Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 610 Innate Spiritual Objects, Chaos in the Marketplace, the Biggest Winner

"Does Fellow Daoist Hou know who is behind this auction? How could they possess such extraordinary abilities?"

Upon hearing this, Hou San's eyes darted around behind his monkey-face mask, and his voice lowered, carrying a hint of mystery and awe:

"You've stumped me. To be honest, the mastermind behind the Netherworld Auction House is a mystery throughout the entire far west. The Immortal Alliance is powerful enough, right? But as far as I know, even the Immortal Alliance can't find out its background. They can only tacitly acknowledge its existence, and sometimes they even cooperate with it."

He looked around to make sure no one was paying attention, then transmitted his voice in an almost inaudible voice:

"There are rumors that... this may involve those old monsters who have long since retired from worldly affairs and whose true nature is rarely seen... only those kinds of beings have the means and the audacity to put together an auction that even the Immortal Alliance cannot fathom."

A Nascent Soul stage monster!
Fu Changsheng's gaze narrowed slightly.

At this moment, the two black-clad, fake infant cultivators who had led them there stepped forward and nodded to the head guard at the palace gate. The head guard's indifferent gaze swept over all 360 Golden Core cultivators present, and he nodded slightly, stepping aside to make way.

"Gentlemen, please follow us into the hall." The voice of the black-clad fake infant rang out again, breaking the silence of the ruins.

...

...

Stepping into the magnificent white jade palace, the interior space was indeed a hidden paradise. The high dome seemed to hold the movement of stars, and the smooth, mirror-like floor reflected the floating jade platforms and the figures of the cultivators coming and going. A refreshing yet rich spiritual energy permeated the space, invigorating the spirit.

At the entrance to the corridor leading to the core area, there stands a small and exquisite celestial secret room.

A jade plaque stands in front of the house, inscribed with the rules:

Anyone wishing to participate in the auction must present an item for authentication by an appraiser before being allowed entry. Those who fail to pass authentication will remain in the outer hall until the auction concludes and are then transported out. Furthermore, the auction house is willing to purchase any presented item, regardless of whether it is used for authentication, at a price 10% higher than the market value.

Upon hearing this rule, many cultivators understood, while others frowned slightly.

Fu Changsheng's gaze swept over the Heavenly Secrets House, and his mind instantly became clear.

This so-called certification is probably not for verifying the participants' wealth or identity; its true core purpose is "collection"—collecting rare treasures from around the world, especially those special items that may be scattered and unknown to the public. Those behind this auction are using this once-in-a-century event to selectively collect what they need or are interested in! As for the 10% higher purchase price, it's merely a small incentive for those who fail the certification, or a form of compensation and cover-up for those unwilling to sell their treasures.

"What a brilliant tactic."

The ability to devise such a method and to get Golden Core cultivators from all sides to willingly offer their treasures for selection demonstrates a level of power and strategy far exceeding that of ordinary sects.

"Fellow Daoist, you...you didn't forget to prepare anything, did you?"

Seeing Fu Changsheng remain silent, only staring at the Heavenly Mystery House, Hou San lowered his voice and asked with some concern. He assumed Fu Changsheng was a stranger and unaware of the unwritten rules, as it was his first time there.

Before Fu Changsheng could answer, Hou San, with an air of "I understand," quickly pulled a piece of ore emitting a faint earthy yellow glow from his storage bag and stuffed it into Fu Changsheng's hand:

“Here, this piece of ‘Hou Tu Jing Jin’ is of decent quality. You can use it to tide you over! Anyway, whether it passes the auction or not, the auction house will buy it at 10% above the market price, so I won’t lose out. Consider it a good deed!” He smiled somewhat naively, clearly treating Fu Changsheng as an inexperienced “newcomer.”

Fu Changsheng looked at the piece of refining material in his hand, which was indeed quite good, and then at the sincere look in Hou San's eyes behind his monkey-face mask. His heart stirred slightly, but he did not immediately refuse. He simply said:

"Thank you for your kind offer, Daoist Hou."

The procession moved forward slowly.

Most of the cultivators ahead of them passed smoothly, clearly having prepared in advance, and their items were approved by the appraiser. However, a few people had items with dim spiritual light or that were too common, and were calmly told by the appraiser that they "did not meet the requirements." They were then politely invited by the attendants to the designated waiting area, their faces filled with disappointment and helplessness.

Soon, it was Hou San's turn.

He took a deep breath, gave Fu Changsheng a reassuring gesture, and strode into the Heavenly Mystery House.

