Auction House Observations!

After leaving the Spirit Talisman Building, Li Qingyuan pretended to stroll about casually, but in truth, after twisting and turning through several streets, he found a shop specializing in talisman drawing materials.

Because of his Fear of Insufficient Firepower, Li Qingyuan directly purchased 120 sheets of High-Grade First-Rank Talisman Drawing Material and thirty jin of High-Grade First-Rank Talisman Ink.

A sheet of High-Grade First-Rank Talisman Drawing Material cost 5 Spirit Stones, totaling 600.

The thirty jin of talisman ink included Low-grade First-tier, mid-grade, and High-Grade First-Rank Talisman Ink, costing exactly 100 Spirit Stones altogether.

He had only just gotten his Spirit Stones, yet Li Qingyuan had already spent 700, leaving him with 1,700.

As for a First-grade High-rank talisman brush, after asking at several shops about the price, Li Qingyuan temporarily gave up on the idea.

A High-Grade First-Rank Talisman Brush was worth several hundred Spirit Stones, and Li Qingyuan could not bear to spend that much.

After all, at his current stage, the Mid-grade First-Rank Wind Spirit Wolf Hair Brush was barely sufficient.

His attainments in talisman crafting allowed him to easily draw a Genuine Quality Flame Ice Soul Severing Talisman. It could threaten even Qi Condensation Eighth Layer cultivators; as long as he had enough talisman paper, it would be enough to protect himself.

Right now, what he lacked most was Spirit Stones to raise his cultivation. Cultivating spiritual power was always his foremost pursuit.

In Li Qingyuan's heart, the first rule of cultivating immortality was—always prioritize raising one's spiritual power realm.

He would use the remaining thousand-odd Spirit Stones to raise his cultivation.

"Yuan... Qingqing, where did you run off to just now?"

Li Dingzhou came over, drenched in sweat, and said, "You scared me to death. If I had really lost you, your Grandpa Clan Leader would skin me alive."

Of course, Li Dingzhou had also been deeply worried about his son. After all, this was his son's first time coming to Qu Mountain Marketplace.

Li Qingyuan said, "It's fine. I saw that you were having fun, Father, so I went around and had a look myself."

"Let's go. We're heading back to the inn."

The father and son returned to the inn.

Early the next morning, the auction officially began.

This time, all four members of the Li Clan headed there together.

Clan Leader Li Guangao, Second Elder Li Guangzong, Li Dingzhou of the Ding Generation, and Li Qingyuan of the Qing Generation headed together to the annual Qu Mountain Auction.

Qu Mountain Marketplace was especially lively that day, with cultivators coming and going in their thousands.

Li Qingyuan asked curiously, "Are all these thousands of cultivators going to participate in the auction?"

"Can the auction venue even hold them all?"

Clan Leader Li Guangao explained, "The auction rules state that participants must possess cultivation at Qi Condensation Fourth Layer or above. Not just anyone can take part."

"So that's how it is." Li Qingyuan understood.

Li Guangao continued, "Furthermore, this auction has always been hosted by the first-rate Qi Condensation Family, the Wang Clan. Its standards are not low."

"The Wang Clan." Li Qingyuan asked curiously, "Grandpa Clan Leader, I heard the Wang Clan has a High-Grade First-Rank Alchemist who can refine High-Grade First-Rank Pills."

Li Guangao nodded, stroking his beard. "That's right. Every year, the pills auctioned by the Wang Clan are the finale items, drawing frenzied bids from many Rogue Cultivators and Qi Condensation Families."

"We're here!"

The four arrived at the entrance, and Li Guangao took out a token.

The guard said respectfully, "So it is the Li Immortal Clan. Please, come in."

Thus, the four of them entered without issue.

Li Qingyuan turned and looked back, seeing that other Rogue Cultivators had to pay one Spirit Stone each to enter.

Li Guangao explained, "Qu Mountain Marketplace was spearheaded by the Wang Clan and jointly developed by second-rate and Third-rate Qi Condensation Families. It has existed for several hundred years now."

"The establishment of the Market and the existence of the auction both involved some contribution from our Li Immortal Clan. Thus, we need not pay Spirit Stones to participate in the auction."

Li Qingyuan understood. "So that's how it is."

Soon, everyone took their seats one after another.

There were a full three to four hundred people in the auction hall, all of them at Qi Condensation Fourth Layer or above.

The auction platform stood in the center, surrounded on all sides by circular seating. Several hundred people sat around it. There was an entrance on either side of the platform, as well as a door leading backstage.

An hour later, the auction hall was basically full.

Clang!

A bronze bell rang out, and the auction began.

The backstage door opened, and a beautiful woman in her thirties emerged with graceful steps. She had fair, plump skin, wore a strapless long dress, and possessed a face that radiated peace and prosperity.

The woman slowly approached, followed by a young girl.

"This concubine is Wang Lingyu. Greetings, fellow Daoists."

