Immortal Refiner

After Daoist Qingyang swore to his heart demon on his Dao, the auction of the three most valuable items finally began.

Surprisingly, many cultivators were interested in bidding. All eleven Foundation Establishment cultivators present wrote down their bids on slips of paper and handed them to Daoist Qingyang.

Of course, these precious items were only for the Qi Refining rogue cultivators outside to admire. They couldn’t possibly participate in bidding at this level.

Even if someone possessed something of equal value, they wouldn’t be foolish enough to reveal it in this setting.

More than one Foundation Establishment cultivator was present. Who could guarantee that these Seniors’ character was as pure as their cultivation?

If they were targeted and later sought out, it was highly likely they would be targeted.

So Li Qing watched coldly, observing the secret transactions unfold without any intention of participating.

He wasn’t particularly interested in Magic Artifacts, cultivation manuals, or talisman art inheritances. Instead, he was pondering how to acquire the remaining segment of Treasure Origin Tree spirit wood from Daoist Qingyang.

Li Qing chuckled bitterly, realizing he didn’t have many items that would truly impress Daoist Qingyang.

”The Soul Nurturing Bell? That’s out of the question. I need it myself to nourish my divine soul.”

”I wonder if Daoist Qingyang would be interested in the Pill Refinement Technique inheritance I obtained earlier.”

Daoist Qingyang was a Pill Refiner himself. While other alchemy inheritances might offer some insights, they wouldn’t truly captivate him. At his level, he would likely value pill formulas, especially ancient ones, far more than mere techniques or skills.

Unfortunately, Li Qing possessed no complete pill formulas. He had once seen a severely fragmented ancient pill formula in the Soul Nurturing Temple’s Scripture Repository, called the Star Soul Pill. However, the formula was so incomplete that even the main ingredients were missing, making it unlikely to impress Daoist Qingyang.

”Sigh, if nothing else works, I’ll have to offer a thousand-year-old Heavenly Star Grass.”

As this thought crossed his mind, Li Qing’s brow slowly relaxed. After knowing Daoist Qingyang for so many years, he trusted the daoist’s character enough to believe he wouldn’t harbor any ill intentions over a single Heavenly Star Grass.

After about half an hour, Daoist Qingyang finally decided on the final three auction items’ new owners. The transactions were conducted in utmost secrecy; only the participants themselves knew who had acquired these treasures.

After the auction concluded, many rogue cultivators from the lower tiers remained buzzing with excitement.

Even though they couldn’t participate in the bidding for the final three treasures, witnessing the event was enough to thrill many of them.

”A Second-Tier Talisman Inheritance! If I could obtain it, I’d definitely have a chance to reach Foundation Establishment in this lifetime.”

”That ’Prajna Life-Giving Water Sutra’ is also extraordinary. It’s a cultivation manual that can directly lead one to the Foundation Establishment Realm, and it was once the Clan-Guarding Technique of the Shi Clan of Medicine King Ridge!”

”And there’s a matching Profound Art Secret Technique. If someone who cultivates water-attribute cultivation manuals obtained it, they might be able to double their combat power!”

”Too bad...”

Listening to the others’ chatter, Li Qing merely smiled faintly, choosing not to join in. Instead, he turned and headed toward Daoist Qingyang’s cave abode.

Not long after, Li Qing arrived at the cave abode and clasped his hands in a respectful salute. ”Senior Qingyang, Li Qing seeks an audience!”

Buzz!

The Restriction in front of the cave abode loosened, directly opening a path for Li Qing.

Following the path through the Restriction, he entered the cave abode and found Daoist Qingyang sitting on a cushion, smiling. ”I was just about to seek you out myself. This is the spirit stone you earned from auctioning your Magic Artifacts and pills.”

”After deductions, there are seven hundred and thirty spirit stones remaining. Young Li, please count them to confirm the amount.”

Li Qing smiled, naturally not intending to actually count the spirit stones. He took the pouch and stored it directly in his storage bag.

At his current level, such a small amount of spirit stones hardly registered. A few more or less made no difference.

”Thank you, Senior! But I have another matter to discuss with you,” Li Qing said respectfully.

”Oh? Speak freely. If there’s anything this old man can do to help, I wouldn’t mind assisting you, young friend.”

Daoist Qingyang was clearly in a good mood after the auction, and it was evident he had made a substantial profit.

It remained to be seen what he had traded for the final three treasures, but it was certain their value was considerable.

”Senior, during the auction, I recall you had a segment of Treasure Origin Tree spirit wood that had been partially hollowed out by spirit insects?”

Daoist Qingyang nodded. ”Indeed. For the past four years, I’ve tried countless methods, but I still can’t hatch those spirit insect eggs. It’s been quite vexing.”

Hearing this, Li Qing felt a slight sense of relief. He spoke, ”Senior, I wish to acquire that segment of spirit wood. What would be the cost?”

”To exchange for that segment of spirit wood that’s already heavily decayed inside? Let me warn you beforehand, that segment has been infested by spirit insects and is no longer suitable for artifact refinement. Its value has been greatly diminished!” Daoist Qingyang said in surprise, not expecting Li Qing’s visit to be about this matter.

