Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Foundation Establishment Cultivators Gather, Second-Tier Ice Spirit Core
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"A second-tier demonic beast spirit core?"
Chen Jianghe was taken aback. His first thought was, how could they possibly slay a second-tier demonic beast at the Beast Taming Market City?
But on second thought, it wasn't that surprising.
Even if the demonic beasts were incredibly powerful, the Beast Taming Market City now had four Core Formation experts and two third-tier spirit beasts.
Slaying a few second-tier demonic beasts was well within reason.
After all, Foundation Establishment cultivators had fallen at the Beast Taming Market City, and even that False Core expert from the Zhou Clan had been devoured by a demonic beast.
"What element are the spirit cores?" Chen Jianghe asked Chen Ping calmly.
"One is water-element, two are metal-element, and there are two with special elements. The specific elements haven't been revealed yet."
Chen Ping was only a supervisor on the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion, not a manager like Gao Peiyao.
Any treasure going up for auction had to be inspected by Gao Peiyao first.
The fact that Chen Ping knew so much about the auction's treasures was already quite impressive, proving he was well-liked at the Treasure Pavilion.
Chen Jianghe nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
He then bought thirty portions each of Spirit Condensing Grass and Spirit Warming Sand, spending two hundred and forty spirit stones.
For him now, the effects of Spirit Condensing Grass and Spirit Warming Sand were no longer very significant.
However, in Chen Jianghe's view, as long as they had some effect, he should continue using them to raise his spiritual cultivation as quickly as possible.
The sooner he reached the peak of spiritual cultivation, the sooner he could attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment.
Chen Ping gave him a five percent discount on the two hundred and forty spirit stones, so he only had to pay two hundred and twenty-eight.
Afterward, Chen Jianghe left the Treasure Pavilion.
He was out of talisman-making materials and wanted to buy more, but he saw that the prices for spirit fox hides, high-grade spirit ink, and Azure Feather Talisman Brushes had not yet dropped.
Chen Ping's advice was the same as Alchemist Zhuang's: he should wait until after the new year to buy them.
By then, the prices of talisman-making materials would return to normal.
With New Year's Eve just ten days away, Chen Jianghe didn't mind waiting a little longer.
After all, the profit from ten days of talisman-making couldn't offset the inflated cost of the materials. Waiting ten days to half a month would mean any spirit stones saved were spirit stones earned.
The day before New Year's Eve.
Chen Jianghe first wrote a letter to Ruan Tieniu, inquiring about the situation at the Beast Taming Market City.
Of course, he also wanted to know if Ruan Tieniu was still alive.
He had invested a hundred spirit stones in Ruan Tieniu back then, and although he had already earned back over a thousand spirit stones...
He felt there was still a great deal of value to be extracted from Ruan Tieniu.
After placing the letter in the post box, he headed to Fortune and Longevity Lane to exchange information about the upcoming auction with Alchemist Zhuang.
"Two second-tier spirit cores with special elements?"
Alchemist Zhuang's face lit up when he heard Chen Jianghe's news. "Perhaps there's a second-tier ice-element spirit core. We can go take a look tomorrow."
"By the way, fellow Daoist, your body tempering and spirit forging should both be at their peak, right? I've heard there will be natural treasures to aid breakthroughs at this auction. You should try to get one."
Chen Jianghe nodded upon hearing this. "I do have that in mind."
"Do you have enough spirit stones? I can lend you some first," Alchemist Zhuang asked.
"Thank you for your kind offer, fellow Daoist. I've earned quite a bit from selling talismans recently, enough to buy the natural treasures for spiritual and physical enhancement."
"If it's not enough, I'll ask for your help then."
Chen Jianghe said with a cupped-fist salute.
He didn't speak with absolute certainty; who knew if an unexpected bidding war might break out?
With a second-tier Alchemy Grandmaster like Alchemist Zhuang around, securing the natural treasures for body tempering and spirit forging was practically guaranteed.
They agreed to meet at the Treasure Pavilion at the hour of the dog tomorrow.
Chen Jianghe then left Fortune and Longevity Lane and walked toward Green Duckweed Lane.
Just as he entered the lane, he saw Yun Xiaoniu standing in front of his courtyard gate.
"Xiaoniu."
"Nephew greets Uncle."
"Where are your father and the others?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"Father and Fourth Brother have already left Qinghe Market City for Qiyun Mountain. I stayed behind to attend tomorrow's auction."
Yun Xiaoniu replied respectfully.
