Cultivating Immortality in Two Realms

Chapter 98 Auction

"I am a rogue cultivator, but I cannot stand the rampant evil forces. You may leave now."

Fang Qing had no intention of revealing his identity, maintained his aloof image, and flew away on his sword.

Whoosh!

After flying dozens of miles, he slowed down the sword light and took out a black jade slip.

"Bloodthirsty Technique?"

With a sweep of his divine sense, the cultivation technique in the jade slip appeared.

"Demonic cultivation techniques emphasize rapid progress. Although this Bloodthirsty Technique only has the Foundation Establishment stage, its advantage is that even those with low aptitude can progress at a considerable speed. Furthermore, if one encounters bottlenecks in the mid or late stages, one can break through by refining the essence and blood of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, although the effect is slightly less than taking a Breakthrough Pill."

After studying it for a while, Fang Qing couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive.

While mastering demonic techniques does offer significant advantages, it also makes one more susceptible to qi deviation and demonic possession.

Furthermore, according to the scriptures of the Azure Sea Sect, while breakthroughs using a cultivator's essence and blood may result in rapid progress in the early stages, they are more likely to encounter more difficult bottlenecks later on, potentially trapping them for life.

It has both advantages and disadvantages.

On the other hand, in the ancient Shu region—it seems there's no record of consuming blood essence causing bottlenecks; truly, the demonic path is flourishing!

He flipped through the other jade slips but didn't find the famous Black Demon Fire Secret Technique that burned his senior brother Tian Ding's head to baldness.

There is only one secret technique that rapidly restores magical power by destroying the body's potential and burning vital essence.

Fang Qing glanced at it and dismissed it.

It seems that the early Foundation Establishment stage cultivator he killed had only an average status in the Extinction Sea Alliance. At most, his cultivation techniques and secret arts broadened his horizons.

Recalling the battle just now, Fang Qing knew that the ancient Shu Daoist magic here had a bit of a dimensional reduction effect, ignoring numerical values ​​and relying entirely on the mechanism!

Sanyuan Island.

This island consists of three main islands, two secondary islands, arranged in a three-dimensional formation, with each island protected by a powerful array.

The Sancai Market is located on the main island, while the other two smaller islands are occupied by the two Foundation Establishment families, the Lu family and the Jiang family. These two families are also the major shareholders of the Sancai Market.

Among them, the Lu family has three Foundation Establishment cultivators, one of whom has reached the mid-stage and is at his peak.

Although the Jiang family only has one ancestor in the early Foundation Establishment stage, they possess a mid-grade second-tier spirit beast named Wanshou.

The tortoise has an extraordinary bloodline. Although it grows extremely slowly, it is gifted with exceptional talent and can barely possess the combat power of the late Foundation Establishment stage. It once killed two early Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.

For this reason, the Jiang family's status is subtly higher than the Lu family's, making them one of the behind-the-scenes owners of this black market auction, providing high-end armed protection.

"This auction is a black market auction and will not be held in the Sancai Market—it's a clear attempt to cover it up."

With a slight smile on his lips, Fang Qing walked into the Sancai Market on the main island.

There were many pedestrians on the road, most of whom were Qi Refining stage cultivators. There were various stalls on both sides, displaying spiritual herbs, medicine bottles, ancient coins, magic tools, raw ores and other miscellaneous items.

"It's actually a Foundation Establishment stage repair?"

"This senior looks incredibly young—"

Fang Qing did not conceal his Dao Foundation aura as he walked, which immediately caused many cultivators to respectfully make way for him.

His expression was indifferent, and occasionally his divine sense would sweep over the spiritual herbs and minerals on the stall, causing him to shake his head inwardly.

Perhaps it's because I'm used to dealing with so many good things in the sect—looking at them now, I find it almost unbearable to look at.

The vast majority of these minerals and plants were of low-grade first rank, with very few even of mid-grade—a sight that left Fang Qing speechless.

I've heard of rogue cultivators who have stumbled upon hidden gems, even fragments of ancient spiritual treasures, and soared to great heights—but I, a master of divination, haven't managed to find any such treasures?

The few seemingly interesting fragments were all easily spotted by his divine sense; they were artificially aged to scam bargain hunters.

There were also a few high-grade first-tier and near-second-tier spiritual items, which the stall owner seemingly casually tossed in a corner, but in reality, he would glance at them every now and then, clearly trying to fish for more.

This cultivation world—the waters aren't that deep, at least not enough to drown me, that's because the people are simple and honest.

Fang Qing sighed inwardly, turned around, and walked into a shop.

Among the shops in Sancai Market, there are some good items; at least the store's prized possessions are all at the second tier.

He bought several second-tier spiritual herbs from a herbal shop, then turned and entered a pavilion with a red banner.

"Nothing to do today, so I'll listen to music at the brothel."

Several days later, on an island not far from Sancaifang City.

Two cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining, their bodies shrouded in malevolent energy, guarded the entrance to the black market auction.

As dusk approached, a few streaks of light occasionally appeared, mostly concealing their figures as they produced their credentials and entered the venue.

"Halt! Auction pass, one pass allows entry for one person only."

Just then, the two men stopped a grandfather and grandson-like pair of cultivators outside the auction.

"Gentlemen, this old man has brought his granddaughter here to broaden her horizons. Please make way for her—"

The grandfather, a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, smiled broadly and secretly slipped a few spirit stones to him.

"Hmph, what do you take our auction for?"

"If they make another sound, I'll kill them!"

