A god-level alchemist, starting by manually crafting forbidden pills.

The next day, the morning glow began to bloom.

Inside the alchemy room, Luo Fan opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and his aura becoming powerful once more.

He exhaled a breath of turbid air, which condensed into a wisp of white energy in front of him, flying about ten feet before dissipating.

"Seven levels of Foundation Establishment, complete."

Luo Fan felt the surging spiritual energy within his body, and a smile appeared on his lips.

Overnight, his cultivation level improved once again.

It has been only a little over a month since he reached the first level of Qi cultivation.

If word got out about this speed, it would probably terrify a lot of people.

However, this is to be expected, as he possesses the Secret Treasure Great Dao Furnace.

With the help of shared cultivation power, one can improve their strength at any time, in addition to various opportunities.

Opportunities far outweigh the painstaking cultivation of seclusion, so it's no wonder that cultivators from all walks of life fight tooth and nail for them.

Furthermore, he discovered that the tempering of the Five Elements seems to be related to the balance of Yin and Yang.

Although he was forced into his relationship with that witch from the Hehuan Sect, he did indeed benefit greatly from it.

Thinking of what happened last night, a hint of unease flashed across Luo Fan's face again.

He suppressed those alluring images and got up to straighten his robes.

"It's time to go."

Today is the day of the Zhengyang Sect auction.

Luo Fan left Peach Blossom Temple silently, concealing his presence all the way, and arrived at Tianyang City, hundreds of miles away.

Tianyang City is under the jurisdiction of the Zhengyang Sect, and its markets are incredibly prosperous.

The auction will be held at Tianyang Auction House, the largest auction house in the city.

Luo Fan stopped in a secluded mountain forest outside the city, jumped off his flying sword, and prepared to enter the city.

"Junior brother, over here."

A clear, cool voice, tinged with gentleness, rang out from the forest.

Luo Fan looked in the direction of the sound and saw a beautiful figure standing under an ancient pine tree.

The woman wore a flowing, light blue dress with a trailing hem that accentuated her shapely figure.

She wore a light white veil over her waist, which was tied with a matching silk sash, making her waist appear even more slender and delicate.

Her face was covered by a light blue veil.

Only her clear, water-like eyes and her delicate, jade-like nose were visible.

Her dark hair was loosely tied up with a white jade hairpin, with stray strands falling beside her cheeks, adding to her cool and otherworldly air.

She was completely different from the woman she was when Luo Fan met her twice at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.

At that time, she was gentle and graceful.

At this moment, she was like a celestial being from the heavens, aloof and untouched by worldly dust.

"Senior sister."

Luo Fan stepped forward, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, somewhat surprised.

To his surprise, Su Qingyuan would personally come to the Zhengyang Sect's auction.

Su Qingyuan's gaze swept over Luo Fan, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. "Your outfit won't do."

With a flick of her wrist, she took out a moon-white brocade robe embroidered with gold patterns and handed it to Luo Fan.

"Change to this."

Luo Fan took the brocade robe. It was silky and soft to the touch, with a faint spiritual light flowing through it, clearly not an ordinary item.

"Your outfit is too ordinary; it just draws attention to you."

Seeing the doubt in Luo Fan's eyes, she continued, "If you wear it, people will only think of you as a spoiled young master with insufficient talent and mediocre cultivation."

Luo Fan suddenly realized, and without any hesitation, went behind the tree and changed into a brocade robe.

When he came out, Su Qingyuan's eyes flashed with amazement, and her pretty face blushed slightly.

His moon-white brocade robe, embroidered with flowing cloud patterns in gold thread, accentuated his tall and upright figure and distinguished demeanor.

A matching jade belt cinched around his waist made him appear even more dashing.

Coupled with his handsome and extraordinary face, he is the epitome of a refined and elegant young nobleman.

"good."

Su Qingyuan nodded gently. "Remember, from now on, you are Luo Yun, the young master of the Luo family in Yunzhou."

Luo Fan silently wiped away his sweat.

I have serious doubts. If the Luo family of Yunzhou really exists, did they offend my senior sister?

After Luo Fan agreed, he asked, "Senior Sister, what brings you here personally?"

"The most prized item in Zhengyang Sect's auction this time is the White Dew Jade Bamboo."

Su Qingyuan's voice was slightly cold, "This treasure belongs to my master back then."

Luo Fan's heart skipped a beat.

How could something from the Five Elements Alchemy Sect appear at the Zheng Yang Sect's auction?

This is more than just audacious; it's blatant provocation.

Could it be that they really believe all the disciples of the Five Elements Pill Sect have died?

Do not!

It's more likely a trap.

A trap to lure Su Qingyuan out.

"Don't worry about me, I can handle them. You, on the other hand, need to take care of yourself."

After a smile, she continued, "This item will greatly benefit you. It contains the innate wood element, which can help you condense the essence of wood and perfect the five elements."

"I see."

Luo Fan nodded, "It makes perfect sense for a young master from a prominent family to bid on items that enhance spiritual roots."

"Exactly."

Su Qingyuan nodded, then shook her head. "They put it up for auction not necessarily to lure me out."

"If they succeed, they won't be unable to find my trail."

"The White Dew Jade Bamboo has been refined by Master and has been imbued with Master's aura."

"Ordinary cultivators would be unable to refine it if they obtained it; attempting to do so would only result in a backlash."

