Chapter 120 - 122: The Golden Crow

Before the pressure had dispersed, two more arrived, turning the complexions of Qi Cultivators like Li Zhiyue notably pale. It wasn’t that the Golden Cores were exerting their pressure intentionally; it was simply the innate aura they radiated after the breakthrough, which would persist unless deliberately suppressed. Fortunately, Jiang Tianming and Master Mingling, who had arrived early, stepped in to alleviate the pressure for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, making it more bearable for everyone. Then they quickly entered the room, and only when shrouded by the protective formations did they dare to take deep breaths. "Big brother, what Spiritual Objects are you looking to buy at the auction?" Li Zhirui asked, after having recovered somewhat. Li Zhizhun didn’t hide anything from Li Zhirui and immediately responded, "Mainly to see the treasures offered by the Yuanming Sect and to check if there’s anything suitable for the family’s inheritance." The methods obtained from the auction, unlike those purchased from the Xuanfa Pavilion, which required Sealing Skills or a Divine Sense Jade Slip to ensure the methods couldn’t be passed on to others were still subject to restrictions, though they could be transmitted within the power’s own members. Li Zhirui nodded, then suddenly remembered the various third-order Spirit Beast Eggs he had seen at the Rare Beast Pavilion and introduced them to the group, "If we don’t find anything at the auction and the family has Spirit Stones to spare, we could buy some third-order Spirit Beasts." "There’s actually such a business association in Green Mountain State?" Li Zhiyue exclaimed quietly. The others were pleasantly surprised, for the family had previously searched in vain for third-order Spirit Beasts, but now there was a readily available channel for it. Seeing this, Li Zhirui couldn’t help but smile, "There are many powers in the trade fair; Elder Lian, if you have the chance, you should go and broaden your horizons as well." Especially you, sister sixteen," Li Zhirui said, looking at Li Zhiyue, who was doted on by the family like a princess from a secular dynasty. He couldn’t help but give a few more pieces of advice, "The Cultivation World is not as peaceful and idyllic as Da Rong Island; one’s cultivation level is fundamental, and strength the means by which you defend your path. With your aptitude, you’re definitely not confined to Da Rong Island, nor limited to Yunping State." Li Zhirui and Li Zhiyue weren’t very close; when he was acting as Clan Leader, he had barely interacted with her. Mainly because she had the best aptitude in the family, Li Shilian and others placed great importance on her. Particularly Li Shiting, who would always bring Li Zhiyue to her side for personal instruction whenever she had free time. Back then, Li Zhirui thought with the devoted teaching from these elders, there was no need for him to worry about Li Zhiyue, so he didn’t pay much attention. When he realized something was amiss, Li Zhiyue had already been raised as a delicate princess! The one thing that relieved Li Zhirui was that she was not a temperamental and willful princess. "I understand, Ninth Brother!" Li Zhiyue replied with a gentle smile, keeping his words in her heart. Apart from Li Zhiyue herself, no one else knew that she admired Li Zhirui the most. She always considered Li Zhirui a role model for learning and wanted to be close to him. Unfortunately, Li Zhirui was too inundated with responsibilities and immersed in the joy of Alchemy for her to be overly forward; thus, until now, their relationship remained that of ordinary family members. Seeing that she truly took his words to heart, Li Zhirui nodded without saying much more; after all, saying too much might provoke annoyance. He changed the subject, "If there really isn’t time, when I return to the family, I will write down all the Spiritual Objects I’ve seen." With the strength of his Spiritual Soul, remembering these things was effortless for him. "Hahaha, even if we go to see for ourselves, we’ll still need your help in recording all the Spiritual Objects," Li Zhizhun laughed and said, "That way, if family members go out for training in the future, they won’t miss an opportunity by coming across treasures they don’t recognize." "No problem." As they talked, the auction closed its massive doors. A stunningly beautiful female Cultivator, swaying her hips, gracefully ascended