Immortality begins with upgrading buildings

Chapter 140 The Battle for the Golden Core

"The talisman 'Mysterious Heavy Ruler' is skilled in killing and can be used three more times. It was made by a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, and its effects are self-evident. There is no starting price."

As the voice of the man in the green robe faded, a chorus of bids followed.

In just a short while, the auction price of this talisman was raised to over 500 mid-grade spirit stones.

Once the price reaches this level, fewer people are bidding.

Ji Yuan touched the storage bag at his waist several times, itching to use it.

"Damn it, you don't realize how little money you have until you go to an auction house!"

Ji Yuan reached into his storage bag again. Should he sell the Thousand-Layer Chain of Talismans and buy an offensive talisman in return? No, if the Thousand-Layer Chain and the Sky-Escape Shuttle were used together, it would be a 100% guarantee of escaping.

The thousand chains bound the opponent, even if only for a moment.

He was able to escape using the Sky Shuttle.

When I reach the Foundation Establishment stage, I will be able to escape even if I face a peak Foundation Establishment expert.

However, using a different talisman won't have the same effect.

The bidding continued, and Ji Yuan, though itching to buy, was helpless.

He could only think to himself that once he reached the Foundation Establishment stage, the Foundation Establishment Pills would be useless, so he would bring the Foundation Establishment Pills he had refined to auction off every year.

Then we can use spirit stones to exchange for talisman treasures.

When that time comes, I will be adorned with countless talismans and treasures.

Others use talismans as basic attacks, but I use talisman treasures directly as my basic attacks. Let's see who can defeat me!

However, this talisman will consume a great deal of spiritual energy. It seems that when looking for a cultivation method, I should check if I can find one with a larger reserve of spiritual energy.

In the short time Ji Yuan had even considered it, the price of the talisman had already risen to a point where he could no longer afford it.

The price has already exceeded 800 spirit stones, and there are only two or three people left bidding.

They are all Foundation Establishment cultivators on the third floor.

After a while, the talisman was finally sold to a Foundation Establishment cultivator for 912 mid-grade spirit stones.

Just as Ji Yuan was wondering which number his Foundation Establishment Pill would be, he unexpectedly saw the man in the green robe who was hosting the auction take out his Foundation Establishment Pill.

This time, however, it was no longer contained in his jade bottle, but placed in the center of a jade plate, which was covered by a transparent cover. Finally, it was presented by a voluptuous female cultivator.

When the Qi Refining cultivators in the hall saw the Foundation Establishment Pill, many of them immediately stood up.

Exclamations of surprise rang out.

Once the Foundation Establishment Pill was placed on the platform, the man in the green robe stroked his beard and smiled, "Alright, I'm sure you all recognize this, so I won't go into too much detail."

"Two-Pattern Foundation Building Pill, no starting price."

As soon as he finished speaking, a soft female voice came from a private room on the second floor.

"Seven hundred spirit stones."

This instantly dampened the spirits of the Qi Refining cultivators in the hall who were poised to bid. The price of seven hundred right off the bat made them lose all sense of participation.

"What, Fellow Daoist Yu, are you still preparing Foundation Establishment Pills for your useless husband? I advise you to give up. Even if someone with a pseudo-spiritual root eats a lot of Foundation Establishment Pills, there's no hope of him achieving Foundation Establishment."

Someone on the third floor seemed to recognize the person who shouted and made a sarcastic remark.

Ji Yuan ignored them and just listened to their argument silently. As they argued, the price kept going up.

The price quickly rose to 800, and his anxiety finally subsided.

800 was his expectation; anything more was a pleasant surprise.

Half an incense stick later, the auction for the Foundation Establishment Pill came to a close.

In the end, it was still bought by a Foundation Establishment cultivator on the third floor for 900 spirit stones, which made Ji Yuan very happy.

After deducting a 5% handling fee from the 900 spirit stones, I still have 855 spirit stones left. After deducting the expenses I just spent on the auction, I still have 261 mid-grade spirit stones left.

These spirit stones will also be needed to prepare several sets of auxiliary materials for Foundation Establishment Pills.

As for the rest, Ji Yuan will see what else is needed and buy it accordingly.

The next three items are all more precious than the last.

The third to last item is a high-grade flying...spirit artifact!

This prompted many Foundation Establishment cultivators to sell their possessions and hurl insults at each other.

The second to last item is a third-tier demon core. Only alchemists are attracted to this, and alchemists are known for their wealth and power, so the price is naturally exorbitant.

Tall and hard!

The green-robed cultivator kept the final item up in suspense.

When everyone was getting impatient, the auction house finally brought the item up, covering it with a red cloth to block divine sense.

Ji Yuan was also extremely curious.

