Immortality Cultivation

Once Princess Mu Yijing and Mu Fenghua left, Fang Hao stood at the courtyard gate like a wooden post, not moving for a long time.

His mind kept echoing Princess Mu Yijing’s final voice transmission: "Since we parted at Hundred Flowers, Fellow Daoist has advanced rapidly; this is truly joyous. Past events are like dew and lightning; I hope you will conduct yourself wisely."

"She recognized me! She absolutely recognized me! She still remembers that business!"

Fang Hao’s heart was in turmoil; he felt lingering fear, relief, and something indescribable... awkwardness.

The lingering fear was because his trivial business had actually been noted by a Nascent Soul Grand Princess, with his life hanging by her whim.

The relief was because, judging by this, she didn’t seem to intend to pursue it.

Did the phrase "like dew and lightning" mean she wouldn’t hold a grudge? Was "conduct yourself wisely" a warning not to blabber, or... did it have another meaning?

"This woman is too deep; I can’t figure her out!"

Fang Hao shook his head and decided not to think about it.

Thinking was useless; she was a Nascent Soul Great Expert, and crushing him would be like crushing an ant. Since she hadn’t made a move now, he was likely safe in the short term.

He would take it one step at a time and focus on living well for now.

He looked down at the two gold-stamped invitations to the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower auction in his hand, and his mind became active.

Forget about whatever Grand Princess or short princess; increasing his strength was the only hard truth! With strength, he could stand tall!

The news about Mu Fenghua’s auction came at just the right time!

"Right! Go to the auction! See if I can find some ’golden sap fruit’ and ’jade marrow ganoderma’!"

Fang Hao made up his mind.

He returned to the quiet room and calculated his net worth.

From the wealth of the few Golden Core Cultivators from Qingzhou to the Southern Frontier, plus what he obtained from looting the corpses of those unlucky fellows he killed in the Secret Realm, and what he had saved before, the Spirit Stones he had on hand—Low Grade, Medium Grade, and High Grade combined—amounted to a full forty or fifty million when converted to Low-Grade Spirit Stone!

With this kind of wealth, let alone the Golden Core Stage, even the average Nascent Soul Old Monster probably wasn’t as rich as him!

Buying a few stalks of Grade Four Spirit Medicine should be more than enough!

"Hehe, the feeling of having money is truly damn good!"

Fang Hao weighed his storage ring contentedly, feeling confident.

He would see how it went; as long as the price wasn’t too outrageous, he had to get them!

For the next three days, Fang Hao didn’t go anywhere; he holed up in the Listening to Rain Pavilion, consolidating his cultivation while studying the Pill Formula for the golden spirit pill, running through the details of the refining technique, heat control, and medicinal property Fusion in his mind countless times to ensure there were no mistakes.

If this pill was refined successfully, it would be a huge help to his Golden Core Stage cultivation!

He also specifically sought out Steward Wang to ask about the rules and precautions for the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower auction.

Steward Wang told him everything he knew, informing him that the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower was a royal enterprise with guaranteed reputation, and the auction was divided into public auctions and VIP boxes.

Public auctions were crowded and chaotic, while VIP boxes had Restriction protection and good privacy, though the fees were not low.

With the Ninth Princess’s invitation, he could enjoy VIP treatment and have an independent box.

"Must have a box!" Fang Hao didn’t hesitate.

His identity was a bit sensitive now; the Sun Family was still watching from the shadows, and the Grand Princess’s attitude was unclear, so he should keep a low profile to avoid being targeted.

Three days passed in a flash.

On the day of the auction, Fang Hao got up early, changed into an inconspicuous black robe, and wore a common mask that could block Divine Sense detection, wrapping himself up tightly.

He looked in the mirror; yes, even his own mother wouldn’t recognize him!

Only then did he follow Steward Wang, board a carriage, and head to the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower in a low-key manner.

The Ten Thousand Treasures Tower was located in the most prosperous part of the Heavenly Capital; it was a magnificent nine-story pagoda-shaped building made entirely of white jade, shimmering with spiritual light, with a bustling stream of carriages and people at the entrance, incredibly lively.

After showing his invitation, a beautiful attendant immediately respectfully led Fang Hao and Steward Wang to a VIP box on the third floor.

The box wasn’t large but was very exquisite, with tables, chairs, and tea sets provided; a crystal wall was embedded in the wall, through which one could clearly see the auction hall below, while people in the hall could not see the situation inside the box.

There was also a Formation to isolate Divine Sense detection and sound.

Fang Hao sat in a comfortable chair, sipping the spirit tea served by the attendant, and looked down through the crystal wall.

The auction hall was already full of people, a sea of heads, at least a thousand of them; most were Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators, but there were also quite a few Golden Core Stage ones, and he could even vaguely sense a few obscure and powerful Auras—likely some Nascent Soul Old Monster had come too!

The atmosphere was heated, and the noise was deafening.

"As expected of the Imperial Capital, there are so many experts!" Fang Hao sighed inwardly, and he retracted his Aura even more carefully.

After waiting for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a fat old man wearing a brocade robe with a ruddy complexion and an Early Golden Core Stage cultivation walked onto the auction stage in front of the hall; he was the host of this auction.