"Mm, that's good. This auction is of a high caliber, with many rare treasures. I hear it has attracted quite a few Foundation Establishment seniors."
Chen Jianghe also felt that Yun Xiaoniu should attend. After all, the Yu Clan was newly established, and there might be treasures at the auction suitable for them.
"By the way, do you have enough spirit stones?"
"When the Ancestor divided the family, he left us with eight thousand spirit stones. I have more than enough. If you need any, Uncle, I can give them to you first," Yun Xiaoniu said quickly.
"Uh..."
Chen Jianghe had intended to ask if Yun Xiaoniu had enough spirit stones, and if not, he could lend him eight hundred or a thousand. He never expected Yun Xiaoniu to have eight thousand spirit stones on hand.
He had thought himself quite wealthy with over three thousand spirit stones, but compared to Alchemist Zhuang and the Yun Clan, he was still a bit lacking.
Immediately, he arranged with Yun Xiaoniu to go to the Treasure Pavilion together the next day.
The next day, at the hour of the rooster.
Yun Xiaoniu arrived at Green Duckweed Lane and knocked on Chen Jianghe's courtyard gate.
After Chen Jianghe came out, the uncle and nephew headed to the Treasure Pavilion and found a pavilion with a view of the river street on the first floor to sit down.
They waited for Alchemist Zhuang, Zhuang Xinyan, and Jiang Ruxu.
"Uncle, is Alchemist Zhuang already a second-tier Alchemy Grandmaster?" Yun Xiaoniu asked with a sigh.
Yun Xiaoniu was still very young when Alchemist Zhuang left Mirror Moon Lake, but he had heard about the Zhuang family's tragedy.
Although it was a pity for a high-grade alchemist to leave, there was nothing that could be done.
The Yun Clan truly had no way to deal with Lan Tianxiang.
Even if they wanted to fight to the death, he wouldn't engage. If he saw they had numbers, he would just flee.
"Mm, the authentic Foundation Establishment Pill you took during your breakthrough came from Alchemist Zhuang's hands," Chen Jianghe nodded.
"I never thought Alchemist Zhuang would become an Alchemy Grandmaster. It's a shame the Yun Clan couldn't keep him," Yun Xiaoniu lamented.
Even without Lan Tianxiang, the moment Alchemist Zhuang became a second-tier Alchemy Grandmaster, he would have severed ties with the Yun Clan.
A Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan like the Yun Clan simply couldn't afford to support a second-tier Alchemy Grandmaster.
A second-tier Alchemy Grandmaster would be treated as an honored guest even by the top immortal clans, given the status of a guest elder.
Half an hour later.
Alchemist Zhuang arrived with the two young women.
Alchemist Zhuang had met Yun Xiaoniu before, so Chen Jianghe didn't need to make introductions. When the first quarter of the hour of the dog arrived...
they went up to the Treasure Pavilion together, arriving at the fourth-floor auction hall.
The layout of the auction hall had changed slightly this time. The front area now had rows of seats.
And behind them were private rooms, provided for Foundation Establishment seniors and second-tier artisans.
Chen Jianghe, Zhuang Xinyan, and Jiang Ruxu were originally supposed to sit outside, but with Alchemist Zhuang and Yun Xiaoniu...
they were also able to enter a private room.
They could watch the auction while sipping tea.
Not long after they entered the private room, the entrance to the auction hall was closed.
This was how night auctions in Qinghe Market City worked. No matter who it was, no one could enter after the third quarter of the hour of the dog.
"Uncle, there are even Foundation Establishment cultivators sitting outside. It seems many of them are attending this auction."
Yun Xiaoniu's gaze swept over the dozen or so cultivators outside as he spoke to Chen Jianghe.
Clearly, too many Foundation Establishment cultivators had come, and the Treasure Pavilion hadn't prepared enough private rooms.
"This auction has many resources needed by Foundation Establishment cultivators, as well as second-tier spirit cores, which are key for raising clan-protecting spirit beasts. It's bound to attract Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Western and Southern Regions."
Chen Jianghe said with a nod.
Just then, an old man walked onto the auction stage. It was the same veteran auctioneer who had set a new record price for the Youth Retaining Pill.
With no reserve price and no bid increment limit, he had managed to sell a single Youth Retaining Pill for two thousand spirit stones.
This was a highly experienced auctioneer.
"Thank you all, esteemed Foundation Establishment seniors and fellow Daoists, for attending this auction. There are a total of sixty-two rare items up for auction today."
"Among them, twenty are resources needed by our Qi Refining Daoists."
"And forty-two are cultivation resources for our Foundation Establishment seniors."