”Indeed. I have another use for this segment of spirit wood. I’m willing to pay 1,300 spirit stones for it. I wonder...” Li Qing asked tentatively. This price was definitely not low, considering that a segment of spirit wood that hadn’t been infested by insects had sold for only 1,600 spirit stones at the auction.

A price of 1,300 spirit stones was as fair as could be.

However, Daoist Qingyang shook his head. ”Young friend, if you were interested in spirit wood, why didn’t you bid at the auction? To be honest, I don’t have an immediate need for spirit stones after the auction.”

As expected!

This answer didn’t surprise Li Qing, but he didn’t give up. He continued, ”Senior, please forgive my lack of experience. The auction was dominated by Foundation Establishment cultivators, and I didn’t dare to get involved.”

”Senior, I’m curious what you’d like to exchange for it. Perhaps I can think of a way to help?”

However, Daoist Qingyang laughed heartily. ”Hahaha, it won’t be so easy to move this old man. Even though the chance of those insect eggs hatching is minuscule, I’m not one to give up so easily.”

”All I want now is to achieve Core Formation. If you can produce a Core Formation spiritual material, I’ll hand over everything in my storage pouch without a second thought.”

Li Qing couldn’t help but force a bitter smile. A Core Formation spiritual material? How could he possibly possess something like that?

Hadn’t the appearance of the Yin-Yang Spirit Condensation Liquid in the Black Sand River a few years ago caused a massive uproar, even prompting several Core Formation Ancestors to join forces and forcibly open that grotto-heaven?

To put it bluntly, if Li Qing dared to claim he had a spiritual material to aid Core Formation, he’d likely be devoured alive by countless Foundation Establishment cultivators within days.

”Senior, you jest. How could I, with my meager fortune, possibly possess such an incredibly precious item as a Core Formation spiritual material?”

Daoist Qingyang wasn’t surprised by this. He continued, ”That piece of Moon Gilt Gold you have—I imagine you wouldn’t be willing to trade it to me, would you?”

”Or perhaps you have some rare pill formulas, young friend? That’s the kind of thing that interests me.”

”If not, you might as well tell me what you have to offer.”

Li Qing took a deep breath, knowing he had to reveal some of his assets now, or he’d lose his chance at that segment of spirit wood.

”Senior, several years ago, I killed a remnant of the Shi Clan. In their storage pouch, I found a Second-Tier Pill Refinement Inheritance. However, it contains no pill formulas. Would that interest you?”

Daoist Qingyang considered this for a moment before ultimately shaking his head. ”Unless it’s a pill formula or a higher-tier inheritance, it would be useless to me.”

As a Second-Tier Alchemist himself, he naturally wouldn’t be overly interested in a Second-Tier alchemy inheritance. Minor variations in pill refinement techniques wouldn’t offer him much inspiration.

That’s the nature of Pill Refiners: once they reach this level of skill, collecting pill formulas becomes their top priority.

Artifact Refiners, on the other hand, are eager to acquire any artifact refinement inheritance. Unique techniques and core spirit patterns are all valuable to them.

”Senior, would you be willing to exchange for a Heavenly Star Grass that’s over five hundred years old?”

He didn’t mention a thousand-year-old spiritual herb, intending to test the waters first. If this worked, there was no need to reveal he possessed a thousand-year-old herb.

Whether it was a Spirit Herb or a spiritual tree, every hundred years marked a significant threshold. After five hundred years, each additional century of age doubled its value.

Finally, Daoist Qingyang’s expression shifted slightly at Li Qing’s words. He spoke, ”If it’s a herb of that caliber, I can certainly agree to the exchange.”

”The spirit insect egg’s hatching requires vigorous vitality from plants. Perhaps I can use the Heavenly Star Grass’s divine soul-nourishing properties to awaken the egg’s faint consciousness!”

Hearing Daoist Qingyang finally agree, Li Qing exhaled in relief. ”Then please wait a while longer, Senior. This herb is with another daoist friend I know, and it will take some time to retrieve it.”

”Rest assured, young friend. I’ll keep this segment of Treasure Origin Tree spirit wood reserved for you,” Daoist Qingyang replied without hesitation.

”Very well, then I’ll take my leave now!”

After speaking, Li Qing left Daoist Qingyang’s cave abode without hesitation, his mood instantly becoming incredibly light and carefree.

Back in his own cave abode, Li Qing calmed his slightly agitated heart and began to plan.

”Next, I should head to the secret realm and find a way to break the Restriction on the Medicinal Field Peak.”

”It’s been many years since I left. It’s time to return and see how the Jade Locust Tree is growing.”

With that, Li Qing began packing his belongings, organizing his luggage.

Three days passed. Li Qing recalled Fan Tong into his spirit beast pouch and then charged out of the Azure Radiance Pool.

Fan Tong was now a late-stage Tier 1 Demon beast with extraordinary abilities. Li Qing dared not reveal it carelessly, fearing that Foundation Establishment cultivators he might encounter along the way would become covetous.

Only in the most remote mountain forests, far from human settlements, would Li Qing release Fan Tong and ride on its tiger back.

Thanks to Li Qing’s caution and his choice of hidden routes, the journey passed without incident.

Finally, after nearly a month, Li Qing returned to the small hill at the entrance of the secret realm.

(End of the Chapter)

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