Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

The ownership of the Thunder Marrow is now a foregone conclusion.

Gao Yuanzhi quickly shouted:

"Fifteen thousand low-grade spirit stones, first time! Fifteen thousand low-grade spirit stones, second time! Fifteen thousand low-grade spirit stones, third time. Sold! Congratulations, fellow cultivator!!!"

Wu Fan's gaze remained fixed on the cubicle diagonally opposite.

The owner of that aged voice had revealed a trace of his aura during the bidding process. Wu Fan could clearly sense through the Five Elements Bead that this person possessed an extremely powerful source of energy.

It was violent and fierce, just like the aura emanating from Lei Sui on stage.

If that were all, Wu Fan might just be curious.

But he was all too familiar with this primal power.

More than ten years ago, in the Bai family, he had sensed the exact same aura from Xiao Yi, the son-in-law who had been driven away, and even the concentration was almost the same.

"Is that Xiao Yi?"

Wu Fan was already 90% certain.

He knew back then that Xiao Yi harbored a secret, and now he saw that Xiao Yi's cultivation had reached the perfect stage of Qi Refining.

Wu Fan couldn't help but sigh.

He remembered that Xiao Yi's spiritual root aptitude was only of the low grade back then, and he didn't possess much spiritual charm. His achievements today clearly showed that he was a person with great fortune.

It's just unknown what kind of protagonist's opportunity he possesses.

Surely it's not one of those templates that hides an old man, is it?!

Wu Fan had a few strange thoughts in his mind. Just as he was about to sense it more carefully, he was interrupted by Gao Yuanzhi's impassioned voice.

Fellow Daoists!

Gao Yuanzhi stood on the high platform, his expression solemn, his voice filled with excitement:

"Next up is the final item of this auction. And the grand finale of all: the Foundation Establishment Pill!"

"Hooray!!!"

These words caused many people to stand up abruptly, their eyes filled with unbelievable elation and shock, and the discussion instantly swept through the entire attic.

"It's actually a Foundation Establishment Pill?! Did I hear that right?!"

"Good heavens, aren't Foundation Establishment Pills only available at the grand auctions held in Zhongtianxu City? How come they're even appearing at a small auction this time?"

"Yes, yes! I've already spent nearly ten thousand low-grade spirit stones just now trying to bid on a few spiritual items, and I don't have enough spirit stones left. Otherwise, I would have definitely tried to get this Foundation Establishment Pill!"

"Foundation Establishment Pill... If I can acquire it, my child, who is at the ninth level of Qi Refining, can reliably break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, and my family will have another Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

A murmur of discussion arose, and all eyes were fixed on the high platform, their gazes filled with fervor.

Even the cultivators who had originally looked indifferent sat up straight, their expressions solemn.

Foundation Establishment Pills are invaluable treasures that are hard to come by for any late-stage Qi Refining cultivator or any small or medium-sized family, enough to make people fight for them at any cost.

Gao Yuanzhi raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet. Once the atmosphere in the room had calmed down, he slowly opened an exquisite wooden box in his hand.

Inside the wooden box, a pure white pill, emitting a faint fragrance, lay quietly.

The pill was surrounded by a soft aura of spiritual energy. Just smelling its breath was enough to refresh one's mind and body, and even the spiritual energy within a Qi Refining cultivator's body couldn't help but stir.

"Please take a look, everyone."

Gao Yuanzhi's voice carried a hint of solemnity.

"This is a premium Foundation Establishment Pill, personally refined by Master Chi Huo. It is extremely pure and can greatly increase the success rate of a Qi Refining Ninth Level cultivator breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Even if the attempt fails, it can protect the foundation with minimal damage."

He paused, then announced the starting price:

"Foundation Building Pill, starting bid 35,000 low-grade spirit stones, each bid must be at least 1,000 low-grade spirit stones. Bidding begins now."

Upon hearing this, Wu Fan raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise rising in his heart.

The market price of Foundation Establishment Pills usually hovers around 30,000 low-grade spirit stones, but most of the time they are sold at a premium. However, the starting price of this bright and exquisite Foundation Establishment Pill is only set at 35,000 low-grade spirit stones. Such a price is exceptionally fair.

Even the fairest starting price will eventually be driven up by bidding in the context of an auction.

After all, high-quality Foundation Establishment Pills are extremely rare. Qi Refining cultivators seek them to break through their cultivation realm, and Foundation Establishment cultivators will also compete for them for the sake of their juniors or for their own use. Therefore, the price is absolutely not going to be low.

"Thirty-six thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

No sooner had Gao Yuanzhi finished speaking than an urgent voice came from the private room on the east side.

Inside the private room sat a middle-aged cultivator in a brocade robe, his face slightly somber. He was none other than the patriarch of the Luo family, a Foundation Establishment family in the area.

His only son had been stuck at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining for several years and had already attempted to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage once. This high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill was his son's last hope for breaking through, and he was determined to obtain it.

