Translator: AnubisTL
"First-tier formation inheritance! This inheritance provides a comprehensive explanation of formation basics, covering all essential details. It also includes a detailed guide to deploying the Spirit Gathering Formation!"
Many of the attendees were foundation establishment realm cultivators, so this first-tier formation inheritance auction didn't attract much attention.
Only a handful of qi refining realm cultivators participated in the bidding, resulting in a rather lukewarm atmosphere.
Among the four cultivation arts—alchemy, artifact crafting, formation mastery, and talisman crafting—formation mastery was considered a relatively niche skill. Moreover, becoming a Formation Master required exceptional comprehension and talent.
Most importantly, formations weren't as highly valued as one might expect.
The primary users of formations were immortal dao factions, whether cultivation clans or great immortal sects. These factions typically maintained their own guardian grand formations, and even routine maintenance was usually entrusted to trusted members within their own ranks.
After all, formations involved too many secrets to risk allowing outsiders to meddle with them.
While a Formation Master could easily sweep aside opponents of the same cultivation realm when commanding a formation, their combat prowess was unparalleled. However, life was unpredictable. In the heat of battle, opportunities to deploy and prepare formations were rare.
In the end, the first-tier formation inheritance sold for just over three hundred spirit stones—a truly dismal price.
Li Qing, standing in the crowd, wasn't particularly bothered by this meager sum. For him, the auction of the formation inheritance was merely a side note; whether it fetched more or fewer spirit stones made little difference.
"Ladies and gentlemen, next up for auction are crimson crystals! We have three first-tier crimson crystals and two second-tier crimson crystals!"
"That's right, just as you'd expect, the second-tier crimson crystals have a significant effect on Second-Tier Demonic Beasts. This is guaranteed by the black market's reputation!"
Shen Ningbing's hoarse voice sent the entire venue into an uproar!
"Second-tier crimson crystals! Is this for real?!"
"Even second-tier strange beasts can undergo rapid metamorphosis after consuming them?! I never imagined such a heaven-defying artifact could exist!"
"Hiss! If the first-tier crimson crystals were already this extraordinary, how powerful must the second-tier ones be? I almost dare not imagine!"
"..."
Shocked cries reverberated through the black market as every cultivator present revealed expressions of astonishment.
Li Qing, too, feigned surprise, but his peripheral vision remained subtly fixed on several elders dressed in Shangqing Sect robes.
Indeed, they were unmistakably elders of the Shangqing Sect!
The moment Li Qing saw them, a tempestuous storm erupted in his heart.
He nearly panicked, fearing his presence in the Great Wilderness Domain had been exposed and the Shangqing Sect had sent assassins to eliminate him.
But after careful consideration, he realized the possibility was slim. This was the Great Wilderness Domain, far beyond the reach of the Shangqing Sect's influence.
"With the Forbidden Speech Snow Mountains breached, the barriers between the two great domains have indeed fallen. But what purpose could the Shangqing Sect have in sending people here?"
Regardless, now that they had crossed paths, Li Qing had no intention of letting them escape easily.
This was a blood debt for the annihilation of his sect, a wound he could never forget.
Unconsciously, a towering killing intent began to surge within him.
The scene of his sect's ancestor fighting to the death that day remained vivid in his mind—not only battling the ancient demon but also guarding against treachery from his fellow humans.
If not for the Shangqing Sect, he would still be living peacefully as an elder of the Lingyun Sect.
"The blood debt of my sect... I'll start collecting it from you first," Li Qing vowed silently, subtly withdrawing the sidelong glance he had been using to observe the Shangqing Sect elders.
At that moment, the Shangqing Sect elders were equally stunned.
"A spiritual object that can rapidly accelerate the metamorphosis of a Second-Tier Demonic Beast?! Impossible! Could such a heaven-defying artifact truly exist in this world?!"
"Unbelievable! This is the Great Wilderness Domain? Compared to it, our Azure Ridge Domain truly seems isolated and ignorant."
"Judging by what others are saying, this thing actually works."
"If there are first-tier and second-tier crimson crystals, could there be even higher tiers?!"
The Shangqing Sect elders exchanged messages, their eyes burning with intense shock.
But there was no time for prolonged astonishment. The auction for the crimson crystals had already begun.
First up were the first-tier crystals. Under Shen Ningbing's guidance, the few first-tier crystals quickly reached remarkably high prices.
Of course, the prices couldn't match the exorbitant levels of the first auction. After all, scarcity drives up value!
Now that second-tier crimson crystals had appeared, everyone's attention was focused on these two coveted gems.
They could rapidly transform Second-Tier Demonic Beasts!
This meant that if a late second-tier demonic beast consumed one, it might even have a chance to break through to the crucial Third-Tier realm!
The mere thought of this possibility sent many foundation establishment cultivators into heavy breathing.
A third-tier demonic beast was equivalent to a core formation realm cultivator.
If a clan could acquire such a guardian spirit beast, their prosperity would be assured.
