Longevity starts with choosing Hextech enhancement

Chapter 357 How could something so important fall into the hands of outsiders? (4K)

"Formation-Breaking Cone?"

Xiao Chen looked down at the pitch-black spiked cone below, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes.

This thing looks ordinary, how could it break through the seal of a fourth-order grand formation?

It's really amazing.

Moreover, since only the Holy City can manufacture it, the level of craftsmanship involved must be among the top in the new cultivation world.

That's great stuff. It would be even better if he could get his hands on it.

Even if it can only be used once, it doesn't matter, because many times the outcome is decided by a hair's breadth.

"Oh dear, what's wrong, Senior Seven Cranes? Sigh~!"

Old Master Cai sighed deeply, his expression clearly not looking too good.

Why would a "Breaking Formation Cone" appear at a perfectly good auction?

It should be noted that the Cai family now relies on ancestral formations to maintain its prestige.

To them, any magical artifact that breaks the formation is a real threat.

Especially now that the Cai family lacks its own True Lord.

Let alone if the formation is breached by outsiders, even if it only suffers some damage, it will face a predicament that is difficult to repair.

Unfortunately, this is an enhanced array-breaking cone that can directly destroy the array base.

Any knowledgeable user would just take a look at the core array base.

Even if the chain array doesn't completely collapse on the spot, its power will be reduced by at least 30%, and the array function corresponding to that array base will be lost.

At that point, it will only be a matter of time before the entire formation is broken.

Therefore, when Grandpa Cai saw the formation-breaking cone, he immediately felt a headache.

He can only hope that this thing will eventually be acquired by the Guiyun Sect and preserved as part of the sect's foundation, so that it won't be used against the Cai family.

However, the others didn't think that way.

For True Lord Guiyun, although he also wanted to strengthen the Formation-Breaking Cone, he was not in a hurry.

After all, Guiyun Sect has three True Monarchs stationed in the Holy City, and they have a certain network of connections there.

Therefore, there are other channels to choose from, so I only made a symbolic bid to join in the fun.

In reality, they did not intend to spend a lot of spirit stones to compete for it.

However, for the other three major families, this was something they would never normally have the opportunity to obtain.

Spirit stones can be earned back, but if you miss an opportunity like this, you may not get another chance.

Therefore, they all put in their best effort, constantly raising their bids, and all showed an attitude of being determined to win.

In a short period of time, the price of the enhanced formation-breaking cone was raised to 6.7 million spirit stones.

Seeing the price soaring, it was clear that Guiyun Sect was preparing to give up bidding.

He couldn't help but feel anxious and began to calculate how many spirit stones his family could use and whether there was any hope of stopping the other three families.

However, if the mid-grade spirit stones used to maintain the operation of the formation are not used.

He can only scrape together about eight million spirit stones at most right now.

This price might be able to stop Guiyun Sect, but it may not be able to surpass the other three families, especially the Jin family, which has been thriving in recent years.

Never mind, I have to give it a try no matter what.

Just as Old Master Cai was about to make a bid, he heard Mu Wenbo announce, "Add another 500,000 spirit stones, making it 8.2 million spirit stones for the first time!"

"Senior Jin seems determined to win. I wonder if any fellow cultivators are willing to offer a higher price?"

Finished!

Grandpa Cai suddenly felt dizzy; it seemed like all hope was lost.

That makes sense, after all, the Jin family has two True Monarchs. Even if they spend most of the clan's spirit stones, it doesn't matter, they can earn it back sooner or later.

However, the Cai family could not conveniently use their reserves of mid-grade spirit stones.

Otherwise, without spirit stones, the ancestral formation would also be unable to operate.

However, just when Grandpa Cai thought that today was doomed to failure, he heard Xiao Chen's voice: "I'll offer ten million."

Ok?
Grandpa Cai stared wide-eyed, wondering if he was hallucinating.

He never expected that Xiao Chen would actually bid for the enhanced formation-breaking cone.

But for him, this was an unexpected delight.

The two sides have now secretly reached an agreement, and it's much better for this thing to be in Xiao Chen's hands than for the Jin family to take it.

Therefore, after a brief moment of shock, Mr. Cai immediately made a loud offer.

The price announcement was like a boulder dropped into water, immediately causing a huge uproar.

The crowd of independent cultivators was in an uproar, and many even took out their recording stones to capture the scene.

After all, this is a transaction involving spiritual items worth tens of millions.

Previously, it only existed in rumors, and many cultivators in Guiyun Market rarely saw it in their entire lives.

"How much did Fellow Daoist Cai spend today?"

Inside the Gao family's private room next door, Old Master Gao asked with considerable surprise, "Has anything unusual happened to his family in recent years?"

