Chapter 102: Testing
"Pure Accumulation Pill?"
Lin Jing frowned and shook his head, saying:
Then, the youth in red continued to speak to Lin Jing:
"I'm in urgent need of the Pure Accumulation Pill."
"May I ask, fellow Daoist, if it were to be refined by your Elixir Valley, could it be done in a short period of time?"
Looking at the red-robed youth before him, Lin Jing remembered something Liu Yiyuan had let slip by accident two months ago, when trading for The Hidden Dragon Pendant of the Azure Moon with a stall owner.
Back then, Liu Yiyuan had said that the Pure Accumulation Pill would be extremely difficult to find, even more precious than the pure Foundation Building Elixir.
Lin Jing was initially puzzled by this statement.
But before long, Liu Yiyuan's words proved true.
Within a short period, the entire Fang Market was swept clean of Pure Accumulation Pills.
Even the elixir medicines others had been hoarding were bought out at high prices.
Following that…
The main ingredient for making Clear Accumulation Elixirs—the Dust Cleansing Grass—was secretly bought up en masse by someone.
Before long, there was scarcely any to be found within the entire market.
Moreover, not just in Nanshan Market, but also within several Immortal Cities close to the market, the situation was the same.
Even Yuebaolou only had fewer than a hundred Dust Cleansing Grass plants left, and that was reserved expressly for emergencies.
However…
Fortunately, the Clear Accumulation Elixir was rarely needed by cultivators, and even without the Pure Accumulation Pill, nothing much would be impacted.
So, at first, not many people paid attention to it.
It was only when the price of Dust Cleansing Grass kept soaring, multiplying several times over seemingly out of thin air, that people started taking notice.
However, by then, there was hardly any Dust Cleansing Grass available on the market, making it impossible to purchase even if one wanted to.
At this point, Lin Jing understood.
Perhaps after this, there would be some major moves from Liu Yiyuan and this red-robed youth's family.
At this moment, this red -robed youth came to him specifically asking for Pure Accumulation Pills; Lin Jing couldn't help but become vigilant.
"Could this be a test?"
Lin Jing looked at the red-robed youth before him, pondered for a moment, and then said:
"I'm terribly sorry, fellow Daoist, our Elixir Valley does not have any Pure
Accumulation Pills either."
"You must be aware of the current situation in the markets."
"And not just the markets, even the several Immortal Cities close by probably don't have the main ingredient necessary to refine the Clear Accumulation Elixir—Dust Cleansing Grass."
"Although we in Elixir Valley remain secluded and don't appear in public, many of the spirit plants we need are still purchased from the nearby cities."
"The Pure Accumulation Pill you require is, I'm afraid, beyond our capabilities as well."
Even after Lin Jing had said this, the red-robed man still didn't give up and persisted in asking:
"Fellow Daoist."
"I really do urgently need the Pure Accumulation Pill!"
"I would like to ask you, if I can provide you with Dust Cleansing Grass, do you know how long it would take your Elixir Valley to refine it?"
At this point, the red-robed man looked extremely sincere.
However, to Lin Jing, his words were all too clear, and he even claimed he could provide Dust Cleansing Grass.
This only made Lin Jing more certain of his suspicion that they were definitely involved in this matter.
"Don't worry, fellow Daoist, as long as your Elixir Valley can refine it, I promise the reward will be substantial," the man assured. After hearing this, Lin Jing thought scornfully:
"Substantial reward…"
"If I actually managed to refine it, I bet the first thing they would do is find a way to track me down and silence me."
Guided by the principle that less trouble is better than more, Lin Jing simply responded:
"You jest, fellow Daoist."
"Within our Elixir Valley, there are only a few Pill Masters devoted to researching the Alchemy Dao. Although we do have some methods that could slightly increase the success rate of refining pure elixir medicines…"
"However, if fellow Daoist specifically wants Pure Elixir Medicine, and it's
Second Rank Elixir Medicine at that, I'm afraid no one can guarantee that."
"Otherwise, our Elixir Valley would have left Nanming Domain long ago in search of better development. "
"Is that so…"
After listening to Lin Jing's words, the red-robed man seemed somewhat disappointed.
But in Lin Jing's eyes, it was all an act.
In fact…
Lin Jing wasn't without Pure Cleansing Grass; he had just harvested the Spirit Plants in his Spirit Field, which included plenty of Pure Cleansing Grass, enough to refine Clear Accumulation Elixir in 100 furnaces.
Yet, as there was no Pure Cleansing Grass for sale anywhere recently, if he brought it out, it might become problematic to explain.
Just then, another person approached.
Lin Jing turned his head to look, and the newcomer was none other than Liu Yiyuan.
Liu Yiyuan approached the stall and first greeted the red-robed man.
"Brother Li, you're here too." "Didn't I hear that you urgently need a Pure Accumulation Pill?"
"Could it be that you've come to…" "Brother Liu."
The red-robed man nodded in response:
"To not hide it from Brother Liu, indeed, I wanted to find this friend from Elixir Valley and buy a Pure Accumulation Pill."
"But heaven does not always fulfill one's wishes, and even Elixir Valley does not have any Pure Accumulation Pills." Liu Yiyuan shook his head and said:
"Ah… what a pity!"
Watching the two's acting skills compete against each other, Lin Jing couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
Then, Liu Yiyuan turned to face Lin Jing.
"This friend from Elixir Valley, I've long heard of your great reputation, and I came specially today to buy Elixir Medicine from you."
"I am Liu Yiyuan from the Liu Clan of Fang Market, and my family ancestor is none other than Wu Cai Immortal."
Lin Jing spoke up:
"So it's the descendant of Wu Cai Immortal, I've long admired you."
"Haha… Fellow Daoist flatters me."
Liu Yiyuan laughed twice, then continued:
"What kinds of Elixir Medicine do you have here, fellow Daoist?" "If possible, I'd like to buy them all, consider it making a friend."
Lin Jing then spoke:
"Young Master Liu has come a bit late; all of the Elixir Medicine has already been sold out."
After that, he pointed to the red-robed man: "The last Gathering Yuan Pill, also a Pure Pill, was bought by this fellow Daoist."
"There really are none left?" Liu Yiyuan frowned, looking at the empty stall.
"I wanted to buy an Elixir Medicine as a gift. If fellow Daoist still has any, please don't hide them."
"A gift?" Lin Jing instantly remembered Huang Qingling's complaints, and an idea sprang to mind.
"May I know who fellow Daoist Liu wishes to gift this Elixir Medicine to? Is this person of importance to fellow Daoist?" Lin Jing asked Liu Yiyuan.
Liu Yiyuan nodded: "To not hide it from fellow Daoist, this person is very important to me."
"Could it be that fellow Daoist still has Elixir Medicine?" Liu Yiyuan looked at Lin Jing, a surge of joy appearing.
Lin Jing hesitated for a moment, then spoke: "Actually, I do have one more Elixir Medicine, but this one is something I've specifically reserved for my own breakthroughs."
As he said this, Lin Jing took out a Gathering Yuan Pill from his Storage Bag.
"Not to hide it from fellow Daoist, my talent for cultivation is extremely poor. Without a significant supply of Elixir Medicine, I couldn't possibly have reached my current realm."
"And this Elixir Medicine is the reward from Elixir Valley for my years of contributions to them."
After speaking, Lin Jing paused, seeming very hesitant.
"If fellow Daoist is truly in a hurry, then I have no objection to selling you this
Elixir Medicine.."
Chapter 103: Expensive Elixir Medicine
"Really?"
Liu Yiyuan's eyes lit up instantly.
"If Fellow Daoist could really sell me a pill, this young master would be eternally grateful."
He actually cared a lot about face; having boasted in front of Huang Qingling that he would give her an elixir, he had to make it happen.
If he saw her next time and couldn't produce it, wouldn't he become the laughingstock of everyone?
Although he was on good terms with the man in red, there was still a certain competitive relationship between their two families.
Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't want to trade with the man in red for that Pure Gathering Yuan Pill.
"Of course," Lin Jing replied.
After speaking, he hesitated for a moment before continuing:
"Fellow Daoist Liu, this pill was originally meant for my breakthrough, if I sell it to you, I'm afraid I don't know when I'll be able to break through."
"So, this pill…"
Lin Jing did not continue, trusting that Liu Yiyuan understood.
With a smile on his face, Liu Yiyuan said, "I naturally understand your dilemma, Fellow Daoist. This pill must indeed come with a higher price."
"Then, Fellow Daoist, how much do you want, how about 7,000 Lower Grade Spirit Stones?"
"Fellow Daoist Liu, you must be joking," Lin Jing said with a smile as he looked at Liu Yiyuan.
"What do you mean by this?" Liu Yiyuan asked, puzzled.
In his mind, the worth of a Pure Elixir Medicine was around 6,000 Lower Grade Spirit Stones, and offering 7,000 Lower Grade Spirit Stones was already quite generous.
Then, the man in red beside them spoke up to remind:
"The one I just bought cost me 70 Spirit Stones, Midium Grade."
Upon hearing this, Liu Yiyuan was shocked: "How could it be so expensive?" The man in red shook his head and sighed:
"You've either been recovering from cultivation or devoting your energies to that woman lately; it seems you're quite out of touch."
"This pill in my hand has sold for up to 80 Midium Grade Spirit Stones in Fang
Market."
"Don't forget, this is refined by Elixir Valley and is in high demand; it's not something any ordinary elixir medicine can compare to."
After listening, Liu Yiyuan frowned deeply before asking Lin Jing again:
"May I ask, Fellow Daoist, how much do you plan to sell this pill for?"
No sooner had Liu Yiyuan finished speaking than Lin Jing raised his arm, extending one finger:
"100, Midium Grade Spirit Stones."