"To avoid keeping you seniors waiting, I won't waste any more time. Let the auction begin."
"The first treasure is a set of ten bottles of first-tier, high-grade Spirit Nurturing Liquid. The starting price is one thousand spirit stones, with a minimum bid increment of ten spirit stones."
As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, a low murmur of discussion rose from the crowd below.
Evidently, everyone was stunned by the caliber of this auction.
Not to mention the sixty-two treasures, the very first item was first-tier, high-grade Spirit Nurturing Liquid. In past auctions, such an item would have been saved for the end.
"One thousand three hundred spirit stones."
A voice called out from one of the private rooms, instantly extinguishing any thought of bidding from the other cultivators. For an extra three hundred spirit stones, they might as well go to an Immortal Sect Market City to buy it.
"It's someone from the Qing Clan."
Chen Jianghe had learned from Chen Ping that the Third Master of the Qing Clan planned to attempt a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment within two years to contend for the position of Clan Head.
Bidding one thousand three hundred spirit stones right away showed he was determined to win it.
As expected.
After that voice rang out, no one else placed a bid.
The first-tier, high-grade Spirit Nurturing Liquid was sold for one thousand three hundred spirit stones.
"The second treasure is Spirit Nourishing Pills. A bottle of ten, starting price of eight hundred spirit stones, with a minimum bid increment of ten spirit stones."
The auctioneer's words fell, and that same voice once again emerged from the private room.
"One thousand two hundred spirit stones."
Four hundred spirit stones above the starting price; naturally, no one would follow.
Although Chen Jianghe wanted to bid, he didn't want to provoke the Qing Clan, one of the two major families backing Qinghe Market City.
They even had a third-tier spirit beast in their clan.
He couldn't afford to offend them.
Besides, spending one thousand two hundred spirit stones on Spirit Nourishing Pills would make him stand out too much as a fool with more money than sense.
The third treasure was a high-grade defensive magical artifact, a suit of armor with an earth element, which undoubtedly enhanced its defensive capabilities.
It was finally sold for one thousand and fifty spirit stones.
The fourth to the twelfth items were all first-tier spirit cores with special elements, treasures used for artifact refining or alchemy.
Although the prices weren't high, mostly selling for around two hundred spirit stones each...
their value lay in their rarity.
Even Alchemist Zhuang bid on and won a first-tier, wind-element spirit core.
The thirteenth to the eighteenth treasures were natural treasures that aided in body tempering cultivation. Chen Jianghe did not bid.
He felt that in another three to five years, he could polish his physical cultivation to the peak.
As for his spiritual cultivation, even with Spirit Nourishing Pills and Spirit Nurturing Liquid, it would still take three years to reach the peak of spirit forging.
At that time, he could use a natural treasure to aid his breakthrough to the peak of spirit forging.
By his calculations, his body tempering cultivation would also happen to reach its peak around the same time.
There was no need to spend the extra money.
"Next up is the nineteenth treasure, the Earth Core Soul Refining Stone. This is a natural treasure that can assist in spiritual cultivation, helping one break through from the peak of spirit forging to the state of perfection."
"The starting price is nine hundred spirit stones, with a minimum bid increment of twenty spirit stones."
After the auctioneer finished speaking.
A voice immediately followed.
"One thousand two hundred spirit stones."
It was Yun Xiaoniu's voice. Chen Jianghe had asked him to bid.
The reason for immediately raising the price by three hundred spirit stones was to prevent a vicious, continuous bidding war and make any other interested cultivators think twice.
To avoid them competing with him.
Besides, the true value of an Earth Core Soul Refining Stone was about one thousand spirit stones. At auction, they usually sold for around one thousand one hundred.
Only a few would ever exceed one thousand two hundred spirit stones.
"One thousand two hundred and twenty spirit stones."
Just when he thought no one would bid, someone added twenty spirit stones.
Chen Jianghe looked out from the private room toward the voice, and a slight smile touched his lips. He raised a hand to stop Yun Xiaoniu, who was about to bid again.
"Uncle, why aren't we bidding higher? I have the spirit stones," Yun Xiaoniu said anxiously.
Seeing that Chen Jianghe wanted the Earth Core Soul Refining Stone, Yun Xiaoniu naturally guessed that his spirit forging cultivation had reached the late stage and he needed this natural treasure to break through to perfection before attempting Foundation Establishment.
"Fellow Daoist, I also have plenty of spirit stones. It's just an Earth Core Soul Refining Stone; we can win it."
