Chapter 172: Body Tempering · Auction · A Gentleman Fulfills Others' Wishes

Chapter 172 Body Tempering · Auction · A Gentleman Fulfills Others' Wishes

Yuan Ci Peak.

Xiao Chen deliberately rose at Mao Hour (5-7 AM) to step into the courtyard, where he began striking various poses beneath the Dawn Sunlight.

It was said this practice enhanced Body Tempering, though its exact principles remained unclear and its effects varied from person to person.

In short, it sounded dubious.

Yet the Tie Xinweng family had trained this way for generations, treating it as their Family Inherited Technique. Xiao Chen thus mimicked their methods, following their example like a gourd imitates a ladle.

This marked the sixth day of his cultivation of the Nine Strengths Mountain Shifting Method, and he had already reached the sixth vital energy surge.

His progress couldn’t be called meteoric, but it was certainly astronomical.

If this pace continued, he’d reach the ninth vital energy surge within days.

But the problem was that his rapid early progress relied heavily on his existing mid-stage foundation building Body Cultivation realm.

Now that 90% of his latent potential had been exhausted, his cultivation pace had inevitably slowed.

At this point, it meant seeking external supplementation of vital energy.

“This has been stewing for three days and nights. It should’ve reached the right consistency by now.”

A Bronze Cauldron, borrowed temporarily by Xiao Chen, now stood in the courtyard—ten feet tall and glowing faintly red.

Inside simmered tiger bone, cut into one-inch cubes.

Floating beside them were fifty kilograms of Yellow Beef, exuding a rich, meaty aroma.

According to Tie Xinweng’s experience, adding spices like scallions, ginger, or garlic could also work.

But one rule was absolute: whatever was added, broth and all, had to be consumed entirely.

If spices were used, even those had to be swallowed and absorbed.

Thus, Xiao Chen had deliberately omitted ginger—he disliked it.

After cultivating vital energy for two hours, his stomach was hollow.

He grabbed a piece of beef from the pot and devoured it in two bites.

This was no ordinary beef, but Spirit Bull meat specially bred by the Du family, possessing a cultivation realm of great perfection.

Soaked in the broth, it dissolved into a surging torrent of heat within his belly.

Guided by the cultivation manual, it rushed to fuse into his limbs and bones, fueling a rapid rise in vital energy.

Over the next two days, Xiao Chen scarcely paused.

He was either refining vital energy through the manual or devouring meat and broth.

He stuffed every shred of beef, bone, broth, and seasoning into his stomach.

The sheer volume of nourishment flushed his skin red, warmed his cheeks, ignited his eyes, and steamed his scalp.

If Tie Xinweng witnessed this scene, he’d likely drop his jaw in shock.

While Body Cultivation required progress, it also strictly forbade gluttony.

Consuming this much exceeded the limits of the Nine Strengths Mountain Shifting Method.

Yet with his hex’s enhancement, Xiao Chen’s refinement speed had multiplied tenfold—and he still felt he had reserves to spare.

He casually retrieved a bottle of fuhu spiritual water from his storage bag and downed it in three gulps.

Then, planting his feet in a horse-riding stance, he began channeling vital energy to permeate his bones and muscles.

Had an outsider watched, they’d see fist-sized bulges ripple beneath his skin, merging and expanding rapidly.

It looked grotesque at first glance, yet it was perfectly safe.

Failure to guide the energy properly would let these knots swell until they exploded with a “pop,” spewing vital energy and leaving lingering damage.

But to cultivate slowly and methodically would waste the hex’s effects.

Besides, Xiao Chen had Golden-threaded Honey as a safety net.

A timely application could control injuries if accidents occurred.

By dawn the next day, fortune favored him—no mishaps arose.

As new morning light spilled in, Xiao Chen’s eyes snapped open, black pupils flashing with a sudden burst of sharp light.

He clasped his hands together, slowly lifting them upward, then pressing them downward to cradle his dantian.

This simple motion triggered a cacophony of popping sounds across his body, as if every bone cheered.

He inhaled deeply, then exhaled forcefully.

“Boom!”

The airwave rolled forward, slamming into the nearby Bronze Cauldron, shaking it violently.

“Crack!”

The cauldron’s leg nearest Xiao Chen shattered instantly.

The three-meter-tall vessel tilted toward him.

