Chapter 2395: Qinglian Mountain Range, Qinglian Dharma Assembly

In the Profound Spirit Continent lay the Azure Lotus Mountain Range.

In the northwestern corner of the Azure Lotus Mountain Range was a vast, accessible valley. Outside the valley stood a green stone tablet, over ten zhang tall, engraved with the three shimmering silver characters: "Azure Lotus Valley."

Azure Lotus Valley had been established as a market by the Wang family nearly fifty years ago. It offered a wealth of overseas cultivation resources, including monster beast materials and demon cores, attracting many cultivators to purchase their needed supplies.

A golden light appeared on the distant horizon, swiftly flying towards the Azure Lotus Mountain Range.

As the golden light approached within thirty li of Azure Lotus Valley, its speed diminished, revealing a gleaming golden flying boat. A hundred cultivators stood aboard, led by Lan Haisheng.

Lan Haisheng was the grandson of Lan Fukong and had already advanced to the Deity Transformation stage.

For many years, the Lan family had seen little growth, remaining a minor clan. However, after Lan Fukong entered the Void Refinement stage, a grand racial war erupted. To obtain the Heavenly Spirit Treasure, Lan Fukong led his forces into battle.

Lan Fukong, Wang Qingshan, and Wang Dafei jointly slew multiple Void Refinement stage foreign cultivators. Lan Fukong earned significant merit points, and as a result, the Lan family acquired a large territory, ushering in a period of prosperity.

The Wang family established market cities in the mainland, selling monster beast materials and automaton beasts.

The Wang family was hosting the Azure Lotus Dharma Assembly, inviting numerous Deity Transformation cultivators. Besides spiritual discussions, the Wang family was also holding an auction with many items, rumored to include Fifth-Tier automaton beasts and Heavenly Spirit Treasures.

The Wang family's automaton beasts had performed well during the racial war and major beast tides. Lan Haisheng's purpose in coming to Azure Lotus Valley this time was to bid for a Fifth-Tier automaton beast.

Lan Haisheng formed a hand seal, and the golden flying boat slowly descended. He then led his clansmen towards Azure Lotus Valley.

Before they even entered Azure Lotus Valley, a clamor of noise drifted out from within.

Inside Azure Lotus Valley, the streets were wide and clean, bustling with people. It was a lively scene filled with constant shouts and chatter.

Most of the shops lining the streets sold refining materials, with a particularly large number of weapon shops.

A team of Wang family cultivators, uniformly clad in green armor, patrolled a street, responsible for maintaining order.

The Lan family disciples dispersed, knowing they would be safe as long as they remained within the market city.

After about a quarter of an hour, Lan Haisheng arrived at a hundred-mu bluestone plaza. In the center of the plaza stood a twenty-zhang tall azure pavilion with upturned eaves, intricate dougong brackets, carved balustrades, and jade-like stonework.

A shimmering gilded plaque bore the prominent characters: "Azure Lotus Pavilion."

Many cultivators were entering and exiting, creating a lively atmosphere.

Azure Lotus Pavilion was a shop operated by the Wang family with a wide range of services. Its automaton beasts were the most renowned. While Fifth-Tier automaton beasts could be pre-ordered, it required special cultivation resources for exchange. Otherwise, the only way to obtain a Fifth-Tier automaton beast in Azure Lotus Valley was by participating in the Wang family's auction.

Lan Haisheng strode inside. The spacious and brightly lit hall displayed a vast array of weapons on its shelves—swords, spears, staffs, and more—along with numerous automaton beasts.

He did not linger, heading directly upstairs.

Soon, he reached the eighteenth floor, where Wang Gongzheng, the manager of Azure Lotus Pavilion, greeted him.

Wang Gongzheng was at the Nascent Soul stage and was responsible for managing the business of Azure Lotus Pavilion.

“Welcome, honored senior, to our establishment,” Wang Gongzheng politely inquired. “May I ask your name, and how may I assist you?”

“I am Lan Haisheng from Yunhang Mountain,” Lan Haisheng stated directly. “I heard your Wang family has Fifth-Tier automaton beasts for sale. I wish to pre-order one; may I know the requirements?”

“I will attend to Fellow Daoist Lan. Gongzheng, you may tend to your duties!” A gentle female voice suddenly chimed in. As soon as the words fell, Wang Liangyan approached.

