Another year has passed.
The Cyan Wood Commerce Association is holding its annual auction.
Although it's just a small auction,
the number of items and participants far exceeds that of larger auctions.
However, the quality is far from comparable.
No invitations needed, almost no threshold!
Most of the attendees are Qi Cultivators from around the Market.
A mix of people, numerous in number.
At the four corners of the auction hall,
a total of eight large doors swung open simultaneously.
Only then could the massive flow of people be accommodated.
At this moment,
inside the auction hall,
the faint scent of sandalwood mixed with the mana aura of cultivators of various levels circulated in the air.
The crowd was bustling, the atmosphere particularly lively.
The sound of voices was like boiling water.
A yellow-clothed cultivator on the east side had just raised his bidding paddle.
Someone on the west side immediately followed, shouting to increase the bid.
"One hundred twenty Spirit Stones!"
"One hundred thirty Spirit Stones!"
Several cultivators turned red in the face.
"Add five more! This Qi Condensing Grass is mine for sure!"
"One hundred thirty-five Lower Grade Spirit Stones!"
Chen Sheng sat in the middle row of the VIP seats.
He gently fiddled with a delicate and small Jade Pendant between his fingers.
He watched the scene with a calm expression.
These items were useful for ordinary Mid-stage Qi Cultivators.
For him, they were already beneath notice.
He just calmly listened to the steward announce each auction item.
Only when something of interest appeared,
would he raise his paddle.
"Next is lot ninety-seven — three Late-stage Qi Cultivation Puppets."
The steward lifted the red cloth.
The stage immediately revealed three humanoid puppets, each eight feet tall.
Each clad in iron armor, wearing masks, holding bronze swords, with a faint blue light flickering in their eyes.
They appeared terrifying and fierce.
The steward hosting the auction quickly began the introduction:
"The puppets are equipped with simple spirit cores, capable of wielding swords against enemies, and can operate for three hours."
"These three puppets are crafted from Thousand-Year Copper Essence and various rare materials."
"With proper maintenance, they can last for hundreds of years."
The host emphasized the advantages of these items with a heightened tone.
And then quoted the price:
"The three are auctioned together, with a starting bid of one thousand eight hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones."
Chen Sheng's fingers paused.
He looked at the three bronze puppets on the stage, and his heart was moved.
This type of Qi Cultivation Puppet was just a basic model, not considered sophisticated.
Because Qi Cultivators lack Divine Sense, they cannot finely maneuver them.
This kind of puppet can only act according to preset commands, appearing somewhat rigid.
Though they are Late-stage Qi Cultivation Puppets,
they are far inferior to genuine Late-stage Qi Cultivators.
"However, dealing with ordinary early and mid-stage cultivators shouldn't be a problem."
"And their loyalty is not a concern, which makes them suitable guardians for the early stages of my next life."
Chen Sheng thought secretly.
At this moment,
these three puppets had already caught the attention of many in attendance.
A red-faced clan leader from a Qi Cultivation Clan's eyes lit up:
"If I acquire these, I won't have to worry about the family's continuity."
"I must win them!"
He immediately raised his paddle to make a bid:
"One thousand eight hundred!"
Someone on the west side immediately followed suit, their eyes equally shining.
"One thousand nine hundred!"
When the price climbed to two thousand five hundred, the bidding voices grew sparse.
The red-faced cultivator excitedly pounded the table, loudly raising his paddle and shouting:
"Two thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones."
He increased the bid by three hundred Spirit Stones in one go, showing a determination to win.
After these words, the room fell silent.
The previous competitors shook their heads, putting down their paddles.
Evidently feeling that the three puppets weren't worth the price.
On witnessing this scene,
the red-faced cultivator slowly exhaled, relaxing his mindset, and a hint of pride appeared on his face.
The steward held the auction hammer and shouted:
"Any higher bids?"
"Two thousand eight hundred, going once..."
Right at this moment,
Chen Sheng slowly raised his paddle and offered a price:
"Three thousand Spirit Stones!"
