The Prestige of the Single Pattern Chwi-ryeong-dan
The next day, Baekgeum Pavilion at the heart of Yeonha Fortress buzzed with an unusual energy from early morning. The ripple effects of the previous day's auction at Mansang Pavilion hadn't even faded when rumors spread like wildfire through the fortress: the Baek Family Trading Company was hosting a special auction.
For the investigators from mid- and small-sized families who had left empty-handed from Mansang Pavilion, and for loose cultivators short on funds, this was a fresh opportunity. Moreover, since it was hosted directly by the Baek Family Trading Company—the very group that had unveiled the heaven-defying Ohang Dan to the world—investigators hurried along, hoping against hope for some rare treasure rivaling the Ohang Dan.
"Heh heh heh..."
Meanwhile, Baek Cheong rose fashionably late, finished her breakfast, and strolled leisurely toward Baekgeum Pavilion. Elder Ga, the enforcer, shadowed her like a ghost. Upon entering, she found the place packed beyond compare to yesterday—investigators swarming in a chaotic throng.
"There are really a lot of people."
"It's thanks to the Pavilion Master spreading the word last night on short notice. He announced that the first item up for auction today is an extraordinary treasure that will capture the attention of the entire cultivation world."
Baek Cheong stifled a laugh at Elder Ga's explanation. Hypeing up a mere 1st realm low-grade pill like the Chwi-ryeong-dan as some "extraordinary treasure" to reel in the investigators? It was a pitch-perfect move from the trading company's master.
"The auction hall is this way."
Following Elder Ga's guidance, Baek Cheong ascended to the family-exclusive VIP room overlooking the auction floor. It wasn't as spacious as Mansang Pavilion's, but its cozy intimacy made it perfect for quietly observing alone. Through the crystal orb fitted with a projection formation, the view of the first-floor auction stage came into sharp focus. The seats were already crammed with no room to spare, the investigators' murmurs filling the entire hall with clamor.
Riiiing—
Moments later, a chime rang out, and Great-Uncle Baek Muryeong himself stepped onto the stage. The mere fact that the Baek Family Trading Company's Pavilion Master was conducting the auction personally added immense weight to the event. The din in the seats hushed instantly as countless eyes locked onto the stage.
"Welcome, fellow cultivators, to Baekgeum Pavilion."
Great-Uncle's voice carried through the formation, echoing into every corner of the hall. "We extend our deepest gratitude for the passionate response to the Ohang Dan unveiled at yesterday's Mansang Pavilion auction. In return, today the Baek Family Trading Company proudly presents another pill personally refined by Pill Immortal Gok Elder himself."
The mention of Pill Immortal Gok sent an immediate stir through the crowd. Greed and anticipation lit up the investigators' eyes, heating the atmosphere to a boil.
Without milking the suspense, Baek Muryeong drew a ornate jade box from his robes and carefully placed it on the jade tray at the stage's center.
"The first item opening today's auction: the Single Pattern Chwi-ryeong-dan!"
As Baek Muryeong flung open the lid, a clear, pure medicinal fragrance flooded the hall. The modestly nestled pill within, its surface graced by elegantly flowing silver pattern script, was laid bare to every investigator's gaze.
"......"
Silence seized the auction hall in an instant. The shock was so overwhelming that not even a nervous cough broke through.
"A Single Pattern on a Chwi-ryeong-dan?"
"Pattern script on a 1st realm low-grade pill?"
"First the Ohang Dan, now shattering the limits of low-grade pills..."
"Pill Immortal Gok truly is the god of pill refinement!"
The hush erupted into frenzied cheers and cries of astonishment that threatened to shake the hall apart. Despite its humble origins as a 1st realm low-grade pill, the mere presence of pattern script skyrocketed its value dozens, hundreds of times over. The pure, vast heavenly energy contained within the pattern would vastly expand the meridians of Qi Refining cultivators and shatter breakthrough barriers with absolute power. Above all, its standalone purity made it an invaluable treasure for even Great Investigators forming their grand schemes.
"The starting bid for the Single Pattern Chwi-ryeong-dan... one mid-grade spirit stone!"
Mindful of its low-grade status, however, Baek Muryeong set a modest opening price. Sparking competition among the investigators to drive up the bids naturally was far better than starting too high.
