Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

281: Visualize the throbbing of flamesHowever, just as Lin Jingyu was waiting for the earth core jade marrow, the auctioneer presented another unexpected treasure.

”Everyone, this next item, the grand finale, is quite special.”

The auctioneer’s voice carried a hint of mystery and lament:

”This item is neither a Spiritual Plant nor a Magical Artifact. It was accidentally obtained by a Senior expert deep within an ancient ruin.

Its specific function is unknown, and even the Sect Elders have not been able to fully comprehend it.

However, its texture is peculiar, harder than refined gold, impervious to water and fire, and resistant to swords. What’s even stranger is that it contains an indescribable ancient Dao charm, seemingly related to the Laws of heaven and earth. The starting price is five thousand Spirit Stones!”

A maidservant brought up a jade plate, on which lay a peculiar, dark red stone, about a foot long, extremely irregular in shape, and covered with fine pores.

It looked unremarkable, even somewhat ugly.

Most of the people below the stage looked puzzled and uninterested. Spending five thousand Spirit Stones on a stone of unknown use was too risky.

However, the moment this dark red strange stone appeared!

Deep within Lin Jingyu’s Sea of Consciousness, the flame he had obtained from the Visualization Stele subtly stirred!

A faint but incredibly clear wave of intent, filled with intense longing, like a hungry cub sniffing milk, directly transmitted into Lin Jingyu’s mind!

”This stone... can actually stir the flame of the Supreme Visualization Stele?”

Lin Jingyu’s heart was greatly shaken, but his expression remained calm.

The Supreme Visualization Method has a mysterious and unfathomable origin and is of an extremely high level. Anything that can cause it to react actively is definitely not an ordinary item! Its value is probably far beyond the imagination of everyone present!

”Five thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!” Soon, a Cultivator wearing a bamboo hat below the stage made a bid, seemingly having some research into such strange items.

”Six thousand Spirit Stones.” An old voice came from another private room on the second floor.

Lin Jingyu no longer hesitated and joined the bidding in a deep voice: ”Seven thousand Spirit Stones.”

”Eight thousand!” The Cultivator wearing the bamboo hat seemed determined to win.

”Ten thousand!” Lin Jingyu directly increased the price, his tone calm but with an undeniable resolve.

A low murmur immediately arose in the venue. Spending ten thousand Spirit Stones on a stone of unknown use? Many people looked at Lin Jingyu’s private room, their eyes filled with incomprehension and expressions of seeing a fool.

The private room that was bidding against Lin Jingyu fell silent for a moment, then the old voice sounded again, but with a sinister undertone:

”Hmph, kid, you’re quite wealthy. Eleven thousand Spirit Stones!”

”Fifteen thousand Spirit Stones.”

Lin Jingyu did not back down, directly quoting a price that silenced the entire hall. He could completely afford this price. Compared to the potential benefits this stone could bring, Spirit Stones were merely numbers.

Even if he had to exhaust all his assets and borrow tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, he would secure it.

The person in that private room seemed completely stunned by this price, remaining silent for a long while.

Just as the auctioneer was about to start the countdown, the old voice came coldly, with undisguised menace:

”Good! Very good! Kid, you’re ruthless! This broken stone is yours! But I hope... you live to take it safely out of the Market Town!”

The threat was obvious, clearly indicating a grudge had been formed.

Moreover, the aura emanating from the voice far exceeded the Qi Refinement Stage, clearly belonging to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

After the auctioneer asked three times, the hammer fell, and the deal was struck.

Lin Jingyu successfully bid for the dark red strange stone, but he felt little joy. Instead, his eyes grew slightly cold, and he became more vigilant.

Clearly, he had been targeted, and after the auction, there would likely be some trouble. But Lin Jingyu, when had he ever feared trouble?

He collected his thoughts and refocused his attention on the auction stage, waiting for his final target — the earth core jade marrow — to appear. The journey back to the Market Town would probably not be peaceful.

However, he was not afraid of this; instead, he felt a bit eager to try.

Lin Jingyu also wanted to test whether his own strength could counter a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator!

Later, Lin Jingyu successfully waited for the earth core jade marrow, this time acquiring it for only five thousand Spirit Stones.

The Spirit Stones in his Storage Pouch were not all spent; several thousand remained to be returned to the Family treasury.

After the auction, Lin Jingyu first went backstage to settle the Spirit Stones and received the deep sea sunken silver, earth core jade marrow, and the dark red strange stone.

He held the strange stone in his hand, sensing it carefully. Other than feeling warm to the touch and its peculiar material, he found nothing else.

But the stele flame in his Sea of Consciousness transmitted faint desires, clearly indicating that this item was of great benefit to it. He carefully put the two items into his Storage Pouch.

Gu Yue appeared in a hurry, with a hint of worry on his face.

Upon seeing Lin Jingyu, he immediately said:

”Jingyu, the one who had a dispute with you at the auction earlier is a Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivator, with a capricious and ruthless personality.

He might make a move against you.

Rest at the Alchemist Association for a few days; he will leave when he can’t find you.”

Facing the advice, Lin Jingyu smiled slightly and said:

”President Gu Yue, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

Then he walked straight out, making Gu Yue’s eyebrows twitch continuously with anger.

Leaving the Southeast Market Town, Lin Jingyu could clearly feel several ill-intentioned Divine Senses vaguely locking onto him.

He sneered inwardly, but his face remained calm. He did not immediately use the flowing cloud kite, but instead walked unhurriedly towards the outside of the Market Town.

Sure enough, as soon as he left the Market Town’s boundaries and stepped into a desolate mountain forest, several sounds of rushing air came from behind him!

”Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”

Five figures quickly descended, surrounding him in a fan shape.

The leader was a Middle-aged Cultivator with a somber face and fierce eyes, whose cultivation was at the Peak of Ninth Level Qi Refining. He was the person from the private room who had bid against him at the auction.

The four Cultivators behind him also had cultivation levels around the eighth layer of Qi Refining.

”Kid, if you know what’s good for you, hand over the items you just bought and your Storage Pouch! Perhaps we can leave you a whole corpse!”

The Middle-aged Cultivator grinned sinisterly, his eyes revealing killing intent.

In their view, five against one, the advantage was on their side.

Lin Jingyu’s gaze swept over them, and he calmly said, ”The highest bidder wins at the auction. Aren’t you afraid of breaking the Market Town’s rules with this action?”

”Rules? Heh heh, in this desolate wilderness, I am the rule!” The Middle-aged Cultivator waved his hand, ”Attack! Finish him quickly!”

The five figures moved in unison, various Magical Artifact lights glowed, Flying Swords, fireballs, and ice cones all attacked Lin Jingyu!

The offensive was vicious, clearly intended for a single-strike kill.

However, facing this encirclement that would have flustered an ordinary Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator, Lin Jingyu merely sighed softly.

”Since you’re seeking death, don’t blame me.”

Before his words finished, his aura suddenly surged!

The Spiritual Pressure of the Peak of Ninth Level Qi Refining was released without reservation, and at the same time, a terrifying aura, like the might of heaven, suddenly spread out from him!