115: Auction! Blood Soul Fruit! Heavenly Thunder Pearl!

Chapter 115: Auction! blood soul fruit! heavenly thunder pearl!

"Junior Brother Han, if you want the subsequent Cultivation Techniques of the Great Evolution Art, you'll have to bring good items to trade for them."

Outside Han Li's Immortal Cave, Lu Qiu smiled meaningfully and flew away on a streak of light.

Once Han Li realized the wonders of the first two or three layers of the Great Evolution Art, he would naturally crave the subsequent techniques.

At that time, he would be the one seeking a favor.

Lu Qiu knew clearly that for someone as cautious and suspicious as Han Li, yet extremely eager to become stronger, it would be impossible to resist the temptation of the subsequent parts of an ancient secret technique that could increase the chances of Core Formation and enhance one's fundamental strength.

This move, planted now, would surely be of great use in the future.

Not long after returning to Chixiao Cave, a slight fluctuation came from the protective Formation outside the Immortal Cave.

Lu Qiu swept his Divine Sense and found Zhao Wen standing outside the Formation, waiting with a respectful expression.

"He came quite quickly." Lu Qiu waved his hand to open a corner of the Formation: "Come in."

Zhao Wen hurriedly slipped inside and came to the front hall of the Immortal Cave, bowing to Lu Qiu, who was inspecting the Illusion Spirit Butterflies near the spirit eye spring: "Master."

"Mm, what is it?"

Lu Qiu didn't look back; his gaze remained on the few mother butterflies fluttering about, their wings marked with faint golden patterns.

After observing for a while, these Golden-Patterned Illusion Spirit Butterflies not only had stronger illusory abilities, but their egg-laying frequency and the quality of the eggs had also clearly improved. The speed at which the swarm expanded was several points faster than he had anticipated.

"Reporting to Master."

Zhao Wen said respectfully, "As per your instructions, I have been secretly inquiring about news regarding treasures that help Yao Beasts recover from injuries. I have just received confirmed information that seven days from now, the 'Ten Thousand Treasures Tower' in the Yellow Maple Valley Market will hold a medium-sized Auction."

Lu Qiu turned around, an interested look appearing in his eyes: "Oh? An Auction at the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower... Is there anything special?"

"Yes!" Zhao Wen nodded and took out a Jade Slip from his robes, offering it with both hands: "This is a partial list of Auction items I managed to obtain. Among them is one that Master might be interested in."

Lu Qiu took the Jade Slip and immersed his Divine Sense into it.

The items on the list were a dazzling array, ranging from various Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, and Talismans to Materials and Cultivation Techniques. Although most of the grades were not top-tier, they were considered quite good for a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator.

His gaze quickly locked onto a line of description in the middle of the list:

[blood soul fruit. Grows in places where Yin Baleful Blood Qi converges, formed by absorbing the essence blood of earth veins. Eight hundred years old. Effect: Strengthens Qi and blood, replenishes Origin, heals severe injuries. Particularly effective for Body Cultivators, Yao Beasts, and those with depleted essence blood. Starting price: Seven hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.]

"An eight-hundred-year-old blood soul fruit..." A glint flashed in Lu Qiu's eyes.

This spirit fruit was precisely one of the good medicines for treating the Bloodline Flood Dragon's injuries!

Although it wasn't as targeted or gentle as the 'beast essence spirit replenishing pill', it had the advantage of being direct in its medicinal properties, containing vast amounts of Qi, blood, and vitality. It would have an immediate effect on replenishing essence blood and awakening dormant vitality.

Combined with the continuous nourishment from the spirit eye spring, it would be enough to stabilize the Bloodline Flood Dragon's condition and buy time for the subsequent refining of the 'beast essence spirit replenishing pill'.

"Good! You've done well in this matter."

Lu Qiu nodded with satisfaction and put away the Jade Slip. "Seven days from now, I will personally visit the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower."

"Yes! If Master has no other instructions, I shall take my leave." Zhao Wen bowed.

"Go, continue to keep an eye out for related information." Lu Qiu waved his hand.

Zhao Wen took his orders and quietly withdrew from the Immortal Cave... Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Lu Qiu changed into an ordinary green robe and suppressed his aura to the Early Foundation Establishment Stage level, restraining all Spiritual Pressure and sharpness that might attract attention. Like an ordinary Early Foundation Establishment Stage Loose Cultivator, he quietly left Chixiao Cave and headed toward the Yellow Maple Valley Market.

The Yellow Maple Valley Market was as bustling and noisy as ever. Shops lined both sides of the streets, stalls were everywhere, and the sounds of hawking and bargaining were endless. Cultivators moved to and fro in a constant stream, with cultivation levels ranging from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment. Occasionally, one or two unfathomable auras could be felt flashing by, clearly high-level Cultivators passing through.

