Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

"Three thousand five hundred Spirit Stones."

Huang Shaoshan made his move, beginning to vie with Alchemist Shu for the Talisman Treasure.

A Talisman Treasure, unlike a Talisman Sword, was a true mark of a family's heritage.

As an Elder of the Hee Mountain Huang Family, Huang Shaoshan naturally wouldn't give up on this treasure.

Furthermore, a Talisman Treasure was a powerful killing artifact for those in the Foundation Establishment Stage. Possessing one was like having an extra trump card for both survival and subduing one's foes.

In just a short time, the price of the Fire Dragon Halberd Talisman Treasure had been driven up past five thousand seven hundred Spirit Stones by several Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators.

"Seven thousand Spirit Stones!"

Just then, a weathered voice suddenly boomed across the auction hall, stunning everyone present.

'Is that the cloaked Male Cultivator who bought the Water Smoke Shield?' Wei Tu's gaze followed the others, turning to his side. Seeing it was this mysterious cloaked man who had placed the bid, his eyebrow twitched involuntarily.

Previously, when the mysterious cloaked man had won the first item of the auction, the Water Smoke Shield, they had assumed his power was limited, with a Cultivation somewhere between the Early and Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment.

Who would have thought he'd have the financial means to compete with a crowd of Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators for the Fire Dragon Halberd Talisman Treasure?

'His strength must be at least at the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment, otherwise he wouldn't dare make such a bid,' Wei Tu thought to himself.

A child carrying gold through a marketplace is simply courting disaster.

If the mysterious cloaked man proved to be weak, at least thirty percent of the Cultivators present would likely become Tribulation Cultivators and kill him to steal his treasures.

Such incidents were far from rare in the Cultivation Realm.

"Old Monster Jia?" Hearing that weathered voice, Alchemist Shu's expression shifted. His lips moved slightly as he subconsciously uttered the mysterious cloaked man's identity.

Although his voice was a mere whisper, barely audible, every Foundation Establishment Cultivator present had exceptionally sharp senses. They all instantly heard the three words Alchemist Shu had spoken.

An uproar swept through the crowd of Cultivators, their voices rising in a chorus of shock.

"Old Monster Jia's real name is Jia Yunqing. He's a Fake Pill True Monarch of the Chisong Jia Family, second in power only to their Golden Core Ancestor..."

"To think he'd secretly attend this Underground Auction as well."

Kou Hongying knew Wei Tu had only recently achieved Foundation Establishment and had limited experience, so she secretly sent him a voice transmission to fill him in.

"A Fake Pill True Monarch?"

Wei Tu's heart leaped in shock when he heard this.

Above the Foundation Establishment Realm was the Golden Core Realm.

However, breaking through to the Golden Core Realm was incredibly difficult. A Cultivator who failed the breakthrough but was fortunate enough to survive, and whose power increased substantially in the process, was often called a Fake Pill True Monarch.

While a Fake Pill True Monarch was not as powerful as someone in the Golden Core Realm, they were in a league of their own within the Foundation Establishment Realm, almost without rival.

'If Old Monster Jia were a Fake Pill True Monarch from any other family, I wouldn't be so worried or afraid. But of all the rotten luck... he's the Fake Pill True Monarch of the Chisong Jia Family...'

'The Hee Mountain Huang Family and the Chisong Jia Family aren't direct enemies, but the Hee Mountain Huang Family is in an Alliance with the Qiyue Zhao Family. As a Tributor for the Huang Family... if Old Monster Jia discovers me, I'll inevitably be in some danger.'

'A Tier Two Talisman Master could be expected to have some influence on the state of the war between the Jia and Zhao families.'

'I only reached Foundation Establishment a few years ago. I'm not well-known, so Old Monster Jia shouldn't know I exist...'

Wei Tu quickly calmed himself.

The Thousand-Faced Illusion Technique had altered his form and appearance at the level of his Physical Body. Even if Old Monster Jia considered him a thorn in his side, it wouldn't matter, because Elder Ghost Jia couldn't see through his disguise.

'Unless Old Monster Jia has met me before and locked onto my aura, there's little chance he could uncover my True Identity.'

As things stood, to Old Monster Jia and the others, he was just an unfamiliar Cultivator.

Besides, he was hardly the only Cultivator present with a grudge against the Chisong Jia Family.

When it came down to it, he probably wasn't even important enough to rank on Old Monster Jia's list of enemies.

...

"Since everyone knows who I am, I won't hide any longer." Old Monster Jia gave a cold smile and threw back his hood, revealing his true face.

He was not what the other Cultivators had imagined.

Old Monster Jia was dressed in snug, black martial attire. He had silver eyebrows, white hair, and a rosy complexion. His features weren't fierce at all; on the contrary, with his kindly eyes, he looked more like a mortal grandfather who enjoyed doting on his grandchildren.

"Seven thousand Spirit Stones. Are any other Fellow Daoists interested in raising the bid?" Old Monster Jia chuckled, steering the conversation back to the Fire Dragon Halberd Talisman Treasure.

'With my abilities, mimicking another's voice is a simple matter.'

'If Alchemist Shu hadn't exposed me, I would have found an opportunity to reveal my identity anyway. That way, I could use my reputation to intimidate the competition for the Fire Dragon Halberd Talisman Treasure.'

Of course, he would never voice these little schemes aloud.

"Seven thousand Spirit Stones? Is there any other bid?" On the auction stage, Chai Ping sighed to herself when she saw Old Monster Jia reveal his identity, but she continued to preside over the auction.

On the surface, the Underground Auction only invited Independent Cultivators and didn't welcome those from Major Influences for two main reasons.

First, for privacy.

Second, to prevent Major Influences from using their power to intimidate others, scaring them out of bidding.

The latter, however, was often difficult to prevent entirely; they could only do their best to avoid such a situation.

Seeing that no one spoke up, Chai Ping paused for a moment before tactfully reminding the Cultivators, "Fellow Daoists, if you win a treasure today but are concerned about transporting it, my Hundred Treasures Pavilion can help with the escort..."

"The Hundred Treasures Pavilion will also guarantee your personal safety, Fellow Daoists."

The Hundred Treasures Pavilion was jointly founded by several major Foundation Establishment Families. In terms of power, while it couldn't compare to a Golden Core Family like the Chisong Jia Family, it wasn't so weak as to be afraid of them.

However, even after she spoke, still no one made a bid.

A Talisman Treasure was indeed a rare find, but if one attended enough auctions, another would eventually appear. None of the Cultivators felt it was necessary to offend Old Monster Jia right now.