Gou Dao Changsheng: Starting from the Reincarnation of a Demon Cultivator

Chapter 953 Stone-Seeking Silver in Hand, Opportunity for Exchange Appears (10,000-word long chapter)
The cultivators stared intently at the two final treasures, their eyes burning with excitement, while the jade seal rubbed against the jade ruyi in his hand.

"Whoosh!"

With a flick of the jade ruyi, swirling clouds lifted the jade tray into the air, where a brownish light surrounded the tray, and a handful of spiritual sand could be vaguely seen piled up.

"Fellow Daoists, you are at least Core Formation True Immortals. You must have all heard of the boundless Yellow Hill Desert in the far west of Qiongzhou."

This plate of Wuji Condensed Sand is ranked as a top-grade third-level product, with ample quantity and pure vital energy.

If refined properly, it's enough to allow a mid-grade magic weapon to accumulate sufficient resources to weave a seventh layer of protective restrictions, thus advancing it to a high-grade magic weapon.

"The Huangqiu Desert People of the Western Lands?" Qin Yu's eyes gleamed with curiosity, his face showing confusion. "Does Master know the origins of the Huangqiu Desert People? Why was I previously unaware of them?"

Fang Yi's dark eyes narrowed slightly. Without needing to use his divine sense to probe, he could sense that the Seven Precepts in the Blessed Land of Withered Glory were stirring restlessly.

"The desert people of the far west, amidst the boundless yellow hills?"

'I had heard of this place in my previous life. The Great Cang Immortal Cultivation World, where the Mingquan Sect is located, has many water veins and the boundless sand dunes are rich in soil and fire power.'

If this can be used to locate the location of the Great Cang in the past life.

Within his soul, the ancient Three Lives Stone shone with a brilliant black and white light, and the phantom of the Corpse God, with white hair flowing down his shoulders and an evil expression, appeared, as if responding to his thoughts.

Information flows in the darkness, infusing the soul.

Fang Yi instantly realized that if he could refine the Dharma body left over from his previous life, it would be of great benefit to his origin, foundation, and path of cultivation.

Yin and Yang are opposites, one is life and the other is death.
The two scriptures, "The Sutra of Life, Death, Withering and Flourishing" and "The Great Law of the Transformation of Heaven and Man," flowed through my heart.

'Great Opportunity'
With this clue, it will be easier to find out where the Nether Spring Sect is located in Great Cang.

His gaze was deep and mysterious. Although he was a great cultivator who had reached the peak of Core Formation in his previous life, he ultimately failed to attain the Nascent Soul stage.

Due to insufficient cultivation, the lifespan, speed, and magical power of a Core Formation True Person and a Nascent Soul True Monarch are ultimately limited to the vast territory of the Great Cang cultivation world.

With a flick of his finger, gray, white, and red light flowed, outlining yellow sand, the Gobi Desert, the parched ground, and a few oases, like emeralds adorning the endless yellow sand.

"This is?"

Feeling the intense heat emanating from the ancient map, Qin Yu frowned slightly. Just by looking at the ancient map, he could tell how harsh the lives of the people of Huangqiu Desert were.

"The water and wood elemental energy in this boundless Huangqiu seems extremely thin?"

"Hmm." Fang Yi nodded slightly, glancing at the Great Master Wumu of the Azure King Palace who was urging the Dharma Platform to approach.

He continued speaking:
"Since ancient times, the human realm has experienced the birth of witchcraft, the invasion of demons, and finally, Buddhism, Taoism, witchcraft, Confucianism, demonism, corpses, and ghosts each have their own way of dominating the world..."

Of the thirteen continents in the human realm, eight were reduced to wastelands due to the invasion of the demon race.

Only the fertile lands of Zhongzhou remain, still retaining ancient charm, teeming with outstanding talents and numerous sects vying for supremacy.

The boundless Huangqiu in the far west is one of the main battlefields of the ancient war against demons in Qiongzhou.

According to the ancient book "Qiongyue Shu," the spiritual energy of water and wood in this place has been almost completely drained, leaving only endless yellow sand.

"So the Western Desert region is skilled in the ways of earth and fire?" Qin Yu asked thoughtfully.

"Yes, in order to harmonize spiritual energy, the Western Desert is skilled in the art of feng shui and is also rich in earth-elemental treasures."

Fang Yi scanned the vast yellow hills constructed of three-colored spiritual light, and murmured to himself:
'I wonder what has become of the remains of my past life.'
With a near-fourth-tier Yin Meridian nurturing, abundant blood corpse, and the inheritance of the [Taiyin Corpse Dissection True Method], one should at least have reached the peak of Core Formation.
If I had the remains of my past life in my hands, let alone the vast icy plains, the only people in the Great Yu Dynasty who would give me pause would be a handful of Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

"Master Fang has great insight, to know about the [Qiongyue Book]." The verdant mist swirled and rolled as the wooden altar, covered in grain, descended.

Wu Mu leaned on a rattan cane, his eyes turning bluish:
"【Qiongyue Book】does not record spiritual objects, nor does it record inheritances; it only records the history of Qiongyue for hundreds of thousands of years."

I never imagined you would have such profound knowledge.

"Reading history makes one wise." Fang Yi smiled and suddenly said, "Moreover, as time goes by and years pass, countless forces rise and fall."

The Qiongyue Book is difficult to preserve; what I have read is only one of seventy-two incomplete volumes.

He gazed at the paulownia tree, seemingly sighing with emotion:
"Fellow Daoist, you have also read the Qiongyue Book. I remember that, in contrast to the situation in the vast Huangqiu, where the water and wood spiritual energy were completely drained, there was also a great Cang cultivation world where the situation was the opposite."

