Chapter 565

After a moment of silence, there was an uproar.

How could one person be allowed to monopolize all the good things in the world!

When the Soul-Nourishing Wood appeared on the auction list, some forces secretly adjusted their auction focus, channeling as much capital as possible toward this treasure.

Therefore, even though Luo Chen bid with the momentum of a high-profile competitor, there were still people competing right behind him.

"My Gongsun Qian family bids 2.3 million! Fellow Daoist, I observed your previous bids, all related to water and earth minerals, so I assume you are intending to refine a magic treasure related to water and earth attributes. This Soul-Nourishing Wood is a treasure with Yin-Soul Wood attributes, which might not be compatible with the treasure you are refining. Why not give the Gongsun Qian family some face."

Luo Chen glanced at the private room from which the voice came, but did not respond, only speaking coldly.

"2.5 million."

"You!"

The Gongsun Qian family cultivator seemed not to have expected Luo Chen to be so dismissive of their face.

However, before they could utter any threats, a third-party bidder intervened in this war without smoke.

"2.7 million!"

After the bid, a graceful female voice came from that side, sounding like a sneer.

"Gongsun Qian Ting, having lorded over this Lengguang Island for so long, you really think everyone has to give your Gongsun Qian family face!"

In the Gongsun Qian family's private room, Gongsun Qian Ting, dressed in brilliant golden robes, had a very ugly expression.

He could recognize the owner of that voice.

The other party was the master of another immortal island, with a sect under her command that had been passed down for a thousand years.

Although the force was not very large, they occupied the land as kings and were self-sufficient, unlike their Gongsun Qian family, which needed to look at Fairy Feileng True Person's face.

With a livid face, Gongsun Qian Ting said coldly: "Luo Luo Yuqing, I don't care how much you bid; in any case, the Gongsun Qian family is determined to obtain this Soul-Nourishing Wood."

After speaking, he once again called out a high price of 3 million.

In just a short time, the starting price of 1 million had been raised to three times the amount.

Such intense bidding also shocked the onlookers in their hearts.

Those cultivators who had the intention to compete but lacked the financial resources were blocked below this price point.

The scene seemed to freeze for a moment, but amidst Leng You Ruolan's light laughter, it began to recover.

"The Lengguang Gongsun Qian family bids 3 million; is there anyone else following?"

"3.5 million!"

It was the second-floor private room again, and it was that rogue cultivator of unknown origin!

Gongsun Qian Ting felt as if he had been slapped, and replied bitterly: "3.6 million!"

Luo Chen remained unmoved, "4 million!"

Bid after bid, ranging from 400,000 to 500,000, to million-stone increments.

His confidence and the immense wealth he displayed shocked the cultivators.

The Hanli Sect, represented by Luo Luo Yuqing, had to announce their withdrawal from the competition after trying to follow the price a few times.

"This auction is to purchase a large amount of cultivation resources for the sect's disciples; putting all the spirit stones into a dispensable Soul-Nourishing Wood is truly not ideal."

Luo Luo Yuqing shook her head, "Forget it, let them fight!"

Sect forces are like this; although they are wealthy and powerful, the wealth within the sect does not belong to one person.

For a specific treasure, unless the entire sect agrees, it is difficult to bid regardless of the cost.

By the same token, cultivation families are the same.

Even though Gongsun Qian Ting is the head of the Gongsun Qian family, facing the high prices constantly pushed by Luo Chen, he was in a dilemma.

Millions, it is really too expensive.

One could completely find connections to purchase one or two high-grade magic treasures, which could enhance the strength of the family's cultivators and also serve as a foundation for inheritance.

To put it into a Soul-Nourishing Wood...

After some hesitation, he stopped speaking, as if the previous determination was just empty talk.

The family cultivator beside him couldn't help but speak: "Patriarch, the young patriarch has special aptitude; as long as he can make up for the shortcomings of his soul, he has a great hope of advancing to the Nascent Soul stage in the future. Now that the Soul-Nourishing Wood is right in front of us, even if we pay a little more, it's not impossible; how can we give up?"