He hastily raised a hand to block, only to pierce two large holes through the two-inch-thick cauldron surface.

“Bang!”

The cauldron collapsed, trapping him inside.

“What the—? I didn’t even use force.”

Xiao Chen studied his hands. His skin looked tighter, but otherwise unchanged.

Even his physique remained largely the same.

Cloaked in his robe, he resembled a frail scholar.

Yet when he tore off a bronze fragment and squeezed it, the once-solid Secret-forged Bronze felt like soft clay.

“This… this isn’t what the books described?”

Frowning slightly, Xiao Chen muttered, “Unless the Secret-forged Bronze quality was flawed, my strength has grown too fast for my control.”

Normally, the Nine Strengths Mountain Shifting Method’s techniques allowed precise control, like moving one’s own limbs.

But clearly, its creator hadn’t anticipated enhancements like hexes.

Thus, despite cultivating the heart sutra, Xiao Chen couldn’t fully command his power.

His vital energy far surpassed peers of the same realm.

What was this, if not a “blessing” of overpowered cultivation?

For the next five days, Xiao Chen struggled to adapt to his new strength.

The adjustment proved more complicated than imagined.

The tiger bones continued their effects relentlessly.

He’d underestimated their potency initially, having never consumed such ingredients before.

For the first three days, even without active cultivation, his vital energy grew nearly 10% daily.

The next two days saw a drop to 5%.

In total, his vital energy surged by 40%.

Consequently, his physical strength, amplified by the hex, quadrupled.

Secret-forged Bronze, once malleable as clay in his hands, now crumbled like sand at a touch.

In reality, his vital energy intensity surpassed the ninth vital energy surge, nearing the peak of what a Foundation Building cultivator’s Body Cultivation could achieve.

In reality, his vital energy intensity surpassed the ninth surge, nearing the peak of what a Foundation Building cultivator’s Body Cultivation could achieve.

Massive reserves of energy remained untapped, blocked by his cultivation bottleneck.

Thanks to this bottleneck, his growth stabilized.

After another day of effort, he finally regained precise control over his body.

No longer would he accidentally crush anything he touched.

He finally opened the door, long overdue.

A cultivator stood guard outside, respectfully handing him a letter.

It was an auction notice from Qiu Qichen, delivered by proxy.

Xiao Chen checked the date. The three-day auction had concluded yesterday.

This timing suited him fine.

He’d already secured his desired items in advance. Now, he could collect his spirit stones directly.

First, though, he needed to compensate for the broken Bronze Cauldron.

He fabricated an excuse—“furnace explosion.”

Hmm?

The equipment custodian was a Yao family Foundation Building cultivator. Hearing this, he blinked, puzzled. How could a lidless cauldron explode?

Still, he smiled, “Cultivator Xiao needn’t worry. Just an old cauldron. I’ll have disciples clean it up later.”

Xiao Chen waved a hand, “No need. I’ve already cleared the debris myself.”

“Fellow Cultivator Yao, please name a price. Damaging property demands payment.”

They haggled briefly.

The other party relented, “Since you insist, eight hundred spirit stones.”

“The labor cost isn’t much—add a hundred.”

“The Secret-forged Bronze itself is premium defense material. That much would be worth about seven hundred.”

Xiao Chen generously paid eight hundred spirit stones.

No need to haggle over such a small sum—better to avoid owing a favor.

Then, he flew on his sword to Xianghe Bazaar.

Perhaps because the auction had just ended, cultivators still bustled in and out.

Han Ziyan, who’d arrived five days earlier, finally spotted her target.

As Yaoshang Zhenren’s disciple, she’d naturally received the Holy Sect spy’s contact and command authority.

She’d assumed Xiao Chen wouldn’t miss the auction.

She’d come early, mobilizing forces to orchestrate a conflict.

The plan: stage a fake struggle over auction items with other cultivators, sparking a chase.

But the man hadn’t appeared for three days, foiling both her schemes.

She’d even lost thousands of spirit stones pretending to bid at the auction.

“Cultivator Xiao, these four xunmei gushen herbs fetched eleven thousand spirit stones—more than we predicted.”

Inside Qiu Manor, Qiu Qichen excitedly presented a list to Xiao Chen.

“And this magic shield sold for eight thousand.”