However, as time passed, Hou San took much longer to get inside than the people before him. Just as Fu Changsheng sensed something was wrong, the curtain of the Heavenly Mystery Room was lifted, and Hou San walked out dejectedly. He seemed to have lost all his energy, and even his monkey-face mask looked somewhat dull.

He walked up to Fu Changsheng, his voice hoarse and filled with barely concealed anxiety:
“Fellow Daoist… I… I failed. They said that although my family heirloom ‘Spirit-Nourishing Jade’ is of excellent quality, it… is not on their list of candidates for this competition…”

He suddenly grabbed Fu Changsheng's arm, his tone almost pleading:
"Fellow Daoist, if you see the 'Heavenly Jade Dew' after you go in, please, please help me take a picture of it! My sister... my sister is waiting for it to save her life! I will definitely find a way to get the spirit stones for you after I get out!" He was tightly clutching an empty jade bottle in his hand, which was obviously the container used to hold the "Heavenly Jade Dew".

Looking at the talkative cultivator who had been so enthusiastic just moments before but now seemed utterly dejected, Fu Changsheng understood. The other man's previous act of kindness in giving him the Houtu Refined Gold was probably not only to establish goodwill, but also to ask Fu Changsheng's help in bidding for the item he needed if he himself couldn't pass the test.

"it is good"

Fu Changsheng accepted the storage bag handed to him by Hou San, responded, and, at the attendant's signal, stepped into the mysterious Heavenly Secrets Room.

Inside the Heavenly Secrets Room, the light was soft, and the furnishings were simple. Behind an antique jade table sat the white-haired, white-bearded appraiser, his demeanor restrained. He didn't look up, but simply repeated the same phrase in a calm voice:

Show me your belongings.

Fu Changsheng remained expressionless, and with a flick of his sleeve, several vibrant fourth-tier spiritual flowers and herbs appeared on the jade table. These spiritual herbs were of excellent quality and would be considered rare even in the outside world; he had selected them from the storage bags he had previously acquired.

The appraiser glanced at it, shook his head slightly, and spoke in a completely calm voice:
"Does not meet requirements".

After pondering for a moment, Fu Changsheng took out several fourth-order refining materials, including a fragment of an ancient treasure with considerable power that he had obtained from a Golden Core cultivator.

The appraiser continued to shake his head, his tone even carrying a hint of barely perceptible indifference:

"If this is all you wish to do, you may wait in the outer hall."

Clearly, these treasures, which would be considered quite valuable by ordinary Golden Core cultivators, did not meet the standards of this place.

Fu Changsheng paused for a moment, seemingly weighing his options. Finally, as if he had made up his mind, he flipped his palm over, revealing a small cluster of seemingly insignificant, shriveled brown seeds. These seeds possessed very little spiritual energy; unless examined closely, they were almost indistinguishable from ordinary things. They were the [Fourth-Order Nurturing Grass Seeds] he had obtained in that other world.

The appraiser was about to wave the guest away, his gaze casually sweeping over the seed. The next moment, he was suddenly stunned! A sharp light suddenly shot out from his originally cloudy and indifferent eyes, and his body even involuntarily leaned forward slightly, staring intently at the seed in Fu Changsheng's palm.

"This...this is..." For the first time, his voice carried obvious emotional fluctuations, an extreme surprise and disbelief.

"Fellow Daoist... do you truly intend to use this item for authentication?" The appraiser's voice carried a hint of hesitation. He had clearly recognized the item's extraordinary nature; its potential value far exceeded that of inanimate objects.

Fu Changsheng nodded calmly: "Exactly."

The appraiser gave Fu Changsheng a deep look and said nothing more. After a moment of contemplation, he took out a purple jade talisman from his pocket—neither gold nor jade, with an ancient shape and mysterious star patterns engraved on its surface—and solemnly handed it to Fu Changsheng.

"Since you possess such an auspicious item, you are qualified to participate in a higher level of transaction," the appraiser said solemnly. "This is a 'Star Talisman.' With this talisman, you can participate in a small 'barter' exchange meeting limited to a select few after this auction. At that time, perhaps something you truly need will appear."

He paused, then added, "Currently, I have only issued five of these talismans."

Fu Changsheng's heart stirred, and he accepted the cool-to-the-touch star talisman. He understood that this so-called exchange meeting was probably the most crucial and secretive part of the auction, and the items brought out by the participants were far superior to those auction items that could be measured in spirit stones.

"Thank you." Fu Changsheng put away the star talisman and bowed.

