Phantom Dream Butterfly

The effects of arduous cultivation were significant as well. Although Ning Bei's Soul Power Level had not improved by much, reaching only level 56, his soul power had become completely solidified, without the slightest hint of instability. From now on, he could focus wholeheartedly on increasing his Soul Power Level.

A Bao had stayed on the Pill Pagoda Fifth Floor for nearly a full year and had finally transformed into a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Even without attacking, those sharp claws were enough to inspire dread at first sight. His entire body had grown a full size larger, and when standing upright, he now stood roughly nine meters tall.

Since the Demon Eye Magic Tree and Emerald Swan lived together on the fourth floor, they split the effects of the Alchemy Fragrance between them. Their cultivations had currently reached 3,000 years and 4,500 years respectively.

The Man Faced Demon Spider, which stayed alone on the third floor, did not receive treatment much worse than the other two beasts. Its cultivation had currently surpassed 5,000 years.

Next, Ning Bei planned to swap its floor with A Bao's while leaving the other two beasts where they were for the time being. Once the Man Faced Demon Spider reached ten thousand years, it could gain concealment abilities that even the Spiritual Power of powerful experts could not detect. Its Spider God Possession ability was also quite practical, burning one year of cultivation per second to greatly increase its strength and speed. The little cultivation it consumed could be recovered after resting in the Pill Pagoda for a few days.

When the time came, it would be an enormous help to the entire team.

As Ning Bei's cultivation increased, the number of pills he could produce also gradually grew. Every month, they brought in an income of several hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.

If he went all out producing first-grade Wound Recovery Pills, Spring Return Pills, and Power Storage Pills, he could make over a thousand a day.

At the same time, the production efficiency of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid had greatly increased. It could now supply hundreds of Sect children of the appropriate age at once. Once those children reached six years old, they would bring the Sect another batch of promising talents with Innate Soul Power above level 5. This success rate was even more terrifying than Spirit Hall's.

Inside the First Prince's residence, Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, stared thoughtfully at the Jade Bottle in her hand.

She opened the Jade Bottle and raised it to her nose, catching a faint, refreshing medicinal fragrance.

"Is the liquid inside this Jade Bottle what can raise children's Innate Soul Power?"

Snake Lance, standing nearby, nodded and confirmed the medicine's effects.

"Our spies secretly smuggled it out. It is said that the children of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect soak their bodies in this medicinal liquid every day."

"Can we obtain the formula for this medicinal liquid?"

"I'm afraid not. The formula is among the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's highest-level secrets. Let alone our spies, even their senior elders cannot gain access to it."

Qian Renxue's fingers tapped the table from time to time, while the crease between her brows refused to fade.

"So even if we obtain the medicinal liquid, it would be useless? This liquid needs long-term soaking to be effective?"

A trace of embarrassment crossed Snake Lance's face.

"Young Master, based on what we know so far, that is indeed the case."

"Hmph, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is truly impressive, to have created such a medicinal liquid. We must find a way to get it. In a few decades, this thing could more than double Spirit Hall's core strength. Leaving it in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would simply be a waste—they have no ambition to dominate the continent."

"Understood, Young Master. I will find a way."

"Mm."

After an entire year of hard cultivation, Ning Bei planned to relax a little.

Nothing to do today. Off to the brothel—pah, to stroll around Seven Treasure City.

There happened to be an auction today, so Ning Bei planned to browse for some interesting items. His little treasury was already overflowing anyway, so he might as well spend some money and keep the currency circulating.

In any case, it would all end up back in his own pocket.

He did not bring Xiaotao along this time, afraid that the girl would drag him into clothing shops.

After arriving alone at the entrance of the Merchant Guild, he showed his token to the guards. The summoned Steward respectfully led him to the same private room as last time.

It was still just as clean and luxurious. Mm, the legs were still very white too.

Under the Maid's excellent service, the auction began as well.

Ya Fei, whom he had not seen for quite some time, also appeared upon the stage.

After a brief opening speech, the auction items were unveiled one after another.

