Chapter 66

Huh?

The cultivators on site all raised questions, thinking the ownership of the Qingdi Changsheng Gong had already been settled, but they never expected that at the very last moment, another twist could still arise.

Who is it?

Song You suddenly turned his head, his eyes icy cold as he looked toward the source of the sound.

There, the doors and windows were not open.

The private rooms on the second floor were all set up with formations; the spiritual sense of Qi Refining cultivators basically could not penetrate the formation's barrier.

All the cultivators silently watched that private room.

Song You said in a cold voice:

"Fellow Daoist, what deep pockets! A mere Qi Refining cultivator actually producing seventy thousand spirit stones— I don't know which faction you're from; could you be a spy sent by the Soul Refining Hall?"

Everyone held their breath, wondering how the cultivator in the private room could prove himself!

Wang Ping's mouth twitched into a smile; this Song You is somewhat interesting, even trying to frame him as a Soul Refining Hall spy— he's got some brains, not blurting out any threatening words.

Pa-da!

Wang Ping walked to the window, opened it, first bowed to the Foundation Establishment cultivator, then spoke:

"Am I a Soul Refining Hall spy? Fellow Daoist Song, you can go ask the people of Treasure Gathering Pavilion, right now! Senior, can I read it now?"

That Foundation Establishment cultivator said lazily: "What do you mean 'read seconds'? Seventy thousand spirit stones— surely no one can produce that; I'll just give it to you!"

Saying that, he flicked his right sleeve, and the white jade slip flew straight toward Wang Ping.

All the cultivators stared fiery-eyed at the jade slip hanging in the air; a few even felt the urge to move, and though their legs twitched a bit, none dared to actually act.

Song You's eyes coldly fixed on the jade slip in the air; the merit that should have been his just flew away, and he now felt an urge to kill and seize treasure.

Elsewhere, Qiu Hongye's eyes showed a hint of helplessness; the spirit stones given by the hall were ultimately still not enough.

He stared fixedly at the cultivator who had won the jade slip in the auction, determined to remember that appearance firmly in his heart.

After leaving, he must as quickly as possible ascertain that person's identity, ascertain that person's identity, and then conduct surveillance.

Wait until six days later, then conduct the settlement.

However, in the end, he still retained a trace of reason and did not dare to act rashly.

Gazing at the incoming white jade slip, Wang Ping struggled to control his emotions, extending his right hand and gripping it firmly.

This is the Qingdi Changsheng Gong!

It is the number one wood-element cultivation art in the cultivation world.

It is also one of the few top-tier cultivation arts.

Even just the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment chapters, its value is already astonishing.

Pa-da!

After closing the doors and windows again, Wang Ping's expression was calm; the cultivation art was now in hand, and next he needed to find a quiet place to enter seclusion.

Each private room has a unique passage for guests to leave secretly on their own.

So Wang Ping merely changed his clothes and appeared on the outside street.

Because today is the first day of the auction, there are many cultivators outside; by the time Song You, Qiu Hongye, and the others come out, Wang Ping's trace is already gone!

Because Song You came alone, he had no one at his side to use, and could only go and sternly report to his master-uncle.

Qiu Hongye glanced around, also feeling a bit disappointed; however, with the Soul Refining Hall's influence, finding out who that person was would surely not be difficult.

………

In an inn of the merchant city, Song You stood respectfully before a middle-aged cultivator sitting cross-legged on the bed, practicing, and whispered something.

After Song You finished speaking, the middle-aged cultivator slowly opened their eyes and said softly.

"I understand! This isn't your fault; you handle it yourself—Foundation Establishment cultivators of the sect could never intervene!"

Song You's face tightened, and he asked, "Uncle! Why is that?"

After glancing at his family's most outstanding junior, Song Zhanshan pondered and then spoke to explain.

"That jade slip can be refined by Qi Refining cultivators, but we Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot refine it!"

Song You was somewhat surprised and asked, "Why? If the Hundred Nations Alliance wants to auction this technique, why would they impose such a rule!"

Song Zhanshan said, "Do you still remember how that Foundation Establishment cultivator introduced the Qingdi Changsheng Gong at the auction!"

The introduction at the auction?

Song You was a bit doubtful, thought carefully, and replied:

"Other than that, nothing much—just that Foundation Establishment senior deliberately stated that only Qi Refining cultivators could auction it, and added that if one cultivated to the peak of Foundation Establishment, they could exchange for a Golden Core–level technique at the Alliance's five major branches!"

Song Zhanshan nodded and said:

"That's right—since that Foundation Establishment fellow gave such instructions, it shows the Alliance's intention is for Qi Refining cultivators to practice this technique."

