Chapter 160: Heaven and Earth Spirit Plants, Lingming Treasure Tree!

Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue disguised themselves and took on new identities to attend the auction at Hongye Valley Marketplace.

Although the auction was still more than a month away,

the three months leading up to it were considered the prelude.

Major powers were invited to participate, and itinerant cultivators were welcome to bring their treasures for appraisal and auction.

Many itinerant cultivators might acquire some treasures they don’t recognize and have to pay Spirit Stones to appraisers for identification.

To attract more traffic, the Four Major Families invited several appraisers to the auction site to provide free appraisals.

“Greetings, seniors!”

“Are you here to appraise treasures or to auction them?”

As soon as Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue entered the auction hall, the steward inside trembled and hurried forward with a respectful and flattering expression.

The reason was simple: Xiao Xiyue did not restrain her aura and revealed some of her Foundation Establishment stage aura.

In the cultivation world, showing a bit of one’s strength often makes things much easier.

“Both,” Xiao Xiyue said calmly.

Her tone was also somewhat altered, becoming colder and more noble.

“Seniors, please proceed to the second floor,” the steward respectfully bowed and invited them to the third floor.

The itinerant cultivators waiting in line for appraisals saw this scene and did not think it was inappropriate for them to cut the line.

Instead, they all looked at Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue with respect, admiration, and curiosity.

The environment on the second floor was very elegant.

Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue were led to a private room. Shortly after they sat down, a middle-aged man in luxurious clothes hurried over.

He had a refined appearance and wore a blue robe that shimmered with spiritual light.

He greeted them with a bow and said, “Greetings, seniors. I am Yu Zhenguang, the steward of this auction hall and an appraiser. What treasures do you wish to auction or appraise?”

Entering the Market required identity verification and the issuance of Identity Tokens.

If a Foundation Establishment cultivator arrived, the Market would naturally treat them with respect.

However, the recent Foundation Establishment cultivators who entered the Market did not include these two.

Therefore, he knew they did not want to reveal their identities and did not dare to ask too many questions.

After all, one must be respectful towards unknown Foundation Establishment cultivators.

“Take a look at these talismans,” Xiao Xiyue took out a stack of talismans and gently placed them on the table.

“Talismans?” Yu Zhenguang carefully took the talismans, looked at them, then looked back at Xiao Xiyue with more respect in his eyes.

“Senior, these are all Second-Tier low-tier talismans, but they are of high quality,” Yu Zhenguang said respectfully.

“Do you wish to auction or sell them directly?”

“Auction,” Xiao Xiyue said calmly.

“No problem. I will arrange it immediately,” Yu Zhenguang said.

“However, there is still some time before the auction starts. Would you like to temporarily store the talismans with us, or will you bring them when the auction begins?”

“I will come when it starts,” Xiao Xiyue said calmly.

“Alright, senior. When you come, you can use this token to have everything arranged immediately,” Yu Zhenguang said as he handed over a token.

“Do you recognize this beast egg?” Lu Changsheng took out a light green egg from his Storage Bag and placed it on the table.

It was the pet egg he obtained from Meng Yibai’s pet bag.

Identifying a beast from its egg is very difficult due to the vast number of beast species.

After some research, Lu Changsheng still couldn’t determine what kind of beast egg it was or how to hatch it.

Now that he had the chance, he decided to see if the other party knew.

“A beast egg?” Yu Zhenguang looked at the egg on the table.

He then bowed and carefully examined the egg.

After a moment, his eyes glowed with golden light, indicating he was using a special eye technique for appraisal.

“Please wait a moment, senior. I need to confirm,” Yu Zhenguang said, bowing to Lu Changsheng and taking out several jade books from his Storage Bag.

After flipping through two of them, he said, “Senior, if I’m not mistaken, this should be the egg of a ‘Jade Luan Bird’.”

“Jade Luan Bird?” Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, this is some information about the Jade Luan Bird,” Yu Zhenguang said, handing Lu Changsheng the jade book.

“Jade Luan Bird, Mid-Tier Earth-ranked bloodline.”

