Half an hour later, the spacious auction hall was already full.
Qiao Yuan, the Foundation Establishment cultivator who had just greeted Zhao Hua, stepped onto the front auction platform and bowed to everyone, saying,
"Welcome everyone to the Yunxi Qiao Family Auction. I, Qiao Yuan, will be hosting this auction, and I hope everyone can find their favorite treasures."
"Now, the auction officially begins!"
Then, one after another, magical treasures, pills, talismans, spiritual materials, and various other rare items were auctioned off in a flowing stream.
For the first half of the auction, only the sounds of bidding from the audience could be heard.
The guests in the VIP boxes didn't raise their paddles much.
Jiang Heng didn't raise his paddle either, as he already had a target in mind.
He wouldn't lower his spirit stone reserves beforehand unless absolutely necessary.
As the auction entered its second half, the value of the items increased, reaching hundreds or even thousands of spirit stones.
Many VIPs in the boxes began to frequently raise their paddles, including several Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"Next up for auction is the Golden Axe, a top-grade magic weapon perfectly suited for combat.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator can wield it and unleash up to nine gleaming blades simultaneously.
It can instantly kill a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator, and even an ordinary early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator might perish if struck by nine consecutive blades."
"Starting bid: 1,000 spirit stones. Each bid must be at least 100. Please begin bidding."
"1,100!"
"1,200!"
...
While axes aren't commonly used magic weapons by cultivators, they are still powerful top-grade magic weapons.
Perhaps some late-stage Qi Refining cultivators with deep magical power can barely control high-grade magic weapons, but top-grade ones are beyond their reach. This
is because controlling a magic weapon depends on the strength of one's magical power and spiritual awareness.
And only Foundation Establishment cultivators with sufficiently strong magical power and spiritual awareness can control top-grade magic weapons.
Therefore, all the bidders this time are Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Even the Yunxi Qiao family has participated in the bidding.
After all, they are merely the organizers of the auction; many of the treasures up for auction are consigned from various parties.
"One thousand six hundred spirit stones!"
In the end, this top-grade magic weapon was bought by a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Beast Taming Yuan family.
The Beast Taming Yuan family was also a family of cultivators.
Everyone sighed, thinking that if it weren't an axe-type magic weapon, the price would definitely be higher, perhaps even double the current price.
Jiang Heng, however, had no time to think about anything else, because the next item to be auctioned was the Moonlight Tear.
Ever since he learned from Zhao Yang about the Moonlight Tear being auctioned at the music hall, he had been prepared for the price to be driven up.
His search for the Moonlight Tear was no secret; many merchants knew about it.
Qiao Ze and the others must have heard about it as well.
So, the appearance of the Moonlight Tear at the Yunxi Qiao family's auction was clearly no coincidence.
His intuition told him that it was aimed at him.
After all, he had indeed passively lost many of the Fire Cloud Restaurant's old customers in the past two years.
But considering that this was a key material for cultivating the Moon Gathering Heart Technique, and also the hope for solving Ye Muwan's physical problems,
especially the latter,
if it could really solve the problem, then he could fulfill another of Ye Qingyun's last wishes and inherit more of his intangible legacy.
Therefore, he had to bid for Moonlight Tear no matter what!
At this moment, Qiao Yuan on the auction stage smiled again: "The seventy-eighth item in this auction is a first-grade superior material called Moonlight Tear.
This item has been constantly bathed in the power of moonlight, making it suitable for cultivators who follow the Yin-cold path. It can also be used in medicine and weapon forging, making it a rare treasure."
"First-grade material? Yin-cold path?"
Many cultivators lost interest upon hearing this.
However, those who cultivated Yin-cold techniques all paid attention.
Many people noticed that two Qi-linking cultivators dressed in the robes of Wangyue Valley disciples walked to the second-floor terrace.
Wangyue Valley's lineage is based on the Yin-cold path.
This treasure called Moonlight Tear had clearly attracted the attention of the two Wangyue Valley disciples.
"There are actually disciples from Wangyue Valley?" Jiang Heng's heart sank.
Wangyue Valley was a sect power a level higher than the Immortal Clan, with a Core Formation True Person in charge.
Judging by their status, those two Wangyue Valley disciples were only at the late-stage Qi Refining realm, yet they were seated in the VIP section.
"Sect disciples have access to abundant resources; they probably won't buy overpriced items," Jiang Heng thought to himself.
On the platform, Qiao Yuan continued, "The starting price for Moonlight Tear is three hundred spirit stones, with each bid increasing by at least twenty spirit stones!"
"Three hundred and fifty spirit stones!"
