Chapter 191: A Special Demon Core, A Small Forbidden Array!

The next day.

Lu Changsheng left his house and headed to the Jiuxiao Mountain auction hall.

Today was the day of the semi-annual auction in Nine Heavens Immortal City.

But for Nine Heavens Immortal City, such a small auction was just a minor event.

They sold some rare and fine items.

According to Lu Changsheng, the real excitement in the city came from the triennial and decennial auctions.

At those big auctions, you could see Foundation Establishment Pills, many rare elixirs, skill inheritances, and heavenly materials.

When he arrived at the Jiuxiao Mountain auction hall, Lu Changsheng took out the invitation he had bought earlier.

“Fellow Daoist, your invitation is for a private box. Please follow me!”

A maid with a pretty face and a sweet smile led Lu Changsheng to the second floor.

“In the private box, your privacy is absolutely guaranteed. And after you win an item, it will be delivered directly to the box for transaction…”

The maid explained the facilities and rules of the auction hall as she led the way.

“Hmm.”

Lu Changsheng nodded slightly.

He was already familiar with these aspects.

The private box was not only more comfortable but also offered some privacy.

“As expected of the Immortal City. Even a small auction here is livelier than the one that Hongye Valley Marketplace prepared for so long.”

Lu Changsheng sat down in the box, overlooking the entire auction. The first floor was full of people.

Most were Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivators.

There were also quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators.

“Dong——”

About half an hour later, a loud gong sounded, and a tall, mature, and charming female cultivator in a red dress stepped onto the stage.

“Thank you all for coming. The auction now begins. I hope all of you, fellow Daoists and seniors, can find something you like.”

“The first item—a low-Tier spiritual weapon, ‘River and Sea Crossbow.’ It can attack enemies, break spells, and break restrictions. It can be activated with Spirit Stones without consuming Qi… Starting bid is 2,100 Spirit Stones.”

The red-dressed female cultivator introduced the small crossbow with a sweet and slightly seductive voice.

Her voice was clear and reached every corner of the auction hall.

“2,100 Spirit Stones!”

“2,500 Spirit Stones!”

Although it was a low-Tier spiritual weapon,

appearing in the auction meant it was a fine piece.

It didn’t require consuming one’s own Qi to activate, making it usable for Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivators.

“2,900 Spirit Stones.”

Lu Changsheng offered a price.

This spiritual weapon was not something he needed.

But Lu Miaoge, with her peak Qi RRfining cultivation, practiced a water attribute technique, and this crossbow suited her well for self-defense.

Besides, when he went out, he naturally had to bring some small gifts for his wife and children.

After several bids, Lu Changsheng won it for 3,800 Spirit Stones.

It wasn’t expensive, but it wasn’t cheap either.

“Sir, this is the spiritual weapon you won.”

Soon, a maid brought a tray through a secret passage to the private box.

“Hmm.”

Lu Changsheng picked up the crossbow and played with it briefly.

He knew this spiritual weapon could be easily activated by Qi Refining cultivators through medium-Tier Spirit Stones and daily nurturing.

If the stored energy ran out, it would be difficult to activate.

After paying the Spirit Stones, he put the crossbow away.

“Ice Heart Pill can assist in breaking through bottlenecks for ice attribute techniques, and it can suppress inner demons and heal fire attribute injuries. There are ten pills, starting bid is 500 Spirit Stones each.”

The red-dressed female cultivator’s sweet voice continued to echo throughout the auction hall.

Lu Changsheng leaned lazily on the soft chair, casually glancing around.

Unless it was a Third-Tier pill or some rare elixir, he wasn’t very interested.

“Well.”

While looking around in boredom, Lu Changsheng suddenly noticed someone in the corner of the first floor.

A cultivator was staring at the red-dressed female cultivator on stage with hot eyes, performing obscene acts.

“Damn.”

Lu Changsheng cursed under his breath, his face showing a look of disbelief.

He couldn’t believe he was witnessing such a brazen scene at an auction.

But that guy was really bold and reckless.

He should know that the red-dressed female cultivator on stage wasn’t just a pretty face.

She was a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

And that guy was only Late-Stage Qi Refining.