“It’s said that the Jade Luan Bird has a trace of the true spirit bloodline of the Azure Luan, making it one of the best among Earth-ranked bloodlines. With proper cultivation, it can become a third-rank great beast.”

Lu Changsheng looked at the jade book, which depicted a beautiful, ethereal bird that looked like jade.

Below was a brief introduction to the Jade Luan Bird.

However, it did not include information on how to hatch and raise it.

“Do you know how to hatch and raise this Jade Luan Bird?” Lu Changsheng asked.

His current mount was a lowly Iron Feather Eagle.

If he could learn how to hatch and raise the Jade Luan Bird, it would be worth raising.

Not to mention its combat ability, the Jade Luan Bird was indeed beautiful.

“Senior, I do not know how to hatch and raise the Jade Luan Bird,” Yu Zhenguang said with a bitter smile.

“However, I have heard that the Jade Luan Bird likes Azure Warm Jade. You might try building a nest with Azure Warm Jade in a place rich in Qi to hatch the egg,” Yu Zhenguang suggested.

“Alright, thank you,” Lu Changsheng nodded and put away the egg.

Knowing how to hatch and raise beasts was often a closely guarded secret.

Ordinary cultivators seldom had access to such information.

Especially since the Jade Luan Bird was an Earth-ranked bloodline beast, its hatching and raising methods were even more precious.

“You’re welcome, senior,” Yu Zhenguang said, looking flattered.

Lu Changsheng then asked about the auction’s notable items.

Faced with the questions of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Yu Zhenguang did not dare to hide anything and shared what he knew.

Lu Changsheng listened but wasn’t too interested.

After chatting for a while, Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue got up to leave.

“If you encounter any issues in the Market or need anything, you can come to me or the Yu Family. We are the hosts of Hongye Valley Marketplace,” Yu Zhenguang said respectfully, handing over a Jade Token.

“Alright,” Lu Changsheng replied with a smile, accepting the token.

He understood that Yu Zhenguang wanted to build a good relationship with them.

After Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue left, Yu Zhenguang breathed a long sigh of relief, his expression very serious. “Although they didn’t reveal their cultivation levels, it’s highly likely they are both Foundation Establishment cultivators.”

“Two unknown Foundation Establishment cultivators entering the Market must be reported to the ancestor.”

“Xiyue, you should keep this Jade Token,” Lu Changsheng said as they left the auction hall.

Since he wasn’t revealing his identity in the Market, he wouldn’t use the token.

Xiao Xiyue might find it useful at times.

“Got it,” Xiao Xiyue said, putting away the token. “Changsheng, about the Jade Luan Bird’s hatching and raising methods, if you need, I can check with the sect later.”

“No rush. You can look into it when you have time,” Lu Changsheng said casually.

He realized the benefits of having a sect’s resources.

Treasures and knowledge that were hard for ordinary cultivators to obtain were easily accessible to sect disciples.

“By the way, this Jade Luan Bird egg was obtained from Meng Yibai.”

“So if you check for information, be careful,” Lu Changsheng reminded.

Although the chances were slim,

it was still better to be cautious.

Being targeted by a fake Core Formation expert would be troublesome.

“Alright, I’ll be careful,” Xiao Xiyue nodded.

Considering their new identities as Foundation Establishment cultivators, Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue rented a courtyard in the Market for convenience.

They lived like a couple enjoying the mortal world, hiding in their small courtyard or wandering around the Market.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

“Hmm, does this child have a Seventh-Tier spiritual root?”

One day, Lu Changsheng felt a mysterious and profound sensation.

He knew that a child with a spiritual root was born.

Based on the timing, he guessed it was the child in Yun Qianqian’s womb.

Thinking of Yun Qianqian, he couldn’t help but remember his old friend from Jiulong Market, Yu Maocheng.

After the incident with the third young master of the Yu Family, their relationship became distant.

He hadn’t visited Jiulong Market since, and their contact ceased, except for occasional letters between Yun Qianqian and Yu Ningrong.

“The auction will start in half a month. I need to return.”

Lu Changsheng thought to himself.