"Welcome, Fellow Daoist, to the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower auction! This old man is Auctioneer Qian Buduo; I won’t say much nonsense, the auction begins now!"

The fat old man’s voice was loud and carried a sense of incitement. "The first auction item is a Grade Three High Grade Magical Artifact, the ’Flowing Light’ sword, crafted by an Artifact Refining Great Master. It is peerlessly sharp, with a starting price of five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stone! Each increment must be no less than one hundred!"

"Five thousand one hundred!" "Five thousand three hundred!" "Five thousand eight hundred!" A chorus of bids immediately rang out from the floor.

Fang Hao took a look; the sword was decent, but it was of no use to him, so he couldn’t be bothered to participate.

Next, a few more Magical Artifacts, Talismans, and Medicinal Pills were auctioned off; the scene was fiery, but none were Fang Hao’s target.

He waited patiently.

Finally, when the auction was in the middle stage, the fat old man cleared his throat and raised his voice by an octave: "The next item is a favorite of Alchemists! One stalk of Grade Four Spirit Medicine, ’jade marrow ganoderma’! It is eight hundred years old, with full medicinal properties, and is an excellent main ingredient for refining various Grade Four Medicinal Pills! Starting price, thirty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stone! Each increment must be no less than one thousand!"

It was here! Fang Hao’s spirits lifted! He looked at the stage as the attendant brought up a jade plate, which held a stalk of medicinal material that was entirely translucent white, shaped like a ganoderma, and exuding a faint fragrance and rich Spiritual Qi—it was exactly the ’jade marrow ganoderma’ he desperately needed!

"Thirty-five thousand!" "Forty thousand!" "Forty-three thousand!" The bidding instantly became intense! Grade Four Spirit Medicine had a huge attraction to Golden Core Cultivators! The price quickly broke through fifty thousand!

Fang Hao didn’t rush to make a move; when the price rose to around sixty thousand and the bidding slowed, he unhurriedly pressed the bidding Talisman in the box.

"Box C-7, bid sixty-five thousand Spirit Stone!" the fat old man shouted loudly.

The hall went quiet for a moment, then someone raised the bid to sixty-eight thousand.

Fang Hao raised the bid again: "Seventy thousand!"

This price was already not low. After hesitating for a moment, no one followed.

"Seventy thousand Spirit Stone, going once! Seventy thousand Spirit Stone, going twice! Seventy thousand Spirit Stone, going three times! Sold! Congratulations to the Fellow Daoist in Box C-7!" The fat old man struck the gavel to seal the deal!

"Got one!" Fang Hao was delighted. The price was even lower than he had expected.

After a few more items, the fat old man brought out another jade box: "The next item is also Grade Four Spirit Medicine, three ’golden sap fruit’! This fruit contains pure metal-spirit power and is an indispensable item for refining ’golden spirit pill’ and other Medicinal Pills! Starting price, forty-five thousand Spirit Stone! Each increment must be no less than one thousand!"

The golden sap fruit was here too! And three of them! Fang Hao’s eyes lit up! He had to get this!

"Fifty thousand!" "Fifty-five thousand!" "Sixty thousand!" The bidding became white-hot again! The price quickly broke through seventy thousand!

Fang Hao seized the opportunity and made his move again: "Eighty thousand!"

Once this price came out, many people in the hall gasped. Eighty thousand to buy three golden sap fruit was a bit expensive.

After a few breaths of silence, a hoarse voice came from another box: "Eighty-five thousand!"

Fang Hao frowned; someone was still competing? He didn’t hesitate: "Ninety thousand!"

The other side was silent for a moment, seemingly having given up.

"Ninety thousand Spirit Stone, going once! Ninety thousand Spirit Stone, going twice! Ninety thousand..."

"One hundred thousand!" The hoarse voice rang out again, carrying a hint of provocation.

Fang Hao sneered inwardly; competing with him on money? "One hundred and ten thousand!"

The whole hall was in an uproar! One hundred and ten thousand to buy three golden sap fruit was definitely being a sucker!

That hoarse voice didn’t ring out again.

"One hundred and ten thousand Spirit Stone, going three times! Sold! Congratulations to the Fellow Daoist in Box C-7!" The fat old man’s voice was full of joy; this commission would be quite a lot!

Fang Hao breathed a sigh of relief; although he spent a bit more Spirit Stone, he had the items! The main ingredients for refining the golden spirit pill were all gathered!

Next, he also bid on and bought some auxiliary medicinal Materials and a few Grade Three Talismans, spending over a hundred thousand Spirit Stone.

At the end of the auction, a bottle of finished golden spirit pill appeared, which was bid up to the astronomical price of two hundred thousand; Fang Hao didn’t compete for it, as he could refine it himself and there was no need to be a sucker.

The auction ended; Fang Hao went to the backstage to settle the Spirit Stone and received all the auction items, returning to the Listening to Rain Pavilion with great satisfaction.

He closed the door, looked at the ’jade marrow ganoderma’ and ’golden sap fruit’ placed in front of him, which were emitting an alluring medicinal fragrance, and Fang Hao rubbed his hands, his eyes burning with excitement.

"Materials are all ready! Time to start the furnace and refine the pill!"