...
Evening, on the bed.
Huang Wangyou leaned against Chen Sheng's shoulder, the couple talking about everyday life.
With Chen Sheng's years of support and diligent encouragement.
Although Huang Wangyou was lazy, she didn't give up on cultivation.
Two years ago, she officially broke through to the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer.
At this moment.
Huang Wangyou suddenly spoke:
"Brother Yun, the Cyan Wood Commerce Association sent an invitation."
"After March, there will be a major auction held every ten years, rumored to feature Foundation Establishment Pills this time."
Chen Sheng shook his head:
"It might just be a gimmick."
"As for the Foundation Establishment Pill, there's no need for us to think about it; even if they exist, the three major clans would have snapped them all up."
"But, since it's a once-in-a-decade event, maybe there will be a few more Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects."
Huang Wangyou sighed softly:
"Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects, we can only look at them, we can't afford them."
"Anything related to the Foundation Establishment Upper Realm is sky-high priced."
Huang Wangyou is the head housekeeper and is well aware of the household expenses.
Thanks to the presence of the High Grade Beneficial Technique Pill, the Pill Workshop now has an annual income of around three thousand spirit stones.
It's a high number, enough to purchase one or two ordinary Top Grade Magical Artifacts.
But the price of Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects is much higher.
A price of two or three thousand spirit stones is common; it would take us ten years of saving without eating or drinking.
But not eating or drinking is impossible.
The family's daily cultivation, magical artifacts, magic robes, and Huang Yueyang's alchemy research.
Everything requires money.
Chen Sheng chuckled lightly:
"Let's slowly accumulate, Chen'Er is still young, maybe there will be opportunities in the future."
"Let's go look together; even if we can't buy anything, it's good to gain some experience."
Huang Wangyou nodded upon hearing this.
She suddenly had a thought and said:
"By the way, Brother Yun, do you remember the Vascular Protection Pill from the last auction?"
Chen Sheng raised an eyebrow immediately:
"How could I forget, it's a Tier One Elixir, costing three thousand spirit stones each, truly shocking."
Huang Wangyou smiled gently:
"It can save your life, it's worth the price."
For most cultivators.
Foundation Establishment is an endeavor taken with a determination to risk life.
There are only two possibilities: either you die or succeed!
The Vascular Protection Pill.
Was developed by an Alchemy Master.
Specifically used to preserve the body's meridians after a failed Foundation Establishment attempt, keeping a person alive.
Chen Sheng nodded:
"However, this Vascular Protection Pill also has drawbacks."
"There's a saying: strike while the iron is hot; a second attempt falters, and a third is exhausted."
"Taking this pill, the spirit of the Upper Realm is greatly diminished, and the probability of breakthrough decreases significantly."
Huang Wangyou smiled lightly:
"Without the aid of Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects, the probability is low to begin with, a little lower doesn't matter."
"If it really comes to that, we'll just buy a Vascular Protection Pill."
"Success or not is another matter; keeping life is the most important."
Chen Sheng held her hand, feeling the warmth of her palm:
"Alright, I'll listen to you."
"Once we reach Qi Cultivation Perfection, we'll take a Vascular Protection Pill to at least save our lives."
Huang Wangyou was delighted to hear this.
Her mentioning the Vascular Protection Pill was precisely for this reason.
She knew her husband's strong ambition of pursuing the Dao.
He wouldn't be content without trying once.
But with their qualifications, the success rate was extremely low.
Therefore.
Huang Wangyou set her expectations very low.
Not seeking to successfully reach the Upper Realm, only to survive.
...
Another two months passed.
Chen Sheng sat cross-legged on the meditation mat.
A purple wooden box lay in front of him, filled with blue elixir pills — Beneficial Technique Pills.
In two months.
He had consumed seven Beneficial Technique Pills in succession, reaching the limit for this pill.
At this moment.
His aura was far beyond the early Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.
His mana was abundant, reaching the late Seventh Layer, nearing the peak.
Chen Sheng introspected the mana in his dantian and sighed softly:
"Indeed, consuming pills is faster!"
