Success

"Evergreen Vine?" Jiang Qing also let out a soft exclamation. The two brothers had been together for many years and had a tacit understanding. Third Master Jiang understood why his senior brother had called him that softly, but he didn't say anything.

However, after Jiang Qing turned his gaze back to the catalog, he asked with some doubt, "Myriad Treasures Trading Company didn't even write down a price on it?"

"But I don't know, perhaps each side has its own rules." After carefully looking through everything in the sketchbook and memorizing what he wanted, Sect Leader Kang Da stopped thinking about it and simply told everyone to take good care of themselves.

The auction is coming soon. Although Chongming Sect may not be able to buy much, at least everyone can see the world. Isn't that a good thing?

However, Kang Dabao did not expect that just two days after they checked in, another acquaintance would come to the door.

"Senior Yang's visiting card?" Sect Leader Kang Da read through the seal script on the letter one by one. He had never imagined that he would encounter Yang Yongcheng here.

Although surprised, Kang Dabao would not mistreat Golden Core cultivator, so he told his family to hide and took Jiang Qing outside to greet him.

"Brother Dao and Younger Brother Jiang are actually here?" Yang Wuwei, who had come with Yang Yongcheng outside the door, saw the two of them come out and immediately showed a hint of joy on his face, and spoke first.

Compared to Yang Baoshan's rough-looking uncle, Yang Yongcheng, who had effeminate features, was much more handsome. Judging from the fact that he didn't get angry when a junior interrupted him, he must have a good temper.

His voice was gentle, like a spring breeze. "Oh, so it's you, young friend Kang, staying here. What a coincidence!"

Kang and Jiang dared not be negligent and returned the greeting respectfully. Yang Yongcheng, however, still smiled calmly and said, "I thought that the Myriad Treasures Trading Company's auction would only be held once a year without exception, and it would be rare to have so many fellow Daoists gathered together. It would be unpleasant to sit idly in the courtyard, so I came to pay a special visit. I did not expect that it was you two young friends residing here. It seems that your sect has a profound foundation and orderly lineage."

Kang Dabao naturally wouldn't waste words explaining the origin of his invitation to Yang Yongcheng. He had originally intended to invite the latter into the courtyard for a chat, but Yang Yongcheng, while outwardly polite, turned and smiled, pointing to Yang Wuwei behind him, saying, "If I were here, I'm afraid you'd be too reserved, which wouldn't be pleasant. Let Wuwei stay here and catch up with the two young friends."

The two men understood immediately, but their reactions differed. Sect Leader Kang Da, holding Jiang Qing's collar, led him in a bow to bid farewell. After welcoming Yang Wuwei into the courtyard, he heard a barely audible cold snort in his ear.

"Go, fetch a pot of good tea from your sister-in-law." Kang Dabao pushed Third Master Jiang a few steps forward, then turned around with a smile. Seeing that Yang Wuwei behind him showed no unusual expression, he breathed a sigh of relief, cupped his hands, and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, fellow Daoist."

"Haha, fellow Daoist, please don't take it to heart. Uncle Yongcheng has always been like this. I hope you two won't take offense." Yang Wuwei laughed for a while, and after sitting down with Sect Leader Kang Da, he spoke up to explain, "Uncle has an important matter to attend to and needs to find help as soon as possible. That's why he's a bit hasty. He didn't mean to belittle you brothers. I hope you won't take offense."

Kang Dabao just smiled after hearing this, and when he spoke again, he changed the subject. "After this auction, I'm afraid I'll have to congratulate you, fellow Daoist."

Yang Wuwei, unusually abandoning his composure, couldn't suppress the joy in his eyes. A smile played on his lips as he said in a cheerful voice, "Then I'll take your kind words, brother."

Sect Leader Kang Da chuckled a few times in agreement, a hint of envy creeping into his heart.

After all, having Lineage scion who relies on their elders means that even highly valued Core Formation spiritual treasures, which are so prized that people would risk their lives to obtain, are readily available. How could one not be envious?

The two chatted about everyday things, but at their level, their conversations naturally went beyond just everyday matters. They would occasionally, intentionally or unintentionally, slip in important information to communicate what they needed.

