Cultivation begins with forming a bond with a spirit bee.

When the auction reached the last three items, everyone was watching with bated breath, eager to see what treasures Tianxiang Pavilion would bring out.

Qu Ye also waited with bright eyes. Even if he couldn't afford it, it would be good to broaden his horizons.

Chen Rong didn't keep them in suspense. With a wave of her hand, two maids brought over a long spear.

"The top-grade magic weapon 'Frosty Spear' is extremely powerful, and it can combine water and fire. If a Qi Refining Peak cultivator were to fully control it, it could even unleash a spear shadow comparable to a casual strike from an Early Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"The value of this item is self-evident. The starting bid is 500 low-grade spirit stones, and each bid must be at least 50 stones higher!"

"Five hundred and fifty!"

"Six hundred and fifty!"

"Seven hundred!"

……

The Frostfire Spear, a top-grade magic weapon, is out of the reach of ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. Only a few peak Qi Refining cultivators and the three major families can participate in the bidding.

"Eight hundred spirit stones!"

Ultimately, this top-grade magical artifact was acquired by Yang Fengrui of the Yang family and put into his possession.

Qu Ye secretly gasped.

A late-stage breakthrough pill costs a mere hundred spirit stones, while this magic artifact costs eight times that amount.

The three major families are incredibly wealthy; even a single disciple can produce so many spirit stones.

However, considering that the three major families had controlled the market for many years, Qu Ye felt relieved.

The dozens of spirit contract workers alone can bring the Hou family thousands of spirit stones every year, not to mention the revenue from the market.

Qu Ye would never believe that the Hou family didn't have several thousand spirit stones stored up.

The second and most anticipated item was a water-attribute cultivation technique that could be cultivated to the early Foundation Establishment stage. Several Qi Refining Peak cultivators bid against it with bloodshot eyes.

A monk who had come from another market town captured him.

The auction was drawing to a close.

All parties are on high alert, paying close attention to the items up for auction.

"Next up is the final item of this auction, a Foundation Establishment spiritual artifact—Earthfire Mystic Fiend!"

Chen Rong's voice became impassioned.

The atmosphere in the meeting room became tense and oppressive.

Upon hearing the auction item, Hou Zhilan's expression remained unchanged, but her pupils contracted, clearly indicating that she was not as calm as she appeared.

Sun Shaofeng, who was standing nearby, noticed this scene and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"My God, it's a Foundation Establishment spirit object!"

"Earth Fire Mystic Fiend is said to be able to help cultivators overcome the physical barrier, increasing the success rate by half a percent!"

The cultivators discussed among themselves, their eyes filled with longing.

Even if it only increases the success rate by half a percent, it's still better than nothing!

"The effect of Earth Fire Mystic Fiend is to protect the physical body of the person attempting to break through, increasing the success rate of Foundation Establishment by half a percent. Starting bid is six hundred low-grade spirit stones, with each bid increment no less than fifty!"

Chen Rong's voice echoed in the auction house.

Upon hearing the starting price, most of the cultivators relaxed; they could basically forget about it.

The cultivator who bought the water-attribute cultivation technique was filled with regret and wished he could return it.

Even if he hadn't bought this manual, he could still have competed for this opportunity!

As Chen Rong finished speaking, a middle-aged man walked out of the hidden room behind her with a blank expression.

He held a transparent porcelain bottle in his hand, inside which a cloud of red and black gas swirled continuously.

His aura was as deep as an abyss, slowly enveloping the entire venue.

Qu Ye's expression hardened.

This was the first time he had ever seen the true face of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

After the middle-aged man walked out, all the cultivators on the third floor quickly stood up and bowed.

"Greetings, Senior Gongsun!"

The other cultivators in the hall, including Qu Ye, also stood up and bowed in unison.

Gongsun Jin nodded, his tone indifferent.

"No need for formalities, let's begin bidding."

It seemed the pressure from the Foundation Establishment cultivators was too heavy; after a long while, one person tentatively spoke:

"This junior will contribute 650 spirit stones."

Seeing that Gongsun Jin didn't care at all, the atmosphere became lively again.

"This junior will offer seven hundred!"

"Hmph, you think you can buy a Foundation Establishment item for seven hundred spirit stones? This junior will offer seven hundred and fifty!"

