23: Chapter 23 Boiled Eggs

After Chen Changqing obtained the Cultivation Technique, a new round of the auction officially began, lasting until the sixty-ninth treasure was auctioned off.

"Next are the final three grand finale items. I will personally host this round." An old man walked out from the back hall.

The beautiful woman in a red dress, Red Lady, bowed to him and took her leave.

"A Foundation Establishment Cultivator?! I never expected that the final three treasures would actually be hosted by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator." Many Cultivators exclaimed in surprise, and even the Family Cultivators in the Tier-B rooms wore looks of astonishment.

"It seems the final three treasures are not as simple as just a foundation establishment pill."

Immediately, the entire auction venue quieted down, losing its previous casual atmosphere.

"Once a Foundation Establishment Cultivator appears, their mere aura alone is enough to make all the Cultivators present cower in fear." Chen Changqing felt a myriad of emotions in his heart.

"Senior, what are the final three treasures? Could you reveal a little in advance?" a Loose Cultivator asked respectfully.

"Hehe!" The old man stroked his beard with one hand, then smiled and said, "You will know soon enough. Now, let us reveal the first treasure."

After saying this, the old man took out a jade box from his Storage Pouch. Opening it, he saw a glittering golden Ore inside, fully the size of a fist.

"This is? Gold Essence Stone!" someone exclaimed inside the Tier-A rooms.

Hearing this, everyone understood that today's three grand finale items had nothing to do with Qi Refining Cultivators like them. A treasure that could make Foundation Establishment Seniors covet it was not something Qi Refining Cultivators dared to covet. However, they did not leave either, all wanting to see what kind of prices these final three grand finale items would fetch in the end. After all, opportunities to broaden their horizons like today were rare.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao truly lives up to his reputation of being knowledgeable and experienced." The old man glanced at Tier-A Room No. 2 and nodded.

Then he withdrew his gaze, turned to look at all the Qi Refining Cultivators, and said kindly, "That's right, this is a piece of Gold Essence Stone. Perhaps none of the little friends present recognize it, so let me introduce it to you. Gold Essence Stone belongs to metal-attribute Ores, and its texture is hard and sharp."

"As a rare Tier 2 top-grade Ore, if a piece like this is added during the refinement of a Tier 2 Magical Artifact, its power can become extremely formidable. There was once a Cultivator who, because a thumb-sized piece of Gold Essence Stone was added to his Magical Artifact, managed to defeat a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator with his Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivation."

"I see." Some Cultivators suddenly understood.

"Enough idle talk, let's begin the auction now, otherwise my old friends won't be able to wait any longer. The starting price is one thousand Spirit Stones, and each bid increase must not be less than one hundred."

"One thousand five hundred." A rough voice came from Tier-A Room No. 2.

One thousand five hundred?! Chen Changqing was inwardly surprised. These Foundation Establishment Cultivators were truly generous with their spending, completely unlike himself.

"One thousand seven hundred." Inside Tier-A Room No. 4, an old man with a vicissitudinal gaze asked the youth beside him to help call out the bid. He looked so listless, as if he might die at any moment.

"Old fellow, I didn't expect even you to be forced out by the foundation establishment pill." The rough-looking brawny man inside Room No. 2 crossed his arms, stamping his foot while a trace of gloomy chill flashed in his eyes.

"Ahem, this old man has come today with absolute determination to obtain the foundation establishment pill. I hope Fellow Daoists will forgive me." Zhang Huashan coughed before slowly speaking.

Hearing this, the expressions of several Foundation Establishment families turned somewhat solemn. Although the Zhang Family had become the bottom-tier existence among the four major families in recent years due to the lack of new Foundation Establishment Cultivators appearing, this Zhang Huashan—despite looking like he was about to go to his grave—was someone very few people in the four major families dared to claim a guaranteed victory against if a fight truly broke out.

"Hmph, the auction relies on one's own ability. Whoever bids higher gets it." Zhao Huaichong sneered.

Then he called out, "Two thousand Spirit Stones."

