Cultivation: From Menial Laborer to Immortal Venerable Section 32

Zhou Xun's heart tightened.

It was definitely a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator!

Only a Foundation Establishment cultivator could exert such pressure that it made it difficult for him to breathe.

It seemed this so-called Black Market wasn't as simple as it appeared.

Being able to enlist a Foundation Establishment cultivator meant it was inextricably linked to the Four Great Clans of Red Leaf Square.

"Four major forces, Four Great Clans!"

"That's right, I imagine these four major forces are the spokespeople supported by the Four Great Clans of Red Leaf Square!"

Zhou Xun instantly understood the underlying intricacies.

It seemed the Four Great Clans were behind the Black Market.

As he was thinking, the aged voice spoke again, but this time with a hint of panic.

"It is I, Meng Lang, who was presumptuous. I am willing to offer one hundred Spirit Stones to purchase this item!"

"Hmph, don't let it happen again!" As soon as the voice from the stage finished.

The elder who had bid let out a muffled groan and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Thank you for showing mercy, senior!"

Soon, this mid-grade Mystic Tool was bought by the elder for the bid of 100 Spirit Stones.

"The second auction item, a pill for strengthening the foundation and nurturing the source: ten bottles of Qi Induction Pill."

As he spoke, the middle-aged host waved his hand, and five bottles of pills flew out from his storage bag, landing on the table beside him.

"Everyone knows Qi Induction Pills can aid cultivation and save several months of time. Furthermore, they have the effect of breaking through bottlenecks, making them rare and precious elixirs."

"Each bottle contains ten pills. The starting bid is three Spirit Stones, and each subsequent bid must increase by no less than ten Spirit Essence!"

"Three Spirit Stones, ten Spirit Essence!"

"Three Spirit Stones, twenty Spirit Essence!"

Bids rose one after another.

Soon, the pills were bought by a cultivator who bid three Spirit Stones and eighty Spirit Essence.

"Second item."

"Third item."

Item after item was sold amidst the auction's clamor. Finally, it was time for the item Zhou Xun had come for.

"The twenty-third item, a second-tier spirit herb, Spirit Condensing Herb, starting bid 40 Spirit Stones!"

This chapter is a bit late.

Here it comes, Zhou Xun's spirits lifted.

After purchasing talismans and Mystic Tools that day, Zhou Xun was left with only seventy-one Spirit Stones.

To be able to bid for the Spirit Condensing Herb, Zhou Xun had sought out a familiar alchemist in the pavilion and borrowed twenty Spirit Stones.

"Forty-one Spirit Stones!"

As soon as the middle-aged host finished speaking, someone bid. Forty Spirit Stones was quite a bit lower than the market price for Spirit Condensing Herb.

This prompted someone to bid, hoping to fish in troubled waters. If they managed to win the bid, they could turn around and sell it to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion for a profit.

"Forty-two."

"Forty-three."

The price increased one by one, quickly reaching fifty.

This price was already the market price for Spirit Condensing Herb.

"Fifty-three!" the price jumped again.

However, with this bid, the bidding instantly stopped.

"Are there any higher bids!" Seeing this, the middle-aged host scanned the surroundings, his tone tinged with unwillingness.

But no one responded.

"I announce that the Spirit Condensing Herb goes to..." As the middle-aged host was about to announce the result, his words were suddenly interrupted.

"Sixty Spirit Stones!"

It was Zhou Xun speaking. He had increased the bid by seven Spirit Stones in one go, hoping to intimidate potential opponents and make them retreat.

"Good, this fellow Daoist bids sixty Spirit Stones. Are there any higher bids!"

The middle-aged host, interrupted, showed no signs of anger. Instead, his spirits lifted, and he continued to ask with anticipation.

"Sixty-two Spirit Stones!" The voice of the previous bidder rang out again, with a hint of confrontation in his tone!

He had originally thought he could secure it for fifty-three Spirit Stones, but now it was nine more.

"Seventy Spirit Stones!" Zhou Xun said expressionlessly, his voice as calm as still water.

"Good! Good! Good!"

The person said "good" three times in a row. If this item hadn't been extremely important to him, he wouldn't have bothered bidding.

"I bid seventy-four Spirit Stones. If you can go higher, fellow Daoist, I'll let you have this Spirit Condensing Herb!" The person said with a laugh of exasperation, his voice becoming sharp.

Judging by his words, seventy-four was already the limit for this person!

"Seventy-five Spirit Stones," Zhou Xun said with a faint smile, stating a number.

After that, the person indeed didn't make another sound.

"Although this price is a bit higher than the market price, it's worth it."

To him, there was no difference in rarity between low-grade second-tier spiritual medicines; they were all for condensing essence, as long as the tier was the same.

"Seventy-five Spirit Stones! Are there any higher bids?" The middle-aged auctioneer's voice was tinged with joy.

This price was already nearly double the starting bid.

Seeing that no one responded after a long while, the middle-aged man nodded and was about to make the announcement.

"One hundred Spirit Stones!"

A hoarse voice rang out.

The crowd was startled.

This price had already exceeded double the value of the Spirit Condensing Herb.

Everyone turned their heads, and saw that the bidder was a middle-aged man dressed in a dark brown robe, with another person in similar attire beside him.

He must be his companion.

Increasing the bid by twenty-five Spirit Stones at once was truly a grand gesture.

However, it was effective.

Zhou Xun truly couldn't compete; he didn't have enough Spirit Stones.

Zhou Xun looked helpless. One hundred Spirit Stones would require him to pawn all his treasures.

However, since this person bid so readily, he was likely extremely wealthy. Even if he managed to gather the Spirit Stones, he probably couldn't beat him.

Furthermore, after pawning his Mystic Tools and talismans, he would have no safety guarantees when returning to the market. It wouldn't be worth the gain.

"Oh well, I might as well save up for a while longer and then buy that spiritual medicine from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion!" Zhou Xun thought with resignation, quickly making his decision.

"One hundred Spirit Stones, the Spirit Condensing Herb goes to this fellow Daoist," the middle-aged auctioneer declared, finalizing the ownership.

Once settled, any higher bids made afterward would not count.

Even though the spiritual medicine was sold, Zhou Xun didn't leave and continued to watch.

The treasures at the auction were all rare and exquisite items, which was good for broadening his horizons.

"The twenty-fourth item, a low-grade first-tier spirit beast, the Gale Wind Steed. The starting bid is ten Spirit Stones, with each increment no less than ten Spirit Essence."

The auction continued.

"The twenty-seventh item, a mid-grade Mystic Tool, the Radiant Light Twin Blades."

"This Mystic Tool, although it's a mid-grade Mystic Tool, was crafted using materials and a refining plan intended for a high-grade Mystic Tool."

"It's just that something went wrong during the refining process, which caused it to be downgraded to mid-grade!"

"However, its power is immense, far exceeding that of ordinary mid-grade Mystic Tools."

"But it also has a limitation. Because it was refined to the standard of a high-grade Mystic Tool, one must possess Divine Sense to drive it; otherwise, its true power cannot be unleashed."

"The starting bid is forty Spirit Stones, with each increment no less than one Spirit Stone."

Forty Spirit Stones. Upon hearing this price, everyone shook their heads.

"Fifty Spirit Stones. This already exceeds the scope of mid-grade Mystic Tools. Some high-grade Mystic Tools of lesser quality or with flaws would be around this price!"