Out of caution, Fang Xi did not make any bids.
He quietly watched as one item after another was presented on stage through the bronze mirror, and then elaborated on by Zhong Wanjun.
After the initial shock, Fang Xi also came to a realization.
He was not the only one among the physical cultivators practicing the "Myriad Beast Body," so this might not be a trap.
Moreover, based on the purchase time, he might not even be able to refine the first layer.
The possibility of luring others was greater than his own!
During this time, Fang Xi only made one move, bidding on a volume of the "Godly Brewing Manual."
Although this "Godly Brewing Manual" sounded grand, it was actually just a brewing master's notes, with a few recipes for first-grade spirit wines...
Fang Xi casually filled in a price of two hundred spirit stones, considering it a small compensation for his past regrets.
Thinking back, his grand brewing plans came to an abrupt halt, and when he revisited the old place, the cellar had turned sour, bringing back some nostalgic memories.
As time passed bit by bit, the auction finally came to a close.
On stage, Zhong Wanjun looked solemn as he had the serving girls with red-clothed trays come up.
"Next, we enter the climax of the auction, the first item up for bidding!"
Zhong Wanjun lifted the red silk cloth, revealing a shiny green spirit armor on the white jade tray!
"Low-grade spiritual weapon—Green Fish Armor! Crafted from the scales of six thousand seven hundred green jade carp kings, it can change size at will, remain untainted by dust, and comes with five major formations: Gathering Spirit, Protection, Dispelling Poison, Warding off Water, and Golden Light... Starting price, six hundred spirit stones!"
"It's actually a spiritual weapon?" Fang Xi was slightly surprised in his private room.
Qi-refining cultivators use magical tools, while Foundation Establishment cultivators use spiritual weapons!
This spiritual weapon required high-level spiritual power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator to wield!
For a Qi-refining cultivator to barely use it was like a child swinging a heavy hammer, not worth the effort.
"How many people here are qualified to bid? In Wan Island Lake, the Zhong family patriarch is the only Foundation Establishment cultivator, and it's impossible for him to sell to himself... There's only one independent Foundation Establishment cultivator, and besides that, there are probably Foundation Establishment cultivators from other regions?"
Fang Xi leaned back, showing no interest in bidding.
But when the second item appeared, his eyes couldn't help but light up.
"Second-grade Spirit Pill—Seven Treasures Snake Blood Pill! Refining with the essence blood of a second-grade serpent, it can greatly replenish Qi and blood, enhancing a cultivator's innate foundation!"
On stage, Zhong Wanjun was holding a crystal jade bottle as he introduced.
Through the translucent crystal, a large crimson pill could be seen inside: "Starting price, five hundred spirit stones!"
"It's actually a second-grade Qi and blood enhancement pill?" Fang Xi's eyes showed some desire.
As long as he could acquire this pill, along with the fourth layer of "Myriad Beast Body" and the research materials from the Grandmaster's Association...
He even had a certain confidence in breaking through to the 'True Qi Transformation' realm!
"No, I need to stay calm. I've already spent enough spirit stones... Most of those competing for second-grade pills are Foundation Establishment cultivators... If I make a move, it will attract too much attention!"
"Even if I swallow this second-grade Spirit Pill, I may not necessarily break through successfully... And the Zhong family may not withstand the pressure from a Foundation Establishment cultivator on my behalf... It would be troublesome then!"
Fang Xi looked at the pill in the bronze mirror, gradually calming down, his eyes becoming calm once again.
Although he could possibly bid for this second-grade Spirit Pill with the high-quality monster materials in his possession, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future, and he was still too weak at the moment.
"Let it go, let it go... that's it..."
He let out a deep sigh, quietly waiting for the auction to end.
The last item of this auction was a pill that could help Foundation Establishment cultivators break through bottlenecks, with a starting price exceeding two thousand spirit stones.
At this point, Fang Xi couldn't help but regret that the auction wasn't an open bidding format, so he couldn't enjoy the excitement.
However, after this round of silent bidding, Zhong Wanjun did not end the event. Instead, he smiled and announced, "Fellow cultivators, after the auction, we have decided to add a free trading session. You can use a magical tool to communicate and arrange trades on your own. Once a trade is agreed upon, you can go to your respective private rooms or special chambers for the exchange. My Zhong family will not know the success or content of your trades..."
"This magical tool is the bronze mirror in front of you, just infuse it with your spiritual power."
...
Fang Xi listened with a hint of curiosity, tentatively injecting a stream of spiritual power into the bronze mirror.
The next moment, he felt as if his spiritual power had entered a vast 'pond.'
Even his spiritual awareness was attached to it, following into the pond.
"How marvelous, is this the feeling of a Foundation Establishment cultivator's spiritual awareness leaving the body?"
Inside the pond, fish-shaped manifestations of spiritual power swam around, with a black fish emitting bubbles.
"Zhong Wanjun, your family's gadget is quite interesting..."
At this moment, a colorful fish with large spots swam over, at least twice the size of the other small fish!
"It turns out to be a senior!"
Zhong Wanjun also transformed into a blue carp, blowing bubbles: "This magical tool is called the 'Myriad Fish Mirror,' but it's just a toy, with limited communication distance and considerable consumption. It's only brought out to amuse everyone..."
