Watching the Treasure Contention Meeting, Xia Manggan's Helplessness! (Please Bookmark, Please Vote!)

[Truly worthy of being the novel's protagonist, the child of the plane.]

[At this point, Ji Ning's strength was only at the Purple Mansion Stage, right...]

Xia Manggan looked at the beastskin-clad youth, 'Ji Ning,' in the private room opposite him with emotion.

[And yet he already had 1,000 Fortune Value, just like Uncle Fox, a Heavenly Immortal!]

Moreover, as he observed with the Eye of Fortune he had activated, he found something else.

Unlike the 'white' numbers that appeared when other people's Fortune Value was displayed,

Ji Ning's Fortune Value number was actually [golden]...

Was this because they were afraid he would not realize that the other party was the child of the plane, protected by Father Heaven himself?

"The two who spoke across the distance just now—the one who provoked first was called Beishan Hu, and the one who answered afterward was called Beishan Baiwei. Both are direct descendants of the Beishan Clan from our Anchan Commandery Marquis Mansion, famous young nobles."

At that moment, Qu Changqing walked over and introduced them to him.

"Since their fathers are both contenders to become the next Marquis of Anchan, the two fight whenever they meet. No matter what it is, they have to determine who is superior..."

As Xia Manggan listened to Qu Changqing's introduction, his gaze was studying the Fortune Values of everyone present, looking for a pattern.

Other than Ji Ning's 1,000 Fortune Value,

Beishan Hu had 332, while Beishan Baiwei had 306.

By comparison, Beishan Baiwei, who had more appearances in the original novel, was actually slightly at a disadvantage.

Then he looked at Qu Changqing beside him.

At the Perfected Wanxiang Stage and also a member of the Yinglong Guard, Qu Changqing was clearly far stronger than Beishan Hu and Beishan Baiwei.

Yet his Fortune Value was only 289.

He then looked at the other guests seated in the private rooms.

Based on Qu Changqing's introductions of their strength,

Xia Manggan discovered that Wanxiang Daoists generally had Fortune Values between 200 and 300.

Among those of similar strength, the ones with higher values either came from stronger clans or sects, or had joined the Yinglong Guard like Qu Changqing.

Purple Mansion cultivators had even lower Fortune Values.

They generally ranged only from 100 to 200.

But after looking around, he discovered that the Fortune Values of most guests at the Purple Mansion Stage were not even as high as that of the large white dog beside Ji Ning, 'White Water Marsh.'

It had to be known that White Water Marsh had only just taken human form.

At most, it possessed the strength of the Early Purple Mansion Stage.

Yet even so, White Water Marsh had 245 Fortune Value.

That was nearly comparable to an ordinary Wanxiang Daoist at the perfected stage.

[A dog beside the protagonist has better fortune than the outstanding geniuses of the vast majority of sects and clans?]

Xia Manggan sighed inwardly.

At this moment,

just as in the original novel's plot,

the two second-generation young masters, Beishan Hu and Beishan Baiwei, first exchanged barbs over Ji Ning joining a sect.

Then, the two began arguing over who Fairy Qin, the woman playing music in the main hall, would accompany for drinks.

Xia Manggan watched the plot unfold with the attitude of a spectator while listening to Qu Changqing's introduction to the top powers of Anchan Commandery.

"Brother Xia Mang, when it comes to the most powerful forces in Anchan Commandery, aside from the Yinglong Guard controlled by the imperial family and the Anchan Marquis Mansion, there are eight foremost powers."

"They are the three great sects: Black-White Academy, Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect, and Hundred Flower Fairyland."

"The three great clans: the Donghe Clan, Lielong Clan, and Mulan Clan."

"And the two great religions: the Heavenly Saint Sect and the Blood God Sect."

Qu Changqing said solemnly, "Each possesses an incomparably ancient history and profound foundations. Though some other forces may also have Immortals overseeing them, compared with these eight foremost powers, they either lack sufficient strength and numbers among their Immortals, lack adequate foundations themselves, or simply have not existed long enough."

"Take the Zhenhua Sect I belong to. Though we too have a supreme elder who is a Void Return Earth Immortal, as well as seven or eight grand elders at the Primordial Spirit Daoist stage, making us a fairly powerful large sect within Anchan Commandery..."

