Underground Auction

Golden Flood Dragon Marketplace, a secluded little courtyard.

Sun Yiyue, Song Sen, and Song Yan sat around Zhang Qing stone table, each holding a Communication Disk that shimmered with spiritual light.

News of their acquaintance with Nascent Soul Cultivator spread Marketplace, and many Foundation Establishment Cultivator contacted them, wanting to get closer to them.

"Father, next month is Fellow Daoist Lin's youngest son's one-month celebration, and he has invited us to attend."

Song Yan said.

"Let's decline! These people don't usually try to get close to us, but as soon as they see that Senior Shen is Nascent Soul Cultivator, they're all rushing to establish a relationship with us."

Song Sen sighed.

"Yes! You have to be strong yourself to succeed. No matter what, they don't value us, but they value Senior Shen. They want to use us to get in touch with Senior Shen. Senior Shen is only treating us well because of past favors. We must not take advantage of this and cause any trouble for Senior Shen."

Sun Yiyue spoke slowly.

Given Shen Long's current status and position, as long as he asks, plenty of Core Formation Cultivator would be willing to do things for Shen Long. Sun Yiyue and the other two are only Foundation Establishment Realm. Shen Long is only doing this because of old Sun Yiyue; otherwise, he could completely ignore them.

Song Sen nodded solemnly and said, "Judging by the time, Senior Shen should be back by now! Third-Order Array can't hold him off for long."

Sun Yiyue typed a spell into the Communication Disk, Shen Long's deep voice sounded, "Come to the Golden Cicada Pavilion, I have something to say to you."

"Yes, Senior Shen."

Sun Yiyue readily agreed, her tone respectful.

They rushed to the Golden Cicada Pavilion as quickly as possible. Sun Yiyue sent a Sound Transmission Talisman, the door opened, and the three of them went inside.

Shen Long sat in the main seat, his gaze authoritative.

Since Fourth-Order Golden-Winged Thunder Eagle doesn't have Thunder-Absorbing Bead or Thunder-Guiding Bead inside its body, its corpse, Demon Core, and Essence Soul can all fetch a good price.

"Greetings, Senior Shen."

Song Sen and the other two bowed and said in unison.

"I went to the Ancient Cultivator Cave Abode you mentioned, but there was an ambush."

Shen Long spoke.

Upon hearing this, Song Sen and the other two's expressions changed.

"Senior Shen, we really have no idea about this. This has nothing to do with us!"

Song Sen quickly explained, looking nervous.

"Yes! This was my first time investigating, and I found no Evil Cultivator. There is absolutely no exaggeration in what I said."

Song Yan explained, her eyes filled with terror.

She was genuinely unaware of the situation; she had no grudge against Shen Long and it was impossible for her to collude with outsiders to harm Shen Long.

Sun Yiyue knelt down and said, "This junior swears by my Inner Demon that I absolutely did not collude with outsiders to harm you, senior. If I utter even half a lie, may I be struck down by heaven and earth and die a horrible death."

"Alright, I didn't say it was you who did it, otherwise I wouldn't be talking to you like this. I'm just reminding you to be careful if you find any so-called Ancient Cultivator Cave Abode in the future. They originally wanted to lure and kill Core Formation Cultivator. You came to look for treasure, and they didn't kill you because they were waiting for you to sell the information to Core Formation Cultivator."

Shen Long said.

He searched the souls of the Evil Cultivator and learned the whole story, while Song Yan and the other two were indeed unaware of it.

Song Yan and the other two breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Shen Long hadn't misunderstood, things would be much easier.

"Get up!"

Shen Long waved his hand, signaling them to get up.

He took out a red Communication Disk, cast a spell, and Song He's voice sounded, "Senior Shen, I have received news that the Seven Clouds Merchant Alliance is preparing to hold an Underground Auction. It's a large-scale event. Would you like to participate?"

Shen Long was somewhat tempted, and instructed Song Sen and the other two, "You can go back now! There's nothing more for you here. If you need anything, I'll contact you."

"Yes, Senior Shen."

Song Sen and the other two agreed and left.

