Chapter 60 – Obtained at the Auction

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The day of the Sky Island Filial Moon City grand auction.

Jin So-myeong, who looked at the spirit stones piled like a mountain in his sub-space, nodded his head.

The preparation was finished.

Selling miscellaneous demonic beast byproducts and including the spirit stones mined from the Secret Realm of the Mind, he collected a total of two thousand—an enormous amount of mid-grade spirit stones.

“Whew.”

Rubing his hands in anticipation, he headed to the auction house.

Following the guide, he scanned the auction list in the second-floor VIP room where he arrived, and indeed, the grand auction held in a Golden Core-grade city had a different level.

‘They are selling Foundation Establishment spiritual objects too?’

Treasures that would cause a fuss if it were Red Yang Market were put up for auction indifferently.

‘There are also many cultivation methods.’

Perhaps because of the sea, there were many water-attribute spells. There was also a Rank 2 high-grade attack spell that caused a waterspout to devastate the surroundings, which was interesting.

At the moment when he scanned through the list of auction items,

‘Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art?’

His eyes widened. It was because he discovered an item he had not even thought of.

[A body tempering cultivation method that trains the inside of the body. Cultivation is difficult, but it is specialized in protecting the meridians, making it useful when dealing with violent secret techniques. However, since the first half is lost, it is recommended to use it only as an auxiliary cultivation method.]

Reading the explanation, he was convinced. It was clearly the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art he knew.

‘So the first half is lost…’

The Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art Jin So-myeong possessed happened to have its second half lost.

Although he could continue practicing thanks to the mastery system, he had felt a slight regret, but to discover the second half here.

He could only say he was lucky.

‘Miraculous. …Surely this isn’t also the effect of the Spiritual Seeking Talisman?’

It was absurd because no matter what happened, he suspected it might be the opportunity of the Spiritual Seeking Talisman.

Jin So-myeong, who chuckled, made a decision.

‘I should buy this too. However, I do not know if the spirit stones will be enough.’

He checked the dharma treasure section, which was his original purpose, on the auction list, and there were exactly three usable defensive dharma treasures.

A dharma robe, shield, and necklace.

In particular, the shield called the Black Armor Flying Shield was written to possess Rank 2 highest-grade defensive power, so he coveted it most.

‘Sucking breath… It seems it will be expensive.’

No matter how cheap the market prices on Sky Island were, defensive dharma treasures were precious anytime and anywhere.

In particular, it would be even more so in the Source Light Sea, which was always in a survival competition with demonic beasts.

Jingle!

When he shook the bell provided in the room, the guide of the auction host side approached quickly and bowed.

“Yes! Customer. Did you call.”

“Is it by any chance possible to also put my item up for auction? I have a quite decent spiritual herb.”

“If you only pay the commission, of course it is possible… however, in the case of spiritual herbs, rather than going through the trouble of putting it up for auction, it would be better to just sell it to our chamber.”

“Is that so? This is a spiritual herb called the Nourishing Jade Essence Flower, how many spirit stones will you give for it?”

Click.

Jin So-myeong opened the jade box that had been sealed with a talisman.

The moment the gorgeous spiritual herb possessing petals red as the sun was revealed,

the temperature inside the room surged rapidly at the thumping, pulsating vital energy and blazing heat.

“…A F-Foundation Establishment spiritual object!”

At the appearance of the last Nourishing Jade Essence Flower Jin So-myeong possessed,

the guide who opened his mouth wide stared at the spiritual herb with a burning gaze. It was because, as a Qi Condensation, it was what he desired most.

The guide who swallowed dry saliva was startled and bowed his head.

“Refined Appraiser. I will fetch the appraiser right away.”

A while later.

The mid-stage Foundation Establishment old man draped in a silk long robe admired while looking at the Nourishing Jade Essence Flower.

“Mmm! Excellent. Full of vital energy, it is indeed a highest-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual object. It seems specialized in protecting the physical body. Where did you obtain it?”

“I obtained it by chance, and it will be hard to get more.”

“That is regrettable…”

The appraiser, who was caressing his chin, spoke in a calm voice.

“Foundation Establishment spiritual objects usually sell for about two hundred to three hundred mid-grade spirit stones. It will probably be similar even if put up for auction.”

He paused at the lower price than expected, but was soon convinced.

Three hundred mid-grade spirit stones. If calculated in low-grade spirit stones, it was roughly thirty thousand.

It was a ridiculously expensive amount for a Qi Condensation cultivator who actually needed the Foundation Establishment spiritual object. It would likely be hard to collect even if they spent half their life.

He wondered if he shouldn’t sell it because it was too cheap, but the appraiser continued speaking.