"Compared with these eight foremost powers, however, we are merely passable, barely qualified to speak with them."

"As for the strongest sect Brother Xia Mang wishes to join, it can only be the strongest among the three great sects and the eight foremost powers alike—the Black-White Academy..."

"Mm." Xia Manggan nodded slightly.

Of course, he knew about the Black-White Academy.

It was the sect that Ji Ning, the child of the plane, joined in the original novel.

It was also where fortune was most concentrated in the early plot—or rather, in the entire world at present.

In the future, the Black-White Academy would not only produce four or five Heavenly Immortals,

but even now, it had a person of immense fortune who had inherited the legacy of a mighty Dao Ancestor—San Pang.

[It's a pity I transmigrated here a little too late.]

Xia Manggan felt somewhat regretful.

The plot of the original novel had already begun.

The inheritance of Daoist Sanshou from the Water Mansion at Winged Snake Lake had already been obtained by Ji Ning.

He had even mastered the great divine ability, the Star-Plucking Hand, which could rank among the top ten divine abilities since Pangu created Heaven and Earth, let alone the possibility of intercepting San Pang's inheritance of the Great Black Tortoise Divine Ability.

Still, Xia Manggan felt only slight regret over missing the chance to intercept those opportunities.

After all, although he did not know the name of the Body Refining Divine Ability he was cultivating,

the description of its power after mastery alone made it clear to him that it was absolutely a supreme great divine ability on the same level as the Star-Plucking Hand.

This great divine ability had nine levels in total.

Or rather, only nine levels had been imparted to him so far.

Once Fiendgod Body Refining reached the Purple Mansion level, one could cultivate the first three levels.

After mastering them, one's Divine Body would rival a top-grade Human Rank magic treasure.

Once Fiendgod Body Refining reached the Myriad Manifestations level, one could cultivate the fourth through sixth levels.

After mastering them, one's Divine Body would rival a top-grade Earth Rank magic treasure.

As for the seventh through ninth levels, Fiendgod Body Refining had to reach the Primordial Spirit level before they could be cultivated.

After mastering them, one's Divine Body would rival a top-grade Heaven Rank magic treasure. Even ordinary Heavenly Immortals would struggle to harm it.

Furthermore, this Body Refining Divine Ability did not require any particular treasures.

One only needed to absorb True Sun Fire to cultivate it.

The only difficulty was that it placed rather high requirements on one's comprehension of the Dao and the strength of one's soul.

Even getting started required one's soul to reach the level of an ordinary Wanxiang Daoist, where Divine Will could manifest.

To completely master the first three levels and condense the Great Sun Tathagata Dharma Body, one's soul had to reach the level of an ordinary Primordial Spirit Daoist—able to open the Heavenly Eye and manifest Divine Sense.

To completely master the first six levels, one had to fully comprehend an entire Fire Path and gain entry into the Solar Great Dao.

In short, even just by looking at the absurd requirements of this Body Refining Divine Ability and the power it granted after mastery,

Xia Manggan vaguely guessed that this great divine ability came from the Buddhist Sect and was very likely the supreme great divine ability created by the leader of the Buddhist Sect, Tathagata.

...While Xia Manggan was distracted by these thoughts,

in the main hall outside the private rooms,

a high platform had silently been erected.

A woman in pink, with furry ears and a fox tail behind her, stood atop the platform with a radiant smile.

"Honored guests!"

The crisp voice of the woman in pink rang throughout the hall.

"It is now time for the Treasure Contention Meeting. Today, our Cave of Carefree has prepared eighteen treasures for you all, each possessing something extraordinary. Those willing to purchase them may bid directly. The highest bidder wins!"

"Furthermore, if any honored guests possess rare treasures they are willing to sell, you may also bring them out for everyone to contend over."

The woman in pink smiled. "Just moments ago, Young Master Beishan Hu contributed a top-grade Human Rank magic treasure, the 'Qushan Seal,' making it the nineteenth treasure of this Treasure Contention Meeting."

Her smile naturally carried a seductive charm.