The appraiser waved his hand and pointed to a small teleportation array beside the jade table that emitted faint spatial fluctuations: "Fellow Daoist, please enter through here."

Fu Changsheng didn't delay any longer and stepped into the teleportation array. A flash of white light, and his figure disappeared.

The next moment, Fu Changsheng found himself in a completely private space. It was an elegant private room, about ten zhang square, fully equipped with tables, chairs, and a bed, all made of a spiritual wood that exuded a calming and concentration-enhancing aura. A faint sandalwood fragrance filled the air, bringing tranquility to the mind.

At the entrance of the private room, a beautiful maid with an aura at the Purple Mansion stage stood with her hands at her sides. Upon seeing Fu Changsheng appear, she immediately bowed respectfully.

Fu Changsheng ignored the maid and focused his attention on the private room itself. He tried to extend his divine sense outwards, but when his divine sense touched the seemingly ordinary wall of the room, it was like a mud ox sinking into the sea, instantly absorbed and dissipated, unable to penetrate even a fraction!
He raised an eyebrow and increased the intensity of his divine sense. Even with his current immense divine sense, comparable to the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, he still couldn't budge the room in the slightest despite exerting his full power! The wall's material was unknown, seemingly capable of devouring all divine sense probes.

"As expected..." Fu Changsheng felt a chill run down his spine.

The forces behind this auction are truly powerful and influential.

The shielding effect of this private room is so strong that it could even block the divine sense of a Nascent Soul True Monarch! In this way, the identities of all participants and their bidding behavior are protected to the greatest extent, and the possibility of being tracked down, murdered, and robbed afterward is eliminated.

He walked to the front of the private room, where there was a huge crystal wall.

Through the crystal wall, one could clearly see a magnificent, enormous circular auction hall below, and the dazzling main auction stage in the center. In other directions, there were numerous floating private boxes similar to his, densely packed like a honeycomb, isolated from each other and impossible to peer into.

The design of the entire auction venue ensures privacy without obstructing the view of the auction items.

...

...

Fu Changsheng sat quietly in his private room, regulating his breathing. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the auction hall below was completely full. Three hundred and sixty private rooms surrounded the central circular auction stage, forming a scene of stars surrounding the moon.

at this time.

A surge of spiritual light gathered on the auction stage, and a middle-aged cultivator in splendid robes with a kind face appeared out of thin air. His aura was profound, revealing him to be a pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivator, and his face wore a smile that was as gentle as a spring breeze.

"Welcome, fellow Daoists, to this Netherworld Auction. I am Jin Buhuan, and I am honored to serve as the auctioneer for this event." The middle-aged cultivator's voice was gentle yet clearly carried to every private room. "I presume you are all already familiar with the rules, so I will not repeat them. Enough with the pleasantries, please take a look at the first item!"

With a flick of his sleeve, a jade platform rose from the center of the auction stage, upon which rested a fiery red flying sword, its blade shimmering with runes and radiating a scorching aura.

"The Crimson Sun Sword, a top-grade fourth-tier fire-attribute flying sword magic weapon, is made primarily of Crimson Flame Refined Gold. It was forged by a master craftsman over three years and contains three 'Heaven-Burning' restrictions. When fully activated, it can transform into a sea of ​​fire... Starting bid: 300,000 low-grade spirit stones!"

The auction has officially begun!
The initial auction items were mostly fourth-tier pills, magical artifacts, talismans, and some relatively rare spiritual materials. Although the quality was quite good, attracting many Golden Core cultivators to bid enthusiastically, the atmosphere was lively, but it did not arouse much interest in Fu Changsheng. He sat calmly in his private box, waiting quietly.

As time went on, the quality of the auction items gradually improved, with the appearance of fifth-grade spiritual herbs, incomplete ancient treasures, and even some rare monster eggs. This attracted cultivators from major sects and families on the second floor to frequently make bids, and the bidding became more intense.

"Next item, three drops of [Heavenly Jade Dew]!" Jin Buhuan's voice rang out again. He held an exquisite jade bottle in his hand, the mouth of which was sealed with a talisman. Inside the bottle, three drops of liquid, as warm and smooth as white jade, exuding a pure life force, could be vaguely seen rolling.

"This dew is unique to the Jade Pool of Tianshan Mountain, containing pure life essence. It has miraculous effects such as restoring flesh to bones and reviving the dead, and is also the main ingredient for refining many high-level healing pills. Starting bid: 800,000 low-grade spirit stones!"

