Translator: AnubisTL
The first second-tier crimson crystal was claimed by the Clan Head of the Beast Taming He Clan for ten drops of Golden Wind Jade Dew, instantly electrifying the atmosphere.
With only one second-tier crimson crystal remaining, it was clear the competition would become even fiercer.
"The final second-tier crimson crystal will also only be traded for spiritual objects!" Shen Ningbing's deliberately raspy voice echoed through the hall, signaling the start of a new round of bidding.
"This old man offers a top-grade magical artifact—a Blazing Giant Axe! Its materials are exceptionally rare, and its refining techniques are truly exquisite!"
Even top-grade magical artifacts were now being offered!
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Such treasures were considered clan-protecting treasures in most cultivation clans.
Of course, compared to the Golden Wind Jade Dew, even a top-grade magical artifact paled in comparison. After all, the Dew was a heaven-defying spiritual object that could slightly increase the success rate of core formation!
Soon, a new wave of bids erupted.
"I offer five bottles of Spirit Gathering Pills! Three bottles of Purple Yang Pills! Three bottles of Clear Profound Pills!"
A noticeably plump cultivator in a black robe shouted from the crowd, his face obscured.
It was clear that this was a cultivator in the foundation establishment realm, and likely a Pill Refiner. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to produce so many pills that enhanced mana cultivation!
Li Qing, who was also in the crowd, frowned thoughtfully upon hearing this.
The voice sounded familiar—he was certain he had heard it before.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Li Qing glanced at the somewhat plump cultivator.
Pill Master Yan!
Yes, it was him! Li Qing was almost certain this was Pill Master Yan.
Isn't this guy on the Ghost Sword Sect's Wanted Bounty Notice? How dare he show his face here?
It seems my black market has become a haven for these wanted criminals, drawing them all together.
This was the advantage of concealing one's identity—no fear of exposure, allowing for safe transactions.
However, Li Qing was most curious about why Pill Master Yan would dare to appear in Sunward City.
Any normal person would have fled Giant Deer Prefecture long ago, let alone linger in Ghost Sword Sect territory.
The most dangerous place is the safest, huh? Interesting.
The Ghost Sword Sect would never suspect that a rogue cultivator on their Wanted Bounty Notice would dare to hide within their own territory.
What truly astonished Li Qing was the sheer quantity of mana-enhancing pills Pill Master Yan had acquired.
The Spirit Gathering Pills and Clear Profound Pills were relatively common, their pill formulas not ancient. While the spirit herbs required for refining them were precious, they were by no means globally rare.
The Purple Yang Pill, however, was a different matter entirely. The ancient pill formula itself was exceedingly rare, preserved only within a few long-established cultivation sects. The spirit herbs needed for refining it were even more scarce, bordering on extinct in the cultivation world, found only in hidden realms.
Could this man have discovered a secret realm abundant with ancient spirit herbs? Or perhaps he simply stumbled upon these Purple Yang Pills by chance? Li Qing mused inwardly before dismissing the questions.
Regardless of the circumstances, he had no interest in investigating. After all, they were here to trade with him. Exchanging a second-tier crimson crystal for these pills was an absolute bargain.
After a long interval, the bidding for various spiritual objects gradually subsided.
To Li Qing's surprise, no particularly valuable items had emerged this time. The most enticing offerings remained the pills bid by Pill Master Yan.
Am I being too greedy? I was hoping to acquire some core formation spiritual materials this time too, Li Qing thought with a hint of disappointment.
Li Qing was puzzled. The two hat-wearing men from the previous auction had clearly attended this one, yet they hadn't made a single bid. If they could afford ten drops of Purple Mansion Spirit Liquid last time, surely they must have some reserves left!
Well, if the bidding has stalled here, there's no point in dragging it out. We're unlikely to see anything better now.
With that, Li Qing used Divine Sense Transmission to speak to Shen Ningbing on the stage:
"Pill."
Hearing the transmission, Shen Ningbing immediately announced the final winner of the second-tier crimson crystal auction: Pill Master Yan, who had been bidding earlier.
Thus concluded the first half of the trade fair. The remaining time was reserved for free trade, allowing all attendees to act independently.
Whether seeking to sell or buy, participants could announce their needs and seek potential buyers.
"Fellow cultivators, I'm seeking a pure yang spiritual object. Any pure yang object will do, as long as its pure yang qi is sufficient!"
Mu Maocai, one of the Shangqing Sect cultivators Li Qing had been observing, finally voiced his request.
"Pure yang objects are rare indeed. What are you offering in exchange, Daoist?" another cultivator responded.
After a moment's silence, Mu Maocai replied, "An eight-hundred-year-old spirit herb!"
