Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Marketplace Auction
Much like Master Tie, the High-grade Blacksmith of White Maple Mountain Marketplace, Xu Chang’an had become one of the living signboards of the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace.
Having a Quasi-second-rank Alchemist in residence took the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace’s business and reputation to a whole new level.
"Send word down. The original plan is canceled!"
The Ninth Elder of Lujiao Mountain, the Plum Deer Demon, gave a slight wave of his hand.
"Ninth Elder, if we cancel the plan, are we just going to let that Grey Rat’s one thousand Demon Stones go...?"
The Wild Beijing Spirit asked from the side, bowing and scraping respectfully.
"What else can we do but let it go?!
A Quasi-second-rank Alchemist... even though he’s not Lujiao Mountain’s own Alchemist.
His presence is of immense benefit to the Marketplace!
The Marketplace is the core of Lujiao Mountain’s future development. We can’t afford any mishaps!"
The Plum Deer Demon said coldly.
The previous recruitment attempt wasn’t just about one thousand Demon Stones.
It was a slap in the face, one he couldn’t get over.
But...
No matter how unwilling he was, there was nothing he could do.
The Foundation Establishment Great Demon of the mountain peak had already given the order: no more targeting the Gray Rat Alchemist from Langlang Mountain.
Besides his status as a Quasi-second-rank Alchemist, the reputation of that lioness from Lion’s Mane Cave had probably also played a significant role.
...
Business at the Langlang Mountain Elixir Workshop was also getting better and better.
Many surrounding Foundation Establishment Mountain Peak Influences and Independent Cultivator Great Demons came to do business.
They invited Xu Chang’an to refine corresponding Quasi-Tier Two Elixirs.
Langlang Mountain also searched for many Quasi-Tier Two Elixir refining methods for him.
Unfortunately, these were essentially useless to Xu Chang’an. His alchemist inheritance was complete and already included the refining techniques for basically all Quasi-Tier Two Elixirs.
After Xu Chang’an was promoted to a Quasi-second-rank Alchemist, Langlang Mountain immediately appointed him a Sequence Elder of Elder Peak, with a semi-annual stipend of one hundred Demon Stones and thirty bottles of Qi Replenishing Pills!
At the same time, they granted him full access to exchange for any resource in the Langlang Mountain Merit Hall!
The Second Great King of the mountain peak, the Sparrow Spirit, even met with him personally to offer some words of encouragement.
On Langlang Mountain, Xu Chang’an had now become a highly sought-after demon.
Among the Sequence Elders, apart from the Third Elder who was in charge, he was probably next in line.
「Two years passed in the blink of an eye.」
After several years of operation and development, the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace grew increasingly prosperous.
Every day, large numbers of demons came to buy and sell, with a huge volume of transactions taking place.
In recent days, rumors had spread through the Marketplace that a large-scale auction would be held in three months.
This would be the first true auction held by the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace since its establishment.
It was said that as the inaugural auction, its scale would be immense, and the items up for bid would be of extremely high quality.
Just from the rumors alone, rare resources such as Foundation Establishment Pills, Supreme-grade Magical Artifacts, Tier Two Demon Talismans, and Tier Two Arrays were said to be up for auction.
Once this news got out, trading within the Marketplace became even more vigorous.
Many cultivators brought their items, hoping to sell prized heirlooms.
They hoped to use this auction to successfully sell them off, convert them into resources, and obtain Guarding Methods.
Xu Chang’an also took this opportunity to feign going into seclusion for alchemy, while in reality, he concealed his aura and secretly left the Marketplace.
With his cultivation at the Peak of the Ninth Level of Qi Refining, it wasn’t a major issue to carefully avoid the Marketplace’s arrays.
He then assumed the identity of a Tiger Demon, sold off a large amount of resources, and successfully cashed in!
His Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivation attracted some attention afterward, but ultimately, he managed to get away cleanly.
According to his original plan, he was supposed to make a trip to Peacock Demon City.
However, in the last two years since his promotion to a Quasi-second-rank Alchemist, his fame in the Marketplace had grown too great, and he hadn’t been able to find an opportunity to go to the Demon City.
But now, taking advantage of the eve of the Marketplace auction, he had successfully cleared out his inventory.
「Third floor of the Langlang Mountain Elixir Workshop.」
Name: Xu Chang’an
Bloodline: Common Grey Rat (Ungraded)
Lifespan: 36 years
Realm: Qi Refining 9th Layer
Skills: Alchemy (Quasi-Tier Two)
Energy: (500/500)
...
