OBS Chapter 1384 Dust-Subduing Pill
Chapter 1384 Dust-Subduing Pill
Chapter 1384 Dust-Subduing Pill
The morning mist over the Chaotic Star Sea had not yet dissipated when a colossal, jet-black ship hovered above the azure waves. Two streaks of light flashed from the bow, and Qin Hao, piloting the Ink Dragon Boat, hovered alongside Han Li on the sea surface.
The sea breeze, carrying a salty, fishy smell, swept over us, and the distant sea surface shimmered with a faint purple hue, a stark contrast to the blue sky and white clouds of the south.
Looking down at the surging black waves, Han Li couldn't help but sigh, "I never expected that the customs of the Chaotic Star Sea are so different from those of Tiannan. There are even three major natural disasters: heavenly winds, demonic beasts, and ghostly mists. If one is not careful, even a Golden Core cultivator may be in danger of dying. It is truly a place where every step is fraught with danger, far beyond what Tiannan can compare to."
Qin Hao took out a yellowed nautical chart from his storage bag. When he unfolded it, the locations of the islands were marked in red ink. The largest island was circled and marked with the words "Kui Xing Island" next to it.
"The boatman said that Kui Xing Island is the largest cultivation island in this area. It is not only guarded by Core Formation cultivators, but also has a well-established trading market. Let's go there to gather information first, and then make further plans after we have a deeper understanding of the power distribution and resource situation in the Chaotic Star Sea."
Han Li stepped forward, looked at the dense markings on the nautical chart, and nodded, saying, "Senior Brother's thinking is indeed thorough. We will follow Senior Brother's suggestion."
Without another word, the two propelled their escape lights toward Kui Xing Island. The Mo Long Boat moved with incredible speed, its pale ink-colored light leaving a trail of afterimages on the sea.
Two days later, a huge island came into view—Kui Xing Island’s outline resembled a soaring eagle, with white sand beaches surrounding its edges and rolling green mountains in the center. Most striking was a city built entirely of white stone, gleaming brightly in the sunlight.
As they approached the island, Qin Hao and Han Li discovered that the docks of Kui Xing Island were far more bustling than they had imagined. Hundreds of massive ships of varying sizes were moored along the shore, some with flame patterns engraved on their hulls, others with lightning patterns, clearly belonging to different factions. The docks were teeming with people, including cultivators in Taoist robes and ordinary people in coarse cloth clothes. The cultivators were either discussing magical artifacts and elixirs or hawking their wares for spiritual herbs, while the ordinary people were busy unloading goods, creating a vibrant scene.
As soon as the two landed and stood still, a middle-aged cultivator wearing a gray robe and sporting a small mustache quickly came to greet them.
This person's cultivation level was around the eighth or ninth level of the Qi Refining stage. He wore a respectful yet smooth smile and bowed deeply to Qin Hao and Han Li: "This junior greets the two seniors! May I ask whether you two seniors intend to stay and cultivate permanently on Kui Xing Island, or just stop over for a while?"
Qin Hao didn't want to waste any more words, so he simply took out a heavy little bag from his storage pouch and tossed it over. The bag's opening was slightly ajar, revealing the glittering low-grade spirit stones inside.
"I'll settle here temporarily and then consider whether to stay long-term once I'm familiar with the environment."
The middle-aged cultivator took the spirit stone bag, weighed it in his hand, and his smile widened, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes. Without hesitation, he took out two palm-sized, translucent white jade tokens from his robes and asked with a beaming smile, "That's the rule. Please tell me your name, senior, so that I can register you."
"Zhang Tie!"
"Han Li!"
The middle-aged cultivator responded, a faint green spiritual light emanating from his fingertips as he gently engraved on the jade tablet.
In a short while, two strange symbols composed of spiritual light appeared on the surface of the jade token, clearly representing the identities of "Zhang Tie" and "Han Li." He respectfully presented the jade token with both hands: "Please keep this token safe, seniors. With this token, you two can stay on Kui Xing Island for five years. During this period, whether you rent a cave dwelling rich in spiritual energy on the island for cultivation or encounter trouble while trading with others, you will be protected by the rules established by the three island lords of Kui Xing Island, and no one will dare to easily bully you."
"Thank you for your trouble." Qin Hao took the jade token, glanced at it, and put it into his pocket. Han Li also put away his token in the same way.
"You two are both very busy, so I won't bother you any longer. Farewell." The middle-aged cultivator bowed again tactfully, then turned and disappeared into the crowd at the dock.
Qin Hao and Han Li exchanged a glance, nodded in tacit agreement, and stepped off the stone platform at the dock, heading towards the inland part of the island along the wide main road of the dock.
Kui Xing Island is actually protected by a flight restriction, prohibiting cultivators from flying freely over the island's cities. As a result, many animal-drawn carts pulled by docile monsters that resemble neither sheep nor oxen are parked at the dock area.