Fu Changsheng's eyes flickered slightly as he remembered Hou San's instructions. He did not immediately make a bid, but instead observed quietly.

"Eight hundred and fifty thousand!"

"Nine hundred thousand!"

"one million!"

The Heavenly Jade Dew was clearly in high demand, and its price rose rapidly, quickly breaking through the 1.5 million mark before the bidding began to thin out.

"One million six hundred thousand." Fu Changsheng spoke for the first time, his voice coming through the array in the private room, calm and even.

This price is close to the limit of the market price, and there was a moment of silence in the room.

"One million six hundred thousand, for the first time!"

"One million six hundred thousand, the second time!"

……

"One million six hundred and fifty thousand!" A slightly gloomy voice came from a private room, carrying a hint of resentment.

Fu Changsheng didn't even frown: "One million seven hundred thousand."

The private room fell silent, clearly indicating that they had given up.

"One million seven hundred thousand! Sold! Congratulations, fellow Daoist!" Jin Buhuan sealed the deal with a single blow.

Fu Changsheng paid with spirit stones, and the bottle of Heavenly Jade Dew quickly appeared before him through a small teleportation array inside the private room. After checking that everything was correct, he put it away, thus fulfilling his promise to Hou San.

The auction continued, reaching a series of climaxes. When a damaged spirit-grade shield was sold for a sky-high price of eight million spirit stones, the atmosphere in the entire venue reached its peak.

Jin Buhuan's smile widened, and his voice rose a few decibels:

"Fellow Daoists, what follows is the first and final item of this auction!"

The entire room fell silent instantly, and all eyes were focused on the auction stage.

Jin Buhuan solemnly took out a box made of ten-thousand-year-old warm jade. The moment the box was opened, a five-colored radiance shot into the sky, and an extremely pure aura, as if containing the power of the origin of heaven and earth, spread out, invigorating all the cultivators!
Inside the box, a stream of energy, constantly shifting in shape and flowing with five colors—blue, red, yellow, white, and black—suspended silently. It had no fixed form; sometimes it resembled a dragon, sometimes a phoenix, sometimes it transformed into mountains and rivers, and sometimes it scattered into specks of starlight, mysterious and extraordinary.

"The grade and function of this item are unknown, but—" Jin Buhuan's voice carried a hint of excitement, "this item contains a trace of the true essence of creation!!"

His gaze swept across the entire room, lingering for a moment on the VIP boxes on the second floor: "The value of this item is self-evident. Starting bid—five million low-grade spirit stones! Each bid must be at least one hundred thousand!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire auction hall fell silent for a moment, and then erupted into an unprecedented bidding frenzy!
"Five and a half million!"

"Six million!"

"Seven million!"

……

The price skyrocketed like a flying sword, instantly breaking the ten million mark! Almost all the bidders were cultivators from the second-floor private rooms, especially the private rooms where Yun Feiyang, the young master of the Immortal Alliance, Li Wuhen, the holy son of the Extreme Fiend Sect, and Xue Qingyi, the holy maiden of the Heavenly Mountain Jade Pool, were located, where the bidding was the most intense.

Fu Changsheng gazed at the dreamlike mass of Five Elements Origin Energy, his eyes resolute. He was determined to obtain this!
"Thirteen million!" His first bid immediately raised the price by a whole level.

The price caused a slight stir in the venue, with many eyes turning to Fu Changsheng's private room, filled with curiosity and surprise.

“Thirteen million five hundred thousand!” Yun Feiyang’s lazy voice rang out.

“Fourteen million!” Li Wuhen’s tone was icy.

"Fifteen million." Xue Qingyi's voice remained as cold as ever.

"Sixteen million." Fu Changsheng raised the price again, showing no sign of backing down.

The competition mainly took place between Fu Changsheng and the three top geniuses on the second floor. The price quickly surpassed twenty million, leaving countless Golden Core cultivators speechless – this was already the annual income of many small sects!
"Twenty-three million!" Li Wuhen's voice carried a hint of murderous intent, seemingly impatient. "Twenty-four million," Fu Changsheng calmly followed.

The situation reached a stalemate. Even for Yun Feiyang and his group, this price required careful consideration. After all, while they had powerful backers, the resources they could utilize were not unlimited.

Jin Buhuan beamed with joy: "Twenty-four million! Any other fellow Daoists willing to bid?"

"...Twenty-four million, for the first time!"

"Twenty-four million, for the second time!"

Just as the gavel was about to fall on Jin Buhuan, a woman's voice, which had never participated in the bidding before, softly rang out from a secluded private room:

"thirty million."

