Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Harvesting the Talents of Demonic Beasts

Chapter 256 The Silent Venerable, the Embryo of a Magic Weapon

But the items that were auctioned next made even the well-informed and composed Lin Changheng's eyes widen slightly and his breath catch in his throat!
Instead of immediately taking out the treasure, Ximen Gu was accompanied by two early Foundation Establishment cultivators, and two maids worked together to bring up a square container that was half a person tall and made entirely of cold jade!
The container's surface was covered with densely packed sealing talismans, from which wisps of white, cold mist seeped out, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet and even instantly condensing a layer of white frost on the edge of the stone platform.

Such a spectacle instantly attracted the attention of all the cultivators present. Even the experts in the inner circle who were at the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage or those at the Pseudo-Core stage opened their eyes and showed interest.

With a solemn expression, Ximen Gu took a deep breath and carefully unsealed the talismans layer by layer.

As the last talisman was removed, the scene inside the jade container was finally revealed to everyone—

That was neither a magical artifact nor a elixir, but a piece of dead wood about a foot long, charred black all over, as if it had been struck by lightning countless times!
However, on this seemingly lifeless, charred, and withered tree, three tender, green, and crystal-clear leaves, as if carved from jade, grow tenaciously and stubbornly!
On the leaves, countless silver electric snakes, finer than hair, were constantly moving, appearing and disappearing, emanating a powerful aura that was both eerie and terrifying, a mixture of destruction and vitality!

"Lightning-struck wood!"

"And this wood seems to be quite old..."

The effect will certainly far exceed that of the "Lightning Strike Grass" that Lin Changheng obtained earlier.

Lin Changheng was somewhat tempted, but quickly dismissed the idea.

Not only was the starting price 30,000 low-grade spirit stones, with each bid increasing by no less than 500, but also the involvement of fake Core Formation cultivators.

The fake alchemist, dressed in a black Taoist robe, with a withered face and whose exact age was unknown, spoke first.

Then came the cultivators, draped in wide cloaks and shrouded in a hazy shadow, who closely followed the struggle.

The other cultivators who were at the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage and those who were at the pseudo-core stage all withdrew after competing for a while. It was clear that they intended to make a preliminary attempt, but they did not intend to win at all.

Clearly, this item is extremely useful and precious to those who have the relevant needs, and they would fight tooth and nail for it. However, for ordinary cultivators, the premium price makes it less attractive.

……

In the end, the item fell into the hands of a fake alchemist in a black Taoist robe, and was auctioned off for a high price of over 60,000 spirit stones.

At the same time, Lin Changheng subtly scanned his surroundings with his divine sense, eavesdropping on the whispers of several cultivators.

Only then did I learn that the fake cultivator in the black Taoist robe was called "Master Jichen," and was also a rogue cultivator who was said to have come from the Jin Kingdom, which bordered the southern border of the Song Dynasty.

According to rumors, he originally studied under a small sect in the Jin Kingdom and cultivated himself peacefully.

Then, that small sect was wiped out overnight by the Yunshang Sect, a sect from the Jin Kingdom whose status and strength were no less than the Ziji Sect, in order to seize its sect's treasure.

They set up a massive formation, unleashed their full power, leaving no one alive, and causing rivers of blood to flow.

However, the [Silent Master], who was in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage at that time, was away on business and thus escaped the calamity.

Upon learning of this devastating news, Master Jichen also discovered the culprit, but dared not return to his old sect. However, he could not forget the kindness of his master and the deep affection among his fellow disciples, so he devoted himself to cultivation.

After going through countless hardships, he finally obtained the fake elixir.

Next came his hunting season.

It must be said that the mentality of this [Master Jichen] has also been distorted, and he specifically targets the disciples of [Yunshang Sect].

The men were beheaded or dismembered, while the female disciples were killed after being subjected to indecent acts.

Initially, this person succeeded repeatedly, causing unrest and unease among the members of the Cloud Sect.

The Cloud Sect has not made any major moves yet.

After he had been rampant for half a year, and even a Foundation Establishment female cultivator had fallen victim to his evil deeds, the Cloud Sect finally took him seriously.

Finally, they even asked the True Elixir Master to take action. After some planning, they finally stopped this person who was doing evil.

However, Master Jichen possessed some powerful means and miraculously escaped death.

Although he escaped with serious injuries, he still managed to get away.

This departure marked the end of the Jin Dynasty and the arrival in the Song Dynasty.

But it was only much later that a cultivator who had traveled in the Jin Kingdom recognized him.

The news spread like wildfire.

However, Master Jichen did not commit any major offenses in Song, so he stayed to live and practice, and was accepted by Song.

