I established the Eternal Immortal Clan by taming beasts.

The atmosphere of the auction gradually reached its climax.

As is customary, the highest-grade, second-tier, top-quality spiritual item made its grand finale appearance.

When the set of array flags exuding an ancient and profound aura appeared on the display stand, Lin Che's eyes were instantly locked on. This was his ultimate goal for this trip: the Lesser Rising Dragon Array!

"Distinguished guests, what follows are the highlight of this auction, so please take a close look!" The auctioneer's voice was loud and clear, filled with inspiring enthusiasm.

In an instant, the entire auction hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. All eyes, whether on the first floor where the cultivators were looking on with envy or on the second floor where the scrutinizing gazes emanated from the private rooms, were focused on the stage.

The auctioneer carefully displayed the nine battle flags one by one.

The flagpole is as smooth as jade, and the silver threads on the flag are flowing, exuding an inner radiance.

"This formation is called the Lesser Rising Dragon Formation!" His voice clearly echoed throughout the entire area.

"This is a simplified and essential version of the renowned 'Rising Dragon Formation'!"

Its function is to explore and guide hidden spiritual veins, which can slowly manifest on the surface of the earth. In time, the spiritual veins hidden deep underground can be turned into one's own!

The formation also possesses the effect of a "small spirit-gathering formation," which, once connected to a spiritual vein, can create a precious cultivation ground!

He paused, his fingers brushing across the flag, and explained in detail its extraordinary material: "Please look, everyone. The flagpole of this formation is made from second-tier, hundred-year-old white jade spirit peach wood, which contains the meaning of endless life."

The flag is woven from second-order silver spider silk, which is tough and has excellent spiritual conductivity.

Furthermore, its core is infused with centuries-old earth milk, Bauhinia jade, and the essence of dragon-like demonic beasts!

Such materials and such design could only be created by a master of formations! Starting bid: 120 mid-grade spirit stones! Each bid must increase by at least 10 mid-grade spirit stones!

At this stage, the payment method is now based on mid-grade spirit stones, with one mid-grade spirit stone being exchanged for 100 low-grade spirit stones.

Most of the independent cultivators were now merely spectators, looking up with awe and envy at the powerful figures who truly controlled the resources in the private rooms on the second floor.

However, while the Small Rising Dragon Formation has remarkable effects, its applicability is very narrow.

Lin Che's keen senses allowed him to clearly perceive that only two other private rooms in the entire venue showed a clear interest in this logistics.

Bidding begins!

The old man, played by Lin Che, entered the price without hesitation at the first moment.

"Private room number twelve, bid 130 mid-grade spirit stones!" the auctioneer announced immediately.

As soon as he finished speaking, the other two parties immediately followed suit.

"Room Number Six, 140 mid-grade spirit stones!"

"Room number eighteen, 150 mid-grade spirit stones!"

The price soared, quickly breaking through the threshold of 180 mid-grade spirit stones.

This price exceeds the value of this product in ordinary channels, but its unique efficacy and rarity justify such a price.

At this moment, the guest in private room number eighteen seemed to have weighed the pros and cons and ultimately chose to give up.

The competition unfolded only between Lin Che's private room number twelve and the stubbornly unwilling private room number six.

The auctioneer's voice was filled with excitement: "One hundred and eighty mid-grade spirit stones! For the first time! Are there any fellow cultivators willing to bid?"

Following the persona of an old man who was "short on cash but determined to win," Lin Che seemed to have gone through an extremely difficult internal struggle before "gritting his teeth" and entering a new price just before the auctioneer was about to bring down the hammer.

"Private room number twelve, bid 190 mid-grade spirit stones!"

Inside private room number six, a middle-aged cultivator dressed in a brocade robe with a calm expression frowned slightly.

His attendant whispered, "Third Master, this price..."

The middle-aged man, referred to as Third Master, waved his hand, his sharp gaze fixed on the direction of private room number twelve, and raised the price again: "Two hundred yuan!"

Lin Che, on the other hand, perfectly portrayed an old man caught in a dilemma.

He hesitated, struggled, and finally made another offer, albeit tremblingly.

"Room number twelve, 210 mid-grade spirit stones!"

The price was pulled up to 230 mid-grade spirit stones in the silent struggle between the two!

