Chapter 309 : Auction of Celestial Treasures

The Five Elements Spirit Fruit [a rare fruit containing the balanced essence of the five elements] were sold off quickly, each fetching a price of two Heavenly Crystal [a high-grade crystalized form of spiritual energy], a transaction notably devoid of the usual premium.

However, the other treasures were of far greater value. Both the Nirvana Pill [a legendary pill said to grant a cultivator a chance at rebirth or profound enlightenment] and the Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a supreme elixir that aids in the formation of the Nascent Soul, a critical breakthrough] were Fifth Rank Treasure [treasures of the fifth rank, denoting immense power and rarity].

An ordinary Fifth Rank Treasure typically starts at a value of ten million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. The Nirvana Pill and Nascent Soul Formation Pill, being among the more precious items within the Fifth Rank [the fifth tier in the classification system for magical items and treasures], commanded a starting price in the tens of millions.

Even if purchased with Origin Heavenly Crystal [a primordial and exceptionally pure form of Heavenly Crystal], it would require at least thirty pieces.

Though the assembled Golden Core Immortal Clan [a clan whose foundation is a cultivator who has achieved the Golden Core realm] were powerful, even a top-tier one would have to exhaust the wealth accumulated by its entire clan over several centuries and by generations of hundreds of thousands of cultivators to amass such a sum at once.

Moreover, Origin Heavenly Crystal were exceedingly rare. Gathering more than thirty at once presented a formidable challenge.

However, the Ji Clan had prepared well in advance of the auction, notifying families with sufficient financial capacity about the treasures to be sold.

For this occasion, the Deng Clan, the Wey Clan, and the Celestial Star Child [a Daoist title meaning 'Child of the Celestial Stars'], along with several other powerful Golden Core Immortal Clan, had come prepared with Heavenly Crystal.

The families engaged in a swift bidding war, rapidly driving the price of the Nascent Soul Formation Pill past thirty Heavenly Crystal. In the end, the Celestial Star Child secured it for thirty-eight.

As the foremost rogue cultivator on the Tianlu Continent, the Celestial Star Child already had one foot within the threshold of the Infant Soul Realm [the realm following Golden Core, where the cultivator's soul begins to take independent form]. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel*com.

This man was ruthless and cruel, having secretly carried out numerous clan-exterminations over the years, and the Golden Core Cultivators he had slain numbered more than five or six.

As the saying goes, murder and arson pave the road to riches. Through such brutal methods, he had amassed an exceedingly vast fortune.

Before coming here, Celestial Star Child sold off many of his treasures and several Spirit Mountains under his control to gather this sum of Heavenly Crystals, actually surpassing even a powerful Golden Core Immortal Clan like the Wey Clan in wealth.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't that the Wey Clan's financial resources were inferior, but rather because Celestial Star Child, being a rogue cultivator, could squander his wealth without any regard for the future.

The Wey Clan, however, had to consider the clan's long-term development and could not possibly liquidate all its fixed assets like its Spirit Mountains.

Although he failed to acquire the Nascent Soul Formation Pill, Heaven Hero Wei still managed to purchase that Nirvana Pill for the price of thirty-two Heavenly Crystals.

With this pill in hand, he now possessed the courage to risk a blood sacrifice of his physical body and forcefully attempt a breakthrough into the Infant Soul Realm.

After acquiring the two treasures, Heaven Hero Wei did not linger. He departed the Barter Convention hastily, accompanied by the four Golden Core Cultivators of the Wei family.

Celestial Star Child also left the market district in a hurry, seemingly fearful that others might covet his Nascent Soul Formation Pill.

Given the strength of the Wei family and Celestial Star Child, unless an Infant Soul True Lord were shameless enough to intervene directly, seizing the two treasures would be exceedingly difficult.

Eldrin Chen watched the retreating figure of the Celestial Star Child, his brow furrowing slightly. This person had obtained a Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a supreme elixir that aids in the breakthrough to the Infant Soul realm]; there was likely a genuine fifty percent chance they would succeed in advancing to the Infant Soul realm now.

"A pity that, for now, I am not yet a match for this individual."

Pulling his thoughts back, Eldrin Chen turned his attention once more to the ongoing exchange in the hall.

The Ji Clan, having traded for eighty Origin Heavenly Crystals [highly concentrated spiritual energy crystals], stepped down, their desires seemingly satisfied.

Following them was the Patriarch of the Ling Clan. With a calm expression, she swept her gaze over the assembly, then with a casual wave of her hand, used her magic power to project images of several treasures into the air. "My Ling Clan has recently elevated several Spirit Mountains [mountains rich in spiritual energy]," she stated. "We require a significant number of Formation Artifacts [specialized magical treasures used to construct and power formations] to establish Mountain Protection Formations [defensive arrays that shield a location]. If any of you possess Fourth-Rank Magical Treasures [powerful enchanted artifacts]—specifically Immortal Swords [flying swords used by cultivators]—you may trade them with me."

In truth, everyone present understood. Ethereal Mistress Ling's stated purpose of setting up Mountain Protection Formations was merely a pretext. Her true aim was to amass a large quantity of Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure Immortal Swords to serve as Tribulation Transcendence Treasures [magical treasures sacrificed to withstand the devastating power of a cultivator's heavenly tribulation].

The Infant Soul Heavenly Tribulation [the cataclysmic trial a Golden Core cultivator must endure to ascend to the Infant Soul realm] wielded immense power. Even with a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a top-tier magical treasure] for protection, it was wisest to use several Fourth-Rank Magical Treasures to absorb the initial onslaught of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the lightning strikes that form the core of the heavenly trial]. This was the most cost-effective strategy.

