51: Diyuan Ganoderma

The stall owner announced a price of fifteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

The Young Lord, known as Jiao Xuan, casually tossed down the Spirit Stones.

Only then did he seem to notice Lin Feng, who had been pushed to the side. Seeing his ordinary attire and cultivation at "merely" the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, he sneered:

"Where did this poor Loose Cultivator come from? How dare you set your sights on the same item as this Young Lord? Get lost, and don't be an eyesore to me."

The two lackeys behind him immediately stepped forward, their faces revealing fierce glares as Spiritual Qi faintly pressed down upon him.

Lin Feng hurriedly lowered his head, took two steps back, and cupped his hands, saying: "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Please, Young Lord Jiao, after you, after you."

After speaking, he quickly turned around, squeezed into the crowd, and soon disappeared.

Jiao Xuan triumphantly picked up the bronze fragment and laughed at his lackeys: "This piece of trash knows his place. Hahaha."

Seeing this, most of the surrounding Cultivators shook their heads and looked away.

The two well-meaning Loose Cultivators exchanged glances, disappointment flashing in their eyes, and quietly slipped away.

'Jiao Family... Jiao Xuan...' Lin Feng watched coldly from a distance. 'It's just an unknown fragment, what harm is there in letting you have it? Foundation Establishment Materials are the top priority; I shouldn't lose sight of the big picture for a small gain right now.'

On the day of the auction, Lin Feng paid an extra fee to enter the auction house and chose a seat in an inconspicuous corner in the back row.

He scanned the venue with a calm gaze. In the prominent front row seats sat several groups of luxuriously dressed Cultivators with extraordinary auras, clearly from local Families or wealthy Loose Cultivators.

He saw Jiao Xuan chatting and laughing with another young Cultivator, his demeanor arrogant.

The auction began. Although the early Magical Artifacts and Materials were quite good, Lin Feng did not make a move, merely observing quietly.

Halfway through, the auctioneer presented a jade box.

"The next auction item is a fifty-year-old Purple Monkey Flower, accompanied by a Heavenly Spirit Fruit seedling. Both are common Materials for refining various Low Grade Medicinal Pills, and their quality is acceptable. Sold as a package, the starting bid is fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

'It's here.' Lin Feng's eyes flickered.

This was exactly what he had entrusted the auction house to sell in advance, obtained from Chen Qing. For such a long time, he hadn't dared to sell it near the Sect; if he were investigated, it would be impossible to explain.

Some low-rank Alchemists or small Family Cultivators in the venue began to bid.

In the end, this set of Materials was bought by a middle-aged Alchemist for eighty-five Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

The auction continued, and the atmosphere grew increasingly heated.

Immediately after, a true treasure was presented: an Iron-Skin Bamboo Shoot with black iron-colored husks.

"A one-hundred-year-old Iron-Skin Bamboo Shoot. This is a primary Material for refining Body Tempering Paste, which can strengthen the physique and solidify the foundation of Qi and blood. For Fellow Daoists who Cultivate Pure Yang Cultivation Techniques, it is of extraordinary value. The starting bid is three hundred Spirit Stones."

A gasp and even more enthusiastic bidding erupted in the venue. Many Cultivators' eyes turned red.

Jiao Xuan also suddenly sat up straight, clearly very interested in this item.

"Four hundred."

"Five hundred." Jiao Xuan joined the fray.

The price soared all the way, and the competition was extremely fierce.

In the end, Jiao Xuan shouted a high price of seven hundred Spirit Stones, overwhelming all competitors and successfully winning the Iron-Skin Bamboo Shoot.

After a few more rounds of bidding, the auction finally entered the final grand finale stage.

The auctioneer took a deep breath, his voice suddenly rising:

"Next is one of the grand finale treasures of this auction."

A woman brought up a box made of cold jade. As soon as it was opened, a burst of pure Spiritual Qi mixed with a faint, exotic fragrance permeated the air.

Resting quietly in the box was a spirit mushroom with an archaic shape, deep brown color, and faint, flowing luster.

"A three-hundred-and-fifty-year-old earth origin spirit mushroom. It is perfectly preserved. The starting bid is six hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

The entire room went silent instantly.