Compared to Yang Wuwei's extensive network of connections, Sect Leader Kang Da knew far fewer secrets. This was unavoidable; Kang Dabao had many Golden Core cultivators he could talk to, but Fei Tianqin and Fei Nanying hadn't shown themselves for a long time, and Chu Yanran was hardly a close confidante. Naturally, he didn't know as much about many things as Yang Wuwei did.

However, Yang Wuwei didn't mind too much. If you want to make friends with people, the worst thing is to be taken advantage of.

Sect Leader Kang Da is a person worth getting to know better. Yang Wuwei certainly put a lot of effort into his relationship with him, but the subtle reminder he gave during the battle of Three Ting Prefectures was enough to make up for it all.

The Ye Prefecture Yang Household saved the lives of at least a hundred elite disciples because of those few words; how could they be considered to have lost out?!

The two were deep in conversation when they saw Jiang Qing not only order fine tea, but also Fei Shuhe and the younger generation come out to greet the distinguished guest.

When the group had only gone halfway, Pei Xiangcao raised her small hand, and a sparrow flew in from behind. A thin layer of mysterious light emanated from its little head. The sparrow struggled to lift a tray and gently placed it on the table of Kang and Yang. On the tray were a pot, a stove, charcoal, cups, and tea.

After being urged by her stepmother to step forward and bow gracefully, Kang Lingyi moved lightly to the table and sat down with her head held high. Despite her young age, she prepared tea with remarkable skill. Even Yang Wuwei, the eldest son of a prominent family, felt that the girl's movements were elegant and that she was quite remarkable.

This gesture signifies a close family relationship, which moved Yang Wuwei somewhat. As he drank the tea, a different thought arose in his mind, "Ahem, I wonder if you, brother, would be willing to become in-laws with me?"

Yang Wuwei's words made Kang Lingyi blush, and she quickly shrank behind her stepmother. The Sect Leader Kang Da was somewhat surprised and coughed several times, taking a long time to calm down. Finally, Fei Shuhe reacted quickly, smiling sweetly:

"Fellow Daoist Yang, you jest. My Kang Household has few male heirs, so our daughters are meant to stay at home and find husbands to marry into the family. How could we bear to let them marry out again?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Wuwei realized that he had been too hasty. Even if he truly intended to do so, he should have invited the matchmaker to come and negotiate, rather than speaking up on his own and nearly ruining the pleasant atmosphere between the two sides.

"What you say makes sense, sister-in-law. It was my oversight." Yang Wuwei cupped his hands and smiled for a while, the slight embarrassment on his face quickly subsiding.

Both families handled the social niceties well, and the atmosphere warmed up immediately. Yang Wuwei chatted with the Chongming Sect for almost half an hour before bowing and taking his leave.

After the latter left, Jiang Qing, who had been quiet all along, finally said in a low voice, "Senior Brother, this Brother Yang is far less straightforward than Brother He Household."

"That's natural. As the saying goes, 'Nascent Soul Formation Pill are easy to obtain, but a pure heart is hard to find.'" Kang Dabao's smile remained unchanged, but he added afterward, "However, it's already very good, isn't it?"

Jiang Qing remained silent for a moment before speaking again, "He spoke at length, but in the end, he still couldn't find out which kind of Core Formation object Senior Brother intended to use for Core Formation."

"Didn't I also fail to find out?" Kang Dabao shook his head and sighed softly, "This Brother Yang is worrying unnecessarily. Even if he did find out, what difference would it make? There are more than just our two families here to compete for it."

"We still didn't prepare in time, and the news came too late. I'm afraid we'll have to go back empty-handed this time." Kang Dabao was frowning and calculating with his fingers when he turned around and a Storage Bag embroidered with immortal herbs landed in his hand.

"Lady."

"Take a break, what are you going to nag about now?" Fei Shuhe rolled her beautiful eyes at him, a thousand charms swirling within them. When she opened her mouth again, a fragrant scent wafted over. "You'll have to pay me back someday."

Several more days passed, and before they knew it, the day of the auction arrived.

Having just emerged from Seclusion Chamber comparable to Third Tier spiritual land, Sect Leader Kang Da was refreshed and in high spirits. Having experienced numerous auctions, he naturally assumed that the auction held by Myriad Treasures Trading Company was merely extravagant and nothing particularly special.

But once the day arrived, it became clear that this was not the case.

Kang Dabao and Chongming Sect and their entourage drove the Kui Star Shuttle to the outside of the hall in a very low-key manner, naturally attracting the attention of many cultivators along the way.

