this Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit will ultimately sell for?” Chen Jianghe asked.
“Around two thousand spirit stones.”
Chen Jianghe nodded upon hearing this.
He felt it would be around that price as well. Any higher, and it would far exceed the value of the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit.
Although it was the rarest main ingredient for the pill, it couldn't truly be worth as much as a finished Foundation Establishment Pill.
After all, while it was true that one batch could yield three pills, the quality of those pills was also a crucial factor.
Just as Alchemist Zhuang had predicted, the final bidding price for the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit stabilized at nineteen hundred spirit stones, with only a few cultivators still placing bids.
In the end, it was won by a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator for two thousand and ten spirit stones.
“Ji Wujin. He arrived in Qinghe Market City ten years ago. He's a high-grade Puppet Master and lives next door to me. No one knows where he came from; he's very mysterious.”
Alchemist Zhuang sent via voice transmission.
Chen Jianghe glanced over and saw that Ji Wujin was wearing a half-mask.
The mask emitted a faint, pale blue light, making it impossible to see his face clearly.
Chen Jianghe wasn't curious about Ji Wujin's origins. He was more interested in the mask on his face and the profits of a Puppet Master.
"What a fine item. I wonder if it can block spiritual sense," Chen Jianghe thought. "Two thousand and ten spirit stones... are Puppet Masters that profitable?"
As the excitement over the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit subsided.
Although the twenty-eighth treasure was also quite good, it didn't generate the same level of enthusiasm as the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit.
After all, the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit was a main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill and could stir the emotions of the entire auction house.
The subsequent treasures were only useful to Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Qi Refining cultivators like them were just there to watch the show.
When the twenty-ninth treasure appeared, another wave of excitement swept through the auction, but it had nothing to do with Chen Jianghe.
Even most of the other cultivators remained calm.
Only the elderly cultivators whose lifespans were nearing their end had eyes gleaming with a fierce green light, looking as if they wanted to rush the stage and snatch the treasure.
“The twenty-ninth treasure is a bottle of Life Extension Pills, three in total. Fortunate are the fellow Daoists who have never taken a Life Extension Pill before.”
“These three Life Extension Pills can extend one's lifespan by nearly eighteen years, giving you fellow Daoists enough time to nurture the next generation.”
“I imagine you fellow Daoists can't wait any longer, so this old man won't say more. Let the auction begin! The starting price is one thousand five hundred spirit stones, with each bid increase no less than fifty spirit stones.”
“One thousand six hundred spirit stones.”
“One thousand six hundred and fifty spirit stones.”
“…”
“Two thousand one hundred spirit stones.”
Alchemist Zhuang glanced indifferently at the Life Extension Pills on the stage and sent a voice transmission to Chen Jianghe: “Saving the Life Extension Pills for this late in the auction... I knew Hundred Treasures Pavilion would pull a dirty trick like this.”
The market price for a single Life Extension Pill was five hundred spirit stones, one hundred less than a Youth Retaining Pill.
Similarly, they were rarely available for purchase.
They could only be found at auctions.
However, once a Life Extension Pill appeared at auction, while it wouldn't cause the same frenzy as a Youth Retaining Pill and fetch a premium of up to one thousand five hundred spirit stones...
...it would typically sell for around eight hundred spirit stones.
In other words, if the three pills were auctioned separately, they could fetch a total of twenty-four hundred spirit stones, yet Hundred Treasures Pavilion was auctioning them together.
This undoubtedly increased the competition.
It let those cultivators nearing the end of their lives know that if they didn't win this time, there might not be a next time.
“It is a bit underhanded, but there's no shame in earning spirit stones.”
Chen Jianghe commented.
If he were the auctioneer, he would be even more ruthless.
First, he would auction two Life Extension Pills together to drive the cultivators with little time left into a frenzy.
Then, he would auction the last one separately.
That way, he could squeeze out at least another hundred spirit stones.
Chen Jianghe was a little puzzled as to why Alchemist Zhuang wasn't bidding. Logically, Alchemist Zhuang needed the Life Extension Pills more than anyone.
As for spirit stones?
Would a high-grade alchemist who had long lost hope of reaching Foundation Establishment be short on spirit stones?
In the past, he might have had to support his clan, but what clan did he have now?
He only had a granddaughter and a disciple by his side, who didn't require many spirit stones.
"It seems Alchemist Zhuang has already taken a Life Extension Pill," Chen Jianghe guessed. Only someone who had already taken one would be uninterested in the three pills on the stage.
Then, Chen Jianghe turned his attention back to the auction. The competition was fierce, with bidders' eyes spitting fire.
Whenever an old man called out a price only to be outbid by another, he would glare angrily at his rival.
It had to be said, bidding for Life Extension Pills was an easy way to make enemies.
“Two thousand two hundred and fifty spirit stones.”
“Two thousand three hundred spirit stones.”
“Two thousand four hundred spirit stones.”