In the ancient battle to seal away demons, a powerful sorcerer intervened, setting up an ancient formation on the Great Cang River to draw upon the spiritual energy of the Vast Ocean. It is said that the river remains abundant with water to this day.

"The Great Cang Immortal Cultivation World?"

Seeing Fang Yi continue the conversation, Wu Mu's mind raced, recalling the contents of the Qiong Yue Book she had read.

"Oh, I seem to have seen a few words about Da Cang in ancient books."

If Master Fang is interested, you may visit the Azure King Palace. My lineage is inherited from the Azure Wood Palace.

However, in terms of the depth of its scriptures and knowledge, it is no less than that of major sects such as the Hanging Sword Mountain Sect, the Fire Worship Sect, and the Plain Maiden Sect.

"I am quite interested in ancient books, but unfortunately the sect has only been passed down for a little over a thousand years, and there is a complete lack of such classics that span tens of thousands of years."

Fang Yi raised an eyebrow, vaguely sensing the excitement hidden deep within Wu Mu.

'This old thing has ulterior motives. It is because of the fact that my Qingmu Palace lineage, which I use to conceal my origins, has caught his eye?'
Hey, too bad I don't have time to do that right now.

His eyes held longing as he made a promise:

"Once Xuan Yang Mountain has established a firm foothold in the vast ice plains, I will definitely visit Fellow Daoist Qing Wang Palace."

"I would be extremely honored and will certainly welcome you with open arms."

Wu Mu was delighted; Fang Yi actually had a habit of reading ancient books.

The Core Formation True Person who comprehended the Dao of Wood Withering, and who inherited the [Azure Withering Divine Transformation Book], has been searched for by the Azure King Palace for countless days.
"Once we reach the Azure King's Palace, Fang Yi, you will no longer have the authority to make decisions."

Watching his master Fang Yi exchange pleasantries with Wu Mu, occasionally letting out hearty laughter, Qin Yu seemed to be deep in thought.

He vividly remembered the last time his master had been so attentive; it was Yan Youtai, a wealthy man who had made significant contributions to the spiritual medicine lineage of the Five Extremes Peak.

As for Yan Youtai's ultimate fate, he, as the eldest disciple, naturally had already guessed it.

On the auction stage, Yu Xi's heart tightened, and he sensed a familiar aura emanating from the jade palace behind him.

"Senior brother?!"

He immediately changed his expression and lightly tapped the golden bell with the jade ruyi in his hand.

"A portion of the third-grade superior-quality material, Wuji Condensed Sand, is produced in the boundless Yellow Hills of the far west. The starting bid is 10,000 low-grade spirit stones."

For every 10,000 low-grade spirit stones, a high-grade spirit stone must be used to offset the difference, and each additional bid must not be less than 1,000 spirit stones!
Fellow Daoists, please proceed!

"clang!"

"Twelve thousand!"

"Fellow Daoist Xu is so stingy, 15,000!"

"Hey, Old Chen is too petty."

When will the price of a third-grade superior treasure material fall below 30,000 spirit stones?
Thirty-two thousand spirit stones!

"Thirty-four thousand!"

Thirty-five thousand!

"."

The melodious bell rang, and the calls for price increases were incessant. The cultivators present were enthusiastic, and the price kept rising.

If one obtains this Wuji Condensed Sand, and then seeks a suitable earth-elemental magic weapon, a high-grade magic weapon is within reach.

That's a top-grade magic weapon!
Above the altar, Yi Yan smiled and chatted, having pulled himself out of his pleasantries with Wu Mu.

He gazed at the spiritual sand in the jade plate and spoke softly.

"Seventy thousand!"

The cultivators at the trade fair erupted in a cacophony of discussion.

The Three Aperture Immortals gathered on the altar, where Dong Yunge, Xu Zangze, and Shi Kui whispered among themselves.

Dong Yunge stroked the twisted silver bracelet in her hand and said in a low voice, "Seventy thousand spirit stones?"
We still need to find a six-layered, highly refined earth-elemental magic treasure. Does this raise the price too much?

"Not necessarily. Qingyangzi Fang Yi has a spirit pet at the sixth level of Core Formation, which is most likely prepared for that Seven-Ring Demon Beast."

Shi Kui seemed to be deep in thought. That demonic pet that had roamed all seven red-light districts of the ancient city was quite famous among the rogue cultivators.

"If others obtain the Wuji Condensed Sand, a specialty of the Huangqiu Desert people, they will still need to search for the magic treasure, which will take a lot of effort and time."

It's not guaranteed that you'll get a top-grade magic weapon every time.

However, it wouldn't be difficult to refine that Earth Pig Beast's natal magic weapon to the third tier.

“Yes, Fellow Daoist Shi Kui is right.” Xu Zangze interjected, “With Fellow Daoist Qi Jie’s foundation, it’s a certainty that he will obtain the Wuji Condensed Sand Gourd and advance to a high-grade magic weapon.”

Exchanging 70,000 low-grade spirit stones for a high-grade magic weapon is quite advantageous, but I wonder...

"Eighty thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

As they watched the bidding rallies on the crimson platform, Xu Zangze, Dong Yunge, and Shi Kui exchanged a glance.

They both saw the look in each other's eyes.

"really!
Everyone knows about that Earth-type Pig-like Beast; Yang Xu of the Fire Worship Cult will not let Fang Yi obtain the treasure.

On the crimson altar, Yang Xu sat cross-legged. After raising his hand to bid, he looked at Fang Yi provocatively.

"I also quite like the Wuji condensed sand that came out of the Huangqiu desert soil."

"Then I'll give it to you, Senior Brother." Despite the loss of his prized possession, Fang Yi was not angry and smiled gently.

