Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: A Conspiracy, Ji Wujin Comes Calling
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Chen Jianghe returned to Qingping Lane and ran into Chen Ping, the manager of the Treasure Pavilion's second floor. It looked like he had just been to Chen Jianghe's home.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, were you looking for me?"
He asked as Chen Ping strode toward him.
"I saw you were out and thought you might be a while, so I left a message for you."
Chen Ping smiled and nodded. "You should attend the New Year's Eve auction. You might find something you desire."
"Thank you, fellow Daoist."
Hearing this, how could Chen Jianghe not understand what he meant?
It must mean that Spirit Nourishing Pills or first-tier, high-grade Spirit Nurturing Fluid would be appearing at this auction.
This was something he had asked Chen Ping to keep an eye out for.
"Right, there's one more thing I should remind you of," Chen Ping said seriously. "If you don't have anything important to do, it's best not to leave Qinghe Market City for a while."
"Thank you."
Chen Jianghe cupped his hands in thanks.
Everyone in Qinghe Market City knew he had a low-quality Foundation Establishment Pill. Chen Ping's words were a reminder for him to be careful.
Inside Qinghe Market City, these people wouldn't dare to make a move.
But outside the city, the allure of a low-quality Foundation Establishment Pill was simply unimaginable.
After bidding farewell to Chen Ping.
Chen Jianghe returned to his small courtyard.
He swept the area with his spiritual sense and checked his message box. There were indeed two letters, both of them messages.
One was from Chen Ping.
He opened it and saw that it confirmed what Chen Ping had just said: the New Year's Eve auction would have what he needed.
Both Spirit Nourishing Pills and Spirit Nurturing Fluid would be available.
It also told him not to leave Qinghe Market City, saying that many rogue cultivators had already begun to gather outside.
It was obvious that Chen Jianghe was at least half of the target for these rogue cultivators.
Then, he looked at the other message.
"Why would this guy leave me a message?!"
Chen Jianghe's brow furrowed as he looked at the signature on the letter. It was Ji Wujin.
He had only just met the man.
If it weren't for Ji Wujin, he wouldn't be getting harassed by so many ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators.
He opened it and took a look.
"This guy is insane, playing such a big game!"
Chen Jianghe stared at the contents of the message, completely stunned. Ji Wujin was not only inviting him to go "fishing" outside Qinghe Market City.
He had also explained the entire plan.
It could be said that over eighty percent of the rogue cultivators outside Qinghe Market City had been lured there by news spread by Ji Wujin.
Ji Wujin had gone to the demon hunter's trading market to spread a rumor.
He was heading to the Immortal Sect Market City to buy Spirit Nurturing Fluid and Spirit Nourishing Pills, preparing to consume his Foundation Establishment Pill and attempt his breakthrough there.
"No wonder so many rogue cultivators have gathered. If they miss this chance, Ji Wujin will stay in the Immortal Sect Market City."
Chen Jianghe knew this was bait Ji Wujin had set.
Those rogue cultivators and others with ill intentions would definitely take the bait.
The Immortal Sect Market City was different from Qinghe Market City.
It was the property of the Tiannan Sect, arguably the safest market city, with no rogue cultivators lurking about.
There would be no incidents of robbery, vandalism, or murder.
Of course, for Chen Jianghe, the Immortal Sect Market City was not as good as Qinghe Market City, because there were no secrets to be had in the former.
The residences not only lacked defensive formations but didn't even have formations to block spiritual sense.
Perhaps this was the pride of the Immortal Sect Market City.
As long as one resided within its walls, there was no need to worry about safety.
"A sixty-forty split of the profits... This guy is addicted to fishing, and he doesn't even plan to let me off the hook!"
Ji Wujin had stated clearly in his message that he wanted to collaborate with Chen Jianghe on the setup, which would attract even more rogue cultivators.
He was absolutely confident he could ensure none of these rogue cultivators would return alive.
The "fish" they caught would be split sixty-forty.
Chen Jianghe was no cultivation novice; he saw the ill intentions in Ji Wujin's heart at a glance.
Once he partnered with Ji Wujin and left Qinghe Market City, he feared he might never come back either.
In Chen Jianghe's view, Ji Wujin must have been fishing for the first time and gotten a taste of its sweetness.
The risks of "fishing" were enormous.
Even with a second-tier spirit beast and a second-tier puppet, there was no guarantee one wouldn't capsize in a calm ditch.
If the bait attracted a Core Formation expert, it would be a point of no return.
With a thought.
His spiritual power turned Ji Wujin's message to ash.