Demon beasts typically possessed extraordinarily long lifespans. A third-tier beast could easily live for over a thousand years.
The allure of an aristocratic family that had endured for a millennium was irresistible, especially for those present with cultivation clan backgrounds.
Take, for example, Cultivator He from the black market, the Clan Head of the He Family.
The He Family was renowned throughout Giant Deer Prefecture for their beast taming prowess. While they couldn't rival the Zhao Family, who had once been a core formation clan, their prestige remained considerable.
The family possessed more than one second-tier spirit beast, their accumulated resources astonishingly deep, deterring ordinary rogue cultivators from provoking them.
Finally, the auction for the first second-tier crimson crystal began.
"The long-awaited second-tier crimson crystal is here," Shen Ningbing announced, withdrawing a crimson crystal from her storage pouch. Its color was deeper, its size larger than the previous ones.
The moment the crystal appeared, the entire hall held its breath. Scorching gazes locked onto the crimson gem.
Some harbored treacherous thoughts, but these quickly retreated when Shen Ningbing subtly released a trace of her late foundation establishment realm aura.
Even cultivation clans hesitated to provoke a cultivator at the late foundation establishment realm.
The black market's background was shrouded in mystery, so formidable that even the Ghost Sword Sect couldn't afford to underestimate it. This warranted their utmost vigilance.
"Hurry up and give us the starting price! How much for a second-tier crimson crystal?!"
"Yeah, stop playing coy and just tell us the price!"
Shen Ningbing took her auction duties very seriously, partly because Li Qing had given her a second-tier crimson crystal as compensation beforehand.
Though she initially hesitated to accept, she couldn't resist the temptation of using it to trigger the Frost Jade Ice Butterfly's metamorphosis and ultimately agreed.
She silently vowed to repay this favor.
Li Qing's reasoning was simple: given Shen Ningbing's exceptional talent, she was destined to reach core formation before him.
Whether she would actually succeed in core formation remained uncertain, but investing in her now was a wise move.
After all, a mere second-tier crimson crystal was nothing to him; he could easily hunt more in the World of Eternal Night whenever he pleased.
Luring a cultivator with a high probability of achieving core formation with such a small price was a no-brainer for anyone with sense.
Hearing the impatient clamor from below, Shen Ningbing announced in a hoarse voice:
"Second-tier crimson crystals will not be auctioned for spirit stones. We are currently only accepting trades for other items!"
"Bidding may now commence."
Trades for other items?
Many furrowed their brows at this announcement, but their confusion quickly gave way to understanding.
If this item were auctioned for spirit stones, it would fetch an astronomical price. It's understandable that the seller prefers a trade.
"This old man offers a bottle of Bone Refinement Pills. Consuming them will strengthen your bones and tendons to the point where they rival some mid-grade magic tools. A true treasure for body cultivators!"
An aged voice echoed from a corner, drawing glances from many in the crowd.
Bone Refinement Pills—an ancient precious medicine. In this era where body cultivators are rare, such pills are equally scarce.
With the first bid made, others quickly followed suit, each offering their own price.
"Ten drops of Golden Wind Jade Dew!" The Clan Head of the Beast Taming He Clan declared, his voice carrying an innate air of authority.
Golden Wind Jade Dew!
The mere mention of these four words sent a collective gasp through the crowd.
This spiritual object has a single purpose: to purify the mana of foundation establishment cultivators.
A single drop of Golden Wind Jade Dew can purify a foundation establishment cultivator's mana by one degree.
In some ways, its value rivals that of core formation spiritual materials!
To condense a Golden Core, one must solidify their true essence. The first step in this process is to purify one's true essence. Even the slightest impurity can easily lead to failure during core formation.
Golden Wind Jade Dew could purify a foundation establishment cultivator's mana and true essence, effectively increasing the success rate of core formation.
Of course, the increase in success rate wouldn't be as significant as that offered by core formation spiritual materials, likely no more than half a percent at most.
At the edge of the crowd, two cultivators wearing bamboo hats hesitated. They had previously spent ten drops of Purple Mansion Spirit Liquid to purchase a first-tier crimson crystal, and now they felt they had made a terrible bargain.
"Young Master, the purple kirin beast is of utmost importance. We must secure this crimson crystal!" Uncle Fu transmitted telepathically.
Wang Chan remained silent for a moment before replying, "Let's wait a bit longer. There are too many bidders this time; we can't expect to acquire both second-tier crimson crystals. If the bidding for the first crystal becomes too fierce, we can withdraw and focus on the second one. If all else fails, we can always negotiate with the black market's backers later."
With that, Wang Chan silently observed the auction for the first second-tier crimson crystal.
After a series of increasingly extravagant bids, a long silence fell as no one dared to raise the price further.
Seeing this, Li Qing, who was among the crowd, secretly transmitted to Shen Ningbing on the auction platform:
"Golden Wind Jade Dew."
Though the other items were also valuable, Li Qing clearly favored this particular spiritual object.
(End of the Chapter)
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