He then picked up his teacup, took a sip, and continued his casual conversation with Wu Mu, subtly probing for news about Da Cang.

"kindness?!"

Seeing Fang Yi give up so decisively, Yang Xu's expression darkened, and he shook his head slightly.

"I've been outmaneuvered again."
"Seventy thousand spirit stones is Fellow Daoist Qingyang's maximum, right?"

Fang Yi remained calm and composed, his eyes half-closed, leaning against the soft cloud bed, his divine sense already immersed in the Blessed Land of Withering and Flourishing.

"boom!"

The vast spiritual energy transformed into a mighty river, and Yuan Hai was covered in bone armor, with horns on his head pointing straight to the sky.

Strands of purple silk appeared and disappeared, meandering along the meridians and bones.

The pivotal Dharma seal, neither round nor flat, is imprinted in the dantian, and the sound of gears turning is constant, evolving on its own into the pivotal spiritual realm.

However, they always failed at the crucial moment.

"Among the third-tier superior-grade puppets, the Abyss Sea material, magical restrictions, and puppet seals are all at their peak."

Just one more Iwami Ginkaku is all it takes for a complete transformation!

Fang Yi's eyes gleamed as he gazed at the viscous spiritual liquid inside the ancient cauldron.

Yang Xu was right.
He exchanged 70,000 low-grade spirit stones for the upper limit of Wuji Condensed Sand, and also to try and catch Yang Xu.

Even if he obtains the precious materials produced in the Huangqiu Desert, he will not hand them over to Qijie for refinement, but will keep them as collateral for spirit stones at any time.

We must wait for the dust to settle before the stone and silver are drawn into the abyss.

Yang Xu patted his storage bag, and eight fist-sized high-grade spirit stones landed on the jade table, with wisps of red light rising and falling.

The spirit stone, ranked as a top-grade material, is essentially a third-tier treasure, possessing its own fire-elemental Daoist charm.

The implication is clear.

Eight high-grade spirit stones were already his limit. If any other cultivator asked for more, he would not add another low-grade spirit stone.

"Hey, Fellow Daoist Qingyang, you have a good idea."

No wonder he was able to take charge of the Xuan Yang Mountain sect.

Yang Xu's eyes flickered with light as he glanced at Fang Yi, who was surrounded by withered Daoist aura, his expression solemn.

Compared to being tricked into auctioning the Blood Lotus, he remained calm and showed no anger whatsoever.

The Great Master is no ordinary person.

Furthermore, as the Flame-Burning Technique improved, the foundation of the Divine Flame Dojo greatly increased, and it continued to improve and transform.

The refining of the spiritual flames, which ignited the Daoist essence of blazing fire, has gradually become unable to interfere with the soul.

"."

"."

Ten breaths later.

Seeing that no one was bidding higher, Yu Xi looked at Yang Xu, who had a calm expression, with surprise.

The cultivator who was tricked and had to pay an extra 80,000 spirit stones doesn't seem to be him.

"Have you suppressed the side effects of the Flame-Burning Method?"

He murmured softly, striking the golden bell with his Ruyi scepter.

"clang!"

"clang!"

"clang!"

The golden bell rang again, and gilded auspicious clouds lifted the jade plate and landed it on the crimson altar, immediately sweeping away eight top-grade spirit stones surrounded by fiery aura.

"The Wuji Condensed Sand was sold for 80,000 low-grade spirit stones, purchased by Fellow Daoist Yang Xu of the Fire Worship Sect."

On the crimson execution platform, Luo Yuzhou sat cross-legged, about to extend his five fingers, but paused, looking at Yang Xu in surprise.

"Junior Brother Yang has already overcome the torment of being consumed by rage before even refining the Fire Essence Pill?"

"Haha, I can't rely on my senior brother for everything, can I?" Yang Xu seemed to have a straight back like a bamboo shoot, his eyes deep.

"I too fought my way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, so don't underestimate me, Senior Brother."

……

For the next half day, the sound of the golden bell continued to vibrate.

"clang!"

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on winning the low-grade magic treasure, the Fire Element Furnace, for 13,000 spirit stones."

"clang!"

"A mid-grade, third-tier Cold Light Escape Talisman, which Fellow Daoist Gu acquired for ten thousand spirit stones."

"clang"

"."

Elixirs, talismans, magical artifacts, and battle formation flags.
As the sun gradually sets in the west, the waves crash against the shore like flowing water.

On the seventeen altars, the Great Immortals continuously made their moves, bidding for the spiritual treasures and materials they were satisfied with.

All that remained was the withered altar surrounded by Taoist charm. After bidding farewell to the paulownia tree, Fang Yi kept his eyes closed to meditate.

Until a bright moon rises, its silvery afterglow casts a dreamlike veil over the ancient city.

"clang!"

He handed a three-foot-long sword-washing stone to Junhuai of Xuanjian Mountain. Yu Xi, wearing a star-studded crown, had a solemn expression, and his agile body was covered in a robe with a bluebird perched on it, which rustled loudly.

"Fellow Daoists, thank you for waiting. What follows is..."

"boom!"

Golden clouds rolled and auspicious clouds stretched out.

The ancient shield, sculpted from ice crystals, shimmered with a precious light, causing water to freeze and creating a cold wave that swept across hundreds of miles.

The ancient stone cauldron held a silvery spiritual liquid, like an ancient, icy pool, deep and mysterious.
The two great treasures, one in motion and one still, instantly attracted the attention of all the cultivators.

"here we go"

"The two treasures of the Four Seas Business Alliance are even more valuable than the Blood Sea Lotus and the Crested Ibis Fire Spirit Pearl that were auctioned ten days ago."