Only when the green-robed monk removed the red cloth did the auction item reveal its true form.

"The cub of a third-tier demonic beast, the Winged Flying Tiger, its value... I've already said enough. Sign a contract with it, and once it grows up, it will most likely become a third-tier demonic beast. When that time comes..."

Before he could finish speaking, a cold and indifferent voice came from the fourth-floor cubicle.

"2000 spirit stones."

The sound from the fourth floor silenced everyone present.

A true master, a Golden Core master!

This auction has actually attracted a Golden Core cultivator?!

Soon, another bid came from a room on the fourth floor: "3000 spirit stones."

Ji Yuan was dumbfounded when he heard the price. Were these bids all starting at a thousand spirit stones?!

When did mid-grade spirit stones become measured in thousands?

Once the Golden Core cultivators spoke, their voices filled the entire auction house.

Ji Yuan listened carefully and discovered that there were four Golden Core cultivators at this auction. Of course, he didn't know if any of them came but didn't bid.

After a few words, the price of the winged flying tiger cub had reached 7000 spirit stones, and the price increase was no longer in increments of one thousand or one thousand.

Instead, it became a system of adding up to hundreds.

Is the price of a third-tier monster cub really that high...? Ji Yuan couldn't help but look at the [Fish Pond] on his panel.

[Effect 2 (Rainbow Carp Transforms into a Dragon): There is a very low probability that a carp-type spirit fish will give birth to a juvenile Ice Dragon (a third-tier monster).]

This is the effect of a level 3 [Fish Pond].

Unfortunately, this level 3 [Fish Pond] has a strict requirement: you need to reach the early stage of Foundation Establishment in order to upgrade it.

Otherwise, Ji Yuan would definitely try to rush up now and raise a lot of carp and spirit fish in his fishpond.

I'll see if I can produce one Ice Dragon hatchling a day. I'll raise one myself and sell the rest.

By then...

"Hehehe."

Ji Yuan was lost in thought when he heard a hoarse voice coming from the fourth floor.

"Old monster of Meishan, you spent so many spirit stones to buy this gold-devouring beast, but I'm afraid there aren't enough spirit stones left for it to eat. In the end, it will just be a piece of trash."

"No need for Elder Liu to worry about that. If you have spirit stones, then shout. If you don't, then shut up."

Meishan Old Monster retorted without any politeness.

"Okay, okay."

The Golden Core cultivator, addressed as Elder Liu, seemed extremely angry. "I'm out of spirit stones!"

Ji Yuan wanted to laugh when he heard this, but he didn't dare to laugh out loud.

After Elder Liu withdrew, only the Old Monster of Meishan and another Golden Core cultivator remained to compete.

The old monster from Meishan seemed determined to get his hands on the young monster, and his bid was extremely aggressive.

Once the price reached 8000 spirit stones, the remaining Golden Core cultivator also withdrew.

Just when Ji Yuan thought that the old monster from Meishan could take down the winged flying tiger, he heard a voice from the fourth floor that had never been heard before.

The man casually announced, "9000 spirit stones."

The auction house fell silent again after the price was announced.

There's...another expert?!

"Old Li, you actually came too?!"

Upon hearing this voice, the Old Monster of Meishan gritted his teeth and said.

Upon hearing this voice, Elder Liu, who had spoken earlier, chuckled and said, "If I had known you were here, Old Li, I wouldn't have come."

"Haha, it's all the same, it just so happens that I need this thing."

The man called Li Laocai chuckled, "I don't think anyone will compete with me for this, right? If not, I'll take this little tiger."

After a few breaths, no one answered.

The green-robed cultivator presiding over the auction struck the gavel, confirming the ownership of the final item.

The auction has now ended.

Ji Yuan also breathed a sigh of relief.

Today's auction... was worth it!

Not only did they get some good stuff, but they also gained a considerable amount of spirit stones and broadened their horizons.

Those cultivators who hadn't bid on any items had already left, but Ji Yuan, having bought something, stayed inside to wait.

Before long, the blue-robed cultivator who had previously entertained Ji Yuan knocked on the door and entered, smiling and bowing, saying, "Congratulations, young friend! Congratulations!"

"What's there to congratulate?"

Ji Yuan was already very excited, but on the surface he still pretended to be indifferent and waved his hand.

"Alright, I'll deduct the spirit stones from the Foundation Establishment Pill for all my purchases, give me the rest."

"Okay."

The blue-robed cultivator was not surprised. With a flick of his right hand, several items appeared on the table.

"Young friend, your Foundation Establishment Pill is priced at 900 spirit stones. After deducting our auction house's bidding fee, there are 855 spirit stones remaining. Among them, you bid for two thousand-year-old Azure Orchids, spending 160 spirit stones, a Crimson Marrow Thunder Jade, 49 spirit stones, and a second-tier spirit beast bag, 385 spirit stones. The remaining 261 spirit stones are all here. Please keep them safe."

