Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 359 - 270 Underground Auction_1

Chapter 359: 270 Underground Auction_1

Golden Flood Dragon Marketplace, a quiet little courtyard.

Sun Yiyue, Song Sen, and Song Yan sat beside a cyan stone table, each holding a messaging plate that flickered with spiritual light.

Their connection with a Nascent Soul Cultivator had spread throughout the marketplace, and many Foundation Establishment Cultivators contacted them, wanting to forge closer ties.

"Father, next month will be the full-moon celebration of Taoist Friend Lin’s young son, and we have been invited to attend."

Song Yan said.

"Reject it! These people don’t bother with us normally, but as soon as they see Senior Shen is a Nascent Soul Cultivator, they’re all scrambling to get close to us."

Song Sen sighed.

"Indeed! One must be strong oneself, for all is said and done, they value us not for who we are but for Senior Shen. It is because of past kindness that he treats us well. We must not become arrogant with his favor, and cause any trouble for Senior Shen."

Sun Yiyue spoke slowly.

With Shen Long’s current standing, should he ask, scores of Core Formation Cultivators would be willing to work for him. Sun Yiyue and the others were only at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and Shen Long considered them out of old sentiment; otherwise, he could completely ignore them.

Song Sen nodded solemnly and said, "Considering the time, Senior Shen should be back by now! A third-tier formation can’t stop him for long."

Sun Yiyue infused a spell into the messaging plate, and Shen Long’s deep voice sounded: "Come to Golden Cicada Pavilion, I have something to discuss with you."

"Yes, Senior Shen."

Sun Yiyue agreed immediately, with a respectful tone.

They hurried to the Golden Cicada Pavilion at top speed, Sun Yiyue sent out a Sound Transmission Talisman, and the door opened, allowing the three to enter.

Shen Long sat in the main seat, his gaze commanding.

The body of a fourth-tier Gold-Winged Thunder Eagle contained neither Absorbing Thunder Pearl nor Leading Thunder Pearl, but its body, demon core, and spirit soul would fetch a good price.

"We pay our respects to Senior Shen."

Song Sen and the others bowed deeply, their voices in unison.

"I went to the ancient cultivator’s cave you mentioned, but there was an ambush."

Shen Long began.

At these words, the faces of Song Sen and the others changed.

"Senior Shen, we truly knew nothing of this; it has nothing to do with us!"

Song Sen quickly explained, his expression tense.

"Yes, the first time I went to investigate, I didn’t find any evil cultivators. I didn’t utter a single lie."

Song Yan explained, her eyes filled with terror.

She truly had no knowledge, and she had no reason to conspire against Shen Long with outsiders.

Sun Yiyue knelt down and said, "I swear by my inner demons, I haven’t colluded with anyone against Senior. If I speak even half a lie, let me be punished by heaven and earth, and may I die without peace."

"Enough! I didn’t say it was your doing—if I thought so, I wouldn’t be speaking to you like this. I’m just reminding you to be more careful about these so-called ancient cultivators’ caves in the future. They meant to lure Core Formation Cultivators to their deaths. They didn’t kill you when you went treasure hunting; they were waiting for you to sell the information to Core Formation Cultivators."

Shen Long said.

He had soul searched the evil cultivator and knew the cause and effect. Song Yan and her companions were indeed unaware.

Only then did Song Yan and the others breathe a sigh of relief. As long as Shen Long had no misunderstandings, they could handle the situation.

"You all may rise."

Shen Long waved his hand and told them to get up.

He took out a red messaging plate and infused a spell. Song He’s voice sounded: "Senior Shen, I’ve received news that the Qixia Alliance is preparing to hold a large-scale underground auction. Would you like to attend?"

Shen Long was somewhat tempted and instructed Song Sen and the others: "You can go back now! You are not needed here. If there is anything, I will contact you."

"Yes, Senior Shen."

Song Sen and the others complied and withdrew.

Shen Long addressed the messaging plate: "When, and where?"

"One month from now, at Immortal Gathering Tower. It’s said that a fourth-tier Leading Thunder Pearl will be on sale, along with other precious items. The specifics will only be known once the auction begins."

Song He said.

"Fourth-tier Leading Thunder Pearl! Immortal Gathering Tower? I understand."

Shen Long nodded, chatted for a few more moments, and then put away the messaging plate.

He entered the Alchemy Room, lit a stick of Tranquility Incense, and inserted it into the incense burner, then closed his eyes to rest his mind.

Half an hour later, Shen Long opened his eyes, took out the Scarlet Crow Cauldron and alchemy materials, and began refining the Three-Leaf Jade God Pill.

He exhaled a three-colored flame from his mouth, which fell to the bottom of the Scarlet Crow Cauldron.

Quickly, the temperature inside the room soared.

Shen Long tossed the materials into the Scarlet Crow Cauldron one by one, then covered the cauldron with its lid.

...

On Golden Flame Island, the main temple of the Five-Flame Palace.

A secluded manor, where Fairy Cold Flame sat beside a green stone table; Song Ming was reporting to her.

"Thank you to Senior Shen for this time, Master, or else this disciple would have perished."

Song Ming said.

"It’s good that you’re safe. He has already advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage, yet you’re still marking time in the Core Formation Stage."

Fairy Cold Flame said.

She was currently in the early Nascent Soul Stage. She had visited Donghua Cultivation Realm years ago but had not had much interaction with Shen Long.

"The disciple also didn’t expect to be stuck at this bottleneck for a hundred years. This time, after encountering the fourth-tier mystical bird, my bottleneck has loosened a bit. I plan to go into seclusion with the hopes of breaking through and reaching Great Perfection of Core Formation."

Song Ming said.

"You may leave now! Strive to reach Great Perfection as soon as possible, for cultivation is the foundation."