On the seventeen altars, all sorts of strange phenomena unfolded.

Yang Xu's expression was solemn, black flames flickering in his eyes. The Yin-Yang trigrams surrounding the Ghost Armor became increasingly mysterious, and the golden Buddhist light emanating from the Great Monk Sekong almost materialized...

With a tremor of his sleeve, the sound of the jade seal reverberated for miles around.

"The superior defensive treasure, the Ice Crystal Spirit Shield, is made primarily of millennium-old mystic crystal and inlaid with nine layers of protective restrictions, including [Frost Crystal], [Mystic Shield], [Ice Bone], and [Frost Armor]."

The near-fourth-tier spiritual item, [Stone Silver], was produced in the Great Spirit Cave of the Frost Tide sixty years ago in the Ice Plains. It can be used as the main material for high-grade magic weapons in treasure refining, as a water spirit array diagram in array formation, and as a top-tier puppet in puppet refining.

With a swift grasp of his five fingers, the ancient and simple cauldron fell into his hand, its viscous spiritual liquid rippled slightly.

"Clang!" The golden bell rang softly.

"Iwami Gin, starting bid"

The jade seal swept over Fang Yi, who was dressed in a green robe; Yuan Shizi, who had a Gu bag hanging from his waist; and the gaunt-looking Gui Jia.
As far as he knew, at least nine of the seventeen altars were occupied by Great Immortals who sought this stone and silver.

He raised his long, slender index finger and said softly, "Shi Jianyin, starting bid one spirit stone!"

Surrounded by yin energy, the ghostly armor's hoarse voice rang out. "Fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

"Sixty thousand!" Yuan Shizi had a Gu bag hanging from his waist, and insect runes flowed on his robe.

The monk Sekong put his hands together and chanted a Buddhist prayer: "Amitabha, this humble monk offers 70,000."

On the wooden altar, Qin Yu frowned slightly, his heart filled with worry: "Why are so many powerful cultivators bidding?"

"When a spirit item reaches the quasi-fourth rank, it is no longer limited to the categories of puppets, talismans, magic, and arrays."

Fang Yi straightened his clothes, stood up, and his Qingyun Dharma Robe fluttered in the wind.

He glanced at Yang Xu and boldly offered: "One hundred thousand spirit stones!"

"One hundred and one thousand spirit stones." Yang Xu awoke from refining the Fire Essence Pill, looking at Fang Yi with a half-smile.

"Fellow Daoist Qingyangzi's puppetry skills are profound, and everyone in Huitong City knows this."

Now that fortunes have turned, I wonder how much you're willing to bid for this "stone-shaped silver"?

"Hey, no matter how much you bid, I'll always offer a thousand more!"

"Fellow Daoist Yang Xu, please name your price. As long as you have enough spirit stones when you win the bid."

Fang Yi raised an eyebrow slightly. He had already made ample preparations for the Stone-Seeing Silver Refining Abyss Sea.

The price of the Crimson Armor Cloud-Swallowing Turtle is 200,000 spirit stones, and the price of the Wuji Condensed Sand is 80,000 spirit stones.

Even though Yang Xu came from the Zoroastrian sect and was wealthy, he didn't have many spirit stones left.
The only thing to worry about is...

A glint of light flashed in his eyes as he swept over Luo Yuzhou, whose life force had waned and who now only had a sliver of vitality left.

Will this old monster get involved?

How much effort are they prepared to put in by intervening?

Fang Yi felt a chill run down his spine. The Abyss Sea was only a hair's breadth away from a complete transformation, but that hair's breadth was a world of difference.

Third-grade superior quality, near-fourth-grade quality?

The two are like a fully formed Nascent Soul seed versus an ordinary Great True Person; the former can kill the latter almost without taking any damage.

Fang Yi's eyes gleamed with a sharp light. A great cold wave had risen over the vast ice plains, and unpredictable events were brewing in Huitong City.

Whether it's the future opportunities presented by cold waves and auspicious burial sites, or dealing with the turmoil in the ancient city.
'I'm determined to get Iwami Gin, no matter the cost!'

"150,000 spirit stones!"

"boom!"

The sixteen Grand Masters' altars were filled with flowing divine consciousness, and Sekong, Guijia, Li Wuhui, Junhuai, and Yan Wuwo were among them.
Everyone turned their gaze to him.

"Qingyangzi has gone mad!" Yuan Shizi, whose waist was adorned with a gray Gu bag, changed his expression and subconsciously clenched his fist.

"Pfft!" The amethyst scorpion in his palm hissed and was crushed into a lump of mangled flesh. His pupils widened as he stared at Fang Yi, who stood imposingly on the wooden altar.

She stopped chanting the Buddha's name and ceased turning the sandalwood beads in her hand, glancing at Fang Yi several times:
"If one is lucky enough to come across a high-grade magic weapon, one can hope to acquire it for at least 100,000 spirit stones."

At the grand trade fair hosted by the Four Seas Merchant Alliance sixty years ago, the highlight item, the superior-grade Flowing Light Flying Cloud Hammer, was only worth 120,000 low-grade spirit stones.

"Is Monk Sekong envious of Fang Yi's wealth?"

Ghost Armor's eyes were a deep green as he murmured, "Stone-enhanced silver is rare and precious; it can be used to refine arrays, treasures, talismans, and puppets."

But that near-fourth-tier treasure material is nothing special?

In terms of the value of the main material of a top-grade magic weapon, how could it compare to a top-grade magic weapon itself?

Many great masters whispered among themselves, astonished by Fang Yi's bid, and then turned their gazes to the crimson altar.