Xu Chang’an shifted his gaze slightly, and the panel vanished.
In the past two years, since becoming a Quasi-Tier Two Alchemist, he had gained access to an increasing variety of Spirit Medicines and Spirit Plants.
As the grade of his alchemy and his refining opportunities increased, so too did the amount of Spirit Medicine he could absorb.
Combined with the increase in his stipend over the years and cashing in his previous gains,
all of these factors combined allowed the energy accumulated on his panel to reach 500.
He could break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm whenever he wanted.
’But I’m currently inside the Marketplace. It’s not the right time to break through.’
’I must find a chance to go out, find a hidden place to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, and become a Great Demon!’
A trace of joy flashed in Xu Chang’an’s eyes.
’It has been twenty years and eleven months since I started cultivating again.’
’In terms of my lifespan limit, compared to a normal Human Race Cultivator, I’ve already reached the ripe old age of seventy.’
’I’ve finally accumulated enough to reach this step!’
’But the more important the matter, the more I must remain calm and focused.’
’A breakthrough can’t be rushed!’
’Unlike breakthroughs between the minor realms of the Qi Refining Stage, breaking through from the Qi Refining Realm to the Foundation Establishment Realm is a breakthrough to a Great Realm.’
’The resulting Spiritual Qi fluctuations won’t be small, and it will last for a relatively long time.’
’If I break through, I’m afraid every demon in the entire Lujiao Mountain Marketplace will know.’
’That is not what I want!’
’A Gray Rat Demon like me, with an ungraded bloodline, becoming a Foundation Establishment Great Demon in just over twenty years...’
’Who would believe I didn’t have a fortuitous encounter?!’
’It’s too flashy, too conspicuous!’
’I’m afraid it might even attract the attention of a Demon King!’
’There’s a Spiritual Item that enhances bloodline aptitude up for auction. If the time is right, I must do my best to win it!’
’As an Alchemist, I naturally don’t lack a supply of elixirs.’
’Tier-Breaking Elixirs, which are incredibly hard for ordinary demons to obtain, are not difficult for me to acquire.’
’As long as my bloodline aptitude is passable, it would be logical and explainable for me to publicly break through to the Late-stage Qi Refining.’
’Not breaking through in my cultivation is fine for a short while.
But if I live too long, far exceeding the lifespan of an ordinary Mid-stage Qi Refining Gray Rat Demon, it will be far too suspicious.
Breaking through to the Late-stage Qi Refining would increase my lifespan limit, which would serve as a good excuse!’
’Exceeding my natural lifespan by a bit isn’t a huge deal.’
’As a Quasi-second-rank Alchemist, I can naturally get my hands on Tier One Lifespan Extension Pills.’
’A Tier One Lifespan Extension Pill can normally extend a demon’s life by 3-10 years, depending on the individual’s condition.’
’You can take it a maximum of three times, with diminishing effects each time!’
’I received a letter from the Yellow Wasp Spirit. He wants to use the Lujiao Mountain auction as an opportunity to catch up.
Xiong Da will also be coming over from Langlang Mountain then.’
’Speaking of which, Yu Ruyan sent a message a few months ago saying she had broken through to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.
She was supposed to come for a visit as we agreed, but something came up and she had to cancel!
I don’t know what it was exactly, she didn’t specify in the letter. It must have been something serious!
If I get the chance, I could make a trip to Red Cloud Mountain.
Once I reach Foundation Establishment, with the level of my Stealth Technique, even a Top-tier Great Demon won’t be able to see through my true strength!
Even a Demon King, if they were careless, shouldn’t be able to see through me!’
After a moment, Xu Chang’an added another thought.
’Hmm, no, that’s not safe. After all, I’ve never tested it directly against a Demon King. If I make a mistake, I’ll be doomed!
I’d better wait until I reach the Mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. It won’t be too late to go then!’
...
PS: Thank you to all the Daoist friends on the fan rankings for your support, including Humble Toddler, Glimmering Cloak, It’s Xia Xiaoqi!, Dark Ying, Zhao Dinghan, Path of the Dawn’s Light, and more~
(Due to limited space, this little demon can’t thank everyone by name.)
And to all the fellow Daoists behind the scenes who are constantly voting and following the story, thank you~
Thank you all~
The plot is about to get exciting, so let’s go~ Let’s get this party started~
By the way~
Should there be a female lead~?
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