Mid-grade Spirit Root?

"Mid-grade Spirit Root?"

Zheng Qingqing looked somewhat helpless.

In the Cultivation World, Inferior Spirit Roots and Low-grade Spirit Roots made up the majority.

Most Rogue Cultivators had one of these two kinds of Spirit Roots.

After all.

Mid-grade Spirit Root cultivators basically had no trouble joining a Sect.

With such talent, as long as they did not lack resources, they had a great deal of hope of reaching Foundation Establishment.

"Ling'er, cultivators with Mid-grade Spirit Roots are either Sect Disciples or prodigies from other families. All of them have pride in their hearts."

Zheng Qingqing spoke gently as she continued persuading her.

"If you become Dao Companions with such a cultivator, you will inevitably suffer grievances."

"But Mid-grade Spirit Root cultivators have a greater hope of reaching Foundation Establishment. If I can marry a Foundation Establishment grand cultivator, then even suffering some grievances would be worth it."

Zheng Ling'er lowered her beautiful eyes, still holding fast to her own opinion.

Hearing this, Zheng Qingqing could only let out a faint sigh.

"Forget it. After the Auction ends, you two can get to know each other first."

Down below.

The Puppet Auction had ended.

It had ultimately been won by Li Chang'an.

He had spent a total of sixty-eight Spirit Stones.

As a Low-grade Talisman Master, revealing this much wealth was nothing out of the ordinary.

After that.

The Auction items many cultivators had been anticipating, such as a Tier 1 Mid-grade Craft Inheritance and the supplementary herbs for a Foundation Establishment Pill, appeared one after another.

The atmosphere throughout the Auction continued to soar.

Li Chang'an no longer made a move.

Several stalks of supplementary herbs for a Foundation Establishment Pill had tempted him somewhat, but he merely watched in silence.

The Foundation Establishment Pill differed from other pills.

Its Pill Recipe was public.

Nearly every Rogue Cultivator knew it.

The most crucial ingredients were a "Tier 2 Demon Core" and three Main Herbs targeting "essence, qi, and spirit."

"Aside from those four materials, the other supplementary herbs aren't particularly precious. I'll collect them slowly when I get the chance."

Li Chang'an pondered.

About an hour later, the final Auction item was sold.

It was a Pulse Protecting Pill, which could ensure that cultivators who failed Foundation Establishment would not suffer backlash.

Although it could not compare with a Foundation Establishment Pill, it was still exceedingly rare. In the end, it sold for the sky-high price of two thousand three hundred Spirit Stones.

The price made Li Chang'an secretly click his tongue.

"Among the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, Alchemy should be the most profitable."

The Zheng Family's strength originated from its Tier 2 Alchemy Inheritance.

They guarded this Legacy very strictly. Even the Zheng Family's ordinary disciples could only study Tier 1 content; only core disciples could come into contact with the Tier 2 realm.

As for everyone else.

Even cultivators who married into the Zheng Family, whether as sons-in-law or wives, had no qualifications to learn Alchemy. They could only choose other Legacies.

"I should go collect my Puppet."

Li Chang'an stood up and, following the directions, headed for the Auction's Private Room.

Inside the Private Room.

Someone was already waiting for him.

What surprised Li Chang'an was that this person was actually Zheng Qingqing.

Beside Zheng Qingqing stood a petite girl dressed in a white gown.

Li Chang'an sensed something strange. Thinking of a certain possibility, he immediately cupped his hands toward Zheng Qingqing in salute.

"Greetings, Young Miss."

"Fellow cultivator Li, we meet again."

Zheng Qingqing smiled warmly.

With a graceful lift of her delicate hand, she placed the Puppet before Li Chang'an.

"Fellow cultivator Li, this Puppet was examined by the Guest Elder who is a Tier 1 High-grade Puppeteer of my Zheng Family. It is merely an ordinary incomplete Puppet. Could it be that you saw something special about it?"

"Young Miss, you think too highly of me."

Li Chang'an put on a wry smile.

He shook his head and explained:

"I just wanted to try my luck. Perhaps I might obtain some Ancient Legacy?"

His words were perfectly reasonable and matched what Zheng Qingqing had thought.

