Demon Path

The appearance of the Earthfire Ape demonic beast egg sent a wave of clamor through the auction hall. A Rank 2 demonic beast bloodline meant that, once fully grown, it had at least a fifty percent chance of becoming a Rank 2 demonic beast, with strength comparable to the Foundation Establishment stage.

The Earth Fire Ape was a notoriously vicious demonic beast throughout the Cloud Sword Sect's territory, and its habitat was known as Earthfire Canyon.

No one had ever successfully tamed an Earth Fire Ape.

Its temperament was exceedingly violent and savage; it could easily lose its mind and even kill its own master.

Yet there was no denying that the Earth Fire Ape's bloodline and strength were truly formidable.

This demonic beast egg was probably the work of the Black Rock Mountain Yu Family.

Perhaps the Yu Family had wanted to try raising an Earth Fire Ape from an egg. Unfortunately, the plan had clearly failed in the end, causing the egg to hatch prematurely and leaving it innately deficient.

The cultivators in the hall below discussed it fervently. Some tried bidding, but none were particularly resolute.

After the price reached five hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones and no one bid further, Su Yu said, "Five hundred and fifty."

The bidder he had been competing with was also in a small private room on the second floor. Upon hearing Su Yu's offer, they chose not to continue.

Su Yu secured the Earthfire Ape demonic beast egg.

Watching him bid twice, Su Yun said, "It seems you've saved up quite a bit of money these past two years."

Su Yu respectfully replied, "It is all thanks to Master's guidance."

Su Yun shook his head with a laugh. "Your talent in alchemy is exceptionally high. You are the best I have seen in all my years, even across the entire Cloud Sword Sect's territory."

"You just bought a Talisman master's inheritance. You may learn to refine Talismans if you wish, but do not let it delay your alchemy."

Su Yu quickly said, "Rest assured, Master. It will not."

Su Yun nodded and turned his attention back to the auction.

Besides the Foundation Establishment Pills, High-grade Magical Artifacts also appeared at the auction. Su Yun and Su Yu were both tempted by them.

But neither of them joined the bidding for the High-grade Magical Artifacts.

Su Yu had no use for a High-grade Magical Artifact for the time being.

Su Yun's goal this time was the Foundation Establishment Pill, not a High-grade Magical Artifact.

If he competed for High-grade Magical Artifacts as well, he would draw too much attention.

The second-to-last item at the auction was two Foundation Establishment Pills. Yet when the auctioneer brought them out, everyone finally understood why they had appeared at an auction.

The auctioneer said, "These are two somewhat flawed Foundation Establishment Pills. A normal Foundation Establishment Pill can increase one's chance of breakthrough by twenty percent, but these two can likely only increase it by fifteen percent."

"The Foundation Establishment Pills will be auctioned separately. The starting price for the first is two thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones, and each bid must increase by no less than one hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones."

"Three thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones!"

The moment he finished speaking, a voice rang out from a private room on the third floor, raising the bid by one thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones in a single stroke.

An uproar broke out.

All the Qi Refining Realm cultivators in the hall below were in an uproar, their eyes burning as they stared at the Foundation Establishment Pill on the stage.

Especially the older cultivators.

This was a Foundation Establishment Pill.

"Does anyone else wish to bid?" the auctioneer shouted excitedly.

"Three thousand five hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones."

A private room on the second floor immediately made a bid.

In the blink of an eye.

The first flawed Foundation Establishment Pill had been bid up to four thousand six hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones.

By then, only two or three groups were still holding on, and even their bids had begun to waver.

On the second floor, Su Yun said in a deep voice, "Five thousand."

The auction hall fell silent at that price.

It was the highest bid since the auction began, making the ordinary attendees below stare wide-eyed.

The person on the third floor hesitated for a long while, then added one hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones just as the auctioneer was about to bring down the hammer.