The middle-aged beauty was poised and generous, her voice soft and alluring. "Welcome, fellow Daoists, to the annual Qu Mountain Marketplace Auction. This year's auction will once again be hosted by this concubine."

A Male Cultivator said loudly, "Sister Lingyu, after not seeing you for a year, you've only grown more mature and alluring."

"Haha, I did not come to this auction for the auction items, but to see Sister Lingyu."

"Fellow Daoist Wang, your husband has been dead for Several Years now. Have you considered finding a Dao companion?"

"..."

Wang Lingyu's type was loved by many men.

Li Guangao said in a low voice, "This Wang Lingyu is the legitimate daughter of the Wang Clan Head. Several years ago, she was already at Qi Condensation Level 7, far surpassing this old man."

Second Elder Li Guangzong sighed. "The foundation of a first-rate Qi Condensation Family is absolutely beyond what our Li Clan can compare to."

"A first-rate Qi Condensation Family has several hundred cultivators just by itself."

"While our clan barely has sixty."

On the auction platform, Wang Lingyu gave a slight bow with her plump figure and smiled charmingly. "Thank you, fellow Daoists, for your support."

"Now, the auction begins."

"Please bring forth the first auction item."

As Wang Lingyu's words fell, the young girl at her side opened a jade box, revealing three pills.

Li Dingzhou recognized them at once and said, "I never expected the first auction item to be Lesser Spirit Nurturing Pills, which are quite difficult to find even in the Market?"

"Judging by the looks of it, it's a whole batch," Li Guangao added.

Li Qingyuan was no longer a novice either. He knew the effects and value of Lesser Spirit Nurturing Pills.

Among the several hundred people present, quite a few became interested and were eager to make a move.

Many of them were in Mid Qi Condensation, while their juniors, relatives, and friends included cultivators at Qi Condensation Third Layer Perfection. These Lesser Spirit Nurturing Pills could help those at Qi Condensation Third Layer break through their shackles and advance into Mid Qi Condensation.

During the Qi Condensation Realm, Lesser Spirit Nurturing Pills had always been highly sought after.

Wang Lingyu's brows rippled like autumn waters, and her mature, alluring voice stirred the heart. She smiled and said, "This is a batch of Lesser Spirit Nurturing Pills, three pills in total. Two are of Genuine Quality, while one is of Low-Grade Quality."

"According to Market prices, a Genuine Quality Lesser Spirit Nurturing Pill sells for thirty Spirit Stones."

"Today, the starting bid for this batch of pills is seventy Spirit Stones."

Wang Lingyu smiled. "Fellow Daoists, bidding begins."

"I bid seventy-five Spirit Stones." The moment Wang Lingyu finished speaking, someone immediately called out.

"Eighty Spirit Stones."

"I bid eighty-one."

"Eighty-two Spirit Stones."

"..."

"I bid eighty-five Spirit Stones." After someone called out eighty-five Spirit Stones, the others pondered briefly before lowering their banners and beating their drums no more.

At this point, it was already a high price. Raising the bid further would not be worth it.

After all, one of the pills was Low-Grade Quality rather than Genuine Quality.

Wang Lingyu smiled. "Eighty-five Spirit Stones, going once. Eighty-five Spirit Stones, going twice. Eighty-five Spirit Stones, going three times. Congratulations, fellow Daoist. This batch of Lesser Spirit Nurturing Pills is yours."

"Next is the second auction item—a Tier 1 Mid-grade Magic Tool of Genuine Quality, with a starting bid of 150 Spirit Stones."

"..."

Li Qingyuan watched with great interest.

Auction items appeared one after another. People continuously called out bids and competed fiercely, making the atmosphere exceptionally lively.

Very soon, when the ninth auction item appeared, quite a few people present—especially cultivators at Qi Condensation Fifth Layer and Qi Condensation Sixth Layer—held their breath.

Li Qingyuan asked in confusion, "Grandpa Clan Leader, what is this?"

Li Guangao's breath caught as he said, "This is a High-Grade First-Rank Pill—the Spirit Nurturing Pill. It can allow a cultivator at Qi Condensation Sixth Layer Perfected to break through their bottleneck and step into Qi Condensation Level 7."

The next moment, the cultivators around them erupted.

"It's actually a Spirit Nurturing Pill?"

"Good, excellent! This old man is determined to get it."

"..."

Looking at the frenzied cultivators in the hall, Wang Lingyu knew that the atmosphere she wanted had arrived.

She said loudly, "Fellow Daoists, this is a Genuine Quality Spirit Nurturing Pill. It can give Qi Condensation Sixth Layer cultivators an additional thirty to fifty percent chance of advancing to Qi Condensation Level 7."

With a thirty to fifty percent chance, added to one's own spiritual power being tempered to perfection and some Spirit Stones prepared in advance, would the success rate not reach seventy to eighty percent? It was practically certain.

Wang Lingyu clapped her jade-like hands. "Fellow Daoists, the starting bid is three hundred Spirit Stones."

"Please bid!"