Chapter 2810: Tian Gang Golden Crystal

The Wumeng Mountain Range stretches for millions of miles, encompassing over a hundred thousand peaks of varying sizes. It boasts dense vegetation and abundant spiritual energy.

In the northwest corner of the Wumeng Mountain Range lies a vast valley with excellent access. Outside its entrance stands a silver stone tablet, more than ten *zhang* high, inscribed with the golden characters "Wumeng Valley."

Over ten millennia ago, Wu Yiming, the ancestor of the Wu family, established their lineage and settled in the Wumeng Mountain Range with his wife and children. Today, the Wu family boasts three Void Refinement cultivators and dozens of Spirit Transformation cultivators, wielding considerable influence within a radius of a billion miles.

Wumeng Valley serves as a market town established by the Wu family. Its prime geographical location attracts numerous merchants and travelers.

Inside Wumeng Valley, the streets were bustling with activity, filled with the clamor of people and the constant movement of vehicles.

Within a sprawling estate, there were pavilions, towers, waterside retreats, and winding corridors.

Wang Chuanlin and a refined, scholarly-looking old man in golden robes were seated in a stone pavilion, drinking tea and chatting.

"Fellow Daoist Wu," Wang Chuanlin began, "all good things must come to an end. I am departing Wumeng Valley now. Thank you for your hospitality during this time. If you find yourself free another day, you are most welcome to visit Qinglian Island."

Wang Chuanlin's tone was sincere. He had already advanced to the Void Refinement stage, and this journey was undertaken to broaden his horizons and temper his Dao heart.

After reaching the Void Refinement stage, cultivators of the Wang family typically embark on a period of travel to broaden their knowledge, temper their Dao heart, gather cultivation resources, and seek out new opportunities. Just as flowers in a greenhouse fail to thrive, it's not only Void Refinement cultivators but all clan members who undertake journeys outside. The Wang family currently boasted two Integration stage cultivators. As Wang Chuanlin traveled, his status as a Wang family scion made it easy for him to befriend other Void Refinement cultivators, who would also hold him in high regard.

"Fellow Daoist Wang," the old man in golden robes said with regret, "why not stay a bit longer? I still wanted to introduce you to a few fellow Daoists."

"All good things must come to an end," Wang Chuanlin replied. "If fate allows, we shall meet again. Thank you for your hospitality."

Wang Chuanlin then rose, bid his farewell, and departed Wumeng Valley.

The Wanling Market was a large market town established by the Xuanqing Sect. It featured numerous spirit medicine shops offering a wide variety of elixirs, including rare remedies capable of repairing severed limbs. This attracted many high-level cultivators seeking spirit medicines.

The streets were a vibrant scene, teeming with people and the clamor of carriages, creating a lively atmosphere. Wang Zongyun strolled leisurely through the crowd, her expression serene.

During her journey to the Barren Lands, she had lost an arm. While she could use the lotus seeds of the Nine-Leaf Blood Lotus to reshape her physical body, doing so would require her to start cultivation anew. Furthermore, if her body were ever destroyed a second time, her Nascent Soul would be unable to possess another. Regardless of whether it was seizing another body or reshaping her own, a cultivator's physical body could only be destroyed once in their lifetime. A second destruction would mean never again possessing a physical form. Therefore, Wang Zongyun would not abandon her current body unless absolutely unavoidable.

After approximately the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, Wang Zongyun arrived at a magnificent palace-like establishment. A lacquered golden plaque above its entrance bore the silver characters "Seven Star Palace," indicating it was an enterprise of the Seven Star Merchant Alliance. An auction was being held there today, rumored to feature a Nine-Orifice Blood Lotus Root, which Wang Zongyun hoped to acquire. A Nine-Orifice Blood Lotus Root over twenty thousand years old could be refined into an arm and attached to Wang Zongyun. However, for an Integration stage cultivator with a severed limb, a thirty-thousand-year-old Nine-Orifice Blood Lotus Root would be necessary. The higher a cultivator's cultivation level, the older the Nine-Orifice Blood Lotus Root required to reattach a severed limb.

Upon entering Seven Star Palace, a young and beautiful attendant in a green gown led Wang Zongyun to a grand hall spanning over a hundred *mu*. In the center of the hall was a circular platform, over a hundred *zhang* in diameter, surrounded by numerous blue stools. More than a thousand cultivators were gathered in the venue, some meditating with closed eyes, others engaged in hushed conversations.

Wang Zongyun found a seat closer to the front and sat down. As time passed, more cultivators gradually entered the hall. More than half a *kekong* later, accompanied by a series of resonant chimes, a thin, stick-like old man in green robes descended from the sky to land on the circular platform. Judging by his aura, he was merely at the late Spirit Transformation stage.