Shen Long asked through the Communication Disk, "What time? Where?"

"A month from now, at the Gathering Immortals Teahouse. I heard there will be Fourth-Order Thunder-Guiding Bead for sale, as well as other good things. Auction."

Song He said.

"Fourth-Order Thunder-Guiding Bead! The Gathering Immortals Teahouse? I understand."

Shen Long nodded, chatted for a few minutes, and then put away the Communication Disk.

He entered the Alchemy Room, lit a Calm Heart Incense stick, placed it in the Incense Burner, and closed his eyes to meditate.

Half an hour later, Shen Long opened his eyes, took out the Crimson Crow Cauldron and alchemy materials, and began to refine the Three-Leaf Jade Spirit Pill.

He opened his mouth and spat out a ball of Three-Colored Flame, which landed at the bottom of the Crimson Crow Cauldron.

The indoor temperature quickly rose.

Shen Long threw the materials into the Crimson Crow Cauldron one after another and then closed the lid.

······

Golden Flame Island, the General Headquarters of the Five Flames Palace.

In a Quiet Manor, Fairy Cold Flame sat beside Zhang Qing stone table, while Song Ming reported the situation to her.

"Master Shen, we are so grateful to Senior Shen this time, otherwise this disciple would have perished."

Song Ming said.

"It's good that you're alright. He's already advanced to the Nascent Soul Realm, while you're still stuck in the Golden Core Realm."

"That's what Fairy Cold Flame said."

She is currently in the Nascent Soul Early Stage the Nascent Soul realm. She visited the East Hua Cultivation World in her early years, but she had no contact with Shen Long.

"This disciple never expected that after being stuck at this bottleneck for over a hundred years, encountering a fourth-tier Demon Bird this time would loosen it somewhat. I plan to go into seclusion and Secluded Cultivation in the hope of resolving this bottleneck and advancing to the Great Perfection of the Core Formation stage."

Song Ming said.

"You may leave! Reaching the Great Perfection as soon as possible is fundamental; cultivation is the key."

"That's what Fairy Cold Flame instructed."

Song Ming responded and bowed before retreating.

"Shen Long, a fourth-tier Alchemist!"

The Fairy Cold Flame muttered to herself, a thoughtful expression on her face.

······

A month passed quickly.

As night falls, the Golden Flood Dragon Marketplace Marketplace brightly lit and bustling with people.

The door to the Alchemy Room opened, and Shen Long walked out with a smile on his face.

He successfully refined twenty-four Three-Leaf Jade Spirit Pill, along with a set of materials.

The Shape-Shifting Lock on Shen Long's chest shone with a dazzling golden light, engulfing his figure. When the golden light dissipated, a round-faced, small-eyed young man in a red shirt was revealed.

The Underground Auction a mixed bag, so it's better for Shen Long to change his appearance.

He pushed open the door, looked out onto the street, and saw few pedestrians before going outside.

A quarter of an hour later, Shen Long appeared at the entrance of a Cyan Pavilion with three large golden characters on the plaque: "Gathering Immortals Teahouse".

Shen Long strode inside. The hall was spacious and bright, and some Foundation Establishment Cultivator were gathered together, enjoying tea and chatting.

An elderly man with a ruddy complexion and wearing a green robe sat behind the counter, looking through the account books.

Shen Long walked over and said, "I heard a batch of good goods has arrived, I'd like to take a look."

"This way, senior. Please follow me."

Sensing the powerful spiritual pressure emanating from Shen Long, the old man in the green robe became respectful and personally led the way.

Shen Long followed the old man in the green robe to the backyard. Inside the yard was a simple Cyan Wooden House, and a woman in a golden dress with ordinary features stood at the door. She had the cultivation level of the Core Formation Mid Stage realm.

The woman in the golden dress did not stop her and opened the door. The room was empty, without even a stool. In the lower left corner, there was a blue staircase that extended down into the ground.

Shen Long strode in. At the end of the blue steps was a Bluestone Corridor. After walking for more than fifty steps, he came to the end, where an underground cave about an acre in size came into view.

