Chapter 89: Could This Book Be the Legendary One That Hides...?

Faced with Lu Yang’s skilled false accusation, Meng Jingzhou scoffed in rebuttal, "What do you mean I scared them away? Didn't you hear them say you'd have karmic entanglement with immortals in the future?"

"It's probably because you did something that angered both humans and gods, causing the immortals to unite and suppress you!"

Lu Yang waved his hand. "Impossible. I've always been mindful of my actions and wouldn't do anything so outrageous. It must be a fabricated excuse from Luo Bu."

The two blamed each other, steadfastly refusing to admit it was their own fault.

Man Gu opened his mouth, wanting to ask if it could be both their problems, but in the end, he didn't say it.

After a few days of interaction, Lan Ting gradually got used to Lu Yang’s and Meng Jingzhou’s way of speaking. She simply tuned out their arguments.

"Look, that's the Goldfall Merchant Guild ahead! I'll take you for a look around!"

At the entrance of the Goldfall Merchant Guild, a chubby little pig holding coins was displayed, the guild's classic mascot.

Lu Yang had long heard of the Goldfall Merchant Guild's fame and wanted to explore it.

The guild's interior was subtly decorated, exuding taste throughout. It was distinctly different from the style of guilds that, having suddenly become rich, overtly flaunted their wealth.

The Goldfall Merchant Guild had no need to boast; its reputation spoke for itself.

In the Central Continent, the name of the "Number One Merchant Guild in the World" was known by everyone.

The array of goods inside the guild dazzled Man Gu: masterfully refined elixirs, spirit treasures forged with the painstaking effort of artisans, rare natural treasures excavated from dangerous lands, and talismans and formations ranging from simple to complex…

Upon seeing the marked prices, Man Gu felt like a pauper who couldn't afford anything.

Man Gu noticed that Meng Jingzhou and Lan Ting casually browsed the guild, walking leisurely without worrying about prices, which he could understand.

However, he was surprised to find that Brother Lu, whose net worth was similar to his own, also seemed unconcerned about the prices.

Man Gu quietly asked, "Brother Lu, things here are so expensive, I can't afford any of them."

Of course, Man Gu couldn't possibly afford *nothing*; he meant he couldn't afford the powerful items suitable for Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.

Lu Yang looked at Man Gu in surprise. "Buy? Why would we buy things here? Look at these elixirs and magic artifacts—they look fancy and expensive, but they're just showpieces. In terms of practicality, how can they compare to what the sect produces?"

Man Gu nodded. That was true. The sect's fried dough sticks were cheap, sturdy, and chewy. Over a month had passed, and the one Brother Lu gave to Brother Meng still had half left.

"Besides," Lu Yang continued, "if we don't have money, can't we just make some? With our status, we can sell anything and make a profit. Watch, I'll show you."

With that, Lu Yang found an attendant standing nearby. "Excuse me, do you accept spells here?"

The attendant politely replied, "Hello, yes, we do, but only those we don't already have in the guild. We have all common cultivation techniques. Are you looking to sell a cultivation technique?"

Lu Yang nodded. "I have a transformation spell that allows for attack while transforming. It's a secret passed down only within my family."

The attendant was very surprised. He had worked there for ten years and had never heard of such a transformation spell.

"Please come this way. There's an auction today, and Appraisal Master Yang Xuanling is here. We can ask him to assess the value of your transformation spell."

The four were led to a room where an elderly man wearing glasses was looking down at a book. He appeared ancient and seasoned, clearly a well-traveled and knowledgeable individual, presumably Yang Xuanling.

The attendant whispered a few words into Yang Xuanling's ear.

"Oh? Such a spell exists? I understand. You may leave."

"Yes." The attendant respectfully backed out of the room.

"Four esteemed guests, I hear you have a transformation spell that allows for attack while transforming?"

"That's right." Lu Yang took out his *Lu Family Pictographic Fist*.

Yang Xuanling was silent for a moment. "...Unless my eyesight is failing me, the book says 'Pictographic Fist'?"

Lu Yang stepped forward, crossed out the three characters "Pictographic Fist" on the cover, and wrote "Transformation Spell."