For a mere low-grade spirit stone, one could travel by beast-drawn carriage between the dock and the island's central city. Following local custom, Qin Hao casually hailed an empty carriage and boarded with Han Li. With a soft shout from the driver, the carriage began its smooth yet swift journey through the streets.
The wheels rumbled and rolled for a full half-day before a magnificent city finally came into view.
The city walls, reaching heights of several tens of feet, are entirely constructed from massive, pure white stones, gleaming with a warm luster under the sunlight, appearing both sturdy and sacred. Above the city gate are three powerful characters: "Kui Xing City."
At the city gate, guards in uniform leather armor stopped the beast-drawn cart for inspection. One of the guards held a cylindrical magical artifact and waved it at Qin Hao and Han Li respectively. The crystal embedded at the top of the cylindrical artifact glowed a soft blue light as it approached the two.
Upon seeing this, the guards immediately adopted an even more respectful expression and bowed deeply to Qin Hao and Han Li: "So you are Immortal Masters at the Foundation Establishment stage. We apologize for our neglect. Please enter the city, Immortal Masters!"
Upon entering the city, a bustling and prosperous atmosphere immediately greets you. The wide streets are paved with the same white stones, lined with shops on both sides, and teeming with pedestrians. Besides ordinary people, you can also see many cultivators dressed in various colored robes moving about among them.
"Stop!" Qin Hao signaled the beast-drawn carriage to stop before a particularly wide white stone avenue, where the spiritual energy was noticeably richer. This was Tiandu Street, the core area specially designated by Kui Xing City for cultivators.
The streets were lined with tall and imposing buildings, with magnificent signs such as "Shan Hai Ge", "Wan Bao Lou", "Dan Ding Xuan" and "Bai Lian Tang" hanging on them. They shone with an aura of spiritual energy, clearly indicating that they were all powerful and influential businesses.
Looking at the bustling scene before him, Han Li's eyes gleamed. After a moment's thought, he said to Qin Hao, "Senior Brother, there are many shops and a lot of information here. Why don't we split up and explore these shops? First, see if we can find anything we need, and second, we can also gather some information about Kui Xing Island and the Chaotic Star Sea. We'll meet up here again in two hours."
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao's lips curled into a barely perceptible knowing smile. This Han Paopao was becoming increasingly cautious, even splitting up his intelligence gathering operations to avoid attracting attention. He nodded in agreement, "Excellent! Junior Brother's method is very good. We'll meet here in two hours."
The two then parted ways. Qin Hao didn't linger and headed straight for the largest businesses.
His goal was clear: to collect all kinds of books. Upon entering places like "Shan Hai Ge" and "Wan Bao Lou," he spared no expense with spirit stones, sweeping away almost all the jade slips and books openly sold in the shops, covering topics such as the geography, history, power, local customs, monster illustrations, and common cultivation techniques of the Chaotic Star Sea, filling several storage bags.
After this round of purchases, Qin Hao was secretly amazed. The cultivation world of the Chaotic Star Sea was indeed far more open and resourceful than that of Tiannan. The number of books publicly available by just one trading company on Kui Xing Island was more than double the total number of books publicly available by Qingxu Sect and Huangfeng Valley!
What surprised him even more was that many of the texts directly involved cultivation methods and secret techniques for the Golden Core stage, and even some basic formations, weapon crafting, and alchemy insights were more systematic and in-depth. These were absolute core secrets of the seven major sects in Tiannan, and no one but an elder of the sect would have any access to them.
However, when Qin Hao asked him about the three most urgently needed treasures for Core Formation—"Heavenly Fire Liquid," "Snow Spirit Water," and "Dust-Subduing Pill"—the managers of the various shops all looked troubled.
These items are either currently out of stock or are considered rare and require a specific release time, making them unavailable for immediate purchase.
However, after witnessing Qin Hao's generosity, these shrewd merchants became exceptionally enthusiastic, patting their chests and guaranteeing that they would immediately notify him once their businesses had stock.
Two hours passed in the blink of an eye. Qin Hao and Han Li met at the entrance of Tiandu Street on time. The two found a quiet teahouse for cultivators to rest in, and sat facing each other in a private seat by the window on the second floor, each ordering a pot of spiritual tea containing a faint spiritual energy.
Han Li spoke first, saying, "Senior Brother, this reconnaissance has been quite fruitful. I didn't expect that Kui Xing Island would have three Core Formation stage island lords! We still know very little about the overall situation in the Chaotic Star Sea and the open and covert struggles between these overseas immortal islands. In my opinion, why don't we settle down on Kui Xing Island for now? We can improve our cultivation while gradually gathering intelligence, and make long-term plans once everything becomes clearer?"
