Chapter 1977: Heavy Water Mine Pearl

"Methods for refining puppet beasts?"

Wang Changsheng was somewhat intrigued. In the Dongli Realm, due to material limitations, he could only refine Grade 4 puppet beasts. However, the Xuanyang Realm boasted abundant cultivation resources, making it easy to acquire materials for refining Grade 5 puppet beasts. If he could obtain the first volume of the *Myriad Puppets Record*, he might be able to refine Grade 5 puppet beasts.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, are the methods for refining puppet beasts more valuable than Grade 5 puppet beasts themselves?" the old man in yellow robes asked, looking puzzled. Other Soul Transformation cultivators also appeared confused.

"Of course not. Besides puppet beasts, True Monarch Myriad Puppets also possessed a cultivation technique for spiritual consciousness, which he reportedly comprehended from the Heavenly Void Jade Book." This announcement caused a stir among the cultivators present.

"A cultivation technique for spiritual consciousness? It wouldn't be an incomplete scroll, would it?" Wang Changsheng said meaningfully. If it were a complete technique, it likely wouldn't be here; it would have been auctioned off at a major auction for an exorbitant price.

"This fellow Daoist is correct; it is indeed an incomplete fragment. This technique is called the *Taiyi Divine Consciousness Treasure Tome*, and it has nine layers, corresponding to Qi Condensation to Mahayana. This jade slip only contains the cultivation methods for the first three layers. The subsequent methods are found in the middle and lower volumes of the *Myriad Puppets Record*. We've had people cultivate the *Taiyi Divine Consciousness Treasure Tome*, and its effects are indeed remarkable," Chen Xiang explained patiently.

"Hmph, 'remarkable' is probably relative to low-level cultivators! At our stage, the spiritual consciousness gained from the first three layers of this technique is negligible. It's far less effective than rare treasures that enhance spiritual consciousness," scoffed the Bat Clan cultivator, clearly unimpressed.

"You make a valid point, Fellow Daoist. However, if one were to find the middle and lower volumes of the *Myriad Puppets Record*, then it would be a different story," Chen Xiang explained with a conciliatory smile.

"*Taiyi Divine Consciousness Treasure Tome*? Fellow Daoist Chen, could you tell me the first two lines of its cultivation mantra? I possess a spiritual consciousness cultivation technique that bears some resemblance to the *Taiyi Divine Consciousness Treasure Tome*," a burly young man in a blue shirt politely inquired.

Chen Xiang hesitated briefly, then nodded and moved his lips slightly.The blue-shirted youth frowned deeply. "Fellow Daoist Chen, you've been deceived! This is our Myriad Spirit Sect's *Great Void God Forging Technique*."Cultivation techniques can be copied and renamed, but their core mantras are difficult to alter. Since they had sent people to cultivate it, the mantra itself should be accurate.

"It's entirely possible someone copied the technique and sold it around, or perhaps one of your Myriad Spirit Sect disciples sold it under a different name," the Bat Clan member sneered.

"Exactly, what's so strange about it? Just because you say it is? Even if the *Taiyi Divine Consciousness Treasure Tome* and the *Great Void God Forging Technique* are the same, it's not a big deal. Cultivation techniques for spiritual consciousness aren't exclusive to your Myriad Spirit Sect; fortunate individuals acquire them," the Bone Clan member echoed, looking as if they enjoyed the spectacle.

The other cultivators offered no objections. Generally, it was difficult for them to obtain techniques specifically for spiritual consciousness cultivation, so this was a rare opportunity. Chen Xiang frowned and waved his hand. "Alright, enough chatter from everyone. I'm only responsible for the auction, not the origins. Whoever wants to investigate, go ahead; I'm unaware of the specifics. The starting bid for the first volume of the *Myriad Puppets Record* is three million spirit stones, with each bid incrementing by no less than five hundred thousand." If it were merely a puppet-refining technique, it wouldn't be worth that many spirit stones, but with a spiritual consciousness cultivation technique included, it was a different matter.