She had already reached the Deity Transformation stage and was proficient in puppetry. Her skill in crafting Fifth-Tier automaton beasts was second only to Wang Jiye, Wang Qingfeng, and Wang Changsheng.

Wang Liangyan and Wang Jiye were among Wang Mengbin's more distinguished descendants, both being Fifth-Tier artifact refiners.

Wang Gongzheng acknowledged, bowed, and withdrew.

“I am Wang Liangyan,” Wang Liangyan politely stated. “May I ask, Fellow Daoist Lan, what is your relationship with True Monarch Kuangchui?”

True Monarch Kuangchui, Lan Fukong, was somewhat well-known in the Profound Spirit Continent; most high-ranking human cultivators had heard of him.

“True Monarch Kuangchui is my grandfather,” Lan Haisheng replied truthfully. “This time, I have come to Azure Lotus Valley on my grandfather's orders to procure Fifth-Tier automaton beasts.”

“So you are a descendant of Senior Lan, my apologies for not knowing,” Wang Liangyan said with a confident smile. “The auction will feature Fifth-Tier automaton beasts for sale. If you wish to pre-order a Fifth-Tier automaton beast, you'll need to offer some valuable items as a deposit. Our Wang family is not short on spirit stones.”

Fewer than ten factions in the Profound Spirit Continent sold Fifth-Tier automaton beasts. After the racial war, the Wang family's automaton beasts gained widespread renown. As rare items are highly valued, the Wang family naturally did not sell them in bulk, largely keeping them for their own use.

Pre-ordering a Fifth-Tier automaton beast was possible with special cultivation resources as a deposit. For smaller and mid-sized factions, possessing a Fifth-Tier automaton beast could significantly enhance their strength. If they had unique materials, they were willing to offer them as a deposit for pre-ordering such beasts.

Of course, the Wang family would not demand too much, only a portion, otherwise, others might simply use those materials to exchange for other items.

Lan Haisheng took out a blue porcelain bottle and handed it to Wang Liangyan, asking, “This is the essence blood of a Sixth-Tier Five-Colored Spirit Devouring Python. Is it sufficient to pre-order a Fifth-Tier automaton beast?”

A bottle of Sixth-Tier Five-Colored Spirit Devouring Python essence blood was certainly not worth tens of millions of spirit stones on its own, but it was suitable as a deposit. To acquire a Fifth-Tier automaton beast, a significant amount of spirit stones would still be required.

Wang Liangyan inspected it, and after confirming its authenticity, she nodded with satisfaction. “Yes, that will do. Which type of Fifth-Tier automaton beast would you like to pre-order? Here is the catalog, Fellow Daoist Lan, please take your time choosing. Out of respect for Senior Lan, you may pre-order two Fifth-Tier automaton beasts. If you desire more, you will need to bid at the auction.”

She took out a shimmering spirit disk and handed it to Lan Haisheng, allowing him to select the automaton beasts.

Lan Haisheng examined it carefully and chose a giant ape automaton and a flying eagle automaton.

“Fellow Daoist Lan, out of respect for Senior Lan, delivery will be in five years, for thirty million spirit stones,” Wang Liangyan stated. She immediately drafted two copies of a written agreement, and both parties signed their names.

A low-grade Heavenly Spirit Treasure was worth over ten million spirit stones, and a Fifth-Tier automaton beast was somewhat more expensive, but it was well worth the price. Fifth-Tier automaton beasts were difficult to destroy, and if a Nascent Soul cultivator's divine sense was strong enough, they could even control one.

While family guardian spirit beasts would eventually pass away, automaton beasts could be used indefinitely as long as they didn't suffer fatal damage. The Profound Sun Realm had many elixirs or secret techniques that could temporarily boost divine sense. Therefore, some smaller factions eagerly sought a Fifth-Tier automaton beast to serve as a foundational asset.

“Fellow Daoist Lan,” Wang Liangyan invited, “there will be a gathering in Azure Lotus Garden three days from now, with many Deity Transformation cultivators attending. You are welcome to join if you are interested.” Lan Haisheng accepted the invitation.

After a brief chat, Lan Haisheng left Azure Lotus Pavilion.