But Su Yun immediately added another hundred, bringing it to five thousand two hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Seeing Su Yun's decisiveness, that person promptly gave up.

Su Yun secured the first Foundation Establishment Pill.

Su Yun and Su Yu did not participate in the remaining auction. They left the private room, found a trading company steward, paid the Spirit Stones, and immediately departed with their items.

Before the two could return to the Alchemy Pavilion, an enraged shout came from the direction of the Cloud Mountain Trading Company. "Insolence!"

Boom!

The sounds of a fierce battle rang out.

"Heh, you two little brats think you can stop me?" A domineering yet exceedingly cold voice drifted over, making everyone who heard it deeply uncomfortable.

Su Yun's expression changed. He turned to look and hurriedly said, "Quick, leave! It's a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator!"

Su Yu was startled as well.

A Foundation Establishment stage cultivator had attacked the Cloud Mountain Trading Company. Fortunately, they had left early, or they would likely have been caught up in it.

The two rushed toward the Alchemy Pavilion. The market's grand formation had already been activated, but the battle there remained intense. It seemed even the market's formation could not suppress the opponent.

Just as the two neared the Alchemy Pavilion, a cold gleam suddenly flashed, shooting straight at Su Yun's head.

Clang!

Golden light burst from Su Yun's body as a Mid-grade Defensive Magical Artifact activated, blocking the attacking artifact.

"Hmph, leave the Foundation Establishment Pill behind!" A cloaked figure wearing a mask capable of concealing spiritual sense rushed out.

The aura was unmistakably that of a ninth-level Qi Refining Realm cultivator.

This person was skilled in Gold attribute spells. The moment he appeared, he unleashed spell after spell at Su Yun, forcing Su Yun back again and again.

But in the next instant, his expression changed.

Whoosh!

Two Talismans were thrown out. Towering flames melted his attacks like flood dragons and pounced upon him.

That power was at least that of superior first-rank high-grade fire-attribute attack Talismans.

The two flaming flood dragons left him somewhat bedraggled, driving him back more than ten zhang.

Just as the flaming flood dragons dispersed and the man was about to attack Su Yun again, his pupils abruptly shrank, and he cursed inwardly, Damn it.

Su Yun's face was icy as he held more than ten fire-attribute attack Talismans with extraordinarily powerful auras between his hands. His eyes brimmed with killing intent as he stared coldly at the man. "Come."

The man's face darkened. "..."

Whoosh!

Without the slightest hesitation, he turned and fled.

Su Yu watched the battle from the side. In particular, when his master Su Yun gripped more than ten Talismans and sneered at the opponent, inviting him to continue, the feeling was truly hard to put into words.

This was just too damn fitting for an alchemist's way of fighting.

True alchemists generally were not short of money.

Aside from using medicinal pills against enemies, Talismans, mechanism puppets, formations, and more could all be an alchemist's methods.

An alchemist might not be powerful personally, but they did not fear any enemy in the slightest.

Su Yun put away the Talismans in his hand and said calmly and dominantly, "Let's go back."

After returning to the Alchemy Pavilion, Su Yun activated its defensive formation.

The battle outside ended not long afterward. After all, the Cloud Sword Sect was right next door. Causing trouble in Cloud Mountain Market was a grave provocation against the Cloud Sword Sect.

Yet the attacker was truly formidable. Even under the joint assault of the two Cloud Sword Sect Foundation Establishment stage experts guarding the market and the suppression of the formation, he still escaped.

News spread afterward that the final auction item at the Cloud Mountain Trading Company's auction had been a damaged Supreme-grade Artifact, the Heavenly Net Umbrella.

The attacker was said to be the Blood Saber Daoist, a late-stage Foundation Establishment stage cultivator and a Demon Path fugitive wanted by the Great Moon Palace. He was cruel and lawless in his actions, rampant beyond measure.

It was said that he had successfully stolen the damaged Supreme-grade Artifact, the Heavenly Net Umbrella.