"Nonsense! Everyone boasts about having hope for Nascent Soul, but how many have actually done it? How can I disregard the family just for my son's future."

Gongsun Qian Ting scolded, then gritted his teeth and said: "Besides, who told you I gave up."

The clansman was stunned.

Gongsun Qian Ting beckoned, and the cultivator moved two steps closer.

"Go and investigate the origin and whereabouts of that rogue cultivator."

The clansman blinked, seemingly realizing something.

"Go!" Gongsun Qian Ting waved his hand, seemingly having a plan in mind, "That person's location is just an ordinary VIP room in the Ancestor Tianyuan Building; I assume there is no powerful background. If we handle the follow-up well, we can not only save this spirit stone expenditure and get a piece of Soul-Nourishing Wood for free, but perhaps we can also have other gains."

In the private room, seeing Vice City Master Leng You Ruolan remind the bidders twice, and with no one following, Luo Chen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Sure enough, within certain rules, the ability to pay is also a form of strength!

At the very least, with his 5 million spirit stones thrown out, in the entire auction, as long as the Nascent Soul cultivators don't make a move, he is the most dazzling guy.

If the Nascent Soul doesn't come out, who can compete!

It's just that spending 5 million to buy a piece of Soul-Nourishing Wood, which he doesn't even need, really makes Luo Chen's heart ache.

"However, this expenditure is not worth mentioning compared to that Yuandan Technique and the complete Nascent Soul Pill formula."

Luo Chen could still distinguish what was more important.

However!

Just as Luo Chen's heart was slightly settled, a new force emerged in the venue.

"5.1 million!"

Luo Chen's eyes narrowed, his gaze looking diagonally upward.

The voice came from a private room on the third floor.

That location clearly belonged to a Jin Dan cultivator from the Li Canghai Alliance.

5 million was already Luo Chen's bottom line.

If he didn't hire a master-level blacksmith to forge that defensive magic treasure and relied solely on himself, the loss would inevitably be significant.

Just preparing the raw materials would cost him one or two million spirit stones, and if he failed many times later, there would certainly be more losses.

Therefore, Luo Chen intended to keep a few million for emergencies.

But now...

Just as Luo Chen was hesitating, Han Zhan's urgent voice came over.

"Luo Chen, you promised me!"

Luo Chen took a deep breath and said loudly: "5.5 million!"

A strong bid as always!

On the high platform, Leng You Ruolan's face was already beaming with joy.

"This fellow Daoist bids 5.5 million; does the fellow Daoist from the Li Canghai Alliance still want to follow?"

Without much hesitation, the Jin Dan cultivator from the Li Canghai Alliance said directly: "I also bid 5.5 million!"

Leng You Ruolan's expression stiffened, then she said displeasedly: "Fellow Daoist, the next bid must be higher than the previous one; you wouldn't be unaware of this conventional rule, would you?"

The Li Canghai Alliance Jin Dan smiled: "I naturally understand, but I saw on the auction list that if one can satisfy the special conditions of the Soul-Nourishing Wood's owner, it can also be discussed at discretion. Now that I and this rogue cultivator fellow Daoist have bid the same amount, why not arrange for us to meet the owner of the Soul-Nourishing Wood and talk privately?"

Leng You Ruolan's expression was slightly startled, then quite displeased.

For private negotiations, unless the conditions reached involve an increase in spirit stones, they here in Fairy Feileng City wouldn't be able to take much of a commission.

But since this point was stipulated earlier, she couldn't refuse.

After asking Luo Chen again if he wanted to increase the bid and receiving a negative response.

She immediately sent someone to arrange this private meeting.

And the auction process continued.

Led by the maid A-Qing, Luo Chen came to a side hall.

As soon as he entered, he felt a pair of sharp eyes looking at him intensely.

His expression remained unchanged as he sat down directly.