A collective gasp swept through the crowd, stunned by the exorbitant offer.
"May I ask what kind of spirit herb it is?!"
Mu Maocai replied solemnly, "I'm sorry, I cannot disclose that information unless you can provide a pure yang object."
"I'll take that deal," a cultivator with refined manners stepped forward. "I know a cultivator with the Pure Yang Physique. I can obtain a drop of his blood for you in at most two months. How does that sound?"
Pure Yang Physique!
The moment those four words were uttered, everyone froze in shock, including Li Qing.
Indeed, like the Exquisite Treasure Physique, the Pure Yang Physique was an extraordinary treasure physique. Those born with it were naturally immune to yin and evil energies, making them the bane of all demonic path cultivators.
Once they embarked on the path of the immortal dao and cultivated Vast Righteousness cultivation manuals, demonic path cultivators of the same realm would find encountering them no different from facing a nightmare.
"That's one of the rarest and most extraordinary physiques in the world! You actually know a cultivator with the Pure Yang Physique?!"
To be honest, many found it hard to believe.
The discovery of a cultivator with such a physique would send shockwaves throughout the entire Great Wilderness Domain. Unless hidden away by a major power, such a secret couldn't possibly remain concealed.
Patriarch Fan of the Azure Wind Merchant Guild ignored the crowd's exclamations and addressed the Shangqing Sect members directly:
"So, what do you say? Is this deal on?"
To everyone's surprise, the Shangqing Sect cultivators simply shook their heads. "Two months is too long. We can't afford to wait that long."
What a joke! Two months would be enough time for the Ghost Sword Sect to turn the entire Giant Deer Prefecture upside down.
If they dragged things out that long, their movements would inevitably be exposed. Once news of their attempt to snatch something from the Ghost Sword Sect's supreme elder's tiger's mouth got out, they'd be doomed.
"I see. That's a pity," Patriarch Fan said with a shake of his head, offering no further comment.
"Everyone, do you have any other pure yang objects? I'm willing to trade spiritual herbs on the spot!" Mu Maocai's urgency was growing. Every day the wounds inflicted by the millennial yin corpse remained untreated increased the risk.
It was clear that once the Ghost Sword Sect and Yin Puppet Sect resolved their misunderstandings and suspicions, they'd be trapped in a dead end.
By then, the entire Giant Deer Prefecture might be sealed off by the Ghost Sword Sect, making escape impossible even with wings.
The reason was simple: the Primordial Chaos Stone he'd obtained was too precious. It was a peerless spiritual material for refining magical treasures, something even newly advanced True Lords in the core formation realm rarely encountered.
Unfortunately, pure yang objects were exceedingly rare. Since everyone was here for the black market trade, why would they carry such items?
Just as Mu Maocai was growing increasingly anxious, a faint Divine Sense Transmission echoed in his mind:
"Tonight, when the Bright Moon hangs high, meet me west of the city with your spiritual herb. I have a golden fire crow's tail feather."
Hearing this, Mu Maocai froze momentarily, then his eyes lit up with joy.
He had certainly heard of the golden fire crow—a demon bird with a trace of golden crow bloodline!
Its tail feather would naturally be supremely yang, brimming with pure yang qi, capable of easily neutralizing the yin corpse qi within his body.
The sender of the transmission was none other than Li Qing.
Li Qing had already used the golden fire crow's tail feather when he subdued the Netherworld Cold Fire. Now, only a hollow feather remained, devoid of any pure yang qi!
Still, it would serve well enough as bait.
Having completed his task, Li Qing silently turned away and began to wander through the crowd.
Soon, the trade fair drew to a close. The participants had exchanged most of their desired items, and it was time to depart.
Shen Ningbing waved her hand, and several exits above opened in response, allowing everyone to leave freely.
Today's trade fair in the black market was likely to cause significant ripples in the future.
The most crucial and intriguing piece of news was the revelation of the Pure Yang Physique.
It was predictable that rumors related to the Pure Yang Physique would soon begin circulating throughout the Great Wilderness Domain.
Such rumors often originated from places like this.
As the crowd began to disperse and Shen Ningbing prepared to leave the black market, two hat-wearing men finally made their move. They stepped forward and blocked her path.
"Fellow Daoist, please wait!"
Uncle Fu immediately stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Shen Ningbing.
Noticing the commotion, Li Qing raised an eyebrow and slowly approached, curious about what was happening.
"The trade fair has concluded. Do you have any other business?" Shen Ningbing replied coldly.
One of the men was at the late qi refining realm, while the other was at the late foundation establishment realm. If a conflict were to arise, she wouldn't be afraid in the slightest.
"Heh, Fellow Daoist, I was wondering if you had any spare second-tier crimson crystals."
(End of the Chapter)
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