Toad Taigong

“As long as I haven't found a Dao Artifact with Yin attribute, I won't be able to refine corpses, and I won't be at ease for a single day!”

“Could it be that I really have to ask for Li Yong’s help?”

At this moment, Li Tan was extremely hesitant, his petty calculations swirling like a Strong Wind.

“Asking for Li Yong’s help is truly the worst option… I’m afraid Li Yong will also use this to uncover many of my secrets.”

“After all, I am not the real Li Yasi, not Li Yong’s biological grandson. In this Family where familial affection is already weak, what more when there is no familial affection at all?”

“No one can guarantee whether Li Yong will act ruthlessly towards me, as I have already deceived him multiple times.”

“Even if Li Yong won't kill me for Li Yasi’s sake, just the fact that I used a Heavenly Dao oath to deceive Li Yong means I will likely be constrained by him in the future.”

“If it’s poison, there might still be a glimmer of hope to break it, but if it’s a Soul imprint, then I truly won’t be able to turn things around in this life.”

“But if it succeeds… I can then start preparing to refine corpses…”

“No!”

The moment this thought appeared, Li Tan did not hesitate and immediately discarded this foolish idea.

How can there be luck on the path of Cultivation?

Even if it succeeded this time, holding such a foolish mindset would only lead to a downfall midway.

How could he entrust his life to luck?

Li Tan’s mind churned, one idea after another was gradually rejected by him, and the extensive thinking caused his mind to ache.

After a long while, Li Tan patted his head to try and clear his mind as much as possible.

“Li Tan, oh Li Tan, you must calm down! The path of Cultivation is fraught with thorns; you must never be careless or underestimate luck!”

“No matter the situation, there will always be a way to break free! It’s just that you haven’t found it yet!”

“Li Na!”

As Li Tan was at his wit's end, a graceful figure suddenly appeared in his mind.

“Yes, yes, yes! There’s also the auction! All kinds of treasures gather at the auction, so there will surely be what I need!”

“Hahahahaha, there will definitely be a way to break free, there will definitely be a way to break free!”

After contacting Li Na, he learned that the auction would only begin in two days!

He asked Li Na to book his entry ticket, and then he secretly searched for clues about Li Zhi.

During these two days, Li Tan constantly comprehended the Cultivation Technique Swift Wind Shadow, not daring to relax for a moment, but the results were minimal.

“I never thought the comprehension difficulty of this Swift Wind Shadow would be so high. As expected of a Yellow Rank top-grade Cultivation Technique. It seems I will still have to ask Li Yong for help in the future. If I have Li Yong’s guidance, my Cultivation speed will surely advance by leaps and bounds.”

Thinking of this, Li Tan’s face showed bitterness, and he looked slightly haggard.

“Forget it, forget it. It’s just that I was too impatient and messed up my own foundation. Cultivation is not something that happens overnight.”

“The auction time is almost here, it’s time to set off.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Tan swiftly rushed straight into the distance.

What Li Tan himself didn't realize was that his speed had slightly improved.

......

Passing through the bustling and noisy market, Li Tan finally arrived at an auction house named Four Directions Trading Company.

As the name suggests, the Four Directions Trading Company was jointly founded by the four great Families of Qingfeng City.

The auctions are held once every two months! The Li Family, Zhao Family, Wang Family, and Song Family take turns holding the auction qualification.

The territory of the Four Directions Trading Company is vast, and its buildings are even more magnificent and luxurious. The entire enormous clubhouse is covered in gold, revealing symbols of wealth everywhere.

At the entrance of the Four Directions Trading Company, Loose Cultivators, Mortals, and Cultivators from various Families came and went.

Li Tan couldn't help but sigh internally: “This Four Directions Trading Company truly lives up to its name! It can attract heroes from all walks of life to gather here. It seems that the items sold will certainly not be ordinary.”

At this moment, a Cultivator with an extremely prominent Aura stood out from the crowd, his Aura so powerful that the crowd automatically made way.

Li Tan’s pupils couldn't help but shrink, and even his heart rate quickened a few beats.

“A Building Foundation Cultivator!”

Beside Li Tan was a Loose Cultivator at Qi Condensation Fourth Layer. This Loose Cultivator spoke with a face full of admiration:

“Those who can Cultivate to Building Foundation Cultivator and above are all extraordinarily talented individuals.”

“Little brother should understand the huge disadvantage of weak talent. It takes years just to comprehend a low-level Cultivation Technique.”

Looking at the Loose Cultivator in front of him, this person was thin and short, with sparse hair, and even his skin was covered in scars. He was, to put it mildly, extremely ugly.

Li Tan smiled, pretending not to hear the man’s hint.

The Loose Cultivator in front of Li Tan was extremely disappointed to see him like this, but he did not show it, merely continuing to chat and strike up conversations with other Cultivators.

In the Cultivation world, one’s talent is a very sensitive topic. Those with poor talent will be ostracized and looked down upon, even used as cannon fodder. Whereas those with excellent talent will have others plotting against them, seeking to kill them and seize their Spiritual Root.

Even though the man in front of him was only at Qi Condensation Fourth Layer, Li Tan did not dare to show the slightest hint of disdain.

He knew very well that he was not some favored child of Heaven. He was just an ordinary person who hadn't even fully comprehended a Cultivation Technique.

He could only be careful everywhere, cautious everywhere, and always show his fangs to the outside!

Furthermore, he dared not harbor thoughts of getting lucky, having Opportunities, relying on chance, or fighting above his level…

The Loose Cultivators outside the venue seemed to rarely encounter so many Fellow Daoists gathered without fighting each other. Almost everyone was discussing valuable Cultivation experiences.

These Loose Cultivators had long spotted Li Tan. Li Tan was tall, handsome, and had an extraordinary demeanor. Even his clothes were luxurious red silk.

Due to Li Tan merely standing there, showing no intention of communicating, those Loose Cultivators did not dare to approach him for conversation.

At this moment, another Building Foundation powerhouse released his Aura!

Everyone outside the venue fell silent, not daring to speak, fearing they might disturb this powerhouse and bring trouble upon themselves.

Li Tan also followed the crowd’s gaze and looked forward. It was an extremely obese man!

His face and head were covered in dense, bumpy nodules, each the size of an egg.

Some of these nodules had already broken, and a foul-smelling greenish-yellow liquid, as well as some white unknown liquid, occasionally oozed out, with flies constantly circling around him.

He sat on a stretcher, and beneath the stretcher, eight strong men were strenuously carrying it forward. Each man’s face was flushed, and one could even see their arms trembling slightly.

As the strong men laboriously carried the stretcher step by step, the one-ton swaying motion also affected the obese man's body, causing the pale fat on his belly and thighs to shake violently.

His extra-large clothes couldn't contain it at all; the fat flowed like a tide onto the stretcher, some even touching the strong men's heads. From afar, the entire person looked like a puddle of white mud.

Just watching for a moment made one feel severe physiological discomfort.

Some of the surrounding Loose Cultivators turned away as if nothing had happened, then vomited violently.

Then, someone in the crowd spoke:

“Toad Grandfather!”

“Building Foundation Early Stage Second Layer. This person Cultivates the desire Dao of Gluttony.”

“He can enhance himself by devouring wild beasts, Cultivators, and anything containing Spiritual Qi, but the drawbacks are significant, so few people Cultivate this Dao.”

“The desire Dao evolved from the evil emotion Dao, and thus there are other branches: Greed Dao, Sloth Dao, Wrath Dao, Pride Dao, Lust Dao, Envy Dao…”