Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 33: Golden Core

As soon as the voice faded, a cultivator spoke up, ”This treasure suits my fancy, three thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!”

”Who wouldnʼt be moved by such a treasure? You think to claim it with a mere three thousand five hundred Spirit Stones? Pure fantasy! I bid four thousand Spirit Stones.”

The price climbed incessantly until it reached five thousand Spirit Stones, which is when the fervor of the bids began to slow, yet even then, Li Zhirui was left astonished, ”Five thousand Spirit Stones could buy a second-tier top-grade Magic Artifact; is this artifact truly worth it?”

”This treasure can speed up cultivation; just this point alone justifies the current price.”

Although cultivators could extend their lifespan to four scores and ten years after breaking through the Foundation Establishment, the difficulty of the breakthrough was more than ten times higher than that in the Qi Cultivation Realm.

If one had a Gathering Spirit Jade Pendant in hand, even if it only increased the speed of cultivation by half, it would save a Foundation Establishment cultivator decades of time, which might allow them to glimpse into the mysteries of the Golden Core before their time was up.

Of course, such a possibility was minuscule, but everyone should have dreams; what if they came true?

Ultimately, the double-fish Jade Pendant was taken by a Foundation Establishment cultivator for the high price of six thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones.

”The second auction item is ten sticks of first-tier top-quality Calming Incense, with a starting bid of one thousand Spirit Stones, each bid must be no less than one hundred Spirit Stones.”

Once lit, the Calming Incense could quickly soothe a cultivatorʼs mind and help them enter a state conducive to cultivation; it also had an effect against Heart Demons. However, this item was rare; first, because incense makers were scarce, and second, because its function in guarding against Heart Demons was critically important to cultivators.

Thus, it was quickly ordered in advance by major powers for the training of their own cultivators and seldom appeared in the public eye.

”One thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!” Li Zhirui tried to bid but was swiftly outbid. When the price of Calming Incense surpassed two thousand Spirit Stones, Li Zhirui did not keep up.

Li Shilian spoke, ”If you want this item but donʼt have enough Spirit Stones on hand, you can borrow some from the clan.”

”No need, the price is too high, and Calming Incense isnʼt very useful to me,” Li Zhirui declined with a shake of his head.

He was cultivating steadily and did not suffer from the troubles of a Heart Demon; there was no need to spend so many Spirit Stones on Calming Incense.

Li Shilian nodded indifferently and said no more.

The auction continued with dozens of Spiritual Objects to be offered, including Spirit Pills, Magic Artifacts, Talismans, and other commonly used items by cultivators, as well as some precious materials.

During this time, Li Zhirui bid several times and eventually acquired a piece of first-tier top-quality Aquasink Wood for three hundred Spirit Stones and an Alchemy method for three thousand Spirit Stones.

Aquasink Wood could be used to make incense, similar in function to Calming Incense but weakened by several magnitudes.

”Combine, Condense, Meld, Nourish, Separate, Solidify! Six types of Alchemy spells!” Li Zhirui grinned broadly, his smile dazzling. Though the Jade Slip was not cheap, it was absolutely worth it for Li Zhirui!

In fact, the bulk of the three thousand Spirit Stones was spent on the ”Pill Condensation Scripture” and the ”Pill Nourishing Scripture” because the other four spells were the basics of the basics, something any Alchemist would know.

The functions of ”Pill Condensation Scripture” and ”Pill Nourishing Scripture,” as their names imply, could further extract the essence to reduce pill toxicity, and nourish the Spirit Pills to enhance their medicinal effects.

”Are you that happy?” Li Shiren could not quite understand why the Alchemy methods bought for three thousand Spirit Stones could make the usually restrained Li Zhirui display such overt emotion.

”Letʼs put it this way,” Li Zhirui gathered his thoughts and said with a smile, ”Previously, the Jade Spirit Pills I concocted could only sell for three Spirit Stones each, but if I use this method, I can sell them for four Spirit Stones!”

These three thousand Spirit Stones seemed like a lot, but just a few hundred batches of Spirit Pills would make up the cost.