"This old man is Han Qing," he announced, "and I will be presiding over this auction. The highest bidder wins. Let the auction begin."

"First, we have ten bottles of Tier 5 Profound Ganoderma Pills," Han Qing's voice, though not loud, carried throughout the venue. "These elixirs are effective in advancing magical power. The starting bid is one million spirit stones, with each increment not less than one hundred thousand." Naturally, Wang Zongyun had no interest in Tier 5 elixirs and did not place a bid.

Item after item was presented, each fetching a high price. After more than half an hour, and following the sale of a low-grade Tongtian Spirit Treasure, Han Qing produced an exquisite blood-colored jade box. From it, he carefully removed a blood-red lotus root, which clearly had nine distinct orifices.

It was a Nine-Orifice Blood Lotus Root! Wang Zongyun's expression became serious, her gaze intently fixed on the Nine-Orifice Blood Lotus Root.

"This is a Nine-Orifice Blood Lotus Root over twenty thousand years old," Han Qing announced, his voice carrying throughout the venue. "It is the primary ingredient for refining Blood Lotus Root Pills, and can also be used to reattach severed limbs. This particular root was consigned by a senior cultivator and is being offered for exchange for materials of equivalent value, with Dharma Idol materials receiving priority."

The moment he finished speaking, several Void Refinement cultivators immediately sent voice transmissions to Han Qing.

"How about I offer a bottle of Azure Marrow Pills and a Nine Heavens Shadow Evasion Talisman in exchange for this Nine-Orifice Blood Lotus Root?" Wang Zongyun transmitted her voice to Han Qing. A twenty-thousand-year-old spirit medicine was inherently precious, and the Nine-Orifice Blood Lotus Root had extensive uses. To acquire one of that age, she knew she would need to offer something truly valuable in return. She felt uncertain, knowing that a twenty-thousand-year-old Nine-Orifice Blood Lotus Root was far from an ordinary spirit medicine.

"Fellow Daoist," Han Qing transmitted back, "the twenty-thousand-year-old Nine-Orifice Blood Lotus Root has already been exchanged. How about a Nine-Orifice Blood Lotus Root over ten thousand years old instead?"

"Over ten thousand years old?" Wang Zongyun frowned, a hint of hesitation on her face.

"It's over fifteen thousand years old," Han Qing transmitted. "The rhizome is undamaged and can continue to be cultivated."

"Alright," Wang Zongyun countered, "but I can only offer the Azure Marrow Pills. These are our Wang family's unique healing elixirs."

Han Qing then contacted the seller, who agreed to the exchange. Having successfully exchanged for the Nine-Orifice Blood Lotus Root, Wang Zongyun felt a surge of excitement, though she showed no outward sign of it.

Han Qing then produced an exquisite cyan jade box and announced loudly, "We have prepared a total of ten finale auction items. I trust all seniors here have heard of the Beiming family, correct?"

"Of course we have," one cultivator responded. "What, does the jade box contain the Beiming family's clan-suppressing treasure?" Curious expressions appeared on the faces of the assembled cultivators, their gazes fixed intently on the jade box in Han Qing's hand.

"Of course not the Beiming family's clan-suppressing treasure," Han Qing clarified. "The Beiming family possesses a set of artifacts called the Heavenly Gang Spirit-Slaying Blades, forged from Heavenly Gang Golden Crystal. Heavenly Gang Golden Crystal is known to enhance the power of treasures, but this material has become exceedingly rare. It's unknown where the Beiming family managed to acquire such a large quantity of it to forge nine Heavenly Gang Spirit-Slaying Blades, which they once used to slay Integration-stage members of the Yaksha tribe."

Han Qing explained, then opened the lid of the box and retrieved a fist-sized silver crystal. Inside the crystal, golden patterns shimmered, making it resemble a large piece of amber.

"Heavenly Gang Golden Crystal!" exclaimed one cultivator. "This refining material is indeed rare. The few remaining large Heavenly Gang Golden Crystal mines are controlled by the Xuanqing Sect, the Essence Fire Tribe, and the Golden Scale Clan."

"This is a Tier 7 refining material," another added. "If refined into one's Natal Spirit Treasure, it can significantly enhance its power."

"This single piece of Heavenly Gang Golden Crystal is offered for exchange for something of equivalent value," Han Qing announced. "Elixirs, talismans, or spirit medicines are all acceptable."

Numerous cultivators immediately sent voice transmissions to Han Qing. Ultimately, Wang Zongyun acquired the Heavenly Gang Golden Crystal in exchange for a Nine Heavens Shadow Evasion Talisman. After acquiring the Heavenly Gang Golden Crystal, she did not linger in the auction hall. Instead, she used a random teleportation array to publicly depart the market town. The Seven Star Merchant Alliance enjoyed a good reputation, which was why it attracted so many cultivators to its auctions.