Chapter 147: Wang Huashan

After returning to Green Lotus Mountain, he searched through all the family's treasured spiritual herb texts but found no records of these three spiritual herbs.

Fang Mu opened the two wooden boxes and saw that each contained a black blade of grass about a foot long, with linear, hairless leaves.

He picked up one of the black blades of grass, examined it, and a look of delight appeared in his eyes.

Fang Mu gazed at Wang Changsheng with fervent eyes and asked, "Do you have any more Profound Yin Grass on you? The price is negotiable."

"No, just these two. I only obtained them by chance. Are these spiritual grasses called Profound Yin Grass?"

"That's right, Profound Yin Grass only grows in places with dense Yin energy. Besides these two Profound Yin Grasses, do you have any other Yin-attributed spiritual herbs? Or refining materials?"

Wang Changsheng shook his head. He was already very content to have exchanged them for six hundred jin of Dark Yin Cold Water.

He still had many Yin-attributed refining materials on him, but it was wise not to flaunt his wealth; revealing too many materials would inevitably attract unwanted attention.

"I do have two Yin Orbs that I'd like to exchange for that bundle of green silk and that piece of Azure Gold Spirit Wood."

Wang Ruyan stepped forward, took out two wooden boxes, and handed them to Fang Mu.

Fang Mu opened them and saw two black spherical beads, each the size of an egg. A look of delight appeared in his eyes as he pressed, "Fairy, do you have any other Yin-attributed materials on you? Refining materials would also work."

Wang Ruyan shook her head. "No, just these two Yin Orbs."

Fang Mu was somewhat disappointed and turned to look at the others.

The materials presented by the others did not suit Fang Mu's preferences; only a handful of cultivators could exchange with him.

"I, Fang, reside at the Gathering Immortal Inn. If anyone has Yin-attributed spiritual herbs or refining materials, you can find me there. The compensation will certainly not disappoint you."

Fang Mu cast a meaningful glance at Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, then put away his materials and departed.

After Fang Mu left, Wang Ruyan stepped forward and took out a cyan wooden box, a blue porcelain bottle, and a yellow beast hide measuring three feet long and two feet wide.

"The wooden box contains Iron Ying Sand, a middle-grade, second-tier Earth-attributed material. The porcelain bottle holds the essence blood of a middle-grade, second-tier demonic beast, the Ratwolf, which is excellent for refining artifacts, concocting pills, or crafting talismans. The beast hide is also from a middle-grade, second-tier Ratwolf. I'm looking to exchange these for spiritual wood over three hundred years old, second-tier silk, or a second-tier fire-attributed demonic core."

Zhao Ji took out a middle-grade, second-tier fire-attributed demonic core and exchanged it for the three items Wang Ruyan had presented.

When it was Wang Changsheng's turn, he took out two blue flying swords and said, "I'd like to exchange these two flying swords for water-attributed refining materials."

Wang Changsheng had obtained these two flying swords by slaying a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Since their origin was dubious, he was reluctant to use them in public; if they were recognized, it would cause trouble.

Fang Zixu exchanged a box of Blue Moon Sand and three pieces of Cold Iron for the two flying swords.

After the exchange concluded, Wang Changfeng had Wang Changxing serve dinner. Everyone ate and chatted.

More than an hour later, the meal ended, and everyone gradually departed, returning to their respective homes.

Upon returning to his residence, Wang Changsheng eagerly took out the black gourd containing Dark Yin Cold Water. He struck it with a magic art, and a large quantity of icy black liquid flew out.

The black liquid emitted waves of bone-chilling cold, significantly lowering the surrounding temperature.

Wang Changsheng extended a finger, touched some of the black liquid, and a thin layer of ice formed on his fingertip.

"Excellent," he murmured to himself, "With these six hundred jin of Dark Yin Cold Water, I should be able to advance to the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment in less than three years."

Wang Changsheng spoke to himself, his face beaming with delight.

The *True Scripture of Kui Water* was a core cultivation technique of a major sect. With sufficient spiritual resources for assistance, and the slow improvement of his physique by the Kuiyuan True Malice, Wang Changsheng believed his cultivation speed would not be slower than that of dual spiritual root cultivators.