the auction stage. With a charming smile, she said, "I am Ziyan, and I greet all the seniors and fellow Daoists here." It was apparent that this female Cultivator’s status in the Yuanming Sect was not low, or she wouldn’t have been put in charge of such an important auction. Futhermore, when Li Zhirui first met her, she was just at the early phase of Foundation Establishment, but now she had already reached the late phase! To progress so swiftly in just over a decade, such a cultivation speed for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was extremely fast, unless there were abundant resources. "Today’s auction features a total of one hundred and twenty auction items, among them are three special treasures, one fourth-order Spiritual Object, and fifteen third-order Spiritual Objects," Ziyan briefly introduced before formally starting the day’s auction. Special treasure? Li Zhirui’s heart stirred, thinking these must be the items the Yuanming Sect used to attract the major powers. "The first Spiritual Object, a set of the Five Elements and Three Wonders, eight Foundation Establishment level Spiritual Objects." As she spoke, a Jade Box appeared on the auction stage with a flash of Spirit Light, containing variously colored Spiritual Objects. The Five Elements need no explanation, the Three Wonders referred to wind, thunder, and ice - three common Unique Spiritual Roots. In addition, there were darkness, yin, and yang, even rarer Unique Spiritual Roots. The numerous Loose Cultivators on the ground floor were instantly exhilirated; few among them could afford Foundation Establishment Pills, but they still had a chance of obtaining Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects. "The Yuanming Sect has truly gone to great lengths for this trade fair," Li Zhirui marveled, the Five Elements were to be expected, but finding three Unique Spiritual Root objects was astonishing. Under the gaze of over a thousand Loose Cultivators, Ziyan’s red lips slightly moved, "The starting bid for the Five Elements Objects is 15,000 Spirit Stones! The starting bid for the Unique Spiritual Roots Objects is 18,000 Spirit Stones!" Foundation Establishment level Spiritual Objects were extremely attractive to Loose Cultivators, but for Foundation Establishment powers like the Li family, they would just take a longer look; unless absolutely necessary, they would not let their own members use Spiritual Objects to achieve Foundation Establishment. Raising a Qi Cultivation Completion member of the clan was no easy feat. The eight spiritual objects sold for a total of 150,000 Spirit Stones, closely followed by sixty to seventy first-order spiritual objects, including rare top-grade first-order Spirit Pills, top-grade first-order Magic Artifacts, and precious first-order Spirit Seeds, a variety of spiritual objects that were overwhelming. During the auction, Li Zhirui bid for several first-order Spirit Seeds that he did not have on hand. Although he lacked the corresponding Pill Recipes, since he had come across them, he naturally could not miss out, and the prices were not very expensive either. Li Zhizhun also bid for several spiritual objects, which were first-order insights into talisman making, which documented the experiences of a second-order Talisman Maker, teachings on how to make Spiritual Ink and Talisman Paper "Methods of Making Spirit Talisman Supplies", and two types of spirit objects used for making Talisman Paper: first-order Purple Bamboo and first-order White Leaf Grass Spirit Seeds. Although the Li family had consecutively produced Li Zhirui and Li Zhiyue, the two talented Water Method Alchemists, Alchemy could not be popularized due to difficulties in alchemy and limitations regarding the Spiritual Roots. Therefore, the clan decided to focus on developing another skill, which was the talisman making previously chosen by Li Zhirui! Talisman making, unlike Alchemy and Artifact Refining, did not require a certain type of Spiritual Root to learn, nor did it have the high learning difficulty of Formation, and it wasn’t as time-consuming as Spirit Plant cultivation and Beast Taming with relatively low returns. Although Yuanming Sect was now putting forth only first-order spiritual objects, for a small Foundation Establishment power like the Li family, there were still many good items, so Li Zhirui and the others did not feel impatient. Moreover, after the first-order spiritual objects were sold, it was time for the