As expected, Ning Bei's first- and Second Grade Pills were still eagerly snapped up by the mercenaries. They were consumables, after all; once they used them and found them effective, they would naturally have to buy more.

However, this auction's offerings left Ning Bei somewhat disappointed. They were either jewelry and clothing that interested noble lords, or maids and medicines. He lacked none of those.

It was not until the auction was nearing its end that a cart was pushed onto the stage. Ning Bei finally became slightly interested after hearing Ya Fei's introduction.

"The next auction item is a Phantom Dream Butterfly with a hundred years of cultivation. This type of Soul Beast possesses hypnotic and illusion-inducing abilities, and a hundred-year Phantom Dream Butterfly is quite rare! During their ten-year stage, they generally become food for all kinds of insect-type Soul Beasts."

After introducing the item, the red cloth covering the cart was lifted, revealing a butterfly with multicolored wings inside a crystal display case.

The butterfly's body was roughly half a meter long, and it lay listlessly curled up in a corner of the case.

What was unusual was that the butterfly's main body actually resembled a human torso.

It was merely dozens of times smaller than a normal human, only about the size of a palm.

In Ning Bei's impression, aside from Soul Beasts that had undergone Transformation, only Snow Empress of the Far North Land possessed a humanlike original form. Every one of them was an extraordinary existence.

This Phantom Dream Butterfly had only a hundred years of cultivation, so it clearly could not have reached the stage of Transformation.

Ning Bei had also read about this type of Soul Beast in an illustrated guide. Its ability was to create illusions, though ten-year Phantom Dream Butterflies could only be used to add a bit of romantic atmosphere. They were quite popular among noble lords.

A hundred-year one likely would not be much stronger, or it would not have been captured and brought here.

But Ning Bei possessed the Pill Pagoda. If he raised this Dream Butterfly to the thousand-year or ten-thousand-year level, its illusion-inducing abilities could become immensely useful.

As a humanoid Soul Beast, Ning Bei did not believe it lacked the potential to cultivate to greater heights. It was only because low-year Phantom Dream Butterflies had combat power too pitiful to describe, and because their flavor apparently appealed greatly to mantis- and spider-type Soul Beasts, that their numbers were so scarce.

Even taking ten thousand steps back, if a ten-thousand-year Phantom Dream Butterfly turned out to be incapable of much, Ning Bei would only lose a few Gold Soul Coins. To him, that was practically no cost at all.

While Ning Bei was thinking, Ya Fei onstage began the auction for the Phantom Dream Butterfly.

"This Phantom Dream Butterfly starts at 5,000 Gold Soul Coins. Each bid increase must be no less than 1,000. Distinguished guests, you may begin bidding."

"6,000 Gold Soul Coins."

"7,000."

"..."

"16,000 Gold Soul Coins."

It had to be said, nobles were a lecherous bunch. Before long, the hundred-year Phantom Dream Butterfly had been bid up to 16,000 Gold Soul Coins, and the momentum only continued to build.

As expected, the price kept climbing until it finally stopped at 23,000 Gold Soul Coins.

"Alright, VIP No. 92 has bid 23,000 Gold Soul Coins. Any higher offers?"

"23,000 Gold Soul Coins, going once."

"23,000 Gold Soul Coins, going twice."

Seeing that no one else was bidding, Ning Bei, seated in the private room, beckoned to the Maid beside him.

"Oh! The honored guest in private room No. 1 bids 30,000 Gold Soul Coins! What deep pockets indeed!"

"30,000 Gold Soul Coins, going once."

"30,000 Gold Soul Coins, going twice."

"30,000 Gold Soul Coins, going three times."

"Congratulations to the honored guest in private room No. 1 for obtaining this hundred-year Phantom Dream Butterfly."

Amid the curses and complaints from the nobles below, Ning Bei secured ownership of the butterfly.

He curled his lip and muttered, "A bunch of old perverts. All they know is how to ruin something precious."

However, while Ning Bei was grumbling, he failed to notice the Maid beside him looking at him with disdain.