Cultivating Immortality from the Book of Life and Death

Chapter 378 The Auction. (Third update!)

After testing the spells, Zheng Que led Qing Li out of the spell testing room.

The auction at Heming Tower will begin at 9:00 AM today.

It's already 1:15 AM, time to set off.

Thinking of this, Zheng Que put Qing Li into the Soul-Summoning Banner and then left the cave.

Upon reaching the edge of the floating island, he tossed out the jade pendant, which transformed into a carriage. However, instead of heading straight for Crane Cry Tower, he first went to Flower Path Cave.

Arriving at the floating island shrouded in thick fog with practiced ease, Zheng Que was led inside by a bouquet of flowers. After landing on the green grass, he looked at the apricot grove ahead and was about to walk quickly when a figure in a yellow blouse and green skirt suddenly appeared and blocked his way.

Looking at Zheng Que, Mu Xiangu asked with great displeasure, "Why are you here again?"

"The female cultivator from the Heavenly Artifact Sect is still cultivating and has no time to see you."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Que was immediately puzzled and asked, "The auction at Heming Tower starts today?"

"Didn't you say last time that Gao Yinxia invited you to attend this auction?"

"If that's the case, why is she still cultivating?"

Mu Xiangu immediately realized what was going on and hurriedly made an excuse, saying, "The female cultivator from the Heavenly Artifact Sect was indeed going to participate in this auction, but after cultivating with you last time, she needed to consolidate her foundation, so she had to temporarily go into seclusion to cultivate."

Seclusion for spiritual cultivation?

This is a bit troublesome!
Zheng Que frowned slightly, then quickly transmitted his voice, "You didn't manage to borrow those spirit stones either?"

Mu Xiangu immediately took out a storage bag and handed it to Zheng Que, saying, "I did manage to borrow some spirit stones; they're all inside."

Upon receiving the familiar light purple embroidered leaf storage bag, Zheng Que felt reassured. He opened it and found a large number of spirit stones inside, not much different from the number he had seen in the previous storage bag, only slightly less. He figured it must be the cost of staying in the Flower Path Cave.

Besides the spirit stones, there were also several different styles of magic robes inside.

The jade slips, talismans, artifacts, and the chests that were crammed full that he saw last time... are all gone.

After quickly counting the number of spirit stones and calculating the funds he could currently use, Zheng Que asked curiously via telepathy, "Besides spirit stones, does Gao Yinxia also need to lend me a few robes?"

Mu Xiangu said calmly, "How would I know?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she immediately realized something.

She had said she wanted to make clothes for the female cultivator from the Heavenly Artifact Sect, and the few robes the other party had deliberately left besides the spirit stones were probably for her to use as a size reference...

Hearing this, Zheng Que was still very puzzled, but since he couldn't see Gao Yinxia, ​​he didn't pursue the question further. He simply transmitted his voice again and said, "Since Gao Yinxia isn't going, then you will come with me to the auction."

"Your current identity is a disciple of the Heavenly Artifact Sect. You don't need to walk with me. Just keep a distance that I can use to transmit my voice."

He already has a lot of spirit stones prepared, but just in case, he still needs Mu Xiangu to stay by his side.

If the competition for what she wants to buy is too fierce and she loses the bid, then after the auction ends, Mu Xiangu can privately "buy" it from the other party...

Mu Xiangu readily agreed this time: "Okay!"

Zheng Que then explained some more details, gave the invitation from Linghu Yuniang to Mu Xiangu, took out the jade pendant again to transform it into a carriage, shook the reins, and headed towards Xuanyuanfang.

Watching Zheng Que's figure disappear into the sky, Mu Xiangu waited in place for a moment before flicking her wide sleeves and also escaping from the Flower Path Cave.

※※※

Xuanyuanfang.

Zheng Que walked alone on the wide street, where people were coming and going on both sides, even more so than usual. Among the rows of shops, cultivators moved about like clouds, whispering among themselves, occasionally mentioning the auction that was about to begin that day. A considerable number of people were heading straight for Crane Cry Tower with a clear goal in mind.