However, Zheng Qingqing knew perfectly well that this Puppet was merely something the family had put in to make up the numbers. After all, it was impossible for every item at an Auction to be Premium Grade.

Li Chang'an had probably wasted his Spirit Stones.

She thought this privately but did not say it aloud.

"Then I wish Fellow cultivator Li good luck."

"Thank you, Young Miss."

Li Chang'an put away the Puppet.

He cupped his hands and took his leave, preparing to depart.

But Zheng Qingqing called him back and smiled as she introduced the white-robed girl beside her.

"Fellow cultivator Li, this is my younger female cousin. Her name is Zheng Ling'er. Get to know each other."

Hearing this, Li Chang'an's body stiffened.

The feeling of strangeness in his heart grew stronger.

But his expression remained unchanged as he looked toward the girl.

"Miss Zheng."

"Young Master Li."

Zheng Ling'er gave a faint smile, lively and charming.

Regardless of what she thought inside, she still observed all the proper etiquette on the surface.

"Young Master Li, I heard that your Talisman Art is extraordinary, and that you can draw Premium Grade Talismans despite your young age."

"Miss Zheng, you flatter me."

Li Chang'an's tone was modest.

He wore a smile, and his outward courtesy was equally impeccable.

No matter what, this was Zheng Qingqing's good intention, and he could not make things too awkward.

Otherwise, he might offend her.

And so.

The two exchanged a few words.

They appeared extremely harmonious.

Yet both maintained a certain distance, causing the atmosphere to grow increasingly strange.

During their exchange, Zheng Ling'er also sensed Li Chang'an's intentions and could not help secretly rejoicing.

After a while.

Li Chang'an cupped his hands and took his leave.

"Young Miss, Miss Zheng, I still have matters at home. I truly cannot converse at length."

"Young Master Li, take care."

Zheng Ling'er smiled and rose to see him off.

Their conversation ended there.

After Li Chang'an left.

Zheng Ling'er smiled sweetly, her brows and eyes curving like crescents, and said to Zheng Qingqing:

"Sister Qingqing, you saw it too, right? This isn't because I was unwilling! It's that Li Chang'an was unwilling!"

"Alas, forget it..."

Zheng Qingqing glanced in the direction Li Chang'an had left, a trace of regret flashing through her eyes.

Judging from the aptitude Li Chang'an had displayed so far.

He had hope of advancing to the late Qi Refining stage in the future.

Moreover.

He had some talent in the Talisman Art.

As long as he married into the Zheng Family and obtained the subsequent Talisman Inheritance, there was a fair chance he could become a High-grade Talisman Master.

A late Qi Refining stage cultivator and High-grade Talisman Master—such an identity was already an excellent match for an ordinary Rogue Cultivator.

But Zheng Ling'er was, after all, a woman from an established family.

Her horizons were higher.

This matter could only be set aside for the time being.

Outside the Auction.

Li Chang'an had just walked out when he saw a familiar figure.

Zheng Jinbao!

He also spotted Li Chang'an, and an amiable smile immediately appeared on his face, as though he had encountered a beloved junior.

"It's Chang'an. Did you gain anything from this Auction?"

"A little."

Li Chang'an's expression remained as usual as he answered casually.

He did not linger.

After exchanging a simple greeting, he hurried toward the houses.

Behind him.

Zheng Jinbao watched his retreating back, a trace of ruthlessness flashing through his eyes.

"This brat can already draw Premium Grade Talismans. His standing has risen with the tide, and the Young Miss values him more and more. She even wants him to marry into the family!"

The higher Li Chang'an's standing became.

The more uneasy Zheng Jinbao felt.

If Li Chang'an truly married into the Zheng Family and obtained sufficient resources, his future standing might even surpass Zheng Jinbao's!

"I absolutely cannot let that happen!"

Zheng Jinbao's expression turned ugly.

He somewhat regretted offending Li Chang'an back then.

But now that things had come to this.

Regret was useless.

He could only find a way to resolve this matter completely!

"Those two good-for-nothings—why haven't they gotten rid of Li Chang'an after all this time?!"

Zheng Jinbao cursed under his breath, turned around, and headed in another direction.

But he failed to notice.

Not far behind him, a seemingly ordinary stray dog was following.