The Ten Thousand Treasures Tower was located in the core area of the market. It was a three-story pavilion covering a wide area, with flying eaves and bracket sets, looking quite grand.

The three gilded characters for 'Ten Thousand Treasures Tower' on the lintel shone brightly in the sunlight, with Spiritual Qi faintly flowing through them.

Today, the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower was exceptionally lively. Two attendants in green robes with cultivation at the Late Qi Refining Stage stood at the door, professional smiles on their faces as they welcomed guests arriving for the Auction.

Lu Qiu walked to the door and slightly revealed a trace of Early Foundation Establishment Stage spiritual power fluctuations.

One of the attendants' eyes immediately lit up, and his attitude became even more respectful: "Is Senior here for the Auction? Please follow me."

Lu Qiu nodded slightly and followed the attendant into the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower.

The interior of the building was elegantly decorated and spacious. The first floor was a hall with many counters displaying various goods.

At this moment, there weren't many people in the hall; clearly, most of the guests had already been led to the Auction hall.

The attendant led Lu Qiu through the hall to a heavy wooden door at the back. Standing before the door was a middle-aged steward with a steady aura and a capable face, whose cultivation was at the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment.

"Steward Liu, this Senior is here for the Auction," the attendant reported respectfully.

Steward Liu's gaze swept over Lu Qiu, and feeling his Early Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, a smile appeared on his face as he cupped his hands: "Fellow Daoist looks unfamiliar; is this your first time at our Ten Thousand Treasures Tower? Welcome, welcome. Today's Auction is held on the second floor, with both ordinary seats and private boxes. A private box requires an additional five Spirit Stones, but it offers a better view and is more quiet and private."

Lu Qiu didn't want to be crowded with others in the hall, so he casually took out five Spirit Stones and handed them over: "I'll take a private box."

"Certainly!"

Steward Liu's smile broadened. He took the Spirit Stones and handed Lu Qiu a jade plaque engraved with the words 'Mystic Seven': "Fellow Daoist, please go to the second floor. With this jade plaque, a maid will lead you to the 'Mystic Seven' box. The Auction will begin in about half an hour."

Lu Qiu took the jade plaque and went straight to the second floor.

The layout of the second floor was completely different from the first. In the center was a spacious circular Auction stage, surrounded by dozens of boxes of various sizes arranged in a ring, separated by screens or bead curtains so as not to interfere with each other.

There was another floor above, presumably for even higher-grade boxes.

At this moment, many boxes were already lit with the light of Restrictions, indicating that guests had arrived early. The ordinary seating area in the hall was also quite full, mostly with Qi Refining Stage Cultivators and a few Early Foundation Establishment Stage ones, talking in low voices, making the atmosphere slightly noisy.

A Qi Refining Stage maid dressed in a light yellow dress with a delicate face came forward. Seeing the jade plaque in Lu Qiu's hand, she immediately gave a graceful bow: "Senior, please follow me."

The maid led Lu Qiu to the box numbered 'Mystic Seven' on one side.

The box was not large but was exquisitely decorated, featuring a soft couch, a small table, and two chairs.

In front was a one-way transparent glass wall, through which the Auction stage below could be clearly seen, but the interior of the box could not be peered into from the outside.

Simple soundproofing and protective Restrictions were also set up within the box.

"Does Senior require any spirit tea or snacks?" the maid asked respectfully.

"No need, you may leave." Lu Qiu waved his hand and sat down on the soft couch.

"Yes, this Junior will be waiting outside the door. If Senior has any needs, feel free to call me at any time." The maid bowed and withdrew, gently closing the door to the box.

Lu Qiu leaned back on the soft couch, closing his eyes to rest and quietly waiting for the Auction to begin... Half an hour later, with the crisp sound of a bell, the originally noisy Auction hall gradually quieted down.

A middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe with a refined face and cultivation at the Late Stage Foundation Establishment walked onto the Auction stage.

He walked to the center of the stage, cupped his hands to all sides, and his voice, gentle yet clear, spread throughout the entire Auction hall:

"Welcome, Fellow Daoists, to the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower Auction. My surname is Chen, and I am the host of this Auction. Without further ado, I hope today's Auction items will allow everyone to return home satisfied. Now, the Auction officially begins!"

"The first item is a high-quality Top-Grade Magical Artifact of the water attribute—the 'green wave sword'!"

Steward Chen waved his hand, and a maid stepped onto the stage carrying a jade tray. On the tray lay a three-foot-long sword, entirely azure-blue like autumn water reflecting light.

