Chapter 256
Chapter 256
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 256
Chapter Title: Madam Jinghong and the Damaged Spirit Artifact
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On Fortune and Longevity Street, a quiet and elegant alley was lined with two rows of verdant longevity bamboo, symbolizing a long life on the path of cultivation.
A courtyard gate appeared every sixteen zhang.
In front of each gate, two prosperity trees were planted, with white jade statues of deer resting beneath them.
"Greetings, Senior."
Chen Jianghe looked at the beautiful woman walking toward him. She appeared to be in her early thirties, her waist full but not heavy, her shoulders rounded. She wasn't slender like a young girl, but rather like warm jade steeped in spring water—voluptuous in just the right way.
A gentle mist seemed to gather in her eyes, and the fine lines at their corners only added to her charm. Her lips were as plump as ripe cherries, and her skin was a warm, soft white that glowed with a gentle light.
She wore a moon-white ruqun, its hem subtly embroidered with intertwining vine patterns. A single white jade hairpin held half of her dark hair in place.
A hint of surprise flickered in her eyes, followed by a look of delight.
"You've come to find me. Do you have a spirit pill or a spiritual item that can heal the soul?"
The beautiful woman asked urgently.
"Er..."
Chen Jianghe was at a loss for words. He hadn't come for this woman, but for Gao Peiyao.
It was just a chance encounter.
He hadn't paid much mind to their conversation about a trade on the cross-domain flying vessel. Back then, he only had one Soul-Settling Pill left.
Now, they had run into each other by coincidence.
And she was asking again about spirit pills or items that could heal the soul.
As it happened, he now had extra Soul-Settling Pills on him.
"By a stroke of luck, this junior obtained another high-quality Soul-Settling Pill. If Senior needs it, I can trade it to you."
Chen Jianghe took out an unsealed jade bottle, which contained a high-quality Soul-Settling Pill.
He took out the high-quality pill because he didn't want others to know he possessed such spirit pills.
If he had presented the standard-grade Soul-Settling Pill, the beautiful woman might have guessed that he had three more.
The beautiful woman's spiritual sense swept over it, and joy bloomed on her face.
This Soul-Settling Pill was of much better quality than the one they had traded last time. It had faint golden patterns, clearly marking it as a high-quality spirit pill.
"I said before that if you obtained any soul-healing spirit pills or items, you could come find me, and I would give you a satisfactory reward."
The beautiful woman's phoenix eyes shifted gracefully as she looked at Chen Jianghe, her voice warm. "This Azure Water Golden Lotus Seed is for you."
"Thank you, Senior."
Chen Jianghe was naturally pleased.
The Azure Water Golden Lotus Seed, like the Azure Water Lotus Leaf, was a part of the third-rank mid-grade spirit plant, the Azure Water Golden Lotus.
A top-tier second-rank absorbable spiritual item, it could be used to refine a mid-grade Origin Spirit Pill.
Furthermore, it possessed a quality that other top-tier second-rank absorbable items like thousand-year He Shou Wu or hundred-year Snow Lotus could not match.
If Chen Jianghe had a third-rank spirit spring, he could use this Azure Water Golden Lotus Seed to cultivate an Azure Water Golden Lotus.
However, a third-rank spirit spring was even rarer. According to the *Records of Tiannan*, such spirit springs only existed in legends. Even the Tiannan Sect did not possess a third-rank spirit spring, only a small amount of third-rank spirit water.
Even five high-quality Soul-Settling Pills wouldn't be worth a single Azure Water Golden Lotus Seed, let alone one.
Chen Jianghe was puzzled. Why would this beautiful woman use such a precious Azure Water Golden Lotus Seed to trade for his Soul-Settling Pill?
Even if the Soul-Settling Pill was valuable, its worth was far less than the Azure Water Golden Lotus Seed!
The beautiful woman took out a jade box and handed it to Chen Jianghe. Inside, an Azure Water Golden Lotus Seed lay quietly.
Chen Jianghe immediately gave the Soul-Settling Pill to the beautiful woman.
After receiving the Soul-Settling Pill, the woman said to Chen Jianghe, "If you can obtain a quasi-third-rank soul-healing spiritual item, or a third-rank soul-healing spirit pill, I can trade a Core Formation spiritual item with you for it."
With that, the beautiful woman turned back without delay and hurried back into her courtyard.
"A Core Formation spiritual item?!"
"This Core Formation rogue cultivator seems to have a problem with her soul!"
"Her condition still doesn't look good. Could it be that she didn't take the Soul-Settling Pill herself?"
