Once a Martial Artist reached the Blood Exchange Realm and had refined their marrow and blood, their lifespan could extend up to one hundred and eighty years. Mundane wealth was no longer their pursuit. They sought higher realms and greater longevity. This was also the fundamental reason why High Realm Martial Artists often did not use gold or silver in transactions, generally using Elixirs as currency to barter for goods.
As soon as Jiang Shu’s bid of fifty bottles of top-grade Qi Gathering Pills was announced, a chorus of gasps echoed from the square below. Countless Martial Artists inhaled sharply, their gazes turning towards the second floor.
"Fifty bottles of Qi Gathering Pills, once!"
The goateed elder spoke with fervor; his realm and experience allowed him to immediately discern the true reason behind this distinguished guest’s bid with Qi Gathering Pills. In the marketplace, one bottle of Qi Gathering Pills was equivalent to ten bottles of Essence Yuan Great Pills, but Qi Gathering Pills were undoubtedly more precious. Bidding directly with Qi Gathering Pills not only escalated the price but also showcased one’s status and strength. This mysterious guest either hailed from nobility or a great family, or held a high position in the Chamber of Commerce. Even he, an Acupoint Passage Realm cultivator, couldn’t produce fifty bottles of Qi Gathering Pills all at once.
"Fifty bottles of Qi Gathering Pills... second time."
His voice deliberately slowed as his gaze drifted towards the first-class VIP rooms on the third floor, anticipating an even higher bid.
「The first-class VIP room.」
"Fifty bottles of Qi Gathering Pills, certainly a steep price. Xiao Yu, do you think your Young Master should bid again?"
A young man, about twenty years old, lounged on a couch. His purple robe, faintly embroidered with a golden python that seemed to shimmer in and out of existence, exuded a regal aura. He smiled playfully, fiddling with a jade thumb ring in his hands.
"Young Master, this Small Five Elements Saber Formation is merely a half-restored Treasure. Any item from your Storage Bag would surpass it," a woman behind the young man said. "Five hundred bottles of Essence Yuan Great Pills is already a high price."
Compared to the elegantly dressed noblewomen one might expect, this woman’s attire was remarkably plain. Yet, as she stood in the center of the VIP room, the acupoints in her body resonated perfectly with the surrounding Yuan Qi. Her gaze swept through the window, taking in every movement of the crowd in the square below. Her Qi Mechanism subtly emanated in all directions. Her calloused hand rested on the hilt of her saber, as if ready to draw it at any moment.
"I was just thinking that you’re skilled with the saber, Xiao Yu. Now that you’ve broken through to the Acupoint Passage Realm, your Young Master should naturally gift you something. However, this Small Five Elements Saber Formation is ultimately a defective item. Five hundred bottles of Essence Yuan Great Pills is indeed too much for it. When we return to the Royal City, I’ll pick something out from the treasury for you."
"Alright, don’t be so tense. This is just Tianqing Prefecture under Yunzhou, not the borderlands where we were stationed years ago."
"It’s been many years since I last returned to the Royal City. I wonder what the Little Dragon Tiger List looks like now."
"The Hundred Dynasties Battle is a year from now... I wonder how many true geniuses our Da Jing will produce this time?" the young man murmured to himself.
His thoughts had already drifted from the auction, back to the Royal City of years gone by.
In the square, seeing no further bids, the goateed elder finally brought his gavel down for the last time.
The Small Five Elements Blade Plate was quickly delivered to Jiang Shu.
"Go. Have the manager prepare an Earth Fire Refining Room and the materials for Qi Gathering Pills. I will be conducting Alchemy here," Jiang Shu, sensing the soft, feminine presence behind him, spoke in his characteristically low, ageless voice.
He stroked the Treasure in his hand, watching as the Maid reluctantly departed.
He no longer paid attention to the auction below. The auction had undoubtedly reached a high point. The next few items up for bid would be relatively ordinary. Only the finale item would be a true treasure.
But for the current Jiang Shu, this Small Five Elements Saber Formation was already his greatest acquisition from this auction. There was no need to participate in further bidding, needlessly revealing his wealth and making enemies.
With a mental command, Jiang Shu let a drop of his Essence Blood fall from his finger onto the Small Five Elements Saber Formation. The Treasure acknowledged its master. Five blades, each no more than eighty centimeters long, emitted a low hum. Guided by Jiang Shu’s True Force, they flew out from the Array Plate, swiftly forming a saber formation. As they rotated, a series of sonic booms reverberated through the VIP room!
Jiang Shu waved his hand, and five streams of True Force erupted from his fingertips, recalling all the sabers back into the Array Plate.
Even without engaging in actual combat, Jiang Shu could clearly feel the power of this Treasure. Without even formally activating its Treasure Pattern, these five sabers had already significantly boosted his combat strength. If he were in Fusang now, he was confident he could cleave fighter jets from the sky with these five sabers! On Xuanxing, only missiles and nuclear weapons could make him feel a sense of dread.
It’s time to go to the Provincial Capital. Once I successfully get on the Little Dragon Tiger List, learn a top-grade Cultivation Technique, and advance to the Acupoint Passage Realm, I can finally go back!
It’s also time to settle things with the Liang Family.
With these thoughts in mind, Jiang Shu gripped the Array Plate of the Small Five Elements Saber Formation and left the VIP room.
「The Earth Fire Refining Room.」
With the system panel’s ’mastery once achieved is permanent’ feature, he only needed to grind his proficiency, and the success rate would continuously approach one hundred percent. His success rate in refining Qi Gathering Pills grew steadily higher.
He swallowed a Qi Gathering Pill, feeling the Yuan Qi within him surge and transform.
Jiang Shu resumed his Alchemy.
Cultivation and Alchemy.
For an entire month, he never stopped.
His cultivation realm finally climbed to the Late Stage of the Blood Exchange Realm.