Yang Xu's boastful words still echoed in his ears; was he about to accept the offer?
Or will you still refuse to accept the price?
Yang Xu frowned slightly, rubbing his brow. If his cultivation had not advanced further, the fiery intent would surely have eroded his soul, causing him to fly into a rage.

But now...
His eyes were dark, like a still lake, reflecting a constantly shifting and changing mind.

Is this Shijian Silver similar to the Wuji Condensed Sand produced by the previous demon beast Red Armor Cloud-Swallowing Turtle and Huangqiu Desert?
He was trying to lure me into raising the price, and then he immediately backed out.

Or is it that Fang Yi is truly determined to obtain Iwami Gin?

"clang!"

Time flew by as Yang Xu pondered, holding the jade seal and the ruyi scepter, sensing the magnificent palaces and towers behind him.

"Ten breaths have passed; if no one bids higher..."
"Ishimi Gin, 150,000 spirit stones per attempt!"

Yang Xu's expression changed slightly as he stared intently at Fang Yi's handsome face, as if trying to discern what Qingyangzi was thinking.

unfortunately
Fang Yi smiled, holding a jade cup, and occasionally took a sip.

He was completely unaware of any change in his thoughts.

"Clang!" The golden bell rang twice, and Yu Xi's gaze swept quickly over Yang Xu and Fang Yi.

Qingyangzi bid 150,000 spirit stones.
Twice!

Seeing Yang Xu's cold expression, as if unwilling to risk making a bid, Yu Xi sighed inwardly.

'What a pity'
Having been tricked twice by Fang Yi using the Crimson-Armored Cloud-Swallowing Turtle and the Wuji Condensed Sand, Yang Xu had very few spirit stones left.

"clang!"

The golden bell rang three times.

Fang Yi's eyebrows twitched, a surge of joy rising in his heart. He vaguely sensed the Abyss Sea within the Blessed Land of Withered Glory's thirst for Shi Jianyin. If only he could obtain it...
Yuan Hai will surely be able to go further and stand shoulder to shoulder with the geniuses and heroes like Qing Sui, Yu Zhao, and Bai Chan who have achieved the perfect Core Formation and embarked on the path to Nascent Soul.

The jade seal caressed the ruyi in his hand, and a wisp of gilded light rolled up the ancient cauldron, causing ripples to spread across the stone and silver.

The ancient cauldron fell towards the wooden altar, and the ruyi in his hand struck the golden bell again.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Fang Yi, on acquiring the precious material Shi Jian Yin for the Puppet Dao."

"It's done!" Fang Yi exclaimed as he watched the ancient cauldron approach, growing closer and closer—one hundred zhang, eighty zhang, fifty zhang.
"Thank you, Imperial Seal."

"Sixteen thousand spirit stones!" As the black flames descended, Yang Xu made his bid, his sharp gaze like a knife.

"Fellow Daoist Fang Yi, do not be impatient, the golden bell has not yet rung three times."

"clang!"

The third bell rang late. The jade seal remained silent, and with a flick of its scepter, it summoned back the ancient cauldron containing the viscous spiritual liquid.

Fang Yi's eyes turned cold, a deep killing intent swirling within them, yet it never penetrated his robes.

"Seventeen hundred thousand spirit stones!"

"Hey!" Yang Xu grinned, his chest heaving as he let out a hearty laugh.

"Haha, I see!"
With 170,000 spirit stones, one could easily purchase a high-grade magic weapon, or exchange it for two high-grade third-tier puppets.

This Ishimi Silver is the item Fang Yi most desires at the Grand Trade Fair.
Was all that scheming just for the purpose of buying Ishimi Gin?

Having ascertained Fang Yi's background, Yang Xu spoke softly.

"Regardless of Fellow Daoist Fang Yi's offer, I will increase my bid by one thousand."

"171,000 spirit stones, Fellow Daoist Fang, are you willing to give up on the Stone-Seeing Silver?" He bowed slightly, exuding elegance.

"Qingyangzi Fang Yi, please!"

Fang Yi's expression remained calm, showing neither joy nor sorrow. "Eighteen thousand spirit stones"

"181,000 spirit stones!" Yang Xu immediately followed.

185,000 spirit stones

"186,000!"

"188,000 spirit stones"

"Increase the price by one thousand, to eighteen nine thousand spirit stones."

Fang Yi and Yang Xu went back and forth, and the price of Shi Jianyin continued to rise.

The price, far exceeding that of a near-fourth-tier treasure, has already caused onlookers like Yuan Shizi, Jun Huai, Gui Jia, and Se Kong to abandon their competitive stance.

Many True Immortals and Great True Immortals have set their sights on Yang Xu and Fang Yi.

Fang Yi's eyes narrowed slightly; he wasn't surprised that his request had been discovered.

A cultivator who can condense a pill is already one in ten thousand outstanding individuals; opportunity, aptitude, and temperament are all indispensable.

The Great Master is an outstanding person among outstanding people!

With the help of Xu Qingshe, the Crimson-Armored Cloud-Swallowing Turtle used elixirs to ambush Yang Xu once. Afterwards, when the people of Huangqiu Desert produced Wuji Condensed Sand, he was already prepared.

Fang Yi knew that if he raised the price above 80,000 spirit stones, Yang Xu would definitely give up bidding.

Then he will be the one to fall into the trap.
And now.
"It's just a matter of who has the most wealth."
"I've been plotting this since I arrived at Huitong; why would I fear you, Yang Xu?"

With a wave of his sleeve, Fang Yi sent twenty high-grade spirit stones, gleaming with brilliant spiritual light, to land on the jade table, piling them into a small heap, their five elements circulating in a cycle.

Two hundred thousand spirit stones

"."