“However, this spiritual herb has a unique part. If you sell it to us, we will give you four hundred mid-grade spirit stones. It just so happens that our merchant chamber’s elixir grandmaster is researching medicinal pills good for nourishment.”

“Mmm… Good.”

As his strength and income increased, the feeling of the treasure he had risked his life to obtain in the past becoming light was truly strange.

It felt proud because he realized how much stronger he had become, yet also slightly bittersweet.

Jin So-myeong, who stared blankly at the four hundred mid-grade spirit stones exchanged for the Foundation Establishment spiritual object, smirked.

There was no regret.

It was merely a scene he would repeatedly see countless times as he moved forward.

Just how long did he wait with his arms crossed?

The auction began!

In between, items not appearing on the auction list were also put up, and there were a few he wanted to buy.

‘Rank 2 low-grade Thunderbolt Talisman?’

Reading the explanation, it was written to be a talisman that summoned lightning of the early Foundation Establishment level.

It was ten mid-grade spirit stones per sheet, but he bought two sheets out of curiosity.

It was because he was curious whether he could deploy the Lightning Escape Art utilizing the lightning summoned by the talisman.

Subsequently.

what Jin So-myeong had targeted rose onto the stage.

“Next is the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art, Water and Fire Meridian Fusing Chapter ! This body tempering method is quite peculiar, containing a secret method that trains the meridians by colliding energies opposite to each other like fire and water. However, please note that it is incomplete as part of the Qi Condensation chapter is lost.”

“Wait. Exactly from which stage to which stage is this body tempering method practiceable?”

“From the late Qi Condensation stage to right before Core Formation.”

“Hmm… a meridian training method. It happens to be necessary for me.”

At the sparsely heard conversation,

Jin So-myeong, who had intended to purchase it thinking it was simply the second half of the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art, paused.

‘Water and Fire Meridian Fusing Chapter?’

To train the meridians utilizing fire and water…

He closely inspected the information additionally provided by the auction side, and the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art was a far more vast cultivation method than expected.

Organs, meridians, essence blood, bones, and so on.

Countless training methods had been fragmented and scattered in the world.

At any rate, there was no reason not to buy it.

“Although the drawback is that it requires many cultivation resources, it will be helpful to those who wish to practice secret techniques vulnerable to internal injuries. We will start from one hundred mid-grade spirit stones.”

“One hundred!”

The moment someone nameless called one hundred, he immediately jumped into the bidding.

“One hundred and fifty.”

“…One hundred and sixty.”

“Two hundred.”

Those who coveted the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art followed along, but he did not care.

He mechanically raised it by fifty continuously. Until everyone gave up.

Ultimately, the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art, Water and Fire Meridian Fusing Chapter fell into his hands at the price of four hundred mid-grade spirit stones.

‘Did I exchange it with the Foundation Establishment spiritual object.’

It was a satisfying transaction.

Watching the auction with a smile for a long while, the most anticipated moment finally approached.

“Now next is the core auction item, the Black Armor Flying Shield!”

At the auctioneer’s hand gesture, an ink-colored shield flew from behind the stage.

It was an appearance as if a turtle shell had been torn off entirely, and judging by the densely compressed spiritual power, it looked highly sturdy.

At the moment when the Black Armor Flying Shield, which flew drawing a parabola, was circling around the auctioneer,

Swish!

the shield struck away an arrow that flew by surprise from behind the stage. It was a movement as if trying to protect its master!

The auctioneer was not surprised at all despite being attacked.

Whether it was a staged scene, he just grinned and continued the explanation.

“As you can see, it possesses the function of floating around the master and automatically striking away attacks. Because it is made of the hard shell of the Armored Water Turtle, not a single scratch will form even against Rank 2 highest-grade spells.”

“Ho… Indeed.”

“Quite fast. It will block ordinary spells.”

Exclamations were heard from here and there.

“Then we will start the auction from eight hundred mid-grade spirit stones!”

“Nine hundred!”

“One thousand!”

Jin So-myeong, who was about to shout bids following the people, paused.

It was due to a doubt that flashed in his head.

‘Can that shield keep up with my speed?’

It floats around the master like a satellite and protects them. It sounded good, but the weakness was clear.

If the master was faster than the shield, it became almost meaningless.

Swish!

Staring closely at the shield flying through the air following the auctioneer’s gesture, he shook his head.

It was considerably fast, but…

if he displayed his full power, he was twice as fast as that shield.

‘It doesn’t suit me.’

It did not match his combat style of moving at a fast tempo and engaging in close combat.

The Black Armor Flying Shield was suitable for a cultivator who stood still and poured down long-range spells.

