Chapter 16 The Once-in-a-Decade Hunt

The Hunting Hall was bustling with people. Looking around, there were over three thousand Cultivators, all at the Qi Refinement Stage, ranging from the first to the ninth layer.

At this time, three Foundation Establishment Cultivators flew in from outside the hall; they were the outer sect deacons of the Hunting Hall.

One of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators shouted, "The Beast Hunting Sect's once-a-decade Group Hunt Meet is about to begin. All fellow disciples who have come to the Hunting Hall today must also be seeking the qi overflowing pill and the foundation establishment pill!"

"I will now announce the rules for this Group Hunt Meet: Six hundred First and Second-level Yao Beasts taken will earn three bottles of qi overflowing pill. Sixty Third-level Yao Beasts taken will earn one foundation establishment pill. Six Fourth-level Demonic Beasts taken will earn one foundation establishment pill."

After speaking, a wave of wails rose from the Qi Refining Cultivators below. Someone shouted, "Deacon, ten years ago, three hundred First and Second-level Yao Beasts earned three bottles of qi overflowing pill, and thirty Third-level Yao Beasts earned one foundation establishment pill. Three Fourth-level Demonic Beasts earned one foundation establishment pill. Why has it doubled this time?"

The Deacon's expression was blank. "The Elder who is the Pavilion Master of the Alchemy Pavilion stated that due to the scarcity of Spiritual Plants over the past ten years, they cannot refine that many foundation establishment pills and qi overflowing pills."

After hearing the Deacon's words, some Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators frowned deeply.

They were the group most eager to obtain the foundation establishment pill. Those below the Third Level of Qi Refining also frowned. They wanted a bottle of qi overflowing pill to quickly advance their cultivation. Middle Stage Qi Refining Cultivators were either hesitating or discussing forming teams.

The Deacon added, "In half a year, those returning from the Boundless Forest must register here at the Hunting Hall. Those who meet the requirements will receive their rewards on the spot!"

...

In Yuanwu Prefecture, Liangxi County, upon hearing about the Beast Hunting Sect's decennial Group Hunt Meet, all the families busied themselves producing various Spiritual Items.

The Luo Family produced Talismans, the Yun Family produced thunder bomb seeds, the An Family produced spirit wood, the Wang Family produced Magical Artifacts, and Chen Li produced a batch of First and Second Grade Formations, as well as three to four sets of Third-Rank Attack Formations.

They were all selling at inflated prices. It was a custom established over ten years to make a huge profit.

At the edge of the Boundless Forest, a temporary Cultivation Market was set up by the Beast Hunting Sect for the decennial event.

This place was now crowded with people. Chen Li had also set up a Formation stall here. Since Foundation Establishment Cultivators were temporarily guarding the area, a tribute of Spirit Stones was required for the guarding Foundation Establishment Cultivators: 10 Spirit Stones per stall per day.

However, this year, the guarding Foundation Establishment Cultivators were from the Beast Hunting Sect, and strangely, a new rule was added this year: these selling Qi Refining Cultivators were required to explicitly state their identities to these guarding Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Furthermore, these Foundation Establishment Cultivators would secretly trade the information of these sellers. It cost 60 Spirit Stones to reveal the information of one stall plate.

As for why their fellow Qi Refining Cultivators wanted to trade this information or what disputes might arise, they wouldn't care. They were only responsible for collecting Spirit Stones. How much demand could there be for disputes? Surely many people couldn't resist trading. As for what dirty tricks their fellow Qi Refining Cultivators might pull, they would say, 'What's it got to do with me!'

How would the three guarding Foundation Establishment Cultivators know which one of them leaked the information?

...

A Scarred Cultivator, at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, walked up to Chen Li's stall and asked, "Do you have any Third-Rank Attack Formations for sale here?"

Chen Li raised an eyebrow. "I have three Attack Formations here. Their damage can reach the level of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. I wonder which Fellow Daoist needs?"

Chen Li displayed the three Formations. The Scarred Cultivator didn't examine them and just chose the first set.

"What is the price?"

"One thousand Spirit Stones!"

The Scarred Cultivator looked displeased. "Don't try to fool me just because I don't understand Formations! The Materials for a typical Third-Rank Formation only sell for three to four hundred Spirit Stones."

Chen Li explained, "Fellow Daoist, inscribing Third-Grade Formation Patterns requires consuming spiritual power. Moreover, these Formation Chess pieces and rods are made from the demon bones of High Grade Third-level Yao Beasts, so their attack effect is far beyond that of a typical Third-Rank Formation."

The Scarred Cultivator ignored him and said, "Hmph, I'll buy it for five hundred Spirit Stones!"

Hearing this price that cut the asking price in half, Chen Li was not annoyed. Quite a few people who came to buy Formations and had higher cultivation than him behaved this way; he was used to it.

Although inscribing a Third-Rank Formation did not require spiritual power, and the Materials for the Formation Chess pieces and rods were incidentally obtained from the Yao Beasts killed while acquiring the Crimson Sun Spirit Fruit, meaning there was no cost!

