Chapter 588: The Classic of Talisman Making

"Uncle, we have spirit stones. We appreciate your kindness, but please take them back!" Wang Ruyan politely refused. Wang Changsheng's storage bag contained over two million spirit stones. Wang Huashan had previously traded spiritual arts for magical treasures with Wang Changsheng, indicating his difficult circumstances, so Wang Ruyan felt awkward accepting his spirit stones.

"Whether you have them or not is your business. These are from your uncle; please take them! Unless you think it's too little." Hearing this, Wang Ruyan found it difficult to insist otherwise. She thanked him and accepted the thirty thousand spirit stones.

After chatting for a while, the three returned to their respective accommodations to rest.

Early the next morning, the auction officially began, with a long line forming outside Chongyun Palace.

The auction hall was bright and spacious. A jade platform held a cyan wooden table, surrounded by numerous tables and chairs. Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Wang Huashan arrived relatively early and took seats near the front.

Core Formation cultivators entered one after another, gathering in small groups and communicating via spiritual messages.

Less than an hour later, the gates of Chongyun Palace closed. A radiant-faced old man in a white robe soared onto the jade platform. He cupped his hands and bowed to the crowd, saying, "Welcome, everyone, to this auction. I am Sheng Yuan, and I will be presiding over the auction. The highest bidder wins. Let the bidding begin!"

With a flick of his sleeve, a massive blue beast hide appeared on the table.

"Our first item is a complete hide from a third-tier demonic beast, with a starting bid of ten thousand spirit stones. Each bid must increase by no less than one thousand."

"Ten thousand!" "Eleven thousand!" "Twelve thousand!" Bids rose one after another. A third-tier demonic beast hide could be used to refine blank talismans or to craft banner-type magical treasures.

Wang Changsheng carried over two million spirit stones, giving him considerable financial power. Wang Ruyan was a top-tier second-rank talisman maker, and if she became a third-rank talisman maker, she could provide Wang Changsheng with even more assistance.

Wang Changsheng spent sixty-five thousand spirit stones to win the complete third-tier demonic beast hide.

The second item was a bottle of Hundred Spirits Powder, a third-tier elixir rumored to cure all poisons. It was bought by Huang Fugui for a high price of eighty thousand spirit stones.

Sheng Yuan presented item after item for auction: elixirs, talismans, prototype magical treasures, formation talismans, spirit beasts, and so on. Every item fetched a high price.

Wang Huashan spent over one hundred thousand spirit stones to purchase two third-tier talismans, while Wang Changsheng spent over two hundred thousand spirit stones to purchase two third-tier defensive talismans.

After about fifteen minutes, and after a prototype magical treasure had been sold, Sheng Yuan produced a blue pipa, shimmering with an unsteady blue light. The blue pipa emitted astonishing spiritual energy fluctuations, clearly indicating it was a magical treasure.

"Now for our main attractions. The first is a low-grade first-tier magical treasure, the Mysterious Moon Pipa, with a starting bid of three hundred thousand spirit stones. Each bid must increase by no less than thirty thousand."

Wang Changsheng successfully acquired the Mysterious Moon Pipa for five hundred fifty thousand.

The second item was a two-foot-long red flying sword with a carp pattern on its hilt. This mid-grade first-tier Red Carp Sword, capable of unleashing flames to harm enemies, was sold for six hundred fifty thousand.

"A mid-grade first-tier magical treasure, the Yellow Wind Banner, a defensive treasure, with a starting bid of four hundred thousand spirit stones. Each bid must increase by no less than thirty thousand," Sheng Yuan announced, holding a yellow command banner.

"It's good for both offense and defense!" Wang Changsheng was somewhat tempted. He realized he didn't possess a truly defensive magical treasure. While the Nine Bends Divine Sand was said to be good for both offense and defense, it was actually biased towards attack, and its defensive capabilities were not strong.

Wang Changsheng's bid of six hundred thousand was insufficient to acquire the treasure.

The Yellow Wind Banner was purchased by Huang Fugui for six hundred seventy thousand.

Wang Changsheng wasn't surprised that Huang Fugui could afford so many spirit stones. Huang Fugui had no shame. When the demon race retreated, many low-tier demonic beasts were left behind in Wu Country. These beasts were originally intended for Foundation Establishment cultivators to clear out, but Huang Fugui, disregarding his status, went about slaying them. He wore a string of over a hundred storage beads.