Lin Jing, recalling what Liu Yiyuan had done to Luo Luo that day,
Now that he had the chance, he certainly wanted to swindle him if he could.
Therefore…
Lin Jing called out the exorbitant price of 100 Midium Grade Spirit Stones.
After hearing this, Liu Yiyuan looked at the elixir and remained silent, furrowing his brows.
He could afford the 100 Midium Grade Spirit Stones, but purchasing a Pure Energy Gathering Pill for that price still seemed too expensive to him.
The man in red saw Liu Yiyuan's hesitation and spoke:
"Brother Liu, how about this, I'll give you the one I have. Indeed, 100 Midium Grade Spirit Stones is a bit too expensive."
Liu Yiyuan looked up at the man in red and said:
"Brother Li, thank you for your kind offer."
"100 Midium Grade Spirit Stones isn't too much for me; I can definitely afford it, so please don't trouble yourself, Brother Li."
After speaking, Liu Yiyuan took out 100 Midium Grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag and handed them to Lin Jing. The man in red sighed helplessly to the side.
"Alas…"
Lin Jing reached out to take the Spirit Stones and then handed over the pill.
"Fellow Daoist Liu, the pill is now yours."
Liu Yiyuan took the elixir medicine, examined it, and then put it away.
"Brother Liu, now that you've got the elixir, there might be some matters at home. How about we take our leave now?" the red-robed youth said to Liu
Yiyuan.
"That works." Liu Yiyuan nodded.
The two then bid farewell to Lin Jing.
Just as they were about to leave, the red-robed youth addressed Lin Jing again:
"Dao friend, if your Elixir Valley can concoct the Pure Accumulation Pill, please do send word to me."
"I would be eternally grateful."
After speaking, the two of them left together.
Before long, Lin Jing also packed up and left the black market.
The next day, Lin Jing arrived at Yuebaolou and went straight to Elder Yu.
"Elder Yu…" Lin Jing came over and greeted Elder Yu directly.
"Lin lad, you normally stay busy with alchemy; why are you here today?" Elder Yu said with a smile.
"Isn't it just because I've been cooped up refining elixirs day in, day out and felt a bit stifled? I came out to relax a little and decided to drop by to see you," Lin Jing said, then passed a bottle of Qinghua Zhu to him.
"Elder Yu, you haven't visited my place for a while. Could it be that the meals I prepare don't suit your palate?" Lin Jing teased. Elder Yu took the Qinghua Zhu and teased back:
"You rascal…"
"Who dares to say your cooking doesn't suit their taste? It's nearly on a par with the head chef at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. I've just been tied up here at the counter."
Lin Jing looked at Elder Yu with curiosity:
"Elder Yu, as a Third Rank Alchemist, you don't need to be stuck here at the counter; it's something you could entrust to others."
"Why are you here every day?"
"Perhaps it's just a habit…" Elder Yu replied, gazing into the distance.
"My cultivation has reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, and I can't progress any further. With my aptitude, breaking through to the Golden Core Staze is likely a lost cause, unless I manaze to get mv hands on a Cultivation True Elixir, and then I might stand a chance to fight for it."
"As for the Alchemy Dao, I have also reached a bottleneck. Moreover, there are very few Third Rank elixir medicines. Sometimes it takes one to two years, or as many as four to five years, to get a chance to concoct one."
"Since I cannot improve, rather than spending time alone at home, it's better to be here, watching people come and go every day, and I might even gain new insights. "
"So that's the case…" Lin Jing suddenly understood.
Then, Lin Jing scanned the counter and saw that it only displayed some First and Second Rank spirit grasses.
Lin Jing asked Elder Yu:
"Elder Yu, doesn't Yuebaolou have any Third Rank spirit grasses for elixir medicines?"
"Of course, we have Third Rank spirit grasses. What's that got to do with you?" Elder Yu asked, puzzled.
Lin Jing continued, "Then why did you just say that it takes so long to concoct Third Rank elixirs?"
Elder Yu gave Lin Jing a disdainful look and explained, "Third Rank elixir medicines, do you think they are like those First and Second Rank elixirs?"
"Just gathering the alchemy ingredients for a Third Rank elixir takes a very long time. "
"Do you know why in Fang Market, Elder Master Li of the Li Family is the only Fourth Grade Pill Master?" Elder Yu asked.
Lin Jing shook his head, then said, "I don't know; please enlighten me, Elder
Elder Yu began to explain:
"It's because Third Rank spirit plants are hard to find. Ordinary Third Rank Alchemists often can't concoct a furnace for several years. Without sufficient experience, how can they advance to Fourth Grade?"
"And Elder Master Li, he had been at the Third Rank Alchemist level for a full two hundred years before he was promoted to Fourth Grade."
"How much does Yuebaolou have in terms of Third Rank spirit plants? Are they expensive?" Lin Jing continued to inquire.
Elder Yu stated candidly:
"Yuebaolou does not have a large stock of Third Rank spirit plants, and most of them are auxiliary materials for alchemy.."
Chapter 104: Blood Red Vermilion Fruit, Lifespan Extension Pill
"The main ingredients of those Third Rank Elixir Medicines are all extremely scarce; they're basically never seen in the Fang Market under normal circumstances."
"It's only at the auction that a few might appear."
When Elder Yu reached this point, as if he had remembered something, he suddenly called out to Lin Jing:
"Right, Lin kid…'
"In half a month, it will be our Yuebaolou's auction. Are you going?" Elder Yu asked.
"Auction?" Lin Jing voiced his confusion.
"Yes, the auction..
"At Yuebaolou, we hold an auction every once in a while. When the time comes, many people will attend, including members of the various major families of the Fang Market."
"If you'd like to go, I can take you there to broaden your experience," Elder Yu offered.
"Elder Yu, do you know what kind of good items will be at the auction?" Lin Jing's interest was piqued, and he asked.
"The list of auction items isn't finalized yet, but from what I know, there should be quite a few precious items this time."
"I see…"
"Wait a while until the auction list is out, then I'll come to find you and bring you a copy to take a look," Elder Yu said.
"By the way, I'll come over for a meal at your place; it's been a long time since I've tasted your cooking. I've started to miss it," Elder Yu said with a laugh.
"Alright," Lin Jing replied.
"Don't worry, Elder Yu. When the time comes, the youngster will make sure everything is arranged properly."
After chatting with Elder Yu for a while, Lin Jing headed home.
Upon returning, Lin Jing took advantage of the free time over the next few days to prepare some First Rank Elixir Medicines, completing some of his alchemy tasks for the month.
Then, in the evenings, he went into the System Space to try and concoct some Pure Elixir Medicines.
He was in good luck these days, and the outcomes of his alchemy were not bad. After several consecutive days of effort, he succeeded in creating three First Rank Pure Elixirs.
Moreover, he even managed to concoct a Second Rank Pure Elixir.
Soon, a few days passed.
Lin Jing received news that the list of items for the auction was out, and Elder Yu was coming over tonight.
Naturally, it was Huang Qingling who delivered this message.
And Huang Qingling had prepared the ingredients early in the morning, just waiting for Lin Jing to start cooking.
Lin Jing didn't waste words. Taking the ingredients from Huang Qingling, he got busy at once.
By the time Lin Jing finished, Elder Yu had also arrived.
The trio went inside the house, sitting around the table, ready to eat. As soon as Elder Yu sat down, he passed a booklet to Lin Jing.
"Here, this is the item list for the auction; take a look," Elder Yu said.
Lin Jing took the list, then immediately opened it.
"I want to see too…"
Huang Qingling said and leaned in close behind him.
The two were very close, with Huang Qingling nearly pressed against Lin Jing, which made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.
He quickly scooted aside and then placed the list of auction items between them.
Huang Qingling seemed not to mind in the slightest and just focused on the list.
Following that, Lin Jing also turned his gaze to the list.
The list was comprehensive with various kinds of items: Magic Artifacts, Cultivation Techniques, Elixir Medicines, etc…
All kinds of cultivation resources were there.
"There's more in the back…"
Elder Yu, smiling, watched the two of them and reminded them.
He then poured himself a cup of 'Qinghua Drunk' and downed it in one gulp.
Huang Qingling reached out and flipped the pages to the back.
The items listed there were even more valuable.
Silver-blue ore, a material necessary for the creation of Golden Core Magic Treasures.
The Moonflow Heart Fruit, a third-rank Spirit Fruit, is an auxiliary medicine for refining the Cultivation True Elixir required for advancing to the Golden Core Stage.
The rootstock of the Biling Flower, the key ingredient in the third-rank Elixir Medicine, the Condensing Yuan Pill.
The Condensing Yuan Pill is an upgraded version of the Gathering Yuan Pill, specifically designed for Golden Core Cultivators. Swallowing one can increase one's cultivation by several decades, and the price is exceedingly expensive.
Upon seeing this, Lin Jing felt very tempted.
This rootstock of the Biling Flower might not be very useful to others, but to him, it was a different story entirely.
Others would likely just extract a small part of its medicinal power to enhance their cultivation, as they wouldn't be able to grow it on their own.
If they did so, the slight increase in cultivation they could get from that bit of medicinal power would be, at most, a few years—completely a waste.
But Lin Jing could plant it directly. In just a few years, it could mature, and then wouldn't he be able to pick the Biling Flowers at will?
Next, Huang Qingling reached out and flipped to the next page.
This page contained even more precious items, even a Golden Core Magic Treasure appeared, leaving both of them surprised.
They hadnt expected the auction to have so many good things.
Soon, they turned to the last page.
The first item on the last page was written in bold characters.
"Blood Red Vermilion Fruit"
"Elder Yu, is the Blood Red Vermilion Fruit really being auctioned this time?"
The Blood Red Vermilion Fruit, the main ingredient in the Cultivation True Elixir, hadn't appeared in over a hundred years.