Chen Jianghe looked puzzled.
He noticed that the beautiful woman's expression was much the same as when they first met—still just as haggard.
That shouldn't be the case.
After taking a Soul-Settling Pill, even if she didn't fully recover, she should have shown some improvement. How could it have had no effect at all?
"Brother Jianghe, you know Madam Jinghong?"
Gao Peiyao had already stepped out of her courtyard gate, preparing to head to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion for the auction. Seeing Chen Jianghe talking with the beautiful woman, she had taken a step back behind the gate.
"Madam Jinghong?"
Chen Jianghe shook his head. They had only traded twice; how could they be considered acquaintances? If Gao Peiyao hadn't mentioned the woman's title, he wouldn't have even known what to call her.
He only knew to address her as Senior.
"We're not acquainted. We just made a trade while on the cross-domain flying vessel."
"Madam Jinghong must have been trading with you for a soul-healing spirit pill or item."
"Yes."
Chen Jianghe nodded.
Gao Peiyao knew he had Soul-Settling Pills; there was no need to hide it.
Back in Thousand Mountains Market City, he had even given one to her.
"I saw that her soul was injured. Why is it that after I traded a Soul-Settling Pill with her, she still looks the same when I see her again?"
Chen Jianghe asked via voice transmission.
"The Immortal Gate Market City's New Year's Eve auction is about to begin. Let's talk as we walk."
Gao Peiyao said.
Chen Jianghe nodded.
On the way to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Gao Peiyao sent a voice transmission to Chen Jianghe, telling him about Madam Jinghong.
Chen Jianghe was filled with amazement.
He never thought that in the cultivation world, there could be such a devoted couple, a legendary romance between Dao companions.
Madam Jinghong and her husband were originally a farming couple in the mortal world. After her husband obtained a cultivation legacy, they both embarked on the path of immortality.
Blessed with great fortune, they both cultivated to the Foundation Establishment realm. With their good character, they were invited to join some sect disciples on a treasure hunt in a secret realm.
Unfortunately, the couple was wounded by a special artifact used by another cultivator in the secret realm, and the very foundation of their souls was damaged.
Fortunately, they found a quasi-third-rank soul-healing spiritual item in the secret realm.
But it could only save one person.
Her husband had Madam Jinghong take it, and his soul fell into a deep coma.
Madam Jinghong did not abandon her husband. While cultivating, she spared no expense to find medicine to keep him alive.
Seventy years passed. When Madam Jinghong attempted to form her core, she was unable to overcome her inner demons, failed her breakthrough, and formed a False Core.
Even though her husband had been a living dead for seventy years, she never gave up.
She continued to search for soul-healing spirit pills and items to sustain her husband's life.
All she hoped for was to one day obtain a quasi-third-rank soul-healing spiritual treasure.
Or a third-rank soul-healing spirit pill.
To awaken her husband from his long slumber.
"What a legendary and devoted woman!"
Chen Jianghe was filled with emotion. To watch over her comatose husband for seventy years as if it were a single day was a rare find even in the mortal world, yet he had encountered such a story in the world of cultivation.
This Madam Jinghong was also a master artifact refiner with a wide network.
But third-rank soul-healing spirit pills and quasi-third-rank soul-healing spiritual items were exceptionally precious and could only be found by chance, not sought.
Obtaining one was like gaining an extra life; no one would be willing to trade it away.
Even if Madam Jinghong offered a Core Formation spiritual item in exchange, it would be difficult to acquire a single third-rank soul-healing spirit pill.
However, after Madam Jinghong announced that she would trade a Core Formation spiritual item for a third-rank soul pill or a quasi-third-rank soul-healing treasure, she attracted the attention of many Foundation Establishment bandits.
With a single sword, she slew three peak Foundation Establishment cultivators and eight late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range.
Her sword, as startling as a swan's flight, struck fear into the hearts of the wicked.
At that time, Madam Jinghong was only at the peak of Foundation Establishment, which showed the profound depth of her foundation for Core Formation and the sophistication of her sword arts!
In the end, she couldn't overcome her inner demons and switched to cultivating a False Core.
"Brother Jianghe, do you know why no Core Formation experts have come to Madam Jinghong seeking her Core Formation spiritual item?"
Gao Peiyao sent a voice transmission.
"Could it be that she has a close relationship with a Core Formation Perfected Lord?" Chen Jianghe replied without hesitation.
A Core Formation spiritual item held great allure even for Core Formation experts.
Moreover, many Core Formation experts had descendants. While you might be safe in the Immortal Gate Market City or the Heaven's Gate Market City...
