Chapter 151 - 118: Selecting the Family
The cultivators cursed inwardly. Wei Tu, a dignified Foundation Establishment Master, was actually disregarding his status to compete with Qi Cultivation Realm Cultivators like them for an elixir needed to break through to Foundation Establishment.
’I’ll just have to wait five years. Maybe they’ll auction another Foundation Condensation Pill then!’
’There’s no need to offend a Foundation Establishment Master.’
After a brief internal struggle, the cultivators decided to back down.
Wei Tu was a newly promoted Foundation Establishment Master with an inscrutable temperament. He was currently in the limelight, and the consequences of trying to outbid him for the Foundation Condensation Pill were impossible to predict.
"One thousand one hundred Spirit Stones..."
"Is anyone going higher? The final nine counts... Nine... Eight... Seven..."
The nine counts passed in a flash.
Louu Hong’s gaze swept across the Qi Cultivators in the second-floor hall. When no one else spoke up, she sighed to herself as her jade gavel fell lightly.
This deal.
Was a loss for the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
’A nice little bargain.’
A smile touched Wei Tu’s lips as he watched from his private room on the third floor.
Today, he had used his status to intimidate others and snatch the Foundation Condensation Pill at a low price. While this risked offending the Jiuyun Commerce Association...
But—
He had only recently reached Foundation Establishment, making him a hot commodity that the various powers were vying for.
If he acted ignorant of the rules and overstepped his bounds a little, most people would let it slide to give him face.
According to the auction’s unwritten rules, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were forbidden from competing for highly sought-after Spiritual Objects meant for the Qi Refining Realm, such as the Foundation Condensation Pill.
Take today, for instance.
If a group of Qi Cultivators had been competing for the Foundation Condensation Pill, the price would have been driven up to at least thirteen hundred Spirit Stones.
But because he had interfered, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion’s auction of the Foundation Condensation Pill only fetched eleven hundred Spirit Stones.
’Still, I can only pull a stunt like this once. If I do it too often, I’ll make an enemy of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.’
Wei Tu reined himself in, no longer participating in the bidding for the remaining Qi Refining Realm items.
With his current status, he wasn’t about to pinch pennies over two hundred Spirit Stones.
However, the Foundation Condensation Pill was something he needed.
He had to acquire it as soon as possible to repay Fu Zhizhou and avoid delaying Fu Zhizhou’s chance to achieve Foundation Establishment.
...
After the auction ended, Wei Tu went to the back of the Jade Tower to settle the transaction.
"Fellow Daoist Wei, since you only recently achieved Foundation Establishment, perhaps you are unfamiliar with the Hundred Treasures Pavilion’s rules..."
"For you to win the Foundation Condensation Pill at such a low price... well, it’s a bit against the rules..."
"Never mind. Just consider the price difference my personal gift to you, Fellow Daoist Wei, to congratulate you on your successful Foundation Establishment..."
The person receiving Wei Tu this time was not the auctioneer, Louu Hong, but Chai Ping—the Foundation Establishment Master who oversaw the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in Danqiu Mountain.
Chai Ping handed Wei Tu the Pill Bottle containing the Foundation Condensation Pill, then gave him a steady look as she spoke in a diplomatic tone.
"I was simply too eager to obtain the elixir and failed to consider the Hundred Treasures Pavilion’s rules."
Wei Tu took the offered way out.
While two hundred Spirit Stones was not an insignificant sum to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it wasn’t an amount they would lose sleep over.
He hadn’t just come to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to bid on the Foundation Condensation Pill. He had also consigned most of his stockpiled Tier One Talismans—all except for a few High-Quality Talismans—to be sold at this very auction.
Between his expenses and his earnings, in fact, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion had actually turned a profit.
Seeing Wei Tu’s sincere attitude, devoid of any smugness, Chai Ping nodded to herself in approval. She took an invitation card from her sleeve and handed it to him.
"The Hundred Treasures Pavilion’s five-year auction primarily attracts Qi Cultivation Realm Cultivators. As for Foundation Establishment Cultivators... our Jiuyun Commerce Association holds a different kind of auction..."