He thought to himself that he would have to draw a clear line with Ji Wujin in the future and not get too close.
This man's intentions were impure; he even had the idea of "fishing" for him.
The next day.
Early in the morning.
Chen Jianghe arrived at the Treasure Pavilion and went straight to the fourth floor. He saw that the auction hall was already filled with quite a few cultivators.
This was a regular auction, so no invitation was needed.
Auctions with a large number of rare treasures were held at night and required an invitation for entry.
This time, he sat directly in the back row.
However, with his current fame, even sitting in a corner, he would become the center of attention, drawing many eyes.
His possession of the Foundation Establishment Pill had been exposed.
And since he still hadn't used it, he was a walking opportunity for Foundation Establishment.
Only the rules of Qinghe Market City kept these ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators from going too far.
Otherwise, they would have long since swarmed him.
Chen Jianghe felt dozens of gazes fall upon him and knew clearly that they were all after his Foundation Establishment Pill.
"I wonder if the Treasure Pavilion sells the kind of mask Ji Wujin wears."
Although he didn't know if it could block spiritual sense, that mask had illusory and blurring functions.
It prevented others from seeing one's face clearly.
This feature was excellent and very suitable for him.
A moment later.
As the entrance to the fourth-floor auction hall closed, the auction officially began.
This time, the auctioneer was a beautiful female cultivator, not the old auctioneer from before.
"Welcome, fellow Daoists, to the New Year's Eve auction. Today, we have a total of nineteen treasures. Fifteen are for our Qi Refining friends, and four are for our Foundation Establishment seniors…"
Chen Jianghe sat in the row of chairs with his eyes closed, resting his mind.
But he heard every single word the auctioneer said. This was his first time at a regular auction like this.
There were surprisingly few resources for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Most were for the Qi Refining stage.
Soon, the auction of treasures began.
The first treasure was a high-grade flying sword with an elemental attribute. The starting price was three hundred spirit stones, and it sold for six hundred and twenty.
The price was reasonable.
He had attended an auction at Mirror Moon Lake before. A high-grade flying sword with an attribute would almost never sell for less than five hundred spirit stones once it hit the auction block.
Even in private trades, the price was about the same.
As Qinghe Market City was a major market, it was normal for the final price to be slightly higher or lower.
The second, third, and fourth treasures were also high-grade flying swords with elemental attributes.
They sold for five hundred and ninety, five hundred and seventy, and six hundred and ten spirit stones, respectively.
Chen Jianghe had no desire to buy a flying sword.
He wasn't leaving Qinghe Market City, so it was completely useless to him.
Of course, if he really were to leave the market city, he would need a flying sword. Otherwise, he would fly too slowly and wouldn't be able to escape danger.
The fifth treasure was a high-grade defensive artifact, also with an attribute.
It was a piece of wood-attribute armor that could not only resist thirty percent of the damage from a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator but also repair injuries and recover spiritual power during battle.
The starting price was five hundred spirit stones.
It sold for eight hundred and twenty spirit stones.
He was somewhat interested in this high-grade defensive artifact, but his pockets were tight. He didn't have enough spirit stones to buy it.
He had come here with a specific goal in mind.
The sixth treasure was Spirit Nourishing Pills. A bottle of ten had a starting price of eight hundred spirit stones, with minimum increments of ten.
The price of a Spirit Nourishing Pill in the Immortal Sect Market City was eighty spirit stones each.
When auctioned in outside market cities, they were usually sold in bottles of ten with a starting price of eight hundred spirit stones.
In just twenty breaths.
The price of the Spirit Nourishing Pills had risen to nine hundred and ten spirit stones.
"Nine hundred and thirty spirit stones."
"..."
"Nine hundred and seventy spirit stones."
"Nine hundred and eighty spirit stones."
"..."
"One thousand one hundred and ten spirit stones."
Chen Jianghe watched the price of the Spirit Nourishing Pills skyrocket. He didn't join the bidding; it had already far exceeded the pills' actual value.
By almost half.
He had one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one spirit stones and twenty grains of spirit sand on him, so he could definitely afford this bottle of Spirit Nourishing Pills.
But he didn't want to be a sucker.
In the end, the bottle of Spirit Nourishing Pills sold for one thousand one hundred and fifty spirit stones, a premium of three hundred and fifty spirit stones.
The seventh treasure was another high-grade defensive artifact with an attribute.
It was an earth-attribute shield that could negate thirty percent of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator's attack and fifty percent of an earth-attribute magical attack.