After all, even ordinary Golden Core cultivators rarely receive an invitation from Myriad Treasures Trading Company, so it's quite intriguing that a group of Foundation Establishment True Cultivator could have such an opportunity.

Sect Leader Kang Da had his own way of dealing with it. He invited Fei Shuhe to walk to the bow of the ship, and the curiosity of the upper-level cultivators immediately dissipated.

"Oh right, I almost forgot, this kid is the Fei Household's son-in-law."

It goes without saying what kind of existence Fei Tianqin is. Most of the cultivators present did not want to offend Fei Nanying, who had already reached the Middle-Grade Golden Core who had some thoughts about him then kept quiet.

After all, once you reach the Golden Core stage, you need to maintain a certain level of decorum. You can't just kill and plunder like you would when you're in the Qi Refinement or Foundation Establishment.

This auction is of a very high standard, and the attendees are all considered quite valuable by ordinary people. It is impossible for it to be as noisy and crowded as when Kang Dabao attended the Fish Mountain Treasure Fair.

Sect Leader Kang Da met Yang Yongcheng and his nephew again, but he didn't have time to reminisce. A row of maids had already been set up outside the hall. One of them gracefully welcomed Chongming Sect and led him into the side room. At the same time, she also took away Fei Shuhe, a pearl from Jinghai.

Kang Dabao knew that sighing was useless, and privately he made up his mind. "This time I must not return empty-handed!"

Myriad Treasures Trading Company did not keep the cultivators waiting for long. Dou Tong, the head manager who used to be the center of attention on the Xuanwei City, soon stepped onto the stage on auspicious clouds and bowed to the various private rooms. He did not look like a Golden Core Peak cultivator at all.

It should be understood that this is why Myriad Treasures Trading Company has not been counted as a force within the spiritual land of the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty since the previous dynasty. Otherwise, in terms of true strength, this trading company would be no less than any of the major powers in the current Great Wei Immortal Dynasty.

Even when the founding emperor was alive, the disciples of this merchant guild were always polite on the surface, but in their hearts they were neither arrogant nor conceited, and they were not afraid of any power.

Dou Tong, despite being the head manager of Shannan Circuit, remained as respectful and cautious as an ordinary businessman, which was quite rare.

"I am truly grateful to all of you fellow Daoists for taking the time to attend this auction!"

These polite words elicited further humble responses from the various private rooms, but Dou Tong ignored them. He bowed and said a few more words, finally picking up his paperweight (used by the Maritime Trade Office in the Song Dynasty to auction imported goods, shaped like a paper ruler) and striking it heavily.

"The first item in this auction is the You Family Twin Beauties."

As soon as Dou Tong finished speaking, a pair of beautiful women, draped in colorful clouds, descended onto the stage. This vast venue was naturally protected by laws and regulations, connecting it to the various rooms around it.

It was enough that anyone in the private room, even a naive girl like Pei Xiangcao, could easily see every hair on the twins on the stage who were being auctioned off, if they wanted to.

"The You Family Twin Beauties have mastered the Vast-Tier Middle-Grade's Lotus and Moon Shared Radiance Method of Hong Jie, and are about to achieve great success. They are only 150 years old, yet they have already reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. They are beautiful, their cinnabar marks are still intact, and they have a bright future ahead of them."

At this point, Dou Tong paused skillfully for a moment, waiting for the reactions of all parties.

Kang Dabao had already learned from the catalog in the main hall that the You Family Twin Beauties had been practicing the "Lotus and Moon Shared Radiance Method" dual cultivation method, a Vast-Tier Middle-Grade technique, for a hundred years. For many cultivators, it could be considered a good tonic.

He was used to seeing people debase themselves and sell their bodies.

However, Sect Leader Kang Da had not anticipated that this matter, now that Kang Lingyi had witnessed it, would have such a profound impact on her eldest daughter, who was still somewhat sensible.

Fei Shuhe even glared at Kang Dabao with Zhang Qingran beside her. After realizing what had happened, Kang Dabao felt remorseful and felt like he was being pricked by thorns. He was about to say something when he saw the two women simply leave this filthy place with two maids and return to their courtyard to rest.

If you miss this auction, you'll have to wait for another one, which coincides with the time when the gourd spirit will appear; if you don't coax the woman now, you can win her back later with more effort.