An old woman at the ninth level of Qi Refining was the first to bid, increasing her bid by fifty spirit stones at a time, giving the impression of certainty.
However, this price didn't deter the others.
"Three hundred and eighty!"
"Four hundred!"
"Four hundred and twenty!"
In no time, the price of this first-grade superior material had increased by more than half compared to the starting price.
"Five hundred!"
One of the two Wangyue Valley disciples standing by the terrace suddenly raised his paddle and announced a price.
The room instantly fell silent; no one else participated in the bidding.
Inside the Qiao family's private room in Yunxi, Qiao Yuming and Murong Jiao exchanged a glance. Was that pretty boy also afraid?
Just then, another voice rang out: "Six hundred!"
Everyone was stunned. Who dared to disrespect the disciples of Wangyue Valley?
Looking in the direction of the voice, they saw a figure in white standing on the terrace of the Qingzhu Zhao family's private room.
It was Jiang Heng who had just raised his bidding paddle to announce the price.
"Brother Jiang Heng?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Ye Muwan immediately looked up.
Murong Lan, however, was puzzled. Was this item really that valuable? Was it worth Jiang Heng's effort, even at the cost of offending the disciples of Wangyue Valley?
Suddenly, she remembered Qiao Yuan's introduction earlier.
"Could it be for Wan'er's health..."
Murong Lan couldn't help but feel moved and expectant.
As the saying goes, love extends to everything connected to the beloved. Jiang Heng must be trying to solve her daughter's health problem because of his relationship with her.
At this moment, under the gaze of many, Jiang Heng remained calm.
They were just two Qi Refining disciples from Wangyue Valley, not Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Besides, this was a normal auction; they couldn't possibly get angry with him over something worth a few hundred yuan.
Besides, he's currently in the Qingzhu Zhao family's private room; doesn't he understand the concept of "borrowing power from a tiger"?
Sure enough, the two disciples from Wangyue Valley shook their heads and retreated back into their private rooms.
"You brat," Zhao Yang also saw through the trick and pointed at Jiang Heng with a smile.
Jiang Heng's expression remained unchanged, but instead became serious.
He knew that the real bidding had only just begun.
As soon as this thought crossed his mind, the next moment...
"Six hundred and twenty!"
A clearly playful laugh rang out from another private room.
Everyone looked over and recognized it as the Yunxi Qiao family's private room.
It wasn't surprising that the Qiao family was participating in the bidding at their own auction.
But this playful laugh was interesting.
Everyone turned their attention back to Jiang Heng, watching the excitement unfold.
Some cultivators who frequently frequented the Xiaoyuan Mountain market knew that Jiang Heng was the founder of the Pill Furnace Hotpot and was also aware of the business competition between Huoyun Restaurant and Qingyun Pill Workshop.
And coincidentally, Jiang Heng had been searching for Moonlight Tears for the past few months.
Jiang Heng, not wanting to spoil the fun, calmly announced, "Seven hundred!"
From the Qiao family's private room came the reply: "Seven hundred and twenty!"
"Eight hundred!"
Jiang Heng's increasing bids astonished many cultivators present.
Nearly a hundred low-grade spirit stones each time—was this young man in the mid-stage of Qi Refining really that rich?
However, news of Jiang Heng's status as a pill refiner quickly spread throughout the venue.
Everyone then realized, "That's not surprising."
Meanwhile, the bidding continued.
"Eight hundred and twenty!"
"Nine hundred!"
"Nine…"
The announcement from the Qiao family's private room abruptly stopped.
On the auction stage, the Foundation Establishment cultivator Qiao Yuan, after three calls, saw no further bids, and the hammer finally fell.
Inside the Qiao family's private room in Yunxi.
"Father?" Qiao Yuming looked at his father, Qiao Ze, who had stopped him from bidding further.
"Enough," Qiao Ze said in a deep voice. "There will be plenty of opportunities to deal with a rogue cultivator at the mid-stage of Qi Refining. There's no need to rush." "
That kid got off too cheaply," Qiao Yuming said, displeased.
With his continuous bidding, Jiang Heng would have to spend three times the starting price to buy the Moonlight Tear.
But he still felt it wasn't enough; he wanted Jiang Heng to pay at least a thousand spirit stones!
Murong Jiao, standing beside him, dared not speak. She dared to act coquettishly in Qiao Yuming's arms, but she would never dare to disobey her father-in-law.
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Murong Xu, on the other side, remained silent as well.
In his eyes, the Qiao family was just as hateful as Jiang Heng.
Therefore, he sneered inwardly.
Murong Xu was well aware that a price three times higher than the starting bid was no ordinary premium.
If the price of this item exceeded one thousand spirit stones due to bidding by members of the Qiao family, it would be a significant blow to the reputation of this auction.
