13: Chapter 13 Qi Refining Level 4, High-Grade Inheritance

Four months passed in the blink of an eye.

Xu Changsheng sat cross-legged in his residence, cultivating with a troubled expression.

Over the past few months, he had consumed countless bottles of qi nurturing pills, and his cultivation had reached the Peak of the Early Stage Qi Refining, just one step away from the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining.

Unfortunately.

With his Low Grade Spiritual Root Aptitude, achieving a Breakthrough proved to be quite difficult.

[Todays Intelligence (Green): First-Tier High Grade Talisman Legacy]

[Tomorrow, at the trade fair on the second floor of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, a Cultivator will sell a strange statue that hides a First-Tier High Grade Talisman Legacy within.]

Seeing this intelligence, Xu Changsheng’s face lit up with joy; he had been longing for a High Grade Legacy for a long time.

During these months, while cultivating his mana, he also practiced three Spells: the Water Arrow Technique, the Light Body Technique, and the Wood Shield Technique.

The former had reached the Realm of Perfection, while the latter two had reached the Major Achievement stage.

As his practice deepened, he felt more and more that his cultivation level was a significant limitation; even though he had cultivated the Water Arrow Technique to Perfection, it was still only a Low Grade Spell.

Its power was slightly inferior to the Medium Grade Water Blade Technique, let alone the High Grade Rain Sword Technique. To quickly increase his strength, he still had to rely on Talismans.

"I'll also check if there are any breakthrough medicinal pills while I'm there."

...

The next day, at high noon.

Xu Changsheng left his residence and headed to the trade fair on the second floor of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

A slender figure was sweeping in the courtyard.

"Young Master Xu, are you going out again?"

"Yes."

Xu Changsheng looked at Yun Xin, who was growing more beautiful by the day, and felt a bit of a headache.

Back then, he had taught Yun Xin how to Cultivate personally, word by word. He thought it would be good if she could reach the first layer of Qi Refining within a month, which was the normal time for someone with a Medium Grade Spiritual Root.

To his surprise, Yun Xin successfully drew Qi into her body and reached the first layer of Qi Refining the very next day.

Now she was already at the second layer of Qi Refining. Her progress was too fast; in his experience, only an Earth-grade Spirit Root could achieve this.

This made things difficult for Xu Changsheng. Yun Xin not only possessed a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique but also Heaven-Defying Aptitude. Keeping her by his side was like holding a hot potato.

"I need to find a way to send her to the Chixiao Sect."

He didn't chat much with Yun Xin. After giving a few instructions, he walked out of the residence.

He soon arrived at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

He went up to the second floor.

He arrived quite late, and many people were already seated in the venue.

Xu Changsheng's appearance didn't attract much attention from most of those present, except for Huang Laifu.

However, Huang Laifu seemed to have been genuinely discouraged by his previous setback; he only gave Xu Changsheng a faint glance before shifting his gaze back to the front.

Xu Changsheng found a seat near the back and sat down.

...

The trade fair soon began.

The rules were simple.

Cultivators could either go up individually to hawk their wares or represent a group.

Some official shops from the Liuyun Market took the lead to set the stage.

First, of course, was the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

Wang Ye stood on the stage and took out treasures rarely seen on the first floor of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion: a piece of wood, a spirit Reishi mushroom, and a stone.

"These are First-Tier High Grade spiritual Materials—Flowing Light Wood, Tri-Color Reishi, and Ink Cloud Stone. Each starts at one hundred Spirit Stones, sold to the highest bidder."

First-Tier High Grade spiritual Materials were worth at least three hundred Spirit Stones each; Wang Ye's move was intended to liven up the atmosphere.

"Hehe, then this old man won't be polite. I'll take the Flowing Light Wood for two hundred Spirit Stones!"

As expected.

Before long, these spiritual Materials were all auctioned off at high prices of four to five hundred Spirit Stones.

The atmosphere of the trade fair became significantly livelier.

Xu Changsheng had not made a move yet. Over the past few months, he had accumulated over five hundred Spirit Stones by drawing Talismans. Although it seemed like a lot, it was better to be frugal in such a setting.

As time went by.

The atmosphere in the trade fair reached its Peak.

Now it was the turn of the market's Alchemy Pavilion. A Cultivator named He Dong took the stage; he was not only the chief Alchemist of the Alchemy Pavilion but also a Guest Elder of the Xie Family.

"The Medicinal Pills I am selling today include qi gathering pills, Foundation Nurturing Pills, white snake pills, and yellow dragon pills. There are five bottles of the first two, and three pills each of the latter two. Sold to the highest bidder."

Xu Changsheng's half-closed eyes slowly opened.

The white snake pill was exactly the Breakthrough pill he needed to reach the Middle Stage Qi Refining.

After a round of intense bidding, Xu Changsheng outbid the others with two hundred and thirty Spirit Stones.

Just then.

Huang Laifu's bid came from the other side: "For this last white snake pill, I bid two hundred and fifty Spirit Stones."

He Dong, on stage, was about to announce the winner when he heard Huang Laifu's bid. He was delighted and looked at Xu Changsheng: "Fellow Daoist, do you still want the white snake pill? Someone else has placed a bid."

Xu Changsheng frowned, seeing that the matter between him and Huang Laifu would not be settled so easily. He said without changing his expression, "I bid three hundred Spirit Stones."

Huang Laifu did not follow that price, and in the end, Xu Changsheng obtained the white snake pill. The pill was only worth one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, so he had paid double the price, but it was enough to annoy the latter.

As the major official shops exited, it was the individual Cultivators' turn to take the stage.

The quality of the spiritual items for sale was uneven, and some people refused to trade for Spirit Stones, instead specifying items to exchange for what they had, resulting in most people leaving disappointed.

Everyone lost interest and began to leave; soon, only about a third of the people remained.

Xu Changsheng waited patiently.

When only one-fifth of the people were left in the venue, he finally saw what he wanted.

A brawny Cultivator brought up a dark dog-head statue: "I found this in a Secret Realm. It contains a great mystery. I ask someone destined to take it home; eighty to a hundred Spirit Stones will suffice."

Wang Ye's sneer came from below: "Da Niu, hawking that broken statue of yours again? I say, you'd be better off entering the Secret Realm a few more times. My Hundred Treasures Pavilion is quite short on Yao Beast Materials lately."

The Cultivator named Da Niu smiled helplessly: "I can't go in; I haven't found the key. Isn't that why I'm raising money to buy one?"

Then he looked down at the audience.

Seeing that no one was interested, he became a bit dejected. He picked up the statue, thinking to himself that he could only try his luck at the stall area again.

"Wait, I'll pay eighty Spirit Stones for that statue."

Xu Changsheng said expressionlessly, "I do indeed lack a statue to protect my house. I think this dog-head is quite good."

After saying that, he glanced at Huang Laifu.

Seeing this, Huang Laifu felt disdain: "Xu Changsheng, Xu Changsheng, do you take me for a fool? I'm here to annoy you, how could I let you lead me by the nose?"

He would only follow if Xu Changsheng bid on something valuable.

Then a look of smugness appeared on his face: "Hehe, another eighty Spirit Stones wasted."

The Cultivator on the stage was stunned, then showed a look of ecstasy: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist! Thank you, Fellow Daoist!"

With the transaction complete, Xu Changsheng put the statue into his Storage Pouch.

He stayed at the trade fair until it ended before leaving.

By then, it was already evening.

Walking on the road,

[Todays Intelligence (Grey): Calamity of Bloodshed]

[You have been targeted by Robber Cultivators. They are attempting to lure you out of the market to kill you.]