second-order spiritual objects to take the stage! "Next, we shall auction five Foundation Establishment Pills!" Ziyan smiled charmingly and uttered words that made the hearts of most cultivators present throb. Li Zhizhun sighed helplessly, "Unfortunately, the clan hasn’t saved up that many Spirit Stones." "No need to hurry, the family does not currently have anyone breaking through; we will have opportunities to obtain them in the future," Li Shilian said softly. There were a few Qi Cultivation Completion members in the clan, but they were all quite old, and their chances of breaking through Foundation Establishment were not high; the clan would not purchase Foundation Establishment Pills for them. Perhaps one day when the Li family could refine their own Foundation Establishment Pills, those clansmen with mediocre talents and no particular skills might have a chance to receive Foundation Establishment Pills. Soon, five Foundation Establishment Pills were bought by three families at high prices, and Ziyan, with a jubilant smile, brought out the next second-order spiritual object. One by one, precious spiritual objects were brought out and then bought by fervent bidding, and this time, neither Li Zhirui nor the clan joined in. It wasn’t that they didn’t have Spirit Stones; rather, the spiritual objects offered didn’t captivate them enough to bid. "Third-order spiritual objects, five leaves of Pure Bead Tao Rhythm Tea..." Unknowingly, the second-order spiritual objects had also been sold out. "It is said that this Tao Rhythm Tea can temporarily enhance one’s aptitude and hasten the mastery of Spells and Divine Power." The so-called Divine Powers refer to those Spells that are extremely powerful or extremely profound. They consume huge amounts of Mana or require expertise in a certain aspect, and at least a Golden Core cultivator is needed to use them. Although treasures were precious, the Li family could only watch. With their strength, they didn’t even have the qualification to enter the bidding. It was also at this time that Li Zhirui learned that there were at least a dozen Golden Core cultivators attending the auction! The fifteen third-order spiritual objects were bought by various Golden Core cultivators in just a quarter of an hour, and while opening the eyes of the crowd, the exorbitantly high prices also shocked them. Experience tales at novelhall.Côm "Next is the only fourth-order spiritual object of this event, the Crimson Feathered Golden Crow Egg!" As Ziyan spoke, a Foundation Establishment cultivator came forward with a bird nest made of third-order Melting Fire Stone. In that nest lay a Crimson Feathered Golden Crow Egg, the size of an infant’s head, with a completely red body and patterns of gold spreading across it. Even though the Golden Crow had not yet been born, its presence raised the temperature of the auction hall significantly, and a nearby Loose Cultivator’s face turned red from the heat. Li Zhirui and his companions were thrilled, and Li Shiren couldn’t help but stick his head out further, as if by doing so he could see more clearly. After all, this was a fourth-order Spirit Beast Egg! With enough resources to nurture it, it would definitely break through Golden Core, and there was even a chance it could achieve Nascent Soul stage! If the Li family could obtain this Golden Crow Egg, the bloodlines of the second-order Fire Crows in the clan would advance further, and if it were contracted by a clansman, it could greatly accelerate his cultivation speed... How could Li Zhirui and the others not be excited? Unfortunately, this Golden Crow Egg was doomed not to belong to the Li family. A fourth-order Spirit Beast Egg, especially one with the bloodline of a Golden Crow like the Crimson Feathered Golden Crow, was something these Golden Core cultivators and the powers behind them would not want to miss. "This treasure goes to the highest bidder, and apart from using Spirit Stones, other treasures can also be traded," Ziyan added unhurriedly. "200,000 Spirit Stones, I hope my fellow Daoists will give Hundred Fires Mountain some face," said a Golden Core cultivator with a robust voice. A third-order Spirit Beast Egg was only a few thousand Spirit Stones, yet the price of the fourth-order Spirit Beast Egg, only one order higher, had skyrocketed several tens of times! "200,000 Spirit Stones to buy a Golden Core cultivator? Are you dreaming?" A sinister voice rose, followed by a bid: "300,000 Spirit Stones!"