The whole place was in an uproar!

A one-time price increase of six million! That's incredibly extravagant!
Fu Changsheng's pupils contracted. This voice... was the same mysterious female cultivator whose origin he couldn't quite pinpoint!

The private room where Yun Feiyang, Li Wuhen, and Xue Qingyi were located also fell silent. Thirty million low-grade spirit stones had exceeded their expectations for this item.

Jin Buhuan's voice trembled with excitement: "Thirty-thirty million! This fellow Daoist has offered thirty million! Is there anyone willing to bid higher?"

Fu Changsheng remained silent for a moment. Thirty million spirit stones—almost half of all the spirit stones he possessed! But when he thought of the mysterious palace in the Five Elements Space, the Dragon Blood Tree, and Ouyang Fei's injuries… this item could not be lost!
He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Thirty-one million."

The woman's voice seemed to chuckle lightly, with a hint of amusement: "Thirty-five million."

boom!
The entire auction hall erupted in chaos! Everyone realized that this was no longer a simple bidding war, but a contest where victory was inevitable! This mysterious female cultivator's wealth and background were probably in no way inferior to those three prodigies!
Fu Changsheng frowned. Thirty-five million—this was nearing his limit. He still had some precious materials and pills from the three major sects that could be converted into twenty million spirit stones. He immediately said:
"Forty-three million!"

This increased the price by almost ten million spirit stones in one go!

Jin Buhuan shouted three times, and then offered no further price increases.

"Sold! Congratulations to this fellow Daoist for winning the innate five-element spiritual treasure—Five Elements Origin Qi—for 43 million spirit stones!"

The first and most anticipated item, at an astonishingly high price, fell into the hands of Fu Changsheng.

……

The next few items, though the most anticipated, also sparked fierce competition.

One of the incomplete ancient defensive array diagrams was auctioned off by Yun Feiyang, the young master of the Immortal Alliance, for 18 million spirit stones; a "Nascent Soul Grass" that could increase the chance of forming a Nascent Soul by 20% sparked fierce competition between Li Wuhen and Xue Qingyi, and was ultimately won by Li Wuhen for 22 million spirit stones; while Xue Qingyi bid for a bottle of "Ten Thousand Year Ice Marrow" which had miraculous effects on ice-type techniques, spending 15 million spirit stones.

During this period, Fu Changsheng also made several bids, acquiring some auxiliary materials needed for refining Core Formation spiritual items, as well as several inheritance jade slips that would benefit the development of the family, spending approximately five million spirit stones.

Finally, the auction officially came to an end when the last and most anticipated item—a "substitute doll (in good condition)" that was said to be able to withstand three full-force attacks from a Nascent Soul cultivator—was auctioned off to an anonymous cultivator for 26 million spirit stones.

Jin Buhuan, his face flushed, cupped his hands and said:
"Congratulations to all the fellow Daoists who have successfully bid for their desired items! This auction has now concluded! Please wait a moment while the mini-exchange session concludes before you are teleported out. The remaining ten Daoists who have obtained Star Talismans, please follow me to the secret chamber."

...

...

Fu Changsheng stood up.

Jin Buhuan arrived at a bronze stone gate.

There was a squeak.

The stone gate opened.

Surrounded by ten seats, besides the known Yun Feiyang, Li Wuhen, Xue Qingyi, and Fu Changsheng, the remaining five cultivators all possessed profound auras, like ancient wells and deep pools. Although they tried their best to conceal them, the spiritual pressure they exuded made all the Golden Core cultivators present feel their hearts tremble—these five people were very likely Nascent Soul True Monarchs in disguise!

The appraiser, who was hosting the exchange, remained calm and reiterated the rules:

"Gentlemen, please present your treasures in order and state your needs. If there are no objections, let's begin."

Seated at the head of the table, the young master of the Immortal Alliance, Yun Feiyang, maintained his languid demeanor. With a flick of his finger, a dazzling golden light landed on the central jade platform. It was a strange metal, about the size of a fist, entirely golden, with what appeared to be liquid flowing inside.

"【Solar Refined Gold】, a fifth-grade superior spiritual material, one of the top main materials for refining fire and metal attribute spiritual treasures." Yun Feiyang's voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable confidence. "It can be exchanged for spiritual items that can assist in the formation of the Nascent Soul, such as 'Nascent Soul Condensation Pill', or similar items such as 'Nascent Soul Transformation Liquid' and 'Nine Apertures Nascent Soul Fruit'."