Behind him, another Foundation Establishment Cultivator also started bidding. However, this Foundation Establishment Cultivator was not a person from the four major families, but a force from another county or commandery city. There were seven or eight others like them, all attracted here by the foundation establishment pill.

Before long, the auction price of this Gold Essence Stone was pushed up to four thousand Spirit Stones. This price could already buy a slightly inferior Tier 2 High Grade Magical Artifact. From this, it was evident just how precious this fist-sized Gold Essence Stone was.

In the end, this piece of Gold Essence Stone was won by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from out of town for four thousand three hundred Spirit Stones.

Next was the second treasure. The old man took out another jade box from his Storage Pouch, which contained a stalk of Spirit Medicine. Judging by its rich Spiritual Qi, it was clearly a thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine.

"This is the thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine, Purple Spirit Ginseng. If this Spirit Medicine is consumed raw, a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator can save five years of arduous cultivation, and a Middle Stage one can save two years of arduous cultivation. Of course, if it is used to refine Medicinal Pills, such as the Tier 2 Medium Grade Medicinal Pill, Purple Spirit Pill, the effect is even more astounding. The starting price is two thousand Spirit Stones, and each bid increase must not be less than two hundred."

Just like that, a new round of bidding began, and ultimately this stalk of Spirit Medicine was bought for nine thousand Spirit Stones.

Then came everyone's most anticipated foundation establishment pill. As soon as the old man took out the square box containing the foundation establishment pill, the entire auction venue immediately became noisy.

The old man opened the square box, and instantly a flawless, white Medicinal Pill appeared in everyone's eyes.

"So this is the foundation establishment pill!" Chen Changqing exclaimed in surprise. He had originally thought the foundation establishment pill would be a black-purple Medicinal Pill, and never expected it to be so pure white and crystal-clear.

"Mhm, this is also only the second time I have seen a foundation establishment pill," Chen Yuanjin spoke.

"The competition for that foundation establishment pill last time was fierce, fetching a price of over twenty-five thousand Spirit Stones, and it was ultimately won by a Qi Refining Family. However, it was a pity that while that Family had the strength to auction for the foundation establishment pill, they lacked the ability to escort the foundation establishment pill. Halfway through, it was robbed by a group of roving Cultivators, and in the end, that roving Cultivator even successfully achieved Foundation Establishment."

Chen Changqing nodded. The Immortal Realm had always been like this; without the ability to possess a treasure, one was destined to suffer for holding it.

"The starting price is ten thousand Spirit Stones, and each bid increase must not be less than one thousand Spirit Stones." The climax of the auction officially began.

All the Cultivators held their breath, blankly gazing at the foundation establishment pill with a starting price of ten thousand Spirit Stones. Who among every Cultivator here would dare claim they had ten thousand Spirit Stones?

"Eleven thousand." Inside Tier-B Room, a Qi Refining Cultivator shouted.

"Twelve thousand," someone else shouted.

"It seems the fight for this foundation establishment pill won't just be among Foundation Establishment Cultivators," Chen Changqing silently thought to himself.

Before long, the foundation establishment pill was bid up to a price as high as twenty thousand Spirit Stones.

"Twenty-two thousand." After reaching twenty thousand, the number of people bidding dropped by a huge margin, especially the Cultivators from the Qi Refining families, who slowly began to give up.

Now the main force of the bidding consisted of those Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Inside Tier-A Room No. 4, the old man with a vicissitudinal gaze spoke, "Twenty-five thousand."

"Twenty-six thousand." Zhao Huaichong cast a sideways glance at Room No. 4, his eyes filled with disdain, and called out.

Hearing this, the expressions of the Cultivators inside Room No. 4 became very ugly.

"Old Ancestor, the Zhao Family is going too far." A child felt a bit of anger; time and time again they had exercised forbearance, but in return they were pushed step by step.

"No rush, let's win the foundation establishment pill first before talking." The old man raised his hand to stop him and continued bidding.

In the end, this foundation establishment pill was won by him for twenty-eight thousand Spirit Stones. Such a lavish display of wealth made many Cultivators below feel ashamed.

"So wealthy!"