Green-Horned Ox

"A first-tier Yellow Dragon Pill is greatly beneficial for Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators, increasing their spiritual power and advancing their cultivation. Starting bid: seventy Spirit Stones!"

"I bid seventy-five Spirit Stones!"

"Eighty!"

The Auction was exceptionally lively. It began with all manner of medicinal pills that enhanced cultivation, along with magical tools; even the lowest-grade ones were Mid-Grade Magical Tools.

"Next up is a complete set of Mid-Grade Magical Tools: the Golden Fu Mother-Son Blades. Starting bid..."

Seated below, Lin Chang'an watched one treasure after another appear, his heart stirring with desire. But when he remembered his purpose, he could not help but calm himself.

There were countless treasures, and though he wanted to gather them all into his arms, he lacked the strength to do so. Better to wait quietly for the spirit pet Auction later.

His cultivation had now reached Qi Refining Late Stage. Other than magical tools, spirit pets were what could increase his strength and ensure his safety.

He did not lack magical tools right now. If he could raise a thick-skinned, durable spirit pet, that would be even better.

After all, when he prepared for Foundation Establishment in the future, one more spirit pet meant one more source of fighting strength and one more layer of security. If he was going to raise one of these, he had to start early.

"Next up: High-Grade Magical Tools!"

Once the High-Grade Magical Tools appeared, the venue erupted into even greater frenzy. Countless cultivators' eyes reddened, and even cultivators from some great lineages began joining the bidding.

Yet the Foundation Establishment cultivators from Mystic Sound Pavilion and Li Fire Palace merely looked down on the scene with detached indifference, as though it was nothing more than the myriad postures of mortal life.

They had merely come to hold the fort.

As all kinds of treasures went up for Auction, countless cultivators strained until their eyes were red and their necks thick. This was undoubtedly the grandest Auction Green Bamboo Mountain Market had ever held.

"Next is the spirit beast Auction segment. A total of sixty-five spirit beast cubs with excellent bloodlines will be Auctioned."

Once the spirit beasts began going under the hammer, the venue unexpectedly quieted down considerably.

Spirit beasts might not be expensive, but raising them consumed a great deal of Spirit Stones. Most Rogue Cultivators would rather invest those Spirit Stones in themselves.

Of course, some great lineages, as well as cultivators with exceptional crafts, would raise a spirit beast as a battle companion. That was far more reliable than teaming up with other cultivators.

"Black Wind Wolf cub. Descended from a Second-tier Monster Beast, with a Mid-Grade Bloodline..."

Cultivators had Spiritual Roots, and monster beast bloodlines were likewise divided into corresponding grades. The higher the bloodline grade, the greater the potential.

Bloodlines were divided into: Miscellaneous-Grade, Low-Grade, Mid-Grade, High-Grade, Earth-Grade, and Heaven-Grade Bloodlines. These corresponded to cultivators' Spiritual Root grades, except Miscellaneous-Grade was called inferior-grade among cultivators.

"Snow Spirit Fox, Mid-Grade Bloodline, exceptionally intelligent and incredibly swift..."

As one spirit beast cub after another was brought out, the earlier bustle was gone. Most bids came from great lineages or powerful cultivators.

"True enough. Raising one of these things costs enough to raise a son."

Lin Chang'an smiled. To impoverished cultivators, spirit beasts were living fathers, but to wealthy cultivators, they were like loyal and dependable companions.

"Next is a spirit beast from the Beast-Taming Zhou Family. This one is somewhat special: an unhatched Black Water Turtle egg, with a High-Grade Bloodline!"

Not even halfway through, a High-Grade Bloodline spirit beast had appeared, catching everyone off guard. Even Lin Chang'an was stunned.

"Fellow Daoists, a hundred years ago, Yue Kingdom's strongest Rogue Cultivator possessed a High-Grade Bloodline Black Water Turtle that grew to the Third Tier. Its strength was even comparable to that of a Golden Core cultivator..."

When the High-Grade spirit beast appeared, countless cultivators cried out in surprise. Yet afterward, the venue grew somewhat quiet.

"A Black Water Turtle—even with a High-Grade Bloodline, let alone an Earth-Grade Bloodline—it would have to live that long first."

Lin Chang'an secretly shook his head. If it were a lineage or a small sect, perhaps they could slowly raise it and treat it as a Clan-Protecting Spirit Beast.

