Lingzhou, Dongling Marketplace.
Returning here after several years, Zhou Chun's state of mind was utterly different than before.
Back then, he had only recently broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage and had not yet switched to cultivating a new technique. His spirit pet, the Silver Lightning Python, hadn't advanced to the second rank either, leaving his strength quite meager as he didn't dare venture out alone.
But now, not only had he successfully switched to cultivating the "Golden Cauldron Profound Technique," a top-tier cultivation art, but his spirit pet had also ascended to become a second-rank Demon Beast. He could even stimulate its bloodline potential through a secret technique, bursting forth with strength comparable to a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
The combination of these factors gave him the confidence to face a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator on his own.
Moreover, he had brought the Fire Divine Jackal with him this time.
So, as he re-entered the Dongling Marketplace, Zhou Chun didn't bother to disguise his identity and went straight to a shop called "Jin's Grocery Store."
The information about the underground auction had come from this very shop to the Zhou Family.
Now, the "Touch of Despair" from the Zhou Family's Spirit Beast Restaurant had become a bestseller across several nearby states, and shops like Jin's Grocery Store had actively sought to stock their product.
And at that time, the condition for the Zhou Family supplying them was the exchange of some business-related information.
Zhou Chun entered the grocery store and, upon stating his purpose, quickly obtained the entry token for the underground auction and the location from the shopkeeper.
Having acquired the token and address, he left Jin's Grocery Store and made a detour to Master Jiang's medicine shop.
The medicine shop was still open, but the shopkeeper inside had changed to a middle-aged woman.
Zhou Chun observed from outside the shop for a while before turning away.
Despite his desire for revenge against Master Jiang, he knew he couldn't be too obvious or anyone, unless they were foolish, wouldn't fall for his ploy.
After all, his main mission this time was to purchase Foundation Establishment Pills.
For the next five or six days, Zhou Chun stayed put in one of the Dongling Marketplace's inns, not wandering around needlessly.
When the day of the underground auction arrived, he brought the token to the meeting place. He then went through a journey almost identical to his first experience attending an underground auction, with his senses obscured the entire way until he was led to an Underground Cave Hall.
Different this time was the number of cultivators participating in the underground auction; there were more than before, with even two Purple Mansion Phase Cultivators who hadn't bothered to disguise their Cultivation Levels.
This situation set Zhou Chun's heart racing, indicating that the treasures up for auction this time were likely extraordinary.
Indeed, as the auctioneer commenced the auction, one after another, items of exceedingly high quality were presented for bidding.
Compared to the auctions Zhou Chun had attended before, the grade of treasures was unmistakably higher.
"One Foundation Establishment Pill, starting bid five thousand Spirit Coins, with each increment no less than one hundred Spirit Coins," said the Auctioneer.
It was only the eighth item up for bid, and the Foundation Establishment Pill Zhou Chun needed for his task was brought out for auction.
"Seven thousand Spirit Coins!"
As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, Zhou Chun was the first to call out a bid, immediately raising the price to seven thousand.
Such behavior drew the attention of many.
But although this price wasn't low, compared to what the Foundation Establishment Pills had fetched at the underground auction he had attended previously, it was still somewhat less.
"I bid seven thousand five hundred Spirit Coins!"
A slightly husky female voice suddenly rang out, outbidding Zhou Chun.
Then a few more voices followed, quickly raising the price to eight thousand Spirit Coins.
"Nine thousand Spirit Coins!"
Zhou Chun spoke again, his tone firm and resolute, as if he was set on winning.
This price had already surpassed the sale price of the Foundation Establishment Pills at the last underground auction he attended.
Were it not for the recent improvements in the Zhou Family's financial situation, and the fact that Zhou Zhengyuan's swift success in Foundation Establishment was better sooner for the family, Zhou Chun might not have the courage to call out such a bid.
But to his surprise, the female voice that had outbid him was still following.
"I bid nine thousand five hundred Spirit Coins!"
The woman's voice remained steady, as if she was far from reaching her limit.
Zhou Chun's brow furrowed tight, and he didn't immediately place another bid.
Other competitors seemed to feel that the price was too high at this point and stayed silent.
"Nine thousand five hundred Spirit Coins once!"
"Nine thousand five hundred Spirit Coins twice!"
"Nine thousand five hundred…" Before the Auctioneer could conclude,
Zhou Chun finally spoke up again.
"Nine thousand nine hundred Spirit Coins!" After calling out this bid, he turned his gaze to the female cultivator.
She, like him, wore a face-covering hat and loose-fitting long robes, making it impossible to discern her age or appearance.
But she was a small realm higher than him in cultivation, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"I bid ten thousand Spirit Coins!"
As expected, the female cultivator immediately raised her bid without hesitation.
Zhou Chun had no choice but to give up.
It wasn't that he couldn't afford to continue bidding; it simply wasn't worthwhile to do so anymore.
The female cultivator's determination to win seemed even stronger than his, and it was likely she had just as much, if not more, funds prepared.
Thus, the Foundation Establishment Pill was ultimately won by the female cultivator for ten thousand Spirit Coins.
After the Foundation Establishment Pill, a few more treasures passed, and then the auctioneer brought out something Zhou Chun was interested in.
"One Millennium Ganoderma, starting bid five thousand Spirit Coins, each increment not to be lower than one hundred Spirit Coins!" announced the Auctioneer.
It was actually Spiritual Medicine of a thousand years!
Zhou Chun watched in surprise as the auctioneer displayed the item in hand.