The two Qi Refining Ninth Level cultivators were furious and slapped the spirit stones away.

Just then, a flash of sword light appeared, and a young man landed on the reef.

"Please, senior!"

The two Qi Refining Level 9 experts immediately changed their attitude, bowing and scraping, becoming exceptionally enthusiastic.

"Um.

""

Fang Qing scanned the girl with his divine sense and found that the veiled girl had peach-blossom cheeks and almond-shaped eyes, and her skin was so delicate that she could barely be considered a little beauty.

Unfortunately, I've been a bit tired of the sights lately and haven't bothered to pay much attention, so I just walked straight into the auction hall.

Behind them, a little girl's indignant voice could be heard: "Why was he allowed in without even a pass?"

"Haha—little girl, just because he's a Foundation Establishment cultivator, you're so clueless. We're not letting you in for your own good. Otherwise, looking at you and your granddaughter, so young and naive, you're probably just some rogue cultivators who've just entered the cultivation world. If you really went in, you might become merchandise tonight—"

"Hmm? I didn't expect those two guards, who looked so fierce, to be quite humane."

Fang Qing nodded to himself. When he arrived at the auction venue, he saw an underground cave with a semi-circular platform built on it.

One by one, jade palace lanterns lit up, illuminating each private room.

Below the private room, there were many seats, and many people were already sitting cross-legged, mostly cultivators in the mid-to-late stages of Qi Refining.

"Another Foundation Establishment cultivator has arrived!"

Upon seeing Fang Qing, many cultivators looked at him with awe and a hint of envy: "He's still a new face. There have been quite a few unfamiliar Foundation Establishment cultivators lately."

"I've heard that the Sea Extinction Alliance not only distributes a large number of Foundation Establishment Pills as rewards for merit—but also has a secret technique that allows cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining to break through without needing Foundation Establishment Pills!"

"Hmph, trying to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage using demonic methods might severely shorten one's lifespan, and could even leave one forever stuck at the early Foundation Establishment stage—"

An older, more experienced monk sighed.

"If I can achieve the Foundation Establishment stage, what does it matter if it shortens my lifespan?"

Another young man, unaware of the preciousness of youth and lifespan, had his eyes shining.

Fang Qing naturally ignored these comments.

As soon as he entered the venue, a woman in a gray robe greeted him: "Distinguished guest, you are a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Please enter the private room. In this venue, apart from the top-tier rooms, you may choose any room you like. As long as the room lights are not lit, there are no cultivators inside."

"Um.

"

Fang Qing, sparing with words, casually flew into a private room.

The private room was protected by a barrier, and as soon as he injected his magic power, a jade palace lantern lit up.

In addition, there was a roster on the square table.

He casually opened it and found it was tonight's auction catalog. The first item was a first-grade high-quality pill—the Jade Marrow Pill!

This pill can help cultivators who have reached the sixth level of Qi Refining to break through their bottlenecks and advance to the late stage of Qi Refining. It can be considered a minor top-grade item.

-

Besides that, there's a bunch of top-grade magical artifacts, talismans, elixirs, and the like.

"Hmm? There are even eggs laid by a second-tier longevity tortoise?"

Fang Qing glanced at it but wasn't very interested in this kind of spirit pet.

After all, the Longevity Turtle, a type of spiritual pet, is known for its slow growth; it can be passed down through three generations, and even after the person leaves, the turtle remains.

Furthermore, if he really wanted to train assistants, wouldn't it be simpler to just casually bestow a few quick Foundation Establishment techniques?

"Found it—the second-tier superior-grade spiritual herb 'Qionghua Branch' is among the later auction items."

Fang Qing looked at the last few items to be auctioned, and the "Qionghua Branch" was only so-so.

The most sought-after item should be a genuine Foundation Building Pill!

They can even get Foundation Establishment Pills—this auction house is quite powerful.

He looked around and found that there were a few other good items, such as a mid-grade second-tier spiritual weapon and a secret technique inheritance!

"The 'Windless Escape Technique'? The first three levels of this technique are suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators, while the latter four levels require Core Formation or higher cultivators to master. It is said that in the early stages it only increases escape speed, but in the later stages it allows cultivators to comprehend wind escape techniques." — This technique ranks among the fastest escape methods in the cultivation world, on par with lightning escape and sword escape.

"Of course, what's on the auction is just an incomplete cultivation technique, only the first four levels—and requires a wind spirit root or a wind-attribute spirit body to learn—which significantly reduces its value."

Fang Qing looked at it, but seemed to be deep in thought.

His natal element is "Ji Water", and "Ji Water" is associated with wind, so he is quite adept at practicing wind-attribute spells.

Perhaps it's worth buying and considering it?

Anyway, after being a trader for two generations, he still had no shortage of the most basic spirit stones.

Just as Fang Qing was pondering, a commotion broke out in the auction hall.

"Um?

Fang Qing sensed with his divine sense that a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator had entered the arena, along with a rather powerful demonic aura.

"Two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators? The security is barely acceptable—it's just a pity they don't have the talisman treasure I want most!"

That's just him overthinking it. Talisman treasures require a Core Formation cultivator to reduce the power of the magic weapon before they can be crafted. Almost every one of them has a traceable origin, making it virtually impossible for them to leak out.

Unless a cultivator is lucky enough to find the cave dwelling left behind by a previous Core Formation cultivator.

Even so, as one of the very few powerful talismans that can be activated even by those in the Qi Refining stage, it is definitely intended as a trump card and is unlikely to be sold.

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