Chapter 1049 725: The Grand Auction
Wen Yuanhao, smiling broadly: "Let's go according to your words, Daoist friend, exchange everything on the list with no additional charge. I'll arrange staff to prepare it for you."
Shen Xuan understood in his heart.
In the face of profit, even the shopkeeper of the Daoist Palace becomes exceptionally agreeable.
Wen Yuanhao took the material list and hurriedly left.
Soon he returned, and chatted with Shen Xuan over tea.
During the conversation, he subtly probed several times, trying to learn about Shen Xuan's "teacher lineage" and his accomplishments in Alchemy Dao.
Shen Xuan just brushed it off lightly, revealing nothing.
After a stick of incense's time, a steward dressed in yellow entered the refined room, carrying a brand new Storage Pouch, and respectfully presented it.
Shen Xuan extended his Divine Sense inside, meticulously checking, verifying that all materials were correct in type and quantity, of excellent quality, and only then did he nod in satisfaction, standing up to bid farewell.
Leaving the Treasure Pavilion, stepping into the bustling streets, Shen Xuan's expression was calm, yet his thoughts surged within.
His fundamental purpose for coming to Qin Country was for the Dao of Nascent Soul.
The Nascent Soul Pill and Nascent Soul Formation Spiritual Objects are essential for the future.
However, reality was harsher than he had expected.
These strategic resources were tightly controlled by various Major Sects, impossible to acquire through normal trade channels.
"With strength still shallow, being decades away from Golden Core Perfection, there's no need to rush excessively."
Shen Xuan thought to himself, his gaze gradually growing colder.
Strength is the foundation.
Once his cultivation reaches the pinnacle of the Golden Core, his Divine Power achieved Great Success, with sufficiently deep foundation.
If by then he still cannot find a secure means of acquisition,
Then, even if it means seizing from the jaws of danger, risking fire in the basket, even robbing, Shen Xuan will obtain the Nascent Soul Pill and Nascent Soul Formation Spiritual Object.
On the path to immortality, those who block the way may be slain.
Opportunities, ultimately, must be fought for, must be snatched.
Shen Xuan respects idealists.
But he, himself, is a pragmatist.
...
In the following twenty-some days, Shen Xuan lived a secluded life in the rented Tier Three Cave Mansion, leading an orderly and fulfilling cultivation life.
Daily, he meditated and practiced Qi Cultivation, comprehending the Taiji Primordial Art, honing his Magical Power.
Occasionally he emerged, casually wandering in the Immortal City, feeling the fireworks-like ambiance under the bustling prosperity, the myriad of cultivators' states.
Currently, his Alchemy Dao and Talisman Dao accomplishments are firmly at Tier Three Upper Grade.
Array Dao and Artifact Refining are steadily advancing towards Tier Three Middle Grade.
After arriving in Qin Country, richer resources and a more developed commercial network allowed him to utilize his strengths to acquire more of what he needed.
Many Tier Three materials hard to find in Song Country were possible to acquire here through trade.
During that time, he also changed his attire, entering and exiting major Commerce Alliance shops under different identities, quietly probing the market, subtly inquiring about the Nascent Soul Pill and Nascent Soul Formation Spiritual Object.
The responses he received were consistently firm refusals, without any chance of compromise.
Shen Xuan did not force the matter, nor did he reveal his identity as a Pill Master.
The fewer who know of this identity, the safer he is.
Such top-tier forces like the Myriad Phenomena Daoist Palace, on the surface, still need to consider rules and face, always keeping within certain bounds in their actions.
...
On this day, at dawn.
The atmosphere within the Myriad Phenomena Immortal City is noticeably different from usual.
The presence of High Tier cultivators significantly increased.
The True Pill cultivators rarely seen on regular days can now be sensed several times on the main streets.
Whether alone or accompanied, they converge towards the city center.
Shen Xuan quietly blended into the crowd.
A deep gray hooded cloak covered his face inconspicuously.
Following the crowd, he arrived at the heavily guarded, massive circular building, the Myriad Phenomena Daoist Palace Auction House.
"Daoist friend, please show your token…"
Outside the large doors, four or five True Pill cultivators dressed in Daoist Palace purple robes with robust auras stood solemnly to verify.
Among them, one has reached True Pill Late Stage.
A middle-aged cultivator took the purple VIP Token Shen Xuan handed over, inspected it briefly, and his expression softened, becoming much more courteous.
"It turns out to be a VIP guest, apologies for the oversight. Please follow the steward to the private box."
He called a Foundation Establishment Stage steward standing by, and murmured a few words.
The steward dared not neglect, bowing to lead Shen Xuan into the grand auction house doors.
Inside, the first floor was a spacious hall, filled with ordinary seats, many cultivators already seated, mostly Foundation Establishment Stage, occasionally a Qi Cultivation Cultivator.
The second, third, and fourth floors surrounded by circles of individual boxes, windows facing the central auction platform, faintly shimmering with light, evidently set with Restrictions.
Shen Xuan followed the steward up the stairs, directly to the third floor, stopping before a box.
The steward bowed to indicate.
Shen Xuan took out the token, pressing it against a recess by the door.
"Buzz…"
A flash of light, and the Restriction was lifted.
Shen Xuan pushed the door open, and the steward quietly retreated.
The box wasn't large, only over ten square feet, set simply.
A soft chair, a small table, a pot of still warm Tier Two Spirit Tea, and several plates of Spirit Fruit set on the table.
The walls and floor were made of special materials, effectively blocking Divine Sense probing from inside and out.
Shen Xuan sat on the soft chair, extending his Divine Sense to perceive the surroundings.
The shielding effect of the box was quite good, able to isolate most peering.
A small sound transmission disk was set in a corner, able to transmit the auctioneer's voice clearly.
Shen Xuan sat quietly on the chair, his gaze passing through a one-way visible crystal glass wall, looking down at the auction hall gradually filling with cultivators, silently awaiting the official start of the auction.
...
Half an hour later.
"Clang!"
A loud, clear, and penetrating sound of a golden gong suddenly echoed through the entire auction venue, instantly suppressing all the noisy whispers.
At the center of the auction, on a high platform entirely tiled with warm White Jade, an elderly man in a deep purple Daoist Palace Elder robe, with bright eyes, walked stably onto the platform.
His aura was profound, obviously a Golden Core Middle Stage cultivator.