Wang Changsheng participated in the bidding, eager to acquire the item. Soon, the price reached seven million and was still climbing. Wang Changsheng frowned; this price was too high. Considering the Blood Dragon Rice, he decided to give up on the bidding. The first volume of the *Myriad Puppets Record* ultimately sold for a hefty nine million, acquired by the Bone Clan. This far exceeded its true value, but for wealthy cultivators, nine million spirit stones was insignificant, as a cherished item was priceless.

Chen Xiang then took out three golden grains of rice, each about a foot long, with vein-like patterns on their surface and emitting a unique fragrance."Three Blood Dragon Rice grains! The starting bid is three million spirit stones, with each bid incrementing by no less than five hundred thousand."Upon seeing the Blood Dragon Rice, Wang Changsheng's heart stirred. These grains were much larger than ordinary spirit rice, each weighing dozens of catties and containing astonishing vital essence. Blood Dragon Rice was particularly suitable for body cultivators; ordinary cultivators might not be able to withstand its immense vital essence.

"Three million!""Three point five million!""Four million!"The competition was fierce, primarily among human cultivators vying for the Blood Dragon Rice. Blood Dragon Rice was a specialty of the Bat Clan and rarely sold externally. It could be consumed raw or refined into pills.

"Six million!" the old man in yellow robes said in a deep voice."Seven million!" Wang Changsheng immediately added one million spirit stones. The three Blood Dragon Rice grains weighed at least a hundred catties, and their body-tempering effects were surely excellent. If he missed this opportunity, he didn't know when he would get another chance to acquire Blood Dragon Rice.

"Eight million!" The old man in yellow robes remained unmoved, adding another million spirit stones."Nine million." Wang Changsheng's expression remained calm, as if nine million spirit stones were a trivial sum. Nine million spirit stones far exceeded the value of three Blood Dragon Rice grains. Only Wang Changsheng and the old man in yellow robes remained in the bidding.

The old man in yellow robes hesitated slightly, then said no more. Wang Changsheng successfully bid nine million spirit stones for the three Blood Dragon Rice grains. The three grains weighed over a hundred catties, meaning each catty was worth nearly ninety thousand spirit stones. He hoped their body-tempering effects would not disappoint him. Wang Changsheng didn't have nine million spirit stones readily available, so he had to sell a set of spirit treasures to gather the funds.

Chen Xiang flipped his hand, and a blue light flashed as an exquisite blue jade box appeared. He opened the box to reveal three shimmering blue orbs. Intricate and arcane runes covered the surface of the orbs, from which countless blue electric arcs pulsed, emitting a wild, volatile aura."Heavy Water Thunder Orbs, single-use treasures. Even Void Refinement cultivators struck directly by a Heavy Water Thunder Orb would face serious trouble," Chen Xiang introduced.

"Treasures capable of threatening Void Refinement cultivators!" Wang Changsheng's face showed interest. He hadn't expected to encounter such items here. His only trump card was the Nether Moon Orb, and he wasn't sure if it could threaten a Void Refinement cultivator. The Heavy Water Thunder Orbs, however, seemed like a good alternative.

"There are three Heavy Water Thunder Orbs, to be auctioned individually. The starting bid is five million spirit stones, with each bid incrementing by no less than one million," Chen Xiang announced loudly.As soon as he finished speaking, the Bat Clan immediately called out, "Five million!""Six million!""I bid seven million!"The competition was incredibly fierce. Everyone wanted to acquire a treasure capable of threatening Void Refinement cultivators as a trump card.

Wang Changsheng spent sixteen million spirit stones to successfully bid for one Heavy Water Thunder Orb. He had no other spirit treasures to spare, so he planned to sell his set of Heavenly Jade Needles, a heaven-reaching spirit treasure. He still had some Sky Moon Cold Crystal and Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Jade, which he could use to refine another set of ice-attribute heaven-reaching spirit treasures.