He was somewhat curious about Fang Mu's background, wondering how he could possess such a large quantity of Dark Yin Cold Water.

Fang Mu was already at the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment at a young age, had quickly recognized the two black blades of grass, and could describe the growing environment of Profound Yin Grass. Furthermore, he carried a coffin on his back and had a skull pattern on his clothes.

Wang Changsheng guessed that Fang Mu was likely a disciple of a demonic sect, and an elite one at that.

Having heard that demonic cultivators often killed people for their treasures, Wang Changsheng thought it best to keep his distance from Fang Mu.

He performed a magic art, and the Dark Yin Cold Water surged towards him.

At the same time, a dazzling blue light illuminated his body.

As the Dark Yin Cold Water entered his body, a bone-chilling cold swept over him, making Wang Changsheng involuntarily shiver.

Less than half a month passed quickly.

On the day of the auction, a long line formed at the entrance of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, where the event was being held.

To participate in this auction, one had to pay an entry fee of one hundred spirit stones.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Changfeng arrived at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion early, paid their entry fees, received two auction tokens, and smoothly entered.

The Hundred Treasures Pavilion had three floors. The main hall had been cleared, and a circular high platform was set up with a green wooden chair on it. Around the platform, hundreds of green wooden chairs were arranged, most of which were already occupied.

Wang Changsheng held a cyan token numbered two hundred and twenty-seven, while Wang Changfeng held a cyan token numbered two hundred and twenty-eight.

Cultivators continuously entered the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, and the number of cultivators in the venue gradually increased.

"Ninth Brother, look up at the second floor. It's your Fairy Wang."

Hearing Wang Changfeng's voice transmission, Wang Changsheng looked up and saw Wang Ruyan appear on the second floor.

Wang Ruyan was accompanied by several other Wang family cultivators. Leading them was a middle-aged man with a ruddy complexion and a dignified demeanor.

The middle-aged man, wearing a purple python robe, was clearly a Core Formation cultivator.

The Wang family had only one Core Formation cultivator, so it went without saying that the middle-aged man was Wang Huashan.

"Wang Huashan! He actually came in person."

"Hehe, Ninth Brother, I wonder if your father-in-law has arrived?"

Wang Changfeng chuckled and teased him via voice transmission.

"Big Brother, don't talk nonsense. Nothing has been settled yet!"

Wang Changsheng said with a wry smile.

Wang Changfeng chuckled lightly and transmitted, "Where there's a will, there's a way. Haven't you already investigated? Fairy Wang has no marriage contract. When a man reaches adulthood, he should marry; when a woman reaches adulthood, she should marry. I think you two look like a couple. The character 'Wang' plus three water radicals makes 'Wang'. Ninth Brother, you cultivate water-attributed techniques—fate is truly ordained!"

"Uh..."

"Ninth Brother, a fair maiden is a good match for a gentleman. You must seize this opportunity! Cultivation doesn't mean you have to be alone; with a dual cultivation partner to support each other, the path to immortality is smoother. If Second Sister hadn't gone missing, I probably would have settled down by now. Before my mother passed away, she was still talking about my marriage. Third Uncle and Third Aunt are getting on in years; they've long wanted grandchildren. You should know this without me saying it, right? You're a man! If you don't take the initiative, do you expect Fairy Wang to?"

Wang Changfeng earnestly advised him.

Wang Changsheng nodded thoughtfully. "Big Brother, you have a point. If there's an opportunity, I'll visit Fairy Wang again to get to know her better. You're right, 'Wang' plus three water radicals makes 'Wang'; perhaps our destiny is indeed ordained by heaven."

After the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, with three solemn chimes, the gates of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion closed.

A tall, thin old man in a white robe strode onto the circular high platform. He was a cultivator at the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment.

He cupped a hand in greeting to the cultivators present and said with a smile, "Welcome, fellow Daoists, to this auction. I am Du Zhanyuan, and I will be presiding over this event. The highest bidder wins. If you lack spirit stones, you may use treasures as collateral or auction them on the spot. Without further ado, let the auction begin."