The price had already reached the peak premium for an auction, but the bidding hadn't stopped.
It soon soared to twenty-six hundred spirit stones.
This had already surpassed the highest premium ever paid for Life Extension Pills in past auctions.
“Two thousand seven hundred spirit stones.”
A familiar voice rang out. It was the Yun Clan Ancestor, who had just started bidding.
He directly called out twenty-seven hundred spirit stones.
By this point, the ninth-level Qi Refining artisans had long been eliminated.
Now, it was a battlefield for the old Foundation Establishment cultivators.
“Two thousand eight hundred and fifty spirit stones.”
Another Foundation Establishment Ancestor from an immortal clan placed a bid.
“Three thousand spirit stones.” The Yun Clan Ancestor raised the price directly to three thousand, jolting all the cultivators.
Even Chen Jianghe was a little surprised.
Had he gone mad? Or was he just that afraid of death?
A Foundation Establishment cultivator of his age had no chance of forming a Core. Buying Life Extension Pills would only let him live for another decade or so.
In the end, he would still die.
But three thousand spirit stones was enough to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Wouldn't it be better to leave those three thousand spirit stones to his descendants so they could buy a Foundation Establishment Pill in the future?
At this moment, Chen Jianghe couldn't help but think of Daniu.
If these three thousand spirit stones were used to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill for Yu Daniu, then Yu Daniu would have a thirty percent chance of reaching Foundation Establishment.
Even if he failed, his life would be spared.
Wasn't that more valuable than letting a decrepit Foundation Establishment Ancestor live for another dozen years?
Once the price of three thousand spirit stones was announced, the eyes of the Foundation Establishment Ancestors in the front rows cleared up.
No one else placed a bid.
The premium on the Life Extension Pills had already doubled.
They hadn't reached the point of insanity female cultivators did when they saw a Youth Retaining Pill, driving its price up by nearly three times.
The Yun Clan Ancestor successfully won the three Life Extension Pills for three thousand spirit stones.
Chen Jianghe sat in the back and couldn't see the Yun Clan Ancestor's expression, but since he had called out the price, he probably wouldn't regret it.
It was just a bit baffling.
From anyone's perspective, saving the three thousand spirit stones to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill was far more cost-effective.
After the thirtieth treasure was revealed.
Chen Jianghe found it rather unremarkable. It held no appeal for him whatsoever; he felt even spending a single spirit stone on it would be a waste.
But the two women beside him had fervent looks in their eyes.
Even Alchemist Zhuang's emotions stirred, as if he was considering bidding.
“Next up is the thirtieth treasure. This is a blessing for our female Daoist friends! It is a Youth Retaining Pill that Hundred Treasures Pavilion went to great lengths to acquire from the Tiannan Sect for you.”
“After this auction, this old man doesn't know if he will ever have the chance to see another Youth Retaining Pill in his lifetime.”
“This is a rare opportunity. Beauty waits for no one.”
“To give every female Daoist a chance, this old man has set no starting price this time, nor is there a minimum bid increment.”
“Let the auction begin now!”
Chen Jianghe watched the old auctioneer, whose words were captivating and expertly stirred the emotions of the female cultivators with every sentence.
He couldn't help but give him a thumbs-up in his mind.
Truly worthy of being a veteran auctioneer.
His grasp of human nature was impeccable.
No starting price would ignite the desire of all female cultivators, making the auction for the Youth Retaining Pill even more heated and making the final winner feel it was worth it.
And no minimum bid increment would further stoke their competitive spirit.
Sure enough, as soon as the old auctioneer's voice fell.
A female cultivator started the bidding.
“Eighty spirit stones.”
Chen Jianghe turned to look at Jiang Ruxu, a helpless, wry smile on his face. This girl was truly impulsive.
Next time, he definitely couldn't be with her.
She drew too much attention.
The market price for a Youth Retaining Pill was six hundred spirit stones, and at auction, it could fetch a premium of up to one thousand five hundred.
And you start the bidding at eighty spirit stones.
“Hehe~ I only have eighty spirit stones.”
Seeing everyone's eyes on her, Jiang Ruxu gave a mischievous smile and said.
This immediately drew a wave of laughter.
However, it was indeed impossible for the Youth Retaining Pill to be bought for eighty spirit stones.
The second bid shot straight up to twelve hundred spirit stones, clearly giving the Qi Refining female cultivators no chance.
Among the thirteen Foundation Establishment cultivators, three of the younger ones were female. Their purpose for coming to the auction was self-evident.
They were here for the Youth Retaining Pill.
“One thousand four hundred spirit stones.”
“One thousand four hundred and sixty spirit stones.”
“…”
“One thousand six hundred spirit stones.”
“One thousand six hundred and ten spirit stones.”
“One thousand six hundred and twelve spirit stones.”
Chen Jianghe listened to the bids for the Youth Retaining Pill. Now, only the three female Foundation Establishment cultivators were left.
With no minimum bid increment.
They had completely lost their minds.