'It's finally here.' Lin Feng's focus intensified instantly.

"Seven hundred." The price began to climb.

"One thousand. This Young Lord wants it." The price stagnated.

Auctioneer: "Young Lord Jiao bids one thousand. Is there anything higher?"

A calm voice came from the back row: "One thousand and fifty."

Everyone's eyes swished toward the back, discovering it was that "wimpy Loose Cultivator" who had been scared off by Jiao Xuan.

Jiao Xuan turned around, his face livid: "You again? One thousand two hundred."

Lin Feng was expressionless: "One thousand two hundred and fifty."

"One thousand five hundred." Jiao Xuan roared, "Kid. Are you looking for death?"

Lin Feng acted as if he hadn't heard: "One thousand five hundred and fifty."

Jiao Xuan was trembling with anger: "One thousand seven hundred."

"One thousand seven hundred and fifty." Lin Feng added only the minimum increment each time.

Jiao Xuan's expression shifted, and in the end, he glared viciously at Lin Feng and gave up the bid. The price made his heart ache, and he was afraid of being punished upon returning.

"One thousand seven hundred and fifty, going once. Going twice. Going three times. Sold." The auctioneer brought down the gavel.

Ignoring the various gazes at the auction, Lin Feng calmly completed the transaction and carefully put the earth origin spirit mushroom into his dark green bracelet.

When the auction ended, Lin Feng could clearly feel several malicious gazes.

After leaving the auction, Lin Feng did not flee immediately; instead, he wandered seemingly aimlessly on the outskirts of the market.

Just after walking less than a hundred zhang out of the market, the sound of something breaking through the air suddenly rang out behind him.

Three figures pursued rapidly, forming a triangle Formation, blocking him in a secluded mountain path.

Directly in front was none other than the Jiao Family Young Lord, Jiao Xuan.

"Kid. I didn't expect you to actually dare to come out alone." Jiao Xuan laughed loudly, "If you know what's good for you, obediently hand over all the Spirit Stones on you and that earth origin spirit mushroom. If this Young Lord is in a good mood, perhaps I can grant you a quick death."

Panic appeared on Lin Feng's face, his footsteps seemingly unsteady, and he slowly retreated toward a more secluded corner of the valley.

'This place is not bad, secluded enough that the commotion won't easily spread.'

Seeing this, the grins on the faces of Jiao Xuan and his two lackeys grew wider. They followed closely, as if afraid he would run away, and instantly chased him into this dead end surrounded on three sides by walls.

As soon as they stepped into the dead end, Lin Feng's retreating footsteps suddenly stopped.

Swish. Swish. Swish.

He flicked his wrist, and five Formation Flags shot toward five different directions, instantly sinking into the ground.

A five-colored light barrier covering several zhang suddenly rose. Gold, cyan, blue, red, and yellow lights swirled ceaselessly, instantly trapping the two Qi Refining Eighth Layer lackeys firmly within the Formation.

The two were terrified, desperately attacking the light barrier, but could only stir up ripples; they were completely unable to break the Formation in a short time.

At the same time.

Lin Feng raised his right hand, and the flowing cloud immortal binding silk transformed into a seven-colored rainbow, aiming directly for Jiao Xuan. In his left hand, a Green Wood Shield appeared before him, spinning rapidly to protect his whole body.

"Five Elements Array Flags? You... who exactly are you..."

The cruel grin on Jiao Xuan's face instantly froze. He completely did not expect that the opponent not only had prepared in advance but had also instantly set up such a troublesome Formation.

"Ugh." The flowing cloud immortal binding silk had already reached him.

Clang.

The jade pendant at his waist activated in response, supporting a thick, earthy-yellow Spiritual Light protective barrier, barely holding back the flowing cloud immortal binding silk.

"You hid your cultivation? Are you a Foundation Establishment Senior?"

Lin Feng's eyes were cold, and he didn't bother to answer. The light of the flowing cloud immortal binding silk intensified. At the same time, the qinggang sword was unsheathed, its tip gathering cold Qi, forming a dot of dark blue cold starlight, piercing directly at a single point on the protective barrier.