"Now it's a transformation spell."

It was Yang Xuanling's first time encountering someone so casual about naming things. After working in this line for so long, he truly encountered all sorts of people.

Yang Xuanling slowly turned the pages, analyzing word by word, and then angrily exclaimed, "This is clearly Pictographic Fist!"

"How could that be?" Lu Yang looked very surprised. "This is definitely a transformation spell! Look, I'll demonstrate it for you!"

Lu Yang immediately performed a set of Pictographic Fist movements, transforming from Man Gu into Meng Jingzhou, and then into a tiger demon. His movements were powerful and majestic, appearing very potent.

Yang Xuanling stared for a long time, utterly failing to understand how Lu Yang transformed.

He was indeed performing Pictographic Fist, and the process was exactly as written in the book. The other party also hadn't secretly used any magic.

How much should this be valued at?

Yang Xuanling stroked his beard, looking as if he completely understood. "This transformation spell of yours is indeed quite interesting. It would be a waste to sell it as a regular item. How about putting this transformation spell up for auction? There's an auction starting soon."

"Alright."

At the auction, Lu Yang saw an old acquaintance.

It was Chi Xulong, who had mastered the Divine Stone-Spitting Art.

Chi Xulong had not disguised himself. As he had once introduced himself, he was flamboyant in his actions and disliked concealment.

Given his cultivation, he was considered a top figure in the entire Yanjiang Commandery, so he indeed had no need for disguise.

Next to Chi Xulong sat a black-robed figure. Lu Yang guessed the person was the assassin Shen Jinyi.

Lu Yang deliberately sat next to Chi Xulong. Seeing the other person wearing a childish tofu mask, Chi Xulong snorted disdainfully.

For some reason, he felt irritated whenever he saw the other person.

A well-dressed auctioneer stepped onto the stage. He appeared professionally trained, speaking clearly and loudly without using his cultivation, his voice audible throughout the entire hall.

"Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for coming! Without further ado, let's begin."

"Our first item for auction today is three Foundation Establishment Pills."

As soon as he spoke, the entire hall stirred with excitement. No one expected the auction to start with such a significant item.

Most attendees at the auction were at the mid to late Qi Condensation stage; those at the early Qi Condensation stage knew their financial resources were limited and wouldn't participate.

Even Foundation Establishment cultivators were tempted. Who didn't have a junior at the Qi Condensation stage in their family?

Lu Yang did not.

He thought about it and realized that among everyone he knew, he seemed to have the lowest cultivation level.

When ancient predecessors first pioneered the path of cultivation, they naturally established their foundations without external aids. However, doing so carried extreme risks, and countless individuals died during the process.

Later, someone researched and developed Foundation Establishment Pills, which not only increased the success rate but also ensured that failure would not leave hidden dangers or cause a regression in cultivation.

Even Lan Ting, a disciple of the Immortal Palace, took a Foundation Establishment Pill when establishing her foundation.

She transmitted her voice, asking, "Did you use Foundation Establishment Pills when you established your foundations?"

Lu Yang shook his head. "Our philosophy for consuming elixirs is quite advanced. During Foundation Establishment, we directly consume the raw ingredients of the Foundation Establishment Pill, using our own bodies as cauldrons to refine them, allowing the medicinal effects to thoroughly dissolve into our meridians."

"Through research, we found that this method has the highest absorption efficiency for the medicinal effects."

"To reach this conclusion, the Seventh Elder of Pill Cauldron Peak repeatedly established his foundation a hundred times when he was young. The data is absolutely reliable."

"At that time, the Seventh Elder even earned the title of 'Strongest Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator.' Later, because his foundation was too solid, the Core Formation process was unusually painful, like suffering from gallstones."

Lan Ting was speechless.

While they were talking, the three Foundation Establishment Pills had already been auctioned off.

"Next up for auction is a transformation spell," the auctioneer announced, holding up the book Lu Yang had just consigned.

Lu Yang let out a soft exclamation and murmured to himself, in a voice just loud enough for Chi Xulong to hear, "Could this be the legendary book that hides..."

Chi Xulong, who had initially shown no interest in the book, became alert.