The sword's body vibrated slightly, emitting a clear sword cry, and the surrounding air became a bit more humid.

“This sword uses Deep Sea Cold Iron as its main material, supplemented by several types of water-attribute spiritual Materials. It was crafted by this tower's Artifact Refining Great Master over a period of three months. It is incomparably sharp and possesses its own 'Green Wave Cold Qi,' which can slow down an opponent's movements and weaken the power of fire-type Spells during combat. The starting bid is five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and each increment must be at least fifty Spirit Stones!”

“Five hundred and fifty!”

“Six hundred!”

“Six hundred and fifty!”

...The bidding voices rose and fell one after another. Ultimately, this green wave sword was auctioned off for seven hundred Spirit Stones to a female Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Lu Qiu looked at the sword with a calm expression.

He currently had at least seven or eight Top-Grade Magical Artifacts on him, all obtained from various opportunities and intelligence, with no shortage of peak-quality ones among them.

While this green wave sword was decent, it wasn't enough to catch his eye.

The Auction continued.

The second item, the third item... the Auction items were presented in sequence. There were Medicinal Pills, Talismans, Materials, as well as Cultivation Technique Jade Slips and special Magical Artifacts. Most of their grades were within the applicable range for the Foundation Establishment Stage. The competition wasn't particularly fierce, but the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Lu Qiu watched quietly the entire time without placing a bid. He was waiting for the blood soul fruit.

Soon, it was time for the sixth Auction item.

Steward Chen's voice rose a few notches: “The next item is quite special. For certain Fellow Daoists, it might be exactly what is urgently needed.”

He gestured for a maidservant to bring out a white jade tray. On the tray sat a fruit the size of a fist, dark red like blood throughout, with natural cloud patterns on its surface, emitting a dense fragrance of blood, Qi, and vegetation.

It was indeed the blood soul fruit!

“One eight-hundred-year-old blood soul fruit!”

Steward Chen announced loudly: “This fruit grows in places where Yin-Fiend blood Qi converges. It takes a hundred years to form by absorbing the essence blood of the earth veins and the Spiritual Qi of plants, followed by several hundred years of maturation to reach its rich medicinal potency. It contains a majestic essence of blood Qi and pure vitality, having miraculous effects on treating severe injuries, replenishing one's Origin, and strengthening the physique! It is especially suitable for Body Cultivators, Yao Beasts, or Fellow Daoists with severe essence blood loss. The starting bid is five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, with increments of no less than fifty!”

Before his voice had even faded, the bidding suddenly erupted!

“Five hundred and fifty!”

“Six hundred!”

“Seven hundred!”

“Seven hundred and fifty!”

The intensity of the competition far surpassed the previous items!

Clearly, many people were interested in this blood soul fruit.

Whether it was for healing themselves or their spirit pets, or for cultivating special techniques or refining specific pills, this fruit was a rare find—not to mention it was eight hundred years old!

Lu Qiu's expression remained unchanged. He waited until the price was pushed to nine hundred Spirit Stones and the bidding slowed slightly before speaking for the first time. His voice passed through the private booth's Restriction, sounding calm and steady:

“One thousand.”

He directly raised the price to one thousand Spirit Stones!

The Auction hall suddenly went quiet. Many gazes turned toward private booth 'Mystic Seven,' but they were blocked by the one-way glazed wall and could see nothing.

“One thousand and fifty!” a slightly raspy voice called out from another booth.

“One thousand one hundred.” Lu Qiu raised the bid again, his tone still flat.

“One thousand one hundred and fifty!” The raspy voice seemed somewhat unwilling to give up.

“One thousand two hundred.” Lu Qiu didn't hesitate.

A brief silence followed.

Steward Chen looked around the room: “Booth 'Mystic Seven' bids one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones! Are there any other bids? An eight-hundred-year blood soul fruit is something that can be sought but not easily found...”

After several breaths, no one else raised the bid.

“One thousand two hundred Spirit Stones, sold! Congratulations to the Fellow Daoist in booth 'Mystic Seven'!” Steward Chen finalized the deal with his gavel.

Soon, a maidservant delivered the jade box containing the blood soul fruit to the booth.

Lu Qiu inspected it to ensure it was correct, paid the Spirit Stones, and put the jade box into his Storage Pouch.

Having successfully auctioned the blood soul fruit, Lu Qiu felt relieved.

With the help of this fruit, the Bloodline Flood Dragon's injuries could at least be stabilized and wouldn't continue to worsen.

The Auction continued, and several more decent items were sold, making the atmosphere even more heated.

Finally, it was time for the grand finale item.

Steward Chen's expression turned solemn as he signaled two guards to carry a tray about a foot square, covered with red silk, onto the stage.