Yang Xu raised an eyebrow, gazing at the twenty high-grade spirit stones that emitted a soft, jade-like light.

He chuckled softly, lifted the hem of his shirt, and sat back down on the soft cloud bed.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, please."

Fang Yi raised an eyebrow, waved his hand and unleashed a ray of azure light, which swept up twenty high-grade spirit stones and flew towards the jade seal.

He remained calm inside, but his face showed dissatisfaction, as if his scheme had failed.

Yang Xu felt a sense of relief and murmured softly.

"Luckily, the price didn't go up again, otherwise, with 200,000 low-grade spirit stones, I would have had to mortgage more than half of all my magical treasures."

"Two hundred and thirty thousand low-grade spirit stones!" Luo Yuzhou, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, suddenly spoke.

"Senior Brother Luo!" Yang Xu's expression changed, and he was about to speak to stop him, but he hesitated for a moment.

Luo Yuzhou opened his droopy eyelids, the turbidity in his eyes dissipated, and he looked at Fang Yi with a half-smile.

"Two hundred and thirty thousand spirit stones. If Fellow Daoist Fang Yi can add another ten thousand, that would be great."

"I swear by the Zoroastrian Church that I will not contend with my junior brother Yang Xu for this Shi Jianyin."

"Fellow Daoist Luo, you've been scheming." Fang Yi's face turned slightly pale. He had intimidated Yang Xu, but he had been outmaneuvered by that old bastard Luo Yuzhou.

With a wave of his sleeve, two magic swords, three bottles of pills, and several third-tier talismans flew out of his storage bag.

Numerous elixirs and talismans simultaneously fell into the Pixiu's treasure basin.

He looked at the jade seal and said, "Two low-grade magic treasures, three bottles of magic treasure pills refined with true fire, and seven fire dragon talismans."

Is that enough to offset 40,000 spirit stones?

The jade seal nodded slightly. "Azure Flame, Purple Fire?"
Ao Peng's early personal treasures each contained a protective seal, and each was estimated to be worth 10,000 low-grade spirit stones.

"True fire refines magical pills, enhancing the magical power of fire-attribute cultivators. The three bottles are estimated at 15,000 spirit stones. The Fire Dragon Talisman will make up the missing 5,000."

He looked at the Zoroastrian altar with a strange expression.

Luo Yuzhou was cunning and ruthless, forcing Fang Yijin to reveal all his assets, which he had no choice but to offset with magical treasures and pills at an 80% discount.

Fang Yi lost at least ten thousand spirit stones from the treasure bowl containing the Pixiu.

But where do these magical treasures and elixirs come from?
But they all have the distinctive characteristics of the Ao family.

"Hmph!" Luo Yuzhou's smile vanished, and a gloomy look appeared in his eyes.

Having sworn an oath in the name of Zoroastrianism, he would not go back on his word in public.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Fang Yi, on purchasing the Stone-Seeing Silver for the high price of 240,000 spirit stones."

Yang Xu felt regretful, thinking that if he hadn't been tricked by Fang Yi regarding the Crimson Armor Cloud-Swallowing Turtle and the Wuji Condensed Sand.

The auction price of this stone-seen silver could be pushed up by at least 50,000 spirit stones, completely draining the entire Five Extreme Peaks lineage of Xuan Yang Mountain.
Fang Yi's intense desire for the Stone of Silver was likely due to his desire to use it to comprehend the realm of a quasi-grandmaster in the Puppet Dao.

Using this as leverage, he was quite confident that he could reclaim Changqing Prefecture, this superior blessed land.
"Whoosh!"

A wisp of azure light rolled up, tucking the stone-seen silver into its sleeve, and finally it fell into the Land of Blessed Desolation.

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

The mechanical seal rotated like gears, and Yuan Hai stepped into the ancient cauldron. His muscles, bones, and flesh, like land that had been parched for a hundred years, continuously absorbed the viscous silver spiritual liquid.

The legal prohibitions that have been in place for some time are being continuously improved.

A gray, mysterious light emanated from the bone armor, transforming into a pillar of light that shot into the sky, creating ripples.

In the dim light, a gear-like structure, with its metallic sheen, slowly outlined the phantom of a demon god.

Surrounded by a gray-white mist and an orderly aura, a wild and fierce aura surged forth.

"boom!"

The banners of decay and prosperity in the Void Realm trembled!
It seemed unable to withstand the terrifying power that vaguely surpassed the realm of a Great True Person.

"town!"

Fang Yi sent down his divine sense and summoned the Withering and Flourishing Pearl, the bluish-yellow pearl spinning rapidly.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The high-grade spirit stones that had been prepared in the blessed land exploded one by one, and pure spiritual energy rose up like mist.

"Whoosh! Splash!"

Within the ancient cauldron, the abyss was like a whale swallowing the sea, accepting all who came and swallowing up the surging, misty currents that flowed like a great river.

Peace returned to the blessed land, and the silver spiritual liquid in the ancient cauldron gradually decreased.

The stone seeps into the bones, armor, magical barriers, and flesh, constantly advancing towards its origin.
Ultimately, it merged seamlessly with the mechanical runes that emerged from the depths of its bloodline, imprinting itself onto the bones of the Abyss Sea.
"Click. Click"

The spiritual energy in the spacious blessed land was completely absorbed, and Fang Yi let out a joyful laugh.

It's done!
"Once the fruit is ripe and falls, the Abyss Sea will completely absorb the Stone-Seeing Silver and activate the Puppet Master's bloodline."

His consciousness swirled as he gazed at the withered spiritual veins of the blessed land, murmuring softly.