Who would dare to bid after that?
This was precisely why Qiao Ze intervened in time.
Furthermore, the three-fold price was already a lesson for Jiang Heng.
...
Inside the Qingzhu Zhao family's private room.
Zhao Yang asked seriously, "Brother, is it worth it?"
Nine hundred spirit stones wasn't a small amount, but it wasn't a huge sum either.
But buying it at three times the starting price seemed unworthy to anyone.
Jiang Heng smiled calmly, "If I can get it, it's worth it."
Zhao Hua, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Zhao family sitting behind him, nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with Jiang Heng's attitude.
But Jiang Heng secretly remembered this.
The path of cultivation is long; he would settle the score sooner or later!
...
As time passed, one rare treasure after another was auctioned off.
Finally, the auction reached its final moment.
The atmosphere in the hall grew tense, with all sides keeping a close eye on the auction stage.
Another Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Qiao family of Yunxi, exuding a chilling aura, stepped onto the stage.
He placed the jade bottle containing the Foundation Establishment Pill on the tray in front of Qiao Yuan, then remained inside.
This was to have two Foundation Establishment cultivators guard it together to prevent anyone from snatching it.
"Ladies and gentlemen, next up is the penultimate item of this auction, the grand finale: the Foundation Establishment Pill!" Qiao Yuan announced solemnly, then changed the subject.
"But I must clarify beforehand that this Foundation Establishment Pill failed to fully activate its medicinal power during its formation, only increasing the success rate of Foundation Establishment by 15%." "
So it's a substandard Foundation Establishment Pill."
Hearing this, Jiang Heng suddenly understood; no wonder the Qiao family was willing to use it to attract attention to the auction.
However, looking at Zhao Yang's serious expression beside him, he immediately realized that he might have underestimated the preciousness of the Foundation Establishment Pill.
Even a substandard one was enough to make those preparing for Foundation Establishment flock to it.
Thinking about it, it makes sense. A normal-quality Foundation Establishment Pill can increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment by 20%.
15% and 20% aren't that different; both are equally precious and hard to find.
Meanwhile, after a brief murmur of discussion, none of the various factions on the stage gave up.
Qiao Yuan on the stage announced loudly again, "The starting price for this Foundation Establishment Pill is four thousand low-grade spirit stones, with each bid increasing by at least one hundred."
As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of bids erupted.
"Four thousand one!"
"Four thousand three!"
"Four thousand five!"
"Four thousand eight!"
...
The price quickly reached five thousand spirit stones, then the number of bidders began to decrease rapidly, with many late-stage Qi Refining cultivators giving up.
Only those from powerful families and some ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators facing Foundation Establishment continued to bid.
This included Zhao Yang.
However, when the price reached six thousand, he also gave up.
After all, a Foundation Establishment Pill only increases the success rate of Foundation Establishment; it doesn't guarantee success.
A normal-quality Foundation Establishment Pill costs around ten thousand spirit stones.
Spending over six thousand spirit stones for a single inferior Foundation Establishment Pill seemed a waste to Zhao Yang.
Moreover, even if he survived, a failed Foundation Establishment attempt would severely damage his vitality, affecting his future attempts.
He had been preparing for Foundation Establishment for over ten years and couldn't afford to act rashly now, wasting years of accumulated resources.
"Seven thousand two hundred spirit stones, any higher bids?"
With Qiao Yuan's gavel falling, the final price was set. It
was a surprising amount
, clearly a premium.
Six thousand spirit stones was about right for an inferior Foundation Establishment Pill.
"I wonder which fellow Daoist is in such a hurry? Are they nearing their sixtieth birthday?"
Many people had this question.
Normally, reaching the late Qi Chain stage before thirty increases the chances of Foundation Establishment.
This allows ample time to prepare, and even if one fails, there's time to plan again.
But if one only attempts Foundation Establishment at sixty, the chances of success are extremely slim.
Because after the age of sixty, the body's Qi and blood begin to decline, making it much more difficult to pass the Qi and blood barrier.
Moreover, once failed, there is no second chance.
Finally, amidst the questioning gazes of various forces, a portly middle-aged man stepped onto the auction stage and publicly transacted with Qiao Yuan.
"Murong Fu?"
"It was actually the Murong family of Cuifeng who won the Foundation Establishment Pill?"
Everyone was astonished.
The person who went up was none other than Murong Fu, the patriarch of the Murong family.
He was also a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining, with the opportunity to break through to Foundation Establishment.
In the past two years, the once-powerful Foundation Establishment family of Cuifeng Murong had been rapidly being devoured by the Qiao family of Yunxi—this was common knowledge.