The owner of those eyes kept sizing Luo Chen up, "I am Shang Shang Junshu, the young master of the Four Seas Merchant Alliance; may I ask the honorable name of the fellow Daoist?"

Four Seas Merchant Alliance!

This is a famous major force in the North Sea cultivation world, with a Nascent Soul True Person sitting in command. Now that they have joined the Li Canghai Righteous Alliance, their power is even greater than before, making them the top commercial force in the North Sea, second only to the Ancestor Tianyuan Merchant Alliance.

Shang Shang Junshu claimed to be the young master of the Merchant Alliance; doesn't that mean that the Four Seas True Person is his father?

Luo Chen frowned, "A nameless rogue cultivator, not worth mentioning."

Shang Shang Junshu didn't mind; rogue cultivators are always like this, hiding their heads and tails, not even daring to reveal their names or origins.

He said seriously: "This Soul-Nourishing Wood was purchased by Shang for a friend of my father, and I hope the fellow Daoist can be accommodating. If you just want Soul-Nourishing Wood, my Merchant Alliance also has ones that are eight or nine hundred years old, and supplemented by special methods, the effect is no less than a thousand-year Soul-Nourishing Wood."

Luo Chen asked back: "Then why don't you use that method?"

Shang Shang Junshu suppressed the discomfort in his heart and patiently explained: "The thousand-year Soul-Nourishing Wood produced by such methods can only be used by us Jin Dan cultivators. And my father's friend is a Nascent Soul True Person; only a thousand-year Soul-Nourishing Wood will do. Fellow Daoist, can you really not be accommodating?"

Luo Chen shook his head, "Let's wait until we see the owner of the Soul-Nourishing Wood!"

Shang Shang Junshu clenched his fists and stared at Luo Chen for a long time.

"Fine, then we'll see who has the better means when the time comes!"

It didn't take long for the two to wait.

Before long, heavy footsteps could be heard outside the palace.

The two looked up, and a pot-bellied Jin Dan cultivator full of fat stepped into the side hall.

At just one glance, Luo Chen and the other were somewhat surprised.

It's him!

The reason why the two had such a reaction was that many people "knew" this owner of the Soul-Nourishing Wood.

He was the rogue Jin Dan cultivator who, at the beginning of the auction, bought the third-tier Black-Green Treasure Basin Fish for the high price of 7 million spirit stones.

This person was extremely obese, looking like a greasy big meatball from afar.

Yet, his face shape was very normal, even somewhat thin due to his high-bridged hooked nose.

Thin face and fat body; anyone who saw this combination would find it memorable.

As soon as this person entered, he smiled: "I am Ding Yi; the two fellow Daoists want to see me?"

Shang Shang Junshu first reported his family background, "Young Master of the Four Seas Merchant Alliance, Shang Shang Junshu."

To show a little courtesy, Luo Chen also stated his pseudonym, "Rogue cultivator Luo Hai, met fellow Daoist Ding."

Ding Yi gave a hum, "Since you want to see me, that means you have the confidence to satisfy my special conditions, right?"

Shang Shang Junshu was full of confidence, "I think so. I not only manage the Four Seas Merchant Alliance but also have considerable power in the Li Canghai Alliance established by the great power Li. With the foundation of my Four Seas Merchant Alliance and the Li Canghai Alliance, satisfying the fellow Daoist's requirements should be no problem."

"Very confident!" Ding Yi smiled, then stated his conditions.

"Ding accidentally entered a secret realm in his early years and mistakenly took an unknown heavenly spiritual medicine, which, although it greatly increased my cultivation, also left behind this sequela of obesity. So, my conditions are not difficult, just two. The first one is to lose weight."

Uh...

Facing this condition, Luo Chen and Shang Shang Junshu were stunned for a while.

Lose weight?

What's difficult about that.

For cultivators, refining essence into Qi is just the most common and superficial method; all that fat, just by running the cultivation technique for a few cycles, wouldn't it be consumed?

Although they thought so, the two did not question it.

Shang Shang Junshu thought for a moment, then took out a jade slip from the storage jade belt wrapped around his waist.

