Chapter 1574: Cold Marrow

All the cultivators present showed expressions of interest. Wang Qingling's offerings were quite impressive, especially the set of third-tier automaton beasts, which could easily fetch at least three million spirit stones if sold.

As for fourth-tier demon cores, many cultivators present could offer one. A few might even have a fourth-tier flood dragon's core. However, if the requirement was for an ice-attribute fourth-tier flood dragon's core, then no one possessed it. Elixirs that could aid a flood dragon's advancement were even more invaluable.

The Huangfu family was also collecting elixirs to assist flood dragon advancement. If any such elixirs were available, they would have been exchanged with the Huangfu family ages ago.

The cultivators present exchanged glances, and no one spoke.

Wang Qingling felt a touch of disappointment. After a slight hesitation, she produced a pale green brocade box and a black one. Each box had a shimmering silver talisman affixed. She removed the talismans and opened the green box, revealing a five-foot section of Six Roots Purification Bamboo. The black box contained a five-foot-long piece of black wood, which emanated intense Yin energy fluctuations. It was indeed the Ten-Thousand-Year Ghost-Yin Wood.

The Six Roots Purification Bamboo and Ten-Thousand-Year Ghost-Yin Wood were the most valuable materials the Wang family possessed. Thousand-year ironwood was far from as valuable as these two.

Wang Qingling incurred some risk by presenting these two materials. Even though the cultivators present came from prominent backgrounds, presenting truly rare treasures could easily lead to murderous theft. Wang Qingling was accompanied by Guangdong Ren, and with her Natal Magical Treasure, the Three Spirits Demon Expelling Order, as well as the fourth-tier automaton beasts, she could retreat safely even if confronted by a late Nascent Soul cultivator.

“I offer Nine-Thousand-Year Six Roots Purification Bamboo and Ten-Thousand-Year Ghost-Yin Wood, in exchange for elixirs that help flood dragons advance to the fourth tier.”

Wang Qingling looked at the cultivators present, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Dongfang Liang produced a white jade box and handed it to Wang Qingling, transmitting a message: “Fairy Wang, I offer two two-thousand-year Ice Soul Fruits and a water-attribute fourth-tier flood dragon’s core. Would these suffice for your two spirit woods?”

Other cultivators also transmitted messages to Wang Qingling, offering various items such as fourth-tier pills for enhancing magical power, fourth-tier talismans, and rare refining materials.

Wang Qingling furrowed her brow. Dongfang Liang's offerings were the best so far; however, while the two thousand-year Ice Soul Fruits weren't particularly beneficial for her Icewind Flood Dragon, the water-attribute fourth-tier flood dragon’s core was quite good.

“My apologies, I seem to be late.”

A clear, resonant male voice suddenly rang out. The moment the words finished, everyone's vision blurred, and a handsome man in a red shirt appeared before them. It was Baili Yunlong.

His gaze quickly swept over the cultivators present, settling on the Six Roots Purification Bamboo and Ghost-Yin Wood.

“Allow me to introduce you all, this is Fellow Daoist Baili.”

Dongfang Liang introduced him with enthusiasm. Baili Yunlong rarely made public appearances, so not many Nascent Soul cultivators were familiar with him.

“These two materials are offered in exchange for elixirs that aid flood dragons in advancing to the fourth tier.”

Wang Qingling's gaze turned to Baili Yunlong, her eyes alight with anticipation. The Baili family was the longest-standing cultivation family among the South Sea's Ten Great Cultivation Families, renowned for their alchemy. It was possible Baili Yunlong could produce elixirs that aided flood dragon advancement.

Baili Yunlong pondered for a moment, then produced a white jade box and handed it to Wang Qingling, transmitting a message: “Fairy Wang, within this box are a three-thousand-year Frost Moon Fruit and a drop of diluted Cold Marrow.”

Cold Marrow could only form within ten-thousand-year ice jade mineral veins. It could be used for alchemy and artifact refinement. When demon beasts attempted to break through to the fourth tier, ingesting a drop of Cold Marrow could significantly reduce the damage inflicted by lightning.

“Diluted Cold Marrow!”

Wang Qingling frowned. Diluted Cold Marrow had limited effectiveness. Both the Twin-Eyed Rat and the Gold-Devouring Ant Queen could endure the lightning tribulation, and the Icewind Flood Dragon could as well, but it was uncertain for other spirit beasts.