Qin Hao picked up the spirit tea and took a sip, nodding in agreement: "Junior Brother Han's words are exactly what I was thinking. It's best to be cautious, and that's exactly what I was planning to do as well. The spiritual energy here is abundant, and it's much easier to obtain resources than at sea, so it's indeed a good place to settle down."
With their plans settled, the two set off for the "Ascending Immortal Pavilion," a place specifically responsible for managing the rental of cave dwellings.
Inside the Ascension Pavilion, a middle-aged deacon in the early stages of Foundation Establishment greeted them and showed them a huge sand table. The sand table projected a three-dimensional image of Kui Xing Island and its affiliated islands, with the locations of available cave dwellings marked on it, and different colors distinguishing the concentration of spiritual energy, the size of the area, and the rental price.
Han Li's gaze swept across the sand table, and almost without hesitation, he pointed to a small, adjacent island called "Xiao Huan Island" outside Kui Xing Island. This island was remote, and its spiritual energy concentration was among the lowest of all the cave dwellings, marked as "Level One Spiritual Energy." Upon seeing this, the middle-aged steward's eyes flashed with surprise, but he still dutifully explained, "Senior, are you sure you want to choose Xiao Huan Island? The spiritual energy here is indeed... rather thin."
Han Li remained calm: "It's alright. This place is quiet and secluded, just what I wanted."
For him, cultivation speed depends 99% on pills, and the concentration of spiritual energy has a negligible impact; rather, seclusion and safety are more important.
Qin Hao's choice was completely different. He carefully searched the sand table representing the main island area, and finally his gaze fell on a cave dwelling marked halfway up the main peak of the Qingyun Mountains, "Tianzhu Peak." The spiritual energy here was marked as "Level Four (Superior)," making it a top-tier cave dwelling second only to the core areas where the island lords resided. Naturally, the rent was considerable, requiring ten low-grade spirit stones per year!
Upon seeing this, the middle-aged deacon's smile widened. After consuming the "Heaven-Mending Pill," Qin Hao's spiritual root aptitude was already infinitely close to that of a dual spiritual root. The denser the spiritual energy, the more efficient he would be in cultivating the "Three Revolutions Replenishing Yuan Technique." The spirit stones he spent were absolutely worthwhile.
But this also made him sigh inwardly: No wonder Kui Xing Island can easily support three Core Formation cultivators; the huge profits from renting out these cave dwellings alone are astonishing.
After paying five years' rent in exchange for two tokens that could unlock the cave's restrictions, Qin Hao and Han Li left the Ascension Pavilion together.
At the fork in the road leading to Tianzhu Peak of Qingyun Mountain and Xiaohuan Island Wharf, Qin Hao stopped and said, "Junior Brother Han, our cave dwellings are in different directions, so let's part ways here. Let's each seize the time to cultivate and strive to form our cores as soon as possible."
Han Li solemnly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Take care, Senior Brother! With your talent and accumulated experience, when we meet again, you may already be a Core Formation True Person. I congratulate you in advance!"
Upon hearing Han Li mention the words "Core Formation," Qin Hao's heart suddenly stirred, and he remembered something.
He gently patted his storage bag, and a tightly sealed jade box exuding a faint bloody scent and a jade slip containing information appeared in his hand. He handed the two items to Han Li: "Junior Brother's parting words have reminded me. This item is called 'Blood Coagulation Five Elements Pill,' along with a record of its detailed usage. I think it might be of some use to you, Junior Brother."
Han Li paused slightly, accepting the jade box and jade slip with a hint of doubt. He first placed the jade slip against his forehead, probing it with his divine sense. As information flooded in, his expression changed several times, from curiosity to surprise, then to solemnity, finally settling into a deep sigh: "The person who created this 'Demon Core Technique' is truly a genius! To be able to devise such a heaven-defying method to change one's fate... Unfortunately, this method ultimately takes a shortcut. Once used, one will be bound by the power of this demon core for life, and one's cultivation will be forever stuck at the Core Formation stage, unable to advance an inch further."
Qin Hao's lips curled into a playful smile as he looked directly at Han Li: "So, Junior Brother Han, tell me. This pill, do you... want it or not?"
A look of struggle instantly appeared on Han Li's face. The hope of forming a core! For him, with his four spiritual roots and knowing that his chances of forming a core were extremely slim, the temptation was simply too great.
Although this method has obvious flaws and cuts off the future path to immortality, if even the Golden Core cannot be formed, how can one talk about the Great Dao of the Nascent Soul? In the end, it is a visible and tangible "fallback"!
Han Li's eyes flickered, a mixture of hesitation, resentment, and longing. Finally, he gritted his teeth: "Although...it has great flaws, it is still a path that promises to help me form my core. With my inferior spiritual root aptitude, without a tremendous stroke of luck, my hope of forming my core is as faint as a shooting star... This 'Blood Condensation Five Elements Pill'...is Senior Brother truly willing to part with it?"