"Two mid-grade spirit stones!"
"Three!"
"Five! I must claim it for our sect's late-stage disciple!"
True to form, the seated investigators spat bids in fierce rivalry.
From the VIP room, Baek Cheong watched the spectacle with an irrepressible smile tugging at her lips.
As expected of me.
The pill she had painstakingly refined through trial-and-error with her organized pill refinement method was now driving proper investigators mad, inflating its value. Considering the cheap ingredients, the profit margin was insane.
This is creation economy at its finest.
Bids soared at a terrifying pace, quickly surpassing ten mid-grade spirit stones. Absurdly high for a pill meant for Qi Refining cultivators, but the symbolism of the pattern script and Pill Immortal Gok's name value had inflated it into a bubble.
After fierce competition, the Single Pattern Chwi-ryeong-dan finally went to some nameless mid-sized family near Yeonha Fortress for a record twenty mid-grade spirit stones—an astronomical sum equivalent to two thousand low-grade ones. Even compared to an extreme-grade Chwi-ryeong-dan, the price gap was twentyfold.
"Twenty mid-grade spirit stones! Sold!"
With Baek Muryeong's booming call, Baek Cheong pictured her bulging pouch, her smile unyielding.
Riding the heat from the Single Pattern Chwi-ryeong-dan, subsequent 2nd realm treasures and pills fetched sky-high prices in quick succession, crowning the auction a resounding success.
"Ten high-grade spirit stones! Sold!"
Above all, the divine tally consigned by Blade Sovereign Patchun sold for a jaw-dropping sum that beggared belief.
Heading back to the estate after the auction's close, Baek Cheong's steps felt like floating on air.
"Elder Ga, dinner's on me tonight—big time! Put it on the company's tab and order the most expensive dishes!"
"Haha, you seem in high spirits, young miss. Consider it done."
The moment she reached her residence, Baek Cheong fiddled with her now-plump storage pouch and flopped onto her bed. Great-Uncle had handed over the full twenty mid-grade spirit stones as commission—untouched by fees—for making the auction a triumph.
The sweet reward of labor?
It felt like recompense for all her past struggles. Though backed by countless perks and her background, the profound fulfillment from spirit stones she herself had earned was something else.
Just selling Single Pattern Chwi-ryeong-dans like this would land me on a bed of spirit stones... though it'd probably be kinda hard.
But the satisfaction was fleeting. Imagining herself cooped up in the pill room day in, day out refining patterns into Chwi-ryeong-dans killed any interest.
To escape the sudden reality check, she logged into Moomyeongbang.
"Ah..."
There was one small problem.
The bait she'd tossed yesterday had the Dou users at each other's throats. What started in the speculation arena had ballooned into a forum-wide debate.
So much for bragging.
Pouting, Baek Cheong scrolled through the boards when one title suddenly caught her eye.
It was from Dou(55.19), the culprit who'd called her a Core Formation old monster. No sign of him during the sword art questions, yet here he was with a dead-serious sword cultivation guide. Curiosity piqued, Baek Cheong opened it.
Sword arts are mere vessels containing sword intent. Blindly mimicking an empty shell of a sword path yields no true power as a swordsman. No matter how renowned the sword art, failing to grasp the will of the sword technique within—the intent to cleave—reduces it to mere martial skill.
As Baek Cheong read, a bolt of inspiration flashed through her mind. The sword name Meteor Break from Blade Sovereign Patchun. And his cryptic advice that it would aid in piercing the massive barrier in her dantian.
Meteor Break... Plunging like a meteor to shatter.
Baek Cheong bolted upright in bed. The thread of sword art she'd pieced together with help from Moomyeongbang sword cultivators unfolded vividly in her head. A sharp sword path slicing space from above downward in a piercing thrust. Overlaying it with the name Meteor Break and the intent of destruction...
This could work...?
A sword technique minimizing qi waste while concentrating destructive power to an extreme point. Merging it with her quasi-unity insight might forge a breakthrough without relying on qi-clump pills like the Breakthrough Dan.
This is it!
In an instant, her regret over missing that fortuitous encounter vanished. Her dantian, steadily filled through diligent qi gathering, was on the verge of fullness. Closing her eyes, Baek Cheong focused on inhalation, channeling energy into her dantian.