Ji Yuan looked at the desktop.

The two thousand-year-old Qinghui grass plants were still packaged in jade boxes, just like the three in his hand, all emitting a faint herbal fragrance.

The Crimson Marrow Thunder Jade was placed separately on the table. It was a precious jade with a reddish hue, but you could also see occasional flashes of lightning inside it, which made it clear that it was no ordinary object.

The remaining spirit beast pouch looked no different from a storage pouch.

However, the patterns on it are extremely fine.

The remaining 261 mid-grade spirit stones were placed in a storage bag.

Ji Yuan was just thinking about how generous their auction house was, but then he remembered that they had taken away his 45 mid-grade spirit stones... Compared to that, this storage bag, which was only a foot square, was really nothing.

Thanks.

Ji Yuan pretended to be nonchalant and casually waved his hand, putting all these things back into his storage bag.

"Take care, young friend."

The blue-robed monk bowed slightly, demonstrating impeccable manners and etiquette.

Of course, it was precisely because Ji Yuan "inadvertently" revealed these background details that he acted this way; if it were an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator...

That's a completely different matter.

Meanwhile, Ji Yuan left the auction house with a perfectly normal expression, showing no sign of anything amiss, just like any other ordinary cultivator.

After coming out, I looked around and then went to the street on my left.

Du Wanyi's house was on the right, so it was perfectly appropriate for him to walk to the left.

As soon as he lifted his foot, he focused his attention on what was behind him, worried that someone might discover his identity... 900 mid-grade spirit stones were worth the effort of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He wasn't worried about the auction house.

The Green Leaf Auction House still has some credibility. He was just worried that the blue-robed cultivator would reveal his affairs to other Foundation Establishment cultivators, which might attract the attention of other Foundation Establishment cultivators, and that would be unpredictable.

This was precisely why he had boasted about his status in front of the blue-robed monk earlier.

The purpose was to make this person hesitant to act rashly and to instill fear in them.

Perhaps the method really worked, or perhaps the blue-robed cultivator was of upright character; in any case, Ji Yuan, after many twists and turns, did not notice that anyone was following him.

He successfully returned to Du Wanyi's home.

Not long after the auction ended, Du Wanyi naturally couldn't return so quickly, so Ji Yuan took the opportunity to examine his gains.

Especially that second-tier spirit beast pouch.

He took it out and held it in his hand.

This thing looks like a storage bag, and it feels like a storage bag when you hold it... Damn it, it can't just be a storage bag, can it?

Ji Yuan infused it with spiritual energy to refine it, and only then did he feel relieved.

This is a spirit beast bag that is ten feet in size; it's definitely big enough to hold a giant toad.

If you ever encounter a situation where you have to take a risk, just put the giant toad inside and bring it along. It's a late-stage second-tier monster, which can be considered your trump card.

It's a pity that this giant toad was a third-tier demonic beast.

Even if I encounter a Golden Core cultivator, I will still have a chance to fight back.

If it were a fourth-tier demon beast, that would be even better. Even if the Water Dragon Sect Master were in front of him, he could make him lower his head and speak... After enjoying this pleasant fantasy, Ji Yuan put the spirit beast bag away.

Du Wanyi still hadn't returned, and Ji Yuan couldn't just leave without saying goodbye.

He then practiced his cultivation in her courtyard until late that night.

Ji Yuancai sensed a presence approaching, then the door opened, and Du Wanyi, who had been busy for several days, finally returned.

Ji Yuan originally thought that Du Wanyi would return easily, so he was thinking of getting up to greet her with a smile, but he did not expect that his second sister would look panicked.

"Fourth brother...you're still here."

Du Wanyi was clearly surprised to see Ji Yuan in the courtyard.

She originally thought that given Ji Yuan's cautious nature, he must have come to this auction house to auction something, and would leave immediately after the auction ended.

Unexpectedly, Ji Yuan did not leave.

On the contrary, they were waiting for her at her home.

"What? Should I go now?"

Ji Yuan was somewhat taken aback, but then he realized something. Given their relationship, Du Wanyi would never tell him to leave.

Judging from her current reaction, she has probably gotten into some trouble and is afraid of being implicated.

"No...that's not what I meant."

Du Wanyi gently closed the door, took a deep breath, and only then did the panic on her face subside.

"I... I thought you had already left."

Du Wanyi turned her face away and said.

Seeing her like this, Ji Yuan suddenly raised his voice and said, "Hurry, they're catching up!"

"What?! How dare they..."