Qin Hao's expression turned serious, and his smile vanished: "Junior Brother Han has asked for it, of course. However, this 'Blood Condensation Five Elements Pill' was not easily obtained. It was a spoil of war that I painstakingly seized from a demonic cultivator at the Pseudo-Core Formation stage after expending considerable effort..."
"How about this, junior brother, give me another twenty bottles of Qi-stabilizing pills and twenty bottles of Spirit-gathering pills, and they will all be yours. What do you say?"
This requirement is quite high. Both the Solidifying Essence Pill and the Gathering Spirit Pill are excellent pills for improving cultivation during the Foundation Establishment stage, and they are indispensable, especially for Qin Hao, who needs to disperse his cultivation three times to rebuild his cultivation in preparation for the "Three Revolutions Rejuvenation Technique".
Although you won't encounter any more bottlenecks in your cultivation level after starting over, the total amount of mana you need to accumulate each time you start over is the same as the first time you start cultivating, and the amount of spiritual energy required is enormous.
Without a continuous supply of large quantities of elixirs, relying solely on absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth would waste at least several decades of life!
As expected, Han Li frowned upon hearing this condition and fell into a longer silence, clearly calculating the costs and benefits. After a while, he finally raised his head, his face showing a hint of pain and helplessness: "Senior Brother... it's not that I'm stingy. It's just that the number of spiritual herbs needed for twenty bottles of Qi-Strengthening Pills and twenty bottles of Spirit-Gathering Pills is enormous, and I don't currently have enough in reserves. Could... could you deliver ten bottles of each first? I'll refine a new batch of the rest in two years and personally deliver them to your cave."
"No problem!" Qin Hao agreed readily and decisively.
The two sides reached an agreement. Han Li immediately took out ten white jade bottles containing Qi-stabilizing pills and ten green jade bottles containing Qi-gathering pills from his storage bag and carefully handed them to Qin Hao.
Qin Hao solemnly handed the jade box containing the Blood Coagulation Five Elements Pill to Han Li. The two completed this transaction, which was crucial to their respective futures.
Han Li carefully put away the jade box, feeling a sense of relief mixed with a hint of urgency. He stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother! Without further ado, I will return to Little Huan Island and strive to refine the remaining pills as soon as possible. Farewell!"
"Take care, junior brother." Qin Hao watched Han Li's figure disappear quickly at the end of the street, then without lingering, he activated his escape light and flew straight to Tianzhu Peak of Qingyun Mountain.
Using the cave dwelling token in his hand, Qin Hao successfully opened the restrictions on the cave dwelling halfway up Tianzhu Peak, which was shrouded in clouds and mist.
The interior of the cave is not particularly spacious, but the layout is refined, with a training room, alchemy room, living room, and meditation room all available. The stone walls are smooth, clearly having been carefully carved and polished.
Rich spiritual energy from heaven and earth seeped out from the earth veins deep within the cave, and every breath felt refreshing.
Qin Hao didn't rest for a moment; his first priority was to ensure the safety of the cave. He quickly took out the array flags and array plates that he had already refined, and skillfully set up his most proficient "Inverted Five Elements Array" at key locations such as the entrance to the cave and the training room.
Instantly, an invisible wave enveloped the entire cave, isolating it from the outside world.
Having done all this, Qin Hao walked to the futon in the center of the training room and sat down cross-legged. His eyes were filled with determination and anticipation as he murmured to himself, "The Three Revolutions Rejuvenating Technique... it's time!"
He took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and focused his mind on his dantian, beginning to circulate the pure and abundant magical power within his body according to the "Three Revolutions Rejuvenation Technique." His first attempt at rebuilding his cultivation had officially begun!
Time flies, the years are like a shuttle.
The first time I had to rebuild my skills took the longest, a full two and a half years.
The second time I resumed training, I had the experience from the first time, and with a deeper understanding of the techniques, I shortened the training time to two years.
The last and third time he rebuilt his skills, he was even more efficient and completed the task in just one and a half years!
Six years passed in almost uninterrupted seclusion and arduous practice.
As the heavy stone door of the cave slowly opened again, Qin Hao stepped out. At this moment, his aura was restrained yet profound, his magical power surging yet incredibly refined, having reached the Pseudo-Core stage! He was only one step away from condensing his Golden Core!
More importantly, after undergoing the extreme tempering of the "Three Revolutions Rejuvenation Technique" through three rounds of dissipation and reconstruction, the purity of his magical power far surpasses that of other cultivators of the same level. The resilience and width of his meridians have also been incredibly expanded and strengthened. Even his physical body has become more powerful under the nourishment of the abundant magical power.
At this moment, although Qin Hao's cultivation level is still at the False Core stage, his foundation and depth far surpass those of ordinary False Core cultivators.