If not for the lack of Cultivation True Elixir, Elder Yu might have reached the Golden Core Stage a long time ago.
Elder Yu nodded and said, "Yes, we're in luck this time, there is a Blood Red
Vermilion Fruit up for auction."
"Elder Yu, haven't you always been lacking the Cultivation True Elixir?"
"Now that the Blood Red Vermilion Fruit has appeared…" Lin Jing did not continue, but Elder Yu understood.
"You rascal…" Elder Yu said with a smile.
"This Blood Red Vermilion Fruit has actually already been reserved; the auction is really just a formality."
"It's already been reserved." Lin Jing said, surprised.
At this moment, Huang Qingling also spoke up:
"Shouldn't an auction be about the highest bidder winning?"
"Of course… but this Blood Red Vermilion Fruit is indeed an exception," Elder Yu replied.
After saying this, Elder Yu explained:
"When the Blood Red Vermilion Fruit first entered the auction, it immediately caught the attention of the various families."
"The one who reserved the Blood Red Vermilion Fruit actually belongs to several major families within Fang Market; it's been too long since a Blood Red Vermilion Fruit appeared in Nanshan Market."
"Therefore, this time, the major families decided together that the Li Family would be responsible for securing the Blood Red Vermilion Fruit, and Elder Master Li would be tasked with refining the Cultivation True Elixir."
"Then the other families, as well as our Yuebaolou, would also contribute some Spirit Stones and provide auxiliary medicines."
"When the time comes, if the batch of Cultivation True Elixir is successfully refined and we have a successful yield, we each get one. If the refining fails, then it's just our bad luck."
Lin Jing then said, "So Elder Yu, you mean to say, if the refining is successful, you could also get one?"
Elder Yu shook his head and said, "I can't guarantee it, but there is a chance."
"It will all depend on Elder Master Li in the end."
On reflection, Lin Jing thought it made sense; there was only one Blood Red Vermilion Fruit, and there were quite a few families in the market.
Normally, one would get three to six pills per successful batch, and if the yield was on the lower side, that would make distribution problematic.
And then…
He continued reading.
At the very end, Lin Jing discovered yet another item.
"Superior Lifespan Extension Pill"
The Lifespan Extension Pill can extend a cultivator's lifespan by 50 years.
Even the Lifespan Extension Pill had appeared..
Chapter 105: Celebrating the Festival
"Elder Yu, if I remember correctly, this Lifespan Extension Pill should be a Fourth Rank elixir medicine, right?" Lin Jing looked up at Elder Yu.
Elder Yu nodded and replied, "Yes, indeed it is a Fourth Rank elixir medicine."
"The most valuable item at this auction will be this very pill."
"If the assignment of the Blood Red Vermilion Fruit was the result of discussions among the families in the Fang Market, then there's only this one superior Lifespan Extension Pill. The major families will probably fight tooth and nail over it."
After reviewing the item list, Lin Jing stuffed it directly into Huang Qingling's hands.
Then he turned to Elder Yu and asked,
"Elder Yu…
"You said before that you could get me into the auction venue, but does that mean not even the offering priests from Yuebaolou like ourselves can enter?" Elder Yu took a sip of wine and then said, "This auction is no ordinary event."
"Didn't you notice the items listed? Each one is exceedingly rare, mostly needed by Golden Core Immortals and their families."
"Hmm…'
"That's certainly true."
Lin Jing thought about the items on the auction list and nodded in agreement.
"If you put it that way, this auction should really be considered a top-tier event."
"This auction is fundamentally not open to the public, unless you're part of one of the major families, or have some connections within Fang Market…"
"Otherwise, if you have items of your own to auction, then naturally you can also enter the venue."
"No wonder…
Lin Jing suddenly understood, then continued to question:
"Elder Yu, didn't you mention before that the auction would start in half a month's time? But now the auction item list is already drawn up. Could it be that the auction is going to start earlier?"
"Not that soon," Elder Yu shook his head and said.
"More items will be sent here over time. This list merely shows the initial items intended for auction; it's still far from complete."
"The auction date has been set, and it will begin in ten days' time."
Huang Qingling, having read through the list by this time, closed it and said to Lin Jing:
"I want to go, and you should come with me, Lin Jing. Let's see what this auction is like together."
After a moment of thought, Lin Jing shook his head:
"I'd rather not go. You all go ahead."
"What's the matter? Don't you want to see?" Elder Yu asked with a puzzled look.
"That's right, we'll be together, and with me there, what's there to fear?" Huang Qingling stood with her hands on her hips, completely unafraid of anything. "Besides, an auction of this level doesn't come around often. Sometimes it can be more than a decade before one occurs."
After finishing, Elder Yu paused, then continued to speak:
"Actually, it's not just because of the auction…"
Elder Yu looked seriously at Lin Jing and said:
"We live here in Fang Market, and sooner or later, we have to deal with the various families within. Especially since you are an alchemist, it's indispensable."
"My intention in taking you to the auction is also for you to get acquainted with the sons and daughters of those families ahead of time."
Lin Jing first frowned, then let out a sigh, and with some resignation, he spoke to Elder Yu:
"Elder Yu, to be frank…
"I actually have some disagreements with the descendant of Wu Cai Immortal, that is, Liu Yiyuan from the Liu Clan."
"What exactly happened? You rarely go out, so how did you manage to provoke him?"
Upon hearing this, Elder Yu frowned and asked.
"Did he bully you? Let me take care of him for you." Huang Qingling got up at once, indignant on his behalf.
Huang Qingling already disliked Liu Yiyuan, and without understanding the situation, she wanted to stand up for Lin Jing.
In her mind, Lin Jing, a middle-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, simply couldn't have been the one to provoke Liu Yiyuan, who was at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment. Certainly, it must have been Liu Yiyuan bullying Lin Jing, taking advantage of his higher cultivation.
"It's not like that."
"Qing Ling Daoist, please have a seat, I'll explain everything slowly," Lin Jing said.
After hearing this, Huang Qingling sat down and then spoke, "If he bullied you, don't hide it from me; I'll help you get even."
"Tell us what happened, how did you come to have a conflict with him?" Elder Yu spoke up at this moment.
However, from his serious expression, it was evident that the matter would not be easy to handle.
"This matter, it started when the Flame Poison Centipede wreaked havoc on Fang Market…"
Elder Yu and Huang Qingling pricked up their ears and listened att
In no time, the story reached its critical point…
"But right at that moment, Liu Yiyuan flew towards us, and all we could do was dodge, but we couldn't match his speed…"
"And then, would you believe it, he actually grabbed Luo Luo and threw her towards the Flame Poison Centipede…"
At this point, Huang Qingling suddenly stood up, slammed the table, and said angrily,
"This scoundrel, to be so shamelessly ruthless…"
"Luo Luo, isn't that the little girl you brought to see me before?" Elder Yu asked.
"Yes, Elder Yu, it's her," Lin Jing replied.
"To lay hands on such an adorable child, this Liu Yiyuan…" Elder Yu's brows furrowed.
"Ah…" Elder Yu sighed after saying this.
"If only I had known, I wouldn't have helped him with alchemy, never thought
I'd be saving a scourge."
"Elder Yu, you weren't aware at the time, it's not your fault."
"Besides, he is the descendant of Wu Cai Immortal. Wu Cai Immortal extended the invitation, and you couldn't well refuse, could you?" "What happened next…" Huang Qingling asked eagerly.
"How is Luo Luo now…"
"After Liu Yiyuan threw Luo Luo towards the Flame Poison Centipede, Luo Luo's mother, without a second thought, rushed straight towards her…'
"Didn't you say her cultivation was only at the late stage of Qi Refining? Charging at the Flame Poison Centipede like that, wasn't she just endangering herself as well?" Huang Qingling said with concern.
"Yes, late-stage Qi Refining…" Lin Jing said slowly, recalling the scene from that day.
"Continue…" The furrows in Elder Yu's brow deepened.
"Hmm…" Lin Jing acknowledged and then continued with the story.
When Lin Jing finished the story, Huang Qingling clapped her hands in approval.
"He truly got what he deserved… bitten by the Flame Poison Variant, right?"
"Also, to think you had the guts to chase after him, I really admire you," Huang Qingling said while patting Lin Jing's shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely avenge you and give him trouble." "Qing Ling…" Elder Yu called out to stop Huang Qingling.
"You can't get involved in this; after all, Liu Yiyuan has Wu Cai Immortal backing him. If you cause him trouble without reason, it won't sit well with Elder Bai."
"So are we just supposed to let him off like that?" Huang Qingling asked indignantly.
Lin Jing quickly tried to pacify Huang Qingling:
"Daoist Qing Ling, it's really not necessary. After all, I didn't lose out in that incident; in fact, he was the one who suffered the loss."
"I prefer to avoid him also because I don't want to cause Elder Yu and Elder Bai so much trouble.."
Chapter 106: Methods to Earn Spirit Stones
Elder Yu pondered for a moment and said,
"Your consideration is sound. This matter still needs to be handled by Elder Bai. You are now a Pill Master offering at Yuebaolou, and he wouldn't dare to openly harm you."
"But I know this man holds grudges. If he finds out you are unscathed, he will definitely think of ways to scheme against you."
"To completely resolve this matter, we still need to inform Elder Bai." "During this period, just stay in as you used to, without going out."
"You don't need to attend the auction either. If nothing unexpected happens, that Liu Yiyuan is bound to attend the auction."
After Elder Yu finished speaking, he looked towards Huang Qingling, who was clenching her fists tightly, her face full of anger.
"Qing Ling, don't act rashly either. We must notify Elder Bai about this matter first."
"I understand, Elder Yu." Huang Qingling replied, her voice still gruff with anger.
Actually…
There was another reason why Lin Jingzhi decided not to attend the auction.
That was, he planned to use The Hidden Dragon Pendant of the Azure Moon to change his appearance and identity, and attend the auction himself.
