Chapter 188: Warning

Besides Huo Qianqiu, there were three other Gao Jie Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"The elderly man in the black robe to the north is Yan Xiaotian of Giant Serpent Island; he is a well-known Gao Jie Foundation Establishment cultivator of the spiritual energy Archipelago."

"The short elderly man to the west is Liu Wanzhou of the Liu family of Huangling Island, a newly promoted Gao Jie Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet his strength is formidable—he reportedly defeated a fellow Gao Jie cultivator immediately after breaking through."

"The middle-aged man in the green robe to the east is Yu Hong of the Tianlan River, a Second-Rank Middle-Grade Array Master."

Long Yi gave Qin Ming a detailed introduction to these several highly accomplished Gao Jie Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Then, a graceful figure descended into the center of the square.

A voice as resonant as a bronze bell rang clearly in everyone's ears.

"Welcome, fellow cultivators, to Qianye Spirit Island for this Spirit Island Jiaoyi Society."

"I am Nie Aoshan. No need for idle words—I declare the Jiaoyi Society officially open!"

"Within the next seven days, aside from trade between the islands, rare items from Qianye Spirit Island will be auctioned daily in the central venue—anyone interested may participate."

"That's all I have to say. I hope all of you leave this Jiaoyi Society with something valuable."

"Now, the first batch of items will be auctioned."

Qin Ming gazed at the central venue, his pupils contracting sharply.

Nie Aoshan's cultivation had reached Foundation Establishment's peak—he was the highest-ranked cultivator present—and his arrival unleashed a powerful spiritual pressure that silenced everyone.

"Besides Nie Aoshan, the Nie family has one Supreme Elder at the False Core stage, but he rarely appears at such events," Long Yi whispered to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming nodded slightly, thinking to himself.

"It seems the Nie family's rise to replace the Zhao family stems not merely from Lei Yuanzong's backing, but more from their own deep-rooted strength."

If one is incapable, no one can lift them up.

Next, over a dozen slender maidens entered the venue in sequence, each carrying red-clothed trays.

Then, a middle-aged cultivator dispatched by the Seventy-Two Islands' Alliance unveiled the red cloths one by one, beginning to display the treasures for auction.

"I won't waste more words."

"Let us begin the auction of the first item," the middle-aged cultivator said, then lifted the red cloth.

On the tray appeared a yellow crystal stone, radiating dense spiritual energy, and within it, a cloud-like substance was enclosed.

"Second-Rank Supreme-Quality Spirit Ore: Cold Crystal Xuantong."

"Starting bid: twenty thousand spirit stones. Each raise must be at least one thousand spirit stones."

Boom! "This is such a rare spirit ore—and such a large piece!"

"Are the Alliance and the Nie family mad? To put such an extraordinarily rare material up for trade?"

"Who cares! Since they're so generous, I won't hold back! I bid thirty thousand!"

"..."

"I bid forty thousand!"

"!!!"

"Fifty thousand!"

…

Soon, after several rounds of fierce bidding, the Cold Crystal ore was sold at an extremely high price.

Even Yu Hong, the Gao Jie Foundation Establishment Second-Rank Array Master, joined the bidding—this ore must be a rare array material.

The Alliance and the Nie family had mimicked auction house tactics: they opened with heavy-hitters, instantly igniting the crowd's spending frenzy.

"The second item should be a rare find for Spirit Plant Masters," the middle-aged man said, then smiled knowingly toward Qin Ming's direction.

He lifted the red cloth, revealing several gray spirit seeds—plain-looking, unremarkable.

All the cultivators present, including the Gao Jie Foundation Establishment cultivators, exchanged puzzled glances—they didn't recognize it.

Some Second-Rank Spirit Plant Masters also stared at the seeds on the tray, silent.

But Qin Ming recognized the seeds at a glance—his eyes brightened instantly, though he had no intention of drawing attention.

He thought inwardly: "It's the spirit seed of Sanjiang Huanhun Grass!"

The middle-aged host had planned to build suspense, certain almost no one here would recognize it.

Perhaps only Qin Daozhu, the famed Spirit Plant Master of the spiritual energy Archipelago, might know something.

