The Azure Bamboo Sword got its name because its main material was azure spirit bamboo. The forged dharma swords emphasized one thing: low price. They were deeply loved by rogue cultivators, though their flaw was naturally their poor quality, unable to compare to dharma swords of the same rank.
No one knew how many disciples that Grandmaster Jiang had taken in throughout Hanzhu City. As a result, more and more people could forge first-rank artifacts like the Azure Bamboo Sword, driving the price of such dharma swords lower and lower.
Moreover, Grandmaster Jiang understood the principle that teaching an apprentice could starve the master. He only passed on second-rank forging methods to his direct disciples.
The stall owner took out a second-rank Azure Bamboo Sword. It was around a foot and a half long and half a palm wide, its color like green jade. Its appearance had clearly shed the defining trait of "bamboo"; who knew what unknown forging methods it had undergone.
Compared to the crude workmanship of a first-rank Azure Bamboo Sword, this dharma sword was far more exquisite.
Wei Zhong spent over two thousand spirit stones to buy it, then casually asked,
"Does Grandmaster Jiang truly only pass his second-rank artifact-refining methods to his direct disciples?"
As he spoke, he rubbed two fingers together.
The stall owner smiled.
"Senior, you flatter me. Among rogue cultivators, there is naturally nothing that cannot be traded. It is merely a matter of whether the price is high enough."
Hearing this, Wei Zhong left at ease, planning to visit Hanzhu City someday and purchase several second-rank inheritances.
To Wei Zhong now, anything that could be solved with spirit stones was no problem at all.
Having no plans to make any further purchases while browsing the market stalls, Wei Zhong went to the pill pavilion to buy the Harmony Qi Pills needed for cultivation. Then he returned to rest and wait for the auction to begin.
The next day, Wei Zhong headed to the auction venue and was somewhat surprised when he saw the plaque outside the auction hall.
"Cloud Gathering Commerce."
Looking at the pattern of three black clouds piled beside the plaque, Wei Zhong's heart stirred. Could this be an outside prefecture power?
To reserve such a venue during Azurewood Sect's Core Formation Grand Ceremony, they certainly could not be ordinary.
After receiving his number plate, Wei Zhong went inside and found his seat.
The auction seats were divided into three tiers. The ordinary seats below were prepared for Qi Refining cultivators, the middle section was naturally exclusive to Foundation Establishment cultivators like Wei Zhong, while the highest level consisted of private rooms for Golden Core powers.
Once the cultivators had taken their seats, the auction began. Only then did Wei Zhong realize that quite a few cultivators had come. Foundation Establishment peers who were rarely seen on ordinary days numbered a full fifty or sixty within this auction hall.
Clang!
As the sound of a gong rang out, a beautiful mature woman dressed in a red gauze skirt stepped onto the auction platform.
After offering a graceful bow, she spoke in a voice as melodious as a yellow oriole's song.
"I am Shan Qin. I will be hosting this auction..."
Wei Zhong's expression changed. This woman was unexpectedly a Core Formation cultivator.
Within the pavilion on the highest floor, Azurewood Sect First Disciple sat with his junior brothers and sisters.
Yao ZhengSheng gently rubbed Nie Yuechan's small hand, a trace of tenderness flashing through his eyes.
"Chan'er, I will bid on the Soul Nourishing Pill for you later. With Martial Uncle Duan's methods added to it, your soul injury will certainly recover."
Nie Yuechan was also somewhat excited and clasped his hand in return.
Cloud Gathering Commerce had arrived at precisely the right time. Her soul injury, which had once seemed to have little hope of recovery, was highly likely to heal in a short time with the help of the Soul Nurturing Pill.
Then, she could begin cultivating again, rather than being left behind by her senior brother with no way to catch up.
The moment Shan Qin appeared, a trace of excitement flashed across Lu Yibin's face.
Yao ZhengSheng, being a Core Formation cultivator, keenly caught that slight reaction. He gave a soft sigh.
"Junior Brother Lu truly favors Shan Qin. Why not cultivate diligently? Once you achieve Core Formation, ask the Sect Master to propose marriage for you."
