...

In a snap of the fingers, another month passed.

A flying vessel engraved with Pill Cloud Patterns slowly descended on the sect's premises in Fenghua Immortal City.

The door of the vessel opened, and Li Yuan smiled as he said to Chen Sheng, "Let's go, junior brother."

"After you, senior brother," Chen Sheng politely replied.

The two courteously stepped down from the flying vessel, followed by over a dozen elders from the Pill Hall, all exuding a calm demeanor, clearly having looked forward to this auction for some time.

The headquarters of the Cyan Wood Commerce Association was located in the core area of the Immortal City, not far from the sect's premises.

This commerce association had a complex background, initially established by descendants of the sect's Celestial Yang Peak Elder Li, with their business eventually expanding to other sect territories, gradually reflecting the influence of other factions.

From afar, a towering building shrouded in immortal aura stood at the end of the street, built of white jade. The plaque "Cyan Wood Commerce Association" was inscribed with vigorous strokes, radiating vitality.

At this moment, the pathways were crowded with people, one cultivator after another with profound auras streaming in, almost all at the Foundation Establishment level.

Chen Sheng even noticed many cultivators wearing the robes of "Yue Ling Sect" and "Li Xiao Sect."

Looking at this scene, Li Yuan chuckled, "The Cyan Wood Commerce Association certainly spread the word far and wide."

With that, he took out a purple jade order engraved with "Dragon Void," handing it to the attendant at the entrance.

The attendant, upon seeing the jade order, immediately showed increased respect, hurriedly waving the array banner in hand, opening a special pathway leading to a private box on the second floor.

The box was crafted from a special material exuding a dark glow, with the walls covered in mysterious array patterns.

Chen Sheng tried using his Divine Sense to probe, but was blocked by a gentle yet resilient force, unable to infiltrate at all.

"This box is specially prepared for Golden Core cultivators, made with Yingluo Sinking Gold, offering excellent resistance against Divine Sense infiltration," Li Yuan explained.

Chen Sheng nodded in understanding and casually chatted with Li Yuan and a few familiar elders for a moment.

Suddenly, the front wall lit up, with a luminous screen like a water curtain appearing, clearly reflecting the scenes from the hall downstairs.

"It's starting," Li Yuan said with a smile.

A middle-aged man in a purple brocade robe ascended the auction stage, his presence undisguised, unmistakably of late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

"So it's Li the Fourth."

Li Yuan recognized the person.

Curious, Chen Sheng asked, "Do you know him, senior brother?"

"Li Muzhou, the fourth of the main branch of the Li Clan of Qingxuan,"

Li Yuan's eyes flashed with amusement:

"This fellow is quite famous, with over a hundred wives and concubines, nearly gathering beauties from all the families under the Li Clan."

Chen Sheng chuckled at this:

"So it's him, I've heard of his name before—'Lord of Seeking Joy' Li Muzhou."

Beside them, a chubby elder couldn't help but laugh, "Speaking of this Fellow Daoist Li, there's an interesting story... "

As they chatted and laughed, the auction began in earnest.

Li Muzhou's voice was resonant, quickly invigorating the crowd, and the first auction item was soon brought up—a Tier Two Top Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Cyan Flood Dragon Banner.

As the banner unfurled, the shadow of a flood dragon seemed to coil around it, drawing the fervent gaze of many late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators below.

With Li Muzhou announcing the starting bid, the sounds of bidding rose one after another, the price rapidly climbing to ninety thousand lower grade spirit stones, finally settling at one hundred thousand with the gavel.

"As expected, the usual trick, starting with a decent spiritual artifact to warm up the atmosphere." Li Yuan chuckled.

Then came next.

Tier Two Cultivation Techniques, Demon Beast Eggs, Spiritual Materials...

One by one, the items came up for auction

Until a simple jade scroll was presented on stage, piquing Chen Sheng's slight interest.

Li Muzhou introduced:

"This item is an ancient formula, called 'Golden Yang Qi Blood Pill,' a Tier Two Middle Grade, incredibly beneficial for body cultivating practice."

He paused, not withholding:

"However, many materials in the ancient formula are scarce now, requiring an Alchemy Master's modifications. Starting bid, eight thousand lower grade spirit stones."

This announcement caused many initially interested cultivators to back off—modifying a pill formula is no easy task!

However, Chen Sheng's eyes lit up. He mainly practiced body refining and precisely needed such elixirs for support.

After several rounds of bidding, he acquired the ancient formula for ten thousand lower grade spirit stones.

Seeing him purchase the formula, Li Yuan smiled, "If you want to deduce this pill formula, junior brother, you should collaborate with Sixth Junior. Considering the timing, he should be out of seclusion soon."