The boy standing nearby immediately replied, "Reporting to the Ancestor, we have already spent 9.8 million to buy four fourth-tier spiritual items and seven bottles of third-tier spiritual pills."

Old Master Gao glanced at the location of the Cai family's private room through the wall.

He then shook his head: "That adds up to nearly 20 million spirit stones. No matter how much savings our ancestors left behind, we can't spend them like this."

In the Shang family's private room on the other side.

Shang Weihai, the current head of the Shang family, was also puzzled: "Ah Jie, what's going on with the Cai family?"

Sitting next to him was his own brother, Shang Weijie: "He's probably getting a little angry."

"If it were an ordinary array-breaking cone, it wouldn't be much of a threat to the Cai family's chain array."

"But the enhanced array-breaking cone doesn't do that; it can directly destroy the core array base and render their killing array useless."

"Without the killing formation as a deterrent, the Cai family would truly become a toothless tiger."

The Jin family and Guiyun Sect shared similar ideas with Shang Weijie.

Everyone believes that the Cai family is sparing no expense to eliminate any potential threats.

"Fellow Daoist Cai is indeed a wealthy man from Pingyi. When he does make a move, it's astonishing."

Mu Wenbo, who was in charge of the auction, also got excited: "No wonder everyone used to say that the Cai family was nicknamed Cai Half-City. Today, I've finally seen it for myself."

"Ten million spirit stones for the first time, I wonder if any fellow cultivators are willing to offer a higher price!"

He even shouted the last half of the sentence.

They're basically already preparing to go through the procedures.

However, almost no one expected that Mr. Jin would actually match the offer: "Add another million!"

Not to mention how surprised outsiders were.

Even Jin Baorui, the current head of the Jin family, was somewhat puzzled: "Father, isn't this price a little too expensive?"

The main reason is that the Jin family had already burned a lot of spirit stones to help him break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

The entire clan currently only has a little over 18 million spirit stones, and this has already spent more than half of them.

It's important to understand that large families are different from individuals; they can't just spend as much money as they have.

They also have many businesses that require capital to operate, and if they run out of cash, it will inevitably affect the efficiency of the family businesses.

In other words, spending 11 million almost depleted their available cash reserves.

"It is a bit expensive, but it's not too bad."

Grandpa Jin smiled slightly and said, "If we're just talking about this kind of thing, it's definitely not worth much."

"But this is, after all, a spiritual item that Fellow Daoist Qihe brought out."

"If we spend a little more spirit stones, we can leave a good impression on him." That makes sense.

But Jin Baorui still didn't quite understand: "But to make a good impression, we have to spend nearly three million more. Isn't that a bit too much of a price to pay?"

Mr. Jin could completely understand his doubts.

So he patiently advised, "Of course it's worth it. Let alone 10 million, it would be worth it even if we spent all the spirit stones we have."

“Rui’er, you haven’t even had a chance to go to the Holy City yet, and you haven’t seen what it’s like to really spend money like water, yet you think it’s not easy to save up so many spirit stones.”

"Actually, that's not the case. As long as we can get in touch with the Holy City, we'll have plenty of opportunities to earn back many times over in the future."

"Furthermore, once we obtain the enhanced formation-breaking cone, we can intensify our efforts and begin working on annexing the Cai family ahead of schedule."

"As long as we can take over the Cai family and their businesses, we can make up for the extra spirit stones we spend today."

That's right. That's why when the Cai family lived in the city a few years ago, all the family members with some talent for cultivation died unexpectedly.

It wasn't because of bad feng shui, but because the Jin family was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Unfortunately, objectively speaking, the resources within Guiyun Sect's territory are limited; there are only so many spirit fields and spirit mines in total.

If Old Master Jin wants to take advantage of this period of prosperity to lead the Jin family to further progress, then he can only try to find a way out from the other three families.

The Cai family was chosen naturally.

However, he did not know that there were more than just members of the Cai family in the Cai family's private room at that moment.

"Oh, there are other experts?"

Upon hearing "eleven million," Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed slightly: "You like bidding, huh? Just bid twenty million!"

He waited a while beforehand, making sure they had finished arguing, before making a move to spend ten million to close the gap.

I didn't expect the Jin family to still be involved. Let's see who has more strength then.

If they're so capable, then let them continue.

"what?"

Old Master Cai looked completely bewildered: "Senior Xiao, twenty...twenty million?"

He was truly stunned at this moment.

Even if we had already guessed that Xiao Chen might have been carrying 20 to 30 million spirit stones with him to bid on spiritual items.

But is it really worth spending 20 million for a single Breaking Formation Cone?
However, he couldn't see any heartache or hesitation on Xiao Chen's face: "Hmm, twenty million, make an offer."

distressed?