He honestly listed several drawbacks of the 'Myriad Fish Mirror.'
"Interesting!"
This rare experience of spiritual awareness leaving the body made Fang Xi transform into a small red carp, curiously swimming in the 'pond.'
"This feeling is like playing a virtual reality game..."
"But how do I play this? Is there an instruction manual?"
Although Fang Xi didn't understand, he quickly learned.
He saw a white fish nearby blowing bubbles, and out of curiosity, he bumped into it.
Pop!
The bubble burst, and a voice that only he could hear echoed in his ears: "I want a Foundation Establishment Pill, I want a Foundation Establishment Pill, I want a Foundation Establishment Pill..."
"Darn, I want one too! I need to have it, and the other party must be willing to trade!"
Fang Xi rolled his eyes and imitated by blowing bubbles: "In need of a first-grade formation, in need of a first-grade formation, must cover a large area, suitable for farming..."
Pop pop!
Several small fish burst the bubbles but didn't respond.
Fang Xi wasn't in a hurry and waited patiently.
He even gave up on the second-grade Qi and blood pill. At this moment, he was in a very good state of mind, feeling a sense of fortune and a taste of risking his life.
Not long after, a green carp swam over, blew a bubble, and went straight for Fang Xi.
A voice sounded in Fang Xi's ear: "I have a set of mid-grade first-grade 'Little Cloud Rain Formation,' what's your offer!?"
Fang Xi's spirits lifted, and he replied with a bubble: "Do you accept high-grade monster materials?"
The green carp quickly responded: "Accepted!"
"Then let's trade at Room 16 of the Xuanzi Building!"
After replying, Fang Xi withdrew his spiritual power.
Inside the private room, he played with the bronze mirror, finding it quite interesting.
"This magical tool seems quite extraordinary..."
Not long after, there was a knock on the door of the private room. When Fang Xi opened it, a graceful woman with a veil covering her face walked in.
Her aura was unfathomable, making it impossible to sense her cultivation level. It was evident that she practiced some kind of breath-concealing technique.
Fang Xi remained composed. Although he didn't hide his cultivation level, others might think he was concealing it due to his wealth and audacity, despite being only at the fourth level of Qi-refinement.
This was also a form of strategic deception!
"A mid-grade first-grade 'Little Cloud Rain Formation,' with intact formation flags and formation plate, accompanied by an operational jade slip!"
The woman didn't say much, directly waving her hand, and a large jade box appeared. Upon opening it, there were delicate formation flags with shimmering spiritual lights, quite extraordinary: "This formation has the effects of gathering spirits and concealing, with a large range. It can serve as a sect's protective formation. If the value of your materials is less than five hundred spirit stones, I won't make the trade. Additionally, if you don't know how to operate it, and need me to set it up, it will cost an extra one hundred spirit stones!"
"No need for you to come over."
Although Fang Xi was only an uninitiated formation master, with the guidance of the jade slip, he could still set up the formation.
After some thought, he took out a storage bag and poured out a large wolf pelt, two bird claws, and some miscellaneous beast tendons: "Take a look..."
The female formation master picked up the wolf pelt, her eyes sparkling: "A mid-grade first-grade wolf pelt..."
"A mid-grade first-grade bird claw..."
"This... an unidentified beast's tendons, should also be of mid-grade first-grade?"
"Did you... kill various monster dens? No... these monsters are not of the same species..."
Towards the end, the female formation master seemed quite wary.
Anyone who could kill so many late-stage Qi-refinement monsters was definitely among the fiercest of the fierce!
"Concealing your cultivation level at the fourth level of Qi-refinement, deceiving ghosts!"
She muttered to herself, then put away the materials: "I'm satisfied with these materials, the trade is complete!"
The female formation master left in a hurry, not giving Fang Xi a chance to chat.
"Am I really that intimidating?"
He touched his disguised square face, feeling that this appearance was quite distinctive.
After carefully inspecting the formation flags and formation plate several times, he also put away the jade box and left the private room: "Let's settle the bill..."
Immediately, a serving girl approached and led Fang Xi to another secluded room.
...
"Guest from Room 16 of the Xuanzi Building, your Diamond Talisman and Celestial Meteorite Sword have been acquired. As for the 'Godly Brewing Manual,' I'm sorry..."
In front of Fang Xi, an old servant-like cultivator pushed two boxes onto the table.
Upon opening them, there was a golden talisman and the Celestial Meteorite Sword inside.
"I really lack experience..."
Fang Xi checked while pondering in his mind: 'I definitely overpriced the talisman... The Celestial Meteorite Sword is only suitable for body cultivators, with a narrow audience, so it won't fetch a high price...'
"As for the final 'Godly Brewing Manual,' it seems low-grade but can actually help some small clans establish a brewing industry for long-term benefits... Two hundred spirit stones are definitely not enough."
"One hundred spirit stones for the Diamond Talisman, three hundred for the Celestial Meteorite Sword, totaling four hundred spirit stones!" the old servant said with a smile.
Fang Xi nodded silently, took out the remaining three hundred and eighty-seven low-grade spirit stones from his storage bag, and asked, "I'm short on spirit stones, can I use other items for deduction?"
"Of course, but it will be discounted by ten percent!"
The old servant lightly stroked his white beard, a hint of joy in his eyes.
(End of this chapter)