“Maybe that’s what makes it exciting for him.”

Lu Changsheng couldn’t understand such people. He shook his head and quickly looked away, focusing on the curvaceous red-dressed female cultivator on stage.

The auction continued.

He had to admit, the quality of this auction was indeed good.

Most items were rare elixirs, spiritual weapons, heavenly materials, and spiritual beast cubs.

There were also some skill techniques and inheritances.

But the techniques were only advanced, and the inheritances topped out at Second-Tier.

“It seems that high-level techniques and advanced skills are tightly controlled everywhere and rarely leak out.”

Lu Changsheng thought to himself.

As one item after another was auctioned,

finally, something caught Lu Changsheng’s interest.

“Purple Thunder Spirit Wood, a Mid-Tier third-level spirit wood. It can be used in alchemy, array formation, crafting spiritual weapons, or making talisman paper. Starting bid is 4,000 Spirit Stones.”

The red-dressed female cultivator’s sweet voice gave a detailed introduction of the item, adding some color to the otherwise boring auction.

“A Mid-Tier third-level spirit wood. This trip to the auction wasn’t in vain.”

Lu Changsheng looked at the piece of spirit wood and sat up slightly.

His main purpose for coming to Nine Heavens Immortal City was to buy some third-level talisman materials.

But third-level materials were very rare.

He had almost searched the entire inner city and only bought about ten pieces of low-Tier third-level talisman materials and a piece of low-Tier third-level spirit wood.

Now this Mid-Tier third-level spirit wood could be made into talisman paper to nurture talismans and produce Mid-Tier third-level spiritual talismans. He was determined to get it.

“4,500 Spirit Stones!”

A Foundation Establishment cultivator in the hall immediately bid.

“5,000 Spirit Stones!”

“5,100 Spirit Stones!”

“5,300 Spirit Stones!”

“6,000 Spirit Stones!”

Seeing fewer bidders, Lu Changsheng also made an offer.

“6,100 Spirit Stones.”

From a private box, a bid was called out.

“6,500 Spirit Stones.”

Lu Changsheng continued to bid.

“6,600 Spirit Stones!”

This voice sounded gritted.

Because the price of Mid-Tier third-level spirit wood was around 5,000 to 6,000 Spirit Stones.

But this piece of spirit wood was thunder attribute, quite rare, and just right for him to craft a treasure.

“7,000 Spirit Stones!”

Lu Changsheng calmly called out.

Although the price was somewhat inflated,

for him, as long as it could be made into talismans, it was worth it.

After this price was called, no one else from the private boxes bid.

After all, in the Foundation Establishment stage, there were few cultivators as wealthy as Lu Changsheng.

Soon, a maid brought a piece of purple-patterned spirit wood about several feet long.

The spirit wood was covered with purple lightning patterns, exuding a faint spiritual light, looking extraordinary.

“Not bad.”

Lu Changsheng looked at the Purple Thunder Spirit Wood and smiled faintly.

If the spirit wood was made into third-level talisman paper, it could be used to draw some third-level lightning talismans.

After paying the Spirit Stones, he continued to watch the items being introduced on stage.

“Second-Tier mid-level array ‘Gale and Blaze Array,’ array plate and 108 array flags, complete and easy to operate. It can generate gale and blaze, troublesome even for Foundation Establishment cultivators. Suitable for guarding caves and trapping Demon beasts. Starting bid is 5,000 Spirit Stones.”

This array tool caught Lu Changsheng’s interest.

But the array’s coverage was too small, only 100 meters.

It was only suitable for guarding caves and spiritual fields.

It couldn’t be used as a family array.

So he didn’t participate in the bidding.

However, this array tool was sold for a huge sum of 9,000 Spirit Stones.

“Next, we have the finale of this auction.”

After another half hour, the red-dressed female cultivator on stage took out a bright blue crystal core and introduced it: “Second-Tier special Demon Core, can replace heavenly spirit fruit as a Foundation Establishment Pill ingredient. Starting bid is 8,000 Spirit Stones.”

“Second-Tier special Demon Core!?”

Seeing this Demon Core, Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow, showing some interest.

The rarity of Foundation Establishment Pills was due to the main ingredient, the heavenly spirit fruit, being too rare.