In truth, using a Fourth Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure to block the tribulation was ideal. However, treasures of such caliber were exceedingly rare and generally difficult to acquire through purchase.

A Fourth Rank Superior Grade magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] is a treasure of utmost rarity and value. Even within a Golden Core Immortal Clan [a powerful clan founded by a Golden Core cultivator], such an artifact would be worthy of serving as a Clan-Suppressing Supreme Treasure [a treasure of such power it can secure a clan's legacy]. After all, not every faction possesses the profound heritage and backing of the Three Sects of Chu Nation [the three premier orthodox sects of the Chu Nation].

Furthermore, most such magical treasure [enchanted artifacts] are likely to be destroyed during the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the cataclysmic lightning tribulation that tests cultivators seeking to ascend to higher realms]. Yet, sacrificing a mid or low-grade Fourth Rank treasure is far more economical than allowing a priceless Fourth Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure to be shattered.

Of course, such calculations held little relevance for Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang. For them, the treasures collected by Ethereal Mistress Ling were a source of immense joy and excitement.

"Heavenly Heart Grass, Void Gems."

Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang exchanged a glance, unable to suppress the delight that lit up their faces.

True to her reputation as the suspected reincarnation of a True Lord [a powerful Nascent Soul stage cultivator], Ethereal Mistress Ling's collection was astonishing. Among the treasures were three stalks of Heavenly Heart Grass [a rare spiritual herb that calms the mind and aids in profound meditation] and four Void Gem [a crystalline mineral imbued with spatial properties, crucial for crafting certain high-grade treasures]—precisely the resources they desperately needed.

Sharing a look of understanding with Eldrin Chen, a wave of shared elation washed over them.

Their previous campaigns against Heavenly Python Lake and the Verdant Sun Sect, combined with the spoils from this recent Beast Tide [a massive, chaotic invasion by demonic beasts], had yielded a considerable number of Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts]. Read, share, and discuss at audio-novel . com.

Pooling their acquired Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure, they found a total of seven artifacts suitable for trade or use.

These were the Heaven and Earth Void Dragon Seal and the Green Sun Demon-Warding Shuttle—two artifacts from the legendary set known as the Six Treasures of Verdant Sun.

Additionally, the Black Flood Dragon Immortal Sword and the Path Ruins Crown [a powerful enchanted artifact] were obtained from the Black Flood Dragon Demon King slain by Eldrin Chen. The remaining Crimson Flame Golden Pearl and Crimson Scorpion Heart-Piercing Nail came from the Crimson Scorpion Demon King vanquished by Exquisite Jiang.

The final item was the Heavenly Heart Bracelet. This artifact was originally the Formation Artifact [a treasure used to anchor and power a magical array] of Heavenly Python Lake. After Exquisite Jiang seized it, she exchanged it using a Fourth Rank Mid-Grade Dragon Transformation Blade.

These seven treasures were the magical treasures [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] the pair intended to trade. In truth, they still possessed several other surplus Fourth-Rank Magical Treasures.

For instance, the remaining Earth Marsh Five Mists Veil and Frost Immortal Sword. The former was a defensive magical treasure exceptionally suited for weathering heavenly tribulations, while the latter had been given by Exquisite Jiang to her disciple, Elara Lin.

As for the Crimson Sun Void-Burning Furnace, Eldrin Chen had already bestowed it upon the Old Patriarch and thus it was no longer suitable for trade.

All seven of these treasures were Fourth Rank Low-Grade magical treasures, each valued at approximately one million Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], a price nearly equivalent to that of a stalk of Heavenly Heart Grass.

Exchanging a glance, the two promptly used the 'Heaven and Earth Void Dragon Seal' and the 'Green Sun Demon-Warding Shuttle' to acquire two stalks of Heavenly Heart Grass.

However, the Void Treasure Crystal was of extraordinary value, being the most crucial material for crafting Teleportation Formations [magical arrays for instantaneous travel]. Each crystal cost around two million Spirit Stones, meaning their remaining few magical treasures could only secure two of them.

Exquisite Jiang pondered for a moment before producing several more treasures along with the carcass of the Crimson Scorpion Demon King. "I propose to exchange these Fourth-Rank Magical Treasures, plus the remains of this Golden Core Mid Stage Demon King [a powerful demonic ruler], for three Void Gems," she stated.

"The carcass of a Golden Core Mid Stage Demon King..."

The Ethereal Mistress Ling's brow twitched slightly. Five Fourth Rank Low-Grade magical treasures [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] were worth roughly five million Spirit Stones [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy]. At best, they could barely withstand the first one or two strikes of the Infant Soul Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the heavenly lightning trial faced when advancing to the Infant Soul Realm].

In contrast, the remains of the Crimson Scorpion Demon King were quite valuable; they could be refined into a rather decent defensive magical treasure.

The combined value of these treasures far exceeded that of three Void Gems [rare spatial-aligned crystals].

She glanced once more at Exquisite Jiang, a flicker of thought passing through her eyes as she said, "So it's Immortal Maiden Jiang. These treasures are of some use to me, whereas Fourth Rank Void Gems are no longer of any benefit."

"Very well. I'll include the final Void Gem as a bonus. Add another five hundred thousand Spirit Stones to the price, and you may take them all." Find this and other novels at audio-novel*com.