Chapter 589: Returning to the South China Sea Again

Eight burly, broad-shouldered strongmen carried a huge iron cage, which held a gigantic tiger covered in golden scales. The tiger had a pair of crimson wings on its back and a foot-long golden horn on its head, and it roared continuously.

"A third-tier demonic beast!"

Wang Changsheng was quite surprised. He had attended several large auctions, but none had featured a third-tier demonic beast.

"This is a low-grade third-tier spirit beast, the Red-Winged Golden-Scaled Tiger. This spirit beast has great potential. It is skilled in both gold and wind element spells, making it an excellent companion for guarding homes and properties. The starting bid is 500,000 spirit stones, and each increment must be at least 50,000 spirit stones."

"500,000!""550,000!""600,000!"Bids rang out one after another. Wang Changsheng had already spent 1.7 million spirit stones, with just over 400,000 remaining. This was not enough to bid for the third-tier spirit beast.

"These spirit stones really don't last," Wang Changsheng sighed softly, thinking to himself. "Over two million spirit stones, and half of them are gone before I even got to properly use them."

"This prince happens to be in need of a spirit beast for travel. This Red-Winged Golden-Scaled Tiger will do. 800,000." A resonant male voice rang out.

"A prince?" Wang Changsheng looked towards the source of the voice and saw a middle-aged man in his early thirties.

The middle-aged man was tall and well-built. He wore a golden brocade robe and a golden jade crown on his head. He had a cultivation level of the sixth layer of the Core Formation stage.

Beside the middle-aged man was a young woman in her early thirties. She wore a chest-level ruqun dress, and her ample bosom seemed about to burst through the dress's sash.

If Wang Changsheng remembered correctly, there were several great dynasties in the Central Plains. Unlike the nations in the Eastern Barren Lands, the Central Plains dynasties were controlled by cultivators. It was said that the imperial families of the Central Plains dynasties were connected to cultivators, with a predominance of Confucian and Daoist sects. However, Wang Changsheng wasn't clear on the specifics.

The price of 800,000 far exceeded the value of this low-grade third-tier spirit beast, but the middle-aged man successfully bid for it. Had the Red-Winged Golden-Scaled Tiger not been skilled in both gold and wind element spells, it might not have fetched such a high price.

"This is a mid-grade third-tier defensive formation, the Four Seas Spirit Lock Formation. Generally, even five Core Formation cultivators working together cannot break through this formation in a short time. It comes with 366 formation flags, the main flag being a magic treasure, and the 365 subsidiary flags each being a high-grade magical artifact. The starting bid is 500,000 spirit stones, with each increment not less than 50,000 spirit stones." On the wooden table in front of Sheng Yuan lay hundreds of gleaming blue formation flags and dozens of blue formation plates, as he announced loudly.

With a starting price of 500,000 for this mid-grade third-tier defensive formation, Wang Changsheng could only stare blankly.

After intense bidding, the mid-grade third-tier defensive formation was sold for a high price of 900,000 spirit stones.

"This is a mid-grade third-tier offensive formation, the Dual Polarity Dazzling Light Formation. This formation requires three Core Formation cultivators to operate to unleash its full power. If a high-grade third-tier demonic beast is trapped within this formation, its chance of survival is low. It includes a main formation flag (a magic treasure), 180 subsidiary flags, and 30 formation plates. The starting bid is 500,000 spirit stones, with each increment not less than 50,000."

"500,000!""550,000!""600,000!"Sheng Yuan successively brought out several sets of third-tier formations. The majority were purchased by the middle-aged man from the Central Plains dynasty, displaying his immense wealth.

The final, highlight item for auction was a low-grade fourth-tier talisman, the Thunderstorm Talisman. According to Sheng Yuan, even a fourth-tier demonic beast would not dare to directly withstand the Thunderstorm Talisman. It sold for 1.2 million spirit stones.

The auction concluded. Sheng Yuan expressed his gratitude, and the Core Formation cultivators gradually departed.

Wang Changsheng had just acquired two magic treasures, so naturally, he wouldn't rush to the South Sea yet.

The three of them went to Wang Huashan's residence. Wang Changsheng said, "Uncle Master, Ruoyan and I plan to refine our magic treasures before heading to the South Sea. What do you think?"

"That's a good idea," Wang Huashan said earnestly. "Changsheng, you two have quite a lot of wealth on you! When you reach the South Sea, you'll need to be more discreet. While it's true that the South Sea is rich in cultivation resources, there are also many incidents of killing for treasure. The cultivation world of the South Sea is very treacherous!"

"We understand, Uncle Master," Wang Changsheng replied. "Here are 100,000 spirit stones. It's a small token of appreciation from Ruoyan and me, for you to acquire some things."