...once you left, a Core Formation expert might secretly strike you down for the sake of their descendants.
For Core Formation experts to not dare to make a move, this Madam Jinghong must have a powerful backer.
"Brother Jianghe guessed correctly. The sect friend that Madam Jinghong and her husband helped back then is now a Core Formation elder of the Tiannan Sect, and a Peak Master at that."
"A Peak Master of the Tiannan Sect?!"
Chen Jianghe was shocked. He hadn't expected Madam Jinghong to have such a powerful figure behind her.
A Peak Master of the Tiannan Sect, even if not one of the twelve main peaks or thirty-six sub-peaks, was still among the highest echelons of power in the Tiannan Domain.
"Since Madam Jinghong is on good terms with a Peak Master from the Tiannan Sect, why can't she get a spiritual item to awaken her husband? Could it be that even the Tiannan Sect doesn't have a quasi-third-rank soul-healing spiritual item?"
He would never believe that the Tiannan Sect lacked a quasi-third-rank soul-healing spiritual item.
This left him very confused.
Since that Peak Master was willing to protect Madam Jinghong from the coercion of other Core Formation experts, why not help her awaken her husband?
"An ill-fated connection."
Gao Peiyao uttered two simple words.
Chen Jianghe understood immediately, guessing why the Peak Master wouldn't help Madam Jinghong awaken her husband.
A moment later.
They arrived at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
They didn't mention the matter of entering the secret realm during their walk.
When Chen Jianghe had come to find Gao Peiyao, he had already made his decision.
The moment Gao Peiyao saw Chen Jianghe, and seeing that he didn't immediately bring up the secret realm...
...she could guess that he still planned to enter that unknown secret realm.
Since the decision was made, they needed to have a detailed discussion and plan their strategy for after entering the unknown secret realm.
This time, there would be False Core rogue cultivators in the unknown secret realm.
Although False Core rogue cultivators weren't true Core Formation experts, they still possessed formidable strength, much stronger than an average peak second-rank demonic beast.
Without a good counter-strategy, trying to compete for resources with a False Core rogue cultivator would be suicide.
Therefore, they both tacitly agreed to wait until after the auction to discuss their plans. Even if they couldn't fight a False Core rogue cultivator...
...they needed to be able to survive an encounter.
They arrived at the auction hall on the third floor of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
The auction hall here was similar to the one in Ferry Market City, with a majority of private rooms and not many seats in the main hall.
In the center of the circular auction hall, a massive gilded crystal screen stood on the auction stage.
The private rooms were equipped with bidding formations.
When the time came to three quarters past the hour of Shen, an old man walked onto the stage, officially starting the Immortal Gate Market City's New Year's Eve auction.
There was no lengthy opening speech.
He simply gave a brief overview of the auction: a total of eighteen treasures would be presented.
The first treasure was a set of three Life Extension Pills.
Life Extension Pills, which were usually treated as the grand finale in other market cities, were merely the opening item in the Immortal Gate Market City.
However, the final price for these Life Extension Pills seemed quite low here.
The three Life Extension Pills sold for a total of only two thousand one hundred and fifty spirit stones.
On average, that was just over seven hundred spirit stones each, very close to the market price of five hundred.
The second treasure was also a set of Life Extension Pills, selling for two thousand one hundred spirit stones, making the price per pill seven hundred.
The third treasure was again Life Extension Pills, and the price dropped to two thousand spirit stones, with the price per pill falling below seven hundred.
The fourth treasure was a Beauty Retaining Pill. The starting bid was eight hundred spirit stones, and it sold for one thousand five hundred.
This was the lowest price Chen Jianghe had ever seen a Beauty Retaining Pill sell for at an auction.
The fifth and sixth items were also Beauty Retaining Pills.
They sold for one thousand five hundred and fifty, and one thousand six hundred spirit stones respectively.
As expected of the Immortal Gate Market City, the prices for Beauty Retaining Pills and Life Extension Pills were so low, which meant they were not in short supply here.
As if noticing Chen Jianghe's confusion...
Gao Peiyao chuckled lightly. "In every annual auction in the Immortal Gate Market City, the first six treasures are always Life Extension Pills and Beauty Retaining Pills."
"However, after winning the bid, you cannot take them out of the market city. You can only leave after consuming them."
Chen Jianghe nodded, understanding now why the prices for Beauty Retaining and Life Extension Pills were so low in the Immortal Gate Market City.
First, there was a large supply, with nine Life Extension Pills and three Beauty Retaining Pills auctioned off every year.
Second, they had to be consumed within the market city after purchase.