"It records an exquisite third-tier cultivation technique; after practicing it, one can dissolve essence, Qi, and flesh."

Ding Yi took it with a smile and glanced at the beginning.

"Blood-Dissolving Demon Technique? A technique of the Demon Sect?"

Shang Shang Junshu nodded, "This technique is indeed related to the Demon Sect."

Ding Yi did not agree directly, but looked at Luo Chen.

Luo Chen hesitated for a while, then took out a pill and a book from his storage ring.

Ding Yi got it in his hand, glanced at it slightly, and frowned.

"Pill formula?"

Luo Chen explained: "Fellow Daoist Ding is not mistaken, it is indeed a pill formula. Its name is Jiang Chen Pill, which Luo obtained from a pill-dao sect in his early years; this formula is superficial and not prohibited from being passed on. After taking this pill, one can consume one's essence and blood and convert it into pure magic power. As for that Jiang Chen Pill, it was also refined by me in my early years; fellow Daoist can try it out."

Ding Yi was noncommittal, his heart more inclined toward the "Blood-Dissolving Demon Technique" given by Shang Shang Junshu.

After all, that method, once practiced proficiently, the dissolved flesh and blood could also be used to attack enemies.

Seeing his attitude, Shang Shang Junshu was overjoyed; as long as he satisfied the second condition of the other party, the three-thousand-year-old Soul-Nourishing Wood would be his.

What could the rogue cultivator Luo Hai use to compete with him?

"I wonder what fellow Daoist Ding's second condition is?"

Ding Yi pointed to his head, "I obtained that Soul-Nourishing Wood in my early years and, coveting the rumored effects of Soul-Nourishing Wood, tried to use it to nourish my soul. But I accidentally got tainted by the bad luck attached to it, which instead injured my soul. As a result, although my realm has improved, my soul foundation has made almost no progress for many years. Therefore, I need relevant resources to improve my soul foundation!"

Soul-Nourishing Trees mostly grow in places where lonely ghosts accumulate.

Therefore, a Soul-Nourishing Tree that has reached a thousand years of age has a core that naturally carries the special effect of nourishing the soul; ordinary cultivators who obtain it all treat it as a treasure.

It is understandable that Ding Yi was careless at the time, with a great treasure in front of him, and was injured by the bad luck.

Shang Shang Junshu was somewhat troubled; resources that can increase the soul foundation are extremely precious things anywhere.

He did have a set of corresponding methods on hand, but to give it to an outsider...

Just as he was hesitating, he saw the black-robed Daoist beside him directly hand over a jade bottle.

Ding Yi took the jade bottle, smelled it slightly, and couldn't help but feel refreshed.

Coupled with Luo Chen's sound transmission, he nodded without hesitation.

"As long as you give me nine more bottles of this top-grade Tongyou Pill, the Soul-Nourishing Wood will be yours!"

Luo Chen's heart ached a little.

Refining Tongyou Pills is not easy, especially since his Tongyou Pills were second-tier versions he had improved himself.

With the manpower and material resources of the Du Feiyan Archipelago, they only collected a small batch of raw materials.

After his refining, the Tongyou Pills produced were partially left for Chengcheng Haixin and Xu Xu Muxian, and he only had these ten or so bottles left on hand.

He didn't expect this cultivator to be so greedy.

But with Han Zhan's promise, he finally gritted his teeth and took out all his stock.

When Shang Shang Junshu looked blankly at Ding Yi returning the jade slip recording the "Blood-Dissolving Demon Technique," he knew he was out of the game.

"Fellow Daoist, we can still talk about it!"

Ding Yi smiled: "Could it be that you have better conditions?"

Shang Shang Junshu opened his mouth but was speechless.

Finally, he glared fiercely at Luo Chen, left a harsh word, and walked away.

"Luo Hai, you have offended more than just me!"

Luo Chen's expression was not very good.

