I planted the spiritual roots for my people, and they bestowed upon me a body inscribed with incense

As soon as Li Yuan got his hands on the Star Iron Bow, a cultivator took it to his location. Looking at the bow in his hand, Li Yuan's face showed a satisfied expression.

The Star Iron Bow is made of Star Iron, which is harder and more spiritual than refined iron, and its string is made from the tendons of a first-level peak python-type demon beast.

Li Yuan took it in his hand and tested it. If he were to use it at full power, one arrow would probably be enough to pierce through the defense of this Qi Refining Peak cultivator.

After storing the Star Iron Bow in his Qiankun Bag, Li Yuanlai's mission at Qingyang Market was complete. All that remained was to wait for the auction to end and then return.

However, at that moment, a gaze slowly turned towards Li Yuan. With his keen spiritual sense, Li Yuan instantly sensed that he was being watched. Following the gaze, an old figure appeared before Li Yuan's eyes.

Li Yuan glanced at the man with suspicion. This man didn't seem interested in him taking the Star Iron Bow; rather, he seemed to be there to monitor him. This action left Li Yuan completely baffled.

Upon seeing Li Yuan's gaze, the figure slowly withdrew its spiritual sense, but it still kept an eye on Li Yuan's direction from time to time, as if it were very afraid that Li Yuan would leave.

In this Qingyang market, Li Yuan wasn't afraid of anyone attacking him, but since this person's intentions were so obvious, if he dared to assassinate him, Li Yuan wouldn't hesitate to strike.

After confirming that only this one person was monitoring him, Li Yuan continued watching the auction. Leaving now was obviously not a wise move. The best time for Li Yuan to leave with Li Shouqian would be when the auction ended and there were many people watching.

As time went on, the items that appeared on the top floor became increasingly advanced, and even second-tier magic artifacts appeared. However, these artifacts were immediately purchased by the cultivators in the private rooms on the top floor, while the cultivators below merely participated.

The atmosphere of the auction reached its peak when the penultimate item was presented. As the cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refining took out the cyan fruit, everyone began to stir. Luo Tong, standing to the side, slowly spoke up:

"They're here."

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sure many of you have come here for the Jade Scale Fruit in my hand. What we're going to auction next is the Jade Scale Fruit, a foundation-building spiritual item needed by cultivators who specialize in wood spirit roots."

As you all know, the effects of the Jade Scale Fruit increase the chances of Qi Refining cultivators breaking through to Foundation Establishment by 20%. In particular, the Jade Scale Fruit also has the effect of warming and nourishing the meridians. Even if the breakthrough fails, as long as the breakthrough was achieved by consuming the Jade Scale Fruit, the meridians can be protected.

"However, due to its owner's improper storage, this Jade Scale Fruit has lost some of its medicinal properties. According to the pharmacist I invited to the auction, this Jade Scale Fruit can now only increase the chance of successfully breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage by about 10%. As for its effect of nourishing the meridians, this Jade Scale Fruit still exists."

When the crowd heard that the Jade Scale Fruit's effects had been greatly reduced, a few people showed disappointment, but most people remained confident in the Jade Scale Fruit.

Seeing this, the cultivator on the auction stage seized the opportunity to speak:

"There's only one left, so everyone should hurry. The starting bid is one hundred spirit stones, and each bid must be at least one spirit stone higher."

Immediately after he finished speaking, someone started bidding, and the price of the Jade Scale Fruit quickly rose from one hundred spirit stones to two hundred spirit stones.

After reaching two hundred spirit stones, Luo Tong also joined the auction.

Who would have thought that Luo Tong would be so generous, adding one hundred spirit stones in one go, pushing the price of the Jade Scale Fruit to three hundred spirit stones?

Li Yuan immediately realized that Luo Tong was trying to overwhelm everyone with his presence; otherwise, given the competition, Luo Tong's financial resources would not have been sufficient to win the bid.

However, the price of three hundred spirit stones was obviously too low, and no one gave up. As soon as Luo Tong made the call, a cultivator on the second floor quickly suppressed it.

Luo Tong remained completely unperturbed by this.

"Five hundred spirit stones."

As Luo Tong finished announcing the price, someone on the second floor began to pay attention to him. They glanced at Luo Tong slowly and then said:

"Five hundred and fifty spirit stones."

Luo Tong calmly replied:

"Six hundred and fifty spirit stones." After saying that, he gave the person on the second floor who was bidding provocatively.

This angered the cultivator above, who examined Luo Tong's cultivation level and then slowly said:

"Be careful, even if you attain enlightenment, you might not live long enough to enjoy it."

After saying that, he continued speaking;

"Seven hundred spirit stones."

Luo Tong sneered at the threat and was about to raise the price when a voice slowly rang out from a private room on the second floor.

"Eight hundred spirit stones."

Seeing that someone else was coming to cause trouble, the middle-aged cultivator who was arguing with Luo Tong on the second floor slowly spoke towards the direction from which the voice had come from:

"Fellow Daoist, this Jade Scale Fruit is of great help to my Bai Clan. I urge you to part with it. After this auction, the Bai Clan will definitely come to express our gratitude."

Upon hearing this, the cultivator who had spoken earlier slowly replied:

"Of course, of course." The Bai family cultivator, assuming the other party knew his reputation, quickly thanked him and confidently called out a price of nine hundred spirit stones.

Luo Tong was not afraid of this, and then slowly said:

"One thousand spirit stones."

However, when the amount reached 1,000 spirit stones, Luo Tong's expression began to darken. He had scraped together 1,200 spirit stones through various means, and if he added any more, he feared he would have no hope left.

Regarding Luo Tong's demand of one thousand spirit stones, the cultivator on the second floor, who claimed to be from the Bai family, slowly said:

"One thousand one hundred spirit stones."

Just as Luo Tong was about to speak, the cultivator who had made the earlier bid slowly spoke again:

"One thousand two hundred spirit stones."

Upon hearing this, the Bai family cultivator was instantly dumbfounded, and then he looked at the person who had become a monk with icy eyes.

"What do you mean, fellow Daoist? Are you perhaps going to break your promise?"

Upon hearing this, the man slowly spoke:

"I never said I agreed to the Bai family's offer. The Bai family? I've never even heard of them." After saying that, he ignored everyone around him and burst into laughter.

Upon hearing this, the man from the Bai family immediately realized who this person was.

"So it's that old scoundrel from the Nie family. What, is your Nie family patriarch about to collapse? But none of your Nie family juniors have the potential to reach the Foundation Establishment stage. Could it be that you're jealous of my Bai family's genius and want to compete with me?"

The Nie family cultivator did not speak at this, but slowly said:

"If you don't have spirit stones, just go for it. There's no shame in it."

Upon hearing this, the old cultivator from the Bai family blushed, but he did not continue to raise the price.

Just as the Nie family cultivators were about to succeed, another voice entered everyone's ears.

"One thousand three hundred spirit stones."

The sound made Li Yuan and Luo Tong pause for a moment.

The two exchanged a glance, clearly recognizing the voice as that of Xu Qingfeng from the Xu family.

As Xu Qingfeng spoke, the scene fell silent once more. After a moment of contemplation, the Nie family cultivator slowly said:

"One thousand four hundred spirit stones."

Upon hearing this, Yan's eyes remained unblinking.

"1,500 spirit stones."

Upon hearing the price, the Nie family fell silent.