Song You didn't understand, and Song Zhanshan wasn't angry, continuing: "Using different techniques for Foundation Establishment yields different effects—for example, cultivating the Qingdi Changsheng Gong for Foundation Establishment grants an acquired physique, the Wood Spirit Body!"

"Wood Spirit Body? That physique doesn't seem very powerful! But if one cultivates some spiritual herbs and medicines, it would be quite useful."

Song You said with a smile, his tone showing he didn't think much of the Yin Wood Body.

Song Zhanshan glanced briefly at his nephew, sighing inwardly: "Unlearned and incompetent!"

But he still explained: "The Wood Spirit Body isn't much? However, its advanced physique, the Yin Wood Body, can cultivate one of the Five Elements Divine Thunders—the Yin Wood Divine Thunder."

Hiss!

Song You sucked in a breath of cold air—he didn't care about the Wood Spirit Body, nor the Yin Wood Body, but how could he not know of the Yin Wood Divine Thunder, one of the Five Elements Divine Thunders passed down since ancient times in the cultivation world?

When the Yin Wood Divine Thunder appears, it sweeps away demons and exterminates evil, acclaimed as the most yang‑rigid and righteous thunder beneath the heavenly thunder between heaven and earth.

Its reputation is immense, yet since ancient times he has heard of only one who could wield this thunder—one of the human leaders in the ancient war, the Wood King Fan Tianqi!

"Uncle! Is this true?"

Song You was somewhat excited and hurriedly spoke:

If that's the case, why don't we take action and seize it? Once uncle finishes cultivating, wouldn't we be able to master this kind of divine thunder?

Song Zhanshan shook his head and said,

"Things aren't that simple. The Qingdi Changsheng Gong has existed within the Alliance for so many years; surely many people inside have cultivated it. But since the ancient war ended, up to now, have you heard of anyone who has mastered this thunder?"

Song You shook his head and said,

"Nephew, I've only heard that the Ancient Wood King mastered this thunder; otherwise, I've never heard of anyone mastering the Yin Wood Divine Thunder."

Song Zhanshan nodded and said,

"That's it. For nearly ten thousand years, no one has mastered this thunder; from this we can see that the Qingdi Changsheng Gong is probably not easy to cultivate."

"This is only one point; the second is that to exchange for a Foundation Establishment cultivation method, one must start cultivating from the Qi Refining stage, then use the Qingdi Changsheng Gong to establish the Foundation, obtain a Wood Spirit Body, and only then will the Alliance give in exchange for a Golden Core cultivation method."

"If a Foundation Establishment cultivator practices this method, even if they reach the Great Perfection realm, but if they lack a Wood Spirit Body, the Alliance will certainly not give them an exchange for a Golden Core–level cultivation method, and there is a high chance they will be slain."

"If at this point one wants to switch cultivation methods, it would already be too late. Since ancient times, we have only heard of exchanging for higher-level methods, never of exchanging for lower-level ones—what is that? Most importantly, the spiritual power condensed from practicing the Qingdi Changsheng Gong is absolutely pure and domineering; low-level cultivation methods simply cannot control this spiritual power."

Song You couldn't help but feel a bit discouraged, yet unwilling to give up, he asked,

"Could it be that Foundation Establishment cultivators would not commit suicide?"

Having said that, he realized he had asked a foolish question. For the sake of a cultivation method, to cut off one's own realm and re-cultivate—such a risk is enormous; only a mad cultivator would dare to do that.

"The most important point is that this method bears a trace of the Nascent Soul True Monarch's aura; if a cultivator exceeding the Qi Refining limit is killed by it, that trace of aura will trigger a fatal strike."

Foundation Establishment cultivators will surely die.

Moreover, we uncle and nephew lack Wood Spirit Roots; why risk offending the Alliance envoy to obtain that method?

Those who ought to be worried are the cultivators in the sect who possess Wood Spirit Roots!

Just wait and see! It's estimated that because of this method, further turmoil will arise!

Meanwhile, Shu Hongye also received news that allowed him to relax a little.

Little did they know, all this bought Wang Ping some buffer time; they thought switching cultivation methods would take at least a month.

Who would have thought that the purity of the Wood Spirit power within Wang Ping's body would soon rival that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator's spiritual essence; even if slightly inferior, it would not differ greatly.

Having changed his appearance, Wang Ping bought three more sets of different types of formations in the market shop, and spent another eight thousand spirit stones.

Then he directly returned to Prudent Garden, activated the formation in the basement, and began secluded cultivation; beforehand, he informed Tie Lanshan via jade slip that he was about to enter seclusion.

He estimated that the news of his purchase of the Qingdi Changsheng Gong could not remain hidden for long; before that, he needed to complete the switch of cultivation methods as soon as possible.