It was only because there werenʼt many Alchemists attending this auction who understood the significance of Alchemy methods, or perhaps they didnʼt view this scripture as that important, otherwise Li Zhirui wouldnʼt have been able to secure it.

”Coming to this auction was really the right choice!” Li Zhirui was quite satisfied with his gains.

”Elder Lian, if the clan is interested in these two scriptures, they can have them for just one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.”

Li Zhirui had a deep affection for his family but would not allow his own interests to suffer. Moreover, after he snapped up the alchemy techniques, he didnʼt have many Spirit Stones left, so it was just the right time for him to recoup his losses.

”Hmm, I will discuss this with Second Brother,” Li Shilian nodded in agreement.

Soon, the first half of the auction came to an end.

During the break, a special attendant would deliver the Spirit Objects to the bidders to complete the transactions.

The female cultivator who had brought tea at the beginning came in with a Jade Plate and said, ”Two seniors, these are the Spiritual Objects you won earlier, totalling 3,300 Spirit Stones.”

”You count the Spirit Stones,” Li Zhirui said, not minding being overlooked a second time, as it was quite normal to be ignored next to two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The female cultivatorʼs expression changed slightly. She could tell that the Qi Cultivation Realm cultivator in front of her was much favored, and probably had good potential, but she didnʼt pay much attention to it, as she, being an auction house steward, had seen countless such young people.

What she had not expected at all was that it was this young cultivator who had won the two Spiritual Objects.

Fortunately, she was experienced and quickly regained her composure, smiling tenderly and saying, ”Congratulations, Dao friend, on getting what you desired.”

Li Zhirui smiled politely and then put the Aquasink Wood and Jade Slip into his storage bag, before turning back to his seat.

The female cultivator saw nothing improper and quietly left the room.

Before long, the second half of the auction began!

The female cultivator, Ziyan, who practiced the Bewitching Technique, swayed seductively onto the auction stage, introducing the opening Spiritual Objects.

”A high-quality second-tier Spiritual Object, the Clear Dew Treasure Pearl, this treasure can absorb the essence of the sun and moon automatically every day, producing a small bowl of second-tier Spirit Water,” Ziyan said with a charming smile, ”Regular consumption of the Spirit Water can expel impurities from the body, and with long-term use, it can even cure chronic hidden ailments.

Needless to say, its preciousness is well known to everyone here.”

The impurities she mentioned referred to pill toxins, naturally occurring body toxins, and various residues accumulated in the body before the Golden Core stage because one is incapable of foregoing food.

”The starting bid is 5,000 Spirit Stones, and each increment must be no less than 200 Spirit Stones!”

For Li Zhirui, this was a high price, but still, a considerable number of cultivators started bidding, and the price quickly went over 7,000 Spirit Stones.

”Itʼs surprising that Yuanming Sect would be willing to auction off such a treasure that formed naturally. Itʼs extremely rare,” Li Shiren remarked with astonishment.

There are so many Foundation Establishment cultivators and Qi Cultivation disciples in Yuanming Sect, arenʼt their needs for the Spirit Water considerable?

”Mind your words!” Li Shilian gave Li Shiren a stern look.

”Ten thousand Spirit Stones.” These four words had not even settled before they brought a hushed silence to the lively auction hall, reminding everyone the speaker, who had been silent since the auction started, was a Golden Core cultivator!

”Since three breaths have passed without anyone contesting my bid, by the rules, the Treasure Bead should be mine, right?”

Ziyanʼs body trembled, her mind snapped back to focus, and she hurriedly said, ”Congratulations to this senior for winning the Clear Dew Treasure Pearl for 10,000 Spirit Stones.”

Though 10,000 Spirit Stones seemed like a lot, had a Golden Core cultivator not personally stepped up, the price would certainly have gone even higher!

But who would dare to outbid a Golden Core cultivator?

There were a few Golden Core cultivators on the third floor, but clearly, they did not wish to offend a fellow peer over a second-tier Spiritual Object.