https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-207-Vermillion-Toad-Mountain-The-Huo-Family-s-Rise/12920542/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-209-Some-People-Change-Some-Cannot/12920544/
Chapter 208: Acquiring Qingyuan Miaodan Fa
Chapter 208: Acquiring Qingyuan Miaodan Fa
"Trouble?"
"Not really!"
Luo Chen shook his head, unbothered.
"This isn't your fault to begin with."
"The Huo family acted unfairly, and those who participate in the auction have every right to comment."
"It wasn't just the two of you discussing it at the time."
"On the contrary, that Foundation Establishment Cultivator was targeting a junior, which is truly..."
Huo Hu!
Luo Chen muttered the name, deep in thought.
If his guess was correct, this should be the genius of the Huo family who was sent to the Flame Alliance. He successfully achieved Foundation Establishment at the age of fifty.
Due to the war between the two Nascent Soul Supreme Sects, the Flame Alliance, as a subordinate of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, also joined the war.
Instead of seizing the opportunity to shine during the war, Huo Hu hurriedly returned to Mount Tai Market to handle family matters.
It was said that he hadn't even stabilized his cultivation realm.
It was unclear whether he was a coward or had truly mastered the art of being cautious.
However, judging by his recent display of arrogance towards the weak, it was likely the former.
Luo Chen sighed as he glanced at the two who were apologizing.
"But when you're out and about, it's best to be cautious with your words and actions."
"Take this as a lesson and be sure not to repeat it in the future."
"Stand up!"
Qu Lingjun nodded repeatedly.
Although he wasn't affected, it was only because he was standing next to Luo Chen.
Huo Hu's aggressive attitude towards Su Xiaolin was far from friendly.
Su Xiaolin stood up, his face now free from the impatience brought on by his promotion to the ninth stage of Qi Refinement. He appeared more composed.
He truly took this advice to heart.
If he made the same mistake again, Luo Chen might not be there to protect him.
At that time, the consequences could be dire!
After this brief interruption, quite some time had passed.
However, the auction below was still not proceeding as planned.
Luo Chen tugged at the corners of his mouth.
It was said that the Huo family had a deep heritage.
But from what he had seen so far, he couldn't detect any signs of it.
Instead, they gave off a strong vibe of nouveau riche.
Even organizing an auction seemed to be a tedious task for them.
Inside the auction hall, the commotion was deafening.
There was even bickering among the attendees.
If not for the presence of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the loose cultivators below might have started a fight over a mere glance.
Suddenly, Luo Chen's ears twitched, and he closed his eyes slightly.
"Do you have anything you wish to bid on later?"
It was Wang Haichao's sound transmission.
Nan Gong Jin: "I'll pass. I don't have many spirit stones on hand, so I'll just be an observer this time."
Li Yixuan: "I heard from my friend, Yu Dao, that at this auction, the Huo family obtained two magical artifacts and several supreme-grade magical tools from the Flame Alliance. I'm quite tempted."
Wang Haichao: "Magical artifacts aren't cheap!"
There was a hint of persuasion in this sound transmission.
Li Yixuan sighed, "Of course, they aren't cheap. But circumstances change. If I had a magical artifact, I'd feel more confident."
At this point, Li Yixuan became curious, "Wang Haichao, is there anything you're interested in bidding for?"
"I must obtain a low-grade magical artifact called the Mystic Flame Sword!"
Wang Haichao's sound transmission was resolute and left no room for doubt.
In another private room, Li Yixuan furrowed his brows.
Mystic Flame Sword? The name suggested a fire-attributed magical artifact.
But Wang Haichao was skilled in water-based cultivation techniques, so why was he so determined to obtain a fire-attributed artifact?
"What about you, Dan Chenzi?" Wang Haichao asked.
Luo Chen, who had been silent, smiled lightly, "I desire a secret technique called Qingyuan Miao Dan Fa. I hope you won't bid against me for it later."
Qingyuan Miao Dan Fa
This name resonated within the hearts of the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Nan Gong Jin wondered, "What kind of secret technique is this?"
Li Yixuan: "I wouldn't dare compete with Luo Chen for it."
Wang Haichao: "I have no intention of competing for it. However, Dan Chenzi, you should be cautious as other local Foundation Establishment Cultivators might bid against you."
Luo Chen smiled slightly, "No worries, I have some wealth!"
Upon hearing this, the three of them shuddered.
Indeed!
Luo Chen was an alchemist, so it was unlikely for him to be short of money.
Instead, they needed to be more cautious.
In the Great River Gang's private room.
Wang Haichao opened his eyes with a serious expression.
"Luo Chen seems to be quite wealthy. Unless it's something necessary, it's best not to offend him."
"Otherwise, if it affects my bid for the Mystic Flame Sword, it would be a loss."
As he pondered, Min Longyu behind him looked at the chaotic scene in the hall, his face filled with anticipation.
...
"Thank you, fellow cultivators, for traveling from afar to attend the Huo family's auction."