"Thirty-seven thousand!"

"Thirty-eight thousand!"

Before Gao Yuanzhi could even raise his hand to signal, a price quote came from a private room on the west side.

Everyone turned their heads to look at the private room where the golden obsidian had just been auctioned off at a high price. He was clearly determined to get his hands on this exquisite Foundation Establishment Pill.

Bidding was incessant, and the price soared. In just a few breaths, it broke through the 40,000 low-grade spirit stones mark, finally stopping at the sky-high price of 42,000 low-grade spirit stones. The noise in the arena gradually subsided.

There are very few cultivators who can afford this price.

At this moment, the main force in the bidding has been reduced to the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the private room, as well as a few wealthy and powerful cultivation families.

Wu Fan sat in the cubicle, his expression calm, but he was secretly pondering.

He naturally desired the Foundation Establishment Pill; if he could obtain its assistance, his attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage would undoubtedly be twice as effective.

But the reality is that he was short of money and could only watch from the sidelines.

Just as the room fell into a brief stalemate, with everyone hesitating whether to raise the price, a calm voice suddenly came from a private room on the top floor:

"Forty-five thousand low-grade spirit stones."

The room fell into a deathly silence, and everyone looked astonished.

Forty-five thousand low-grade spirit stones—that's an astronomical figure, enough to buy the entire fortune of a small cultivation family.

Many cultivators who were just bidding hesitated and fell silent.

Forty-five thousand low-grade spirit stones is a considerable expense even for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Without any special skills, it would take at least a decade of frugal living to save up enough money.

Spending such a huge sum of money for a Foundation Establishment Pill would be far too irrational.

Gao Yuanzhi, standing on the high platform, was overjoyed, his voice brimming with excitement:

"Forty-five thousand low-grade spirit stones for the first time!"

Just as he took a deep breath, preparing to shout a second time, an unexpected voice came from the corner cubicle.

The voice was indifferent, yet it possessed an undeniable confidence:

"Fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones."

These words caused an uproar throughout the room!

Exclamations rose and fell, and everyone turned their heads sharply, their eyes fixed on the corner cubicle, filled with curiosity.

Some people stood up and peered out, while others whispered among themselves.

He was actually a Qi Refining cultivator. Although the fluctuations of spiritual energy around him were stable, he was clearly only at the ninth level of Qi Refining!

A Qi Refining cultivator dared to compete with a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and even directly raised the price by five thousand low-grade spirit stones—this is simply unheard of!

A long silence fell over the private room on the top floor.

The cultivator in the private room who had just quoted 45,000 was clearly taken aback by the sudden price increase. After a moment, a slightly helpless voice came through, tinged with a hint of relief:

"Fine, junior, you can have this Foundation Establishment Pill."

Everyone was taken aback, but then they all understood.

Although high-quality Foundation Establishment Pills are rare, the price of 50,000 low-grade spirit stones already far exceeds their intrinsic value. Continuing to bid would be a losing proposition.

Gao Yuanzhi reacted quickly, raising the hammer high, the sound echoing throughout the entire attic:

"50,000 low-grade spirit stones for the first time! 50,000 low-grade spirit stones for the second time! 50,000 low-grade spirit stones for the third time! Sold!"

His voice was filled with ecstasy:

"Congratulations to this fellow Daoist on successfully bidding for the premium Foundation Establishment Pill."

There was no response from the corner cubicle. He simply rose slowly and, through the curtain, gestured for the servant to come forward and complete the transaction.

Before long, the servant respectfully handed a brocade box into the private room.

The cultivator silently paid the spirit stones without saying another word. After obtaining the brocade box, he lowered the curtain again and disappeared into the shadows.

Gao Yuanzhi composed himself and raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet:

"Fellow Daoists, all items in this auction have been sold. Thank you all for your strong support and participation. May all of you achieve your goals, devote yourselves to cultivation, and reach new heights in your cultivation. The auction is now concluded. Please leave in an orderly manner."

As soon as he finished speaking, noise erupted again in the hall, and the cultivators stood up and left in an orderly fashion.

Some people returned home laden with their spoils, their faces beaming with joy.

Some people gained nothing and looked disappointed.

Others gathered in small groups, whispering about the Qi Refining cultivator who had just bid on the Foundation Establishment Pill.

Wu Fan sat in the cubicle, not getting up immediately, but lowering his eyes slightly.

He patiently waited until the crowd inside became extremely chaotic before slowly getting up. Using the shadow of the cubicle, he slipped out of the attic.

The night was deep, and a cool breeze was blowing.

The streets were still brightly lit, and pedestrians were coming and going in an endless stream.

Wu Fan concealed his aura, lowered his head, and walked quickly through the crowd.

Before long, he crossed the bustling main street, and after confirming that no one was following him, he turned into the quiet East Alley and returned to his rented detached house.

He closed the door behind him, set up a few simple restrictions and two sets of formations, and then let out a long sigh of relief, his tense nerves relaxing slightly.