Taoist cultivation begins with being a miner

Ordinary people are not allowed to enter the auctions at Wuyou Pavilion.

Apart from the invited cultivators, other cultivators can only purchase entry qualifications with spirit stones, at a cost of fifty low-grade spirit stones per person.

Lu Yan spent one hundred low-grade spirit stones to bring Qing Hualian inside.

That's enough to buy a decent mid-grade magic weapon.

Upon entering, one immediately notices that the interior is unusual. The luxurious decor is secondary; the main purpose is to isolate the spiritual senses of cultivators.

"You lecherous scoundrel, this Worry-Free Pavilion is protected by a third-order formation. It can not only block divine sense detection but also prohibit flight. More importantly, its defensive power is astonishing. Even a Golden Core cultivator cannot break through it in a short time." Seeing Lu Yan's shock again, Qing Hualian explained the knowledge to him.

The two found a corner to sit down and wait for the auction to begin. As time went on, more and more people came in, several times the number of people at the last private auction.

Even so, the entire hall remained spacious.

Lu Yan looked up and saw that there were many private rooms on the second floor, and each room was also equipped with a formation to prevent outsiders from spying on them.

I heard that only Golden Core cultivators can enter the third floor, but I don't know if it's true or not.

"Tsk tsk tsk~ They're really rich. This pot of spiritual tea would cost at least three low-grade spirit stones in a restaurant, but they just add more here as they please." Lu Yan couldn't help but say after taking a sip of the spiritual tea on the table.

"What's this? It's just ordinary spirit tea. I'll take you to drink real good tea in the future, and a cup of it will cost at least one mid-grade spirit stone." Qing Hualian also took a sip and said disdainfully.

"Oh~ then I'm really looking forward to Fairy Qing's spiritual tea." Lu Yan smiled and continued, "Don't blame me for having a big appetite and drinking the fairy out of house and home."

"Tch~ You can drink yourself into poverty even if you overeat." Qing Hualian pouted.

The two chatted for a while before the auction began.

"The Worry-Free Pavilion Auction is now beginning." Stepping onto the stage was a voluptuous and beautiful woman, her face radiant with peach blossoms, her voice as melodious as a bell, and her demeanor elegant and noble.

This woman's name is Bai Jing, a Foundation Establishment cultivator. She is very famous in Wuyou City, and even Lu Yan, who usually stays at home, has heard of her.

More importantly, it is said that he has a certain relationship with Ye Wuyou, the city lord of Wuyou City, so no one dares to provoke him.

"Tch~ Pretending to be cute." Qing Hualian muttered after seeing Bai Jing.

Lu Yan: ...

Is this the kind of contempt women show each other?

"The first item is the superior-grade magic artifact, the Double Venerable Bone Shield. This shield is a rare treasure among superior-grade magic artifacts."

Not only can it be flexibly controlled by cultivators, but it can also be inlaid with spirit stones to withstand long-term attacks from cultivators at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

"Starting bid: 200 low-grade spirit stones." Bai Jing presented a decent high-grade magic weapon as the first item up for auction, which even Lu Yan found somewhat tempting.

But thinking about the alchemy furnace that was about to be used, Lu Yan had to restrain himself.

"I'll offer two hundred and thirty low-grade spirit stones."

"I'll offer two hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones."

"..."

Ultimately, this dual-bone shield was acquired by a cultivator for seven hundred low-grade spirit stones.

"The second item is a high-grade Nourishing Pill, three in total. I don't need to explain its effects in detail. The starting bid is sixty low-grade spirit stones." As she spoke, Bai Jing took out a small jade bottle.

Lu Yan knew about the Nourishing Beauty Pill. It was a top-tier first-order pill, a high-end version of the Clear Phoenix Pill. It was even better at nourishing the complexion and could also slow down aging. It was very popular in Worry-Free City.

Sure enough, the appearance of the Nourishing Beauty Pill immediately attracted the attention of all the female cultivators present, and Lu Yan even heard their breathing become heavier.

"Eighty low-grade spirit stones."

"One hundred dollars~"

"..."

"Does Fairy Qing want it? Or should I take a picture for you?" Lu Yan asked Qing Hualian beside him.

"It's just a first-tier pill, I don't need it," Qing Hualian said directly.

"Um... okay."

Since Qinghualian didn't want it, Lu Yan could only watch helplessly as the female cultivators inside the Wuyou Pavilion fought each other.

It was eventually bought by a wealthy female cultivator for three hundred low-grade spirit stones, far exceeding its actual price.

"This third item is a sword technique, suitable for late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. Mastering it will increase one's strength by at least 30%. Starting bid: 100 low-grade spirit stones."

"..."

As time went on, more and more items were auctioned off. Even the lowest-grade items were high-quality magic weapons or high-grade first-tier pills, as well as many cultivation techniques and secret manuals, far surpassing what the small private auction had offered back then.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Yan finally received the items he needed.

"Fellow alchemists, you are in luck with the next item up for auction. This is a top-grade magic artifact crafted by Master Qi Xiuyue, named the Transformation Moon Alchemy Furnace."

"Not only can it improve the quality of first-tier pills, but it can also refine some second-tier pills. It's extremely rare. The starting bid is 500 low-grade spirit stones. Bidding will now begin." Bai Jing said, taking out a moon-shaped pill furnace.

When this alchemy furnace appeared, the cultivators didn't pay much attention to it, since it was a magical artifact that only alchemists could use.

"Seven hundred low-grade spirit stones." As soon as Bai Jing finished speaking, a long-bearded cultivator on the first floor spoke up.

"Hey~ It's Alchemist Chen. I often use the first-grade high-level pills he refines. I didn't expect him to be at the auction." Someone immediately recognized him.

"I'll offer eight hundred low-grade spirit stones." After the alchemist surnamed Chen finished speaking, someone else started raising the price.

This person is also a first-level advanced alchemist.

"Eight hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones."

"Nine hundred low-grade spirit stones."

More and more alchemists began to enter the fray.

Although there are few alchemists, they are rich and are driving up prices like crazy.

The other cultivators didn't get involved, watching their competition with great interest.

The price quickly reached one thousand low-grade spirit stones.

Immediately, Lu Yan also stepped onto the stage, loudly announcing, "One thousand two hundred low-grade spirit stones."

This price is enough to buy some relatively low-grade top-quality magical artifacts, but it still doesn't reach the upper limit of the alchemy furnace.

"One thousand three hundred low-grade spirit stones." The alchemist surnamed Chen, who had started the bidding, continued to raise the price.

"One thousand three hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones."

"One thousand four hundred low-grade spirit stones."

The competition remains fierce until the price breaks through 1,600 low-grade spirit stones, at which point the number of competitors suddenly drops, as the price has exceeded the actual value of the alchemy furnace.

"One thousand six hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones," Lu Yan called out a price and continued to wait.

"Seventeen hundred low-grade spirit stones." The speaker was a fair-skinned young man. From the conversation of the people nearby, Lu Yan learned that he was a genius alchemist from Wan Dan Pavilion named Fan Zhenghong.

"One thousand seven hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones." The alchemist surnamed Liu gritted his teeth and added another fifty low-grade spirit stones, but judging from his appearance, he was probably close to his limit.

"One thousand eight hundred low-grade spirit stones." Fan Zhenghong then added fifty low-grade spirit stones.

"One thousand eight hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones." Lu Yan added, determined to get his hands on this alchemy furnace.