Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Respective Schemes
After the auction for the Supreme-grade Magical Artifact concluded, the event officially reached its climax.
"Fellow Daoists, allow me to now present the grand finale of this auction.
The Foundation Establishment Pill!"
The Mountain Deer Spirit’s voice was filled with excitement.
"This Foundation Establishment Pill up for auction today was personally refined by Master Luo of Peacock Demon City.
It has been authenticated by multiple parties and is a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill!
The starting bid is ten thousand Demon Stones, and each increment must be no less than two hundred Demon Stones.
Let the bidding begin!"
A genuine Foundation Establishment Pill!
At the auction, the emotions of the crowd of demons were running incredibly high.
Even those who knew they had no hope of winning the bid couldn’t help but get swept up in the atmosphere.
A Foundation Establishment Pill!
That was the key to becoming a Foundation Establishment Great Demon!
Once one became a Foundation Establishment Great Demon, their identity and status would undergo a qualitative change.
More importantly, their lifespan would increase dramatically!
At that moment, three Foundation Establishment Great Demons appeared on the stage, taking up positions in three different directions to guard the Foundation Establishment Pill at the center.
The Foundation Establishment Pill was exceptionally precious, and the people of Lujiao Mountain feared any mishaps.
Dispatching three Foundation Establishment Great Demons at once was a show of force meant to intimidate.
In addition to the three on stage, the auras of two other Lujiao Mountain Foundation Establishment Great Demons could be felt responding from a distance, ready to act at a moment’s notice.
"Eleven thousand Demon Stones!"
A Foundation Establishment Great Demon in one of the private boxes made a bid.
A Foundation Establishment Pill could absolutely serve as part of a faction’s foundation.
Even Foundation Establishment Great Demons were in desperate need of them.
"Twelve thousand Demon Stones!"
"Twelve thousand five hundred Demon Stones!"
"..."
The bidding on the floor was extremely fierce.
During the process, Jin Yuanba of Langlang Mountain also participated in the bidding several times.
However, the price increases later became too outrageous, and he had no choice but to give up.
Xu Chang’an, however, noticed that when Jin Yuanba announced he was withdrawing from the auction, the Third Elder’s expression in the box dimmed.
If Langlang Mountain had won this Foundation Establishment Pill and placed it in the Merit Hall,
...based on his cultivation and seniority, the Third Elder would have had the best chance of redeeming it.
After several rounds of fierce competition, the Foundation Establishment Pill was finally auctioned off to a Foundation Establishment Great Demon in box number two for a price of eighteen thousand six hundred Demon Stones.
According to Jin Yuanba, the mountain faction this Foundation Establishment Great Demon belonged to had three Foundation Establishment Great Demons overseeing it.
In terms of overall strength in the surrounding region, their mountain was second only to Lujiao Mountain.
"Now that they’ve won the Foundation Establishment Pill, I’m afraid they’re about to produce another Foundation Establishment Great Demon!"
Jin Yuanba sighed.
With Langlang Mountain’s current resources, they could have made a strained attempt to win this Foundation Establishment Pill if they had insisted.
However, it would have required selling off a significant amount of their assets.
For example, they would have had to sell several of their shops in the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace.
Even if they did get the Foundation Establishment Pill, there was no hundred-percent guarantee that someone in Langlang Mountain would successfully become a Foundation Establishment Great Demon.
Furthermore, Langlang Mountain’s situation was currently stable. Adding another Great Demon who had just reached Foundation Establishment would be helpful, but not by much.
On the contrary, it would have been a major blow, draining their foundational resources and hindering the mountain’s expansion and development.
As such, it wasn’t worth it.
Factions that thought like Langlang Mountain were not in the minority.
A faction’s accumulated wealth wasn’t as simple as just Demon Stones.
It was composed more of profit-generating entities and strategic assets.
The only exception would be if a faction had only one Foundation Establishment Great Demon who was approaching the end of their lifespan and about to pass away.
Only then would they bid for the Foundation Establishment Pill at any cost; otherwise, they wouldn’t go to such lengths.
Xu Chang’an’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the high price the Foundation Establishment Pill ultimately sold for.
The Foundation Establishment Pill was a Tier-Breaking Elixir, which required a Tier Two Middle Grade Alchemist to refine.
Coupled with the rarity of its primary and supplementary ingredients, the barrier to refining it was quite high.
