After the time it took an incense stick to burn, Yun Xiuyan also appeared before everyone. She wore a purple brocade skirt, her black hair loosely draped. The moment she appeared, she drew every gaze at once.
Behind her followed eight female attendants, arranged in two rows and filing in one after another.
The attendants set rosewood trays before everyone. Each held a jade wine pot, a Jade Spirit Fruit, and two jade plates: one of steamed spirit fish, the other of sliced venison.
Gu An recognized at once that the steamed spirit fish was made from his own Black Spirit Fish.
So that was why eight spirit fish had died last night, allowing him to make a breakthrough in one go. It turned out they were meant to entertain fellow disciples.
The other three items were also not simple. The wine was a first-grade middle-tier spirit wine, though its name was unknown. Although there was only a small pot, the wine was clear and the spiritual fragrance overflowed; it was not a mortal-grade item.
The Jade Spirit Fruit was a First-Grade Lower-Tier spirit fruit. Yun Xiuyan had given Gu An two just three days earlier, and now she was serving eight at once.
The venison was made from a first-grade middle-tier demon beast, the Giant Horned Deer. It was fine and firm, with seven or eight slices.
Each setting was worth at least six or seven spirit stones. Feeding everyone would cost about fifty.
Gu An smacked his lips, marveling at the Yun family’s generosity.
Yun Xiuyan greeted her seven guests and sat down. “Thank you all for coming. I’ve prepared a little wine to welcome you.”
Everyone rose to thank her, Tan Chengfeng loudest of all. “You’re too kind, Junior Sister Yun. We all benefit from these gatherings, yet you bear the expense. We really must thank you.”
The others echoed him, then helped themselves freely to the wine and food. The gathering soon grew lively.
Seeing that all the senior brothers and sisters had started eating, Gu An no longer held back. He first tasted the steamed Black Spirit Fish. A piece of fish cheek meat entered his mouth, feeling extremely smooth and tender, with a faint trace of spiritual Qi spreading out.
Gu An nodded. Better than Bai Zhi and Qingliu’s cooking. What a fortunate fish: even in death, it tasted better than its siblings. And so considerate of its master! One fish had given him spiritual qi, spirit stones, and now a meal.
Grateful Fish of the Year. It deserved the title.
To praise this Black Spirit Fish, Gu An ate it all up.
After several rounds of food and wine, the meal began to wind down.
Yun Xiuyan set down her jade chopsticks, rinsed her mouth with spirit wine, and then her clear, cold voice rang out like pearls falling onto a jade plate.
“Yun Kingdom is remote, and we seldom have the chance to meet and trade. That is why I arranged this gathering. Thank you all for joining me.”
“Anyone wishing to trade may bring their items forward. You’re welcome to buy or sell.”
“We understand. Junior Sister Yun, please begin quickly.” Tan Chengfeng said with a smile. He had the highest cultivation and had few concerns.
Yun Xiuyan looked around. Seeing no objections, she gracefully stepped forward. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
She brushed her storage bag with a slender hand and brought out three items. “Then let me start. I hope someone has something even better to offer.”
“Everyone, please look. These three items are respectively the Barrier-Breaking Pill, the Golden Wind Sword, and the Earth-Shaking Hammer.”
“The Barrier-Breaking Pill is a first-grade high-tier Spirit Pill. It has a miraculous effect on breaking through to the late Qi Condensation stage.”
“The Golden Wind Sword and the Earth-Shaking Hammer are both first-grade high-tier magical artifacts. The former is of the metal attribute, the latter of the earth attribute. Their quality is excellent.”
“I’m looking for ingredients for a Foundation Establishment Pill. I’ll trade all three items for any one of its principal ingredients—Heaven Origin Fruit, Dragon Blood Grass, or Soul-Nourishing Flower—and offer additional compensation.”
The pavilion fell silent for a moment. The Foundation Establishment Pill was a spirit pill that helped Qi Condensation cultivators break through to Foundation Establishment. It contained the three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit, precisely matching the three barriers of Foundation Establishment: physical sublimation, spiritual Qi liquefaction, and Divine Sense transformation. It could increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment by thirty percent and was extremely precious.
Even obtaining the ingredients was no easy task. So this was why she had invited them to trade and treated them to such a lavish meal.
After all, only Qingyuan Sect disciples had the opportunity to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills within the sect, and only they could possibly produce spiritual herbs for exchange.
Holding onto one or two spiritual herbs was useless anyway. It was better to exchange them for various spiritual items, increase strength, and strive for the sect’s Foundation Establishment Pill.
Yun Xiuyan was a gifted cultivator with two Spirit Roots and a True Person’s disciple; the sect would surely provide her with a Foundation Establishment Pill. She must be seeking the herbs for her family. Who else among the Yuns was preparing to attempt Foundation Establishment?
Everyone was silent for a moment. The main ingredients, plus three thousand spirit stones within the sect, could directly exchange for one Foundation Establishment Pill. This was a sect benefit. Even if someone had them, they wouldn’t exchange.
