Time passed quickly, and half a month went by in the blink of an eye.
One day, Elian, with nothing particular to do, received an invitation. The invitation was from a wandering cultivator at Tianxu Mountain named Chen Zuoyang, inviting Elian and Chen Changxuan to attend a trading event for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
These types of trading events were usually held once a year at Tianxu Mountain. Foundation Establishment cultivators would bring treasures they didn't need and exchange them for items they required.
When the two arrived at the venue, they found that only a dozen or so Foundation Establishment cultivators had come. Elian wasn't familiar with most of them, but Chen Changxuan seemed to have connections with a few.
Their arrival garnered considerable respect. After all, the two had made quite a name for themselves in the Battle of Demon Wolf Mountain. Chen Changxuan, as one of the only two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators present, immediately became the target of compliments upon entering.
"All right, now that everyone is here, let's begin," a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator said with a smile as he stepped onto the platform, presenting a wooden box.
"I'll start us off. Inside this box is a piece of earth-attribute treasure known as 'Azure Void Soil.'"
"I think most of you know its value, so I won't say much. I'd like to trade it for a water-attribute treasure of the second rank or a related artifact."
Elian glanced at the greenish soil in the box and quickly recalled information about Azure Void Soil.
Like Thousand-Year crimson Iron, Azure Void Soil was a highly valuable second-rank treasure. It could be used to craft defensive artifacts or earth-attribute natal artifacts.
The item wasn't useful to Elian, so he wasn't interested in the exchange. However, three others transmitted their willingness to trade for it. Ultimately, one person traded a water-attribute artifact for the Azure Void Soil, leaving both parties satisfied.
After that, another sixth-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator stepped up and presented a mid-grade second-rank sword artifact, saying, "This Green Bamboo Sword was something I acquired from the Qingyang Sect years ago."
"I'd like to trade it for a Green Essence Pill. Is anyone willing to exchange?"
The crowd exchanged glances but ultimately remained silent.
Green Essence Pills were top-tier second-rank pills that could enhance the chances of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator breaking through to the late stage. Chen Changxuan himself had used one to save decades of refining spiritual energy, successfully advancing to the late stage in one go.
Such treasures were rare and precious. Even if anyone present possessed one, they wouldn't part with it easily.
Seeing no response, the cultivator added, "If anyone is willing, I'm prepared to add 1,000 spirit stones to the deal."
Unfortunately, there were still no takers, and the cultivator left the platform disappointed.
Elian observed as one cultivator after another took turns presenting their items for trade. Some left regretfully, while others were delighted to exchange for treasures they needed.
After seven or eight more participants, an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator took the stage. This individual, barely in the first layer of Foundation Establishment and seemingly having advanced less than ten years ago, appeared relatively modest compared to the others.
The cultivator took out a medicinal herb and said, "This is a second-rank lower-grade Blood Replenishing Ginseng, which can be used to refine healing elixirs. I'd like to trade it for a second-rank lower-grade artifact."
Elian's interest was piqued. Blood Replenishing Ginseng was the primary ingredient for Vitality Nurturing Pills, which could heal physical injuries in Foundation Establishment cultivators. Owning it could improve his alchemy skills and provide a useful recovery tool.
"I'll trade this artifact for it," Elian said, producing a Gold Silk Net.
"Is that Lin Taihe's Golden Silk Net?" the cultivator asked, his face lighting up with excitement.
"I'll trade!"
Both parties, satisfied with their exchange, completed the transaction. Elian obtained the Blood Replenishing Ginseng and finally revealed a smile. However, for the rest of the event, nothing else caught his interest.
After the trading event concluded, three more days passed before Jiang Linglong finally completed refining the Foundation Establishment Pills and emerged from seclusion.
Within the spiritual pool cave of Tianxu Mountain, Elian met with Jiang Linglong.
Jiang Linglong seemed to be in an excellent mood, which only improved upon seeing Elian. She smiled and said, "The refining process went well this time. Out of four furnaces, I managed to produce nineteen pills."
"Do you want to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill? Since I'm in a good mood, I'll sell you one for 10,000 spirit stones."
Thanks to the exceptional quality of the two mid-stage Purple Mansion beast cores used in the process, the success rate had been unusually high, with one furnace even yielding six pills.
Elian's face lit up with joy at the offer. Though he knew the abundance of Purple Mansion beast cores would cause the market price of Foundation Establishment Pills to drop, he had still expected the price to be around 20,000 spirit stones. The opportunity to purchase one for half that price was an unexpected windfall.
Elian immediately agreed. With 15,000 spirit stones from the Five Elements Essence trade, he could easily afford the pill and still have some left over.
Elated, Elian left the cave with the pill. As he departed, Lin Qianshu approached Jiang Linglong with a smile.
"That young man's natal artifact seems to have broken past its natural limit," Lin Qianshu remarked.
"Could he possess a special constitution, similar to your Lunar Immortal Body, allowing his natal artifact to transcend ordinary constraints?"
Her expression turned serious.
"If that's the case, no wonder you hold him in such high regard."
"You're overthinking it," Jiang Linglong said, shaking her head with a serious expression.
"I just find him pleasant to look at."
Lin Qianshu: "…"
With the two Foundation Establishment Pills in hand, Elian and Chen Changxuan didn't linger at Tianxu Mountain. They prepared to return to Qingyuan Mountain.
By now, they had been away from Qingyuan Mountain for over a year and a half. The Yu County caravan had already come and gone six months earlier, and the third elder and others had returned to Yu County even earlier.
Without the caravan slowing them down, Elian and Chen Changxuan traveled via flying swords, speeding up their journey significantly. In less than a month, they reached Yu County and returned to Qingyuan Mountain.
Perhaps it was the deterrence from slaying four Foundation Establishment cultivators, including those from the Zuo family and Zhang Demonic Clan, or their reputation from the Battle of Demon Wolf Mountain. Either way, no one dared make a move on them this time, even though they carried two Foundation Establishment Pills.
Upon returning to Qingyuan Mountain, news of their acquisition spread quickly throughout the family, and soon, family cultivators came knocking, eager to negotiate for the precious pills.
...
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