Mortal: Starting with the Falling Cloud Sect, I proved my Dao through gacha pulls.

Tianxing City, Fengle Auction House.

"Seven hundred spirit stones!"

"Seven hundred and fifty spirit stones!"

"I'll bet nine hundred!"

......

The shouts of bidding echoed through the hall as a group of cultivators argued heatedly over a piece of water-attribute spiritual material, creating a lively and noisy scene.

Inside the VIP box on the second floor, Su Mu gently toyed with a porcelain cup, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the floor below, showing little interest.

Given his current reputation in Tianxing City, coupled with his relationship with the Fengle Business Alliance, it was only natural for him to have a VIP room to himself.

However, the auction was already more than halfway over, and although there were many items up for auction, few treasures could truly move him.

Fortunately, the auction catalog had been sent to him before the auction. Since his desired item had not yet appeared, Su Mu was not in a hurry and simply waited quietly.

Three years have passed since he first met Jin Qing. During these three years, he has made many friends among fellow cultivators through Jin Qing's connections. Among them, the one who impressed him the most was a Core Formation stage cultivator named Hu Yue.

This man was forthright and unrestrained, yet he was also meticulous despite his rough exterior. He treated Su Mu with exceptional enthusiasm, and after several interactions, their friendship deepened day by day.

In the past three years, Su Mu has been refining and auctioning pills almost every month. He has also accepted pill refining commissions from two other fellow Daoists. All the pills he has refined are of superior quality. As a result, his reputation in the Dao of alchemy in Tianxing City has become increasingly renowned.

The greatest gain during this period was that he managed to refine one-fifth of the Nine Heavens Crimson Jade and also refined the Crimson Essence Fruit and the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng into pills.

Thanks to the advantage of the strange fire, the quality of the pills he produced was perfect and flawless, far surpassing that of ordinary alchemists.

In particular, the Snow Ginseng Pill, refined from thousand-year-old snow ginseng, can extend one's life by fifteen years with just one pill. Although it has no effect after taking three pills, the lifespan of several decades is already quite remarkable.

However, he dares not show the pill to anyone at the moment, so he can only keep it safe for the time being and make plans for a more critical time in the future.

About an incense stick's time later, the auction was drawing to a close. All the items that appeared on the auction were of excellent quality, and even Su Mu couldn't resist making a bid, purchasing a pill furnace of exceptional quality.

Just then, the auctioneer's expression brightened, and he clapped his hands lightly, causing a translucent white jade bottle to slowly rise onto the auction stage.

"The next item to be auctioned is a pill personally refined by Xiao Yan, the city's master alchemist. I'm sure you're all familiar with it."

"However, what we are photographing today is the Crimson Essence Pill that Master Xiao recently refined. It can purify one's own magical power and has extraordinary effects. Please take a look."

As soon as he finished speaking, he gently lifted the bottle cap. Three bright red pills slowly floated out, and their rich, mellow fragrance instantly filled the entire venue.

The cultivators present scanned the pill with their divine senses and immediately knew that it was no ordinary pill. Upon hearing that the pill could purify magical power, they all showed interest and were eager to try it.

"Same old rules as before: Master Xiao's pills will only be exchanged for demon cores and cultivation techniques. This Crimson Essence Pill will only be exchanged for demon cores of level six or higher. Alright, let the bidding begin!"

Upon hearing this, many cultivators immediately had second thoughts.

Level 6 demonic beasts correspond to mid-stage Core Formation cultivators. Ordinary cultivators would find it extremely difficult to hunt them down, let alone easily obtain a Level 6 demonic core.

Moreover, judging from the effects of the Crimson Essence Pill, it is by no means something that can be obtained by exchanging one or two level-six demon cores.

However, Tianxing City is full of hidden talents, with many powerful and wealthy individuals. Despite this, many people remained calm and prepared to bid.

"Three level-seven demon cores!"

Just then, a pleasant yet somewhat neutral and cool voice slowly drifted out from a VIP box.

"What? Three level-seven demon cores?"

"This is outrageous! There's no way they're going to bid like this!"