This number made Third Master in private room number six take a deep breath.

He remained silent for a moment, then slowly leaned back in his chair and shook his head.

The price is too high; it's not worth it for a simplified version of the Rising Dragon Formation.

"Two hundred and thirty mid-grade spirit stones! Third time! Sold!" The auctioneer brought down the gavel, his face beaming with joy. "Congratulations to the fellow Daoist in private room number twelve for successfully bidding on this Minor Rising Dragon Formation!"

Inside the private room, Lin Che, disguised as an old man, wore a smile that was both relieved and pained, his performance flawless.

However, he did not notice that in an inconspicuous corner of the first-floor unaffiliated cultivation area.

A gray-robed cultivator with an ordinary face and an aura that had been concealed to the early stage of Foundation Establishment was casually sipping tea, but his peripheral vision was fixed on the direction of private room number twelve on the second floor.

When Lin Che successfully captured the formation, a barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes.

With the successful sale of the final item, the auction came to a successful conclusion.

The maid Xiaodie respectfully carried the jade box containing the complete set of the Small Rising Dragon Formation and the green vine deer egg into the private room.

"Senior, this is the 'Small Rising Dragon Formation' you photographed, which contains the complete formation flags and the jade slip for its use."

This is the spirit beast egg of the "Green Vine Deer".

The three bottles of pills you previously consigned for auction, after deducting the Chamber of Commerce's 50% commission, were sold for a total of 171 mid-grade spirit stones.

That works out to 6,660 low-grade spirit stones.

Lin Che had already calculated everything in his mind, and readily took out a storage bag full of spirit stones and handed it over.

After the transaction was completed, Lin Che left the auction house with the two precious items, his steps slightly unsteady.

They were preparing to find a suitable spirit beast for Liu Qingxue.

No sooner had Lin Che left than the gray-robed Foundation Establishment cultivator on the first floor curled up a cold and smug smile.

A certain peculiar Gu worm within his body was clearly transmitting a faint signal, pointing in the direction Lin Che had left.

He quickly took out a communication stone, infused it with his magic power, and whispered, "The target has left the area. As planned, we will regroup outside the city."

……

Meanwhile, in the Chuyang City area, at the core residence of the Zhao family.

Zhao Wenyuan looked at the head of the family, Zhao Wenxuan, and the third elder of the family, Zhao Changkong, who was in charge of the matter, with a puzzled expression.

"Elder brother, Third Elder, can the Blood Shadow Hall alone really solve this problem with the Lin family?"

Third Elder Zhao Changkong stroked his goatee, a shrewd glint in his eyes: "Wen Yuan, you need to see further ahead. The Lin family's plan to develop Shattered Star Lake cannot avoid two things:

First, there's the troublesome group of armored crocodile turtles in the lake; second, there's how to make the hidden spiritual vein manifest.

As a family of beast tamers, they might have some methods to deal with the Ironclad Crocodile Turtle, but this Hidden Spirit Vein... is by no means an easy task.

He paused, then lowered his voice: "We have received reliable information that the Wind Chaser Merchant Guild in Burning Bone City is offering a 'Minor Rising Dragon Formation' for sale at their upcoming auction."

Wang Miaoxue from the Spirit Vein Management Office has a powerful backer, a high-ranking member of the Fengxing Chamber of Commerce.

Do you think she might leak this information to that person from the Lin family?

Patriarch Zhao Wenxuan took over the conversation, his tone steady yet resolute: "The Third Elder is absolutely right. The Lin family's origins are mysterious; we can't find any trace of them. Rashly launching a full-scale war against them would be extremely risky."

The hiring of "Blood Shadow Hall" is a trial balloon!

If we can intercept and kill the clansmen who are buying the formation and seize the Lesser Rising Dragon Formation, we can greatly delay the Lin family's clan-building process and buy us time to find out their true strength.

Even if they fail, they can still probe the Lin family's strength through the assassins.

"Shattered Star Lake is crucial to the Zhao family's fortunes for the next several centuries; we absolutely cannot hand it over so easily!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenyuan's face lit up with understanding: "So that's how it is! Elder Brother and Third Elder have such foresight, Wenyuan understands now."

The three core members of the Zhao family continued to discuss various plans for the future of the family in the secret room.