31: The Art of Human Dan

"Revered Master, why didn't you show them the golden invitation just now?"

Shen Jinhuan sat on a chair in the private room, looking through the window at the empty auction stage downstairs.

Jiang Ning poured her a glass of water and handed it to her.

He explained, "The golden invitation reveals too much. Although the three great families of Lingwu City have long noticed us, it's best not to expose too much. That would be too obvious."

Anyone holding a golden invitation would naturally attract attention, but Lingwu City had issued so many golden invitations that they weren't constantly monitoring everyone.

However, to take out a golden invitation at an auction, especially if the items purchased were highly targeted, would inevitably draw attention.

Shen Jinhuan suddenly understood.

Outside, the sun gradually set in the west, and the golden evening light streamed in, slightly dazzling.

Jiang Ning and Shen Jinhuan listened to the noisy sounds coming from the general seating area downstairs.

They looked out the window.

On the auction stage downstairs, a white-bearded old man walked up.

Jiang Ning sighed.

Damn it, novels are all lies. In other novels, the auctioneers are always beautiful women.

Shen Jinhuan didn't know what Jiang Ning was thinking. She was only curious for a moment before her attention was instantly drawn to the auction.

Downstairs, on the auction stage.

The white-bearded old man pressed his hands down, and the Cultivators in the general seating area quieted down.

The old man smiled and said, "Everyone, I am the appraiser responsible for the auctions at the Lingwu Auction House. Friends who know me in the cultivation world call me Profound Treasure Daoist."

"Without further ado, let's present our first treasure."

"Sky-Rending Blade, a Medium Grade Rank 2 Spiritual Artifact, made of Profound Iron..."

After listening, Jiang Ning shook his head.

The Azure Wave Sword in his hand was a High Grade Rank 3 Spiritual Artifact. This item held no appeal for him.

Three Spiritual Artifacts in a row were successfully bid on by Cultivators in the general seating area downstairs.

No one in the private rooms upstairs made a bid.

By the fourth item, Jiang Ning's interest was piqued.

Profound Treasure Daoist placed a Cultivation Technique on the stage and began to introduce it.

"This Cultivation Technique is a Body Tempering Cultivation Technique, of Profound Rank High Grade."

As soon as he finished speaking, the general seating area erupted in an uproar again.

Jiang Ning heard someone inquire from a private room on the second floor.

"A Profound Rank High Grade Body Tempering method, hehe... If there's a Cultivation Technique of this Rank, but it hasn't been publicized in advance and is being released so early, there must be a problem, right?"

Profound Treasure Daoist cupped his hands.

"The guest is right."

"This Cultivation Technique, after I and several appraisers examined it, we discovered that it is a Human Elixir Body Tempering Technique that refines a person as if they were a Medicinal Pill!"

"Just hearing the name, you know. This involves placing a person into a Pill Furnace and using Alchemy to refine all the Impurities from the human body. Afterward, it refines the skin and flesh, refines the tendons and bones, refines the five internal organs and six viscera..."

"This technique can greatly accelerate the progress of the Body Tempering Stage, and its quality far surpasses other Body Tempering techniques."

"However... just listening to me, you can already tell the overbearing nature of this Cultivation Technique. I consulted the best Alchemist in Wanbao Pavilion, Pill Yangzi, a Great Master.

He looked at this Body Tempering method and said that he couldn't achieve such precise operations."

Boom... another uproar.

The guest on the second floor who had just spoken now sneered.

"This Cultivation Technique, if bought, only has the resounding title of Profound Rank High Grade, but it cannot be used, so what's the point! The auction house is selling this Body Tempering method. Are they trying to see who buys it to harm their own descendants?"

A burst of laughter erupted from the general seating area.

Profound Treasure Daoist smiled bitterly.

"If it could be researched, and the Family gained many Geniuses whose Body Tempering quality far surpassed other families, it might not be impossible for them to rise because of it!"

If it weren't for the rules, he really didn't want to reveal the problems within it.

Who would buy this?

Inside the private room.

Jiang Ning looked at Shen Jinhuan.

Before he could even ask the little girl's opinion, she firmly said, "Buy it!"

Jiang Ning nodded.

"Good! Don't worry, after I buy it, I will research it first. Once I'm sure I can control it, then I will let you undergo Body Tempering."

At this moment.

Profound Treasure Daoist had already begun to auction this Body Tempering method.

"The Human Pill Technique. The Lingwu Auction House guarantees that only necessary appraisal procedures have been performed, and there has been no copying or memorization. The starting price is one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, and each bid must not be less than ten Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!"

After he finished speaking, the entire venue fell silent.

Those who could participate in the auction all had some capital.

Most of the Cultivators in the general seating area had already passed the Body Tempering Stage, so they naturally wouldn't buy it.

And those in the private rooms upstairs, if they were alone, wouldn't buy it either.

Those with Family influence might hesitate slightly, but this would require human lives to fill, and even an Alchemy Great Master like Pill Yangzi from Lingwu City said it was unmanageable.

If they bought it, it would just sit there.

For a time, no one spoke.

Profound Treasure Daoist chose this moment to try and ignite everyone's purchasing enthusiasm.

"Everyone can buy some slaves to try it out! The investment is high, but the returns obtained are priceless. These Genius disciples will be the cornerstone for the Family to advance further.

Furthermore, this is a Profound Rank High Grade Body Tempering method, after all.

If it weren't for its overbearing nature, would it be sold for one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones? Wouldn't it be sold for a thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones?"

Jiang Ning chuckled.

A thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones was a bit exaggerated.

After all, this was just a Body Tempering method, not a proper Cultivation Technique. If it was only for Body Tempering, selling it for seven hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones would be a high price.

Seeing that the time was about right.

Jiang Ning used Spiritual Qi to wrap his voice through the Illusionary Sound Formation.

A gender-neutral, emotionless voice suddenly appeared at the auction.

"One hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."

Profound Treasure Daoist was delighted.

He looked around.

Unfortunately, no one was willing to buy such a Body Tempering method.

Jiang Ning successfully acquired this set of Body Tempering Cultivation Technique for one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

If it weren't for the proficiency panel, he could first use his Golden Core body's strength to level up his proficiency.

Even if the little girl insisted on buying it, he would never use this method to accelerate her Body Tempering progress.

When the next item was being introduced.

An auction house staff member knocked on the door.

They placed the Body Tempering method into a small cubby on the wall next to the door, passing it into the room.

Jiang Ning, after taking the Body Tempering method, asked the little girl for one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and put them back.

The transaction was completed.

He sat back down with the Body Tempering method.

Shen Jinhuan leaned over to look with him.

Jiang Ning looked at the content.

The cover was very simple, with "Human Pill Technique" written vertically on the right side.

He opened the first page, which contained a warning, cautioning Cultivators about the overbearing nature of this method and to use it with care.

There was also a section of content written by a person.

It roughly described how the previous owner of this Cultivation Technique, harboring a Luck mentality (sense of luck), was arrogant and self-important, using this method to help his beloved son undergo Body Tempering, but ended up killing him and was filled with regret.

In short, it was all warnings.

Jiang Ning glanced at the little girl, who was looking intently.

He gently tapped her head with his knuckle.

"I need to research this when I go back. If it doesn't work, I will immediately destroy this Body Tempering method. You are not to practice it on your own initiative!"

Shen Jinhuan hummed in response, but her eyes remained fixed on the Body Tempering method.

Clearly, she hadn't taken it to heart.