As soon as these words were spoken,
the red-faced cultivator was immediately furious, about to start cursing.
He glanced at Chen Sheng.
He immediately closed his mouth.
He didn't know Chen Sheng, but he noticed the VIP seat where Chen Sheng was sitting,
and Chen Sheng's calm eyes fixed on him.
The aura of Qi Cultivation Great Perfection was fully revealed.
The red-faced cultivator's heart pounded wildly, realizing he couldn't afford to offend him.
He could only suppress his anger, clasp his fists and bow his head, forcing a smile, and put down the paddle.
Not long after,
the steward called out three times, and the gavel "thumped" down:
"Congratulations to the sixth VIP for winning this item!"
The auction continued.
Several more centerpiece items appeared subsequently.
However, none caught Chen Sheng's eye.
Chen Sheng shook his head:
"The quality of small auctions is indeed lacking."
...
Pill Workshop.
Chen Sheng patted the Storage Pouch.
A Jade Scroll appeared in his hand.
This came with the puppets as an operational manual.
His Spiritual Sense explored it.
Chen Sheng soon understood:
"The operation is quite simple."
Patting the Storage Pouch again,
several tall bronze puppets materialized in the courtyard, standing in a row, their eyes dim and without light.
Chen Sheng reached out and lightly touched a hidden groove on the puppet's back, which was significantly thickened, engraved with various runes.
This was where the spirit core was located.
The source of the puppet's abilities.
Beside it was embedded a piece of Lower Grade Spirit Stone.
This was the core power source of the puppet.
He examined them closely.
He also found intricate gears at the joints, appearing quite sophisticated, keeping the puppets from being rigid.
Chen Sheng nodded slightly:
"First, refine and recognize as the master."
With this in mind, he lightly slashed with his fingertip.
Three drops of crimson essence blood oozed from his skin, hovering in mid-air.
"Go!"
Chen Sheng pinched out the first mantra seal.
The essence blood at the fingertips suddenly transformed into hair-thin red threads, wrapping around the core of each puppet.
"Refine!"
Chen Sheng thought in his heart.
He injected a wisp of Spiritual Sense along the bloodline into the spirit core.
Engraving into the core, instantly refining, successfully recognizing as the master.
Soon after,
a peculiar sensation emerged.
Chen Sheng immediately felt as if his consciousness extended outwards.
The three puppets before him,
seemed to transform into marionettes in his hands.
"Rise."
With a thought,
Chen Sheng flicked his fingers.
A wisp of mana entered the foreheads of the three puppets.
The eyes of the three sword-wielding puppets suddenly lit up.
All emitted a blue glow,
and they all flexibly raised their swords in a defensive stance.
"Form up."
Chen Sheng changed to another mantra seal.
The three puppets suddenly moved forward in formation.
Their steps neat, like guards.
"Practice the Sword Array."
He pinched another spell.
The three puppets immediately swung their bronze swords, beginning to practice swordsmanship together.
The tips of the swords sliced through the air, creating a dense sound of wind.
The puppets positioned themselves in a triad, sword lights crisscrossing.
The sword array began to form,
tight and seamlessly, filled with lethal intent.
Chen Sheng's eyes immediately lit up:
"The swordsmanship is rather mechanical, but this sword array is quite decent."
"Ordinary late-stage cultivators caught in the sword array's encirclement would not fare well."
"However, the puppet's movements are stiff; no cultivator is foolish enough to fall into the encirclement."
Next,
Chen Sheng continued to test the puppets' attack and defense capabilities.
Eventually concluding:
"The attack barely meets the threshold of a Late-stage Qi Cultivator, yet the methods are simple and stiff."
"The defense is quite good, comparable to a Middle Grade Protection Spell Shield, worthy of being made from Thousand-Year Copper Essence."
"These puppets are adequate for early-stage opponents."
"As my cultivation grows in the later stages, these puppets can also serve as shields, enriching strategies in magical combat."
"Three thousand Spirit Stones were fairly worth it."