However, the marriage alliance was something the Murong family had voluntarily agreed to. It was
a willing buyer and a willing seller.
Unexpectedly, the Murong family had pulled this stunt, publicly bidding on the Foundation Establishment Pill at the Qiao family's auction, leaving the Qiao family no chance to stop them.
If someone in the Murong family could successfully break through to the Foundation Establishment realm with this Foundation Establishment Pill, they could preserve a portion of the family's foundation amidst the Qiao family's encroachment.
Alternatively, they could lead their clansmen to seek another way out, preventing the Qiao family from completely wiping them out.
However, many people also know that the Murong family, having purchased the Foundation Establishment Pill, faces a major problem:
can they successfully bring it back?
Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm requires absorbing a large amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth, necessitating at least a second-tier spiritual vein cultivation environment.
While Xiaoyuan Mountain Market does indeed possess a second-tier spiritual vein, the Qingzhu Zhao family would not allow anyone to attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm here. This
is because this second-tier spiritual vein not only supplies the shops, inns, and cave dwellings, but more importantly, it provides spiritual energy to the market's second-tier defensive array.
If someone were to attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm here, it would definitely affect the array's sturdiness.
"There are nearly twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators participating in this auction, and some of them are hiding their identities. If someone takes advantage of the situation to cause trouble, the crisis facing the market will probably be even greater than the last attack by the raiding cultivators,"
Jiang Heng thought to himself.
At that time, it really would be a single Foundation Establishment Pill that triggered a bloodbath.
"Foundation Establishment, truly not easy!"
At this moment, Jiang Heng experienced the difficulty of Foundation Establishment for the first time.
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The Murong family of Cuifeng was once a Foundation Establishment family. Although their wealth had been plundered by Yan Hai, a calamity cultivator from the Blood Sun Palace, even a weakened camel is bigger than a horse; they still possessed some reserves.
That's why they were able to acquire this substandard Foundation Establishment Pill.
But to protect the pill, they would face even greater risks and costs.
A slight misstep could lead to the extinction of their family lineage, leaving them with no chance even to survive.
Furthermore, the second-tier spiritual vein of Cuifeng had already been occupied by Qiao Yuan, and the Yunxi Qiao family would not allow the Murong family to attempt Foundation Establishment on this vein.
Therefore, the Murong family could only take the Foundation Establishment Pill and search for a suitable location.
This undoubtedly added even more risks.
...
Inside the Yunxi Qiao family's private room.
When Murong Xu saw the patriarch successfully bid for the Foundation Establishment Pill, he was equally excited, even though it was a substandard one.
He then dropped the pretense and immediately took his leave.
Qiao Ze watched the departing figure, a cold glint in his eyes.
He knew, of course, what the Murong family was planning.
"Thinking too much!"
Winning it was easy; if they couldn't take it back, it was all for nothing.
...
After the auction, the atmosphere in Xiaoyuan Mountain Market became unprecedentedly tense.
The Murong family members knew it was unwise to linger and left immediately.
They worried that if they stayed too long, they would be ambushed.
At the summit of Xiaoyuan Mountain.
Zhao Yang, a short-haired, burly man with a full beard, looked down at the bustling streets and the departing crowds, and suddenly sighed, "Fourth Grandfather, we really should have held an auction sooner; otherwise, the Yunxi Qiao family would have gained fame for nothing."
The surge in popularity of the market during this period had shown them firsthand the allure of auctions.
And popularity meant wealth.
Only with more cultivators coming will the market's business flourish, and the Qingzhu Zhao family will earn even more.
The gaunt, elderly Zhao Hua, in his seventies, gently shook his head: "Some things are beyond our control.
Besides, the Yunxi Qiao family's market hasn't held an auction in years. Their sudden appearance here is definitely not simple; we must be more cautious."
They didn't take the Murong family's acquisition of the Foundation Establishment Pill seriously.
A dying cultivation family was utterly unimportant to a long-established cultivation family.
Just then, a powerful aura emanated from more than ten miles away from the market.
Simultaneously, a furious shout rang out: "Tribulation Cultivator…it's you!"
Boom!
Immediately following was a fierce battle.
"It's Murong Fu's voice!"
"What Tribulation Cultivator? How dare they directly snatch the Foundation Establishment Pill outside the market?"
Zhao Hua and Zhao Yang's expressions were grim.
This was a complete disregard for the Qingzhu Zhao family!
But neither of them moved; protecting the market was of paramount importance.
...
More than ten miles outside Xiaoyuan Mountain Market, above a forested area,
a flying boat sped through the air.
Inside, besides Murong Fu, the head of the Murong family, were only a young man and woman.
