Chapter 124

After Qin Ming received this news.

His spirit instantly perked up.

The Mirror Snow Pavilion's auction is about to begin.

He gave Wu Jiang some instructions and set off for Canghai Xiancheng.

After breaking through to Foundation Establishment, he no longer needed to rely on flight artifacts for travel.

But using the Spirit Light Flying Shuttle still saved more magic power.

Qin Ming flew through the air, watching the view beneath the Wangyue Lake rapidly recede.

His cultivation speed was several times faster than before.

Half a day later.

Qin Ming arrived at Canghai Xiancheng; the crowds at the gate were several times denser than usual, presumably all drawn by the auction.

Low-level cultivators nearby, seeing a Foundation Establishment cultivator flying through the air, bowed and stepped aside.

Qin Ming entered the inner city, followed the main road to the Mirror Snow Pavilion, and met Gu Qingzhao.

From her, he learned that besides the Foundation Establishment Pill, many other valuable items would be put up for auction.

The appearance of the Foundation Establishment Pill had not only attracted numerous lone cultivators and Qi Condensation families, but even most third-rate Foundation Establishment clans had come.

After all, each new Foundation Establishment cultivator represented a qualitative boost to the overall strength of these clans.

These third-rate Foundation Establishment clans lacked the ability to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, so whenever an opportunity arose, they would never let it slip away.

Three days remained until the auction officially began.

Inside and outside Canghai Xiancheng, the streets buzzed with noise; even the inns and guesthouses in the outer city were fully booked.

The Immortal Realm had set up many temporary lodging spots outside the city.

Inside the Mirror Snow Pavilion.

Gu Qingzhao and Shopkeeper Liao had been swamped with work these past two days.

Qin Ming sat alone by the window, ordered a few small dishes, drank wine, and gazed outside.

"Hey, have you heard?"

"The Foundation Establishment Pill being auctioned by the Mirror Snow Pavilion was likely refined by the Lord of Wangyue Island."

"Of course—Qin Qianbei is an honorary guest minister of the Mirror Snow Pavilion."

"It must be said, we've long heard that Qin Qianbei excels not only in spirit plant cultivation but also in alchemy, unmatched by anyone."

"Are you exaggerating? More skilled than Sun Dadan? He's a Second-Rank Upper-Grade Alchemy Master."

"Qin Qianbei can refine Foundation Establishment Pills, but how long has he been a Second-Rank Alchemist?"

"Precisely because of that—Qin Qianbei is only forty. He'll surely reach Second-Rank Upper-Grade Alchemist eventually."

"It's a pity we haven't seen his true face. We should get to see him at this auction."

"You've got a point there."

"Eat your food, eat your food!"

……

Qin Ming listened to the chatter from the nearby table and shook his head with a wry smile.

At that moment.

Two elderly men—one fat, one thin—ascended the stairs to the third floor, radiating Foundation Establishment-level magic power.

Instantly, all the cultivators dining on the third floor turned to look, yet dared not stare too long.

The two walked straight toward Qin Ming's table; as they drew near, the thin elder smiled and greeted him: "Hehe, Qin Qianbei, good day! I've long admired your name!"

"Might I trouble you for a brief word?"

Qin Ming turned and sized up the two, then rose and returned their bow: "May I ask who you two are?"

"I am Xue Zhili, and this gentleman is Miao Renke."

"Senior Xue."

"Senior Miao."

Qin Ming glanced at them: Xue Zhili was at Foundation Establishment Mid-Level, Miao Renke at Foundation Establishment Early-Level.

"This isn't a place to discuss matters. Qin Qianbei, would you be willing to move upstairs for a chat?" Xue Zhili asked with a smile.

Qin Ming didn't know why these two had approached him, but he nodded and followed them up to the fifth-floor private room.

After the three ascended.

"No way—the man sitting beside us just now was Qin Qianbei?"

"Looks like it."

"Then did Qin Qianbei hear everything we just said?"

"."

In the fifth-floor private room, Xue Zhili cast a soundproofing seal, then got straight to the point: "Qin Qianbei, here's the matter—I've organized a gathering among Foundation Establishment cultivators to exchange items, to begin after the auction."