Wang Changsheng had spent so many spirit stones at the auction, and just yesterday, Wang Huashan had given Wang Ruoyan 30,000 spirit stones. Wang Changsheng felt awkward pretending to be poor any longer. When Wang Changsheng had just entered the Core Formation stage, Wang Huashan's life wasn't easy, and he had lent him a considerable amount of spirit stones. Wang Changsheng had always remembered this kindness.

Seeing Wang Changsheng spend so many spirit stones at the auction, Wang Huashan didn't stand on ceremony. He expressed his thanks and accepted the 100,000 spirit stones.

After a short chat, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruoyan took their leave. Upon returning to their residence, they immediately began refining their magic treasures.

Less than half a month later, Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruoyan, and Wang Huashan entered the Teleportation Hall. After paying the spirit stones, they stepped onto the teleportation array. A white glow illuminated beneath their feet, enveloping their bodies.

When Wang Changsheng regained his senses, he found himself in a hall of similar size. This was, in fact, his third time visiting the South Sea.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruoyan didn't know many Core Formation cultivators. The Chen Yilong couple were among the Core Formation cultivators they could easily contact.

Besides searching for the subsequent cultivation method for the "True Scripture of Gui Water," Wang Changsheng also wanted to secure a territory in the South Sea to increase his family's income. He was not a native of the South Sea, and many things he knew were merely hearsay, not particularly clear. Asking Chen Yilong for advice would be best.

After leaving Lingbie Market, the three of them transformed into three streaks of light, flying towards Wooden Dragon Pavilion. As they flew along, they encountered many cultivators hunting demonic beasts.

Wang Changsheng was already at the third layer of the Core Formation stage, and his escape speed was very fast. Wang Ruoyan, wearing a spirit boot magic treasure, flew not much slower than Wang Changsheng. And Wang Huashan was even faster.

Five days later, they appeared over an endless expanse of sea. The sea breeze blew in gusts, carrying a hint of saltiness.

Dozens of streaks of light appeared on the horizon ahead, flying towards the three of them. Wang Changsheng frowned slightly and stopped. His divine sense detected that the approaching group consisted of two Core Formation cultivators and dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Not long after, dozens of streaks of light appeared before Wang Changsheng and his companions. The Foundation Establishment cultivators wore uniform attire, seemingly from a certain faction. Of the two Core Formation cultivators, the highest cultivated one was a young woman in her early thirties wearing a blue dress, at the fourth layer of the Core Formation stage.

"Oh, Fellow Daoist Wang, Madam Wang, what a coincidence!" A thin-faced middle-aged man with a long scar on his head uttered a soft exclamation and said with a smile. The middle-aged man was none other than Ye Lang. Wang Changsheng had once hunted demonic beasts with him. Many years had passed, and Ye Lang had already reached the Core Formation stage, at the first layer.

Wang Changsheng smiled faintly and said, "Fellow Daoist Ye, what a coincidence! Long time no see, congratulations on successfully advancing to the Core Formation stage!"

"My husband often said Fellow Daoist Ye would surely enter the Core Formation stage. Congratulations," Wang Ruoyan gave a charming smile and echoed.

The young woman in blue looked at Ye Lang and asked, "Fellow Daoist Ye, who are these?"

"These two fellow Daoists are old acquaintances of mine. Fellow Daoist Wang even saved my life once. I don't recognize that other fellow Daoist. Fellow Daoist Wang, I am now an honored guest elder of Huanglong Island. If you have time, you are welcome to visit Huanglong Island to chat over tea."

"Alright, if I have time, I will certainly visit." Wang Changsheng agreed. When traveling, having more friends always opens up more paths.

"Alright, we still have matters to attend to. Fellow Daoist Ye, let's continue on our way!" The young woman in blue and Ye Lang departed with dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators, disappearing into the horizon shortly after.

"Changsheng, Ruoyan, you two know quite a few Core Formation cultivators in the South Sea! You even know Core Formation cultivators from Huanglong Island," Wang Huashan said with an envious tone.

"Uncle Master, Fellow Daoist Ye used to be a rogue cultivator," Wang Ruoyan smiled charmingly and explained. "We hunted demonic beasts with him before. He was already at the ninth layer of the Foundation Establishment stage then, so it's not surprising that he's entered the Core Formation stage after so many years. However, the South Sea indeed has abundant cultivation resources. Core Formation rogue cultivators are rare in the Eastern Barren Lands."

"Everyone has their own opportunities," Wang Changsheng said. "Perhaps Fellow Daoist Ye had some fortunate encounter. Alright, let's continue our journey!" The three of them transformed into three streaks of light and soared into the sky.