"Eight hundred!"

……

The price kept rising until it reached nine hundred, at which point the frequency of bidding began to decrease.

Yang Fengrui sighed and gave up the fight.

He had already spent most of his spirit stones on the purchase of the Frostfire Spear, and now even if he pooled his money with the other disciples, it wouldn't be enough.

Fortunately, what we have in front of us is just a Foundation Establishment spiritual item. Although it is equally precious, it only increases the probability by half a percent.

If it were a Foundation Establishment Pill, he would be kicking himself.

"One thousand two hundred!"

Hou Zhilan gritted her teeth and quoted a price.

This was all the spirit stones she had.

Sun Shaofeng, standing nearby, estimated that this was the other person's limit and smiled.

"Sister Zhilan, you have such courage. Then I will not argue with you."

After saying that, Sun Shaofeng also gave up bidding.

"1200 spirit stones! Is there a higher price?"

Ultimately, the price of this bottle of Earth Fire Mystic Fiend was a staggering sum.

This is already a significant premium.

One Foundation Establishment Pill can increase the probability of Foundation Establishment by 25%, and usually costs only about 2,500 spirit stones.

Hou Zhilan gave Sun Shaofeng a look of disgust.

She then left her seat and led several Hou family disciples onto the stage to conduct the transaction.

"Did Hou Zhilan actually take the picture?"

"It seems the Hou family will have another Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"Difficult, difficult, difficult! Even increasing the probability by only half a percent is still very risky..."

Hou Zhilan walked onto the stage and bowed to Gongsun Jin, saying, "Senior Gongsun, I've come to hand over the spirit stones."

Gongsun Jin looked at the female cultivator in front of him, a slight smile appearing on his expressionless face.

"I remember you. You're the girl from Old Man Hou's family, aren't you?"

"I am deeply honored that Senior Gongsun remembers me," Hou Zhilan quickly bowed again.

After paying the spirit stones.

Hou Zhilan pleaded, "Senior Gongsun, could you please open the back door so that I may leave first?"

Gongsun Jin nodded.

After Hou Zhilan left through the back door, he turned around and walked back to the hidden room, disappearing without a trace.

Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!

At the auction, many cultivators scattered like birds and beasts, taking the opportunity to leave Tianxiang Pavilion.

Qu Ye was among them.

He could feel several pairs of eyes fixed on him, waiting for him to leave the market.

"snort."

Qu Ye snorted coldly, "Who said he was going to leave the market?"

Anyway, I have another place to stay in the market, so I might as well stay there for a few days.

In a few days, this storm will probably pass.

Having made up his mind, Qu Ye flashed into the bustling crowd.

Once he arrived at a secluded spot, he dropped his disguise, changed his appearance, and swaggered back to where he used to live.

……

Tianxiang Pavilion, third floor.

The once bustling venue was now eerily quiet, deserted.

The only figure was still sitting on a chair on the third floor, leisurely eating spiritual fruit.

A moment later, Chen Rong walked slowly to the man's side and whispered, "Fellow Daoist Sun, the Pavilion Master summons you."

This person was none other than Sun Shaofeng.

Sun Shaofeng put down the spirit fruit and grinned, "Alright, I'll be right there."

He stood up and followed Chen Rong to the wall behind the auction stage.

Chen Rong picked up a token and pressed it against the wall.

As the restriction was triggered, a room suddenly appeared in front of Sun Shaofeng.

Gongsun Jin was standing in the room, his back to him, staring at a portrait.

Chen Rong withdrew, and Sun Shaofeng entered the room. Before he could even bow, he heard Gongsun Jin speak indifferently:

"Are you sure that old ghost Hou doesn't have much time left?"

Sun Shaofeng quickly replied, "Senior, my ancestor investigated and found that Old Ghost Hou is surrounded by a deathly aura. Judging by the timeline, he'll be gone in a few years."

Gongsun Jin hummed in agreement and turned around.

"Since Old Man Sun wanted to destroy the Hou family, why did he use me to sell the Earth Fire Mystic Fiend to that girl?"

"Aren't you afraid she might actually succeed in breaking through?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Shaofeng smiled calmly, "Senior, you may not know this, but if this woman did not use this Xuan Sha, she might still be able to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

"If she uses it, she will surely die and perish, ending up with a body torn to pieces."