Alchemist Zhuang also chimed in at this moment to bolster Chen Jianghe's confidence.
"No rush. Let's wait."
Chen Jianghe didn't hurry to raise the bid. Instead, he watched the cultivators outside, curious to see if anyone else would join in.
In his heart, Chen Jianghe naturally hoped no one else would bid.
Let that cultivator who outbid him by twenty spirit stones have it.
After twenty breaths, sure enough, no one else bid.
The cultivator who had just bid successfully won the Earth Core Soul Refining Stone for one thousand two hundred and twenty spirit stones.
"Uncle?"
Yun Xiaoniu looked at Chen Jianghe in confusion. He didn't understand why they suddenly stopped bidding when the difference was only twenty spirit stones.
"Don't worry, I know the cultivator who won it. If all goes as expected, the Earth Core Soul Refining Stone will still end up in my hands," Chen Jianghe said with a smile.
At this, Alchemist Zhuang also glanced outside.
Indeed, he saw a familiar back among the cultivators and also broke into a smile.
The next item, the twentieth treasure, was another natural treasure for aiding spiritual breakthroughs: a section of thousand-year-old Nether Soul Bamboo.
The starting price was nine hundred spirit stones.
Chen Jianghe had Yun Xiaoniu bid one thousand two hundred spirit stones directly again.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he watched that acquaintance. Just as expected, at the last moment, the bid was raised by another twenty spirit stones.
The smile on Chen Jianghe's face grew wider.
He told Yun Xiaoniu not to bid again.
At this moment, he was certain. Both of these natural treasures for spiritual breakthroughs had been consigned to the Treasure Pavilion by Ji Wujin.
The other party was targeting him.
Even if he bid again, Ji Wujin would just outbid him once more.
Especially since two such treasures were consigned together. If he failed to get the first one, he would surely try for the second.
Otherwise, the auction would move on to resources needed by Foundation Establishment seniors.
This was a calculated move, banking on the fact that Chen Jianghe needed to buy a natural treasure for spiritual enhancement.
However, Ji Wujin's assessment was indeed accurate.
Before successfully reaching Foundation Establishment, he wouldn't leave Qinghe Market City, so his only option was to obtain a natural treasure for spiritual cultivation at the auction.
But Yun Xiaoniu could leave Qinghe Market City.
Although natural treasures for spiritual enhancement were rare, they were quite common at auctions in larger market cities.
If Ji Wujin didn't come to him, he would just have Yun Xiaoniu make a trip to the Many Treasures Market City.
In any case, he still had three years. He had plenty of time to play this game with Ji Wujin.
The treasures auctioned next were all cultivation resources needed by Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The twenty-first to the twenty-eighth treasures were all top-tier flying swords, which held no interest for Chen Jianghe.
But Yun Xiaoniu made a move, spending one thousand four hundred spirit stones to win the twenty-sixth treasure.
It was a top-tier flying sword with a water element. For a Foundation Establishment cultivator practicing a water-element technique, it could boost their attack power by twenty percent.
Yun Xiaoniu cultivated the Guiyuan True Water Art, so this top-tier flying sword was a perfect match for him.
As the Foundation Establishment Ancestor of the Yu Clan, Yun Xiaoniu indeed needed to increase his own strength.
After all, the stronger he was, the safer the Yu Clan would be, and the more powerful it would become.
The twenty-ninth to the forty-eighth treasures were all second-tier spirit pills, including healing pills, breakthrough pills, and pills to assist cultivation.
Qinghe Market City auctioning second-tier spirit pills this time was undoubtedly a great opportunity for rogue Foundation Establishment cultivators.
They usually found it harder than ascending to the heavens just to obtain a single second-tier spirit pill.
For twenty second-tier spirit pills to appear this time was nothing short of a fortunate encounter.
Of course, among these second-tier spirit pills, most were low-grade, with only six being mid-grade.
As for second-tier, high-grade spirit pills?
There wasn't a single one.
The more valuable a spirit pill, the less likely it is to circulate, especially not through an auction.
There was no shortage of buyers for second-tier, high-grade spirit pills. Even the top immortal clans vied for them, so how could they end up at an auction?
The Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans still had a united front when it came to rogue cultivators.
They might provide some resources to rogue cultivators, but only a limited amount, and only resources they could control.
Among these second-tier spirit pills, eight had been consigned by Alchemist Zhuang.
Because this was Alchemist Zhuang's first year joining the Alchemy Grandmaster exchange, he was given a larger quota for consigning second-tier spirit pills.
This was also to help Alchemist Zhuang make up for the spirit stones he had missed out on earning over the past four years.