Fifth-order Solar Refined Gold!

Upon seeing this item, even the cultivators who appeared to be at the Nascent Soul stage glanced at it. It was indeed rare, enough to tempt even Nascent Soul cultivators. However, items that aid in Nascent Soul formation were even more rare and hard to come by. A moment of silence fell over the room, with no one responding. Yun Feiyang seemed to have anticipated this, and calmly withdrew the Solar Essence Gold.

Next up is Xue Qingyi, the Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool of Tianshan.

She didn't take out any physical object. Her cool gaze swept across the entire room, and her ethereal voice rang out: "What I seek is a reliable secret method to assist in the formation of the Nascent Soul stage. It doesn't matter the rank, but it must be complete and its authenticity must be verified. If you can provide it, Yaochi will surely reward you handsomely and will definitely provide something that will satisfy you."

Her words carried the confidence and sophistication of the Heavenly Mountain Jade Pool, directly guaranteeing it with the sect's reputation. However, the Nascent Soul Formation technique was extremely precious, mostly kept as a closely guarded secret within the sect. Even if someone possessed it, they might not be willing to trade it. Silence remained in the room.

It was Li Wuhen, the Holy Son of the Extreme Fiend Sect,'s turn.

He snorted coldly, took out a blood-red jade slip, and a murderous aura emanated from it. "The first three levels of the [Blood Fiend Avatar] divine ability require a Nascent Soul stage cultivation to begin learning. Once mastered, it can condense a Blood Fiend Avatar possessing ninety percent of the original's strength, with endless uses." His tone was icy. "In exchange, you need a defensive spiritual treasure capable of withstanding Nascent Soul tribulation lightning, one that can at least weaken the tribulation's power by twenty percent!"

A supernatural power! And the renowned "Blood Fiend Clone Technique" at that! Although it's only the first three levels, its value is immeasurable. However, a spiritual treasure capable of withstanding a Nascent Soul lightning tribulation is an even greater life-saving item, its rarity surpassing even supernatural powers. Li Wuhen's request also went unanswered.

Thus, the treasures offered and the demands made by the three top talents failed to be sold due to their excessively high-end and specific nature. The atmosphere in the room became somewhat tense.

Next, it was the turn of the four mysterious cultivators whose auras were unfathomable.

The first man, dressed in gray hemp clothing, with an ordinary face like an old farmer, spoke slowly, his voice hoarse: "I need a piece of [Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Nourishing Wood], at least three inches long. If you have it, I can help you once, or provide something of equal value." He did not release any pressure, but the promise of "helping you once" made everyone's hearts skip a beat, further confirming his Nascent Soul cultivation.

The second person, shrouded in a black robe, with only a pair of eyes gleaming green, said: "I want three drops of the heart's essence blood of the [Netherworld Raven]. The price is the same as above." His voice was sinister and chilling.

The third person was a kind-faced old woman holding a string of prayer beads: "I wish to purchase a [Resurrection Grass] that is over five thousand years old. I can exchange it for the 'Hundred Herbs Elixir Classic' that I have studied all my life, which records three fifth-order elixir formulas and more than ten fourth-order elixir formulas."

The fourth person was a middle-aged scholar with a sallow complexion. He coughed lightly and said, "I need a fifth-order spiritual plant seed that is still alive, any attribute is fine. I am willing to exchange it for my cultivation experience from the early to mid-stage of the Nascent Soul stage, plus three 'Jade Marrow Fungus' that can improve the mana of the late-stage Golden Core stage."

The requests from these four individuals were all rare and precious treasures that were almost extinct in the outside world, but the conditions they offered were equally tempting! In particular, the promises of Nascent Soul cultivators, alchemy manuals, and cultivation insights were things that Golden Core cultivators dreamed of.

However, items such as the ten-thousand-year-old Soul-Nourishing Wood, the essence blood of the Netherworld Ghost Crow, and the five-thousand-year-old Resurrection Grass were too rare, and everyone present frowned, unable to produce any of them.

When it was Fu Changsheng's turn, a thought flickered in his mind. He happened to possess the "further-blooming fifth-tier spiritual plant seed" that the fourth middle-aged scholar needed! It was one of those unknown seeds he had obtained from another world!

Without further hesitation, under the watchful eyes of everyone, he took out a jade box covered with sealing talismans. Uncovering the talismans and opening the lid, a faint yet exceptionally pure life force emanated from it. In the center of the jade box lay a seed the size of a longan, its surface covered with natural cloud patterns and emitting a faint blue light.