Just now, on the auction item list, Lin Jing saw many desirable items that greatly intrigued him.
If he went with Elder Yu, it would be difficult for him to make a move.
To obtain those items, he could only change his identity and participate in the auction.
And naturally, to participate in an auction, a large quantity of Spirit Stones was needed.
A couple of days ago in the black market, the sale of those First Rank Pure Elixir Medicines, including the high-priced sales to the red-clothed youth and Liu Yiyuan, netted him a total of 230 Medium Grade Spirit Stones.
These Spirit Stones, along with those that Lin Jing had saved up before, all added up…
Lin Jing calculated, and he had a total of 847 Medium Grade Spirit Stones and more than 13,000 Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
Were these Spirit Stones a lot?
Quite a lot.
The Spirit Stones most Foundation Establishment Cultivators carried on them didn't even amount to one-tenth of what Lin Jing had.
But to say it was a little, it was indeed little.
The auction Lin Jing was planning to attend was no ordinary event; any person participating could easily pull out thousands of Medium Grade Spirit Stones without batting an eye.
So, Lin Jing was still lacking Spirit Stones, seriously lacking.
If he missed the good items at this auction, finding them again later would be even harder.
Take the Biling Flower rhizome, for example; it certainly wasn't as expensive as the Biling Flower itself, even at an auction.
Lin Jing was determined to win it. Otherwise, if he missed out this time, the next time he encountered a Biling Flower, the price would be more than ten times that of the rhizome.
Soon, the meal was finished.
Elder Yu and Huang Qingling also had to leave.
Before departing, Elder Yu gave some specific instructions.
He told Lin Jing that if there was nothing urgent, it would be better to stay in
as before and go out less.
Since Elder Bai was busy with the auction and wasn't at Yuebaolou, once he returned, Elder Yu would inform him of the situation.
Even Huang Qingling offered Lin Jing some consolation before leaving, which made him feel somewhat amused and embarrassed.
It was as if he was being treated like a victim.
However, if Liu Yiyuan found out about this, he could truly become a victim.
After seeing off the two, Lin Jing cleaned up the dishes and utensils from the meal and then went to the pavilion. He pondered ways to earn Spirit Stones.
Alchemy?
With only ten days until the auction began, he feared he wouldn't be able to produce many Pure Elixir Medicines.
But if he didn't practice alchemy, he had no other methods.
Lin Jing sat on the bench beside the pavilion, gazing at the fishpond next to it, lost in thought.
In the pond, two plump goldfish were frantically fighting over a piece of food; both fish were similar in size and equally fierce.
Therefore, after much struggle, the piece of food never ended up in the mouth of any particular fish. Given that the other goldfish were all quite small, they didn't dare to approach due to the fierce competition from the two larger, plumper goldfish, choosing to hide far away instead.
However, just as the two large goldfish were engaged in a heated scuffle, an unexpected change occurred.
In the midst of their intense struggle, they flung the food out, and a small fish took this opportunity to quickly snatch the food and swim away.
The two large goldfish, originally entangled in their fight, noticed the food being taken by the small fish and immediately ceased their struggle, swiftly chasing after the small fish.
However, the small fish was very clever and swiftly darted into a crevice in the artificial rock formation. The two large fish followed it to the crevice but found they could not squeeze through, so they could only swim around outside. Lin Jing watched this scene unfold and grinned with amusement.
"These two silly fish…
Then, suddenly, an idea sparked in Lin Jing's mind.
An ingenious thought spontaneously emerged, and he instantly had a plan.
Next, he not only planned to engage in alchemy but also to refine Pure
Accumulation Elixirs, which were the most scarce in the market recently.
Although Lin Jing wasn't sure what exactly had occurred, he had noticed a lot of people buying up Pure Accumulation Elixirs and then purchasing large quantities of Dust Cleansing Herbs recently.
Clearly, someone was planning something big.
And from that young man in red's probing at Fang Market the last time, Lin Jing guessed that this matter was likely not unrelated to them.
Since Lin Jing was out of money, he could make them pay instead. All he had to do was refine the Pure Accumulation Elixirs and then auction them off at the auction house.
If they were really set on carrying out some unsavory scheme, they would surely bid regardless of how many Spirit Stones it cost.
After all, Lin Jing had The Hidden Dragon Pendant of the Azure Moon, which he could use to completely conceal his true identity, without fear of exposure.
Moreover, Lin Jing knew that Yuebaolou took sellers' privacy very seriously and wouldn't leak their information without consent.
Otherwise, it would be a strike against Yuebaolou's reputation.
And this plan of his posed very little risk.
Afterward, Lin Jing began his research.
He now had, he believed, 471 Harvest Points.
It was a pity that if he had 500 Harvest Points, he could have upgraded his Alchemy Room once again.
Then, the success rate of refining Second Rank Pure Elixir Medicines would significantly increase, which would have been even better.
Thinking this, Lin Jing returned to his room and firmly closed the door behind him.
"Enter System Space."
As the words left his mouth, Lin Jing directly entered the System Space.
Once inside the System Space, Lin Jing made his way to the Alchemy Room.
First, he opened his Storage Bag and took out some First Rank materials.
Lin Jing planned to start with these First Rank Elixir Medicines to warm up, and when he felt ready, he would switch to refining Clear Accumulation Elixirs.
Then, as usual, Lin Jing made his preparations.
After processing the materials, he started the fire, waited for the right temperature, and then added the materials into the Pill Furnace one by one.
The final step was to seal the furnace.
Time swiftly passed by, and soon, the aroma of elixirs filled the air, and the system prompt sounded at that moment.
"Ding"
"System Notification: Congratulations to the host for successfully refining Pure Elixir Medicine and receiving a reward of 5 Harvest Points."
This time, luck was on his side, as he managed to refine Pure Elixir Medicine on the first try.
Without taking a rest, Lin Jing continued refining.
The following batch did not yield any Pure Elixir Medicine.
Then, after another batch of First Rank Elixir Medicines, Lin Jing felt the time was right.
After three consecutive batches of Elixir Medicine refining, Lin Jing did not feel any fatigue. This was largely thanks to the Ning Family's Alchemy Method.
Nevertheless, Lin Jing took a brief rest to fully recover his energy before he continued refining..
Chapter 107: Alchemy Room Upgrade
This time, what he was refining was the Clear Accumulation Elixir.
Still following the steps he had already mastered, he prepared everything until the final sealing of the pill furnace.
Then, he began the most crucial step in the entire alchemy process, the control of the heat…
This step was very draining and also related to the ultimate success or failure of the alchemy.
Time passed bit by bit, and the materials inside the pill furnace slowly transformed into medicinal liquid, beginning to churn within the furnace.
Lin Jing carefully controlled the heat, avoiding any accidents.
Another half an hour passed, and by then the fragrance of the elixir had filled the entire room of the Alchemy Room, indicating that this round of alchemy would be successful.
At that moment, a pleasant system prompt sounded, instantly invigorating Lin Jing's spirit.
"Ding"
"System Notification: Congratulations to the host for successfully refining a
Pure Elixir and receiving a reward: 10 Harvest Points."
"Elixir Medicine refinement success, Alchemy proficiency +30."
The first furnace produced a Pure Elixir, and it was a Clear Accumulation Elixir no less.
Lin Jing then opened the pill furnace and placed the Pure Accumulation Pill in a Pure Jade Box, while the other elixirs he stored in small porcelain bottles.
Today was quite lucky, with two Pure Elixirs emerging consecutively, and he had gained another 15 Harvest Points.
Lin Jing then thought that with these additional 15 Harvest Points, he should have over 480 now.
And it seems that the Alchemy Room could be upgraded once more with 500 Harvest Points.
"System, check the information of the Alchemy Room." Following that, the Alchemy Room panel appeared before Lin Jing.
Alchemy Room: Level 2
Divine Sense strength increase: 20%
Alchemy success rate increase: (First Rank 20%), (Second Rank 10%) Elixir Medicine quality enhancement: (First Rank 20%), (Second Rank %)
Pure Elixir occurrence rate: (First Rank 20%), (Second Rank 10%)
Upgrade requirement: (486/500 Harvest Points)
Indeed, with the elixirs refined in the past few days and the two Pure Elixirs from today, he had reached 486 Harvest Points.
If he could refine three more First Rank Pure Elixirs, he would be able to upgrade the level of the Alchemy Room.
After that, Lin Jing did not continue with alchemy. Having refined the Clear Accumulation Elixir, he wasn't feeling very well at the moment.
He needed to adjust his own condition first.
Then, Lin Jing left the System Space because refining The Hidden Dragon Pendant of the Azure Moon in the previous period had left him with not much time remaining for entering the System Space.
So, he had to use it sparingly.
Needing to recover, it was better to simply leave the System Space and recover as he used to do.
In the following days, Lin Jing did not step out of his house at all.
During these days, in order to be able to upgrade the level of the Alchemy Room, he refined the Clear Accumulation Elixir daily, in addition to several furnaces of First Rank Elixir Medicines.
Fortunately, his luck was not bad. Over these days, Lin Jing refined two Pure Elixirs.
And just now, he finally refined the last Pure Elixir he needed.
Now, his Harvest Points were finally over 500.
"System, upgrade the Alchemy Room."
Lin Jing couldn't wait, not even bothering to store the elixirs before calling out to the system to upgrade the Alchemy Room.
"Okay, master." As the system's voice tell, the system notification came through.
"System Notification: Alchemy Room upgrading. Please, host, temporarily leave the Alchemy Room. Once the upgrade is complete, you may re-enter."
It seems that upgrading the Alchemy Room is similar to the last System Space upgrade; both require leaving first. It's just that I don't know how long it will take for the upgrade to be successful this time.
"Leave the System Space."