Wang Changsheng only killed a batch of low-tier demonic beasts before stopping, but Huang Fugui was unwilling to cease. He alone did the work of over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, slaughtering a vast number of low-tier demonic beasts.

Eventually, a Nascent Soul cultivator had to intervene before Huang Fugui finally stopped.

"A mid-grade first-tier defensive magical treasure, the Golden Carp Shield, crafted from the shell of a Golden Carp Turtle, with a starting bid of four hundred thousand spirit stones. Each bid must increase by no less than forty thousand." A shimmering golden shield, radiating intense spiritual energy, floated before Sheng Yuan.

"Four hundred thousand!" "Four hundred thirty thousand!" "Four hundred sixty thousand!" Wang Changsheng was very interested in the Golden Carp Shield and acquired this defensive magical treasure for a high price of seven hundred fifty thousand.

"Next is a set of magical treasures, the Mysterious Spider Swords, crafted from the claws of third-tier Quicksand Spiders. There are four swords in total, each a low-grade first-tier magical treasure with immense power. Fellow cultivators who practice the sword dao should not miss this!"

A yellow brocade box rested on the wooden table in front of Sheng Yuan, containing four two-foot-long yellow flying swords. The swords emitted flashes of cold light.

The power of a complete set of magical treasures far surpassed that of a single item. This set of treasures was acquired for one million eight hundred thousand by a tall young man in a yellow shirt. He had a yellow flying sword on his back, suggesting he was a sword cultivator.

Sheng Yuan flicked his sleeve, and a gleaming golden metal sphere flew out. It spun rapidly, bursting with dazzling golden light, and transformed into a five-zhang-tall golden giant bird.

The giant bird had two heads, three legs, and four wings, radiating an imposing spiritual aura.

"A third-tier puppet beast!" Wang Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly, and his expression grew solemn.

Having a third-tier puppet beast by his side could significantly increase his strength.

"A low-grade third-tier puppet beast. This avian puppet has extremely fast flight speed, master three high-level magical arts, and fears no death. The starting bid is four hundred thousand spirit stones, with each bid increasing by no less than fifty thousand."

"Four hundred thousand!" "Four hundred fifty thousand!" "Five hundred thousand!" The competition for this third-tier puppet beast was fierce. Wang Changsheng's bid of six hundred fifty thousand was insufficient to acquire it, which was not surprising, as many Core Formation cultivators attended the auction, and Wang Changsheng couldn't expect to win every item he desired.

"I bid eight hundred thousand." A slightly aged male voice rang out.

The high price of eight hundred thousand silenced the others.

A slightly hunched old man in a golden robe flew onto the jade platform and communicated with Sheng Yuan via spiritual message.

Sheng Yuan nodded and said, "This fellow cultivator doesn't have enough spirit stones and wishes to auction off some items. Please understand."

The old man in the golden robe produced three items: a fist-sized red round bowl, a somewhat dilapidated ancient text, and a two-foot-long red flying sword.

"Two low-grade first-tier magical treasures: the round bowl is a defensive treasure, and the flying sword is an offensive treasure. As for the ancient text, it contains the insights of a third-tier talisman maker, including methods for refining dozens of third-tier talismans. The starting bid for the bowl and flying sword is three hundred thousand, with each bid increasing by no less than thirty thousand. The talisman text starts at fifty thousand, with each bid increasing by no less than ten thousand."

Magical treasures were straightforward; ownership was transferred upon purchase. Ancient texts were different; they could be copied. The old man in the golden robe probably wanted to ask for a higher price, but others weren't foolish.

To be honest, he had copied this talisman text over a dozen times and sold it many times, so he wasn't concerned about this particular sale.

"Insights from a third-tier talisman maker? And methods for refining dozens of third-tier talismans?" Wang Ruyan's eyes brightened considerably. She looked at Wang Changsheng, who smiled slightly and held her hand.

The competition for the talisman text was less fierce than for magical treasures. Wang Changsheng acquired the talisman text for one hundred fifty thousand spirit stones.

Wang Ruyan carefully checked the contents of the text, and only after confirming there were no issues did Wang Changsheng pay the spirit stones.