Seeing Alchemist Zhuang earn nearly ten thousand spirit stones, Chen Jianghe's resolve to become an alchemist was strengthened once again.
Otherwise, after he reached Foundation Establishment, it would be just as difficult to obtain cultivation resources.
Unless he was like Ruan Tieniu, venturing deep into the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, or taking unconventional and dangerous paths.
Otherwise, his status as a rogue cultivator would restrict most of his channels for acquiring resources.
There was still a significant gap in status between a second-tier Talisman Grandmaster and a second-tier Alchemy Grandmaster.
The forty-ninth to the fifty-second treasures were top-tier defensive magical artifacts: three shields and one suit of armor.
Yun Xiaoniu spent two thousand nine hundred spirit stones to win a top-tier defensive shield.
As for the top-tier defensive armor, Yun Xiaoniu had enough spirit stones to win it, but it would have cost an extra eight hundred.
He couldn't spend all of the eight thousand spirit stones he received from the family division on himself; he had to leave some as a development fund for the Yu Clan.
The fifty-third treasure was three Life Extension Pills.
They were won by a Foundation Establishment senior for two thousand six hundred spirit stones.
The fifty-fourth treasure was a Youth Retaining Pill, bought by a Foundation Establishment fairy for one thousand eight hundred and fifty spirit stones.
The fifty-fifth treasure was also a Youth Retaining Pill, and this time the selling price was a bit higher.
It reached one thousand nine hundred and sixty spirit stones.
The fifty-sixth treasure, yet another Youth Retaining Pill, broke the record again, selling for two thousand and twenty spirit stones.
This made Chen Jianghe deeply admire the old auctioneer.
He had grasped the psychology of those female Foundation Establishment cultivators perfectly.
"Next, we will be auctioning the fifty-seventh treasure. This is the spirit core of a second-tier, water-element Azure Scale Python. As for its origin, I'm sure everyone knows—it came from the Beast Taming Market City."
"Without further ado, the starting price is eight hundred spirit stones, with a minimum bid increment of fifty spirit stones."
"Any clans raising water-element spirit beasts may begin bidding."
"Allow me to add one more thing: a second-tier spirit beast's lifespan is double that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Having a second-tier clan-protecting spirit beast can prevent a situation where a clan has no successor."
After the auctioneer finished speaking.
Bids rang out one after another, mostly from Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Watching this from the private room, Chen Jianghe felt that most of the Foundation Establishment cultivators who came to Qinghe Market City were here for the second-tier spirit cores.
In just a hundred breaths, the price of this second-tier, water-element spirit core had risen to one thousand three hundred and fifty spirit stones.
It was finally sold for one thousand five hundred spirit stones.
This made Chen Jianghe think of the second-tier, water-element spirit core he possessed. It seemed his trade with Ruan Tieniu had been very profitable.
The fifty-eighth treasure was a second-tier, fire-element spirit core, sold for one thousand four hundred and fifty spirit stones.
The fifty-ninth treasure was another second-tier, fire-element spirit core, sold for one thousand four hundred spirit stones.
The sixtieth treasure was a second-tier, wind-element spirit core, won by the He Clan of Qinghe Market City for one thousand nine hundred spirit stones.
The moment the sixty-first treasure appeared.
Alchemist Zhuang's expression turned serious.
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he stared intently at the auction stage. When the red silk was lifted, a smile appeared on his face.
"Fellow Daoist, there really is a second-tier, ice-element spirit core." Alchemist Zhuang laughed heartily, his aura radiating determination.
Chen Jianghe had no doubt that Alchemist Zhuang would be able to win the second-tier, ice-element spirit core.
The eight second-tier spirit pills he had auctioned brought in nearly ten thousand spirit stones.
Even after deducting the costs, he still had six or seven thousand spirit stones.
In the end, Alchemist Zhuang won the second-tier, ice-element spirit core for one thousand eight hundred and twenty spirit stones.
In the past, a second-tier spirit core wouldn't have fetched such a high price. The main reason was that too many Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans had attended.
They all wanted to raise a second-tier spirit beast for their clans.
Especially a second-tier spirit beast with a special element, whose combat power was a notch above those with basic elements.
The price was naturally much higher.
"Next up for auction is the sixty-second treasure, and also the final treasure of this auction."
The old auctioneer waved his hand.
The sixty-second treasure was neither carried nor lifted out, but pushed forward by four late-stage Qi Refining female cultivators.
It was a caged cart, covered with red silk, obscuring what was inside.