"After all, it's rare for so many Foundation Establishment cultivators to gather in one place."

"Those invited to this exchange aren't ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators—they're the elite among us. Qin Qianbei, your name is renowned throughout the spiritual energy Immortal Realm, and you're certainly qualified to join. I sincerely invite you—would you be interested?"

Xue Zhili finished speaking and waited with a smiling expression for Qin Ming's reply.

Qin Ming paused briefly, then asked: "Where will this exchange be held?"

"Hehe, Qin Qianbei, don't worry—this exchange will take place at my Liuyun Biyuan, right here in the inner city," Xue Zhili replied.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming immediately agreed.

Such an exchange might contain something he needed.

"If that's the case, Qin Mou cannot refuse Senior Xue's kind invitation—I will certainly attend."

Xue Zhili smiled upon hearing this and said, "Then I shall await you, Daoist Qin."

Afterwards.

The three of them chatted and got to know one another for a while.

From the exchange just now, Qin Ming learned that Xue Zhili was quite a figure of reputation in Yunze Xiancheng.

Miao Renke was also a loose cultivator at Foundation Establishment, but what he cultivated was the rather obscure art of mechanism puppets among the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, and he was a second-grade mid-rank puppet master.

Although his own cultivation was only early Foundation Establishment, once his puppet art was deployed, he could hold his own against mid Foundation Establishment.

After the exchange ended.

Xue Zhili and the other took their leave of Qin Ming.

Three days later.

The auction, which had been built up for three months, was held as scheduled.

Jingxue Pavilion's Treasure Auction House in Yunze Xiancheng was grand in scale, able to seat over a thousand cultivators at once.

Of course, the entry qualifications for this auction were set very high as well; ordinary loose cultivators simply could not get in.

After Qin Ming entered the venue.

Gu Qingzhao ordered someone to arrange a private box with an excellent view for him, then said to him: "Daoist Qin, this auction may well have quite a few things you need."

Qin Ming was a little surprised to hear even her say so, and nodded at once: "That would naturally be for the best."

His current wealth was ample; anything he took a fancy to, he could basically afford to bid for.

Half an hour later.

Forces, clans, and loose cultivators from all sides entered one after another.

Gazing at the venue's entrance, Qin Ming had already spotted four or five Foundation Establishment cultivators entering within just a short while.

He could not help sighing inwardly — Foundation Establishment Pills were already exceedingly rare to begin with, and once these Foundation Establishment clans came to compete, those loose cultivators would find it very hard to snatch it away.

Still, quite a few Qi Refining clans were also prepared to stake their entire fortunes to fight for that slim chance.

"The Mu clan of Qilian Mountain, the Gusu clan of Ten Thousand Swords Manor, the Qian clan of Xiaokui Island — even these long-established Foundation Establishment clans have come."

"And Wildfire Laozu, Phantom Spirit Qingxia Xianzi — why have these people come too?"

"Sigh, this is tough! Who would have thought so many people would fight over this one Foundation Establishment Pill."

"They're not leaving us loose cultivators any way out at all!"

Qin Ming also learned from Gu Qingzhao why so many had come to compete this time.

There was another very important reason.

Namely, the auction was being held within Yunze Xiancheng.

Even if a loose cultivator won the Foundation Establishment Pill, there was no need to worry about taking it and being unable to leave, being ambushed and killed along the way.

Because combat was forbidden within Yunze Xiancheng, safety was guaranteed; after obtaining the Foundation Establishment Pill, one could simply rent a dedicated closed-door cave dwelling beneath Yunze's main peak and choose to break through on the spot.

……

One incense stick's time later.

Every seat in the venue was taken; everyone who had obtained entry qualifications had come.

A middle-aged auctioneer took the stage, and after a stirring opening speech.

The first auction item was brought up.

"This is the first auction item of this auction."

"It is the Spirit-Resting Spirit Rice, which has reappeared in the Immortal Realm after a hundred years! Fifty catties in total!"

"From the hands of Qin Qianbei, the Lord of Wangyue Island!"

Having said this, the middle-aged auctioneer slowly drew back the red cloth, revealing the snow-white spirit rice within, fair as ice and jade.

(End of this chapter)