Translator: AnubisTL
"An auction spanning the entire Great Wilderness Domain will feature spiritual objects seized from the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty's Imperial Palace."
"Since this grand event is jointly organized by the righteous and demonic paths, it's certainly worth attending."
Li Qing stroked his chin, muttering to himself after hearing the news.
Such a monumental auction would undoubtedly be unprecedented in scale and prestige, showcasing rare treasures and immortal materials rarely seen in ordinary times.
For this reason alone, Li Qing felt compelled to broaden his horizons.
While the black market occasionally held trade fairs, they paled in comparison to this joint auction by the righteous and demonic paths.
Li Qing's objective was clear: he only needed to acquire Heavenly Fire Treasure Nectar and Azure Jade Spirit Water, two core formation spiritual materials.
He didn't even need large quantities—just enough to suffice.
As a cultivator in the late foundation establishment realm, purchasing these relatively common core formation spiritual materials was perfectly normal, so he wasn't worried about attracting unwanted attention.
After all, those who needed core formation spiritual materials were typically foundation establishment realm cultivators.
Li Qing now possessed considerable confidence in his own strength. Even when facing cultivators of the same realm, he was certain he could at least survive.
However, always prioritizing caution, Li Qing ultimately decided to bring Shen Ningbing along.
"It's been two years since we last met. I wonder how junior sister Shen is doing. It's time to pay her a visit."
With this thought, Li Qing prepared to return to Nanyang Market.
Before leaving, he instructed Zhang Da, the black market agent, to remain vigilant, gather information, and keep an eye on any unusual activity in the area.
At the entrance of a cave abode on Nanyang Spirit Peak, wisps of icy mist drifted from within.
"Junior sister, I've emerged from seclusion!"
Li Qing sent a divine sense transmission into the chilling cave abode.
He didn't have to wait long. The restriction guarding Shen Ningbing's cave abode immediately loosened, and the ice crystals that had formed around it quickly melted away.
Stepping inside, even Li Qing felt a bone-chilling cold. He couldn't help but be slightly startled. It seemed his junior sister's mastery of the ice path had truly reached an advanced level.
Unlike Li Qing's cave abode, this place, though equally cold and desolate, was almost entirely composed of ice crystals, transforming the entire cave into a world of ice and snow.
"Congratulations, Senior Brother, on reaching the late foundation establishment realm!"
Shen Ningbing's voice echoed softly through the icy cave.
Her congratulatory tone carried a hint of genuine joy. For Shen Ningbing, who was usually as cold as frost, such a display of emotion was a sincere expression of congratulations.
Following the sound, Li Qing soon spotted Shen Ningbing sitting cross-legged on a lotus-shaped ice pedestal. She appeared to have just finished comprehending some divine ability, wisps of icy mist still swirling around her.
"I barely managed to reach this stage after exhausting nearly all my mana-enhancing pills. Compared to your innate talent, Junior Sister, I feel quite ashamed," Li Qing said modestly.
Shen Ningbing paused thoughtfully for a moment before gently patting the storage pouch at her waist. She then produced several small bottles and jars.
"Senior Brother, I still have some cultivation-enhancing pills and mana-boosting elixirs here. Take them all. I no longer need them."
Shen Ningbing's voice was clear and crisp, as if adding a layer of chill to the cave abode.
She had mistakenly assumed that Li Qing's purpose in visiting was to borrow medicinal pills. Without hesitation, she brought out all the pills she hadn't yet consumed.
Li Qing froze in place, but soon seemed to realize something, drawing in a sharp breath.
"Hiss!"
"Junior Sister, you've already reached the pseudo core formation stage?!"
Shen Ningbing chuckled softly. "Yes, it was just luck."
The pseudo core formation stage wasn't an independent realm, but rather a term for cultivators at the peak of the late foundation establishment realm.
At this stage, a cultivator's cultivation had reached its limit. No amount of meditation, seclusion, or mana-enhancing pills could advance their cultivation even an inch further.
The only remaining path was to solidify their true essence and condense a supreme Golden Core!
Upon achieving Golden Core status, cultivators gained the rudimentary ability to alter heaven and earth. Even shaking a mountain range became a trivial matter.
Even in the Great Wilderness Domain, renowned for its extraordinary individuals and strange phenomena, such a being would stand at the pinnacle of power.
As long as they avoided provoking the ancestors of the major cultivation sects, they could live a life of unparalleled freedom and ease.
And Shen Ningbing was now just one step away from becoming such a cultivator!
"Congratulations, Junior Sister!"
"However, you've misunderstood my purpose. I didn't come to ask for pills. There's something else I need to discuss."
Shen Ningbing paused slightly, but didn't rush to put away the scattered bottles of pills. Instead, she asked, "Then what brings you here, Senior Brother?"
"Junior Sister, you might not be aware, but the Great Wilderness Domain has been shaken by a series of earth-shattering events these past few days. It's as if the very heavens have shifted!"
Li Qing then proceeded to detail the intelligence he had gathered over the past few days.
Having remained secluded in her cave abode for months, Shen Ningbing was completely unaware of these developments.
Upon hearing the news of the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty's destruction, even Shen Ningbing couldn't help but show a flicker of emotion.
"Such a momentous event has occurred," Shen Ningbing murmured.
But that wasn't all. Li Qing went on to describe the ancestral imperial sword and the two joint announcements made by the righteous and demonic paths.
Upon hearing about the grand auction, Shen Ningbing's beautiful eyes lit up with anticipation.
Li Qing's expression turned serious. "That's why I came to tell you this. I didn't want you to miss such a grand event while in deep seclusion!"
"What do you think? I plan to go to Xuan Prefecture for the auction. It'll be a good chance to broaden my horizons and see if I can acquire Heavenly Fire Treasure Nectar and Azure Jade Spirit Water—two core formation spiritual materials!"
Without hesitation, Shen Ningbing, now at the pseudo core formation stage with no further progress possible in her current realm, naturally had a strong desire for these core formation spiritual materials.
Though she possessed an ice attribute variant spirit root, giving her a considerable advantage in core formation, perhaps due to her time spent with Li Qing, she now preferred to err on the side of caution.
Unlike heavenly spirit roots, variant spirit roots still faced the bottleneck of core formation. While this bottleneck might be smaller compared to other cultivators, the possibility of failure remained, however slight!
"Go! Of course, I'll go!"
With her innate talent, obtaining another core formation spiritual material would practically guarantee her success in achieving core formation.
Hearing Shen Ningbing's agreement, Li Qing breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, traveling together would be much safer than going alone.
A Pseudo-Core cultivator and a late foundation establishment realm cultivator joining forces would make even many cultivation clans think twice before provoking them.
While they wouldn't be able to dominate the region, self-preservation would certainly be no problem.
The spiritual materials they sought weren't some world-shaking treasures, but simply the necessary resources for their own core formation—perfectly reasonable and normal.
Although the Heavenly Fire Treasure Nectar and Azure Jade Spirit Water were precious, core formation realm cultivators and above wouldn't even glance at them.
As for cultivators below the core formation realm, they'd be lucky if they didn't go out of their way to avoid Li Qing and Shen Ningbing!
Who in their right mind would dare to target them?
(End of the Chapter)
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