"Saved seven or eight years of effort."
He then operated the Qi Refining Technique, feeling many obstructions in his meridians, a discomfort throughout his body.
He knew this was caused by the accumulation of impurities from pill toxins.
After circulating his energy for two cycles, he felt slightly relieved.
"First settle down for a few years, expel the pill toxins and impurities from my body."
"Cultivate to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, and then seek other Enhancing Technique Elixirs."
Chen Sheng slowly planned in his heart.
...
Time passed, another month went by.
The auction day had arrived.
One invitation could admit three people.
Cyan Wood Treasure Tower.
Thousands of pearls embedded under the ebony dome illuminated the pavilion like daylight.
The air was mixed with the scent of expensive incense.
Huang Yueyang, Chen Sheng, and Huang Wangyou presented their invitation and entered the auction.
As soon as the three sat down.
They could feel the auras of various strengths and weaknesses around them.
There were few mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators, mostly late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, and quite a few experts at Qi Cultivation Great Perfection.
Many familiar faces from the various market towns.
There were also some figures in black robes with masks, unwilling to reveal their identities.
In the eastern private boxes, there were several deep auras.
"Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator!"
The trio of Chen Sheng exchanged glances.
Knowing immediately that the rumors of the Foundation Establishment Pill were likely true.
Within a thousand-mile radius, there were only a handful of well-known Foundation Establishment cultivators.
And they were probably all here now.
Presiding over the auction was a hunched old man, leaning on a cane.
His aura was equally deep, clearly a Foundation Establishment expert as well.
"I am Sun Nanbing, the seventh shopkeeper of the Cyan Wood Commerce Association, and I will be presiding over this auction."
With such an expert presiding, the audience immediately quieted down.
The auction quickly began.
Magical artifacts, spiritual materials, talismans...
A variety of items filled the stage one after another.
The bidding voices from the audience rose and fell.
Chen Sheng raised his paddle three times in total.
Two successes, one failure.
He finally spent thirteen hundred spirit stones on a set of Top Grade Sword Technique.
And eight hundred and seventy spirit stones to buy a 'Face Stabilizing Pill' for his wife.
Huang Yueyang fancied a Pill Formula, but the price was too high, so he reluctantly gave up.
In the final moments.
It was the auction of the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects and the Foundation Establishment Pill.
A total of four Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects was presented.
Three of them ended up with the esteemed guests in the private boxes.
Only one went to a black-robed cultivator in the audience.
Among the four Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects.
The cheapest was Celestial Cyan Spirit Water, which could cleanse the cultivator's qi and blood, increasing Foundation Establishment probability by one tenth.
It went for two thousand three hundred spirit stones.
The most expensive spiritual object was the Three Elements Divine Pill, a Tier Two Elixir.
This pill could help a cultivator develop divine sense, increasing Foundation Establishment probability by one and a half tenths, with a final price of three thousand one hundred spirit stones.
The climax came with the final item, the "Foundation Establishment Pill"!
"This Foundation Establishment Pill was refined by Master Guyuan, boasting eighty percent potency, increasing Foundation Establishment probability by three and a half tenths."
"Starting at forty thousand spirit stones!"
With its appearance, there was no sound from the audience.
All offers came from the private boxes.
"Forty thousand one!"
"Forty thousand two!"
"Forty six thousand!"...
The bidding voices were steady and cold.
Each increment sent waves of gasps throughout the hall.
Ultimately, the Zhou Clan of Yuquan, with a staggering sixty-seven thousand spirit stones, claimed it.
The fierce competition left the trio of Chen Sheng awestruck.
In one of the private boxes.
A white-browed elder snorted lightly:
"Old Ghost Zhou won't live much longer, thinking he can make one last push, it's not that easy!"
...
After the auction ended.
Only Huang Wangyou was somewhat displeased:
"There wasn't a Vascular Protection Pill this time!"
Chen Sheng chuckled softly:
"It's not a Foundation Establishment Pill, it's rare on display, we'll encounter it eventually."