“These forty-three storage bags averaged over three hundred each—totaling thirteen thousand nine hundred.”

Xiao Chen interrupted, “Fellow Cultivator Qiu, you needn’t list every detail. Just tell me the total.”

His suggestion was immediately rejected.

“No way! Accounts must be clear and precise.”

Qiu Qichen continued reading, “Qimen Sancai Formation’s array formation blueprint sold for nine hundred.”

“Seven-colored Spirit Incense went for one thousand and twenty.”

“Finally, the Top-grade Treasure Divining Compass fetched three thousand two hundred.”

“Totaling seventy-five thousand seven hundred forty spirit stones.”

He handed the list to Xiao Chen, “Check it again, Fellow Cultivator Xiao. Confirm the numbers.”

Xiao Chen had already tallied mentally.

He’d expected around sixty-eight thousand. This result exceeded expectations.

He’d miscalculated the xunmei gushen price.

He wondered which wounded cultivator had paid such a premium.

“Fellow cultivator Qiu explained everything so thoroughly, I suppose there’s no need for further calculations.”

“Now that we’re discussing this, I’ve been too busy cultivating to attend the auction myself. I’m truly grateful Fellow cultivator helped out.”

Qiu Qichen smiled. “It was Fellow cultivator Xiao’s willingness to provide the Spirit Herb that truly aided me.”

So saying, he handed over a storage bag. “Since the accounts are settled, this contains exactly seventy-five thousand seven hundred and forty spirit stones. Please accept it, Fellow cultivator Xiao.”

Hmm?

Xiao Chen took the bag and checked its contents. The quantity was spot-on.

Wait, shouldn’t five percent have been deducted as commission?

He mentally counted out three thousand seven hundred and thirty-six spirit stones and piled them on the table. “Fellow cultivator Qiu, please take back this excess.”

Qiu Qichen waved his hand. “Ah, how could I possibly take a cut from Fellow cultivator Xiao? Absolutely not!”

Xiao Chen shook his head. “No, no. Matters of account must always be clear and transparent.”

“Don’t you agree, Fellow cultivator Qiu?”

Ah?

Qiu Qichen blinked, then relented. “Alright then, I won’t be modest.”

He reclaimed the spirit stones and discussed the matter of the turtle egg with Xiao Chen.

“The other two fellow cultivators have already been contacted.”

“If Fellow cultivator Xiao is available, shall we depart the day after Lishan Zhu Yun?”

Xiao Chen agreed readily. “I’m free anytime. If time is tight, we could even leave tomorrow.”

Qiu Qichen’s eyes lit up, then dimmed. “It’s not that urgent.”

“In that case, we’re settled.”

“Let’s meet at Yuan Ci Peak at 7-9 AM on the first day of the third month.”

He longed to leave sooner, but coordinating with the other two Foundation Building peak cultivators wasn’t simple.

In truth, securing their agreement had been possible only thanks to Xiao Chen’s reputation.

When Qiu Qichen and a clan elder had first approached one of the cultivators, they’d been met with skepticism.

Upon hearing the Qiu family hadn’t yet gathered enough spirit-shielding incense, the man had refused outright.

“The Earth-Storing Spirit Tortoise is among the toughest Second-Tier Spirit Beasts.”

“You expect me to join a team of three? Even with four, I’d hesitate. At least five cultivators are needed—no fewer.”

The Qiu clan elder had tried negotiating terms, but the man wouldn’t budge.

Only when Qiu Qichen casually revealed Xiao Chen had agreed to join—and would handle the critical task of retrieving the egg—did the man’s attitude shift.

A False Core cultivator, battle-tested and proven, was an absolute guarantee of combat strength.

When visiting the second cultivator, Qiu Qichen had led with Xiao Chen’s name immediately. Predictably, negotiations had smoothed instantly.

“Is Fellow cultivator Xiao truly leading the expedition?”

After confirming this, the man hadn’t questioned further details.

He only requested delaying the operation to attend Lishan Zhu Yun for a chance at Liuyun Dew.

Qiu Qichen had readily agreed, secretly relieved they’d acted swiftly to secure the Yin-Yang Synergy Manual and win Xiao Chen’s cooperation.

---

After lunch at the Qiu estate, Xiao Chen left during the Wei Hour (1-3 PM).

With the day still young and the Xianghe Bazaar unusually lively, he wandered the streets instead of returning directly.