He had promised his wives to take them to the Hongye Valley Marketplace for the auction.

He also needed to return to give lectures to the Lu Family disciples.

With a word to Xiao Xiyue and Lu Miaoge, Lu Changsheng rodeeback to Qingzhu Mountain.

“Ninth Elder!”

“Master Lu.”

“Brother Changsheng, Brother-in-law Changsheng.”

On the way back to Qingzhu Mountain, many from the Lu Family greeted Lu Changsheng.

Lu Changsheng smiled and nodded politely in return, without any elder’s airs.

After discussing the lecture with Uncle Fu, Lu Changsheng returned home.

Knowing Yun Qianqian had a daughter, Lu Changsheng went to check on her.

Although he was indifferent to children now, he still fulfilled his basic duties as a husband and father.

After staying at home for ten days and handling some chores, Lu Changsheng rode his Spirit Boat with Lu Miaohuan, Lu Miaoyun, and Qu Zhenzhen tothe Hongye Valley Marketplace.

As an elder of the Lu Family, riding a Spirit Boat wasn’t conspicuous.

“Cheng, what are you doing here?”

At the Market entrance, Lu Changsheng saw a familiar patrolman and greeted him.

“Changsheng.”

“It’s the first auction, so the family sent me to maintain order.”

Lu Miaocheng, looking lazy, perked up upon seeing Lu Changsheng.

He greeted Lu Miaoyun, Lu Miaohuan, and Q Zhenzhen and let them in through a special passage.

Due to the increased traffic in Hongye Valley Marketplace, special passages were set up for distinguished guests, bypassing identity verification.

Inside, Lu Changsheng accompanied his wives around the Market.

With the upcoming auction, the Market was bustling.

“Hmph!”

Suddenly, the second lady snorted disdainfully.

A woman in a yellow dress approaching them also snorted disdainfully.

Lu Changsheng was puzzled.

He then remembered that the woman was Zheng Yongshan from the Zheng Family, who had a grudge with the second lady.

Despite the years, they still held grudges, making Lu Changsheng shake his head with a smile.

“You must be Master Lu Changsheng, the Talisman Master. I am Yu Ninghai. Greetings, Lu Daoist.”

The blue-robed youth with Zheng Yongshan greeted Lu Changsheng with a smile.

“Greetings, Yu Daoist.”

Recognizing the name, Lu Changsheng knew he was from the Yu Family of Bihu Mountain.

He had heard that the Zheng Family was declining and had no new foundation-building seeds.

The Zheng Family’s patriarch had only a few decades of life left.

So the Zheng Family allied with the Yu Family through marriages.

After exchanging pleasantries, they parted ways with their female companions.

“Huanhuan still holds grudges.”

Lu Changsheng teased the second lady.

“I don’t hold grudges.”

The second lady, dressed in an elegant black dress, raised her chin.

Since becoming a mother of two, she dressed conservatively.

She still liked buying skirts but only wore them at home or with Lu Changsheng.

“Did that person offend Sister Huanhuan?”

Qu Zhenzhen, intrigued, asked.

Lu Changsheng shared the amusing story.

After half a day of fun, they went to the Lu Family’s courtyard.

Although he didn’t live there, Lu Changsheng had a place in Hongye Valley Marketplace.

Three days later, Lu Yuanzhong, the Lu Family patriarch, arrived at the Market.

He led the Lu Family elders to inspect the family shops.

As the ninth elder, Lu Changsheng joined the inspection.

During the inspection, Lu Changsheng learned about the inns and restaurants’ conditions.

The profits were average.

Only the talisman shop had higher income.

This was due to the Lu Family having several first-rank Talisman Masters.

The Lu Family’s talisman paper and spirit ink had a good reputation.

“Congratulations, host! The number of Spirit Root offspring has reached thirty! You have earned a lottery chance!”

At this moment, a mysterious sensation accompanied by the system prompt sounded.

Lu Changsheng knew another child with Spirit Roots was born.

He was indifferent, continuing the inspection.

After the inspection, Lu Changsheng returned to his meditation room.

“System, draw a prize!”