One must know that at the Qingyuan Immortal City’s triennial auction, Foundation Establishment Pills could sell for seven or eight thousand spirit stones.
Perhaps someone would be willing to part with a supporting ingredient instead.
After a moment’s hesitation, Wang Nan produced a herb. “Would you trade the Barrier-Breaking Pill for this Three-Leaf Zhi, Senior Sister Yun?”
The Three-Leaf Zhi was one of the twenty-seven auxiliary ingredients for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill. It required fifty years before it could be used as medicine. Wang Nan’s Three-Leaf Zhi was just over fifty years old, barely meeting Yun Xiuyan’s requirements.
Yun Xiuyan waited a moment. No one else spoke up. Knowing it was impossible to exchange for the main ingredients, she agreed, “Acceptable.”
Gu An estimated that the Three-Leaf Zhi was a first-grade high-tier spiritual herb, worth about eighty spirit stones. The Barrier-Breaking Pill was priced at one hundred spirit stones at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion. But the Three-Leaf Zhi was rarer, and with the Yun family’s need, some premium was normal.
No one offered another trade after they exchanged their items. Yun Xiuyan sighed. “I’ll take spirit stones as well.”
Near the Qingyuan Sect, a first-grade lower-tier magical artifact cost about ten to twenty spirit stones, a first-grade middle-tier magical artifact about sixty to seventy spirit stones, and a first-grade high-tier magical artifact could sell for around two hundred spirit stones.
First-Grade Top-Tier magical artifacts were even more expensive, selling for around five hundred. Some inferior second-grade lower-tier magical artifacts were also at this price.
“Two hundred and thirty spirit stones for the Earth-Shaking Hammer. Will that do, Junior Sister Yun?” Tan Chengfeng made the first offer, his voice resonant.
“A fair price. Agreed.” Yun Xiuyan nodded.
The others were unwilling to compete with him. First, Tan Chengfeng was powerful; second, this price was indeed not low.
Tan Chengfeng put the Earth-Shaking Hammer into his bag, took out spirit stones from his storage bag, waved his sleeve, and the spirit stones flew toward Yun Xiuyan. He then sat down.
The remaining Golden Wind Sword was purchased by Qian Jinbao for two hundred and twenty spirit stones. Yun Xiuyan also agreed.
After happily obtaining the High-Grade magical artifact, Qian Jinbao did not sit down again. Instead, he took out an item and introduced it: “This is a first-grade lower-tier formation plate, called the Mist Formation. It has the effect of blocking Divine Sense. I’ll exchange it for spirit stones or spiritual items of equal value.”
The Mist Formation was the lowest level of formation, generally used to place in a cultivator’s cultivation chamber. It could not conceal physical traces, but it could block Divine Sense. When others probed with Divine Sense, it could slightly obstruct and give a warning.
Gu An considered it, then decided against it. The formation offered no protection against attacks and only limited resistance to probing divine sense. He scarcely saw anyone at his posting in Blackrock Commandery. What use would it be?
If he returned to the sect later, he might use it, but then he could buy a better one in Qingyuan Immortal City.
The others had the same thought, and for a moment, it was somewhat awkward.
Finally, seeing that no one was buying after a long time, Yun Xiuyan advised Qian Jinbao, “Senior Brother Qian, please put away the spiritual item. In a few days, the Yun Kingdom’s small gathering will be held. You can try selling it to them.”
Qian Jinbao also took the opportunity to back down, returning to his seat dejectedly, his expression displeased.
Next, Tan Chengfeng stood up, stepped forward, and took out two items from his storage bag.
Tan let the two items circle before the gathering. “A First-Grade Middle-Tier Mind-Bewildering Bell and a First-Grade High-Tier Lightning Summoning Talisman. Spirit stones only.”
“The Mind-Bewildering Bell can emit a bell sound that disturbs the mind and causes irritation. In a fight, it can often produce unexpected effects. Everyone knows the Lightning Summoning Talisman. It can summon a bolt of lightning to attack an enemy cultivator, equivalent to a full-force strike from a late Qi Condensation cultivator. Its power is extraordinary.”
Gu An had a realization. It seemed that over two hundred spirit stones was not a small amount for late Qi Condensation cultivators. Both Qian Jinbao and Tan Chengfeng had taken out spiritual items to exchange for spirit stones.
Examining the Mind-Bewildering Bell, Gu An liked it more and more. He felt it suited him. Although he was reluctant to part with his spirit stones, he could still distinguish between what was important and what was not.
He couldn’t let this chance pass. The bell was well made and worth buying. “Sixty-five spirit stones for the Mind-Bewildering Bell, Senior Brother Tan,” he offered.
Tan Chengfeng hesitated for a moment. Seeing that no one else was interested in the Mind-Bewildering Bell, he agreed.
Gu An was overjoyed, but his face remained expressionless. He took out sixty-five spirit stones and sent them flying toward Tan Chengfeng. The Mind-Bewildering Bell also floated before him.