It was time again for the Heavenly Book Ranking List to be posted.
The area in front of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's Mountain Gate was crowded as usual.
As soon as the list was released, many Cultivators shouted in unison:
"It rose, it rose, he moved up two more spots."
Cheers, exclamations of admiration, and curses all erupted at once.
In the past few days, Du Tianle's ranking on the Heavenly Pride Ding List.
had become the focus of attention for many people.
Some Cultivators believed he was just a flash in the pan, liable to fall off the list at any moment.
Other Cultivators believed that since he could occupy a high position immediately upon entering the list, he was bound to continue soaring.
Still others held a neutral stance, just watching the excitement unfold.
Some Sects specializing in gambling even set up odds specifically for Du Tianle.
This attracted numerous Cultivators with differing opinions to place bets.
However, the Cultivators who bet on him failing and dropping off the list.
were destined for failure and disappointment.
Because on the Prodigy Ranking List.
Du Tianle had reached the seventh position!
And his Realm was still Foundation Establishment Early Stage.
Truly terrifying!
……
【Remaining Lifespan: 433 years.】
Human Race Cultivators at the Qi Refining Stage have a Lifespan similar to Mortals, likely not living past a hundred years.
Those at the Foundation Establishment Stage have double the lifespan, generally not living past two hundred years.
Golden Core Stage cultivators can live for about five hundred years, while those in the Nascent Soul Stage usually exceed a thousand years.
The Demon Race's Lifespan is slightly longer than that of ordinary Human Race Cultivators.
Looking at it this way.
one can see what a luxurious endeavor it was for Du Tianle to spend two hundred years cultivating a single Sword Art.
The results were certainly worth it.
Being struck by lightning for two hundred years.
was not just about cultivating the 《Thunder Sword Art》.
Not only did his Sword Light contain Thunder Sword Light.
but even his Five Elements True Essence seemed to carry a trace of lightning aura.
Du Tianle slowly opened his eyes.
Flashes of electricity flickered in his gaze.
It took a while for them to subside.
Du Tianle was extremely satisfied with this trip.
He could say he gained a lot.
However, he did not plan to leave just yet.
When he was browsing the Market Town earlier.
he heard that the You Family, one of the organizers of the Market Town.
would be holding their annual Auction tomorrow.
He might as well go check it out.
If there was anything appealing.
then he wouldn't hold back.
It would be a good chance to test how sharp his newly acquired Gilded Light Splitting Sword was.
……
The next day, the Auction venue was packed with people.
It was rumored that to expand their influence.
the You Family had gathered many rare items for this Auction.
thus attracting many cultivators to come and join the excitement.
The You Family did not disappoint; the very first item up for auction kicked off a small climax.
The auctioneer shouted at the top of his lungs:
"One Jade Slip of the Five Elements Foundation Establishment Essentials!"
"Starting bid is 800 Low-Grade Spirit Stones! Minimum increment is 50 Spirit Stones!"
Upon hearing this, Du Tianle's eyes immediately lit up!
It was truly a case of someone bringing a pillow when he was sleepy.
This Five Elements Foundation Establishment Essentials was not just fated to meet him.
it was practically tailor-made for him!
It wasn't just him; many people were stirring with anticipation.
A Foundation Establishment Cultivation Method based on the Five Elements has very broad applicability.
Because all things in the universe cannot be separated from the Five Elements.
And the most numerous Spiritual Roots are formed by combinations of the Five Elements.
A Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivation Method can even serve as the primary method for small and medium-sized families.
Given all these reasons, the competition was bound to be fierce.
In the end, it was taken by a Human Race Cultivator surnamed Wang.
for the price of 5,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
Du Tianle marked one Cultivator...
Then the second auction item was brought out.
Du Tianle's gaze turned icy.
The auctioneer loudly hawked:
"Ten Pure Yang male children, ten Pure Yin female children."
"All under the age of 10."
"Sold as a lot, starting bid 500 Spirit Stones, minimum increment of 50 Spirit Stones!"
As soon as the words fell, a middle-aged man stood up, his face full of anger:
"Patriarch You!"
"I am Zhang Liang, the County Commandant of Qing River."
"These children were lost from our Qing River County."
"We don't know who abducted them to your location."
"I request that, for the sake of the Qi Kingdom's government."