Zheng Que hurried along, weaving through the crowd, and soon arrived in front of Heming Tower.

Today, the entire Crane Cry Tower is adorned with red decorations and looks brand new. The number of welcoming servants at the entrance has increased to eight, all of whom are at the ninth level of Qi Refining.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator dressed as a steward, wearing a crimson round-necked robe and a soft turban, stood by with a beaming smile, patiently explaining to the thronging crowd: "Today's auction at our establishment requires an invitation to enter. If you do not have an invitation, please come another day..."

His attitude was warm and respectful, but he showed no leniency whatsoever, turning away many monks without invitations.

As Zheng Que walked forward with the crowd, he took out his invitation. Just as he was about to enter, he suddenly caught a glimpse of three figures not far away, who were also taking out their invitations and preparing to enter.

These three figures looked quite familiar. Upon closer inspection, they were indeed the three people from Hengshui County!

The elderly cultivator in the center had his legs reattached, but his aura was still somewhat weak, clearly indicating that he had not fully recovered.

At this moment, the three of them also saw Zheng Que and immediately turned around to greet him.

The elderly cultivator immediately smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, saying in a warm tone, "I am Song Faping, a humble retainer of the Hengshui County Lord's Mansion. Greetings, young friend from Taiping County!"

Zheng Que immediately returned the greeting, saying, "I dare not accept such a greeting; my name is Zheng Que."

Song Faping looked at him and immediately asked in a telepathic voice, "Young friend, I heard from Old Lu that you are also going to participate in the imperial examination for immortality this year?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Que was not surprised. Lu Maohong had previously sought out these three to inquire about the Immortal Examination. Even if Lu Maohong hadn't said anything, these three could have guessed that he was going to participate in the Immortal Examination.

Thinking of this, Zheng Que replied briefly, "Exactly."

Seeing Zheng Que admit it, Song Faping nodded slightly, and then said, "In Hengshui County, there are also people who want to participate in the Immortal Examination this year."

"It is this good-for-nothing junior next to me."

"Come, King Zhao, greet this young friend."

The young cultivator he had met once before immediately stepped forward, nodded to Zheng Que, and cupped his hands, saying, "Fellow Daoist Zheng, my name is Shang Zhaozu, and my cultivation level is the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining."

"I wonder how advanced your cultivation is now?"

Zheng Que remained calm, maintaining his [Concealment Technique] at all times. The three people in front of him were only Qi Refining stage cultivators, lacking the profound strength of Xiang Songnian, so they naturally couldn't directly see through his cultivation aura.

Zheng Que replied directly, "Friend Shangdao, my cultivation level is also at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining."

Upon hearing that Zheng Que's cultivation level was also at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, the old cultivator leading the group from Hengshui County coughed and hurriedly transmitted his voice, saying, "Young friend, this useless junior of mine originally intended to establish his foundation before the start of this Immortal Examination."

"May I ask if the imperial court's current examination for immortals will grant one the 'law'?"

"Young friend, are you currently preparing for the Heavenly Rank Foundation Establishment stage?"

"Young friend, please rest assured. Hengshui County is not a place where people do not know etiquette. The area of ​​a prefecture is vast, and there are quite a few talented young people participating in the Immortal Examination. The number of places in the Immortal Examination is not unique. Although I, a junior, am taking the exam at the same time as you, young friend, we are not necessarily enemies."

"If you are willing to offer some guidance, young friend, Hengshui County will surely reward you handsomely!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Que immediately understood that Lu Maohong had indeed told the people of Hengshui County about the Heavenly Rank Foundation Establishment in order to exchange information about the Immortal Examination.

However, Lu Maohong clearly did not tell the whole story.

These three don't even know if the imperial examinations for immortals have any "laws"!
Realizing this, Zheng Que's mind raced, but his expression remained unchanged. He simply raised his chin and replied telepathically, "Senior, the auction is about to begin. This is not the place to talk. Let's go inside first."

(End of this chapter)