Chen Jianghe didn't like it, saving himself eight hundred spirit stones.
The eighth treasure, however, made his eyes light up.
"Next up is our eighth treasure."
The beautiful female cultivator spoke, lifting the red silk with her fair, jade-like hand to reveal a short, dark cyan jade pillar.
"This is a specially crafted artifact for spirit beasts. Fellow Daoists who are raising primate spirit beasts are in for a treat."
"This dark cyan stone staff is refined from mystic crystal jade. It can change size, growing up to one hundred feet long or shrinking to the size of a baby's arm. It is inscribed with a triple gravity formation, allowing it to strike with immense force…"
"The starting price is five hundred spirit stones, with minimum increments of ten."
Chen Jianghe looked at the dark cyan jade pillar on the auction stage, then at the cultivators around him. The entire auction hall had fallen into a strange silence.
No one was bidding?
What was going on?
Chen Jianghe was a bit stunned. Based on the auctioneer's description, this dark cyan stone staff seemed like a decent specially crafted artifact.
How could not a single cultivator make a bid?
He wanted to buy a specially crafted artifact for Maoqiu, but not now. He still needed to buy the Spirit Nurturing Fluid.
A hundred breaths passed.
Still, no one bid.
A few minutes passed.
The auctioneer covered it with a blue silk cloth, signifying that the eighth treasure had failed to sell. The auction for the ninth treasure would now begin.
"Ridiculous. It's failed to sell a dozen times already. Is this a private listing or something the Treasure Pavilion owns?"
"A specially crafted artifact with no attribute is no different from a fire poker."
"Haha~ And they want five hundred spirit stones for that."
"It must be a private listing. The Treasure Pavilion wouldn't be foolish enough to think this artifact is worth five hundred spirit stones."
"Listed a dozen times... the handling fees must be over a hundred spirit stones by now!"
"Don't say that. What if some ignorant person comes along and happily thinks they've found a 'bargain'?"
"..."
With the failed auction, many cultivators began to whisper among themselves.
Suddenly, Chen Jianghe felt a bit offended.
If he had had enough spirit stones, he really would have wanted to bid on it, and he even would have thought he was getting a bargain.
Now it seemed he was the one who was a bit ignorant.
Specially crafted artifacts for spirit pets almost always had an attribute, preferably one that matched the pet's.
Only then would it significantly enhance the spirit pet's combat power.
Like this dark cyan stone staff, without an attribute and only inscribed with a triple gravity formation by a refiner, it really wasn't much different from a fire poker.
The ninth treasure was first-tier, high-grade Spirit Nurturing Fluid.
The starting price was one thousand spirit stones, with minimum increments of twenty.
The very first bid was an immediate jump of two hundred, bringing the price to a high of one thousand two hundred spirit stones.
Chen Jianghe couldn't help but frown.
The price of the Spirit Nourishing Pills was already abnormal, and now the price of the Spirit Nurturing Fluid was also very strange.
It was as if someone knew he wanted to buy Spirit Nourishing Pills and Spirit Nurturing Fluid.
"One thousand three hundred and sixty spirit stones."
"One thousand four hundred spirit stones."
"..."
"One thousand five hundred and twenty spirit stones."
"One thousand five hundred and twenty spirit stones, going once! One thousand five hundred and twenty, going twice! One thousand five hundred and twenty, sold!"
Seeing the final price of one thousand five hundred and twenty spirit stones for the Spirit Nurturing Fluid, Chen Jianghe was now absolutely certain that someone was being targeted.
But it wasn't him.
It was Ji Wujin.
Ji Wujin had spread the news that he was going to the Immortal Sect Market City to buy Spirit Nourishing Pills and Spirit Nurturing Fluid, where he would settle until he consumed a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill and broke through, only then returning to Qinghe Market City.
Those cultivators with ill intentions were likely worried that Ji Wujin's announcement was just a smokescreen.
Saying he was going to the Immortal Sect Market City to buy the items was just a feint to conceal his true intentions.
He might buy the items at the auction and then hole up in Qinghe Market City until he attempted his breakthrough.
Therefore, they wanted to cut off this possibility for Ji Wujin.
Forcing him to go to the Immortal Sect Market City, which would give them a chance to ambush him and steal his Foundation Establishment Pill.
"These big fish aren't stupid, but they've misjudged Ji Wujin's intentions."
Chen Jianghe had his suspicions, but he was left feeling speechless.
These cultivators were plotting against Ji Wujin, but he was the one suffering for it.
He was the one who needed the Spirit Nurturing Fluid and Spirit Nourishing Pills!
