Mortal: I have a Spirit Gathering Cauldron

Lin Feng awoke from his meditation, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

After half a month of secluded cultivation, with the dual blessing of the high-level spirit gathering array and the spirit eye spring, his spiritual power was at its peak. His consciousness, tempered by the Great Evolution Technique, was as clear as a mirror, and he felt that he had already improved somewhat.

He stood up, stretched his limbs, deftly put away the array plates and flags, and turned to step out of the cave.

With a flick of his fingertips, the Wind-Escape Shuttle was launched. Its silver-white body shone with a burst of spiritual light, transforming into a sharp streak of light that pierced the sky and headed straight for Tianxing Market.

Tianxing Market, entrance to a secret shop.

Wen Xiucai was already waiting at the door. As soon as he saw Lin Feng, he quickly walked up to him with a beaming smile: "Senior, you've finally arrived! The auction is about to start, and the place is almost full!"

Lin Feng nodded slightly and followed Wen Xiucai through the stone gate.

The lobby behind the door was even more magnificent, clearly having been rearranged by the shop owner to welcome more guests.

Several moonstones were embedded in the surrounding walls, emitting a soft white light that illuminated the entire hall.

Most of the dozens of wooden chairs in the hall were already occupied.

The people on the chairs were of various shapes and sizes; some wore masks, some wore cloaks, some wore hats, and some had their faces obscured by magic.

Their cultivation levels ranged from the late stage of Qi Refining to the late stage of Foundation Establishment. They chatted in twos and threes in hushed tones, and a mysterious and tense atmosphere filled the air.

Lin Feng found an inconspicuous corner to sit down, took out a black bamboo hat from his storage bag and put it on, covering most of his face.

His gaze swept across the crowd.

"I wonder if Han Li is among these people." Lin Feng's lips curled into a smile. "Given that kid's cautious nature, he's probably wearing a mask and blending in with these people."

After another incense stick's time, the chairs gradually filled up.

The wooden door at the front of the hall opened, and a monk in black robes walked out.

He was tall and thin, and his face was shrouded in a layer of black mist, making it impossible to see his features.

With his cultivation at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, his aura was calm and his steps steady, clearly indicating that this was not his first time hosting such an auction.

The black-clad cultivator stood on the high platform in front of the secret chamber, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Welcome, fellow Daoists, to our trade fair. The rules remain the same: the highest bidder wins. No credit will be given for spirit stones. I hope everyone gets what they want."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent. The silence was so profound that the slight vibration of the moonstone could be heard.

The black-clad cultivator was clearly used to this awkward silence and didn't mind. He took out a crimson flying sword from his storage bag and held it in his hand.

"The first item up for auction: the top-tier fire-attribute flying sword 'Crimson Flame,' forged primarily from fire jade essence, supplemented with red copper and heavenly gold sand. It is incomparably sharp and inflicts fire damage. Starting bid: 800 low-grade spirit stones."

As soon as he finished speaking, a few low murmurs arose from the audience.

Lin Feng leaned back in his chair, looking at the flying sword with utter boredom, his heart completely unmoved.

He already had enough magical artifacts. The Xuan Turtle Shield, the Qingfeng Banner, the Pofeng Spear, the Bewitching Bell, the Zhenyue Tower, the Escape Shuttle, and the Hidden Spirit Veil—all were versatile, combining offense and defense, and providing support. He couldn't possibly control any more.

The strength of one's spiritual sense is limited. Even if one has mastered the first level of the Great Evolution Technique, one can only control four or five magical artifacts at the same time. This is already the limit. It would be meaningless to use any more magical artifacts.

The auction continues.

The second item was a fire-attribute refining material, with a starting bid of 400 spirit stones and a final sale price of 750 spirit stones.

The third item was a set of defensive array flags called the "Thousand Illusions Array". The array can create a virtual and real illusion, and can trap up to several mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators. The starting price was 700 spirit stones, and it was bought by someone for 1,200 spirit stones.

Lin Feng did not raise his paddle; he had little interest in the items being auctioned.

Just as Lin Feng's bored gaze swept across the crowd, trying to find Han Li and Qi Yunxiao...

A rich aroma of medicine instantly filled the entire secret room.

Everyone's attention was drawn to it.

The black-clad monk presiding over the auction was holding an exquisite jade box.

Inside the jade box lay a Solomon's Seal, its roots and stems thick and golden in color, with fine lines on its surface resembling the wrinkles of an old man.

The roots are fine and dense, each one gleaming with a faint, ethereal light. The medicinal fragrance is rich but not pungent, invigorating the senses.

"A top-grade spiritual herb, a thousand-year-old Huangjingzhi." The black-clad cultivator's voice was still hoarse, but his tone held a hint of solemnity. "A thousand-year-old spiritual herb, in perfect condition, with abundant medicinal power. It can be used to refine pills or taken directly to greatly enhance cultivation. Fellow cultivators, don't miss out!"

A collective gasp filled the hall.

A miraculous medicine that has lasted for millennia.

Such things are rare in the cultivation world of Tiannan. Hundred-year-old spiritual herbs are already quite valuable, and thousand-year-old spiritual herbs are even more unpredictable.

No wonder the shopkeeper saved this medicinal herb for last; this one item alone is enough to make the whole auction a success.

"Starting bid: 1,500 spirit stones," the black-clad cultivator announced.

Before he could finish speaking, someone raised a sign.

"Sixteen hundred."

"Eighteen thousand."

"two thousand"

"Two thousand spirit stones plus five Illusion Moon Stones."

Prices have skyrocketed.

The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly heated, with bidders coming one after another, each unwilling to yield.

Suddenly, a short, stocky young man wearing a mask shouted, "I'll trade a set of 'Inverted Five Elements Formation' equipment for this thousand-year-old Huangjingzhi mushroom."

coming!

A glint of light flashed in Lin Feng's eyes as he instantly locked onto his target.

Qi Yunxiao! He's finally shown up!

The hall fell silent again.

The black-clad monk presiding over the auction quickly confirmed with him whether this magical formation, known as the "Minor Forbidden Array," could truly achieve its original power.

Upon learning that it was merely a flawed array used in an experiment, they immediately rejected the young man's offer.

The young man, his face filled with disappointment, slumped into his seat.

The black-clad cultivator then raised the jade box again: "A thousand-year-old Yellow Essence Ganoderma. The highest bid now is two thousand spirit stones plus five Illusion Moon Stones. Any higher bids?"

A brief silence fell over the hall.

Just then, the silent black figure in the corner slowly raised his hand.

A calm, indifferent voice clearly echoed in every corner:

"Three thousand."

It completely crushes the highest price in the entire market!

In an instant, all eyes in the room turned to Lin Feng.

The black-robed monk's eyes gleamed, and he loudly announced the price:

"Three thousand spirit stones once! Three thousand spirit stones twice! Three thousand spirit stones three times! Sold! Congratulations, fellow Daoist."

Lin Feng acquired the thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum that had captivated everyone's attention.

Lin Feng stood up, walked slowly up to the platform, handed over the spirit stones efficiently, and accepted the jade box.

The moment his fingertips touched the jade box, he clearly felt a burning, yearning, and resentful gaze fixed on the elixir in his hand.

He knew it without even turning around.

That's Qi Yunxiao.