"Ordinary third-tier spiritual veins are no longer sufficient for me to refine magical treasures and cultivate spiritual herbs in the Blessed Land of Withered Glory."
At least a third-grade high-level spiritual vein is required.

Two hundred thousand spirit stones!

Fang Yi withdrew his consciousness from the Blessed Land of Withered Glory and focused his gaze on the ice crystal spirit shield.

This top-tier defensive treasure saw its bid soar to 200,000 in less than ten breaths after the auction began.

And one after another, the great masters were eager to try.

"Two hundred and one thousand spirit stones!" Jun Huai carried an ancient sword, his back as straight and steep as a spiritual peak.

Previously, neither Blood Sea Lotus, Wuji Condensed Sand, nor Crested Ibis Fire Spirit Pearl, nor Stone-Seeing Silver had spoken.

Now, however, he stared intently at the ice crystal spirit shield.
"A defensive treasure with nine layers of protective barriers—the Four Seas Merchant Alliance has spared no expense!"

"Two hundred and thirty thousand spirit stones!" Zisu from Medicine King Valley, with a spirit hoe hanging from her waist, gazed at the nine treasure restrictions that circled the treasure shield like swimming dragons.

His eyes gleamed with determination.

"Even the great masters of our sects would find it difficult to possess such a treasure as the Ice Crystal Spirit Shield."

"I will add a stroke."

Two hundred and forty thousand!

A silvery laugh rang out, and the hairpin in Li Wu Hui's hair trembled. She was dressed in a plain white dress, and her eyes were like a pool of spring water, making her look lovely.

In just a few breaths, the Ice Crystal Spirit Shield was already level with Ishimi Silver and continued to rise.

Jun Huai frowned slightly, looking at Li Wu Hui, who was listed on the list of beauties, and said in a voice as clear as gold: "Two hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones!"

Fang Yi's expression changed, and a six-pointed plum blossom phantom appeared in his eyes.

"Whoosh!"

"Deep in the permafrost"

His gaze fell, penetrating through layers of legal restrictions to reach deep into the frozen soil.

Divine consciousness continued to deepen
Let's delve deeper.
"Um?

Fang Yi's divine sense was indeed sharp; the Azure withering transformation book left behind by the Azure Wood Palace was indeed profound.

It's no wonder that successive leaders of the Azure King Palace have never forgotten it.

Deep within the frozen earth, a shimmering, precious light flowed, transforming into a sacred space.

A slightly rounded monk was wearing a dark blue robe.

The hem of the robe was embroidered with silver thread with patterns of copper coins and ingots, and the sapphire blue belt was engraved with a jade Pixiu that swallows treasures.

The Wushan Spirit Revolving Disc rotated, and this array disc, which was supposed to be the grand finale of the Four Seas Merchant Alliance, had already been taken out and refined at will.

An ancient ice crystal shield emitted spiritual light, resisting the ever-present ancient cold waves.

"kindness?"

Looking at the obstructing crystal light, Fang Yi's expression turned solemn. He sensed the terrifying spiritual energy and malevolent aura intertwined, turning into swirling mist that blocked his path.

"This energy?"

His cycle of life, death, prosperity, and decline reached its zenith.

Within the dantian, the golden elixir of life and death swirls and rotates, with spring bringing forth life, summer fostering growth, autumn harvesting, and winter storing away—the Daoist phenomena flow and change with the seasons.

"boom!"

He unleashed his full divine power, tearing apart the mist formed from the chilling aura.

In the blink of an eye, a clear laugh rang out.

"Halt!"

The crystal-clear radiance altar is filled with gold ingots, green coins, silver coins, and jade, all gleaming with precious stones and sparkling with gilded light.

The three rock pillars in Hu Yuzhao's hands were intertwined and twisted into a rod shape, with a crystal-clear thread hanging down from the end of the rod, its destination unknown.
The rough pole is covered with tiny characters, as if it were a ritual or a spiritual communication. You can vaguely see the rolling sand dunes, the yellow sand howling and turning into tornadoes.

"This Huangqiu Desert is indeed something that makes the Merchant Alliance wary."

Its specially crafted earthen magic treasures are even able to withstand the ancient, frozen cold waves that have accumulated to this day.

"Found it!"

Hu Yuzhao was overjoyed as he felt the golden hook connected by the silk thread at the end of the pole touch a relic.

"Edict!"

The eight paths of the rock pillar, the earthen sand, the treasure seal, burst open, and the earthen spirit plate of the Wu Mountain merged into the gathered earth energy, transforming into a gilded dragon that leaped down.

"Buzz!"

The radiant light of the crystal temple vanished into thin air, as if everything just now had been an illusion.

Looking at the fleeting, crystalline ice shield, Fang Yi's expression was solemn, and his voice was dry.

"What is that?"
Ice Crystal Spirit Shield!

"If the Ice Crystal Spirit Shield is here, then what is that magical artifact from the trade fair?"

"Hurrah!"

The chilling aura surged like a torrent, and Fang Yi's consciousness swirled, turning into afterimages as he retreated continuously.

The ancient city of Huitong trembled, and vast frost surged from the depths of the frozen earth. A gilded magic barrier appeared, transforming into a net to bind the cold tide.

"Tear!"

The third-tier high-grade array was torn apart in an instant, and a cold wave rushed straight to the sky, scattering ice crystals, rubble, and five-colored spirit stones.

"kindness!?"

"Who dares to be so insolent!"

"Where!"

"What happened?!"

The six powerful figures, including Yu Xi, Yan Wuwo, Miao Man Niangniang, and Tun Hunzi, all made their move.

Li Wuhui, Junhuai, Sekong, Guijia, and others looked grim as they followed closely behind, unleashing various magical treasures.