This was the reason for the low transaction prices of Beauty Retaining and Life Extension Pills in the Immortal Gate Market City.
The seventh treasure was a second-rank mid-grade escape talisman, a water-attribute Flowing Wave and Treadwater Talisman.
The starting bid was three thousand spirit stones.
Watching the constantly changing numbers on the gilded crystal screen on the stage, it was clear that many cultivators were bidding.
In just ten breaths, the price broke the four-thousand-spirit-stone mark.
In Thousand Mountains Market City, a second-rank mid-grade five-element escape talisman would only cost about three thousand five hundred spirit stones.
Now, the price had surpassed four thousand, and the bidding momentum showed no signs of slowing, continuing to climb.
Finally, it settled at five thousand three hundred spirit stones.
The price had inflated by fifty percent.
Even with the auction effect, a fifty-percent markup was a bit too high.
Chen Jianghe knew that with the current turmoil in the Tiannan Domain, first-rank healing pills and spirit talismans were seeing price increases.
But second-rank talismans were not like first-rank ones; it was unlikely for their prices to inflate to such a terrifying degree.
"It seems the chaos outside is more severe than I imagined."
Knowing that the price of second-rank talismans had inflated so much, Chen Jianghe now had a better baseline for future trades.
The eighth treasure was also a second-rank talisman, a wind-attribute Wind and Sand Illusion Talisman.
It was also an escape talisman, but it had a deceptive property. When activated, it would create three illusions to confuse the enemy.
This was a fine treasure indeed.
Unfortunately, its rank was too low; otherwise, Chen Jianghe would have been tempted to bid for it.
Because of its special attribute and illusionary property...
...the final price for this Wind and Sand Illusion Talisman reached six thousand eight hundred spirit stones.
For an average mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, this was definitely a life-saving trump card.
When this talisman appeared, even Gao Peiyao showed a flicker of interest, but then she remembered the Talisman Grandmaster beside her and dismissed the thought of bidding.
The ninth treasure was a Flesh-Growing and Bone-Mending Pill.
The starting bid was two thousand five hundred spirit stones, which was already the usual final price in normal times.
After fierce bidding, the price stopped at four thousand one hundred spirit stones.
An inflation of over sixty percent.
The tenth treasure was a Second-Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill, with a starting bid of three thousand five hundred spirit stones.
Chen Jianghe didn't hesitate and immediately made a move.
This Second-Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill would be of great use to him, significantly enhancing his spiritual cultivation.
"Five thousand spirit stones."
While others were still bidding in the four-thousand range, Chen Jianghe directly raised the price to five thousand.
"Five thousand one hundred spirit stones."
"Five thousand two hundred spirit stones."
"Five thousand six hundred spirit stones."
"Six thousand three hundred spirit stones."
Chen Jianghe's bid of six thousand three hundred spirit stones caused the frequency of number changes on the gilded crystal screen to slow slightly.
"Six thousand four hundred spirit stones."
"Six thousand seven hundred spirit stones."
"..."
Chen Jianghe frowned, feeling that something was off. When he bought a Second-Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill in Ferry Market City, it only cost him five thousand five hundred spirit stones.
Now the price had soared to seven thousand, which was highly unusual.
"Why is the price of this Second-Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill so much higher than in Ferry Market City? It's almost two thousand spirit stones more!"
Chen Jianghe looked at Gao Peiyao and asked with confusion.
Spirit pills were indeed inflated, but it was mostly healing pills. Other pills, while also inflated, would not exceed a twenty percent increase at most.
For a Second-Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill to reach seven thousand spirit stones was quite ridiculous.
"In Ferry Market City, nine out of ten Second-Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pills are bait, so they are much cheaper."
"Buying a Second-Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill in the Immortal Gate Market City is relatively safe, as you can consume it before leaving."
"Furthermore, the auctions in the Immortal Gate Market City don't always have a Second-Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill. On average, one appears only once every five years."
"Coupled with the current inflation, the final price of this pill should be around eight thousand spirit stones."
Gao Peiyao explained, then smiled at Chen Jianghe. "If Brother Jianghe is short on funds, I can bid on your behalf."
"I still have eight or ten thousand spirit stones. If I'm truly short, I'll ask you."
Chen Jianghe said with a smile.
He was not short of spirit stones at all. With over one hundred and twenty thousand spirit stones lying quietly in his storage bag, how could he be short?
If possible, he wanted to exchange some for mid-grade spirit stones.
But he had no channel to do so.
"Eight thousand two hundred spirit stones."
Chen Jianghe raised the price again.