As she spoke, she turned and swept her gaze across the private rooms throughout the hall.

Her fox tail swayed lightly behind her hips, stirring the hearts of the onlookers.

Before the treasure contest had even begun, she had already made people feel an irresistible urge to spend lavishly just to win a beauty's smile.

"Beishan Baiwei! I wonder what treasure you'll be bringing out?" Beishan Hu's deep voice rang out once more.

Such a direct provocation, especially after he had contributed a treasure to the contest, was practically an open declaration that he intended to slap Beishan Baiwei in the face.

Inside the private room.

"Brother Xia Mang, are you interested in this Qushan Seal?"

Seeing Xia Manggan watching the high platform with interest, Qu Changqing assumed he was interested in the magic treasure.

That was hardly strange.

The magic treasures used by cultivators of the Qi Refining Path corresponded to different levels of strength depending on their grade.

From weakest to strongest:

Unranked magic treasures could be used by Qi Refining Xiantian cultivators.

Human Rank magic treasures could be used by Purple Mansion cultivators.

Earth Rank magic treasures could be used by Wanxiang Daoists.

Heaven Rank magic treasures could be used by Primordial Spirit Daoists.

Immortal Rank magic treasures could be used by Void Return Earth Immortals and Loose Immortals.

So-called top-grade magic treasures were those whose innate rank was lower, but whose power could cross ranks.

Like Beishan Hu's top-grade Human Rank magic treasure, the Qushan Seal.

It was inherently only a Human Rank magic treasure, yet its power was sufficient to rival a lower-grade Earth Rank magic treasure.

If a Purple Mansion cultivator obtained it, the advantage in the magic treasure's power alone would be enough to give them the upper hand in battle against cultivators of the same stage.

Thus, in terms of value, a top-grade Human Rank magic treasure was slightly more valuable than an ordinary lower-grade Earth Rank magic treasure.

In terms of rarity, it was even rarer than the majority of Earth Rank magic treasures.

That was why Beishan Hu had immediately challenged Beishan Baiwei after bringing out this magic treasure.

He was betting that Beishan Baiwei did not lack Earth Rank magic treasures, but would find it difficult to obtain a top-grade Human Rank magic treasure on short notice, leaving him no choice but to submit and be slapped in the face.

"If Brother Xia Mang truly likes it, I'll bid on it and give it to you. It can also provide you with some assistance in joining the Black-White Academy."

Although Xia Manggan had waved his hand earlier to indicate that he had no interest in the Qushan Seal,

he continued watching the platform with considerable attention.

Qu Changqing thus assumed that he had merely declined out of courtesy.

So, when the bidding for the Qushan Seal reached one hundred and ten taels of Essence Liquid, Qu Changqing spoke. "One hundred and twenty taels of Essence Liquid. I'll take this magic treasure."

"Very well."

The woman in pink on the platform smiled. "Young Master Qu of the Zhenhua Sect bids one hundred and twenty taels of Essence Liquid. Does any other honored guest wish to make a bid?"

Though she was asking, she knew that this price was already high enough.

It could even buy an ordinary middle-grade Earth Rank magic treasure.

Even Beishan Hu smiled, clearly extremely satisfied with the price.

"Thus, Young Master Beishan Hu's top-grade Human Rank magic treasure, the Qushan Seal, has been won by Young Master Qu of the Zhenhua Sect," the woman in pink announced loudly.

She then had a maid deliver to Qu Changqing's private room a seal that looked as though a segment of a real mountain had been cut away and then shrunk tens of thousands of times.

"..."

Seeing the magic treasure placed before him, Xia Manggan was speechless.

My own Divine Body is almost comparable to this top-grade Human Rank magic treasure, the Qushan Seal.

What do I need this thing for?

Just to smash people with it for fun?

And Qu Changqing was still going on about how he should not stand on ceremony and should hurry up and refine it...

"Fellow Daoist Qu."

A helpless smile appeared on Xia Manggan's face.

"I haven't begun Qi Refining cultivation yet. There is no Origin Force in my body, so I can't refine it..."

First update.

There was a bit too much setup earlier, brothers, so please don't blame me. Suifeng will try to weave it into the plot as much as possible.