But no matter what, being able to refine it meant massive profits.
’If I can become a Second Order Middle Grade Alchemist and master the refining method for the Foundation Establishment Pill, the profits would be endless!’
’The rate at which my panel accumulates Energy would reach a whole new level!’
’A Tier Two Alchemist...’
...
With the final handover of the grand finale item, the Foundation Establishment Pill, this session of the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace auction officially came to a close.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Outside the venue, the sound of tearing through the air rang out repeatedly.
Many demons who had won their desired items left one after another.
They were afraid that if they lingered, they would be targeted by demons with ill intentions.
"Fellow Daoists, we’ll meet again! HAHAHA..."
The Foundation Establishment Great Demon who had won the Foundation Establishment Pill bid farewell to the Foundation Establishment Great Demons of Lujiao Mountain, his voice booming and his face wreathed in smiles.
He was in an excellent mood, having been able to win the Foundation Establishment Pill.
This Great Demon transformed into a streak of rainbow light and shot toward the horizon. Not far away, two other streaks of rainbow light appeared and rendezvoused with him.
Clearly, the Foundation Establishment Pill was of great importance, as two other Foundation Establishment Great Demons had come to escort it.
Only in this way could they ensure a smooth journey back!
"Let’s go."
After exchanging pleasantries and bidding farewell to the Foundation Establishment Great Demons of Lujiao Mountain, Jin Yuanba said to the Elders of Langlang Mountain.
Langlang Mountain hadn’t come away empty-handed this time; they had won two auction items, adding to their foundation.
Xu Chang’an followed the other Elders and left the auction house with Jin Yuanba.
Before leaving, he glanced back at the auction hall.
’She didn’t leave the Marketplace directly. Is she planning to stay the night!?’
’Or...’
The little lioness from Lion’s Mane Cave had not left after the auction; she was still inside.
...
After walking out of the auction, the Elephant Demon greeted a few Foundation Establishment Great Demons.
Transforming into a streak of rainbow light, he left the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace directly.
However, once he was a good distance away, he concealed his aura and quietly returned to the vicinity of the Marketplace.
’Little girl, don’t blame me!’
’If you must blame someone, blame yourself for snatching something that belonged to Lord Xiang!’
Hiding behind a large rock and concealing his presence, the Elephant Demon scanned the auras around the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace, his gaze sinister.
’That little girl from Lion’s Mane Cave only became a Foundation Establishment Great Demon a little over a year ago. At most, she’s barely managed to consolidate her Foundation Establishment Realm. It’s unlikely she has even reached Minor Achievement.’
’With my cultivation at the peak of early-stage Foundation Establishment, an ambush will be more than enough to crush her!’
’If my senses aren’t mistaken, that little girl came to the Marketplace for the auction alone.’
’Once she leaves the Marketplace and reaches a secluded spot, it won’t be too late to make my move!’
...
After leaving the auction house, Jin Yuanba did not linger in the Marketplace.
Instead, he prepared to leave the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace directly.
Jin Ling’Er hadn’t returned to Langlang Mountain in a long time, so she took this opportunity to travel back with Jin Yuanba.
Speaking of which, it had also been several years since Xu Chang’an had returned to Langlang Mountain.
Jin Yuanba asked if Xu Chang’an wanted to return with them as well.
Xu Chang’an had "important business" to attend to; how could he possibly return to Langlang Mountain at such a critical juncture?
He immediately stated that his mind was preoccupied with the refining method for the Lifespan Extension Pill and that he needed to enter seclusion to quietly study and comprehend it, so he wouldn’t be returning to Langlang Mountain for now.
He said it wouldn’t be too late to return to Langlang Mountain after he made some initial progress in reverse-engineering the Lifespan Extension Pill.
Jin Yuanba seemed very satisfied and understanding of Xu Chang’an’s answer.
A Grey Rat’s bloodline and aptitude were poor. Without such character and spirit, it would have been impossible for him to achieve the rank of a Quasi-second-rank Alchemist.
After offering a few words of encouragement to Xu Chang’an, he finally stated that...
...Xu Chang’an could take one Lifespan Extension Pill first to experience its effects.
The remaining two could then be used for detailed research.
If he needed any help, he should just ask.
Xu Chang’an, of course, readily agreed to everything.
...
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