But after waiting a long while and seeing no reaction from Qin Ming—only the same curious stares as everyone else—he grew embarrassed.

He cleared his throat and shouted loudly: "Fellow cultivators! This is the spirit seed of the Third-Rank Low-Grade Spirit Plant—Sanjiang Huanhun Grass!"

"When mature, this herb can protect the soul in critical moments, reviving the dead, and is a key ingredient in multiple Third-Rank spirit elixirs."

"It is also said to be the primary material for high-grade longevity elixirs!"

"Need I explain its value?"

"Starting bid: thirty thousand spirit stones!"

The moment the host finished speaking, cultivators began bidding immediately.

"Thirty-five thousand!"

"Fifty thousand!" "..."

"Come on, you act like you can grow this stuff—why bid so aggressively?"

"Then bid yourself! Who cares if you can grow it? It's a Third-Rank spirit seed—buy it first!"

"Sixty thousand!"

…

Qin Ming watched the scene spiral out of control, silently astonished.

He thought for a moment, then said to Long Yi beside him: "Long Dao you, please bid for me on this item."

"I'll give you the spirit stones later."

Qin Ming decided it was safer to bid under the name of Jingxue Pavilion—it would avoid unnecessary trouble.

Long Yi understood his intent and nodded: "No problem, Qin Dao you."

After several rounds of fierce bidding, Long Yi secured the Sanjiang Huanhun Grass seed for seventy-five thousand spirit stones.

Qin Ming gazed at the seed delivered to him, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

After the Third-Rank spirit seed was auctioned, many other rare spirit items followed in the central venue.

But Qin Ming observed closely and noticed several items were bought at high prices by obscure spirit island families—he realized these were the true targets of the Alliance and the Nie family, who were now secretly competing.

The auction in the central venue lasted the entire afternoon and ended.

Yet within the valley, trade between the spirit islands continued vigorously, with no sign of winding down.

Night fell.

Qin Ming received the Third-Rank spirit plant seed from Long Yi and settled the spirit stones.

"Congratulations, Qin Dao you, on a successful first day," Long Yi smiled brightly. "You must be confident you can successfully cultivate this spirit plant?"

"Then you'll become a Third-Rank Spirit Plant Master."

Qin Ming chuckled awkwardly: "I have little confidence—I just saw it and couldn't resist."

He hadn't expected to achieve half his goal on the very first day.

"Qin Dao you, I inquired specifically for you—the high-grade beast essence you need will appear on the auction list for the third day," Long Yi revealed.

Qin Ming thanked her again: "Thank you, Long Dao you. As today, please bid for me then."

He took a delicate jade vial from his storage bag and placed it in Long Yi's hand: "Use this to cover the spirit stones needed—if it's insufficient, I'll make up the difference."

Long Yi opened the vial with a puzzled expression, glanced inside, and her face instantly lit up with excitement.

"It's a Youth-Preserving Pill!"

Qin Ming smiled silently at her.

He still had several Youth-Preserving Pills left from his earlier refining—they were useless if consumed in excess, so why not offer them as a favor?

Whether Long Yi returned Youth-Preserving Pills or spirit stones to Jingxue Pavilion was none of his concern.

…

With matters settled,

Qin Ming stepped out of the villa and strolled through the bustling night market in the valley.

Beyond selling goods, the spirit islands were now negotiating large-scale deals and signing agreements.

But all such discussions took place within the villas.

"Truly lively!"

Qin Ming rarely felt such a sense of human warmth.

Just then,

His powerful spiritual sense suddenly sensed a familiar figure watching him nearby.

Qin Ming frowned, silently slipped into a nearby alley, then concealed his form and followed.

The figure was the black-hooded female cultivator he had encountered days ago at the Tianhe Bazaar.

But now she had removed her hood, revealing a refined face.

Yet as he drew near, she flicked her wrist.

Threw something—he caught it easily.

Qin Ming unfolded the object: a brief, stark note.

"Qianye Spirit Island is about to change—this place is extremely dangerous—leave at once!"

After reading it, Qin Ming's heart stirred—he already knew who this woman was.

The woman did not linger; she glanced back at Qin Ming, then vanished in a flash into the dark alley.

……

(End of chapter)