Except for the ‘Purple Nether Secret Realm’ that opened every thirty years, there was no fixed output.

The occasional Foundation Establishment Pills that appeared in the three great immortal cities were either obtained by chance or made using ‘Second-Tier special Demon Cores’ as a substitute for the heavenly spirit fruit.

But these Second-Tier special Demon Cores were also extremely rare.

Only very rare and powerful Second-Tier Demon beasts have Demon Cores.

For instance, the Second-Tier green wolf that Lu Changsheng killed before had no Demon Core.

Next, the Demon Core used to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill must have pure and gentle energy.

Otherwise, it will conflict with other materials in the Foundation Establishment Pill.

For example, gold, fire, lightning, ice, and multi-attribute Demon Cores are all unsuitable.

Therefore, obtaining such a “special Demon Core” through hunting is very difficult.

One must go deep into the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.

But numerous Demon beasts inhabit the depths of the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.

There are even Third-Tier great demons and Fourth-Tier Demon kings.

Even Core Formation cultivators find it troublesome to venture deep inside, risking their lives.

So, ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators and Core Formation cultivators usually don’t go deep into the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range to find special Demon Cores.

They typically try their luck in the outer regions.

Or they might encounter such Demon beasts in other mountain ranges and obtain special Demon Cores.

“Using a Second-Tier Demon Core instead of the heavenly spiritual fruit to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill only requires minor adjustments to the formula and refining method.”

“If I have this Second-Tier special Demon Core, I can collect the auxiliary materials myself and refine three Foundation Establishment Pills.”

Lu Changsheng thought to himself, planning to bid on this Second-Tier special Demon Core.

Though he didn’t need the Foundation Establishment Pill.

But no one has too many Foundation Establishment Pills.

They can be used by wives, concubines, and children.

They can also be exchanged for rare Natural Treasures.

In the cultivation world, the Foundation Establishment Pill is considered High-Tier hard currency.

“Eight thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!” a voice immediately bid.

“Eight thousand six hundred Spirit Stones!”

“Eight thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones!”

Many cultivators present were interested in this “Second-Tier special Demon Core.”

Qi Refining cultivators wanted the special Demon Core to have someone refine the Foundation Establishment Pill for them.

Foundation Establishment cultivators had family juniors.

Soon, the price of the Demon Core exceeded ten thousand.

“Twelve thousand Spirit Stones!”

At this moment, an old and majestic voice directly raised the bid by a thousand Spirit Stones.

Simultaneously, a window in a private room opened.

People could see a stern old man with graying hair and a square face through the window.

“It’s Master He!”

“I’ve heard Master He is very skilled in using Demon Cores to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, ensuring at least one pill and usually two.”

“If Master He wins this Demon Core, there will be more Foundation Establishment Pills at the auction in two and a half years.”

“Greetings, Master He!”

Many people in the crowd looked at the private room and recognized the stern old man.

They knew he was a famous pill master in the Jiuxiao Market.

Master He’s reputation was indeed significant, and many Foundation Establishment cultivators gave up competing.

Some even greeted him, planning to visit him later with auxiliary materials to request a Foundation Establishment Pill.

“Thirteen thousand Spirit Stones!”

But Lu Changsheng didn’t care, not showing any respect for Master He, and bid.

This voice made everyone look towards Lu Changsheng’s private room.

“Thirteen thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!”

Master He also looked at Lu Changsheng’s private room, snorted coldly, and raised the bid by five hundred Spirit Stones.

A Foundation Establishment Pill costs around twenty thousand Spirit Stones.

The price of this Demon Core, plus auxiliary materials, would be around twenty thousand Spirit Stones.

If only one Foundation Establishment Pill is refined, there is hardly any profit.

However, for pill masters, breaking even is often good enough.

After all, each pill refining is an accumulation of experience and skill.

“Fifteen thousand Spirit Stones.”

Lu Changsheng directly raised the bid significantly.

With his Second-Tier pill refining skills, he was confident he could refine three Foundation Establishment Pills.

One of the three Foundation Establishment Pills might even be of superior quality.

So, he was determined to get this special Demon Core.

“This fellow cultivator, I am He Mao.”