"I am Huo Hu, an inner disciple of the Flame Alliance, and I will be hosting today's auction!"
Finally, the auction began after much delay.
It was already close to evening.
However, when Huo Hu mentioned his affiliation with the Flame Alliance, the noisy venue became much quieter.
After all, the Flame Alliance was a powerful Golden Core Great Sect.
As for Huo Hu's auctioneering skills, opinions varied.
Luo Chen, looking down from above, couldn't help but frown at the sight.
Some of the standard resources were priced too high, causing an awkward start.
This was truly amateurish.
Whether compared to Luo Tianhong of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect or Tian Xingzi of the Zhenlong Black Market, they were far from being on par.
Moreover, Hu Hu wasn't very good at raising the price.
A treasure that could have fetched a higher price was, in his words, presented with its flaws unconcealed...
"That's not right, why am I worrying about him?"
Luo Chen couldn't help but curl his lips, afraid he would burst out laughing.
Hu Hu's poor auctioneering skills might just be a blessing in disguise for him.
"Next up for auction is a Tier 2 Secret Art called the Qingyuan Miaodan Fa."
"This technique has a unique effect. It can alleviate the side effects of overdosing on pills and neutralize the effects of poisons to some extent."
"The only drawback is that it takes a very long time to cultivate."
"Starting bid—three thousand spirit stones, and each increase must be at least one hundred!"
Hearing Hu Hu's voice, Luo Chen's eyes lit up.
The three Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Da He Fang also focused their attention on him.
But at first, Luo Chen didn't make a bid.
He was waiting!
"Three thousand one hundred spirit stones!"
Soon, someone made a bid.
And not just one person.
"Three thousand two hundred!"
"Three thousand three hundred!"
"Three thousand four hundred!"
...
The bidding continued, with each increase not being too high, but there seemed to be no sign of stopping.
Luo Chen's initial hope of getting it at a low price soon vanished.
As expected!
Loose Cultivators, in their pursuit of rapid cultivation, often choose to consume pills without restraint.
When they reach higher cultivation levels, they discover the side effects of excessive pill consumption.
At this point, for the sake of the Great Dao, some would be willing to spend money to buy a few copies of detoxification methods.
Even if the drawbacks might be significant!
The bidding continued.
Soon, it reached four thousand.
This price was already considered very high for a secret scripture that wasn't a primary cultivation technique or a combat-focused spell.
The three Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Da He Fang, who had been watching this, were also surprised.
In the Li Clan's private room.
Li Ao couldn't help but say, "If we learn this detoxification method, won't we be able to use pills freely to accelerate our cultivation?"
"Aunt, why don't we buy it too!"
Li Yixuan shook his head. "It's not that simple. Didn't you hear the Foundation Establishment Cultivator say that this method takes a lot of time? As Qi Condensation Stage Cultivators, what you lack most is time. How can you afford to waste it on a secret technique without any power?"
That made sense.
To save time and accelerate cultivation, one would instead waste a lot of time.
This self-contradictory situation only adds unnecessary trouble.
Seeing Li Ao's realization, Li Yixuan added, "And!"
"This is something that Daoist Luo Chen specifically requested. It's best not to compete with him."
Li Ao curiously glanced at the Luo Tianhui private room.
"But he hasn't made a single bid yet?"
Li Yixuan was also puzzled.
After thinking for a moment, he hesitated, "Perhaps, he's waiting for the right moment to make a decisive bid."
A similar discussion took place in the Nan Gong Clan.
However, Nan Gong Jin's response was different.
"Do not participate in any bidding. Prepare the spirit stones and secure what we need most!"
...
Was Luo Chen waiting for the right moment to make a decisive bid?
That was a consideration!
But his primary focus was on observing the bidders' strengths.
"Each increase is rarely more than five hundred spirit stones."
"As expected, those who need detoxification methods are those who frequently consume pills. Such individuals, unless they have a stable source of wealth like me, would likely be strapped for cash."
"In that case, it's manageable."
Luo Chen indeed had some wealth.
After the transaction with the Golden Stone Pavilion, his total assets once again reached fifty thousand.
The Luo Tianhui also had several tens of thousands of spirit stones in their account.
A Tier 2 Secret Art was not a significant burden for him.
He was just accustomed to spending every penny wisely.
His gaze fell on the direction of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
In his ears, Hu Hu's annoyed voice continued with the bidding.
"Four thousand three hundred spirit stones!"
"Twice..."
"Five thousand!"
A clear voice suddenly rang out.
Hu Hu glanced at Luo Chen's direction.
"Friend from Box Number Nine bids five thousand spirit stones. Anyone else interested?"
The hall fell silent.
The sudden increase of seven hundred spirit stones showed that the bidder didn't consider this amount significant.
The Foundation Establishment Cultivator who had been bidding earlier was about to secure the detoxification method, but then someone else jumped in.
He glared at Box Number Nine with hesitation.
He waved for the waitress at the door.