Since the Alchemy Room is being upgraded, Lin Jing couldn't perform alchemy anymore. So, he might as well leave the System Space first to meditate and recover.
Then, Lin Jing packed up the Pill Furnace and came out from the System Space.
Although the system didn't specify, Lin Jing felt that since it was the Alchemy Room that was being upgraded, it was probably best to pack away the Pill Furnace for now.
Just as he came out and was about to sit down cross-legged to meditate and recover, he was startled awake by a series of knocks at the door.
Lin Jing got up, straightened his clothes, and walked out of the room.
At this time, with the auction approaching, Elder Yu probably wouldn't have the time to come over. Apart from Huang Qingling, there shouldn't be anyone else visiting.
As the courtyard door opened, indeed, Huang Qingling was standing outside.
On Huang Qingling's shoulder, the Little Sparrow, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, perched there.
Seeing Lin Jing, Little Sparrow's eyes brightened, and it chirped in greeting.
In just a few days of absence, Little Sparrow had noticeably grown in size. It wasn't the sort of plumpness that came from overeating but a general increase in its overall body size.
This time, Little Sparrow was much quieter and stayed on Huang Qingling's shoulder without fidgeting.
"Qing Ling, what brings you here?" Lin Jing asked.
"Little Sparrow just finished cultivation, and I came to get it some benefits from you. You don't mind, do you?"
Huang Qingling said with a smile in her eyes.
That smile was beautiful, and combined with her delicate features, one glance was enough to intoxicate anyone.
Perhaps because Lin Jing had seen it often, he only glanced once before shifting his gaze away.
After that, Lin Jing stepped aside, and Huang Qingling hopped excitedly inside.
Following this, Lin Jing closed the courtyard door and went in as well.
"Old Man Bai said that after Little Sparrow's recent advancement, it has become stronger than before, and its speed has also increased."
"Moreover, Old Man Bai also mentioned that even he would have to expend quite some effort to catch Little Sparrow now."
Huang Qingling began to chatter to Lin Jing as soon as she arrived.
"But more importantly, it is now even more obedient. I think it deserves a reward."
"Lin Jing, what do you think?"
"Of course, it deserves a reward…" Lin Jing said with a smile.
Next, Lin Jing reached out to pet Little Sparrow.
However, Little Sparrow dodged away. Lin Jing didn't mind and simply retracted his hand.
Clearly, although it was very familiar with Lin Jing, Little Sparrow still had some reservations and wouldn't let Lin Jing pet it.
"What would Little Sparrow like to eat today? I'll cook it for you," Lin Jing said with a smile.
Hearing Lin Jing's offer, Little Sparrow's eyes lit up, then it turned to look at Huang Oinclinc.
"I've brought the ingredients with me. Seeing how it really enjoyed eating fish last time, it won't be too much trouble today; just make it a fish," Huang Qingling said.
"Also, I have a Spirit Feather Chicken given to me by Old Man Bai. I hear it's only available in Linxian City."
"You might as well cook that too. It will be a nice treat for both of us to try something new and let Little Sparrow have a taste as well."
"Linxian City…"
Hearing this familiar name, Lin Jing immediately thought of Ning Yue and Wei Zhengqing, wondering how they were doing now…
"Li…"
Upon hearing this, Little Sparrow flapped its wings and happily chirped, clearly understanding the implication in Huang Qingling's words.
It seems Little Sparrow has become smarter and smarter.
After a while, Lin Jing began to get busy, and Little Sparrow and Huang Qingling started playing in the courtyard.
Preparing these ingredients was simple. In no time at all, Lin Jing had finished cooking the fish and also made a few easy side dishes.
During the meal, Huang Qingling took out a booklet.
"This is the latest auction item list. Take a look and see if there's anything you want; I'll bid for you," Huang Qingling said..
Chapter 108: Ling Yin Imperial Sword Technique
Lin Jing hadn't left his house during this time and had no idea how the auction preparation was going.
In fact, he was quite curious about the list of items and wanted to see what new treasures had been added recently.
However, since he had already said he wouldn't attend the auction, it seemed somewhat improper to ask Elder Yu about the item list again.
But now, Huang Qingling had just brought the auction item list, and naturally, he was extremely delighted.
"Qing Ling, you jest…"
"I can't afford the items on this list, but I'm still very curious and want to see what new treasures the auction has added."
With that, Lin Jing picked up the list booklet, opened it, and began to flip through it.
This time, there indeed had been quite a few additions, and Lin Jing noticed that this time there were even a few cultivation techniques listed.
However, while these techniques appeared to be good, they all had certain restrictions; either they required compatibility with a particular spiritual root attribute, or they could only unleash their greatest effect when practiced by cultivators with more than three attributes in their spiritual roots.
For someone like Lin Jing with a Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root, it would be better to practice the Qingyuan Dao Method from the Qingyuan Sword Sect than these techniques.
Then there were spells. Although Lin Jing was in need of spells, his spiritual root quality was too poor, which meant that practicing spells would be inefficient, and it was difficult to find relatively compatible ones.
Therefore, he could only practice attribute-less spells, much like the Sword Control Technique.
However, Lin Jing was engaged in alchemy every day and did not have the energy or time to waste learning other spells.
Lin Jing then shifted his gaze and continued to flip through the pages.
As he browsed, he saw a cultivation technique and subconsciously thought to skip over it, but then his eyes casually glanced at the introduction following the technique, and he couldn't look away.
Lingyin Yu Jian Jue: Practicing this sword technique allows one to conceal the spiritual power fluctuations of a flying sword, silently approaching the enemy. If paired with an invisible and intangible flying sword, the true power of this technique could be maximally utilized.
The introduction was simple, but upon reading about this sword technique, Lin Jing thought of the Flawless Sword that had been collecting dust in his Storage Bag.
The Flawless Sword and this technique were a perfect match—if he learned this Lingyin Yu Jian Jue, wouldn't it fill the gap in his offensive capabilities?
That way, if he encountered danger in the future, he wouldn't always have to resort to using talismans.
He just didn't know how much this Lingyin Yu Jian Jue would cost. The introduction alone didn't reveal much; he guessed the details would only be provided at the auction.
Lin Jing could only note it down for now and check it out when the time came. If the price wasn't too expensive, he would bid for it directly.
He also had to get his hands on that Biling Flower rhizome.
But the spirit stones he had on him were clearly not enough to obtain both items; he would have to earn more spirit stones through alchemy.
After that, Lin Jing continued to flip through the booklet. There were even more treasures toward the back, including several third -tier spirit plants, which also tempted Lin Jing.
Only, the prices of these spirit plants would definitely not be cheap.
Soon, Lin Jing finished looking through the booklet and returned it to Huang Qingling.
Huang Qingling took the booklet with her hand and then casually placed it aside.
"Lin Jing, do you know?"
"There's a rumor going around the Fang Market."
Having put down her chopsticks, Huang Qingling looked up at Lin Jing and spoke.
"What rumor?"
Lin Jing also looked towards Huang Qingling, curiously asking.
"It's about the recent speculation concerning the Clear Accumulation Elixir and the Dust Purging Grass affair," Huang Qingling began.
"Come on, tell me what this is all about," Lin Jing said, his interest piqued and wanting to know the full story.
"It's like this…"
"Recently, someone has been buying up Pure Accumulation Pills and Dust
Purging Grass in large quantities. It is said that this is actually for the Zhang
Family Patriarch, Zhang Chenfan."
"The Zhang Family Patriarch? What does he have to do with the Clear Accumulation Elixir incident?" Lin Jing asked.
"You must also be aware that the Zhang Family Patriarch is nearing the end of his lifespan and doesn't have much time left to live, " Huang Qingling continued to speak.
Lin Jing nodded and said, "Right, Elder Yu mentioned it when I visited the
Drunken Immortal Pavilion before, so naturally, I'm aware of it."
"Then let me ask you another question, what is the finale auction item for this
auction?" Huang Qingling looked at Lin Jing and asked.
"If my guess is correct, it should be that Lifespan Extension Pill…" "You mean, it has something to do with the Lifespan Extension Pill."
"Given that the Zhang Family Patriarch's days are numbered, the Zhang Family will definitely try every means to win that Lifespan Extension Pill." "Right, it's that very Lifespan Extension Pill," Huang Qingling nodded. "I didn't know why before, but later I asked Old Man Bai. Old Man Bai told me…"
"Some families do not wish for the Zhang Family Patriarch to continue living, so they are causing trouble from the shadows." At this point, Lin Jing suddenly realized the truth.
"I understand…"
"This Zhang Family Patriarch, Zhang Chenfan, Elder Yu had mentioned…"
"He himself is a legendary figure, with the Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root talent reaching the Golden Core Stage, probably the only one in the entire Nanming Domain."
"But, it is precisely because he has the Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root that his path to increasing his cultivation must be extremely difficult."
"If I'm not mistaken, his cultivation level, it can be said, is entirely built upon Elixir Medicine."
"With so many Elixir Medicines accumulated, one can imagine the elixir poisoning in his body, although it's not too harmful ordinarily."
"However, it significantly reduces the effectiveness when he consumes Elixir Medicine."
"And now he plans to bid for that Lifespan Extension Pill, taking it to increase his lifespan."
"But he also needs to prepare the Clear Accumulation Elixir in advance to reduce the elixir poison in his body, so that when he takes the Lifespan Extension Pill, he achieves the maximum effect and lives a few more years to preside over the Zhang Family."
"Therefore, someone has targeted the Clear Accumulation Elixir, and in doing so, even if he obtains that Lifespan Extension Pill, his life won't be extended for much longer."
"Heh heh…"
Huang Qingling laughed twice, then said:
"That's exactly it, Old Man Bai said so."
Lin Jing continued to speak:
"If I'm not wrong, they are not only targeting the Clear Accumulation Elixir and the Dust-Cleaning Herb, but they'll probably also try to bid for that Lifespan
Extension Pill during the auction event."