Lu Yibin stared down below for several more moments before finally withdrawing his gaze and lowering his head.
"Senior Brother is right."
Nie Yuechan also turned to look at this Second Senior Brother. Previously, Senior Brother Lu had been wholly devoted to cultivation, but for some reason, after seeing Shan Qin a few days ago, he seemed like an entirely different person.
After privately declaring his feelings, he had been decisively rejected by her. Such rash behavior had given several of the sect's hall masters terrible headaches.
Fortunately, Cloud Gathering Commerce had been fairly generous and had not allowed this matter to create an outward rift with Azurewood Sect.
"Senior Brother, does Senior Brother Lu truly have a chance?" Nie Yuechan cautiously asked through voice transmission.
Yao ZhengSheng secretly shook his head and replied through voice transmission.
"Difficult. Cloud Gathering Commerce is a Core Formation Power. Not only is it immensely powerful, but its years of commerce have also given it terrifying financial strength.
No one knew how many Core Formation sects wished to forge ties with them. Our Azurewood Sect was, in the end, only at the Golden Core level.
Furthermore, there were rumors that Shan Qin had close ties to the higher-ups of the commerce association. She was very likely the descendant or disciple of some great figure; that was the only reason she could achieve Core Formation at such a young age.
A female cultivator like her was the dream dao companion of countless talented young men.
Junior Brother Lu... difficult, difficult, difficult!"
Nie Yuechan lowered her eyes and felt sorrow for Senior Brother Lu for a moment.
A Core Formation True Person personally hosting the auction naturally caused a brief stir throughout the venue, but within a few breaths, it was suppressed by another Core Formation pressure.
There was unexpectedly another Core Formation cultivator concealed here, and their aura was even stronger than that of the True Person called Shan Qin.
What kind of power was this Cloud Gathering Commerce?
"The auction officially begins!"
At her crisp shout, a woman in green gauze immediately emerged from behind her, holding a jade tray covered by a golden cloth that blocked divine sense inspection.
"The first auction item: one High-Grade Foundation Establishment Pill. The starting bid is three thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, with each increase no less than one hundred spirit stones."
The moment those words were spoken, the entire venue was instantly set ablaze.
Foundation Establishment Pills were already extremely difficult second-rank pills to refine. As for high-grade ones, only highly seasoned alchemists had a chance of successfully refining them.
In terms of medicinal effect, they surpassed mid-grade pills by far more than ten percent.
Such a precious pill had actually been placed first in the auction.
"Three thousand one hundred spirit stones..."
"Three thousand two hundred spirit stones..."
The cultivators kept raising the price until it finally reached six thousand spirit stones, where it was acquired by an unknown Golden Core power in the upper pavilion.
Wei Zhong could not help but sigh. Cloud Gathering Commerce had arrived several years too late. If this had been ten years earlier, the value of this High-Grade Foundation Establishment Pill would have been more than two thousand spirit stones higher.
Now, with Azurewood Sect's development of the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, the abundance of resources meant that even ordinary low-grade Foundation Establishment Pills cost only three or four thousand spirit stones.
Once that auction item was sold, all manner of rare treasures appeared in succession, giving Wei Zhong a feast for the eyes.
"The next auction item: one Soul Nurturing Pill. The starting bid is five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, with each increase no less than five hundred spirit stones."
"It's here!"
Nie Yuechan nervously clenched Yao ZhengSheng's left hand. He patted the back of her hand, signaling that she need not worry.
"A Soul Nurturing Pill?"
Wei Zhong looked at the grayish-white pill on the stage with some curiosity. He did not know what kind of magic this pill possessed to command such a high price.
The starting price of five thousand spirit stones immediately barred a large number of cultivators from the bidding. Apart from the bids from the private rooms, fewer than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators spoke up.
As the price climbed to eight thousand spirit stones, only Core Formation powers remained in the bidding.
"Nine thousand spirit stones. Fellow Daoist from Rakshasa Sect, could you let Azurewood Sect have this pill?"
Hmph!
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
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