The richly dressed young man asked doubtfully, "Grandpa, isn't this the wrong direction? Aren't we going back to Cuifeng?"
Murong Fu shook his head: "No, we're going to Taiyan Immortal City."
The young woman's eyes lit up immediately: "Taiyan Immortal City? That's a major city with a Core Formation cultivator in charge! We're actually going there?"
A kind smile appeared on Murong Fu's face.
Suddenly, a powerful aura of bloodlust rushed towards them from afar.
A young man with a effeminate face, dressed in black, riding a blood-red flying sword, blocked their flying boat.
Murong Fu saw the newcomer, but instead of fear, he roared angrily: "A Tribulation Cultivator... It's you!"
He recognized the person blocking his way as the Tribulation Cultivator leader who had ambushed Cuifeng and killed their Foundation Establishment ancestor!
The young couple inside the flying boat trembled with fear, too terrified to move.
The black-clad youth, Yan Hai, coldly said, "Hand over the Foundation Establishment Pill, and I'll give you a quick death."
Murong Fu angrily retorted, "Damn you, Tribulation Cultivator! What have my Murong family done to offend you? Why are you targeting us?"
Yan Hai said expressionlessly, "You're just unlucky; you happened to be blocking my way!"
With that, he attacked.
Crimson demonic flames swept out like clouds.
The powerful aura and spiritual pressure caused Murong Fu, who was only at the ninth level of Qi Refining, to feel terrified, but his heart was filled with extreme rage.
"I hate it!"
Facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Murong Fu knew he couldn't escape. Filled with anger and hatred, he charged forward.
In the blink of an eye, only a black-clad figure remained in mid-air.
The three members of the Murong family who were originally on the flying boat were all reduced to ashes.
Yan Hai put away the flying boat and refined the three people's storage bags.
Then, he frowned: "No?"
The Foundation Establishment Pill wasn't in the storage bags of Murong Fu and the other two.
"Interesting, playing a trick of feigning one move while secretly making another under the noses of so many people?" Yan Hai sneered.
Clearly, Murong Fu had already transferred the Foundation Establishment Pill to someone else in the family.
And this person definitely hadn't left the market yet!
Thinking of this, Yan Hai turned his gaze to the solitary peak standing ten miles away.
This time, he took advantage of the surge in the number of cultivators in Xiaoyuan Mountain to sneak in and participate in the Yunxi Qiao family's auction.
His original intention was to stir up trouble and maybe grab something, but he didn't expect to gain so little on his first attempt.
Moreover, now that he had startled the other fish, it would be difficult to make another move.
At the same time, some Foundation Establishment cultivators who also coveted the Foundation Establishment Pill used their extended spiritual senses to scan the battle here.
Some of them recognized Yan Hai's identity.
"It's Yan Hai from the Blood Sun Palace!"
"Run! Run!"
The news that Yan Hai had publicly killed the Foundation Establishment ancestor of the Murong family of Cuifeng had already spread far and wide in the past two years.
Now, they dared not encounter this Foundation Establishment cultivator who had fled from the Yuanwei Kingdom.
Fortunately, Yan Hai did not continue his attack and quickly disappeared.
However, his actions gave the other cultivators confidence, and within a hundred miles of the market, sounds of fighting and killing could be heard from time to time.
Those cultivators who had been hiding their identities and were already eager to act seized the opportunity after Yan Hai's attack to create even greater chaos, killing and robbing.
Even some cultivators who usually followed the righteous path couldn't resist their greed and took the opportunity to attack those cultivators who displayed their wealth at the auction.
There were even Foundation Establishment cultivators who broke out in a fierce battle, creating astonishing noise.
For a time, the area around Xiaoyuan Mountain Market was plunged into chaos, and even the people within the market were filled with fear.
Yan Hai watched from afar, a smile appearing on his effeminate face.
"Finally, chaos is starting. Good."
"But this is far from enough. The entire cultivation world of Yu Kingdom needs to be in chaos!"
Yan Hai knew he needed to do more.
That way, he could gain even more in the future!
...
The sounds of fighting around Xiaoyuan Mountain Market gradually subsided.
However, many cultivators still dared not leave, fearing that there were still Tribulation Cultivators lurking in the shadows.
It wasn't until three days later that order was restored to the market, and the many cultivators attracted by the auction left one
after another. The market, which had been bustling for a while, became deserted, and remained so for many years. The market's popularity never returned to its peak.
It seemed that the turmoil that erupted after the excitement had frightened the visiting cultivators, making them afraid to come again.
The Qingzhu Zhao family gradually realized that perhaps this was one of the reasons why the Yunxi Qiao family held the auction here!
Inside a secret room of the Treasure Pavilion.