“One thousand two hundred!”

…

“One thousand seven hundred!”

Stepping back a pace from the fanatical heat, he recalled the remaining auction items.

Although a necklace and a dharma robe-type dharma treasure also remained, he did not like these much either.

The reason was simple.

Simply because they were weak.

The moment Jin So-myeong snapped his fingers, spiritual power that changed like a blade struck his own forearm, but…

Ting!

A sound as if metals clashed rang out. It meant his skin, which should have been soft, had already hardened to the level of a dharma treasure!

It was the result of steadily consuming the Steel Blood Tree fruits.

‘Absurd. To think it has become hard to obtain a usable dharma treasure because my physical body grew too strong.’

Clicking his tongue, he scanned the auction list again.

Just as he wondered if he should buy a good sword or something with the remaining spirit stones,

“Haha. Next is a surprise item. It is a dharma treasure not on the auction list, so everyone please pay attention.”

Shoes enveloped in red clouds rose onto the stage.

“These Blazing Cloud Shoes are a Rank 2 highest-grade dharma treasure specialized in short-distance movement. Clouds created by burning spiritual power assist your movements. Although the consumption of physical strength is heavy, it is just right for escaping at a dangerous moment.”

“Burning spiritual power?”

“…Then the risk of internal injury must be high.”

Whether he heard someone murmuring, the auctioneer admitted it cleanly.

“That is correct. Indeed, there are somewhat side effects. However, it is fast to that extent. If you wear these shoes, though only briefly, you can run at a late Foundation Establishment-grade speed.”

“It is indeed decent, but…”

“Haha. At a moment when your life is in danger, would you have the leisure to worry about side effects? These shoes will become a trump card. Now! We will start from six hundred mid-grade spirit stones!”

“One thousand!”

The moment the auction started, someone shouted loudly. It was Jin So-myeong, who shone his eyes.

“…One thousand one hundred.”

“One thousand five hundred!”

“Huh.”

Someone timidly followed along, but he immediately called one thousand five hundred.

Because he liked the Blazing Cloud Shoes the more he looked at them, he could absolutely not miss them.

At the resolute momentum, the entire auction house fell into silence. There were a few cultivators who twitched their mouths, but they soon gave up.

It was because the will to purchase it at all costs was revealed in Jin So-myeong’s voice.

“Everyone! Imagine. As long as you have these shoes, you will be able to escape at any moment!”

Whether the price of one thousand five hundred was not to his liking, the auctioneer old man urged them, but there was no subsequent bid.

Ultimately.

“Sigh. Customer who called one thousand five hundred, congratulations. You have obtained a good item cheaply.”

Along with grumbling complaints, the Blazing Cloud Shoes were delivered to Jin So-myeong’s room.

After paying the spirit stones, he tried them on immediately, and they pleased him perfectly.

‘Comfortable.’

A satisfied laugh escaped him on its own.

They adjusted in size automatically, fitting perfectly. There was no discomfort at all, making it feel as if he was not wearing shoes.

Firmly suppressing the urge to run immediately, he waited for the auction to end, and…

straightway went to the outskirts of the city.

Finding a moderately deserted place, he warmed up.

The moment he hopped in place and infused spiritual power,

Whoosh!

the spiritual power injected into the shoes returned through his meridians, holding intense heat.

Blood-red clouds bloomed from his body’s pores and supported him, and no matter how he moved, it assisted him naturally.

Tap!

The moment he lightly kicked off the ground, the surrounding scenery was pushed away rapidly.

It was fast enough that just falling down by mistake would cause heavy injuries! It was at a level difficult to control.

Running while gathering clouds at the soles of his feet, it felt like running on a resilient spring.

Jin So-myeong, who made a round of the city outskirts in almost an instant, smiled brightly.

‘Indeed!’

What he had expected was correct. Although the side effects of the Blazing Cloud Shoes were said to be severe, that was for ordinary cultivators.

For him, who was tempered by the body tempering cultivation method, it was not a problem at all!

The hot spiritual power that would have normally burned the meridians was merely lukewarm.

‘It is perfect for me.’

Jin So-myeong could now run at a late Foundation Establishment-grade speed.

If he combined this with the Lightning Escape Art and the Wind Control Art, he did not know how fast he would be.

After getting used to the speed while making a round of the city as if taking a stroll, he returned to his cave dwelling.

The remaining period until the Ascending Immortal Tournament was one month.

To digest the treasures obtained from the auction, he had to move busily.

***

Just how many times did the sun rise and set?

Numerous crowds gathered at Filial Moon City of Sky Island.

It was because today was the very day the qualifiers ended, and the Ascending Immortal Tournament began in earnest!