The crowd erupted in commotion, all turning to look at the VIP box.

The private room was surrounded by dense restrictions, which divine sense could not penetrate at all. Everyone could only secretly guess that the person inside must be the young master of a major sect or a big figure from a top power.

Su Mu was also slightly surprised at this moment.

The value of three level-seven demon cores already surpasses that of his Crimson Essence Pill. The fact that the other party offered such a premium right off the bat clearly shows their determination to obtain it.

If he didn't desperately need the pill, then he was deliberately trying to befriend him.

However, he naturally wouldn't refuse.

Since the other party was willing to trade a level-seven demon core, he would accept it, as it would be perfect for refining pills to enhance his cultivation.

After a moment of silence, with no one bidding again, the auctioneer immediately announced that the sale had been completed.

As for those level-seven demon cores, they will be delivered to him by a specialist from the auction house later.

Su Mu had already focused his mind and turned his gaze to the next item to be auctioned.

"The next item is quite special; it is the Beast Control and Insect Control Secret Technique of the Thousand Hearts Sect from years ago, the Beast Taming and Spirit Communication Technique. I'm sure many fellow Daoists have heard of the fame of this technique. This item is being consigned for sale here on behalf of a fellow Daoist."

At this point, the auctioneer paused, then continued:

"As for the terms of the exchange, the seller demands that the treasures that enhance spiritual awareness and the pills that improve cultivation be exchanged in exchange, and neither can be lacking."

The cultivators present had already changed their expressions slightly upon hearing "Thousand Hearts Sect" and "Beast Taming and Spirit Communication Technique," and the atmosphere in the room immediately became somewhat subtle.

"Wasn't the Thousand Hearts Sect completely wiped out by the Myriad Laws Sect hundreds of years ago? This Beast Taming and Spirit Communication Technique should have been absorbed into the Myriad Laws Sect, so how did it end up here?"

"Could it be a surviving member of the Thousand Hearts Sect from back then, who dares to come out and sell their cultivation techniques after hundreds of years?"

"But if we anger the Wanfa Sect, the risk is not small, so it's best to be cautious."

...

Su Mu was also weighing the pros and cons in his mind. Putting aside the possibility of incurring the hostility of the Myriad Laws Sect, he was in Tianxing City, and no matter how powerful they were, they couldn't reach him.

He had no shortage of pills to enhance his cultivation, but treasures to increase his spiritual sense were extremely difficult to obtain, and he didn't have any of those on him at the moment.

"I wonder if using only pills that increase cultivation would suffice? I, Xiao Yan, can also promise to refine pills for free twice in the future as compensation."

After thinking for a moment, Su Mu still tentatively asked a question.

The auctioneer was taken aback at first. If it were anyone else haggling like this, he naturally wouldn't have paid any attention. But Su Mu had been cooperating closely with the Fengle Business Alliance for the past few years, so he had to give him face.

Thinking of this, the auctioneer glanced discreetly at a private room.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Xiao. I've long admired your name. If you step in, the terms can certainly be negotiated."

"Besides the pills to enhance cultivation, I'll also offer two bottles of the Crimson Essence Pills that were just auctioned, plus three pills you'll refine for me free of charge in the future. Would you be willing to accept this offer, fellow Daoist?"

Su Mu had only tried it casually, but he didn't expect that the person who consigned the item would actually be there.

But after hearing the conditions offered, his eyes instantly turned cold. Did they really think he was easy to bully?

"Fellow Daoist, you jest. I was merely slightly curious about this cultivation technique. The conditions you have offered are simply unacceptable to me, so let's drop this matter."

Su Mu spoke indifferently, his gaze immediately shifting away from the cultivation technique jade slip on the auction stage, having already completely given up on it.

The person consigning the item didn't seem to care, just chuckled and fell silent.

Seeing that even the recently renowned alchemy master Xiao Yan had given up, none of the cultivators present dared to speak, and it seemed that this cultivation technique was about to go unsold.

Just then, a melodious voice rang out again from the VIP box where the Crimson Essence Pill had been purchased earlier, calm yet undeniable.

"I've changed this technique."