"You return these children to Qing River County."
"For the Patriarch's kindness, I will certainly report to my superiors, and there will be a generous reward!"
The Patriarch of the You Family, who was presiding from the back of the auction stage, slowly stood up.
"These children were consigned for sale."
"They do not belong to me."
"Our Market Town operates on rules."
"If you want the children back."
"Then you must bid for them."
"As for any talk of government or the like."
"Everyone here is a Cultivator; no one cares about any government."
"You think you can pressure us with that? How laughable!"
The middle-aged man only had a Qi Refining Stage cultivation.
And he had spent his life dealing with the mundane world.
Let alone bidding.
He couldn't even afford the starting bid of 500 Spirit Stones.
Hearing this, his face flushed red and then pale.
He cupped his hands in a salute, then turned and left, covering his face.
The rest of the crowd burst into laughter.
At this moment, a dog-headed Demon Cultivator laughed loudly:
"I bid 1,000 Spirit Stones!"
"I'll take these twenty boys and girls."
"It's just in time, as the Great King's birthday banquet is approaching soon."
"I'll make them into claypot rice to present to the Great King."
"The Great King will surely love it!"
This Cultivation Market Town was primarily a gathering place for Human Race Cultivators.
Demon Cultivators were rarely seen on normal days.
Perhaps the annual Auction drew them out.
Hearing his arrogant words, many Human Race Cultivators frowned.
However, due to the Demon Cultivator's powerful strength.
no one spoke up.
To avoid drawing trouble upon themselves and inviting disaster.
Du Tianle's eyes grew even colder.
And he marked another target.
Just then, a chilling voice rang out.
"1,000 Spirit Stones to buy these children?"
"I bid 2,000 Spirit Stones!"
Everyone turned to look at the source of the voice.
They saw a cultivator with a pale face, emanating an aura of decay all over his body.
The dog-headed Demon Cultivator became furious and snarled:
"You dare compete with me?"
"Do you know who I am?"
"I am the patrol captain under the Great King of Black Dragon Ridge, Old Ancestor Cloud Leopard."
"This is a birthday gift I prepared for the Great King."
"Heh heh, I hope you know what's good for you!"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding cultivators became even more silent.
Black Dragon Ridge was the largest power within a thousand-mile radius.
Three of the four Great Kings were Great Demons at the Nascent Soul Stage.
Rumor had it that the Great King was even at the Late Nascent Soul Stage, possessing Boundless Magic Power.
They dared not provoke them, absolutely not.
But the pale-faced cultivator seemed unconcerned and spoke:
"They are nothing more than a few Demon Cultivators ruling over a mountain."
"Others may fear you."
"But my Heavenly Corpse Dao does not fear you!"
Saying this, he rolled his eyes back, and an oppressive Corpse Fiend Qi spread over his entire body.
The moment the words 'Heavenly Corpse Dao' were uttered, everyone gasped in shock.
A sudden whirlwind rose from the ground!
The chilling Corpse Fiend Qi caused the surrounding cultivators to retreat rapidly.
The factions of cultivators in the Azure World were complex.
Divided by race, there were Demon Race Cultivators, Human Race Cultivators, Dragon Clan Cultivators, and so on.
Divided by Cultivation Method, there were Daoist Cultivators, Buddhism Cultivators, Demonic Cult Cultivators, and so on.
Among these, there was a school called Ghost Cultivators.
It was a major school, second only to Humans, Demons, and Devils.
The Ghost Cultivators were further divided into three sub-schools.
The Zombie stream, which specialized in the Physical Body.
The Skeleton stream, which specialized in bones.
And the Ghost Soul stream, which specialized in the soul.
The 'Heavenly Corpse Dao' was a relatively famous sect within the Zombie stream.
Although it couldn't be considered a Top-tier Sect, it was still a first-rate power.
One must know that any sect qualified as a first-rate power.
Must have at least one Great Power at the Integration Stage overseeing it.
The Integration Stage!
Those were terrifying existences capable of moving mountains, filling seas, and overturning the universe!
In front of such Great Powers, those at the Nascent Soul Stage.
were no stronger than three-year-old children.
And all the Low-level Cultivators present.
Including Du Tianle.
Few had ever truly met a powerful figure from the Nascent Soul Stage.
Let alone a top Great Power like the Integration Stage.
……