After Master Ling Yun stepped forward, the once bustling crowd fell silent in various corners.
Many among them had come for the Holy Spirit Pills, so now they looked up at Ling Yun expectantly, like dogs waiting to be fed.
This sight made Liu Bai cannot help but frown inwardly, and his vigilance rose.
No matter how powerful the Holy Spirit Pill might be, it was impossible that so many strong cultivators would reduce themselves to such shameless behavior. The scene reminded Liu Bai of some forbidden object from his prior life…
"Hehe, all of you are familiar faces by now, so this old one will spare you long speech. You have come to my Emerald Serenity Palace likely for my pills. Now let me explain first. "
Master Ling Yun ignored the eager faces below. A faint and cold smile curled on his lips, and then he continued:
"This time I have refined one hundred and three Holy Spirit Pills. Among them, eighty-nine are of the lower grade, eleven are mid-grade, and three are top-grade."
"The three lower-grade pills can allow a cultivator at the Early-phase Heaven Transformation Realm to perfectly advance to mid-phase. But to go from mid-stage to late-stage, five such pills are needed. A single mid-grade pill can allow an Early-phase Heaven Transformation Realm cultivator to break through to mid-phase perfectly. Three will elevate from mid to late, and five will push them to Quasi Heaven Completion Realm. As for the precious top-grade Holy Spirit Pill, its effect is extraordinary. One pill can let someone at Late-phase Heaven Transformation Realm breakthrough into the Heavenly Completion Realm, and two can push from Early-phase Heavenly Completion to mid-phase."
As Ling Yun's words fell, the eyes of the assembled cultivators glinted like hungry wolves. When they glanced at others, unmasked killing intent showed in their expressions. Clearly, in their eyes, everyone around might be a competitor, and competitors deserved to die!
Yet Liu Bai himself was shaken by the claimed effects of these pills.
"Pills that directly raise one's cultivation are extremely rare, and most have strong tolerance. Usually after three doses there is no further effect. Some even only allow one dose in a lifetime. Yet these Holy Spirit Pills have no side effects and the effects are so abnormal…"
Even the Spiritual King Crystals in Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy could at most allow a Heaven Transformation Realm student to raise a minor realm, and even late Heaven Transformation Realm could not fully break into Heavenly Completion Realm. But these Holy Spirit Pills could…
This was truly frightening.
After all, the Spiritual King Crystal is the complete essence of a Heavenly Completion Realm–level spiritual king. How could an ordinary pill compare?
The more Liu Bai thought, the more he felt something was off. As someone who had never actually refined pills before, Liu Bai might lack hands-on experience, but his theoretical knowledge was solid. Even if something so contrary to logic was real, it must carry tremendous cost.
"Master Ling Yun, I claim those three top-grade Holy Spirit Pills!"
While Liu Bai was still full of hesitation, someone had already begun to bid.
Liu Bai looked up and saw that the one speaking was none other than Xue Yan of the Hundred Victory Divine Fist.
At the same time, Liu Bai noticed eyes upon himself. Following the gaze, he saw Liu Si looking at him. When their eyes met, Liu Si smiled confidently and nodded.
Liu Bai understood then: Liu Si was signaling that he had secured the promise of Holy Spirit Pills for him, telling him not to worry.
At that moment, Liu Bai allowed a flicker of excitement and gratitude to show on his face, causing Liu Si to laugh softly.
"I wish to see what this Holy Spirit Pill truly is…"
Once Xue Yan spoke, the entire venue erupted again. Everyone clamored for pills; many looked ready to fight at any moment.
"Hmph!"
A single cold snort rang out. All at once, the hearts of the crowd quivered, and one by one they turned fearful, no longer daring to act rashly.
Liu Bai frowned again.
Though that snort had struck his ears like thunder, it did not unnerve him—Liu Bai would not take it to heart. But among the cultivators present, nearly all had higher cultivation than him. Some were even Heavenly Completion Realm. Yet their behavior was so shameful. This could not be due solely to Master Ling Yun's prestige…
"You are all regular attendees here. You know the rules by now." Ling Yun's voice, tinged with cold, resounded. Many dared not even inhale.
"Now, present your bids."
It was clear that unlike other parts of the valley's trade fairs, this was a small-scale auction, and the only item being auctioned was the Holy Spirit Pill.