"I do not know what kind of seed this is," Fu Changsheng said frankly. "But it is full of vitality and is undoubtedly a fifth-order spiritual plant. I am willing to exchange it with this senior for cultivation experience from the early to mid-stage of the Nascent Soul stage, as well as three Jade Marrow Fungus."

The sallow-faced middle-aged scholar's eyes suddenly lit up with delight. He stared intently at the seed and exclaimed excitedly, "Excellent! Excellent! So full of life, just what I need! Deal!"

He couldn't wait to take out three lingzhi mushrooms that exuded spiritual energy and were shaped like white jade, as well as a jade slip imprinted with complex information, and was about to exchange them with Fu Changsheng.

"Wait a minute!"

Just then, the old man in hemp robes who had spoken first suddenly spoke up, his gaze fixed intently on the seed in Fu Changsheng's hand. He said in a deep voice, "Young friend, this item is also of great use to me. I am willing to offer a higher price. In addition to the one sale I promised before, I can also give you an extra top-tier fourth-order defensive magic treasure! How about you give this to me?"

The middle-aged scholar's face immediately darkened: "Old monster withered tree, what do you mean by this? I clearly agreed on this item with this young friend first!"

The old man in hemp robes, known as "Old Monster of the Withered Tree," said calmly, "The highest bidder wins; that's the rule of the exchange meeting. Besides, your insights and jade marrow fungus may not be as valuable as my promise and magic treasure."

The middle-aged scholar angrily retorted, "You!"

The atmosphere in the venue instantly became tense as two cultivators who appeared to be at the Nascent Soul stage were about to argue over a seed.

Fu Changsheng's mind raced. The old monster withered wood was indeed offering a higher price, but he had already made a verbal deal with the middle-aged scholar, and it would be troublesome to go back on his word rashly. Moreover, he urgently needed the systematic insights into the Nascent Soul stage to deduce and improve his "Chaotic Nascent Soul Secret Technique".

He immediately cupped his hands to the withered old monster and said, "Thank you for your kindness, senior. However, I have already made a promise to this senior, and I cannot break my word. I hope you will understand."

Having said that, he no longer hesitated and pushed the jade box directly towards the middle-aged scholar.

Upon seeing this, the middle-aged scholar's expression softened slightly. He quickly took the jade box, examined it carefully, and then showed a satisfied look on his face. He handed the jade slip and the three jade marrow mushrooms to Fu Changsheng, while casting a slightly smug glance at the withered old monster.

The old monster withered wood looked rather unpleasant. He snorted coldly and said no more, but a faint shadow of gloom flashed deep in his eyes as he looked at Fu Changsheng.

After completing this transaction, Fu Changsheng reaped considerable profits. Not wanting to be the center of attention any longer, he refrained from participating in subsequent transactions.

Soon, it was his turn to make his final request.

Fu Changsheng composed himself and said in a deep voice:

"I need three things."

Firstly, there are rare and precious items that can accelerate the growth cycle of spiritual plants, such as 'Time Sand' and 'Creation Dew'.

Secondly, clues or information regarding 'innate five elements spiritual objects';
Thirdly, my cultivation insights or notes on breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage. If any senior or fellow cultivator possesses such items, I am willing to exchange them for spirit stones or other equivalent items, and I will certainly not disappoint you.

His demands were broader than those of the previous few, but equally difficult to fulfill. The rare items that accelerated the growth of spiritual plants, clues to innate five-elemental spiritual objects, and insights into the Nascent Soul stage—each one was extraordinary.

Silence fell over the room once again.

Yun Feiyang, Li Wuhen, and the others seemed lost in thought, while none of the four mysterious cultivators spoke. The rare items that could accelerate the growth of spiritual plants were far too scarce; clues to innate five-elemental spiritual objects were even more elusive; and although some possessed insights into the Nascent Soul stage, they might not be willing to easily pass them on.

Just when Fu Changsheng thought he would return empty-handed, the middle-aged scholar who had previously traded with him pondered for a moment and spoke again:
"I do not possess any wondrous items that can accelerate the growth of spiritual plants. However, I have heard an unverified rumor about innate five elemental spiritual items."

Fu Changsheng perked up: "Please enlighten me, senior!"

The middle-aged scholar slowly transmitted his voice, saying, "It is said that in the deepest part of the 'Ten Thousand Demon Mountains,' near the 'Abyss of Fallen Demons,' someone once saw traces of 'Innate Geng Metal Qi.' However, that place is a forbidden area for the demon race, and there are remnants of ancient demonic energy there, making it extremely dangerous. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator would face a nine-out-of-ten chance of death if they ventured there. The truth of this news is hard to verify, so please consider it carefully, young friend."