After hearing what his Foundation Establishment ancestor had said, Qiao Ze was quite surprised: "The Foundation Establishment Pill isn't on Murong Fu?" Qiao
Yuan slowly nodded: "He's a man willing to sacrifice himself for his family; we underestimated his resolve." Now they could certainly understand that Murong Fu had used his own life to lure away those who coveted the Foundation Establishment Pill. The Murong family member who actually carried the pill might have already escaped through other routes amidst the chaos, or might still be in the market. So who could this person be? Qiao Ze had some guesses in his mind. He chuckled and said, "Ancestor, Cuifeng is already under our control. I think even if the Murong family manages to keep this Foundation Establishment Pill, it's just a desperate struggle and won't affect our overall plan. Besides, the hope of breaking through to Foundation Establishment with a substandard Foundation Establishment Pill is even smaller. Let them cling to this sliver of hope; it won't hurt them to act rashly." Qiao Yuan nodded approvingly. The reason he entrusted many things to Qiao Ze was because he valued Qiao Ze's composure and his ability to remain clear-headed in crucial moments. Afterward, Qiao Ze went to the Fire Cloud Restaurant and saw Murong Xu, who looked somewhat anxious. The chaos outside the market had subsided, and Murong Xu was clearly anxious about whether his patriarch, Murong Fu, was alive or dead. Qiao Ze sneered inwardly, but his face was full of sighs and concern: "My dear in-law, please accept my condolences." Murong Xu's expression changed as expected. Qiao Ze continued, "I just learned that your patriarch encountered the very cultivator who killed your ancestor and unfortunately perished." Murong Xu's face turned pale, he staggered back two steps, and finally collapsed, wailing, "That damned cultivator! Patriarch...brother!" Qiao Ze sighed even more, his gaze fixed on Murong Xu's changing expressions. He knew that the most likely whereabouts of the Foundation Establishment Pill were with his father-in-law. But as long as Murong Xu didn't leave the market, he had no way to deal with it for the time being. Otherwise, he would be telling others that they were colluding with the cultivator Yan Hai. "Oh well, it's just a second-grade Foundation Establishment Pill," Qiao Ze thought to himself. He was not far from the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, and he would need to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm then. The problem was that although the Yunxi Qiao family was a long-established cultivation family, the competition within the family was also very fierce. Foundation Establishment resources are scarce, and since he wasn't a core member of the family being groomed for advancement, he had to gather the necessary resources himself. After years of preparation, he had almost finished collecting the materials for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, lacking only two key ingredients. Once he had them, he could find someone to refine it. However, these two were the most difficult to obtain. "Frosty Marrow Ganoderma, Spirit Jade Fruit…" Qiao Ze silently chanted, "I will definitely gather them!" With chaos looming, only by becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator could he possibly protect himself and gain more! "It's a pity I couldn't seize the opportunity within that dilapidated cave back then." Qiao Ze's thoughts raced. Ten years ago, he unexpectedly discovered a dilapidated ancient cave in the Moon Gazing Mountains, but someone had already entered. Later, when that person came out, he suddenly attacked and severely injured them, but unfortunately, the person still managed to escape. If not for that, he might have already gathered enough Foundation Establishment resources. Finally, Qiao Ze feigned concern and comforted his father-in-law before leaving the Fire Cloud Restaurant. Murong Xu watched the departing figure, his fists clenched, his eyes filled with sorrow and longing. He remembered the patriarch's parting words: Endure, you must endure! Only then will the Murong family have hope of rising again. ... Jiang Heng learned of Murong Fu's ordeal from Zhao Yang. "He fought with all his might, making a final gamble, but in the end, he was still taken by the bandits," Zhao Yang sighed. Jiang Heng also shook his head slightly. Because of Murong Lan, his feelings towards the Cuifeng Murong family were neither good nor bad. He simply felt a sense of melancholy; such a dramatic rise and fall was truly lamentable. Zhao Yang added, "Foundation Establishment is too difficult. I don't know if I can gather all the resources needed for it." Jiang Heng was somewhat curious, "Brother, you come from a family of cultivators and actually manage the Xiaoyuan Mountain Market. How can you be worried about Foundation Establishment resources?" Zhao Yang smiled bitterly, "How could I not be worried? Brother, you only see the surface, not the whole story. Like Qiao Ze, I'm not a core member of the family. I have to collect Foundation Establishment resources myself. As for managing the Xiaoyuan Mountain Market, it was just a close elder asking me to help out, not an arrangement by the family. So, the benefits I get from the market aren't actually that much." Jiang Heng suddenly realized that he was just a miserable high-ranking servant. Thinking of this, an idea suddenly came to him. Zhao Yang continued, "Moreover, Foundation Establishment resources are scarce. Many of the main ingredients needed to refine Foundation Establishment Pills are priceless and unavailable; sometimes, even with money, you can't necessarily buy them." Jiang Heng temporarily suppressed his previous thoughts and asked疑惑地问道, "Since Foundation Establishment Pills are so precious, why is the Qiao family of Yunxi willing to put them up for auction?" Mentioning this, Zhao Yang's expression became serious, and he countered, "Do you know who the Tribulation Cultivator Murong Fu encountered this time was?" Jiang Heng's heart skipped a beat, recalling Murong Fu's angry roar earlier, and he immediately guessed, "Could it be Yan Hai from the Blood Sun Palace?"