"Exactly, that's a certainty," Huang Qingling said.
"However…"
"It won't be so easy for them to get their hands on it, let's not talk about the Clear Accumulation Elixir for the moment, the Zhang Family is certainly determined to get the Lifespan Extension Pill."
"After all, the Lifespan Extension Pill is what's most important." "Without the Lifespan Extension Pill, all else is meaningless."
"Indeed," Lin Jing nodded in agreement.
Soon after, not much later, after finishing the meal, Huang Qingling left with Little Sparrow.
This time Huang Qingling's visit was brief; she did not even stay for a full hour before she returned.
Meanwhile, the Alchemy Room had still not succeeded in upgrading.
Afterward, Lin Jing returned to his room and began to resume his meditation to recover.
He did not know how much time had passed when he was suddenly awakened by a system notification sound while meditating to restore his energy.
"Ding. "
"System notification: Alchemy Room upgrade complete.."
Chapter 109: The New Function of the Alchemy Room
Lin Jing subsequently opened his eyes.
"Enter the System Space," Lin Jing silently chanted in his heart.
Afterward, the scene before his eyes shifted, and Lin Jing arrived inside the System Space.
Upon entering the System Space, one glance revealed the Alchemy Room.
Since the Alchemy Room had been upgraded, it was taller and larger, although its exterior hadn't changed much.
Lin Jing walked straight in and immediately felt different; he could clearly sense his Divine Sense becoming more concentrated.
"System, open the Alchemy Room panel," he said. Lin Jing spoke, calling out the Alchemy Room panel.
Alchemy Room: Level 3
Divine Sense Strength Increase: 30%
Alchemy Success Rate Increase: (First Rank 30%), (Second Rank 20%), (Third Rank 10%)
Elixir Medicine Quality Enhancement: (First Rank 30%), (Second Rank 20%),
(Third Rank 10%)
Pure Elixir Appearance Probability: (First Rank 30%), (Second Rank 20%),
(Third Rank 10%)
Required for Upgrade: (1/2000 Harvest Points)
New Feature: Enhancement Possession. (The host can enjoy the Alchemy
Room's enhancement without entering the System Space.)
(Note: Activating this feature will consume Harvest Points at a rate of 1 point per minute, and each activation must last at least five minutes.)
At the same time, Lin Jing also saw the new function of the Alchemy Room.
Although this new feature looked good, it was too costly in terms of Harvest Points, consuming one point per minute.
If Lin Jing were to concoct a batch of Second Rank Elixir Medicine, it would take a minimum of 100 minutes, wouldn't that mean 100 Harvest Points?
All Lin Jing could say was that he couldn't afford it; this new feature was really beyond his means.
However, he generally wouldn't need this feature anyway since he could stay in the System Space for 18 hours each day. Concocting pills there was already enough.
Only if there was a need to concoct elixirs outside for others to see, or to participate in alchemy competitions, would this function be useful.
As for alchemy competitions, these held no appeal for him, and naturally, he would not participate.
If he couldn't decline and had to participate, with his current skill in alchemy, even without the Alchemy Room's enhancement, he would be more than capable of handling it.
Suddenly, Lin Jing thought back to the feeling of enhanced Divine Sense he experienced upon entering.
If he increased his Divine Sense strength by 30% during a confrontation, wouldn't that catch his opponent off guard?
Moreover, if both combatants had similar Cultivation levels, such a sudden increase in Divine Sense strength could likely determine the victor in an instant, and that would not cost too many Harvest Points.
Lin Jing consequently had an epiphany.
"Hmm…'
"It seems that this is the correct way to utilize Enhancement Possession."
After the Alchemy Room was upgraded, the first thing Lin Jing did was to try concocting a batch of elixir medicine.
Lin Jing took out the Pill Furnace from his Storage Bag and placed it in the center of the Alchemy Room, then began his preparations.
One hour passed, and the first batch of Elixir Medicine concocted after the Alchemy Room upgrade was successful.
However, unfortunately, he did not manage to concoct any Pure Elixir.
At this time, there were four days until the auction began, and the time left for Lin Jing to concoct elixirs was three days.
Lin Jing did not delay; after resting for a while, he started concocting again.
In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
On this day, Lin Jing finished concocting the Elixir Medicine and exited the System Space.
During this period, Lin Jing had only crafted a single Pure Accumulation Pill, which, added to the previous one, meant that he now possessed a total of two Pure Accumulation Pills.
Two Pure Accumulation Pills were not considered a lot.
The auction was scheduled for tomorrow, so today it was necessary for him to hand over the items to be auctioned to Yuebaolou.
This was to facilitate the auction taking place tomorrow.
Lin Jing had already thought it through, if he wanted to maximize his benefits, the Pure Accumulation Pills would need to be auctioned separately.
Having made up his mind, Lin Jing decided to head out, making his way toward Yuebaolou.
It was broad daylight now, but fortunately, the place where Lin Jing resided was quite peaceful, and mostly inhabited by Offering Priests of Yuebaolou, so there were rarely any visitors.
To avoid unexpectedly bumping into someone, Lin Jing first stepped outside. After exiting, he found a secluded corner and then entered the System Space directly.
Within the System Space, Lin Jing activated The Hidden Dragon Pendant of the Azure Moon to alter his appearance, changing into a different set of clothes, and disguised himself as a thin, middle-aged man before leaving the System Space.
He then continued on his way to Yuebaolou.
The auction would last a total of three days.
Items could still be submitted for auction, even during the ongoing auction.
However, submissions needed to be appraised, and the auction order had to be arranged in advance.
Therefore, submitted items could only be auctioned the day after they were submitted.
The deadline for auction submissions was the third day.
Of course, in special circumstances, there was also the possibility of adding items to the auction at the last minute.
According to Lin Jing's plans, he needed to auction one Pure Accumulation Pill on the first day, which naturally required him to hand over the pill to
Yuebaolou one day in advance.
Upon arriving at Yuebaolou, he was greeted by a receptionist maidservant. Lin Jing explained his purpose, and the maidservant promptly led the way to the registration area for auction items.
The registration area for auction items was situated at the very back of Yuebaolou, beyond the first floor's sales area, and after walking some distance, a shiny sign labeled "Auction Item Registration" could be seen.
The words "Auction Item Registration" were clearly visible.
As he lifted the curtain blocking the entrance, the maidservant ushered Lin Jing inside and then, after exchanging greetings with one of the managers in the registration area, she left.
The manager, surnamed Zhao, was someone Lin Jing had seen a few times, but they rarely interacted. He was currently in charge of item registration for the auction.
Upon seeing Lin Jing arrive, Manager Zhao immediately came forward, smiling as he said,
"Esteemed Daoist friend, have you come to participate in the auction?"
Lin Jing nodded in response,
"I have a pill medicine that I'd like to include in this auction."
"Very well, please come with me to the inside room."
Speaking, Manager Zhao led the way, directing Lin Jing to an inner room.
Generally, for the sake of privacy, item registration was conducted in an inner room.
"May I inquire what kind of pill medicine you have, esteemed Daoist friend? Please present it for inspection," Manager Zhao said.
Lin Jing took out the Pure Accumulation Pill he had prepared beforehand from his Storage Bag and handed it over to Manager Zhao. "Pure Accumulation Pill! "
Upon seeing it, Manager Zhao exclaimed in surprise.
He was very aware of the current situation in the Fang Market; Pure Accumulation Pills were said to have vanished from the market, and yet, one had suddenly appeared again.
Moreover, it had appeared at this crucial time, leading Manager Zhao to ponder further.
He then took the pill, examining it carefully, and found no problems.
"Esteemed Daoist friend, please wait a moment. This Pure Accumulation Pill needs to be appraised by our Yuebaolou's Pill Master. After the appraisal results come out, then it can be put up for auction."
Following this…
Manager Zhao called over a maidservant, gave her a few instructions, and she subsequently left to fetch the Pill Master who would appraise the pill medicine.
Lin Jing thought that Elder Yu seemed quite busy these days, and if nothing went wrong, the Pill Master who would do the appraisal should be him. Moreover, in the entire Yuebaolou, no one else was more suitable than he was..
Chapter 110: Auction, Pure Accumulation Pill
Before long, a person walked in, and Lin Jing looked up to see that it was Elder
Yu.
Following that, Manager Zhao stepped forward and greeted Elder Yu with a fist salute: "Elder Yu…"
"This friend's auction item is a Pure Elixir Medicine, and according to the rules, elixirs and similar items fall under your purview for authentication, please take the trouble, Elder."
Saying this, he handed the Pure Accumulation Pill to Elder Yu.
Elder Yu took the Pure Jade Box, and he too was taken aback for a moment.
It seemed he had not anticipated that the elixir would be a Pure Accumulation Pill.
Next, Elder Yu held the Pure Jade Box and began to carefully inspect the elixir inside.
This Pure Accumulation Pill had a dazzling surface, and the internal liquid seemed alive, slowly flowing, clearly visible to the naked eye. It was obviously not long since it had been refined.
After a while, Elder Yu said to Lin Jing:
"Friend, we will need to open the Pure Jade Box to conduct a thorough check of the elixir, and I need to inform you of this step."
"Opening the Pure Jade Box is a necessary step in the inspection of Pure Elixir Medicines, that's of course, no problem."
Lin Jing responded.
Subsequently, Elder Yu placed the Pure Jade Box on the table and then gently opened it.
The moment the Pure Jade Box was opened, the scent of the elixir filled the air and quickly permeated the entire room.
Elder Yu took a deep breath and showed a hint of approval on his face.
He then opened the Pure Jade Box completely and took a closer look at the elixir.
A moment later, with a "snap", the Pure Jade Box was closed.
Elder Yu nodded and said to Manager Zhao.