"This is for the Jiuyun Commerce Association’s Underground Auction, held once every twenty years. If you’re interested, Fellow Daoist Wei, you may attend."
"The items at the Underground Auction are, for the most part, High-Quality treasures rarely seen in the outside world..."
Chai Ping said softly.
"An Underground Auction?" Wei Tu raised an eyebrow.
’Since the auction has ’Underground’ in its name, it must be highly secretive. If I weren’t a Foundation Establishment Independent Cultivator with a verifiable background, Chai Ping probably wouldn’t have invited me.’
"A catalog of the lots is attached to the back of the invitation."
"Furthermore, if you’re willing to join our Jiuyun Commerce Association as a Tributor, Fellow Daoist Wei, then at every third Underground Auction, you may claim any one item—excluding the final treasure—at no cost."
When Chai Ping saw a flicker of interest on Wei Tu’s face, she rejoiced inwardly. Thinking quickly, she decided to strike while the iron was hot and recruit the Foundation Establishment Independent Cultivator.
’One free item every three auctions...’
Wei Tu was stunned, marveling at the sheer wealth and power of the Jiuyun Commerce Association.
From what he could tell, every Spiritual Object in the catalog was priceless and nearly impossible to find in the outside world.
Each one was worth at least several thousand Spirit Stones.
Not even a Golden Core Family would make such an offer lightly.
"I appreciate the kind offer, Fellow Daoist Chai."
After a few moments, Wei Tu calmed himself and shook his head in refusal.
He had a very clear understanding of his own worth.
As a Foundation Establishment Independent Cultivator with experience as a Talisman Master, he would be courted by Cultivation Families, but that favor had its limits.
It certainly didn’t extend to the incredible offer the Jiuyun Commerce Association had just made.
His plan was to weigh his options and choose a decent Golden Core Family to join, staying within a reasonable set of expectations.
He wasn’t going to risk life and limb for a better compensation package, disregarding all danger.
He suspected that the Jiuyun Commerce Association’s generous offer, much like the one from the Qiyue Zhao Family, concealed a hidden trap.
It was just that this trap wasn’t as obvious as the one laid by the Qiyue Zhao Family.
...
「One month later.」
After gathering intelligence from various sources and weighing the pros and cons, Wei Tu decided to accept the Hee Mountain Huang Family’s invitation to become their Tributor.
Although the Hee Mountain Huang Family’s offer wasn’t the best, they had one advantage no other Golden Core Family could match: their Golden Core Ancestor was also a Tier Three Array Master.
It was precisely because of this that for the past several hundred years, the Hee Mountain Huang Family had never been disturbed by Demon Cultivators, Tribulation Cultivators, or other Cultivation Families, and had enjoyed absolute peace.
What Wei Tu valued was the security the Hee Mountain Huang Family could guarantee.
This was better than any compensation package.
He possessed the "Late Bloomer" Destiny Chart. He didn’t need to fight and kill; as long as he followed the proper procedures and cultivated steadily, he had a chance to achieve Golden Core Pills.
With his mind made up, Wei Tu no longer hesitated. He sent a Talisman to the Hee Mountain Huang Family, informing them of his willingness to join as a Tributor.
He sent the Talisman in the morning and received a reply that afternoon.
’In a few more days, I’ll move out of Luoxue Courtyard and head to the Hee Mountain Huang Family...’
Wei Tu mused.
The Spiritual Qi density in Luoxue Courtyard was only equivalent to Tier One Middle Grade, which was completely insufficient for his Cultivation needs.
Not to mention, he was also raising a Sky-Splitting Carving.
Every extra day he stayed was a day of his life wasted.
However, just as Wei Tu finished packing and was preparing to leave Danqiu Mountain for the Hee Mountain Huang Family, a letter was suddenly delivered to Luoxue Courtyard.
The letter was from Wei Xiuwen.
"Xinghua... has passed away."
Wei Tu tore open the letter, and his expression changed drastically as he read its contents.