Qin Hao originally planned to cultivate the Great Evolution Technique to the fourth level in one go. However, the difficulty of cultivating the Great Evolution Technique far exceeded his expectations. The further he progressed, the more pain and danger accompanied each breakthrough. During his seclusion, relying on his strong willpower and the assistance of his AI, he only managed to cultivate the Great Evolution Technique to the peak of the third level, always falling short of the fourth level.
Just as he was considering whether to continue his forced attempt to break through to the fourth level of the "Great Evolution Technique", a transmission talisman from Ning Haichao, the manager of the "Mountain and Sea Pavilion" on Tiandu Street, pierced through the cave's restrictions and landed in front of him, like a stone thrown into a calm lake.
Ning Haichao's voice, tinged with excitement, came through the transmission talisman: "Fellow Daoist Zhang! Great news! The once-in-a-decade 'Star Sea Auction' of Kuixing Island will be held in two days. According to reliable sources, the 'Dust-Clearing Pill' has appeared in the auction catalog! I urge you to emerge from seclusion as soon as possible and make preparations!"
"Dust-Subduing Pill!" Qin Hao's eyes flashed with a sharp light!
Inside the private room of Shanhaige on Tiandu Street.
Ning Haichao personally poured Qin Hao a cup of spiritual tea, beaming with smiles: "Fellow Daoist Zhang is indeed punctual! Please have a seat! Someone, bring some good tea!"
Qin Hao sat down and, without any pleasantries, went straight to the point, his gaze fixed intently on Ning Haichao: "Fellow Daoist Ning, you mentioned in your transmission talisman that a 'Dust-Clearing Pill' would definitely appear at this auction. Is the source of this information absolutely reliable? This matter is of great importance, so please speak frankly, Fellow Daoist."
Ning Haichao sensed the unfathomable aura emanating from Qin Hao, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes. His smile widened, filled with heartfelt admiration: "It's been a few years since I last saw you, Fellow Daoist Zhang, your cultivation has progressed so remarkably! You're only a hair's breadth away from the Great Dao of Core Formation. Your aura is so refined and profound, truly something I've never seen before! Congratulations!"
He paused, then said with absolute certainty, "The news about the 'Dust-Clearing Pill' is absolutely true! This auction is a major event for Kui Xing Island in the past ten years. The list of auction items has already been circulating among the top executives of major businesses, and the words 'Dust-Clearing Pill' are clearly listed on the list. There is absolutely no mistake!"
He changed the subject, sighing with a hint of regret, "Alas, it's a pity that Fellow Daoist Zhang is unwilling to condescend to join our Six-Linked Palace. If you were a member of our Six-Linked Palace, let alone a single 'Dust-Clearing Pill,' even 'Heavenly Fire Liquid' and 'Snow Spirit Water' would be readily available to you, helping you achieve your goal in one fell swoop! Why would you have to compete with others at an auction like this now..."
Qin Hao waved his hand, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable distance: "I appreciate Fellow Daoist Ning's kindness. However, I am used to being free and unrestrained, and I am not used to being constrained. There is no need to mention this matter again. Fellow Daoist, please tell me the specific details of this auction."
Seeing this, Ning Haichao could only sigh helplessly. Knowing that things were hopeless, he abandoned his recruitment efforts and resumed his businessman's demeanor: "Since that's the case, then I won't say any more. This 'Star Sea Auction' is no ordinary event; it's the grandest trading event held on Kui Xing Island once every ten years, gathering treasures from all directions. At the last auction, two finished magic weapons even appeared, causing several Core Formation seniors to fight each other! As for rare materials such as the inner cores of level five and six demon beasts, deep-sea black iron, and star sand, they are abundant..."
Qin Hao's heart stirred slightly: "Oh? When exactly will the auction begin?"
"It will begin precisely the day after tomorrow! At noon, at the 'Star Sea Hall' in the center of Tiandu Street!" Ning Haichao explained, "It is precisely because I considered that the auction items are precious and the bidding will inevitably be fierce, and that time is needed to raise spirit stones or equivalent items, that I sent a message to Fellow Daoist Zhang two days in advance, so that Fellow Daoist could have some time to prepare and not be caught off guard at the last minute."
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Two days in advance? The timing was truly "perfect." They called it letting him prepare, but in reality, they were taking advantage of his urgent need for the "Dust-Clearing Pill" and his limited time to gather spirit stones, hoping to squeeze some more good stuff out of him. No merchant is honest; this ironclad rule applies equally to the cultivation world.
"Fellow Daoist Ning is right," Qin Hao said calmly, following the other's words. "Time is indeed a bit tight, and we should prepare some spirit stones. I happen to have a few top-tier magic artifacts that I acquired in my early years but no longer need. They're just gathering dust. Why don't I ask Fellow Daoist Ning to appraise them and see how many spirit stones they can be exchanged for? Consider it a small contribution to the auction." With that, he waved his hand, and several shimmering magic artifacts appeared out of thin air on the table.