The Ice Prison Battle Axe hangs high, its black flames scorching the sky; verdant life force condenses, and the branches of the Azure Spirit Tree sway in the blue sky; Buddhist chants resound, and gilded Buddhist light transforms into golden lotuses.
Twenty-one Great Immortals took action, each employing their own methods, and a total of twenty-one Daoist temples suppressed the attack.

"."

"boom!"

The greatest sound is silent, as if left over from ancient times, the chill accumulated over thousands of years freezing all directions.

The black flames subsided, the ancient trees froze, and the gilded lotus flowers withered away.
How can he be so strong?

"A spiritual cave has emerged?"

"A spiritual acupoint at least at the fourth rank?"

"Boom!"

An ancient cold wave swept up a biting wind, and giant ice crystal pillars rose from the ground, transforming into steep peaks.

As the chilling aura gathered, a wisp of spirituality spontaneously arose.

"Wow!"

A giant gray-feathered eagle emerged from the ground, flapping its wings and stirring up a cold hurricane.

"Roar!"

The frozen ground cracked, and icy, crystal-like claws emerged, tearing through the cold wind. A giant lizard, clad in black armor and measuring 130 feet in length, crawled out.

"Grumpy"

A section of frozen soil collapsed, and the icy cold air gathered to form a lake, from which a pair of giant eyes, the size of lanterns, lit up.

"Tch!" Another cold beast, comparable to a Grand Immortal, revealed itself.

"A near-fourth-tier spiritual acupoint?"

The azure lotus banner fluttered, Fang Yi wore a jade crown, his eyes sparkling with the six-pointed plum blossoms, and with a wisp of his five fingers, strands of spiritual energy condensed into rice-sized pearls.

"The density of spiritual energy is even greater than that of the old spiritual veins of Xuan Yang Mountain."
What has Hu Yuzhao done?

He gazed at the frozen ancient city, its eight directions completely enveloped by the icy beasts. The aura of the icy pool, with its white jade walls and blue stone foundation, flashed by.

"Grumpy"

The clear spring flows gently, its subtle rhythm nourishing the soul.

"A near-fourth-tier spiritual spring?"

"No, it's a fourth-tier spiritual item?!"

"A Nascent Soul spirit object?"

How could it be reborn?

"."

"."

The indignant and furious Great Master froze, his eyes and brows revealing a fiery passion.

Fourth-tier spirit item!

This is exclusively for Nascent Soul True Monarchs!
If we succeed, we can either give it to a Nascent Soul sect in exchange for a huge amount of spiritual treasures, or use it for our own cultivation.
The benefits gained would be enough to elevate the cultivation of any Grandmaster present to the peak of Core Formation.

The Dharma Domain has undergone a complete transformation into a sacred site.
If one's cultivation is already at its peak, one can advance several steps towards the Nascent Soul realm.
An incredible opportunity!

This is an incredible opportunity that could make even the Great Master of Huitong Ancient City fight to the death!
Holding the jade seal and a ruyi scepter, a bluebird perches on the clouds, and a gentle breeze blows across the robe, warding off the chill.

His magical power slowly receded, the nine protective barriers of the Ice Crystal Shield shattered, and his expression became dazed.

"Senior brother, is this your choice?"
That's quite a generous gesture!

A ghostly figure appeared; Ji Ying was dressed in a close-fitting outfit, with the eyes of an eagle and the gaze of a wolf, and a ghostly green light in them.

"Imperial Seal, tell me, has Hu Yuzhao gone mad?!"

Tongbao Zhenjun has been planning this site for three hundred years!
To avoid attracting the attention of the Zoroastrianism and Medicine King Valley, they never set foot on the vast icy plains.

What is Hu Yuzhao trying to do?
Has the Four Seas Business Alliance ever wronged him?

"Senior Brother Jiying?"

Yu Xi suddenly realized, and murmured to himself: 'Did Senior Brother Yu Zhao already find out?'

What exactly happened to make my senior brother act so cruelly?

"Boom!"

Deep within the frozen earth, a dazzling light shone forth, a chilling aura circulated, and the sound of gears turning never ceased.

Layers of gray and white outlines spread from the frozen soil, transforming into an inverted bowl lid.

The Huitong Mall, whose formations collapsed and buildings crumbled, was isolated from the outside world and reduced to ruins.

"Buzz!"

A dark stone gate, gleaming with a metallic sheen, slowly rose from the depths of the earth.

The sturdy gateposts are covered with gear marks, and are engraved with a one-legged stone ox, a bamboo-shelled boy, and a giant shield and armor.

"Buzz!"

A ghostly figure blurred into afterimages and charged straight at the giant gate.

"Shh!"

The dark stone door trembled, and the bamboo-shelled boy on the rough doorposts lit up with his eyes, his delicate five fingers striking out.

"The secret area has been invaded by the enemy."

"The secret area has been invaded by the enemy."

"boom"

The tender five fingers slapped down, striking the ghostly afterimage before striking it.

"puff!"

The sinister Great True Man spat out a mist of blood and was knocked off from the afterimage, his aura visibly declining.

"how is this possible?"

The stone gate gleamed with metallic light, and neat spiritual patterns gathered together.

The Cold Valley Secret Realm has opened, its legacy benefiting future generations. From the day the secret realm opened...
[On every Yin year, Yin month, and Yin hour, the gate to the secret realm opens, welcoming disciples and transmitting my lineage.]

"This is."

Fang Yi stared intently at a corner of the giant shield armor, where rough threads vaguely outlined a mark.
Does this seem familiar?
We need to test the waters a bit more.
If it's really as I predict, then that would be a great opportunity.

(End of this chapter)