The familiar lottery wheel appeared.

“Start the draw!”

A golden light spun on the wheel.

Soon, the light stopped at ‘Treasure.’

“Congratulations, host! You have obtained the ‘Lingming Treasure Tree!'”

“The reward has been sent to the system space. You can view it anytime.”

“Lingming Treasure Tree? Heaven and Earth spiritual plant?”

Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow at the reward.

He had previously drawn a Six-Winged Golden Silkworm from the ‘Pet’ category and thought spiritual plants would be in the pet category too.

“Not all plants can become demons.”

Lu Changsheng chuckled.

Without dwelling on it, he checked the Lingming Treasure Tree’s details in the system space.

“Spirit Plant: Lingming Treasure Tree”

“Grade: Third Rank”

“Description: The Lingming Treasure Tree produces Lingming Pure Liquid every thirty years. This liquid, when applied to the eyes, enhances vision and amplifies eye-related spells and abilities.”

“Lingming Treasure Tree produces Lingming Pure Liquid, enhancing vision and amplifying eye-related spells.”

Lu Changsheng smiled at the description.

A third-rank spiritual plant was valuable.

Especially since it produced Lingming Pure Liquid every thirty years.

This liquid enhanced vision and eye-related spells, making the tree invaluable.

In the cultivation world, materials that enhanced abilities were rare and expensive.

Spiritual eyes were needed for many tasks like assessing others’ cultivation, examining formations, and identifying treasures.

The Lingming Treasure Tree was a money tree, producing useful Lingming Pure Liquid.

“But it takes thirty years to produce the liquid.”

“It needs to be planted on a second-rank spiritual vein.”

“Although it can be planted in Qingzhu Valley, it can’t be hidden in a yard like the Golden Armored Bean Mother. It’s big and conspicuous.”

Lu Changsheng sighed, recognizing the tree’s drawbacks.

In the long term, it was valuable for a cultivation family.

But for him personally, it was currently useless.

“I’ll see if I can plant it at the Lu Family.”

“It can be transplanted, though with a spirit plant master.”

Lu Changsheng didn’t extract the tree from the system space.

He planned to extract it when it was time to plant.

Extracting it now would be impractical.

As for the ‘Heaven and Earth Longevity Method’ that allowed wives and children to refine Heaven and Earth spiritual plants into ‘life roots,’ he wasn’t considering it for now.

It wasn’t that he was unwilling to use the treasure tree.

In the Heaven and Earth Longevity method, after refining Heaven and Earth spirit plants into a ‘life root’, they continue to grow.

Cultivators can even gain some mysterious abilities of the ‘Heaven and Earth spirit plants’.

But whether he should plant it in the Lu Family needs consideration.

How could he just use this treasure tree for his wife to cultivate the Heaven and Earth Longevity method?

Night fell.

Lu Changsheng arrived at Xiao Xiyue’s courtyard.

After all, tomorrow he would attend the auction with his four wives.

He couldn’t accompany Xiao Xiyue and had to trouble her to help with the auction.

The next day, Lu Changsheng took his four wives, along with Lu Yuanzhong and Lu Yuanshan Ding, to the Red Leaf Valley auction venue.

To enter the auction, certain requirements had to be met.

One needed either a certain status or wealth verification.

But as one of the hosts, the Lu Family had arranged a special VIP area.

“Brother Lu, greetings to all the sisters-in-law.”

Hong Yi also came to the Hongye Valley Marketplace for the auction.

Seeing Lu Changsheng, he immediately went over to greet him and get acquainted.

Even though he knew Lu Changsheng’s status in the Lu Family was extraordinary.

Seeing Lu Changsheng with several wives and high-ranking members of the Lu Family, Hong Yi couldn’t help but sigh.

He recalled the time when he and Lu Changsheng, along with Li Feiyu, were rejected by the immortal sect.

Back then, he had some arrogance in his heart.

He thought Lu Changsheng and Li Feiyu could only go to cultivation families as sons-in-law.

While he could go home and cultivate.

