Chapter 195: The Exchange Gathering

After this, He Pingsheng and Wang Dun had no interest in watching the rest of the auction.

He Pingsheng was thinking about how to avoid Wang Dun.

Don't go to Shenjiang Mountain.

Wang Dun, by contrast, was thinking about how to take He Pingsheng with him—to Shenjiang Mountain.

If he could just get He Pingsheng to Shenjiang Mountain, the task would be complete.

He still remembered last time he gave He Pingsheng a dantian furnace; after completing that task, the reward was ten times greater than other missions.

Since last time he got a massive reward, bringing He Pingsheng to Shenjiang Mountain this time must follow the same logic.

Hehe…

Must get this kid away—bind him if necessary.

Hmm, the reward is crucial!

"The next item up for auction is a low-grade magic treasure!" smiled Jin Lan, clad in a deep blue dao robe, revealing even more of her dazzlingly pale skin; with a wave of her hand, a magic treasure appeared on the table.

It was a pair of shoes.

"This item is named the 【Zhuiyun Shoes】, bearing nine layers of sealing runes!"

"It has no offensive or defensive capabilities, but once assimilated and worn on the feet, it grants unparalleled speed!"

"This item was consigned by a senior; if anyone needs it, please bid!"

"Starting price: one hundred ten thousand spirit stones; each bid must increase by at least five thousand spirit stones!"

"Auction now open—place your bids!"

He Pingsheng's pupils contracted slightly: this was a good item.

Though it had no offensive or defensive function, it could greatly increase speed—extremely useful in combat.

You cast a spell at me, I move my feet and dodge—won't you waste all your effort?

In combat, it would be absolutely invaluable.

After thinking it over, He Pingsheng took a deep breath and said: "One hundred fifteen thousand spirit stones!"

Wang Dun beside him jumped in surprise: "Brother… you crazy? Don't you only have a few ten thousand spirit stones?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're not thinking of borrowing mine, are you?"

He clutched his storage bag tightly with both hands.

He Pingsheng asked: "Brother Wang, you won't refuse to lend, will you?"

Wang Dun stared at He Pingsheng for three full breaths, then gritted his teeth: "Fine… I've got over one hundred sixty thousand here—I'll give you every last bit!"

Originally, He Pingsheng had intended to scare Wang Dun off.

That way, he'd hold the initiative.

But he hadn't expected this bastard to actually lend.

The key was…

Since the 【Zhuiyun Shoes】 went up for auction, no one else had bid except He Pingsheng.

"Congratulations to this… uh…" the woman glanced at He Pingsheng's cultivation level and said: "Congratulations, young brother, you've won the Zhuiyun Shoes—but I must remind you: besides the one hundred fifteen thousand spirit stones, you must pay an additional five percent handling fee!"

"Please have staff come over for the handover!"

He Pingsheng glanced at Wang Dun.

Wang Dun gritted his teeth and pulled out the spirit stones to complete the transaction.

Then the Zhuiyun Shoes were in He Pingsheng's hands.

"You don't find it disgusting to wear shoes someone else has worn?" Wang Dun sneered, venting his frustration.

This move of He Pingsheng's had wiped out over ninety percent of his spirit stones.

Who knows if the reward will even be that much in return!

"What's the problem?" He Pingsheng said: "Just throw them in fire for two hours—won't the previous owner's aura burn clean away?"

Wang Dun said: "That's true."

He Pingsheng asked curiously: "Why didn't anyone else bid?"

"Because many find it repulsive," Wang Dun replied: "Magic treasures gain power with higher grade; your low-grade magic treasure is barely better than top-grade spiritual artifacts. Besides, magic treasures require tempering!"

"Tempering means placing them inside your dantian!"

"This thing was worn by someone else—wouldn't you feel weird putting it in your dantian?"

"Most likely, that's why no one bought it."

He Pingsheng's scalp prickled.

True—even he couldn't bear to place someone else's worn shoes inside his dantian for tempering.

Wearing them on his feet was the absolute limit he could accept.

Luckily, he didn't need to temper them—he'd just toss them into the Treasure Basin later, strengthen them, and be done.

After strengthening, they'd become two brand-new pairs; then putting them in his dantian wouldn't feel disgusting at all.

Another hour passed.

After auctioning over seventy items, the merchant association finally concluded.

The final item auctioned was something extraordinary: a 【PoHua Pill】, capable of helping a Jin Dan peak cultivator break through to the Nascent Soul realm—its price was even higher.

Though it was the lowest-grade PoHua Pill, it was still a fourth-rank elixir.

It was purchased by an elderly Jin Dan cultivator with white hair, who spent over three million low-grade spirit stones.

He Pingsheng clearly saw the old Jin Dan didn't hand over three million low-grade spirit stones—he only produced over three hundred mid-grade spirit stones.

Because one mid-grade spirit stone could be exchanged for ten thousand low-grade spirit stones.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Jin Lan waved her hand: "Congratulations to all of you for acquiring the items you desired. Next, our merchant association is organizing a private cultivation exchange among cultivators!"

"All Jin Dan elders, and guests who won items in today's auction, are eligible to join this exchange!"

"Of course, our merchant association won't force anyone—if you don't wish to participate, you may leave now!"

"Please!"

"Those wishing to join the exchange, follow me!"

Everyone rose in a rush; some left the auction hall immediately, while others followed Jin Lan downstairs and walked toward the back of the Coral Merchant Association.

Behind it stood a modest palace.

Entering the grand hall, rows of chairs formed a circle for everyone to sit.

Before each chair sat a large round table.

Everyone took their seats!

Jin Lan, somehow changed into a deep red robe, leapt gracefully and sat down at the center of the round table.

The deep red dao robe was sheer and revealing; without needing spiritual sense, everyone could see nearly everything with just their eyes.

"Gulps… gulps…"

Several audible swallows echoed.

He Pingsheng took a deep breath; as the 【Xuanmen Calming True Scripture】 activated in his mind, his entire being fell into perfect stillness.

In contrast, Wang Dun, at this moment, also had eyes as clear as water, untainted by worldly desires.

Impressive.

He Pingsheng silently praised him.

At critical moments, this bastard could still hold back.

"Elders… fellow cultivators…"

Jin Lan's voice grew even more alluring: "The exchange begins—please bring out your treasures. But first, let me state the rules!"

"First: our merchant association charges no intermediary fees for any transactions!"

"Second: our merchant association holds the right of first refusal!"

"Third: our merchant association has final authority over the valuation of all traded items!"

"Now, begin!"