Two items stand out most prominently: a Qingning Mirror shimmering with a hazy blue light, and a crystal ball magical artifact belonging to Duobaonu. Both are exquisite examples of top-tier magical artifacts, possessing extraordinary power. There are also two other ordinary top-tier magical artifacts of slightly lower quality.
When Ning Haichao saw these magical artifacts, especially the Qingning Mirror and the crystal ball, his eyes lit up and his face beamed with smiles: "Wow, Fellow Daoist Zhang is truly exceptional! These magical artifacts are all of excellent quality, especially this precious mirror and the crystal ball, which are the finest of the fine!"
He picked up each magical artifact and examined it carefully, infusing it with his magical power to test its quality. After a moment's thought, he said, "How about this? Fellow Daoist Zhang is so generous, I can't be stingy either. I'll take all of these magical artifacts and give you three thousand low-grade spirit stones in total! Do you think this price is fair?"
Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "The price is reasonable. Let's do as Fellow Daoist Ning suggests."
The transaction was completed quickly. Qin Hao accepted the spirit stones and did not linger in Tiandu Street. He first went to the "Ascending Immortal Pavilion" to pay off the five years' worth of rent owed for his cave dwelling during his six years of seclusion.
Kui Xing Island is quite humane in this regard; as long as the rent is paid on time, they won't forcibly take back the cave dwelling, which makes Qin Hao quite satisfied. This time, he even prepaid the rent for the next ten years to avoid being disturbed by trivial matters when he tries to break through to the Core Formation stage.
Afterwards, Qin Hao returned to his cave at Tianzhu Peak. He didn't rest immediately, but instead took out stacks of blank talisman paper and talisman ink prepared from the essence blood of demonic beasts.
At auctions, spirit stones are the most direct form of currency, but talismans, especially powerful mid-level talismans, are also a form of hard currency in the cultivation world of the Chaotic Star Sea! If you encounter a rare treasure you desire at an auction but don't have enough spirit stones, these talismans are the best bargaining chips!
For two days, Qin Hao immersed himself in talisman making, and one after another, talismans imbued with powerful spiritual energy took shape under his brush. Among them were improved versions of powerful attack talismans such as the "Golden Blade Storm Talisman" and the "Exploding Flame Talisman." His talisman-making skills had long since reached perfection.
Two days later, the day for the "Xinghai Auction" to begin finally arrived.
The entire Tiandu Street was bustling with activity and filled with lively chatter. Thousands of cultivators converged from all directions, the flow of people surging like a tide towards the magnificent Star Sea Palace, a building in the center of the street shaped like a giant conch shell, its entire body shimmering with starlight. Qi Refining cultivators were shoulder to shoulder, Foundation Establishment cultivators were everywhere, and occasionally one could even sense powerful auras sweeping through the air and flying directly into the upper-level private rooms—those belonged to the high-ranking Core Formation cultivators. The grand scale of this gathering of cultivators, the sheer spectacle of it all, secretly astonished Qin Hao and Han Li, who were new to the place.
"Senior brother, it's truly unimaginable that so many fellow cultivators could gather on this island! Such a sight is probably rare even in Tiannan," Han Li said sincerely, looking at the sea of heads before him.
Qin Hao's gaze swept across the crowd, and he frowned slightly: "With so many people, the bidding will inevitably be fierce. The prices of the items at today's auction will probably far exceed those of usual. Especially that 'Dust-Clearing Pill,' it's likely to fetch an astronomical price."
As the two were talking, they arrived at the entrance of the Star Sea Palace.
A graceful and charming female cultivator dressed in light gauze was already waiting there. Her cultivation was at the peak of the Qi Refining stage. Upon seeing the spiritual pressure emanating from Qin Hao and his companion, who were at the late Foundation Establishment stage and the Pseudo Core stage, she immediately greeted them respectfully with a charming smile: "Seniors, please follow me upstairs."
She led the two directly up the spiraling jade steps to the second floor instead of lingering in the lobby on the first floor.
The second floor is a huge circular hall surrounding the auction stage in the center, furnished with hundreds of comfortable spirit wood chairs. At this moment, most of them are already full, all of them Foundation Establishment cultivators! Some are talking in hushed tones, while others are resting with their eyes closed, creating a solemn yet expectant atmosphere.
The female cultivator led the two to two spots with excellent views and then respectfully withdrew. Qin Hao looked up and saw that the third floor was surrounded by a ring of luxurious private rooms, only ten in number. At this moment, several of these rooms were illuminated with light screens that blocked divine sense detection. The female cultivator had mentioned that these were private rooms reserved for Core Formation stage seniors, but they had never been full in previous years.