On the contrary, the Yunshang Sect of the Jin Kingdom was furious, but dared not cross the border.

Nowadays, Master Jichen is known for his fierce reputation, and almost no one in Song dares to provoke him.

……

Next, several more precious items appeared.

For example, several rare third-tier spiritual materials and herbs.

The final piece was actually a magical artifact embryo!
"A magical artifact embryo!"

These four words seemed to possess a magical power, instantly causing the already heated atmosphere in the auction to explode!

Even the palace-dressed female cultivator who had previously won the [Wildfire Pill] suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze flashing with sharp light.

Ximen Gu deliberately raised his voice, making it slightly hoarse, and he spoke almost word by word: "Next up is the final highlight of this auction—a [Magic Treasure Embryo]!"

Before he finished speaking, two cultivators dressed in black robes, their auras unfathomable, escorted a maid carrying a jade tray onto the stone platform, one on each side. The jade tray was covered with a thick layer of red silk, but it still couldn't completely shield the astonishing spiritual pressure and sharp aura emanating from what lay beneath it!

Swish!
The red silk was suddenly ripped off!

In an instant, a dazzling purple-gold light shot into the sky, as if it would pierce through the sky above the open-air plaza!

A sharp and incomparable aura, seemingly capable of cutting through everything, suddenly spread out. Some Qi Refining cultivators who were seated nearby even felt a faint stinging sensation on their skin and subconsciously took several steps back.

Above the jade plate, a sword-shaped embryo, about three feet long and with a streamlined purple-gold color, floated quietly!
It is not a complete flying sword; it has no guard, no hilt, and the blade is not even sharpened. It is more like a piece of divine iron that has been initially shaped into a sword shape by the creation of heaven and earth.

However, its material is crystal clear, and inside it seems that countless tiny purple vortexes and golden starlight are constantly flowing and colliding, emitting a series of deep and pleasant humming sounds.

"This embryo is a product of the fusion of [Nine Heavens Purple Gold], [Star Sand], and [Wind Howling Beast Horn], painstakingly cultivated by a reclusive master craftsman! It has already begun to develop a trace of spirituality, and possesses both the speed of wind and the ability to break through the aura of stars! It only needs to be refined by a suitable master craftsman, imprinted with the final core runes, and pre-refined, to become a natal magic weapon with boundless potential!" Ximen Gu was very excited and enthusiastic, almost shouting himself hoarse as he introduced it. Every word struck the hearts of all the Foundation Establishment cultivators present, but Lin Changheng knew that this was a deliberate technique.

But it's not excessive.

A natal magic weapon! This is one of the goals that all late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators dream of.

The embryonic form of the magic weapon itself is comparable to a high-grade second-tier spiritual artifact!

A good magical artifact embryo is directly related to future combat power enhancement.

Its value is also extremely high.

In particular, this embryo is of high quality and has rare and powerful attributes!
An eerie silence fell over the entire area, with only heavy breathing and the humming of the sword embryo itself remaining.

All the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, even those at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, and even those who had only recently achieved the False Core Formation stage, stared wide-eyed.

Including the palace-clad female cultivator, the gray-robed sword cultivator, the cultivator in the shadows, and even several powerful figures who had been concealing their auras, they all unleashed astonishing power at this moment, staring intently at the sword embryo!
Lin Changheng also felt his mouth was dry and his heart was pounding. If only he could obtain this item and refine it into his natal magic weapon...

But he also knew that this would be a bloody struggle in which he had no chance of participating!
Ximen Gu surveyed the entire room, looking at the bright, sparkling eyes filled with longing, and smiled as he announced the bottom price:
"One magic weapon embryo, starting price—50,000 low-grade spirit stones! Each bid must be at least 5,000!"

"Sixty thousand!" The gray-robed swordsman was the first to speak.

"Seventy thousand!" The female cultivator in palace attire followed in a cold voice, her face as frosty as ice.

"Eighty thousand!" the cultivator in the shadows announced.

"One hundred thousand!" The old man who had previously concealed his cultivation level spoke slowly. His voice was not loud, but it instantly overshadowed all other voices, showing his determination to win and his immense wealth.

Prices skyrocketed at an astonishing rate, making spirit stones seem like mere cold numbers. Each bid elicited gasps and gasps of surprise.

Lin Changheng glanced at it, then silently chose to leave, no longer looking around.

At that moment, almost all the cultivators' attention was drawn to the astonishing price, and the entire place was in an uproar, making it the perfect time to leave quietly.

