Chapter 625: The Spirit Artifact Sprite
Chapter 625: The Spirit Artifact Sprite
After successfully bidding for the Sixth-grade Sitting Buddha Lotus Spirit Herb, Lu Chen didn't pay attention to the other treasures on offer. Instead, he quietly made his way behind the light screen and acquired the spirit herb from a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Hailou Trading Guild.
"I've obtained another rare Sixth-grade spirit herb," he muttered with a chuckle as he gazed at the cute little sand monk's shadow within the spirit herb.
There were only a handful of Sixth-grade spirit plants in the spirit fields, and each one was incredibly difficult to come by. Lu Chen was delighted to be able to add a new and rare Buddhist-related spirit plant to his collection.
With the spirit herb in hand, he quietly returned to the crowd of cultivators.
The auction was drawing to a close, and the final few treasures were being offered as the grand finale.
There were about a dozen Golden Core True Lords and numerous Foundation Establishment cultivators in attendance, all of whom were frenziedly vying for the seven Seventh-grade treasures on offer.
Lu Chen, however, remained a quiet observer.
None of the seven treasures included a spirit herb, and while he desired them, his longing wasn't particularly intense.
Even if a Seventh-grade spirit herb were offered, he doubted he could compete with the Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators with the amount of spirit stones he currently possessed.
Unless he used the Fifth- and Sixth-grade treasures he carried as collateral, but Lu Chen wasn't considering that option just yet. For the sake of his life, he decided it would be wiser to wait until after he'd broken through the Golden Core stage to sell some of the less useful Fifth-grade treasures he had accumulated.
"This concludes the Hailou Trading Guild's auction. We hope you are all satisfied with your acquisitions," the gentle-faced middle-aged cultivator finally said, sounding a bit reluctant to bring the event to an end.
"Congratulations to all the esteemed seniors and fellow cultivators who obtained their desired treasures. And for those who missed out, do not despair. Our next auction will feature even rarer and more precious items, ensuring that you leave with a bounty of treasures," he continued.
"Now, we have a little game for you all," he announced. "As you are all aware, the guild's treasure tower is a high-grade magical artifact that has nurtured a spirit of its own."
"This playful spirit wishes to engage in a game with you all, and those who are interested may participate for a chance to win a rare treasure."
The middle-aged cultivator's voice carried to every cultivator present.
Suddenly, a beam of radiant treasure light shot out from the depths of the starry sky, swiftly arriving before the light screen.
It revealed a three-foot-tall sprite with a peculiar form. Its head was pointed, and its body gradually became more rounded towards the bottom, giving it the appearance of a sleekly designed pagoda. It exuded a sense of cuteness.
However, all the cultivators present maintained respectful and solemn expressions, not daring to show the slightest bit of irreverence.
After all, the sprite before them was the spirit of a high-grade magical artifact, and within its body, even several Golden Core True Lords might not be a match for it.
"Greetings, seniors," the group of over a dozen Golden Core True Lords said in unison, followed by more than three hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, and lastly, the numerous Core Formation cultivators, each taking turns to greet the sprite respectfully.
"Hmm," the sprite replied with a stiff nod, its short arms struggling to remain crossed behind its back.
"Fellow cultivators, you are all guests here. I wish to offer three rare treasures as a token of my appreciation for your visit. However, these treasures will go to those with whom they are destined to be. Let's see which of you will be the lucky ones," the sprite said in a childish voice, but with an air of ancient wisdom.
"The rules of the game are simple. These three treasures originate from distant realms and are rarely seen in this world. If anyone can identify them, they shall become the owner of that treasure. Each person will have one chance, and once a treasure has been fully identified, the opportunity to identify the others will be lost. If you can provide a partial identification, I will reward you accordingly."
"However, let me make one thing clear. If anyone comes forward without the slightest clue, unable to offer even a hint of recognition, then beware of my fist!"
The first was a rugged beast hide, seemingly pieced together from various parts, tightly sealed and appearing to contain something within. It constantly shifted and morphed, and from time to time, one could hear faint howls and roars emanating from within.
The second treasure was a fist-sized mineral, an extraordinary sight. On its surface, one could clearly witness the changing of the seasons—sometimes drenched in spring rain, sometimes bathed in scorching summer sun, and at other times, swept by the chilly autumn winds or buried under a blanket of winter snow.
The third treasure was a spirit seed, the size of an egg, shrouded in black mist. A delicate yet vicious little demon circled above it, its presence adding to the air of malevolence.
"As expected, a spirit seed!" Lu Chen's heart leaped with joy. When the artifact spirit mentioned that the treasures originated from distant realms, he had a hunch that this might be the case.
Given their exotic nature and suitability as gifts for cultivators, they were most likely various unique cultivation resources, including spirit seeds.
"You may use your spiritual sense to observe, or you can touch them briefly to get a feel. But beware, if you handle my treasures and can't identify them at all, I will be very angry!" The treasure pagoda sprite grinned, revealing rows of sparkling treasure light in its mouth, hinting at the countless treasures it possessed.
As the three treasures appeared, the crowd of cultivators eagerly examined them with their spiritual senses, racking their brains to recall if they had ever seen or heard of similar objects.
However, within a short while, most of the Foundation Establishment cultivators chose to give up. These cultivators either came from small families or minor sects, or they were solitary cultivators with limited exposure and shallow knowledge, unable to make sense of the treasures before them.
To attempt a guess and fail might also offend the artifact spirit, so they decided it wasn't worth the risk.
The remaining cultivators fell into deep contemplation.
Among them were those with powerful backgrounds who had access to extensive cultivation knowledge from a young age, and those with exceptional strength who had the ability to travel across various realms after reaching the Golden Core stage, increasing the likelihood that they had come across these three treasures somewhere.
Of course, there were also many who fit into both categories.
Unfortunately, the treasures presented by a high-level artifact spirit were bound to be of extraordinary origin, even in distant realms. They were exceedingly rare finds.
After all, the Treasure Tower, by its very nature, loved to collect rare and precious items. It wouldn't easily part with its treasures.
At this moment, Lu Chen remained calm and collected, like a fisherman waiting patiently for a big catch. With his unique ability, he was extremely confident in identifying the strange spirit seed with the vicious little demon circling above it. He stood out from the other two groups of cultivators.
However, with so many Nascent Soul True Lords present, he didn't want to show off too much.
Gradually, a few Golden Core cultivators stepped forward, their faces filled with hesitation as they examined the treasures up close. They took turns transmitting their voices to the treasure pagoda sprite.
After hearing the initial guesses, the sprite's pointed head swelled, and with a single punch, it sent the guessing cultivators flying.
Lu Chen was surprised that a casual punch from the artifact spirit was enough to knock back cultivators at the Golden Core stage.
Fortunately, the sprite didn't seem too serious, and the cultivators quickly returned to the crowd, seemingly unharmed but with flushed faces, clearly embarrassed by the public rejection.
After all, even at the Golden Core stage, they were considered powerful beings in the cultivation world, and to be rebuffed in front of so many witnesses was a blow to their pride.
However, as more Golden Core cultivators returned to the crowd, their expressions relaxed.
It was one thing to be embarrassed alone, but when several people shared the same fate, it became easier to accept.
In the end, only one cultivator at the mid-Golden Core stage was allowed to remain near the mineral. Apparently, he had guessed something about the treasure but hadn't identified it completely, or it would have been his already.
(End of Chapter)
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