Shortly after the two took their seats, a melodious and clear bell rang, and the light in the entire Star Sea Palace dimmed slightly, drawing all attention to the jade-paved auction stage in the center. A sprightly, white-haired old man in a magnificent brocade robe slowly ascended the stage; he was the host of this auction.
"Welcome, fellow Daoists, to this Star Sea Auction! I am Qian Feng, the head of Wanbao Tower, and I am honored to preside over this auction. I presume you are all already aware of the rules: the highest bidder wins. Those who do not have enough spirit stones may offer materials, magical artifacts, talismans, or pills of equivalent value as payment, which will be appraised on the spot by the temple's staff. Now, let the auction begin!" Qian Feng's voice was loud and clear, resounding throughout the entire hall.
"First item for auction: One inner core of a level 5 demon beast, the 'Xuan-Turtle Beast'! This beast is skilled in water-based defensive demonic arts, and its inner core contains pure water elemental power, making it an excellent material for refining water-based magical treasures, enhancing water-attribute cultivation techniques, or crafting special pills! Starting price is 1,500 spirit stones, with each bid increment no less than 100 spirit stones!"
As soon as Qian Feng finished speaking, the bidding began in waves:
"One thousand six hundred spiritual stones!"
"One thousand seven!"
"One thousand eight hundred spirit stones!"
...In the end, this level-five demon core was auctioned off to a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator who urgently needed to refine a water-type magic weapon for a high price of 2,400 spirit stones, attracting the attention of many people.
"Second item: A piece of thousand-year-old 'Cold Ironwood' from the deep sea! This wood was formed after being submerged in a cold spring for thousands of years. It is harder than refined steel and contains an inner chill, making it an excellent main material for refining ice-attribute flying swords and magical treasures! Starting price: two thousand spirit stones!"
The bidding resumed fiercely, and the price quickly climbed to three thousand spirit stones.
"The third item: a fragment of the ancient cultivator's magical artifact, the 'Mountain Suppressing Seal'! Although only a fragment remains, its runes are profound, its material is unique, and it contains a trace of earth-elemental law power, making it extremely valuable for research. It may be able to be integrated into other earth-elemental magical artifacts to enhance its power! Starting price: three thousand spirit stones!"
The item's appearance greatly increased its appeal, attracting even several veteran late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators on the second floor with profound auras to participate, causing the price to soar to 5,800 spirit stones before finally being sold.
"Fourth item: A pair of rare spirit beast 'Fire Cloud Sparrow' eggs! Adult Fire Cloud Sparrows possess strength comparable to late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, are extremely fast, and their 'Fire Cloud Flames' are quite powerful. They are excellent spirit pets for guarding homes and assisting in battle! Starting price: 2,500 spirit stones!"
Competition for the spirit beast eggs was equally fierce, especially among some family cultivators and those who enjoyed raising spirit beasts. In the end, a female cultivator won the bid for four thousand spirit stones.
...One after another, rare and precious items were snapped up in a flurry of bidding, creating an incredibly lively atmosphere. The sounds of bidding, exclamations of surprise, and sighs of regret mingled together, pushing the auction to one climax after another. The elderly Qian Feng, with his silver tongue, constantly stirred up the atmosphere, and the prices repeatedly exceeded the reserve price by nearly double.
Qin Hao remained calm throughout, keeping his eyes down and his mind focused. His goal was extremely clear: aside from the items needed for Core Formation, he would never easily waste his precious "bullets" unless a rare treasure appeared that would truly excite him.
Han Li, on the other hand, decisively made a move when several jade slips containing unique pill formulas from the Chaotic Star Sea were being auctioned, and won two of them in succession.
Finally, after more than a dozen items were snapped up by the enthusiastic cultivators, auctioneer Qian Feng's expression became even more solemn. He carefully brought out a jade bottle made of warm jade, its surface covered with mysterious sealing runes, and the faint, refreshing medicinal fragrance still managed to escape.
"Fellow Daoists, please be quiet!" Qian Feng's voice carried a hint of excitement: "The next item for auction is of unparalleled value to all the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators present! It is one of the three treasures of Core Formation—the 'Dust-Clearing Pill'! This pill can greatly improve the quality of the Golden Core during its formation, increasing the chances of success! The starting price is three thousand low-grade spirit stones! Each bid must be at least one hundred spirit stones higher! The bidding will now begin!"
The moment the words "Dust-Clearing Pill" were uttered, the entire second-floor hall fell silent for a moment, followed by the clear sound of heavy breathing. Countless burning gazes were fixed on the small jade bottle.
"Three thousand five hundred spirit stones!" A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in the front row immediately shouted, adding five hundred more!
Three thousand eight hundred!
"four thousand!"
"Four thousand two hundred!"