“Step right up! The legendary Moonlit Spring Wine—final day of sale! Miss this, and it might vanish forever!”

“Xiong Clan’s latest Sandalwood Spirit Incense—ten percent off today only!”

“Fellow cultivators! Premium Rolling Pearl Spirit Rice at unbeatable prices!”

According to the Hezhou Travelogue, this specialty rice, native to Hezhou, earned its name from grains so plump and round they rolled like pearls between fingers.

When cooked, it released a fragrant aroma, melting on the tongue with a sweet, delicate flavor that lingered.

Xiao Chen entered the shop, curious. Scooping a handful, he watched the grains roll off his fingertips, each pulsing with abundant spiritual energy—twice as much as the finest Bigan Rice he’d seen.

“How much for this Rolling Pearl Spirit Rice?”

A clerk eagerly replied, “Two spirit stones per jin (0.5 kg)! Buy ten jin (5 kg), and we’ll throw in an extra jin (0.5 kg) free!”

Hiss~!

What expensive rice!

Xiao Chen recalled that in Lihuo Bazaar, one spirit stone bought two jin (1 kg) of Bigan Rice or ten jin (5 kg) of Huangsha Rice—though the latter’s spiritual energy was pitifully low. Servant Peak disciples could barely afford it, serving it only during festivals or banquets.

“Ten jin (5 kg), then!”

Xiao Chen paused mid-sentence, then chuckled. “Wait—make it one hundred jin (50 kg).”

Two hundred spirit stones was trivial.

Later, he browsed the East Market’s open-air stalls, exploring the bustling bazaar until the You Hour (5-7 PM), when the sun dipped below the horizon.

Outside the bazaar, Han Ziyan had waited two long hours, nearly despairing before finally spotting Xiao Chen’s flying sword streaking skyward.

She hurriedly activated her own flying sword, racing ahead to the prearranged valley, where two accomplices awaited.

They cast spells to simulate a battle scene, while a drugged Black-Backed Macaque—its Foundation Building Ninth Layer cultivation artificially heightened—was goaded into a frenzy.

Han Ziyan feigned defeat, allowing the beast’s attacks to strike her thrice, leaving her with disrupted vital energy, mana instability, labored breaths, and a pale complexion.

This elaborate trap targeted Xiao Chen: a graceful beauty besieged by a raging beast. Any normal cultivator would intervene.

Though she’d investigated Xiao Chen’s character—ruling out opportunism—she’d prepared contingencies.

Two allies guarded the valley’s approaches, ready to intercept any interfering cultivators.

Yet the Divine Flame Cult’s limited manpower meant they’d ignored Foundation Building Seventh Floor cultivators, assuming none would dare challenge a peak-level battle.

They’d reckoned without Ye Fei.

As Xiao Chen arrived, sensing the clash of spiritual energy, he spotted the Macaque and Han Ziyan’s desperate struggle.

Just as he moved to act, a third figure darted into the valley.

“Don’t fear, miss! I’ll save you!”

?

Han Ziyan froze. Who the hell is this?!

Where’s my backup?!

She’d barely finished panicking when Ye Fei raised a magic shield, blocking the Macaque’s blow. The impact hurled him backward—but he charged again instantly.

“You needn’t endanger yourself for me!” Han Ziyan pleaded.

Ye Fei’s steadfast back answered, “No. As long as I, Ye Fei, stand, no harm shall befall you.”

Indeed, the rescuer was none other than Ye Fei himself.

Hearing of Xianghe Bazaar’s auction, he’d arrived three days early, selling goods and acquiring new Spirit Herbs.

Yet competition had earned him a Foundation Building family’s enmity.

He’d delayed a day in the bazaar, exploiting its no-combat rule to execute a Golden Cicada Shell-Shedding escape.

Changing routes to evade pursuit, he’d stumbled upon this crisis.

The Flower-Protecting Hero needed no second thought.

As Ye Fei engaged, Xiao Chen sheathed his sword.

The situation was secure.

Unlike Han Ziyan’s anxious facade, Xiao Chen trusted Ye Fei implicitly.

The Macaque’s peak-level cultivation was illusory—false strength.

A Gentleman Fulfills Others’ Wishes.

With a silent blessing, Xiao Chen departed, leaving no trace.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end