"Only those who possess the highest-grade spiritual roots of the five elements and have cultivated the power of the five elements can refine it again."

She looked at Luo Fan, "You are the only choice."

"Not even my senior sister?"

Luo Fan could tell that Su Qingyuan had a mid-grade spiritual root of the Five Elements Heaven Rank and cultivated the power of the Five Elements.

Su Qingyuan shook her head, "My potential has already been enhanced by my master, so it will be difficult for me to make progress in the short term."

Before she entered the sect, she only had a low-level spiritual root.

The fact that I was able to advance to the middle grade of the Heavenly Rank is already thanks to Qingxuan's generous gift of pills.

Su Qingyuan took out another storage bag. "Take this. Inside are the spirit stones to be used in this auction."

Luo Fan took it, scanned it with his divine sense, and his eyes widened immediately.

There wasn't a single spirit stone in the storage bag.

There were only ten pills, all crimson in color, faintly emanating a violent aura.

Bursting Pill!

It's still a low-grade Xuan-level item.

One of these things could seriously injure even a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Ten of them exploded at once, even Golden Core cultivators would have to give way!

Luo Fan's Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke with difficulty, "Senior Sister, are you trying to blow up the auction house?"

"almost."

Su Qingyuan said calmly, "We're here to cause trouble. We not only want to bid on the items, but also to retrieve our master's belongings."

She added, "I will personally bid for the Blood Jade Marrow. After I win it, we will split up and there is no need for us to meet up."

"Remember, once you start, act swiftly and decisively. Do not linger in the battle. Once you have succeeded, withdraw immediately without leaving any trace."

"We want the Zheng Yang Sect to believe that it was a reckless rogue cultivator who robbed them, rather than remnants of the Five Elements Pill Sect returning for revenge."

A cold glint flashed in Su Qingyuan's eyes, "Revenge is yet to come."

"Let's go."

Su Qingyuan turned around and walked into the city first.

Luo Fan followed closely behind.

The two entered Tianyang City one after the other.

The Tianyang Auction House is a magnificent building, guarded by Foundation Establishment cultivators at the entrance, and those who enter and exit are either rich or noble.

When Luo Fan and Su Qingyuan arrived, the area in front of the auction house was already packed with people.

Su Qingyuan showed her disguised identity card, pretended not to know Luo Fan, and entered first.

After showing his identity token from the Luo family, Luo Fan was respectfully led to a private room on the second floor.

The private room was small but elegantly furnished and equipped with soundproofing, preventing outsiders from seeing inside.

Through the glass window in front, you can clearly see the auction stage below.

The auction began quickly, and items were presented one by one, attracting rounds of bidding.

Luo Fan wasn't very interested in these things; he simply closed his eyes to rest and waited for his target to appear.

In another private room, Su Qingyuan crossed her long, beautiful legs and sipped her tea.

One hour later.

"Next item – Blood Chalcedony!"

The auctioneer's loud voice rang out.

"This item is a condensation of the earth's essence, containing immense power of blood and qi, which is greatly beneficial to Foundation Establishment cultivators. Starting bid: five thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

Luo Fan opened his eyes and looked at the auction stage.

It was a fist-sized, crimson jade stone that emitted a rich aura.

"Six thousand!"

"Seven thousand!"

"Eight thousand!"

The bidding was in full swing.

Su Qingyuan did not immediately make a bid.

The bidding gradually subsided when the price climbed to 15,000 spirit stones.

She said calmly, "Twenty thousand."

The clear, cold voice resounded throughout the entire venue through the sound transmission array.

In an instant, all eyes were drawn to the private room on the second floor.

"Twenty-one thousand!"

Some people gritted their teeth and raised the price.

Thirty thousand.

Su Qingyuan didn't even lift her eyelids.

The entire room fell silent.

Although blood jade marrow is precious, 30,000 spirit stones are far more than its value.

"30,000 spirit stones per attempt!"

"Twice, 30,000 spirit stones!"

"Three times, 30,000 spirit stones!"

"make a deal!"

The auctioneer brought down the gavel, and soon a maid took the blood jade marrow away, awaiting the final transaction.

Another half hour passed, and the auction was drawing to a close. The auctioneer's voice carried a hint of excitement.

"Next up is the final item of this auction, and also the highlight—"

"White Dew Jade Bamboo!"

The entire room fell silent.

All eyes were fixed on the auction stage, and Luo Fan sat up straight, looking intently at it.

Four Foundation Establishment cultivators escorted a maid carrying a white jade tray as they walked onto the stage.

The tray was covered with a layer of red silk. The auctioneer took a deep breath and suddenly lifted the red silk.

A bamboo stalk, about three feet long and entirely green, was presented to everyone.

White dewdrops condensed on the bamboo stalks, emanating a wood-attribute spiritual energy.

It also possesses a profound and unfathomable Daoist charm.

"White Dew Jade Bamboo, an innate wood-attribute spiritual object, can help cultivators improve the quality of their spiritual roots!"

The auctioneer's voice was impassioned: "Starting price—100,000 low-grade spirit stones!"

After he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.

One hundred thousand spirit stones is an astronomical figure for the vast majority of people present.

At this moment, the Great Dao Furnace in Luo Fan's sea of ​​consciousness trembled slightly.

The cold fire of the secluded spring and the millennium-old jade marrow trembled simultaneously, radiating a longing.