Hundred Year Jade Marrow

"Those of you who frequent our auction house surely know that the final three treasures are all related to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Don't you want to know what's inside these last three boxes?" Zhao Ming asked, looking at the crowd with feigned mystery.

At his rhetorical question, every cultivator present turned their gaze toward the final three jade boxes.

The items brought out earlier had already been costly and rare on the market. Whatever was stored in these last three jade boxes was surely even more valuable than the treasures before them.

Though these items were certainly beyond what they could afford, quite a few cultivators became greatly interested and wanted to feast their eyes on them.

A black-robed cultivator stepped forward and said, "Shopkeeper Zhao, hurry up and take them out so we can broaden our horizons!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

Spurred on by several interested parties among the crowd, the atmosphere inside the room instantly came alive. The cultivators who had received word of this rubbed their fists and palms together, their faces full of excitement as they prepared to bid.

Lin Chen swept his gaze over the lively crowd and remained seated with a calm face.

Unlike those merely watching the excitement, Lin Chen truly wanted this item. But he had no intention of buying it. After all, the thing he wanted would sooner or later end up in his hands, so why waste that money?

"Don't rush, everyone. I'll take it out right now!" Zhao Ming gestured for the crowd to remain calm, then turned and walked to the jade boxes, opening one of them.

As the jade box opened, everyone's eyes instantly gathered on the item inside. Even the cultivators in the private rooms present looked over.

What Zhao Ming took out was yet another perfectly preserved jade box.

Before the crowd, Zhao Ming slowly opened the jade box. The instant it opened, a dense surge of spiritual energy spilled out.

When the lid was fully opened, a piece of jade, crystalline and translucent through and through, appeared before everyone. Unlike ordinary jade, however, this piece emitted intense spiritual power fluctuations.

The moment the jade was revealed, the prepared cultivators in the private rooms on the second floor immediately rose to their feet, their eyes brimming with delight.

"Hundred Year Jade Marrow! It's actually Hundred Year Jade Marrow!" A knowledgeable cultivator below cried out incoherently.

Everyone knew that jade could nourish a person. Spirit Jade Marrow not only contained vast spiritual energy, but could also nurture a cultivator's meridians and repair their body.

And jade marrow nurtured for a hundred years in a place rich with spiritual energy possessed even more potent effects.

Not only could it help cultivators with damaged foundations repair their bodies, it could even preserve the life of a cultivator whose breakthrough failed while attempting to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm!

Though it did not yet count as a Foundation Establishment Spirit Item, it was not far off!

"Haha, I believe some fellow cultivators have already recognized it. That's right, it is Hundred Year Jade Marrow—a spiritual item that can preserve one's foundation and even one's life should one fail in breaking through to Foundation Establishment!"

After receiving Zhao Ming's confirmation, another wave of astonished cries rose from below. Everyone marveled at the auction house's lavishness, to think it had brought out such a spiritual item!

Just as the excitement inside the room was beginning to spiral out of control, terrifying Spirit Pressure descended once more, accompanied by a majestic voice from behind the stage.

"Given the exceptional nature of the items to be traded next, I hope everyone will follow the marketplace gathering's rules. Otherwise, bear the consequences yourselves!"

Under the pressure of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, some of the cultivators on the field settled down and could only bid honestly.

Zhao Ming glanced at the people below and smiled faintly, finally putting his mind at ease. Handling something this precious, he had truly been worried that something might happen.

"Everyone should know the dangers of attempting Foundation Establishment. With this item, it is like leaving oneself a way out!"

"This item is of utmost value; I trust everyone understands that. All right, I won't say more. The auction begins now."

"Foundation Establishment Spirit Item, Hundred Year Jade Marrow. Starting bid: three thousand Spirit Stones!" Zhao Ming announced loudly, raising the jade box in his hand.

The moment his words fell, an urgent voice rang out from a private room.

"Three thousand three hundred Spirit Stones!"

When someone called out a bid, the entire hall was startled. They could not help but marvel at the bidder's boldness—raising the price by three hundred Spirit Stones in one stroke!

This put the cultivators from Qi Refinement families and the Rogue Cultivators present in a difficult position. They had originally saved Spirit Stones for decades, intending to grit their teeth and spend everything they had to buy this jade. As long as they could achieve Foundation Establishment, all those Spirit Stones invested beforehand would be worth it!

But now, someone had directly pushed the price to three thousand three hundred Spirit Stones, and many people could no longer afford to keep up.

After all, an ordinary cultivator, without the support of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, could earn at most a little over three hundred Spirit Stones a year—and that had to cover all manner of expenses. Thus, three thousand Spirit Stones truly counted as an enormous sum for many.

"Three thousand four hundred!"

"Three thousand five hundred!"

Successive bids echoed through the auction hall. Those calling out were often groups of people, clearly belonging to the same faction, since a Rogue Cultivator could never scrape together so many Spirit Stones.

Just when everyone thought these unknown factions would continue raising the bid, an exceedingly abrupt voice came from the main hall.

"Three thousand six hundred!"

Everyone present immediately turned toward the source of the voice, only to see that the bidder was a lone black-robed cultivator.