Zhao Yang solemnly said, "That's right, it's him. I remember you reminded me earlier that Yan Hai's group of plunderers wasn't just after resources; as long as we kept an eye on their trail, we'd eventually find something.
So I have a bold guess: could the Yunxi Qiao family be connected to this Yan Hai?
Previously, Yan Hai killed the Foundation Establishment ancestor of the Cuifeng Murong clan, and then the Yunxi Qiao family quickly seized control of the Cuifeng Murong's base.
Now, the Yunxi Qiao family is holding an auction at Xiaoyuan Mountain, and Yan Hai has come here to cause trouble again, making the surrounding environment chaotic and the market much quieter."
Jiang Heng agreed with this guess.
This also explains why the Yunxi Qiao family was willing to auction off a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Using just one inferior Foundation Establishment Pill to suppress the Qingzhu Zhao family and further encroach on their territory was incredibly worthwhile.
Perhaps, this Foundation Establishment Pill ended up in Yan Hai's hands.
Of course, these are all guesses, without any evidence to support them.
Perhaps it's just a coincidence.
Therefore, Zhao Yang didn't continue the discussion on this issue, deciding instead to inform his elders of his speculations upon returning.
Before leaving, Jiang Heng voiced his earlier thoughts: "Brother, you're not far from the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, but you haven't yet gathered enough Foundation Establishment resources.
In that case, why don't you form a Foundation Establishment mutual aid association?"
Zhao Yang immediately became interested: "Brother, how does Foundation Establishment mutual aid work?"
Mutual aid isn't hard to understand, but human nature is selfish. Anyone with Foundation Establishment resources will be extremely protective of them; who would be willing to share them to help others?
Jiang Heng explained, "This requires you to use the name of the Qingzhu Zhao family as a guarantee of trust, along with your position as the market manager, and then find some trustworthy friends to form this mutual aid society.
Everyone will take an oath as their pledge, working together to help one person achieve Foundation Establishment. Once someone has successfully achieved Foundation Establishment and gained higher status and resources, they can then help others achieve Foundation Establishment."
Zhao Yang's eyes lit up; the more he thought about it, the more feasible the method seemed. He immediately said he would find a few friends to try it out first.
Then, after thinking for a moment, he added, "Brother, 'Foundation Establishment Mutual Aid Society' sounds a bit too straightforward and might attract attention. How about calling it 'Freemasonry'?
It perfectly captures the feeling of being on the long and uncertain path to immortality, sharing the same boat!"
Jiang Heng clapped his hands and praised, "Great name!"
The two then discussed some details
, such as what kind of oath to take to ensure members' confidentiality,
the size of the Freemasonry shouldn't be too large, and how resources should be allocated.
After Zhao Yang left Qingyun Pill Workshop, Jiang Heng told Murong Lan about Murong Fu's murder.
Late at night, Aunt Lan was in low spirits. After only a short while, she didn't want to move anymore.
She lay quietly in Jiang Heng's arms and suddenly asked, "Jiang Heng, do you think the Murong family will ever rise again?"
Jiang Heng stroked the curve of Aunt Lan's waist and comforted her, "Things are unpredictable, but as long as the Murong family's bloodline is not broken, there is hope for a resurgence."
Murong Lan sighed and remained silent.
Jiang Heng didn't continue to tossing Aunt Lan around. He was thinking about the Freemasonry he had mentioned to Zhao Yang during the day.
Although it was a sudden idea, if handled well, he could use it to help him when he attempted to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
After thinking for a long time, the beauty in his arms had fallen into a deep sleep. However, her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she was worried about something.
Jiang Heng knew that it must be because of the Murong family's plight that Murong Lan was so worried.
Thinking of this, he glanced at the moon outside and secretly calculated, "There are still three days until the full moon. Then I can start refining the Moon Essence Pill
." The Moon Essence Pill is needed as a catalyst to cultivate the Moon Gathering Technique.