"I bid one million Spiritual coins for one lower-grade Holy Spirit Pill!"
As soon as Ling Yun's words ended, someone immediately spoke up.
"I bid one point one million spirit coins for one lower-grade Holy Spirit Pill!"
"…"
Most of those present were only at the Heaven Transformation Realm, so they naturally targeted the cheapest lower-grade pills first.
Liu Bai silently watched the bidding wars. Though he now held a large amount of Spiritual coins…
When he and others had eliminated the Fan Clan earlier, he had gained many Spiritual coins and materials. Those materials were not useful to the students of Northern Heaven Academy in the short term, so they had been kept.
Liu Bai now had over ten million Spiritual coins. But for a long time, there had been no use for them, so they remained stored in his Spatial Ring.
Watching the frenzied bidding, Liu Bai remained unmoved and had no intention to bid.
Seeing his restraint, Liu Si and his master did not press others to compete with him, inferring that the promise was already settled. They had no reason to suspect otherwise.
After all, Liu Bai was merely an inexperienced youngster at Early-phase Heaven Transformation Realm. To them, he could not create any real ripples, so they let him be.
Soon, both the lower-grade and mid-grade Holy Spirit Pills were auctioned off one by one. Those who obtained them had bloodshot eyes and eager expressions, as if wanting to consume the pills immediately.
The scene suddenly reminded Liu Bai of an anime from his past life, Under One Person! In its story, those influenced by the power of "Full Nature Four" often acted in exactly this manner when cravings overtook them.
Liu Bai believed that if these folks who had received the pills were threatened, they would abandon even kin and kill without hesitation.
"Liu Si, lead the honored guests to the cultivation chambers to consume the pills." Master Ling Yun, appearing accustomed to such scenes, spoke with a calm tone to his disciple beside him.
Upon hearing this, Liu Si immediately stepped forward and respectfully replied, then led the others away.
As he passed by Liu Bai, Liu Si secretly gave him a knowing glance, as though telling him to remain patient.
Liu Bai naturally nodded in cooperation, then watched the remaining Heavenly Completion Realm cultivators scramble for the last three top-grade Holy Spirit Pills…
Even for Heavenly Completion Realm powerhouses, their struggle was not much more dignified than that of those in the Heaven Transformation Realm—each looked like a wild dog fighting over a bone.
Seeing this, Liu Bai sneered coldly in his heart.
He was certain that the esteemed Master Ling Yun, seated high upon the dais, must be thinking the very same thing as himself.
To make so many powerful Heaven Completion Realm experts behave like wild dogs over a few mere pills—such methods were indeed extraordinary.
In the end, all of the Holy Spirit Pills were successfully auctioned off.
Of the three top-grade Holy Spirit Pills, one went to the seductive red-robed woman who had flirted with Liu Bai earlier, the infamous Red Lady. Another was obtained by Xue Yan of the Hundred Victory Divine Fist. The final one, surprisingly, was claimed by a youth who looked no older than Liu Bai himself.
This sight stirred a hint of surprise within Liu Bai.
He had not expected to see such a young prodigy among the wandering cultivators—someone who had already reached the Quasi–Heaven Completion Realm at such a young age.
However, Liu Bai did not dwell on it for long. The Northern Heaven Continent was vast, and it was only natural that talents would appear even among wanderers. Besides, that youth's identity had nothing to do with him. If these Holy Spirit Pills were truly problematic, then it would not take long before that youth ended up sharing the same fate as all the others.
"Hmm, you must be the young friend Liu Bai that Si'er mentioned?"
An aged yet gentle voice suddenly sounded beside Liu Bai's ear.
"Thank you for your praise, Master. I dare not accept such flattery," Liu Bai replied quickly, bowing with a mix of modesty and feigned nervousness.
Master Ling Yun smiled softly in response, his demeanor as warm as a spring breeze.
Liu Bai, however, kept his head bowed, ensuring that the old man could not see the expression flickering in his eyes.
"I heard from Si'er that you also came here for the Holy Spirit Pills?"
"Yes," Liu Bai answered respectfully, cupping his hands. "After hearing Brother Liu's introduction, I too came to understand the power of the Holy Spirit Pill. I hope the Master will be gracious."