On the stone walls of the underground cave, one can see many mysterious runes, which emit a strong restrictive fluctuation. In the center is a hundred-zhang- Bluestone Platform, with a large number of tables and chairs placed around it. Many Core Formation Cultivator and more than ten Nascent Soul Cultivator have gathered here, including Nine-Year-Old Rogue Cultivator, Lu Tianhai, Blood Crow True Monarch.

Shen Long found a seat near the front and sat down.

Time passed slowly, and high-level cultivators entered one after another.

A short while later, a loud bell rang, and the entrance closed.

A tall, thin old man in a silver robe landed on the Bluestone Platform. He clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I am Chen Gongxi, and I will preside over this Auction. The highest bidder wins. The bidding will now begin."

Chen Gongxi took out five Golden Porcelain Bottle and said, "Five bottles of Blue Sea Pill, all High-Grade Medicinal Pill, effective in enhancing Law Power. Starting price is 60,000 Spirit Stone, with each bid increasing by no less than 10,000."

"Sixty thousand!"

"Seventy thousand!"

"Eighty thousand!"

······

After multiple rounds of bidding, all five bottles of Blue Sea Pill were sold at high prices.

After bidding for five bottles of Blue Sea Pill, Chen Gongxi took out three blue porcelain bottles and said, "Third Rank pills, Miasma-Dissolving Pill! They have a very good detoxification effect. They will be auctioned separately, with a starting price of 70,000 Spirit Stone, and each bid must be at least 10,000 spirit stones higher."

Chen Gongxi took out a variety of Third Rank pills, each with different effects, all of which were High-Grade Medicinal Pill and fetched high prices.

Shen Long didn't bid; he no longer cared about ordinary items.

Half an hour later, after bidding on a set of Third-Order Array, Chen Gongxi took out a Silver-Glowing Talisman and said, "Third Rank lightning Talisman Thunder-Dissolving Talisman, which can weaken the power of lightning. Starting price: 100,000 Spirit Stone. Each bid must be at least 20,000 Spirit Stone higher."

"One hundred thousand!"

"120,000!"

"140,000!"

······

The competition was fierce; many Core Formation Cultivator wanted to bid for this talisman.

The Thunder-Dissolving Talisman and the Thunder-Absorbing Bead are similar in function, but the Thunder-Dissolving Talisman is a one-time use item and its power is not as great as the Thunder-Absorbing Bead.

After dozens of rounds of bidding, the Thunder-Dissolving Talisman was sold for a high price of 320,000.

A Blue-Shirted Youth, flew onto the Cyan Stone Platform and communicated with Chen Gongxi telepathically.

"This fellow Daoist doesn't have enough Spirit Stone and plans to auction some items. We will provide the venue, but we will not be responsible if you make any mistakes in your selection."

After Chen Gongxi finished reciting the disclaimer, he stepped aside.

The Blue-Shirted Youth took out a Blue Storage Bag and gently shook it at the cyan stone table in front of him. A blue light swept across the surface, and a large pile of items appeared on the table.

A White Spirit Beast Bag at Shen Long's waist swayed slightly. He was somewhat surprised and flew down to the Bluestone Platform. His gaze fell on a white jade box containing a white Demon Core core the size of an egg.

"What kind of Demon Core is this?"

Shen Long pointed to the white Demon Core and asked telepathically.

"This is the Demon Core of a late-stage, Third Rank- tier Spirit-Tracking Beast!"

The Blue-Shirted Youth explained telepathically.

Shen Long inquired about the price and readily purchased the Demon Core.

The Blue-Shirted Youth sold many items, collected enough Spirit Stone, paid off the debts, and obtained the Thunder Thunder-Dissolving Talisman.

"Next up is the grand finale of the auction. The first item is Thunder-Guiding Bead born within the body of Fourth-Order Early-Stage Azure Thunder Octopus Demon. It can be refined into Law Treasure to guide lightning from heaven and earth to attack enemies."

Chen Gongxi took out a Silver Jade Box, opened it, and inside was a Silver Bead the size of a pigeon's egg.