"If things are as I suspect, I might really have to contact Ji Wujin after some time."
If his guess was correct.
These Spirit Nourishing Pills and Spirit Nurturing Fluid would likely all end up in Ji Wujin's hands.
He could try to contact him and see if he could buy them from him.
Others might not know, but he knew that Ji Wujin's spirit was already at its peak; he had no need to go to the Immortal Sect Market City to buy these items.
Even if these items didn't fall into Ji Wujin's hands.
Chen Jianghe had also thought of another way to buy them.
He couldn't have someone buy them for him from the Immortal Sect Market City.
But the auctions at Mirror Moon Market City also had Spirit Nourishing Pills, though Spirit Nurturing Fluid was rare.
He could have Yu Daniu help him bid and then deliver them to Qinghe Market City.
The tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth treasures were all spiritual materials and items that aided in cultivation.
They could assist with body tempering or spiritual cultivation.
But the prices were very high.
These were spiritual items that could further boost one's cultivation speed on top of using body tempering pills, Spirit Nourishing Pills, and Spirit Nurturing Fluid.
Chen Jianghe didn't have a great need for body tempering items at the moment.
He could use time to grind through the final bottleneck of his physical cultivation.
As for his soul and spirit, he hadn't even gotten his hands on the basic Spirit Nourishing Pills and Spirit Nurturing Fluid.
Naturally, he wouldn't be thinking about heavenly and earthly spiritual treasures.
On the path of cultivation, one must avoid aiming too high. Slow, steady progress was the key to longevity.
The fifteenth treasure was a Life Extension Pill.
This was even more useless to Chen Jianghe, saving him another eight hundred spirit stones.
As for the resources needed by Foundation Establishment cultivators, Chen Jianghe had no interest at present, but he listened anyway to broaden his horizons.
After the auction ended.
Chen Jianghe quickly got up and left.
But after leaving the Treasure Pavilion, he was stopped.
It wasn't just one person, but three ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators. The reason they stopped him was, of course, the Foundation Establishment Pill.
However, they were very tactful.
They just wanted to ask that if Chen Jianghe ever decided to sell it, he would consider them first.
In truth, everyone knew that Chen Jianghe was unlikely to sell the pill, but the temptation of Foundation Establishment was irresistible.
Even if the hope was slim, they would try their best.
Returning to his small courtyard.
Chen Jianghe was very disappointed with this auction.
Not only had he failed to acquire the Spirit Nourishing Pills and Spirit Nurturing Fluid, but he also hadn't seen any of the main ingredients for refining a Foundation Establishment Pill.
He had, however, learned a thing or two.
And gained a bit of caution.
A specially crafted artifact without an attribute was not worth buying.
When buying a specially crafted artifact for Maoqiu, it would be best if it was water-attributed.
That way, Maoqiu could use it smoothly, and its combat power would be amplified even more.
Early in the new year.
The fifth day.
Ji Wujin came looking for him.
Chen Jianghe had thought it was the pockmarked man coming for a trade, so he opened the gate, only to find Ji Wujin standing outside.
"Fellow Daoist, may I come in?"
"No."
Chen Jianghe's refusal was decisive.
"Stingy. I invited you into my courtyard."
"But I didn't go in."
"But I did invite you."
"..."
Chen Jianghe's mouth twitched. If he weren't wary of the second-tier spirit beast on the man, he would have slammed the gate shut long ago.
"What have you come to see me for, fellow Daoist?"
"Let me be clear first: I can't go fishing, and I won't be leaving Qinghe Market City."
"I know you're cautious, fellow Daoist. Don't worry, I'm not here to ask you to get rich with me."
Ji Wujin chuckled and teased him.
"I'm here to make a trade with you."
"What kind of trade?"
"Your spirit isn't at its peak yet, is it? I have Spirit Nourishing Pills and Spirit Nurturing Fluid to sell you."
"Oh? And at what price are you planning to sell them to me?"
"Let's not rush that. I need to secure a buyer before I go pick up the goods. Once I have them in a while, I'll come find you to discuss the price."
With that, Ji Wujin turned dashingly and left Qingping Lane.
"Just as I thought. It was all this guy's scheming."
Chen Jianghe was now certain. The high prices for the Spirit Nourishing Pills and Spirit Nurturing Fluid at the auction were indeed targeting Ji Wujin.
Ji Wujin was fattening up the fish before reeling them in.
At this moment, Chen Jianghe felt that Ji Wujin was no novice fisherman. With such rich fishing experience, he was a complete old hand at this.