Seeing Lu Changsheng’s bid, Master He said coldly.

“What, can you suppress people with power in an auction?”

Lu Changsheng said calmly.

These words made He Mao’s face turn pale.

In Nine Heavens Immortal City, he was a well-known figure.

Even if he revealed his identity, the price of this Demon Core had nearly reached its limit.

He didn’t expect Lu Changsheng to show no respect for him.

He gritted his teeth and bid, “Sixteen thousand Spirit Stones!”

“Seventeen thousand Spirit Stones.”

Lu Changsheng calmly said.

“Eighteen thousand Spirit Stones.”

Master He continued to bid.

“Twenty thousand Spirit Stones!”

Lu Changsheng said flatly.

Faced with this situation, Master He stopped bidding.

Although he had a fifty percent chance to refine two Foundation Establishment Pills.

Considering the time and effort to collect auxiliary materials and refine the pills, it wasn’t worth raising the bid anymore.

Besides.

Lu Changsheng’s bidding without respect made him cautious and unwilling to offend him.

“Who is this person, spending twenty thousand Spirit Stones on this special Demon Core?”

“The price of a Foundation Establishment Pill is just about this amount. Is this person also a pill master or knows one?”

“How is that possible? There are only so many pill masters in the immortal city.”

“Maybe he needs this special Demon Core to help a spirit beast advance.”

The high price of the Demon Core caused quite a discussion in the auction hall.

After all, the usual price for a special Demon Core was at most fifteen thousand Spirit Stones.

Soon, the Second-Tier special Demon Core was delivered.

After checking it, Lu Changsheng put it in a Jade Box.

Many rare Natural Treasures in the cultivation world must be stored in special boxes to prevent Qi leakage.

After the Second-Tier Demon Core auction ended, Lu Changsheng wasn’t interested in the next few items, so he didn’t participate.

Besides, after spending more than thirty thousand Spirit Stones on three items, he might attract attention.

“Fellow cultivators, the auction has ended. Next is the trade fair, a free trading session.”

“Interested cultivators can move to the side hall.”

The woman in the red dress announced the end of the auction.

Hearing this, Lu Changsheng told an auction maid that he wanted to attend the trade fair.

This was one of his purposes for attending the auction.

In the cultivation world, many cultivators prefer bartering Rare Treasures rather than selling them for Spirit Stones.

The maid asked if Lu Changsheng wanted to conceal his identity.

The hall provided cloaks and masks.

“As expected of the immortal city, very considerate.”

Hearing this, Lu Changsheng took a cloak and mask.

However, the cloak and mask cost three hundred Spirit Stones.

Lu Changsheng entered the side hall through a secret passage.

Upon entering the hall, he noticed a formation affecting others’ spiritual senses.

Combined with the mask and cloak, it was almost impossible to identify someone.

However, only half the people in the side hall hid their identities.

Many openly showed their faces.

These people probably lived in Nine Heavens Immortal City for a long time or weren’t afraid of being targeted.

A quarter-hour later, with forty or fifty people gathered, the trade fair began.

The trading method was simple: everyone spoke in turn, showing their resources for sale or stating what they sought.

“Foundation Establishment spiritual item ‘Earth Fiend Qi’ for a gold-attribute Foundation Establishment spiritual item, ‘Huangyuan Gold Qi’ preferred. Can add Spirit Stones.”

“A refined Qi technique book for a Divine Sense technique book or equivalent technique. Large amount of Spirit Stones accepted.”

“Dragon Transforming Ginseng, a rare Second-Tier spiritual herb, can be used as an auxiliary material for Foundation Establishment Pill. Exchanging for a Youthful Pill.”

People spoke one by one.

“This trade fair indeed has some good things.”

Lu Changsheng thought, looking at these people.

For example, the “Dragon Transforming Ginseng” looked good to him, one of the main auxiliary materials for Foundation Establishment Pill. He planned to ask if it was for sale with Spirit Stones.

At this moment, a woman in a blue dress spoke.

“Quasi-Third-Tier array inheritance, Inverted Five Elements Array, with tools. Can set up a Second-Tier array for others. Exchanging for yin-attribute spiritual herbs or treasures. As many as possible.”