Chen Sheng was delighted to hear this and quickly cupped his hands:

"Thank you for the reminder, senior brother!"

Among the subsequent auction items, Chen Sheng took a liking to several spiritual materials, but the starting prices were shockingly high, leaving him unable to proceed.

He couldn't help but sigh at his "poverty" within the Foundation Establishment cultivator circle.

On the other hand, several elders from the Pill Hall made generous purchases, acquiring more than a dozen items.

Li Yuan also made two purchases, acquiring two Tier Two Top Grade spiritual materials for refining high-tier elixirs.

Finally, it was time for the grand finale.

Seven puppets exuding the aura of Foundation Establishment Perfection, carrying a red cloth-covered jade disc, walked slowly onto the stage.

The puppets moved with precision, joints shimmering with spirit light, clearly masterpieces.

Chen Sheng's eyes brightened at the sight of the puppets.

Li Yuan caught his expression and smiled, "Junior brother interested in puppets?"

"I am indeed somewhat interested."

Li Yuan laughed:

"The Li Clan may lack some things, but certainly not puppets."

"The Elder Li of Celestial Yang Peak is a Tier Three Puppet Master. If you are truly interested, junior brother, I can introduce you to the true inheritor of Celestial Yang Peak in a few days."

Chen Sheng cupped his fists:

"Thank you, senior brother."

...

On the stage, Li Muzhou unveiled the red cloth, revealing a pool of emerald liquid shimmering with green light, speaking with a more solemn tone:

"The final auction item, named 'Celestial Cyan Profound Water,' many of you might have heard of this name."

Inside the box, Li Yuan looked at the green water, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes: "So it's this item, no wonder they are auctioning it."

Chen Sheng nodded slightly. Guided by the Dragon Void Daoist, he recently perused many sect records, gaining insight into mystical treasures of the cultivation realm.

The Celestial Cyan Profound Water is indeed a Core Formation Spiritual Object, roughly capable of enhancing success rates by half a percent, yet has a strong attribute restriction—only effective for Wood and Water Spiritual Root cultivators.

Li Yuan practiced a Fire Attribute Cultivation Technique, rendering this item useless for him.

Li Muzhou continued his introduction on stage:

"This item is a Tier Three treasure, crucial for water and wood attribute cultivators forming a Golden Core, enhancing success rates by half a percent! Starting bid, fifty thousand lower grade spirit stones!"

Below, several late-stage and perfection Water and Wood Attribute cultivators' breaths quickened, their eyes full of desire.

"Half a percent! It's actually half a percent!"

A perfection cultivator exclaimed, "I've failed twice to form a Golden Core, but with this item, perhaps I could succeed!"

Many so-called "Core Formation Spiritual Objects" often had only "marginal" or "slight" effects, even less than one percent.

The half-percent effect of the Celestial Cyan Profound Water was enough to drive them mad, with the price rapidly soaring, surpassing eighty thousand lower grade spirit stones in moments.

Chen Sheng watched this scene calmly, feeling immense emotion.

These cultivators often had only one life, daring to forge ahead and take risks!

If it were him, a mere half-percent probability likely wouldn't tempt him to take chances, preferring to hold the spiritual object for future more assured moments.

Chen Sheng pondered his path to forming a Core, lamenting the lack of Core Formation Spiritual Objects, especially those beneficial for body cultivation.

For Qi Refining, however, there was indeed a promising path—refining a demon pill to become a Fake Pill Cultivator.

According to recorded texts, Earth Grade Spiritual Root cultivators could have about a seventy percent chance if they found a suitable demon pill, while High Grade ones could have forty to fifty percent.

As for Lower Grade Spiritual Roots... it estimated around two to three percent!

Chen Sheng sighed to himself:

"This is already the highest success rate assistance in this cultivation realm."

"But obtaining a demon pill isn't easy!"

"For me to acquire a demon pill is too difficult, and if the sect intervenes, even if obtained, they'd provide it to Earth Grade Spiritual Root cultivators."

"Like Second and Third Senior Brothers, as well as true inheritors from other peaks, I have only one path to strive for it—to become a Tier Three Alchemist, having sufficient value."

At this time, the bidding on stage reached a fever pitch, with the price of the Celestial Cyan Profound Water exceeding a million lower grade spirit stones.

The competitors gradually became the cultivators from the various boxes, evidently supported by great powers in their backing.

The perfection cultivator, previously excited, now red-faced and penniless, had no funds to continue bidding, leaving in frustration with a cold snort.

Finally, the Celestial Cyan Profound Water was acquired by a cultivator from one of the boxes for one million one hundred and fifty thousand lower grade spirit stones.

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