If he could refine this pill, he could try cultivating this method to see if it could solve Ye Muwan's health problems.
...
Three days later, near dusk, Jiang Heng entered the alchemy room.
Murong Su watched from the side.
What puzzled him was that his master used to explain and teach him alchemy techniques while refining pills.
This time, however, his master was very serious, only instructing him to watch carefully before focusing on refining pills himself.
Watching his master smoothly perform the hand seals, he suppressed his curiosity and observed attentively.
Three incense sticks later, Jiang Heng cast the pill-collecting spell, and three pills with shimmering surfaces flew out of the furnace.
Seeing the three clearly visible Dao patterns on the surface of the pills, Murong Su's eyes widened in shock.
"Three Grade 1 High-Quality Rejuvenation Pills...?!"
He had seen his master occasionally refine a Grade 1 High-Quality Pill before, but that couldn't be considered a Grade 1 High-Quality Pill refining skill.
Now, his master had actually refined three Grade 1 High-Quality Pills at the same time!
This meant that his master's pill refining skills had officially entered the Grade 1 High-Quality level!
"Congratulations, Master!" Murong Su hurriedly congratulated him.
"Alright, I still need to continue refining pills. You stand guard outside and don't allow anyone to come in and disturb us." Jiang Heng nodded slightly, but his expression remained serious, without any relaxation.
The pill refining just now, and even the continuous pill refining over the past few months, was like the padding before strengthening a weapon in a game in his previous life—all to find the feel and improve the success rate of pill refining now!
Although Murong Su was curious about what pills his master would continue refining, he didn't ask without permission. He simply respectfully left the pill refining room and stood guard outside without saying a word.
Murong Lan saw this and asked, "Su'er, why are you standing outside? Your master hasn't finished refining pills yet?"
Murong Su, unusually flustered, excitedly replied, "Aunt, Master has simultaneously refined three first-grade high-level Rejuvenation Pills!"
Murong Lan was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.
Of course, she knew what this meant!
So, her joy was mixed with shock.
Even her late husband, who had considerable talent in alchemy, had taken nearly thirty years to reach the first-grade high-level.
Jiang Heng, on the other hand, had only taken ten!
At this moment, Murong Su reminded her, "Aunt, Master seems to be refining some important pills and asked me to guard outside."
Murong Lan nodded approvingly, also curious about what her incredibly talented lover was going to refine.
"Moonlight Tears..."
She suddenly looked up at the sky and saw a round, bright moon hanging obliquely in the night sky, slowly moving towards the center.
Recalling what Qiao Yuan, the Foundation Establishment cultivator, had said during the auction—that Moonlight Tears were suitable for cultivators of the Yin-Cold Path and could be used in medicine—
Murong Lan's heart pounded with anticipation.
"Refining pills on the night of the full moon... could it really be to cure Wan'er's illness?"
...
Inside the alchemy room, Jiang Heng first swallowed a newly refined Spirit Recovery Pill to replenish the mana he had consumed during the refining process.
Then he held another pill in his mouth, not refining it.
This cautious approach was to prevent his mana from being depleted too quickly during the next pill refining, thus affecting the success rate.
"It must succeed on the first try!" Jiang Heng's gaze was firm, his mind as calm as still water.
Even with the indirect help of the Qiao family of Yunxi, it had taken him so long to collect Moonlight Tears this time.
If he didn't refine the Moon Essence Pill, he didn't know when he would find Moonlight Tears again.
Therefore, he had to succeed. He
then started refining the pills again.
Jiang Heng first put the prepared Moonlight Tears, Arisaema, Snow Lotus, and Hundred-Year Pearl into the furnace one by one.
Then, instead of using a more advanced fire control technique, he used his most proficient Flame Dividing Technique to begin the process of condensing liquid and crystal.
At this moment, he only sought stability, not efficiency.
...
The bright moon, like a silver plate, gradually climbed to the center of the night sky.
The bright moonlight shone down, making the Xiaoyuan Mountain market even more tranquil under the night sky.
No one noticed that the moonlight that fell was slightly more abundant.
It passed straight through the second-tier defensive array of the market and arrived above the alchemy room of Qingyun Pill Workshop.
Then, like specks of firefly light, it disappeared into the alchemy room.
This scene shocked Murong Lan and Murong Su, who were nearby.
Inside the alchemy room,
Jiang Heng had just cast the pill-collecting incantation and was about to open the furnace to collect the pill when he saw the moonlight, like specks of firefly light, enveloping the entire furnace.
"Haha, with the help of moonlight, it's time to complete the pill!"
Buzz!
The furnace trembled slightly, and a jade-green pill with four Dao patterns on its surface flew out.