"Good, good. Young friend Liu possesses extraordinary talent and profound cultivation. With the aid of the Holy Spirit Pill, you will surely catch up to us old fellows before long. Since you are Si'er's friend and this is your first visit to my Emerald Serenity Palace, it would not be proper for me to be stingy as a senior."
"Here is my offer—I still have one mid-grade Holy Spirit Pill and two lower-grade ones. I shall give them to you at the lowest price from the earlier bidding."
Liu Bai immediately bowed deeply, his expression bright with gratitude. "Then I thank you sincerely, Senior!"
As for what he was thinking inwardly...
Old fool, who gave you the right to call yourself my elder? I'm your ancestor, you decrepit thing!
Even though three pills at the lowest price would still cost five million Spiritual coins, Liu Bai handed them over without a flicker of hesitation.
After receiving the coins, Liu Bai followed Liu Si into a secluded cultivation chamber. The latter reminded him solemnly, "These Holy Spirit Pills are incredibly potent. You must start with the lower-grade pill to let your body adapt to the medicinal power before taking the mid-grade one. Otherwise, the excess energy might not damage your meridians, but it will certainly cause you much suffering."
"Thank you for the warning, Brother Liu. I will remember it well," Liu Bai replied gratefully.
Once Liu Si left, Liu Bai immediately sat cross-legged and retrieved one of the lower-grade Holy Spirit Pills, beginning his examination.
The pill was crimson red and about the size of a longan fruit. As he studied it, Liu Bai covered his palm with a layer of azure spiritual power and gently ground the pill into fine powder before analyzing it closely.
He had to admit, the reason this Holy Spirit Pill had caused such a frenzy was indeed because its effects were immensely powerful.
Even this lower-grade pill contained spiritual energy as vast as that of a late-stage Heaven Fusion Realm cultivator. It was no wonder people believed it could help them break through their realms.
What truly piqued Liu Bai's curiosity, however, was the purity of the energy within the pill. The spiritual power contained in it was incredibly refined and astonishingly compatible with the energy within a cultivator's body. Simply absorbing it would cause the energies to merge almost instantly, without the need for any refining—and during the process, there was no loss of power whatsoever. That was the key to its astonishing effect.
Normally, even the most perfectly refined pill could only allow one to absorb about eighty percent of its energy, with the remaining twenty percent wasted.
But this pill allowed complete absorption—a hundred percent efficiency. Liu Bai had never encountered such a thing before, nor did he believe he ever would again. It was clear that the Holy Spirit Pill was extraordinary.
Yet, as Liu Bai analyzed the energy more closely, he sensed something strange.
A faint current of grayish energy seeped into his body, merging with his own spiritual power. It clung to him like maggots to bone, impossible to remove.
"What is this?"
Liu Bai's eyes narrowed in surprise. If he had already consumed the pill and begun absorbing its power, he might never have noticed this invasive current.
Still, he did not feel alarmed. If the energy had fully merged with his own spiritual power before discovery, he might have been powerless to stop it without destroying his spiritual sea entirely. But since he had caught it early, things were different.
His spiritual energy contained the essence of the Five Elements, which naturally countered all foreign forces. Furthermore, he possessed the source of the Five Elemental Divine Thunder. Using its special ability, he easily drove the gray energy into a corner of his meridians before probing it with his spiritual sense.
The moment his consciousness touched the strange energy, he felt a sudden invasion—an alien will trying to penetrate his mind and take over his soul, as if attempting to seize his body!
Boom!
A thunderous roar echoed through his soul space. All intrusive thoughts vanished instantly, and the invading will was obliterated without a trace.
Externally, Liu Bai's expression remained calm. Everything that had happened had been intentional on his part—he had merely wanted to see the true nature of this strange energy.
The result, however, was unexpected.
"It's actually someone's lingering consciousness…"
It was somewhat similar to a beast's soul remnant, yet far more insidious.
Moreover, Liu Bai discovered that this consciousness had been deliberately refined. If it were given enough time to invade and fully assimilate with a cultivator's body, the consequences would be unimaginably terrifying.
"As expected, Master Ling Yun's generosity in sharing such miraculous pills with wandering cultivators was far from sincere…"
Liu Bai's eyes grew cold.
He was now certain—the process behind the refinement of these so-called Holy Spirit Pills must be something truly horrific.
....
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