Clearly, behind Shang Shang Junshu is a Nascent Soul True Person father, and that elder who could be a friend of a Nascent Soul True Person, who is also likely a cultivator of at least the Nascent Soul level.

On the other hand, inside the Hunyuan Tripod, Han Zhan was full of relief.

"Don't think too much; once I get the Soul-Nourishing Wood, my strength will recover by a small half. Although I can't say I can fight a Nascent Soul True Person, protecting you while walking in the North Sea cultivation world shouldn't be a big problem."

Luo Chen smiled reluctantly; that was all he could do.

Seeing his expression fluctuating, Ding Yi beside him probably guessed what he was thinking.

"Brother, don't think too much; we rogue cultivators are just like this. Collecting resources is difficult, and if you are not careful, it is easy to offend those people with backing and roots. In the future, as long as you stay low-key and walk around them, in the vast North Sea, they can't do anything to you."

Luo Chen nodded reluctantly, "Thank you for the comfort, fellow Daoist."

Ding Yi laughed, a hint of flattery appearing on his thin cheeks.

"Fellow Daoist Luo, you should be an alchemist, right!"

Luo Chen's heart tightened; it seems this is the real reason why Ding Yi, this rogue cultivator, agreed without hesitation to sell the Soul-Nourishing Wood to him.

Those ten bottles of Tongyou Pills are just water without a source; once used up, they are gone.

Only by cozying up to Luo Chen can one have an inexhaustible supply of pills for cultivation.

Luo Chen said in a low voice: "I do have some alchemy attainments, but it's not much; fellow Daoist, don't overestimate me."

Ding Yi smiled and said: "An alchemist who can refine second-tier top-grade pills can't be called 'not much'! At the very least, for ordinary third-tier low-grade pills, fellow Daoist should be able to handle them with ease, right!"

Luo Chen did not respond much.

Ding Yi did not seek verification, but changed the subject.

"While there is still time, why don't you give me some pointers on the key points of refining the Jiang Chen Pill. Although I have also learned alchemy, I can only refine some superficial first-tier and second-tier pills, only in the low-grade category. To refine top-grade Jiang Chen Pills sufficient for my use, even with the pill formula in hand, I'm afraid it's quite difficult."

Giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him how to fish.

Clearly, the other party has this idea.

If it were just one pill, Luo Chen wouldn't be stingy.

Immediately, he began to orally dictate the details and key points in the process of refining the Jiang Chen Pill to the other party.

This thing, to be honest, is really not that difficult to refine.

Back at the Qingdan Valley's pill-dao competition, using this pill as an exam question was because it was simple to get started.

And it has almost no positive effect on a cultivator's cultivation.

Luo Chen also used it in combination with Blood-Increasing Pills to cultivate.

However, if it is just used for weight loss, I think it will be very suitable for Ding Yi, this thin-faced big fat man!

Teaching Ding Yi the method of refining the "Jiang Chen Pill" took Luo Chen half a day.

No way, this fat man is really familiar; not only did he learn the refining method, but he was also deliberately trying to build a relationship with Luo Chen.

Considering that the Soul-Nourishing Wood had not yet arrived, Luo Chen had to deal with him perfunctorily.

Half a day later, he made an excuse that he still had resources to auction, broke away from the other party's entanglement, and hurried back to the private room.

At this time, the auction was still going on!

For an auction of this scale, it is common for it to go on day and night for three days and three nights.

For cultivators like them who are at the Foundation Establishment or Jin Dan stage, a few days of sleeplessness is nothing at all.

And just as Luo Chen returned, the sound of noise instantly flooded his ears, leaving him at a loss.

What happened?

He spread his spiritual sense and only heard the venue constantly discussing things like "Spirit Treasure," "Sword Spirit," and "Opportunity for Soul Transformation."

After listening for just a moment, Luo Chen had a vague guess in his heart.

Sure enough, when he saw Leng You Ruolan carefully holding out a blood sword, all the guesses became true.

Inside the Hunyuan Tripod, Han Zhan blurted out.

"Spirit Treasure!"

(End of chapter)