He personally stepped forward and slowly unveiled the red silk.

In the center of the tray lay a round bead the size of a longan. It was deep purple throughout, with fine silver thunder patterns moving across its surface, and it emitted a faint, low rumbling sound of thunder.

The air around the bead was slightly distorted, emitting heart-palpitating waves of destructive energy!

“Fellow Daoists, please look at the final item of this Auction, and our only grand finale piece—” Steward Chen's voice was high-pitched, tinged with excitement, “—the consumable exotic treasure, the 'heavenly thunder pearl'!”

“heavenly thunder pearl?” Lu Qiu's brow twitched slightly as he became interested.

The name reminded him of a consumable treasure Han Li had once used called the 'heavenly thunder seed'.

However, the Spiritual Pressure emitted by this bead was more than a grade stronger than a heavenly thunder seed!

Steward Chen continued his introduction, his voice reaching every corner of the hall: “This pearl was created by collecting the stray essence of lightning from the heavens and earth, supplemented by various rare thunder-attribute Materials, and refined with great effort by a lightning-element expert at or above the Core Formation Stage! It contains a strand of pure and overbearing 'Heavenly Thunder Power'!”

He paused, scanned the room, and slowly uttered shocking words: “Once activated, the thunder pearl explodes, and the heavenly thunder rages. Its power is such that below the Core Formation Stage, no one can withstand it! Even a Cultivator at the False Core Realm, if they lack a special defensive Magic Treasure or Divine Ability, will surely be heavily injured or even... perish on the spot under this thunder!”

“Whoa—!”

The Auction hall instantly erupted into an uproar!

Invincible below Core Formation?

Even False Core Cultivators could be blasted to death?

This was simply the ultimate life-saving trump card for turning the tables!

Countless burning gazes immediately focused on that deep purple thunder pearl, and many people's breathing became heavy.

A flash of surprise also crossed Lu Qiu's eyes.

“Is this an upgraded version of the heavenly thunder seed?” he wondered to himself.

With his current strength, combined with the Golden-Backed Demonic Mantis and his various other means, he could already fight a False Core Cultivator and even had a chance to kill one.

But the description of the heavenly thunder pearl's power still made him somewhat interested.

It wasn't that he urgently needed it for himself, but he thought of Xin Ruyin and Xiao Mei.

Their cultivation was still shallow. If he wasn't by their side and they encountered a powerful enemy, having this pearl for protection could reverse a desperate situation at a critical moment.

“The starting bid for this heavenly thunder pearl is one thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones! Each increment must be at least one hundred!” Steward Chen announced loudly.

“One thousand one hundred!”

“One thousand two hundred!”

“One thousand three hundred!”

The bidding instantly entered a white-hot state!

Almost all the capable private booths and the Cultivators in the front rows of the main hall joined in.

Although this high-power consumable exotic treasure could only be used once, it represented a life at a critical moment!

Who wouldn't want to own it?

The price climbed rapidly, soon breaking past one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!

“One thousand six hundred!”

“One thousand seven hundred!”

When the price reached two thousand three hundred Spirit Stones, only three bidders remained, all guests in private booths, and their bidding started to become cautious.

Lu Qiu had not made a move yet; he was waiting.

When the price stalled at one thousand nine hundred Spirit Stones and Steward Chen asked for the second time, Lu Qiu finally spoke:

“Two thousand.”

He directly raised the price by one hundred.

A brief silence followed.

“Two thousand one hundred!” a voice came from another booth, sounding like it was through gritted teeth.

“Two thousand two hundred.” Lu Qiu's tone remained steady.

“Two thousand... three hundred!” That person seemed to hesitate for a moment before bidding again, their voice already sounding weak.

“Two thousand five hundred.” Lu Qiu directly called out a round number.

The whole hall went silent.

Two thousand five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones was an extremely high price for a single-use consumable treasure.

Even for a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, this was a significant sum.

“Booth Mystic Seven bids two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!” Steward Chen's voice was somewhat excited. “Are there any other Fellow Daoists bidding?”

After several breaths, there was no response.

“Two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones, going once!”

“Two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones, going twice!”

“Two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones, going three times—sold!”

Ultimately, Lu Qiu auctioned off this amazingly powerful heavenly thunder pearl for the price of two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.

When the maidservant delivered the special jade box containing the heavenly thunder pearl to the booth, Lu Qiu could feel several obscure Divine Senses sweeping past the booth from outside, seemingly trying to probe his identity, but they were all blocked by the booth's Restriction.

He paid the Spirit Stones in full, put away the jade box, and without staying any longer, stood up and left the booth.