Fairy Cold Flame instructed.

Song Ming complied with a sound and bowed before leaving.

"Shen Long, a fourth-grade Alchemist!"

Fairy Cold Flame murmured to herself, her face showing a thoughtful expression.

······

A month swiftly passed by.

At the Golden Flood Dragon Marketplace, night fell. The marketplace was lit brightly, bustling with people and brimming with excitement.

The door of the Alchemy Room opened, and Shen Long emerged with a smile.

He successfully refined twenty-four Three-Leaf Jade God Pills, with materials left for another batch.

The Shape-Shifting Lock on Shen Long’s chest shone with a blinding golden light, concealing his form. As the light dissipated, it revealed a chubby-faced, small-eyed youth clad in red.

It was better to alter his appearance while dealing with the mixed crowd at the underground auction.

He pushed open the door and looked down the street, seeing only a few pedestrians before stepping out.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, Shen Long stood at the entrance of a green pavilion, with the words "Immortal Gathering Tower" inscribed in golden letters on its signboard.

Shen Long strode in. The hall was spacious and bright, with several Foundation Establishment Cultivators gathered, sipping tea and chatting leisurely.

A rosy-cheeked elder in a green robe sat behind the counter, engrossed in a ledger.

Shen Long approached and said, "I heard some good items arrived. I’d like to take a look."

"Please come this way, Senior," the elder in the green robe, sensing the strong Spirit Pressure from Shen Long, replied respectfully and personally led the way.

Shen Long followed the elder to the backyard. There, a plain green hut stood, guarded by a woman in a gold dress with an ordinary face and cultivation at the mid-stage of Core Formation.

The woman in the gold dress did not obstruct him but opened the door to reveal an empty room with not even a chair inside. In the bottom left corner, a green staircase led underground.

Shen Long briskly walked in. At the end of the green staircase was a cobblestone passageway which after fifty paces, ended in an underground cavern about an acre in size.

On the cavern’s walls, one could see many mysterious runes emitting intense fluctuations of a protective Formation. In the center, there was a stone platform a hundred feet wide, surrounded by numerous tables and chairs. The cavern was filled with Core Formation Cultivators, and there were also more than a dozen Nascent Soul Cultivators, including Nine Ages Hermit, Lu Tianhai, and Blood Crow True Monarch.

Shen Long found a seat towards the front and sat down.

As time ticked by, more high-level cultivators entered the cavern.

Half a quarter of an hour later, the ring of a loud bell signaled the closing of the entrance.

A tall, thin elder in silver robes descended onto the stone platform and announced with clasped hands, "I am Chen Gongxi, in charge of presiding over this auction. The highest bidder wins. Let us begin."

Chen Gongxi brought out five golden porcelain bottles and said, "Five bottles of Azure Sea Pill, all top-grade elixirs with Essence Advancing Spiritual Power. The starting bid is sixty thousand Spirit Stones, with increments of no less than ten thousand."

"Sixty thousand!"

"Seventy thousand!"

"Eighty thousand!"

······

After numerous bids, all five bottles of Azure Sea Pill were auctioned off at a high price.

Having sold the bottles, Chen Gongxi introduced three blue porcelain bottles, declaring, "Third-grade Poison Dissipating Pills! Excellent for neutralizing poisons. Each will be auctioned separately, starting at seventy thousand Spirit Stones with minimum bid increments of ten thousand."

Chen Gongxi then presented various third-grade elixirs with different effects, all of which were top-grade and fetched high prices.

Shen Long did not bid, as he now considered ordinary items beneath his notice.

Half an hour later, after auctioning off a set of third-grade formations, Chen Gongxi brought out a shimmering silver Talisman, saying, "One third-grade Lightning-Dissipating Talisman, capable of weakening the Power of thunder and lightning. The starting bid is one hundred thousand Spirit Stones with bid increments of no less than twenty thousand."

"One hundred thousand!"

"One hundred and twenty thousand!"

"One hundred and forty thousand!"

······

The competition was fierce, many Core Formation Cultivators vying for the Talisman.

The Lightning-Dissipating Talisman, with a similar purpose as the Absorbing Thunder Pearl, was a single-use item and its power could not match that of the Pearl.

After dozens of bids, the Talisman was sold for three hundred and twenty thousand Spirit Stones.

A medium-statured young man in blue robes came to the stone platform and conversed with Chen Gongxi via a Sound Transmission.

"This fellow Taoist lacks sufficient Spirit Stones and intends to auction some items, for which we will provide the venue. We are not responsible for buyers’ remorse," said Chen Gongxi, stating the non-liability warning before stepping aside.

The young man in blue took out a blue Storage Bag and flicked it gently towards the stone table in front of him. A sweep of azure gleam passed, and a large assortment of items appeared on the table.

Shen Long’s white Spirit Beast Bag at his waist quivered. Surprised, he descended onto the stone platform, his gaze landing on a white jade box that held a chicken egg-sized white Demon Core.

"What kind of Demon Core is this?"

Shen Long pointed at the white Demon Core and asked through Sound Transmission.

"That is a late third-stage Pursuing Spirit Beast’s Demon Core!"

The young man in blue explained via Sound Transmission.

After asking the price, Shen Long quickly purchased the Demon Core.

Having sold numerous items and gathered enough Spirit Stones, the young man in blue settled the debt and acquired the Lightning-Dissipating Talisman.

"Now, it’s time for the final act of the auction. The first item up for bid, a Leading Thunder Pearl birthed from a fourth-stage Green Thunder Toad, can be refined into a Dharma Treasure capable of drawing upon the thunder and lightning of heaven and earth to strike at enemies."

Chen Gongxi revealed a silver jade box and, upon opening it, showed a pigeon egg-sized silver orb within.