Sect Leader Kang Da clearly understands which aspect is more important.

Dou Tong was quite satisfied with the reactions from everyone in the private room. After a few more breaths, he announced the price set by the two You sisters:

"The two sisters hope to become concubines of a fellow cultivator whose cultivation has reached the Middle Stage of Golden Core or higher. This fellow cultivator will be responsible for providing them with the sustenance for their normal cultivation for the next sixty years. Furthermore, he promises that if their cultivation shows promise, each of them will provide a spiritual item to assist in forming False Core."

As soon as Dou Tong landed, Kang Dabao muttered to himself, "That seems a bit expensive."

Judging by the usual practice, even if the two of them were cultivating a dual cultivation method of a decent grade, it would be considered good if they could find a Golden Core Early Stage to protect them.

As for whether one can obtain the False Core spiritual treasure, that depends entirely on the cultivator's heart.

However, perhaps because the guests present were all important figures, several private rooms still offered bids despite the high price. After several rounds of bidding, the Xianyu Household's chief retainer ultimately won the pair of twins.

Dou Tong then sent a maid to lead the You Family Twin Beauties over, along with a spiritual contract that both parties needed to sign, which outlined severe punishments for violating the agreement.

To some extent, the spiritual contract issued by Myriad Treasures Trading Company is probably Ju Wei than the spiritual contract issued by the Star-Picking Pavilion. Ordinary cultivators, and even True Person, would not want to disobey it unless absolutely necessary.

Otherwise, who knows, the Xianyu Household have taken the picture of the twins, might have killed them one day if they were in a bad mood. After all, in the eyes of those high-level cultivators, these low-level cultivators are no different from ordinary dogs or cats.

Seeing that Dou Tong had won his first battle, Sect Leader Kang Da knew that if he wanted to make any deals here, he would have to pay a premium, and he became even less confident.

As expected, the Yellow Dragon Wood that they had previously favored was quickly bought out at a high price by a senior cultivator from the Brocade River Sect.

The inner core of Third-Tier Lower-Grade Immortal Ibis, the Third-Tier Upper-Grade Law Treasure Heaven-Breaking Halberd, Third Tier spirit medicine Crimson Spirit Grass, which is useful for Divine Sense— all these previously eye-catching items were outbid by Sect Leader Kang Da.

It makes sense. These old guys have lived for who knows how many years. Even if Chongming Sect has made some progress in the last year or two, how could it possibly have the resources to compete with the life savings accumulated by the upper cultivators?

They had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, so they certainly wouldn't be as frugal as Sect Leader Kang Da, who was always so meticulous about pricing.

Dou Tong, as always, was making a fortune and was paying close attention to the commotion in Kang Dabao's private room. He knocked on the door again, and something slowly appeared on the stage—an ordinary old vine—which caused everyone present to look at him with surprise.

At this moment, an old man in the previously silent room, whose identity and background remained unknown, opened his eyes upon hearing the commotion. However, after watching Evergreen Vine Teng calculate with his fingers, he shook his head again.

Pu Honggu calculated that he had consumed too many life-extending spiritual items. While the Evergreen Vine might be effective for other Golden Core cultivators, it might only extend his life by two or three years for him. He still needed to pin his hopes on that other matter.

"Damn it!"

Upon seeing this, Sect Leader Kang Da cursed inwardly. This Evergreen Vine even had the wondrous effect of nourishing lifespan; why would these Golden Core complain about having too long a life?!

So Kang Dabao put all his effort into acquiring this spiritual item, but even with Fei Shuhe's private money to help him, he still lost after several rounds of bidding.

Watching helplessly as the price of the Evergreen Vine was driven up to an astonishing level and it was delivered to the Ye Prefecture Yang Household, Sect Leader Kang Da sighed softly, thinking to himself:

"I don't know about Yang Yongcheng either. Tsk, no way, that guy looks down on me, begging him is pointless. He might not even give his own son anything that involves Yuan Shou."

Jiang Qing and his senior brother were both dejected, but it was no use. They watched helplessly as one spiritual item after another was snapped up by other families, and could only sigh in their hearts that they had come for nothing again.

If the former is so impatient, it seems he can't afford anything anyway, and might as well drag Sect Leader Kang Da back to the courtyard before the end, so as to avoid being too envious at this point.

