Chapter 252: Five Catties of Spiritual Rice Exchanged for a High-Grade Magical Artifact and Middle-Grade Spirit Stones

Soon, Ye Fan obtained the auction house's highest-specification token, enjoying discounts on both buying and selling, and could also get advance auction information.

"That fellow Daoist's spiritual rice, we'll record it as an auction item, a total of five catties. Fellow Daoist, do you want to exchange goods for goods, or also accept spirit stone transactions?"

Ye Fan thought for a moment, then said:

"Spirit stones, but I only accept middle-grade spirit stones; I don't want low-grade spirit stones."

He had just arrived; these five catties of spiritual rice were originally meant as a test probe. If he could directly exchange them for the middle-grade spirit stones the Immortal Fairy Sister needed, that would be perfect.

The steward hurriedly noted his words, saying, "Although middle-grade spirit stones are precious, honored guest, your spiritual rice is also truly valuable; I believe we can certainly complete the transaction today."

As far as he knew, the elder had already sent people to inform the other few customers who held black seals about the news of the spiritual rice, and they all showed strong interest.

The steward personally led Ye Fan to a private room on the third floor, served top-grade tea leaves, prepared some sweet pastries, and was about to retreat when Ye Fan called him back to ask a question.

"Steward, do you know if among tonight's auction items there is anything related to alchemy, such as an alchemy furnace?"

Upon hearing this, the steward immediately nodded and bowed.

"Yes, yes, our auction house never lacks spiritual herbs and medicines; as for an alchemy furnace, we indeed have one today, but the seller asks for a goods-for-goods exchange."

"Do you know what the other party wants?"

That steward scratched his head, saying, "Honored guest, please wait a moment; I truly don't know this. I'll go ask the elder and then report back to you."

The steward soon left; Ye Fan held the tea and took a sip—it was astringent and bitter, not even one-ten-thousandth as tasty as cola.

He had rarely drunk tea before; the previous time was at Senior Brother Song's cave dwelling, where it was said to be a hundred-year-old spiritual tea, its value immeasurable.

That spiritual tea was indeed fragrant; although it provided less spiritual energy than cola and spiritual rice, drinking it also nourished the meridians and replenished spiritual power, surely beloved by those powerful cultivators.

He didn't know whether the Immortal Fairy Sister liked tea; next time he met Senior Brother Song, he would definitely ask for some to give the Immortal Fairy Sister a taste.

Just as he was thinking, the steward hurriedly returned with the news.

"Customer, I've inquired clearly: the alchemy furnace in that customer's hand is a Double Peak Spirit Furnace, a high-grade magical artifact. I've asked around—if you can let the other party have your five catties of spiritual rice on consignment, you can directly take away the Double Peak Spirit Furnace; our auction house will make an exception this once, allowing you two to trade privately."

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan felt delighted in his heart.

Exchanging five catties of spiritual rice for a high-grade magical artifact—what a great deal!

Who would have thought, in those few seconds of hesitation, the steward assumed Ye Fan wouldn't agree and quickly added:

"The other party also said, if you feel the trade is a loss, he can additionally add five middle-grade spirit stones, but that's all he can give."

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan was startled; he had thought the other party felt it was a loss, but he hadn't expected that they were afraid he wouldn't agree to the trade and could additionally add middle-grade spirit stones.

In this light, he had completely underestimated the value of the spiritual rice!

The things the Immortal Fairy Sister gave are truly good; it's either his lack of experience in this area or his limited knowledge, and he almost sold the Immortal Fairy Sister's spiritual rice cheaply.

Thinking of this, Ye Fan began to put on a hesitant act, hoping the other party would think his five catties of spiritual rice were worth more than that, and that he was dissatisfied with the terms they offered.

The steward, acting on behalf of the other party, seeing this, couldn't help but break into a sweat.

He gritted his teeth, and on behalf of the owner of the Double Peak Spirit Furnace, offered the final price.