“While diluted Cold Marrow is indeed less potent,” Baili Yunlong explained, “when a demon beast attempts to break through to the fourth tier, taking a drop can significantly weaken the lightning tribulation's power. A flood dragon might not need it, but other demon beasts certainly would. Across the entire South Sea cultivation world, there were originally four powers controlling ten-thousand-year ice jade mineral veins. After the Murong family's demise, only three remain. Obtaining even a single drop of Cold Marrow is no easy feat.”

Baili Yunlong further explained that the powers currently controlling the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice mineral veins were Myriad Beast Island, Sun Moon Palace, and the Ice Ape Clan. Possessing Cold Marrow greatly increases the chances of cultivating fourth-tier spirit beasts and insects. Most spirit beasts and insects perish during the lightning tribulation; many spirit insects, in particular, lack resilience and struggle to survive the ordeal.

“Neither the Six Roots Purification Bamboo nor the Ghost-Yin Wood are ordinary spirit woods; they are suitable for refining even spirit treasures,” Wang Qingling haggled, noting that while Baili Yunlong's offerings were indeed excellent, a direct exchange would put her at a disadvantage.

“Very well then!” Baili Yunlong said with a smile. “I'll add a Snow Frost Pill. It's an elixir refined from a thousand-year Snow Frost Fruit. How does that sound?” High-ranking cultivators in the South Sea cultivation world had all heard that Fairy Bailing raised a third-tier Icewind Flood Dragon.

“In that case, you would be at a disadvantage. I'll include this Core Formation stage talisman soldier for you,” Wang Qingling said, pointing to a pale blue talisman soldier, her tone sincere.

Baili Yunlong paused for a moment, then smiled and agreed.

“These remaining items are for exchange for materials of equal value,” Wang Qingling said, gesturing to the remaining items. Although she hadn't acquired a fourth-tier ice-attribute demon core, obtaining a drop of diluted Cold Marrow was still a favorable outcome. From Baili Yunlong’s words, it appeared the Murong royal family once controlled the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Jade mineral veins, which yielded Cold Marrow. Wang Qingling secretly noted this information. Before its destruction, the Murong family submerged its stronghold to the seabed, mirroring the actions of the Zhenhai Sect. If the Murong family's former base could be located, perhaps Cold Marrow might be found there.

Over a dozen cultivators transmitted messages to Wang Qingling, all keen to acquire the set of third-tier automaton beasts. They presented treasures for her inspection. Wang Qingling exchanged for several decent refining materials, which were good but by no means rare.

Once the exchanges concluded, Wang Qingling returned to her seat. Other cultivators displayed their treasures. Baili Yunlong produced several types of fourth-tier pills for exchange, seeking alchemy materials, specifically spirit herbs at least two thousand years old – items Wang Qingling simply did not possess.

Over an hour later, the exchange session concluded, and the cultivators began to chat casually.

Wang Qingling steered the conversation towards the Murong family, asking curiously, “So many years have passed, has the Murong family’s former stronghold never resurfaced? I heard the Zhenhai Sect’s ruins did.”

“The Zhenhai Sect was destroyed merely a little over a thousand years ago, whereas the Murong family met its demise ten thousand years ago,” Dongfang Liang speculated. “Its former base did resurface in earlier times, but as time passed, the spirit stones powering its formations ran out of spiritual energy and could no longer operate. It's likely it will remain permanently on the seabed, perhaps manifesting within one of the Seven Great Fierce Lands!”

“Exactly!” Shen Wenbin spoke with an envious tone, his face alight with longing. “Unless someone discovers the Murong family's former stronghold and replaces its spirit stones, it might resurface. Even if Murong family cultivators still existed, they likely wouldn't be able to locate it. However, I've heard the Murong family controlled a Heavenly Grade Secret Realm. If one could enter that realm to seek treasures, they might find elixirs, giving us hope of advancing to the Soul Transformation stage.”

The Baili family was the longest-standing cultivation family among the South Sea's Ten Great Cultivation Families. However, if the Murong family were still active, it would be the one with the longest legacy. A Heavenly Grade Secret Realm permitted Nascent Soul cultivators to enter and seek treasures. Its spiritual energy was more than three times that of the outside world. During its peak, the Murong family could contend with the Sun Moon Palace, illustrating the immense value of the Heavenly Grade Secret Realm they left behind.