Du Wanyi suddenly turned her head to look outside the door. The night was quiet, with the chirping of crickets rising and falling. Moonlight shone on the stone steps, reflecting a light like flowing water.

She realized what was happening too.

Ji Yuan was bluffing her, and she still fell for it.

"Tell me, what is it that you have to keep from me?"

Ji Yuan returned to his original seat and sat down, his relaxed expression gone.

Seeing this, Du Wanyi had no choice but to sit down opposite him.

She placed her hands on the table, her lips were a little pale, the needle between her eyebrows was more and more obvious, and even her eyes were a little flustered.

"No, it's not that I want to hide it from you, it's just that I don't want you to get involved in this."

Du Wanyi said, biting her lip.

Ji Yuan looked at her like this, pondered for a long time, and then said, "Do you remember when we were still in Yun Yu Ze? The four of us formed a sworn brotherhood, but then Third Brother died tragically, and now Yao Jingfeng has become like that too, leaving only the two of us."

"That's why I don't want you to get involved in this at all."

Du Wanyi gave a bitter laugh and said, "There's no need, there's no need."

Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan's heart sank... Could it be that his second sister has offended a Golden Core family?

Du Wanyi remained silent. After a long silence, Ji Yuan finally spoke up. Regardless of the other party's strength, he needed to know the truth.

What if... what if something really happens to Du Wanyi?

So that you won't not know who to seek revenge from.

"What level of cultivation does the other party possess... a Golden Core cultivator?"

No, that's not the case.

Du Wanyi quickly denied it.

"Peak of Foundation Establishment?"

"No, not exactly."

"Then you tell me."

Ji Yuan was too lazy to guess.

Looking at Ji Yuan's concerned expression, Du Wanyi remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "I'll talk to your fourth brother. After you hear what I've said, you should go back as soon as possible, okay?"

"it is good."

Ji Yuan agreed.

Du Wanyi then slowly began to speak: "The reason for this is that a month ago, when I was on vacation and strolling around the city, I found a thousand-year-old Qinghui Grass in a shop, and naturally I wanted to get it."

"I didn't expect that when I got it and was about to pay, another man at the peak of Qi Refining came and said he wanted the Thousand-Year Green Orchid Grass. I naturally refused. The man was being unreasonable, so I revealed my identity. I thought I could scare him away, but I didn't expect that he also had a considerable background."

"What's your background?"

Ji Yuan guessed that Du Wanyi had really met a second-generation immortal, and the kind of second-generation immortal with a difficult personality to get along with.

"His father is a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and he also has a second uncle who is a Foundation Establishment cultivator and the island lord of our Water Dragon Sect... Now he wants to force me out of the Water Dragon Sect before making further plans. I was careful at every step of this auction, but no matter how careful I was, I was still found fault with. I guess he has already started to exert his influence."

Ji Yuan recalled what Fang Jie had said before: Du Wanyi came to Qingye City because a Foundation Establishment cultivator had taken a liking to her and brought her here. But now, faced with this situation, the Foundation Establishment cultivator didn't care.

That makes sense, considering the other party is a family with two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

But what about Du Wanyi?

Fighting alone, and still from that place, Yunyuze...

"Do you know what cultivation levels his father and his second uncle possess?" Ji Yuan asked the most crucial question.

"Know."

Du Wanyi nodded slightly. "The man's name is Yang Yunxiang, his father's name is Yang Shunan, a cultivator in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and his second uncle's name is Yang Taian, a cultivator in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, known as the Forest Island Master. He is quite famous in our Water Dragon Sect, so many of our senior uncles are willing to give him face."

Ji Yuan: "..."

One is in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and the other is in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment... Are they enough to kill the giant toad?

Ji Yuan estimated that if the two of them joined forces, Yang Shun'an, who was in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, would definitely be killed by the giant toad. Yang Tai'an, who was in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, should have a 30% to 40% chance of escaping if he had more methods.

That's it?

What's there to be afraid of... Ji Yuan was just worried about not having anyone in the early stages of Foundation Establishment to kill.

This is just like a pillow being delivered when you're about to fall asleep.

"The Yang family... could it be the Yang family from Qingyang Manor outside Red Leaf City?"

Ji Yuan recalled the situation within the Water Dragon Sect's territory and speculated as he spoke.

After all, there aren't many families with two members who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage, especially not a prominent family like the Yang family.

"Exactly."

"Alright, I'll head back now. Second sister, if you have nothing else to do, you should also go back to the sect for a few days. They have more tricks up their sleeves here in Qingye City, but they won't be able to do anything about it once you're back at the sect."

Ji Yuan suggested.

"That's what I was planning to do too. After this auction, I'll have a five-day vacation, and I'm going to go back to my sect first."

(End of this chapter)