"Honored guest, you can add another five middle-grade spirit stones; then this truly is the highest price the other party can offer."

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan paused only briefly before slowly nodding.

"Then let's proceed with this price."

Exchanging five catties of spiritual rice yielded a high-grade magical artifact alchemy furnace, plus ten middle-grade spirit stones—far more than he had anticipated.

Ten middle-grade spirit stones are equivalent to a thousand low-grade spirit stones, enough to buy two disguising masks.

Seeing Ye Fan relax his mouth, the housekeeper also let out a sigh of relief.

Before the auction even began, Ye Fan had already achieved his goal.

With the Double Peak Spirit Furnace in hand and an additional ten middle-grade spirit stones, he immediately withdrew from the auction.

Ye Fan naturally also wanted to watch the entire auction, but for safety's sake, it was better that he left.

Moreover, he now had no chips left to participate in bidding; staying would only leave him staring blankly.

Low-grade spirit stones are gone, and the middle-grade spirit stones are for the Immortal Fairy Sister; they cannot be touched.

The only things he could bring out were cola and spiritual rice; cola is too special—if he took it out, he might be discovered by scheming persons of the sect.

And as for the spiritual rice, let's not even mention it—such a precious item, taking out five catties today already drew attention; if he used spiritual rice for trade again, perhaps the whole Cloud Heaven City would find out, and he would become the target of public criticism.

Furthermore, rarity makes value; the Immortal Fairy Sister gave him plenty of spiritual rice, but he couldn't therefore fail to treat it as a treasure.

Leaving the auction house, Ye Fan found a secluded spot to take off his mask, then randomly found a pharmacy and entered.

After exchanging the Yellow Dragon Pill on his person for several dozen spirit stones, he hurried straight to the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

Seeing Ye Fan come and go, the shopkeeper thought he had regretted it and wanted to return the mask, his heart giving a sudden jolt.

But soon, the shopkeeper relaxed.

Ye Fan: "Do you sell technique manuals here?"

Seeing Ye Fan not mention the mask, the shopkeeper couldn't help but feel pleased; good that this little Dao friend is upright, knowing that a purchase is final and non-returnable.

He warmly said:

"Yes, yes, I don't know what type you little friend want, nor what grade."

"Just give me the most basic; any type will do."

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper immediately led Ye Fan to a loft filled with books, and also many scrolls.

"The books are the various techniques you want, ranging from Yellow to Mysterious grade; once you pick one, peel off the label, and I'll have someone help make a rubbing."

"As for these scrolls, they are sample sheets of completed formations; whichever you take, the shop will give you the actual formation plate."

"Formations are our shop's specialty; little brother, if you have ample funds, why not give it a try—especially that Spirit Gathering Formation, made by a Formation Master; even the Spirit Gathering Formation used in the cave dwellings of the inner disciples of the Cloud Heaven Sect is not as good as ours."

The shopkeeper's words instantly sparked Ye Fan's interest.

But when he found the scroll of the Spirit Gathering Formation and saw the price, he couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

One Spirit Gathering Formation actually requires two thousand spirit stones—this formation master really knows how to make money!

For a moment, Ye Fan's heart stirred.

Formation is also his interest, but formation cultivation is harder than alchemy; besides needing high comprehension, a formation master is an extremely resource-consuming profession, and in the short term he cannot yet cultivate both alchemy and formation simultaneously, so he can only proceed step by step.

Ye Fan quickly selected a few technique manuals and then hurried away.

The shopkeeper, seeing that Ye Fan did not buy the Spirit Gathering Formation he recommended, still felt a bit regretful.

It's a pity that the youth bought a Disguise Mask; he probably doesn't have enough spirit stones on hand, otherwise the Spirit Gathering Formation in his shop would definitely be worth purchasing.

With a Spirit Gathering Formation, cultivation yields twice the result with half the effort.