However, the fact that Sect Leader Kang Da was able to remain seated allowed him to take advantage of the situation.

There was a piece of Phoenix Spirit Jade of good quality, which would have a considerable effect on nourishing the spirit and laying a foundation for Qi Refinement cultivators. However, the old monsters in this battle were all quite selfish, and few people were willing to bid for this good item, allowing Kang Dabao to purchase it cheaply.

"No matter what, at least I've got the things to keep the baby and wife company." Kang Dabao's disappointment subsided slightly as he watched the last item up for auction, a thousand-year-old cicada shell, being snapped up by a stranger after a fierce bidding war.

Sect Leader Kang Da then realized that none of the items in today's auction had failed to sell, and he was naturally amazed by the skill and discerning eye of Manager Dou.

However, after all the items had been sold, Dou Tong showed no sign of ending the meeting. Instead, after muttering a prayer for a while, a piece of gold brocade appeared in one of the private rooms, with a red ink inscription on it.

At this point, Kang Dabao wasn't the only one with doubts. Dou Tong explained on the stage, "Myriad Treasures Trading Company was invited by a fellow Daoist to inquire if any of you know the proper method for refining the Crimson Realm Life-Prolonging Pill. If so, please record it on the spiritual scroll. I, Dou, can act as the middleman. Neither party needs to reveal their identities, and we can complete this transaction through Myriad Treasures Trading Company."

These words caused a huge uproar in the room. The previously composed and virtuous cultivators suddenly became agitated. "That's the Crimson Realm Life-Prolonging Pill, capable of extending one's lifespan by two hundred years!!!"

Who is making this request?

"Dao Ancestor, has someone truly refined the Crimson Realm Life-Prolonging Pill?! Does our Shannan Circuit also have such a skilled Alchemist?! I must inquire about this Alchemist's whereabouts, so I can become closer to them in the future!"

"Damn it, someone actually dares to refine the Crimson Realm Life-Prolonging Pill? Is this the Shannan Circuit of the Star-Picking Pavilion, or the Two Rivers Circuit of the Blood Sword Sect?!"

This commotion had nothing to do with Sect Leader Kang Da, and he was completely unfamiliar with the name "Crimson Realm Life-Prolonging Pill." After discussing it with Jiang Qing, the two left and returned to their courtyard.

After giving the Phoenix Spirit Jade to Kang Lingyi, the attitudes of all the women in the room improved considerably. It didn't take much effort from the Sect Leader Kang Da to appease them. However, the latter couldn't help but feel regretful. She had come with high hopes, but had only managed to broaden her family's horizons before leaving empty-handed, which was quite amusing.

However, this was something that Sect Leader Kang Da could not change. Half a day later, the auction in the hall finally ended. Kang Dabao did not know whether Golden Core Crimson Realm Life-Prolonging Pill- Sustaining Pill for the righteous method had succeeded. He simply returned to the market in the beast-drawn carriage he had come in.

During this period, those skilled and daring cultivators returned on their own, while those less capable could only be taken back to the market by Senior Wuxuan in Auspicious Qilin Beast carriage, just like Sect Leader Kang Da.

Since the Sect Leader Kang Da and his group lacked Golden Core cultivator to oversee things, it had already been a day or two by the time it was their turn, but they dared not utter a single complaint.

Unwilling to leave empty-handed, Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing left the auction and started arguing with the permanent counter of Myriad Treasures Trading Company.

Although his resources were not comparable to those of a seasoned Golden Core cultivator and he could not afford rare items, he was not too destitute. He was unusually Fang Yi and bought a lot of items for his wives, concubines, children, disciples, and so on.

Only then did he feel a little better, and he turned back on his Kui Star Shuttle, only to unexpectedly run into an acquaintance waiting for him on the way.

"This junior greets Yang Qian."

"Okay, take it for now!"

Kang Dabao took it and looked at it, slightly surprised. "Evergreen Vine!"

(Because the recommendation results since its release have been very poor, after discussing with the editor, the book will soon change its title and synopsis, and adopt a more mainstream long title to see if intelligent recommendation and traffic generation will improve.)

Otherwise, it will be difficult to get further recommendations, and subscriptions may plummet. So please don't mind, dear readers, and continue to support this book. I can guarantee that the Lao Bai's direction and writing style will not change because of this; please bear with me.