"Who is that? How could he have so many Spirit Stones? Could he be a disciple from some great faction?"

"Would a disciple of a great faction with that many Spirit Stones lack a Foundation Establishment Spirit Item? Could it be..."

Wave after wave of ill-intentioned gazes swept over the black-robed cultivator, mixed with Spirit Pressure. Yet the other party sat there with a calm face, making people unable to discern his depth.

For a moment, many people in the main hall were filled with uncertainty, unable to tell what sort of figure he was.

Lin Chen, seated not far away, frowned slightly. He felt that this person was strangely familiar, as though he had seen him somewhere before.

Could he be some acquaintance from the Azure Cloud Sect? Lin Chen thought it over and felt it was not impossible. Since Xu Mengyun could find him, others might be able to as well.

But he did not dwell on it, quickly turning his attention back to the auction stage.

After all, this round of bidding was not over yet.

"Four thousand Spirit Stones."

"Four thousand five hundred Spirit Stones."

"Five thousand Spirit Stones!" As soon as this bid was called, a cultivator in a private room on the right side of the hall rose directly to the window and declared aloud.

"Everyone, please do me this favor. I am from the Qing... Pfft!" Before he could finish, a terrifying Spirit Pressure struck him hard enough to make him cough up blood.

A Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator had made a move!

Zhao Ming shot him a cold glance, his face dark as he said, "No matter who you are, you must obey the auction house's rules here!"

The cultivator who had spoken gritted his teeth and shot Zhao Ming a hate-filled look. Then he shut the window, turned to the person behind him, and said, "Senior Brother, he..."

"What, you want me to step in and use the sect's name to help you secure this Hundred Year Jade Marrow?" Inside the private room, a handsome cultivator in a green robe sat on a long bench. He gave him a faint glance and spoke blandly.

"You misunderstand, Senior Brother." Though the other's tone was calm, the cultivator who had spoken suddenly froze, a bead of cold sweat seeping from his forehead. "Junior Brother merely felt that only Senior Brother is worthy of such a treasure, so I lost my sense of proportion for a moment."

The green-robed cultivator said nothing after hearing this, merely watching him in silence. Yet this made the latter swallow hard and even lower his head unconsciously.

"One must know one's limits in all things." The green-robed cultivator offered a mild rebuke, then changed the subject. "But even if you were at fault first, my people are not for an outsider to discipline! It seems the sect has been too merciful, to the point that these people can no longer tell who they are. It is time to give them a warning!"

In his view, even if his own people made mistakes, it should be he who punished them. Otherwise, how could his authority stand firm?

While the two were speaking, the auction downstairs was also nearing its end.

In the end, the Hundred Year Jade Marrow was successfully auctioned off to a burly cultivator for six thousand Spirit Stones.

Seeing this scene, both the other party and Lin Chen revealed satisfied smiles.

The target has been confirmed. It's time to make a move... A cryptic smile appeared on Lin Chen's face.

As Lin Chen silently began calculating his next steps, I've set up surveillance at every exit, and I've also placed Jade Spirit Insects that can sense the jade marrow's aura. As long as he leaves the auction, then...

At this thought, a cold gleam flashed through Lin Chen's eyes.

The Hundred Year Jade Marrow concerned both his research and his Dao Path. No Matter What, he had to get his hands on it. For This, even if his hands were stained with blood, he would not hesitate!

At the Same Time, the auction hall surged into another climax as Zhao Ming opened the second jade box, held it high, and announced loudly:

"The next spirit medicine up for auction is—the Immortal Foundation Fruit! Of course, some of you may not know of this spirit medicine, but I believe everyone knows of the Foundation Establishment Pill!"

The crowd below immediately erupted in an uproar.

"That's right. The Immortal Foundation Fruit is the main ingredient used to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, and it possesses thirty percent of a Foundation Establishment Pill's efficacy!"

"What?!" Everyone in the auction house cried out in shock.

Oh?

Lin Chen was slightly taken aback. He did not understand why the auction house was putting it up for sale rather than refining it into pills.

Could it be the auction house's faction has no second-tier alchemist? No, that's too unlikely. Then the only reason must be that there is something wrong with this So-called Immortal Foundation Fruit...

Lin Chen's guess was not wrong. This Immortal Foundation Fruit had been seized by the auction house from a Rogue Cultivator, and by the time they took it, most of its medicinal efficacy had already dissipated. The auction house could only put it up for sale.

After all, refining Foundation Establishment Pills had requirements for medicinal efficacy, and the other spirit medicines invested were also extremely precious. If too few pills were produced, it would still be a loss. All things considered, it was better to sell it directly.

Most of the discerning cultivators On the Field quickly saw the problem as well. However, Even If most of its medicinal efficacy was gone, its value remained considerable, so it was still fiercely contested.

Before long, the Immortal Foundation Fruit was bought by the black-robed cultivator whom Lin Chen found strangely familiar.

It's finally nearing the end. It's time to make a move... Hmm?!

Just as Lin Chen was making preparations, he suddenly froze, for at that moment, he heard a piece of entirely unexpected news!

"The next item up for auction is a Foundation Establishment Secret Method—Spirit Blood Foundation Establishment Method!"