"The elixir is fine, the rest is up to you." Manager Zhao nodded.
Then, Elder Yu gave a fist salute to Lin Jing.
"Friend, the item you have provided for the auction has been fully authenticated and is without issue."
"For what comes next, you can discuss it with Manager Zhao, I take my leave."
Lin Jing also saluted Elder Yu with his fist.
"Farewell."
Afterward, Manager Zhao spoke:
"Friend, here at Yuebaolou, the auction times are arranged based on the value of the items."
"Of course, if you prefer something else, you can also choose your own auction time."
"May I know if you have any preferences?"
"I would like my item to be auctioned on the first day," Lin Jing stated directly.
"That is naturally no problem, I will arrange it for you."
After speaking, Manager Zhao then said:
"Additionally, participating in our auction, we will take a fee of half a tenth of the final hammer price as a commission; this must be communicated to you beforehand."
Half a tenth, that is, 5% of the final sale price.
"I am naturally aware of this," Lin Jing nodded.
Following that, Manager Zhao took out a token and handed it to Lin Jing. This was an entry token for the auction; with it, one could enter the auction venue.
Lin Jing accepted the token.
After that, Manager Zhao then asked:
"Friend, would vou like a list of the auction items?"
Lin Jing nodded, "Let's take one."
"Very well, please wait a moment, friend."
As soon as Manager Zhao finished speaking, he instructed a maid nearby to fetch a list of auction items.
"This list of auction items is not very detailed for now; tomorrow when you enter the venue, someone will distribute a detailed list, and that will be the one to follow."
"Understood," said Lin Jing.
Before long, the maid returned and handed the list to Lin Jing.
Afterward, Manager Zhao handed over the written auction item certificate to Lin Jing. After the auction ended, he could claim the auction proceeds in Spirit Stones with this certificate.
Lin Jing tucked away the certificate and bid farewell to leave.
The auction venue wasn't held within Yuebaolou.
Instead, it took place in a huge auction arena situated in the middle of Fang Market, which was specifically built for auctions by the market itself.
That's because the auctions at Fang Market weren't limited to Yuebaolou. Sometimes, other forces would also hold auctions, and even the Fang Market organizers would do the same.
After returning, Lin Jing glanced through the list and found that there were no significant changes from before and he did not find anything he particularly wanted.
Then, taking advantage of the early hour, Lin Jing once again entered the System Space, attempting to refine several more Elixir Furnace Medicines.
This alchemy session continued straight into the next morning…
Lin Jing emerged from the System Space with a smile on his lips.
Although he now felt groggy and listless, he had managed, in the very last batch, to refine another Pure Accumulation Pill.
With that, it should be about enough.
Just as Lin Jing sat cross-legged and thought about meditating to rest for a while,
"Knock, knock, knock"
The sound of knocking on the door rang out. Without needing to guess, it was definitely Huang Qingling once again.
Lin Jing, feeling resigned, got up and walked towards the courtyard door.
Upon opening the door, as expected, it was Huang Qingling standing there.
"Lin Jing, you don't seem very spirited. What's wrong?" Huang Qingling asked with concern.
"I was refining elixirs until just now, getting ready to meditate and rest when you came," Lin Jing replied candidly.
"Alright then…"
"The reason I am here is to tell you that I'm heading to the auction now."
"Why are you going so early? Doesn't it start at Chen Time?" Lin Jing questioned with confusion.
"I have to stop by Yuebaolou first. I'm running late."
After saying this, Huang Qingling continued,
"Don't worry, if I get a chance, I'll definitely teach that Liu Yiyuan a lesson for you."
Lin Jing quickly cautioned, "Fellow Daoist Qing Ling, please don't be impulsive."
"Rest assured, this time I am with Old Man Bai, I understand the situation and won't act rashly," Huang Qingling assured him.
"Alright then, I'm off."
Without waiting for Lin Jing's response, Huang Qingling departed.
The time was still earlv. iust Dast Chen Time – that is. around 7 0'clock in the morning – and the auction would not begin until Chen Time, which was around 9 0'clock in the morning.
There was still time to spare.
So, after Huang Qingling left, Lin Jing continued to meditate for recovery.
It wasn't until half an hour later, when the time was almost right, that he stopped meditating and prepared to set out.
Now, he felt much more spirited than before.
Then, Lin Jing went out, returned to a secluded corner, and entered System Space again.
Soon after, the same middle-aged man from the day before appeared.
He headed towards the auction venue.
Upon reaching the main street of Fang Market, although it was early morning, the street was already bustling with people because of the auction.
Many familiar faces were in groups, all heading towards the auction venue.
The auction venue was not very far; it took less than two fifteen-minute periods for Lin Jing to arrive near the venue.
From afar, the auction venue looked quite imposing; a palace-like ancient building stood erect, occupying a vast space, easily comparable to several Drunken Immortal Pavilions.
At the entrance of the venue, a red carpet was laid out, and maids stood in two rows on both sides. Additionally, managers from Yuebaolou were present at the entrance to receive the important figures of Fang Market.
However, Elder Bai was nowhere to be seen, probably meeting with the ancestors of various families.
Afterward, Lin Jing walked forward.
Just then, a beautiful silhouette rapidly swept past him, bringing a breeze along with it.
At the same time, a very familiar fragrance wafted into Lin Jing's nose with that breeze. It was none other than Huang Qingling who had just sped by him.
Right after Huang Qingling passed by, another familiar voice came from behind.
"Sister Qing Ling, what a coincidence, we meet again."
Chapter 111: Zhang Yuan
Lin Jing found the voice very familiar and quickly turned around to look. The person was none other than Liu Yiyuan, with whom he had an old feud and had once been tricked by Lin Jing.
Upon hearing Liu Yiyuan's words, Huang Qingling stopped in her tracks, then turned around, and said to Liu Yiyuan:
"Hasn't it been you who has been following me all this time?"
Huang Qingling wore a look of disdain, feeling no warmth towards Liu Yiyuan.
"Sister Qing Ling is joking. I just came out and happened to run into you. This must be fate," Liu Yiyuan said with a smile.
Huang Qingling let out a cold laugh, "I Imow exactly what you're thinking, so don't assume I'm ignorant. I'm telling you right now, there's no chance."
"Sister Qing Ling, my affection for you is sincere."
"You broke through last time and I didn't manage to prepare a gift for you, so this time I've specially procured an excellent gift for you."
As he spoke, Liu Yiyuan took out a Pure Jade Box from his Storage Bag. Engraved on the Pure Jade Box were the words "Elixir Valley."
It was indeed the Pure Gathering Yuan Pill that he had bought from Lin Jing at a high price the other day.
Huang Qingling glanced at the elixir and said with contempt, "It's just a Pure
Elixir Medicine. We have plenty of those at Yuebaolou."
"Sister Qing Ling, take a good look. This pill is no ordinary elixir; it is a Pure Gathering Yuan Pill from Elixir Valley."
"It was specifically reserved for me by the Elixir Valley Heir. It's extremely precious, and you can't even buy it now."
Huang Qingling looked at Liu Yiyuan with scorn and spoke bluntly:
"As if I don't know you."
"If you really had such a good relationship with the Elixir Valley Heir, I'm sure everyone would have known by now."
Just then, a voice came from behind Huang Qingling.
"Qing Ling…"
Lin Jing also turned his head upon hearing this voice, and there stood Elder Bai at the entrance of the auction house.
Hearing the voice, Huang Qingling called out joyfully:
"Old Man Bai…'
Elder Bai's face instantly filled with black lines as Huang Qingling addressed him as Old Man Bai in front of this public gathering, leaving him no face.
However, he was used to it by now and naturally wouldn't lower himself to argue with Huang Qingling, although sometimes he still needed to admonish her.
Elder Bai, with a stern face, said to Huang Qingling: "Qing Ling, come back. You mustn't stir up trouble."
"Understood, Old Man Bai…" Huang Qingling replied.
At that moment, Liu Yiyuan quickly paid his respects to Elder Bai: "Elder Bai." "Hmm," Elder Bai nodded.
"You should take the gift back. It's too precious; Qing Ling can't accept it." "Elder Bai, this…
Liu Yiyuan hadn't finished speaking when he was interrupted by a voice from behind.
"Elder Bai, let's not meddle in the matters of the younger generation, shall we?"
"No matter how precious the gift is, it is Yiyuan's sincere sentiment, isn't it? What, are you implying that the younger members of my Liu Clan can't even afford to give such a gift?"
Liu Yiyuan turned around and saw the Wu Cai Immortal approaching, whereupon he immediately rejoiced:
"Ancestor. "
Wu Cai Immortal nodded.
"Elder Liu, " Elder Bai also looked toward Wu Cai Immortal.
"Elder Bai, your Yuebaolou's auction this time truly is majestic. Such a spectacle, I'm afraid, hasn't been seen in decades," Wu Cai Immortal said with a smile.
"Elder Liu flatters us."
"This way, please…" During this exchange, Wu Cai Immortal had already passed by Liu Yiyuan and Huang Qingling to stand beside Elder Bai, and no one saw how he did it.
Watching this moment, Lin Jing couldn't help but remark:
"A Golden Core Immortal, truly extraordinary."
"Why bother with the squabbles of children?"
"If Yiyuan wants to give something let him. Elder Bai, you don't need to bother with them," Wu Cai Immortal said.
Elder Bai shook his head and sighed,
"Alas…"
"The main issue is that Qing Ling has been spoiled since she was a child, she's too thoughtless. I'm afraid this isn't good for that boy from your family," Elder Bai said.
"Hmph…"
The Wu Cai Immortal snorted coldly.
"What's there to fear? That's their own issue. If they can't even handle this small matter, then he deserves it."
"Alright, let's not bother with them anymore, let's go in,"
After speaking, the Wu Cai Immortal, together with Elder Bai, walked towards the inside.
