The Auction, Deep-Sea Sunken Silver

Three days later, Qin Yi returned to Hui Mountain. After changing clothes at the inn, he headed out to the Eight Gods Pavilion.

Jin Peng came out to greet him as soon as he reached the entrance. "Senior brother, how did it go?" he asked excitedly. "Did you manage to hunt down the Nine-Eyed Demon Spider? I heard your team still hasn't returned. I was just worrying about you."

Only then did Qin Yi remember that, aside from him, the entire team had been wiped out.

"It's fine. We got separated, and they must have left on their own," Qin Yi replied casually.

"So that's what happened." Jin Peng asked no more. After struggling through the world for so many years, he naturally knew what he should and shouldn't ask. Whatever senior brother said was the truth.

Qin Yi grew serious. "I heard the Eight Treasures Pavilion is holding an auction?"

"Your information travels fast, senior brother. A batch of supplies just arrived from the pavilion, and along with some rare treasures the Eight Treasures Pavilion purchased, the elder sent word to hold an auction two months from now," Jin Peng replied.

"Is there a list of the items up for auction?"

Jin Peng looked troubled. "Senior brother, the Eight Treasures Pavilion has rules. The auction lists are kept by the elders, and even the auctioneer can't get one until the night before the auction."

"But generally, before an auction begins, some news about the final treasures is deliberately spread to warm things up and draw a crowd."

"For some reason, the elder started spreading news about the final treasures a month earlier than usual this time, and only said that a Foundation Establishment Pill would be among them. Presumably, those Foundation Establishment cultivators will compete for it for the sake of their disciples."

Qin Yi's heart sank. "Th-this has to be deliberate." Thinking of the task Song Qi had given him, Qin Yi understood at once. Wasn't this clearly meant to make things harder for him?

When Jin Peng saw Qin Yi fall silent, he assumed Qin Yi wanted the Foundation Establishment Pill but feared he couldn't compete with those Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. He said, "If you want a Foundation Establishment Pill, senior brother, you can apply to the sect for one. The price is much better than at an auction."

Qin Yi shook his head and thought, If only it were as simple as you say. Sigh, looks like I'll have to find another way.

"Do you have any news about the Silver Moon Wolf King?" Qin Yi changed the subject, wondering if he could learn the Silver Moon Wolf King's whereabouts from Jin Peng.

Jin Peng's heart skipped a beat. This senior brother is only at the Qi Refining Realm, and he's already thinking of hunting the Silver Moon Wolf King?

"Not yet, but you can wait, senior brother. Many cultivators will come in the days before the auction starts. I can ask around for you then."

Qin Yi nodded. Seeing Jin Peng's respectful manner, he had an idea. He took a voice transmission talisman from his Storage Bag and handed it to him. "I haven't forgotten what I promised you. Once the auction is over, give this voice transmission talisman to Deacon Qian. He'll know what to do."

Joy appeared on Jin Peng's face, and he said excitedly, "Thank you, senior brother! Rest assured, I'll bring you news of the Silver Moon Wolf King."

Qin Yi nodded and turned to leave. He had given Jin Peng the voice transmission talisman to make him do his utmost. After all, if you wanted a horse to run, you had to let it eat grass.

Qin Yi had gained some insights from Li Ze's battle with Ghost Willow. After returning to the inn, he counted his pills and took out the Spirit Gathering Pills he had saved up. Then he went into seclusion, hoping to break through to Qi Refinement Great Perfection before the auction began.

"Break!"

Two months passed in the blink of an eye. With a loud shout, Qin Yi finally broke through to Qi Refinement Great Perfection. Feeling the spiritual power filling his Dantian, he opened his eyes. Lightning flashed in his left eye and flames burned in his right. A moment later, the lightning and flames gradually faded. Qin Yi smoothed out his wrinkled clothes and left the inn for the Eight Treasures Pavilion.

It had taken him two months to break through, and Qin Yi wasn't very satisfied with that. "Still too slow."

Qin Yi walked through the market, where the surrounding stalls displayed all manner of rare treasures. Eventually, he stopped in front of a cultivator whose stall held many stones.

"What would you like, fellow Daoist?" the owner asked as soon as he saw Qin Yi stop.

Qin Yi pointed to the stone closest to him, which glowed red. The owner's smile widened. "This is Vast Heaven Stone from the Heavenly Flame Holy Land. You have a good eye, fellow Daoist."

Qin Yi suppressed a laugh and asked, "How many Spirit Stones?"

"Five hundred Spirit Stones."

Qin Yi sneered inwardly. Vast Heaven Stone had been added when his own Cangyuan was forged. It was a treasure that could be used to forge Law Treasures. A mere five hundred Spirit Stones? That wouldn't even let you glimpse a piece of Vast Heaven Stone.

Qin Yi pointed to a pitch-black stone beside the "Vast Heaven Stone" and asked, "What about this one?"

The owner hesitated. He didn't know what it was either; he had only put it out because it was extremely hard. After a moment's hesitation, he ventured, "F-five hundred Spirit Stones?"

Qin Yi rolled his eyes at him and said impatiently, "Fifty Spirit Stones. Are you selling it or not?"

"Yes," the owner said, afraid Qin Yi would run off. He didn't know what the thing was anyway, so there was no use keeping it. He might as well sell it. He quickly stuffed the stone into Qin Yi's arms.

Qin Yi paid and headed straight for the Eight Treasures Pavilion with the stone. Jin Peng saw him and hurried over, ready to tell him the news he had obtained about the Silver Moon Wolf King. Unexpectedly, Qin Yi spoke first, cutting him off, and tossed a pitch-black stone into his arms.

"Senior brother, what is this?" Jin Peng asked in confusion.

"My auction item. Deep-sea sunken silver. I came across it by chance. It's a material for refining Law Treasures," Qin Yi explained.

Jin Peng cried out, "A material for refining Law Treasures?"

"Wouldn't you lose a great deal by auctioning it here, senior brother?" Jin Peng was puzzled. Not every Golden Core Stage cultivator had a Law Treasure. Without a sect's backing, it was very difficult for them to obtain one. If they wanted one, they could only find the materials themselves and ask someone to forge it.

"Don't worry about that." Qin Yi didn't attach much importance to the deep-sea sunken silver. He already had Cangyuan, so he could take or leave the stone.

"All right." Seeing that Qin Yi had made up his mind, Jin Peng asked no more.

If the owner found out that Qin Yi had bought his deep-sea sunken silver for fifty Spirit Stones, he would probably be so angry he'd cough up blood.

"Senior brother, I've obtained news about the Silver Moon Wolf King." Jin Peng quickly put away the deep-sea sunken silver and got down to business with Qin Yi.