But now, Lu Changsheng had married the Lu Family’s pearl and became a high-ranking member of the Lu Family, looking up to him.

“Brother Hong, you are here too.”

Lu Changsheng smiled and nodded, briefly introducing his wives.

However, Qu Zhenzhen and Lu Miaoyun had met Hong Yi befre.

Only Lu Miaohuan hadn’t met him.

The second lady’s temperament had slightly improved, but she remained indifferent to Hong Yi, only nodding lightly out of respect for Lu Changsheng.

Hong Yi didn’t linger, just greeted them and quickly left.

“Friend Yu, Friend Bai, Friend Zheng, Friend Huang, Friend Xu.”

After entering the venue, Lu Yuanzhong greeted and chatted with various people.

Those who received greetings from Lu Yuanzhong were naturally all established foundation cultivators.

Facing such people, Lu Changsheng didn’t interfere and took his wives to the Lu Family’s VIP platform.

This VIP platform had a good location, allowing a clear view of the entire auction, with maids serving spiritual tea and fruits.

Lu Changsheng also saw Xiao Xiyue in the VIP seats in the distance.

As a foundation cultivator, the auction would surely prepare VIP seats.

Hong Yi, however, sat in the regular seats below, with only a simple cushion.

About half an hour passed.

The seats at the auction venue were almost full.

“Buzz!”

A young man in a blue robe with a jade crown and sword-like eyebrows stepped onto the auction stage.

“Welcome, friends, to the Hongye Valley Marketplace. I am Yu Ningjun from the Yu Family, honored to host this auction. I hope you all find what you desire.”

The young man smiled, cupping his hands towards the audience.

His voice was gentle yet clear, reaching everyone present.

Clearly, his cultivation was impressive, with the strength of a perfected Qi Refinement cultivator.

“Father, why does it feel like the Yu Family is completely in charge of this auction?”

Lu Miaohuan frowned, noticing the auction host was from the Yu Family.

She had been playing around the Hongye Valley Marketplace these days, noticing that whether in patrols or auctions, the Yu Family dominated.

Hearing this, Lu Changsheng also looked at Lu Yuanshan Ding.

Not just Lu Miaohuan, he had felt this way for years in Hongye Valley Marketplace.

He had some guesses about the reason.

“Although the Hongye Valley Marketplace is hosted by our four families, you know that only Elder Yuanzhong holds the fort for our Lu Family now.”

“The Yu Family has two foundation ancestors, and their overall strength far surpasses ours, so our influence in the Market has been declining over the years.”

Lu Yuanshan Ding sighed and explained.

Although the Lu Family held a 40% stake in the Hongye Valley Marketplace, strength spoke in the cultivation world.

After the death of the Lu Family ancestor, only Lu Yuanzhong remained.

So, the Market influence gradually shifted to the Yu Family.

Although the Bai Family supported the Lu Family.

The Yu Family mainly sought to gain influence and encroach on Lu Family interests.

For the Bai Family, this not only caused no loss but also allowed them to gain benefits from the Yu Family.

So, even though they knew the Lu Family’s plight, the Bai Family wouldn’t stand up for them.

After all, the situation hadn’t reached that point yet.

“Although the Lu Family gained a lot from the battle that destroyed the Chen Family.”

“It takes time to convert those gains into strength.”

“So now, facing the Yu Family, we can only retreat.”

“After all, Lu Yuanzhong only recently broke through to the foundation stage, while the Yu Family’s two ancestors have been in the foundation stage for many years.”

Lu Changsheng thought to himself.

He knew that although the Lu Family was steadily developing, the situation wasn’t very good.

But now that he had also reached the foundation stage.

If the Lu Family faced a crisis, he had the ability to help.

Under normal circumstances, the Lu Family’s overall strength couldn’t surpass the Yu Family.

But if Lu Miaoge reached the peak offQi Refinement, Lu Changsheng had a 60-70% chance of helping her succeed in Foundation Establishment.

Once Lu Miaoge succeeded in Foundaaion Establishment, the Lu Family’s open development wouldn’t be a problem.

Surpassing the Yu Family in the future wouldn’t be an issue.