Lin Changheng had already flaunted his wealth by making several bids at the auction, and knowing the principle of not showing off one's riches, leaving now was indeed a safer move. At the very least, the most powerful late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and Pseudo-Core cultivators were completely absorbed in the competition for the magic weapon embryos and had no time to spare for anything else.

He quietly blended into the shadows of the excited crowd, like a drop of water falling into the sea, without attracting anyone's attention, and quickly moved towards the exit down the mountain.

However, he was unable to fool everyone.

We must not deceive those with ulterior motives.

Just as he was leaving, two cultivators wearing tiger and rat masks exchanged a subtle glance and nodded in tacit agreement.

Taking advantage of the commotion and deafening noise of the crowd, the two slipped away like ghosts, following Lin Changheng at a distance, and left the auction mountain that was still immersed in a frenzied atmosphere.

After leaving the peak, Lin Changheng did not immediately ride his escape light into the sky, as that would be tantamount to becoming a sitting duck. He first quickened his pace, walking swiftly along the mountain path, while his divine sense and [Insight of Other Techniques] were quietly operating at their maximum, keeping a vigilant watch over his surroundings.

He had only walked three or four miles when he entered a relatively secluded mountain forest area, and his steps paused slightly.

Although the two auras behind him tried their best to conceal themselves, how could they completely hide from his enhanced perception?

A fierce and domineering aura emanated from him, clearly indicating he was at the late Foundation Establishment stage!
The other one was slightly weaker, but still possessed the cultivation level of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and his aura was more slippery and concealed, clearly indicating that he was skilled at tracking.

"As expected, I've been targeted..." Lin Changheng sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm, as if he hadn't noticed anything. He continued forward, but his internal magic power had already begun to circulate quietly, and his divine sense spread backward like an invisible spider web, carefully guarding against the two people.

The two opponents didn't seem to be in a hurry to make a move; they simply followed at a leisurely pace, clearly looking for a more suitable and secluded location before taking action.

To prevent the cooked duck from flying away, or from being taken advantage of by other birds.

Lin Changheng's mind raced. The opponent was not weak, especially the late Foundation Establishment cultivator, who was bound to be a formidable foe. It would be a good opportunity to test his own strength.

His gaze swept across the terrain ahead, and he quickly made a plan. He changed direction slightly, no longer heading towards the market or crowded areas, but instead fleeing into a more secluded mountain valley with denser forests.

Upon seeing this, the tiger-faced and rat-faced masked cultivators following behind simultaneously flashed a hint of joy and cruelty in their eyes.

"Brother, this kid is walking straight to his death!" the rat-faced cultivator transmitted his voice in a high-pitched tone.

"Hmph, so clever of him! Stick close, don't let him pull any tricks! He's a fat sheep, take him down, and we'll be able to enjoy ourselves for a while!" The tiger-faced cultivator replied with a sneer.

"It's his bad luck that he fell into the hands of our Black Shadow Duo."

The rat-faced monk also gave a sinister smile.

Ahead, Lin Changheng's figure happened to turn into a dead corner of a mountain valley with strange rocks and exceptionally dense trees, where his view was greatly obstructed.

next moment.

"What's going on!" the tiger-faced cultivator shouted. He discovered that the fat sheep that his divine sense had been firmly locked onto had lost its target.

Like a bubble, it vanished without a trace!
"Come on!"

The two accelerated instantly, like two arrows released from a bow, rushing towards the mountain hollow from the left and right!
However, just as they rushed into the ravine—

The rat-faced monk at the forefront suddenly felt the scene before his eyes blur!
The original rocks and trees instantly twisted and disappeared, replaced by an endless, pink mist that exuded a strange, sweet fragrance.

A seductive, ethereal figure, scantily clad, appeared and disappeared in the mist, emitting seductive, arousing sounds that clung to him. An indescribable heat rose from his lower abdomen, instantly clouding his judgment!

【Hallucinogenic Magic: Ascension】!
"Uh...beauty...I..."

The rat-faced cultivator's forward momentum suddenly stopped, a dazed smile appeared on his face, and his eyes instantly became empty and confused. He had already fallen into the blissful illusion that Lin Changheng had woven for him, and his body was full of flaws!

"Be careful! It's an illusion!" The tiger-faced cultivator, after all, had a higher cultivation level and a stronger divine sense. Although he was also slightly affected, he immediately realized something was wrong and shouted a warning!

But it was too late!
At the very instant the rat-faced monk lost his composure and stood frozen in place—

"laugh!"

A faint, almost invisible crimson light, as if its trajectory had been calculated beforehand, shot out silently from behind a strange rock!
The speed is beyond comprehension!

(End of this chapter)