But according to the general market, selling for five hundred Spirit Stones wouldn't yield much profit; it was essentially forcing a sale. Although selling for one thousand was a bit expensive, this was a decennial event, an established custom. What was wrong with being a bit expensive? Everyone was being expensive; how else could one make a huge profit?

"Then Fellow Daoist should go elsewhere. You cannot buy a Third-Rank Formation for five hundred!" Chen Li didn't look at him and simply put away that Third-Rank Formation.

The Scarred Cultivator's face turned ugly. He glanced at Chen Li, clearly displeased. If not for the presence of Foundation Establishment level Cultivators nearby, he would have already made a move to teach this Mid-stage Qi Refining Cultivator a lesson.

A moment later, someone who should have been the Scarred Cultivator's teammate shouted from a distance, "Brother Li, have you bought the Third-Rank Formation you wanted? The other brothers have bought their things; we're waiting for you!"

The Scarred Cultivator's expression suddenly changed. He looked at Chen Li's stall plate, number 52, thoughtfully, and then said to Chen Li, "One thousand it is, then! I'll buy it!"

Chen Li took the money with one hand and delivered the goods with the other. As the Spirit Stones were exchanged, a flash of Killing Intent flickered in the Scarred Cultivator's eyes.

However, Chen Li didn't care. His Third-Grade Illusionary Form Technique was already at Major Achievement. He had no idea who Chen Li was?

Even if he knew, his 3.8th Grade Wood Attribute Attack Array and the Fourth-Rank Profound Bone Immortal Slaying Formation could instantly turn him to ash, or perhaps his Profound Shadow Ice Art would be a good match for this Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator.

...

Not far away, the Scarred Cultivator, who had already walked off, suddenly asked his companion, "Does anyone among you know the information for stall number 52?"

The Cultivators traveling with him seemed hesitant to speak. One of them looked at the Scarred Cultivator with a knowing look, as if to say, 'You understand, right?'

The Scarred Cultivator frowned, tossed over thirty Spirit Stones, and said, "Tell me."

"The Chen Family from Liangxi County in Yuanwu Prefecture, Qi Refining Fifth Layer, a Third-Rank Formation Master!"

When the Scarred Cultivator heard 'Chen Family from Liangxi County' and 'Qi Refining Fifth Layer,' he couldn't suppress the wicked smile in his heart.

The Scarred Cultivator was very curious how he knew this information. During their chat along the way, he revealed the reason.

It turned out that this morning, his companion couldn't resist spending 60 Spirit Stones with one of the guarding Foundation Establishment Cultivators to exchange for stall information. That stall had actually sold him a 'Thirty-Mile Escape Talisman' for twelve hundred Spirit Stones, and even said, 'Take it or leave it, pauper.'

He couldn't stand it. Although the other party was also at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, he believed that a gentleman's revenge is never too late, even if it takes ten years!

At this moment, someone else had also bought the information for stall plate number 52. The two exchanged the stall plate information they each knew.

...

At the temporary market, Chen Li had set up his stall for a total of ten days, paying one hundred Spirit Stones as tribute. He sold 9 sets of First-Rank Formations, 7 sets of Second-Rank Formations, and 2 sets of Third-Rank Formations.

First-Rank Formations were generally simple ones like the Spirit Trapping Formation, temporary defense Formations, or some Cold Gathering Arrays, selling for about 30 to 80 Spirit Stones per set.

Second-Rank Formations were generally concentrated fire arrays, small sword technique arrays, etc., usually selling for between one hundred and three hundred Spirit Stones per set.

His total earnings were 3300 Spirit Stones, which was indeed a huge profit.

After ten days, the traffic at the temporary market began to decrease. Most people from the Beast Hunting Sect had already entered the Boundless Forest to hunt Yao Beasts, so he decided to return.

At Black Magpie Mountain, the magpies had long since returned to the branches. Chen Li flew back to Concentric Heart Hall on his sword.

Zhu Lingyue, who was in Concentric Heart Hall and expecting a child, was very happy to see Chen Li return.

"Husband, you've worked hard. How did the selling go?" Zhu Lingyue's belly was already noticeably swollen.

"My dear wife has worked harder. You made several sets of Formations in a month, and they sold well. The total earnings were 3300 Spirit Stones," Chen Li replied.

"It's not hard work when they are all First-Rank Formations. Selling so many this time, did your few Third-Rank Formations contribute the most?"

"My wife is wise. I sold two sets in total, one thousand each!"

"High Grade Formations are still more valuable. When can you become a Third-Rank Formation Master?" Zhu Lingyue said with envy.

"Oh, right, Husband. For the remaining seven acres of reclaimed land, the Spirit Grass planted there bloomed this month. We have seven more acres of spirit fields."

"Excellent. I will go plant them in a few days."

The two chatted about this and that, sharing their innermost thoughts.