"Senior Tu, who is that person in the box?"
Tu Shan suppressed his anger and asked, "Who is that person in the box?"
The waitress hesitated, "We can't reveal..."
"I'm asking you, who is he?"
The waitress shivered, "He's from Luo Tianhui. The leader is Dan Chenzi, a Tier 2 Pill Master."
"A Tier 2 Alchemist!" Tu Shan was taken aback.
A moment later, he sighed in resignation.
Such a person's wealth was far beyond his reach.
Continuing the bidding would only lead to humiliation.
He gave up.
"Five thousand Spirit Stones, second bid!"
"Five thousand Spirit Stones, third bid!"
"Sold!"
Without even a word of congratulations, Huo Hu waved his hand and had the item sent to the person in Box Number 9.
The selling price left him slightly dissatisfied.
The Qingyuan Miao Danfa was a Tier 2 Secret Art from Qingdan Valley, obtained by his senior brother from the corpse of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Qingdan Valley.
He was entrusted with auctioning it.
But now, it was sold at such a price.
If Luo Chen knew his thoughts, he would probably scoff.
With your abilities, you think you can drive up the price? You'd have to praise this cultivation technique, claiming it's from a Golden Core Great Sect, suitable for family inheritance, and that its flaws can be improved.
It's safe to say that having Huo Hu as the auctioneer was a face-saving move.
The cultivators in Mount Tai Market and its surroundings all remembered him.
But his abilities were indeed not a good fit for this position.
"Is this the Qingyuan Miao Danfa?"
Luo Chen took the jade slip from a Huo Family cultivator, his expression calm, but his curiosity piqued.
If he mastered this technique, he could resume his rapid cultivation.
Ignoring the ongoing auction, Luo Chen immediately immersed his Spirit Sense into the jade slip.
It wasn't that he was impatient.
But if there were any issues with the technique, he wanted to return it on the spot.
Breaking the one-time Spirit Sense Restriction.
After a thorough inspection, he confirmed there were no major problems.
Only then did Luo Chen withdraw his Spirit Sense.
At this moment, the auction inside reached its climax, moving from a lukewarm state to a high point, as the Magical Artifact, the Mystic Flame Sword, was up for bidding.
From the start, the price of this artifact soared.
The starting price was just 10,000 Spirit Stones.
By the time Luo Chen noticed, the price had skyrocketed to 50,000!
"Chairman, something's not right!" Sima Huiwang's expression was doubtful.
Luo Chen nodded, as he had also sensed something amiss.
Because the primary bidder at this moment was none other than Wang Haichao and Nan Gong Jin, the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Da He Fang! Wang Haichao had previously declared his determination to win it at all costs.
Although no one knew why he, a Water-attributed cultivator, was so enthusiastic.
Everyone was willing to give him this face.
But Nan Gong Jin's eagerness to bid was truly suspicious.
"This is just an ordinary Low-grade Magical Artifact flying sword, and it's not suitable for either of them."
"Why is the bidding so intense?"
"They're almost tearing each other's faces off!"
Luo Chen's expression was filled with uncertainty, his gaze shifting between the two boxes.
Finally, his eyes rested on the relaxed and carefree auctioneer, Huo Hu.
"He's so relaxed, as if certain that someone will offer a high price for this artifact?"
50,300!
50,400!
50,700!
The price kept climbing.
For a Low-grade Magical Artifact that wasn't particularly remarkable, the price was indeed excessive.
Its true value should be around 30,000 to 40,000 Spirit Stones.
Suddenly, a familiar Heavenly Melody Voice reached his ears.
"Fellow Daoist Luo Chen, something's not right!"
It was Li Yixuan.
Luo Chen remained calm and replied via sound transmission, "Yes, something's amiss. This item seems to be worth more than its price."
"Could it be related to the remaining spots in Mount Tai Market?"
Luo Chen's expression changed, and after a long pause, he replied, "Perhaps so!"
Observing the situation inside, Luo Chen became more convinced of Li Yixuan's guess.
The Huo Family held this auction to celebrate their rise in Mount Tai.
Under such circumstances, the auction must not end on a low note.
At the very least, several priceless treasures should be sold.
Only then would people talk about it endlessly, spreading its fame.
But for the Huo Family, it might be difficult or reluctant to offer truly valuable items.
In that case, why not put up a 'bargain' instead? Moreover, there were currently several fools to fleece! Those who wanted to enter Mount Tai Market had to show their sincerity.
In other words, they needed to present a 'token of loyalty'! Kang Dongyue had also reminded him to 'perform well' at the auction.
As expected, Luo Chen looked at Huo Hu, and the man's gaze frequently shifted to the boxes of Luo Tianhui and the Li Clan, who had not placed any bids.
"Are they waiting for us to bid as well?"
Luo Chen pondered.
Li Yixuan's worried voice reached him through sound transmission.
"Fellow Daoist Luo Chen, will you place a bid?"
(End of Chapter)
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