Chapter 112: Departure and Auction

Qin Ming pondered for a while.

This journey to the spiritual energy Archipelago requires leasing a second-rank island farmland; the expenses will likely be substantial.

He took from his storage pouch the bark of the second-rank spiritual plant Crimson Silver Hemp and a vial of supreme-level Bone-Marrow Cleansing Pills, placing them before Gu Qingzhao.

Originally, Qin Ming had intended to use that vial of supreme-level Bone-Marrow Cleansing Pills himself, but after his cultivation base refreshed the Magic Power Crystal trait, he instantly broke through to the Late Stage of Qi Refining.

He no longer needed so many breakthrough elixirs for Qi Refining Late Stage.

“I’ll entrust you, Brother Gu, to auction off these two items.”

Gu Qingzhao curiously lifted the jade vial’s lid and peered inside; instantly, her eyes brightened, and a strong joy flashed across her dark brows.

“These are supreme-level Soul-Refining Pills!”

“These two items of Brother Qin’s can serve as the climax of the auction!”

Qin Ming smiled; seeing Gu Qingzhao in such a state, he felt an undeniable, breathtaking beauty.

“It seems Brother Qin has truly mastered all of Sister Su’s teachings!”

“I’m certain that once you reach Foundation Establishment, you’ll soon become a second-rank Alchemist.”

“Dual second-rank skills like yours are exceedingly rare across the entire Wei Kingdom’s cultivation world.”

Gu Qingzhao smiled faintly as she praised Qin Ming.

Qin Ming waved his hand. “Ah—Brother Gu flatters me too much. My elemental affinity is weak; Foundation Establishment is still far off.”

“I don’t see it that way,” Gu Qingzhao replied with a sly smile. “Brother Qin has tremendous potential; Foundation Establishment is merely a matter of time.”

Qin Ming chuckled helplessly at that.

Three days later.

A massive magical vessel, noticeably larger than the Spirit Feather Sect’s Duanyuan Magic Ship, slowly docked before the Yunmeng Mountain Shanmen.

It had five decks inside and three pavilions outside, capable of accommodating several thousand cultivators.

Like a primordial beast, Qin Ming felt utterly tiny standing beneath it.

Only the Mirror Snow Pavilion could afford such a gold-swallowing beast; the spirit stones consumed per voyage must be staggering.

At this moment.

In the distant sky, countless flying lights surged toward the vessel.

“These cultivators all bought tickets and are leaving Yunze Great Wilderness with us.”

“They’re all cultivators unwilling to get entangled in this great-power conflict,” Gu Qingzhao said calmly, standing beside Qin Ming.

The Mirror Snow Pavilion guards began verifying each boarding jade slip before allowing passage.

The cultivators kept gathering; by midmorning alone, several thousand had arrived.

“Brother Gu, aren’t you worried about bandits slipping in among them?” Qin Ming asked, puzzled.

Gu Qingzhao smiled. “Even if they’re bandits, as long as they’re willing to pay spirit stones, I’ll take their money.”

“Brother Qin needn’t worry—the vessel’s security is highly reliable.”

Seeing her confidence, Qin Ming felt considerably reassured.

At Gu Qingzhao’s invitation, he boarded the magic vessel.

Until the hour of Shen.

All cultivators had boarded.

The massive magic vessel slowly set sail; Qin Ming and Gu Qingzhao stood at the railing of the third deck.

Watching Yunmeng Mountain gradually vanish from view, Qin Ming suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of melancholy.

When he first arrived in this Great Wilderness, he never imagined he’d ever return.

“Brother Qin, come inside and have some spiritual tea,” Gu Qingzhao said, as if accustomed to such life, relaxed and carefree.

Qin Ming ceased his musings, nodded, and followed her into the luxurious suite on the upper three decks.

He had originally asked her to arrange a standard room, yet she had prepared a top-tier one for him anyway.

The room was spacious with an excellent view; the scenery outside could be seen clearly through the windows.

…

Three days later.

In the banquet hall on the fourth deck of the magic vessel, several hundred cultivators had already taken their seats.

Most of those present were powerful Qi Refining cultivators.

There were also four or five faint traces of Foundation Establishment-level spiritual power, subtly concealed among the crowd.

Not long after.

The Mirror Snow Pavilion’s auction began.

Qin Ming and Gu Qingzhao sat in their private suite, eating snacks brought by attendants while watching the auction floor below.

“Welcome, esteemed cultivators, to this auction.”

“I can assure you, today’s auction will feature weighty items—surely not disappointing to any of you!”

A middle-aged cultivator in black robes ascended the central podium to warm up the crowd.

“First up is the first auction item.”

Two vials of pills were carried onto the stage by attendants.

The middle-aged man gently uncorked one vial; a refreshing, fragrant aroma filled the air. A deep-blue spiritual pill appeared clearly before everyone’s eyes.

“A pill to enhance Qi Refining Mid- and Late-Stage magic power—Yunling Pill!”

“I needn’t elaborate further on this pill, do I?”

“Among all Qi Refining pills that boost magic power, none surpasses this one.”

No sooner had the man finished speaking.

“It’s the Yunling Pill!”

“Which master crafted this?”

“I’ve heard the Yunling Pill is extremely difficult to refine; ordinary alchemists dare not attempt it.”

The atmosphere in the hall ignited instantly.

The middle-aged man raised his hand, cleared his throat, and shouted: “Yunling Pill—five pills per vial.”

“Starting bid: four hundred spirit stones.”

“Minimum raise: ten spirit stones!”

With that,

The cultivators below began bidding.

“I bid four hundred twenty!”

“Four hundred fifty!”

“Four hundred eighty!”

“Five hundred!”

…

Qin Ming hadn’t expected the Yunling Pills he’d sold to Gu Qingzhao to be this sought-after.

He’d sold them for only four hundred fifty spirit stones per vial.

Now, after just one round of bidding, prices had soared past five hundred.

‘Feels like I got shortchanged.’

Inside the private suite.

Gu Qingzhao noticed Qin Ming’s expression and couldn’t help but smile faintly.

“Five hundred fifty!”

Bidding continued.

“Five hundred eighty!”

All cultivators clearly understood the rarity of this pill—once missed, it would never return—and they bid wildly.

“Good!”

“Five hundred eighty once!”

“Five hundred eighty twice!”

“Five hundred eighty thrice!”

“Sold!”

…

After a fierce bidding battle,

The second vial of Yunling Pills also sold for over five hundred spirit stones.

“Next is the second auction item.”

An attendant brought another item onto the stage.

The middle-aged man lifted the red cloth; a blue-green magic robe appeared before the crowd.

“High-grade Blue Spirit Robe, possessing both defensive and speed-enhancing effects, capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator.”

“Starting bid: five hundred spirit stones!”

“I bid six hundred!”

…

As item after item was sold at high prices.

The auction was drawing to a close.

The attendant carefully placed a delicate jade vial on the table.

The middle-aged cultivator gently uncorked the vial, his gaze burning with heat; instantly, a pale green spiritual aura drifted out.

Immediately, the scent of the elixir filled the air.

“Next is the first climax item of this auction.”

“A Breakthrough Elixir—the Supreme Bone-Washing Pill!”

“Starting bid: two thousand spirit stones per pill!”

Boom! The venue erupted into unprecedented chaos.

(End of Chapter)