It doesn't exist at all; anyway, it was all paid for by the Zhaokong faction.

Xiao Chen brought spirit stones here to spend them.

He was truly determined to obtain this enhanced formation-breaking cone.

"Senior Xiao, isn't this a bit too much?"

Although Grandpa Cai was only responsible for relaying messages, he still felt a bit shocked when he thought about the astronomical price of 20 million.

"Ok?"

Xiao Chen frowned slightly: "What's wrong with you? I already told you you don't need to pay. Hurry up and give me a price."

Grandpa Cai quickly explained, "Senior, you misunderstand. I'm not worried about that."

"But you have specifically emphasized before that you should avoid attracting the attention of outsiders."

"Given my current situation, I shouldn't be able to come up with so many spirit stones to bid."

"It doesn't make sense for us to spend so many spirit stones."

What if this unusual behavior arouses the suspicion of Guiyun Sect or even Qihe Zhenjun, and then it is discovered that the Cai family is secretly cooperating with the Reverse Immortal Alliance?

That would mean certain annihilation.

"Oh, so that's what you're worried about."

Xiao Chen smiled calmly, having already prepared his reason: "Let me ask you, isn't the enhanced array-breaking cone a major threat to your family's array?"

Grandpa Cai nodded; of course, he was also worried about that.

"That settles it. How can something so important fall into the hands of outsiders?"

Xiao Chen prompted him: "To protect the safety of one's own great formation, it's reasonable to risk everything to obtain the formation-breaking cone, isn't it?"

But when it comes to something specific, he really doesn't like to fight for it.

After all, they had already spent nearly ten million spirit stones, so they should have stopped long ago.

But since True Monarch Qihe happened to bring out the Enhanced Formation-Breaking Cone, he could justify paying more.

Given something that concerns the survival of the family, it's perfectly understandable that the Cai family might overreact slightly, and it wouldn't arouse much suspicion.

And most importantly, Xiao Chen is not afraid of the Cai family being investigated.

To reiterate, he's not actually a member of the Rebellious Immortal Alliance.

The main point is not to bump into a Nascent Soul True Monarch, but to stop him directly and ask about his identity and background, ensuring that the other party cannot find out anything.

"This... seems somewhat reasonable."

Grandpa Cai thought for a moment, then his expression suddenly changed: "Senior, this reason works, but there's still a big problem."

"If I want outsiders to believe that I am bidding at any cost."

"Then when we settle the bill later, we'll need to come up with at least 100,000 mid-grade spirit stones."

"Otherwise, there's no way to explain why I have so many spirit stones in reserve."

His concern is not unfounded.

For the Cai family to convince others that they have misappropriated their savings, they must pay with mid-grade spirit stones.

However, Old Master Cai was really reluctant to part with those mid-grade spirit stones; he planned to keep them to maintain the operation of the formation.

Otherwise, he would have made the offer himself earlier.

"Hey, what do you think I'm worried about?"

Xiao Chen retorted, "You don't think I'm going to let you come and take out mid-grade spirit stones, do you?"

Coincidentally, he actually has no shortage of mid-grade spirit stones.

Upon hearing this, Grandpa Cai repeatedly said he dared not.

However, he lowered his head and dared not meet her gaze; he had indeed had such thoughts in his mind just now.

However, Xiao Chen didn't pay much attention to it. It was normal for the other party to be wary since it was their first time working together.

He simply picked up a storage ring and handed it over: "Inside are two hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones and nine million low-grade spirit stones. Make an offer."

Grandpa Cai didn't dare to reach out and take it directly.

Instead, he first loudly called out the price, and then respectfully extended both hands to accept the storage ring.

When the price of 20 million was announced, all the cultivators in the auction house were somewhat dazed.

The lower-level cultivators were alright; they had already become numb when they heard about ten million spirit stones.

As the price continued to rise, it became less tangible; all I knew was that it was a level of spirit stones I could never earn in my entire life.

The nine Nascent Soul True Lords present were truly dumbfounded by this.

"Has the Cai family gone mad?"

True Monarch Guiyun was astonished: "Where did they get twenty million spirit stones?"

The True Lord Caiyun beside him was also dumbfounded: "This...this is ridiculous!"

"Could it be that Old Man Cai has taken out his ancestral mid-grade spirit stone?"

"Is he disregarding his own powerful formation?"

After thinking for a moment, Guiyun Zhenjun immediately instructed the boy beside him: "Go to the back hall now and keep watch. See how the Cai family settles their accounts, and come back to report as soon as possible."

If it's a mid-grade spirit stone, then forget it.

If he didn't have enough mid-grade spirit stones, he would have asked the Cai family about the origin of this large sum of spirit stones.

(End of this chapter)