Jumping from seven thousand six hundred to eight thousand two hundred was an increase of six hundred spirit stones.
The effect was significant.
Just as Gao Peiyao predicted, the final price of this Second-Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill was around eight thousand spirit stones.
Chen Jianghe steadily won the bid with eight thousand two hundred spirit stones.
He still had one hundred and seventeen thousand, four hundred and ninety-four spirit stones left. If he encountered any valuable treasures later, he could still make a move.
This was the first time Chen Jianghe had felt so wealthy.
The eleventh item was a Foundation Establishment Pill!
Chen Jianghe was taken aback. It wasn't strange for a Foundation Establishment Pill to appear, but it was strange for it to be placed in this position.
A Foundation Establishment Pill was not as valuable as a Second-Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill.
Why was it auctioned after the Spirit-Nourishing Pill?
This was a standard-grade Foundation Establishment Pill with a starting bid of three thousand spirit stones.
One could deeply feel how the turmoil of the times had led to the inflation of spirit pill prices.
In the past, one could buy a standard-grade Foundation Establishment Pill in Qinghe Market City for three thousand spirit stones, but now that was just the starting bid.
In the end, this standard-grade Foundation Establishment Pill was sold for five thousand one hundred spirit stones.
Part of this was due to the inflation caused by the current turmoil.
It was also because the Immortal Gate Market City had gathered too many high-level cultivators. Due to the wars raging across the Tiannan Domain, many families had migrated to the Immortal Gate Market City.
Some cultivators like Chen Jianghe, who preferred to cultivate in peace, also chose to come here.
Chen Jianghe did not bid. He still had six Foundation Establishment Pills and had no need to compete for an overpriced one.
The twelfth treasure was a damaged spirit-nurturing offensive artifact.
"They even auction spirit-nurturing artifacts?"
Chen Jianghe looked at Gao Peiyao in confusion. Although it was damaged, it was still a spirit-nurturing artifact!
With some cost, one could find a master artifact refiner to repair it.
Of course, the specific cost would depend on the extent of the damage.
If it was more than fifty percent damaged, there was no point in repairing it; it might as well be scrapped.
The cost of repair could be enough to forge a new spirit-nurturing artifact.
A slightly damaged spirit-nurturing artifact could be repaired with just one or two supplementary materials and five thousand spirit stones paid to a master refiner.
"Yes, the Immortal Gate Market City auctions several damaged spirit-nurturing artifacts every year, but the damage is usually severe, making them not worth bidding on."
Gao Peiyao explained.
But in her heart, she thought of Luo Xiyue.
If Luo Xiyue were still here, Chen Jianghe could buy these spirit-nurturing artifacts and have her repair them.
Then he could trade them for top-tier second-rank spiritual items or quasi-third-rank ones.
But alas, Luo Xiyue was gone.
Chen Jianghe looked at the auction stage. From the auctioneer's explanation, he learned that this spirit-nurturing flying sword was forty percent damaged.
Although it could be repaired, it required a top-tier second-rank metal-attribute main material, a metal-attribute peak second-rank demonic beast core, and four high-grade second-rank metal-attribute supplementary materials.
Then, one would need to pay a master artifact refiner ten thousand spirit stones.
The cost was quite high.
With just two more supplementary materials, one could forge a brand-new spirit-nurturing offensive artifact.
The starting bid was ten thousand spirit stones.
Even with such a high cost, there were people willing to bid, intending to seek out the materials to repair it later.
This showed just how rare and precious spirit-nurturing artifacts were.
It made Chen Jianghe once again realize the immense value of the three spirit-nurturing artifacts Luo Xiyue had forged for him.
"Aside from being a bit cold, she was quite good in other aspects."
Chen Jianghe muttered to himself.
The thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth treasures were all damaged spirit-nurturing offensive artifacts.
The final price for the twelfth treasure was twelve thousand spirit stones.
The final price for the thirteenth treasure was eleven thousand spirit stones.
The fourteenth and fifteenth treasures both sold for twelve thousand five hundred spirit stones.
The sixteenth treasure, a spirit-nurturing artifact that was only thirty percent damaged, was naturally more valuable.
It sold for thirty-three thousand spirit stones.
The seventeenth treasure was a damaged spirit-nurturing defensive artifact.
It was forty percent damaged.
The starting bid was sixteen thousand spirit stones, and it was sold for twenty-one thousand.
When the eighteenth treasure appeared, it instantly captured the attention of all the cultivators. Even Chen Jianghe and Gao Peiyao showed looks of longing.
(End of Chapter)