But with the current situation so turbulent, he had no intention of spending endless resources to feed a spirit beast that grew so slowly.

This thing would not reach adulthood for over a hundred years. He would be raising an ancestor for himself.

What he wanted was a spirit beast that could lend him a hand while he gathered Foundation Establishment materials.

"Everyone, although the Black Water Turtle grows slowly, its advantages are equally obvious. It has a long lifespan. Whether left for one's descendants or one's lineage as a Clan-Protecting Spirit Beast, it is the best possible choice."

Han Lin'er, the female cultivator hosting the Auction, wore a bright smile, utterly unafraid that no one would buy it.

Sure enough, under her explanation, quite a few people were tempted. After all, many cultivators had descendants.

Wasn't the Beast-Taming Zhou Family a living example? They had secretly raised one for over a century, and when their lineage faced a crisis, it emerged. The results spoke for themselves.

"To be frank with everyone, this egg was affected by an external force and hatched prematurely. It may be somewhat weaker than usual, but the starting bid is only six hundred Spirit Stones!"

Well then, no wonder a High-Grade Bloodline spirit beast had appeared before the Auction was even halfway through. It turned out to be a weakened product.

In the end, this High-Grade Bloodline Black Water Turtle sold for seven hundred and eighty Spirit Stones. Only then did the normal High-Grade spirit beasts appear.

"The next High-Grade spirit beast is a Green-Horned Ox cub. Thick-skinned and tough-fleshed, once mature, it can exhale a mist that confuses the divine sense. It is also known as the Dark Cloud Beast.

"Its advantage is its short growth period—it reaches adulthood in only around ten years. Its disadvantage is its short lifespan, only seventy or eighty years."

Some well-informed cultivators below revealed disdainful smiles upon hearing the price.

"The Green-Horned Ox does grow quickly, and its High-Grade Bloodline is genuine enough. But the spirit grass it eats every day is not cheap. Other than cultivators from great lineages or cultivators with high-grade skills, who could afford to raise one?"

Well, not a word was said about the consumption of resources. Lin Chang'an was speechless.

Though the Black Water Turtle grew slowly, its usual consumption was likewise extremely low. This Green-Horned Ox, however, needed to be fed superior spirit grass.

"Still, this Green-Horned Ox suits me quite well."

Lin Chang'an mused to himself. Zhou Qing had left him with a pile of spirit grass and spirit herbs he had no use for. Those had originally been cultivated by the Zhou Family for spirit beasts.

It consumed a little more, but it grew quickly. As for its short lifespan, if he could not reach Foundation Establishment, he only had sixty or seventy years left himself. Wouldn't it be perfect for it to accompany him down the road?

"This spirit beast's constitution is far from weak. Starting bid: eight hundred Spirit Stones!"

"Eight hundred and thirty Spirit Stones!"

"Eight hundred and sixty!"

Raising spirit beasts well was an art in itself, so not many people called out bids during this segment.

Most cultivators would rather spend that price on a High-Grade Magical Tool.

After all, a High-Grade Magical Tool could directly increase a cultivator's battle strength.

"Nine hundred and thirty Spirit Stones."

Lin Chang'an raised his hand and rasped out his bid.

He was not determined to obtain the Green-Horned Ox at all costs. After all, there were still quite a few High-Grade spirit beasts to come.

"Nine hundred and thirty Spirit Stones. Any higher bids?"

Han Lin'er, the female cultivator hosting the Auction, had a trace of helplessness in her smile. Spirit beasts truly were not easy to sell.

Being able to afford one was one thing; whether one wanted to raise one was another.

"Nine hundred and thirty Spirit Stones. Sold to this fellow Daoist!"

Lin Chang'an's face was full of smiles. As a High-Grade Talisman Master, outsiders believed he could earn over a hundred and fifty Spirit Stones a month. Raising a spirit beast was within the normal range.

One thousand Spirit Stones was his limit. After all, he would not be able to keep this thing hidden in the future.

The Auction grew even livelier afterward. A spirit beast cub with an Earth-Grade Bloodline even appeared and was bought by a Mystic Sound Pavilion disciple.

Naturally, an Auction of such grandeur could not possibly avoid Foundation Establishment Pills.

At the very end, several kinds of Foundation Establishment materials appeared, along with Supreme-Grade Magical Tools that only Foundation Establishment cultivators could control.

The venue erupted into an uproar.