Deep within the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains! In the Abyss of Fallen Demons! The innate Geng Metal Qi!
Fu Changsheng was shocked and quickly cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for informing me, senior!"

Although the location was extremely dangerous, at least there was a clear lead. This deal was of immense value to him.

At this point, Fu Changsheng's gains from this exchange meeting had already exceeded his expectations. He said no more and waited for the meeting to end.

Several more people completed the transactions afterward, but none of them caused much of a stir.

After the small exchange ended, the bronze gate slowly opened, and everyone walked out with different thoughts, preparing to return to the ground via the hidden stone steps they had come from, and then leave through the teleportation array of the Netherworld Market.

However, the moment they stepped onto the stone steps—

"Boom!!!"

A deafening roar came from overhead, causing the entire underground space to shake violently, with rubble falling down in a shower! Immediately afterward, a violent and chaotic energy wave swept down like a tidal wave, mixed with the booming of exploding spells, the ear-piercing screams of shattering formations, and the faint sounds of battle cries!
"what happened?!"

"A fight has broken out up there?"

"Such a powerful energy impact!"

Everyone's expression changed drastically, and they all activated their protective spiritual light, looking warily upwards. The few cultivators who appeared to be at the Nascent Soul stage had even sharper eyes, their divine sense forcefully penetrating the barrier above the stone steps to probe outwards.

The appraiser at the back of the group frowned, quickly stepped forward, and formed a hand seal, conjuring a water mirror out of thin air. The scene in the mirror was blurry, but one could see flashes of spiritual light above the Netherworld Market, the array's light barrier flickering erratically, and countless streaks of light colliding and falling in the air—clearly, an extremely fierce battle was raging!

"Towards the teleportation hall!" The appraiser's voice was grave. "The spatial fluctuations there are completely disrupted... the teleportation array has been destroyed!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's heart sank!
The destruction of the teleportation array means they will be unable to leave this place for some time!
"Who is so bold as to attack the Netherworld Market?" Yun Feiyang closed his folding fan and frowned slightly.

"Judging from this momentum, it's definitely not the work of an ordinary force." A murderous aura emanated from Li Wuhen.

Xue Qingyi's eyes, hidden beneath her veil, were cold and clear. She remained silent, but the chill emanating from her body intensified.

The four mysterious cultivators exchanged glances, their eyes conveying a message, but none of them spoke of it.

Hou San approached Fu Changsheng in a panic: "Fellow Daoist, what... what should we do? Aren't we trapped here?"

Fu Changsheng remained relatively calm, but his eyes held a hint of seriousness. He hadn't expected such an unexpected turn of events. Attacking the Netherworld Market and destroying the teleportation array was no small matter; the forces involved were likely incredibly powerful.

Just then, the aftershocks of the attack gradually subsided, but the chaotic atmosphere overhead did not dissipate, clearly indicating that the situation outside remained tense.

The appraiser retrieved the water mirror, took a deep breath, faced the crowd, and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoists, you are all aware of the situation. The teleportation array has been destroyed, and communication with the outside world has been temporarily severed. We... are all trapped here."

A commotion broke out in the room, and an uneasy atmosphere spread.

The appraiser raised his hand to quell the noise and continued, "However, there is no need for you all to worry too much. This place is an important stronghold of my Netherworld Merchant Guild, heavily fortified. Those petty scoundrels outside have not been able to break through the final defenses. The headquarters must already know about the changes here and is working hard to repair the backup teleportation array or send powerful experts to rescue us. However... this will take time."

He changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, especially the few cultivators with profound auras: "In the meantime, to express my apologies and to ensure that you fellow cultivators do not wait in vain, I can take the liberty of opening up a portion of this area for you to explore."

"An open area?" someone asked, puzzled.

“Not bad.” The appraiser nodded, pointing to the end of the stone steps, behind the bronze door they had passed through, which was now sealed. “This place is not a simple secret chamber. It is itself a fragment of an ancient blessed land! It was just sealed and modified by my guild with an array. Now that the situation is special, I can temporarily lift the restrictions on part of the outer area.”

Ruins of a blessed land!

Upon hearing this, everyone's spirits lifted! A ruin that the Netherworld Merchant Guild had chosen and sealed must surely contain an opportunity!

(End of this chapter)