...The price soared like a runaway horse, breaking through the five thousand mark in less than ten breaths! The number of cultivators bidding also decreased sharply, leaving only seven or eight wealthy or influential cultivators still gritting their teeth and persevering.
When the price was called up to 5,100 spirit stones by a mysterious person in a private room, Qin Hao, who had been silent all along, finally made a move.
"Six thousand spirit stones."
Wow——!
The entire audience erupted in uproar! Nine hundred spirit stones added to the price in one go! That's some nerve!
Auctioneer Qian Feng was also stunned for a moment, then excitedly shouted, "Six thousand spirit stones! This fellow Daoist has bid six thousand spirit stones! Six thousand spirit stones for the first time! 'Dust-Clearing Pill'! Is there any fellow Daoist who will bid higher?"
The mysterious person in the private room remained silent for a moment, and ultimately did not raise the sign again.
"Fellow Daoist who bid 5,100 spirit stones? Would you like to raise the price?...6,000 spirit stones, second time!"
In another location, an elderly man with white hair and beard struggled for a moment, then finally shook his head in despair.
"Six thousand spirit stones, third time! Sold!" Qian Feng slammed the gavel down, making a crisp sound. "Congratulations to this fellow Daoist on successfully bidding for the 'Dust-Clearing Pill'!"
The dust settled. Han Li sat to the side, watching Qin Hao's calm and expressionless face, his lips twitching slightly. He, too, urgently needed the "Dust-Clearing Pill," but this price… He had inquired about the market price in the Chaotic Star Sea beforehand. While the "Dust-Clearing Pill" was precious, it wasn't a top-grade product, and its normal market price fluctuated around four thousand spirit stones. Six thousand spirit stones—this premium was simply too high! Far exceeding his expectations and financial resources.
The auction continued, and the items became increasingly valuable. The most eye-catching item was a "Feather Fan Magic Treasure"—a mid-grade magic treasure capable of unleashing wind blade attacks and even summoning hurricanes. Its starting price was 30,000 spirit stones.
This magical artifact attracted fierce competition from Core Formation cultivators. Bidding continued to rise from the private rooms on the third floor. In the end, it was won by the deputy island master of Kui Xing Island for 60,000 spirit stones, which drew gasps of amazement from the Foundation Establishment cultivators below the stage—the wealth of Core Formation cultivators was indeed beyond the reach of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
After the auction, Han Li, holding the pill formula he had won, said to Qin Hao, "Senior Brother, I'm going back to my cave to cultivate in seclusion now. I hope to hear good news about your Core Formation next time we meet."
Qin Hao nodded: "You should also be careful, and don't be impatient when it comes to cultivation."
Han Li bowed in farewell and turned to leave the Treasure Pavilion. Just as Qin Hao was about to leave, a voice called out, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, please wait!"
Qin Hao turned around and saw Ning Haichao walking quickly towards him with a smile on his face: "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Zhang, on successfully obtaining the Dust-Reducing Pill! I suppose it won't be long before I have to call you 'Senior'."
Qin Hao glanced at him sideways, his tone indifferent: "Fellow Daoist Ning, you didn't wait here just to say auspicious words, did you?"
"Fellow Daoist is indeed clever." Ning Haichao's smile faded, and he said seriously, "To be honest, I happen to have the 'Heavenly Fire Liquid' and 'Snow Spirit Water' that you urgently need."
"What does Fellow Daoist Ning want? Just say it."
“It’s very simple,” Ning Haichao said. “Heavenly Fire Liquid and Snow Spirit Water can be given to you for free, as long as you agree to one promise: if you successfully form your core, you must help my Six-Linked Palace hunt down a level 5 water-attribute demon beast and take its inner core; if you fail to form your core, these two items will be given to you by my Six-Linked Palace, and we will not take a penny from you.”
Qin Hao pondered for a moment—a level five demon beast was equivalent to the early stage of Core Formation. If he successfully formed his core, dealing with a level five demon beast would not be difficult; moreover, Heavenly Fire Liquid and Snow Spirit Water were crucial to him, so this promise wasn't unreasonable. He nodded and said, "Okay, deal."
Ning Haichao was overjoyed and quickly took out two jade bottles from his storage bag, handing them to Qin Hao: "These are Heavenly Fire Liquid and Snow Spirit Water, please keep them safe, fellow Daoist! I wish you great success and a meteoric rise to immortality!"
Qin Hao accepted the jade bottle without a word, then turned and left the Treasure Pavilion. Back in his cave, he didn't immediately attempt to break through to the Core Formation stage—a crucial matter requiring optimal preparation. He reinforced the cave's array, then sat cross-legged on the stone bed, emptying his mind and body.
Two days later, Qin Hao opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them—his body and mind had reached their peak.
He took out the Dust-Clearing Pill, tilted his head back and swallowed it. The pill melted instantly in his mouth, turning into a gentle medicinal power that slowly flowed into his dantian.