"Sister Qing Ling, I've now also got myself a Black Kite as a beast pet, it can pair up perfectly with yours," Liu Yiyuan said.
"Whistle"
Liu Yiyuan blew a whistle, and immediately afterwards, a dark shadow in the sky rushed towards them, quickly reaching the airspace above Liu Yiyuan.
Without reducing its speed, the shadow headed straight for Lin Jing, who was standing to the side.
"Be careful…"
Huang Qingling had just uttered a warning upon seeing the shadow attack Lin Jing, when the Black Kite swooped over Lin Jing and rushed towards him.
At that moment, Lin Jing also sensed danger and quickly stepped aside, while simultaneously reaching for his Storage Bag…
In that instant, a Flying Sword swiftly cut through the air.
"Screech…"
The dark shadow let out a pained cry, blood spattered, and it fell from the sky.
"Black shadow…"
The first to react was Liu Yiyuan.
He rushed towards the Black Kite that had fallen to the ground.
Lin Jing also breathed a sigh of relief and turned his head towards the source of the Flying Sword.
"It's actually him…"
The person who saved Lin Jing was the very same Zhang family youth who had shared a table with them earlier at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
Liu Yiyuan picked up the Black Kite that had dropped to the ground and upon inspection, realized it was seriously injured.
His face turned the color of iron, and he confronted the Zhang family youth, "Zhang Yuan, what do you mean by this?"
Clearly, Liu Yiyuan recognized this Zhang family youth.
"Your beast pet attacked people, I just intercepted it," replied the Zhang family youth named Zhang Yuan.
"Would I not know what my beast pet is doing? Do you need to stop it, as if he wouldn't have dodged?" Liu Yiyuan pointed at Lin Jing and said.
His words were completely unreasonable; when the Black Kite had swooped down earlier, Liu Yiyuan had shown no sign of trying to stop it.
At this point, Huang Qingling couldn't watch anymore and stepped forward, scolding,
"Indulging your beast pet in maliciously injuring others, do you still think you're in the right?"
Then, she walked over to Lin Jing and asked, "Fellow Daoist, are you alright?" "I'm alright, thank you, fellow Daoist," Lin Jing said.
Afterwards, he cupped his fists towards Zhang Yuan, "Thank you for coming to my rescue, fellow Daoist."
"Fellow Daoist, you're too kind," Zhang Yuan returned the gesture with a fist-and-palm salute.
"No, 1…"
Liu Yiyuan tried to retort but was interrupted by an abrupt voice.
"Yiyuan, you're not to let out your beast pet before it's well-trained, haven't I told you this before?"
Upon hearing this voice, everyone looked over, only to see the Wu Cai Immortal, who had already gone inside, was now standing at the entrance of the auction event once again.
"Come here quickly, and don't cause any trouble outside," he said and then turned around, walking straight into the venue, without giving Lin Jing so much as a glance from beginning to end.
"Yes, great-grandfather, " Liu Yiyuan bowed his hands and then also walked towards the venue.
He, like the Wu Cai Immortal, hadn't said a word to Lin Jing from beginning to end, let alone apologized.
Apparently, in their eyes, Lin Jing was nothing more than a trivial figure, not worth their explanation..
Chapter 112: Three Rules (Seeking First Subscription)
"The owner of the beast pet just now was from the Liu Clan, and the one conversing with him was none other than the Liu family ancestor, the Wu Cai Immortal."
"Fellow Daoist, patience brings a peaceful and tranquil moment." Zhang Yuan reminded.
"Thank you for the reminder, fellow Daoist. I understand," Lin Jing said.
"Zhang Yuan, what's with you today? You're usually the least talkative, aren't you?" Huang Qingling looked at Zhang Yuan with puzzled inquiry.
"Fellow Daoist Qing Ling jests. I am indeed less talkative usually, but today's matters concern life and death," Zhang Yuan replied.
"I used to think you were rather dull and not very talkative, but it turns out you're pretty decent after all," she commented.
"Let's go, let's go inside together…" Huang Qingling invited Zhang Yuan.
"Alright…"
Zhang Yuan seemed unaccustomed and hesitated for a moment before responding.
"Farewell, fellow Daoist," Zhang Yuan said to Lin Jing with a cupped fist salute.
"Farewell," Lin Jing replied with a cupped fist salute.
After the two left, Lin Jing also made his way to the auction hall.
This little episode might not mean much to others, but for Lin Jing, the person involved, it instilled in him a sense of crisis.
Here, his strength was far too weak.
Lin Jing arrived at the entrance of the venue, showed his token, and then a maid led him into the hall.
Upon entering the hall, Lin Jing felt his Divine Sense being suppressed; it turned out that, just like the black market, this place also had a Formation that blocked Divine Sense.
At this moment, the maid by his side explained:
"Immortal, to protect the privacy of all buyers, this auction has activated a
Formation that blocks Divine Sense. If you wish not to expose your true identity, you may use Spiritual Power to change your appearance."
"With Divine Sense blocked in this auction hall, no one will be able to recognize your true face."
"Hmm."
Lin Jing nodded and continued to walk inside.
He had already changed his appearance, so naturally, he had no worries.
Once inside the hall, Lin Jing looked around to find that the interior decor was extremely opulent. The seats in the hall were all made from Red Spirit Wood and shone with a crimson hue.
Moreover, at the top of the four corners of the hall, there were high-level Magic Artifacts emitting a soft glow, illuminating the entire hall, yet not harsh to the eyes.
With the maid's guidance, Lin Jing took his seat.
The auction hall was very spacious, accommodating hundreds of people in just this one large hall without feeling crowded.
Not far from the entrance, there were two sets of stairs leading upward, where members of the various large clans were seated in private boxes on the upper floor.
The spot where Lin Jing was seated wasn't too close to the front but was rather off to the side and towards the rear.
However, the location was still acceptable, and it was not likely that many people would notice him.
Of course, when bidding, it would definitely attract the attention of others.
After guiding Lin Jing to his seat, the maid spoke again, explaining to him:
"Beside each seat, there is a token. If you wish to participate in the bidding, you just need to raise your token and then state your bid."
"After a successful bid, you may proceed to the back of the hall to transact and collect the item you won."
"To head to the back of the hall, go through here, and you will reach it directly, " the maid pointed to an entrance not far in front of Lin Jing's left.
After explaining, she handed Lin Jing a booklet that was the listing of today's auction items and then withdrew.
At this point, there was still some time before the start of the auction, and a portion of the people hadn't arrived yet in the large hall.
The others who had arrived were engaged in small groups, discussing among familiar faces.
"Have you checked the list? This time's auction items actually include the Pure
Accumulation Pill."
"Yeah, I saw that too…"
"The appearance of the Pure Accumulation Pill at this time, I wonder which family is behind it…"
Clearly, this person knew something about the inside story.
"Shh…"
"Stop talking about it; this isn't for us to discuss. Be careful not to bring trouble upon ourselves."
"Right… right..
"Let's talk about something else."
Lin Jing at this moment picked up the list of items for auction and started to look through it carefully.
As he browsed through the list, Lin Jing realized that it was different from the one he had seen before.
The first few items were not particularly impressive, comprising advanced magic artifacts, rare ores and metals for artifact-crafting, and spells that could be practiced only by Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Compared to the standards of this auction, these were rather common items, so they were placed at the forefront to be auctioned off first.
Lin Jing casually skimmed through them and continued flipping towards the back.
As Lin Jing flipped through, the items started to become increasingly precious.
Finally, Lin Jing saw the Biling Flower Rhizome that he was interested in.
Although Lin Jing had an idea of the rough value of the Biling Flower Rhizome, he had never participated in an auction before and had no idea what final price it would fetch.
Moreover, with so many large clans present, if they took an interest, then the Spirit Stones that Lin Jing carried would not be enough.
He couldn't help but feel apprehensive.
Continuing onwards, Lin Jing saw the Pure Accumulation Pill that he was auctioning, right next to the rhizome.
Lin Jing then kept flipping, and the quality of the items continued to improve.
Right until he reached the last page, he saw a few items that were quite impressive, but with his current financial situation, they were nothing but wishful thinking.
After a while, the people attending the auction gradually arrived, and the venue was soon packed with participants.
At that time, the auction house doors closed.
Then, the light from the magic artifacts around the auction house dimmed, causing the entire venue to fall into a subdued glow.
Above the auction stage in the front, a brighter magic artifact lit up, instantly turning the auction stage into the focal point of the whole venue.
Elder Bai stepped onto the stage at this time, and a manager from Yuebaolou followed behind him.
Lin Jing recognized him at a glance, he was Steward Cheng from Yuebaolou, who usually had a good relationship with Elder Yu.
Presumably, Steward Cheng should be the host of today's auction event.
Elder Bai stood on the stage, glanced around the room, and then began to speak.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Yuebaolou auction."
Elder Bai's voice was not loud, but it was clear, as if he was standing right in front of you.
"Many of you must be old friends who have attended our Yuebaolou auctions many times, so I'll spare you the usual spiel." "Now, I'll explain to those who are here for the first time."
"There are three rules for this auction."
"First: No malicious bidding. If anyone is discovered lacking sufficient Spirit Stones and is bidding maliciously, the penalty will be ejection from the event at the least, or executed on the spot at most."
"Second: Fighting within the premises is prohibited. If there's enmity between parties, it may be settled outside the venue. If any fights break out inside, do not blame me for being impolite."
When Elder Bai said this, his eyes were cold, sweeping over everyone seated in the hall.
Instantly, everyone felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave.
Lin Jing also felt uncomfortable, so he circulated his cultivation technique to counter the feeling.
After scanning the room, Elder Bai continued:
"And third: During the auction, no one is to use their influence to pressure others. Everyone will bid fairly.."