https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-759-The-Thousand-Thunder-Swordgrass/12545184/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-761-A-Familiar-Face-from-the-Celestial-Sword-Sect/12545188/
Chapter 760: A Copy Within a Copy: The Yin-Yang Urn
Chapter 760: A Copy Within a Copy: The Yin-Yang Urn
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
Peace reigned in the Thunderfire Cavern, and Lu Chen remained mostly within his cave abode, occasionally visiting the abodes of familiar cultivators in the vicinity to foster good relations and lay the groundwork for acquiring high-grade, rare spirit herbs in the future.
On this day, as he was cultivating spirit herbs in his cave, he suddenly sensed an unusual fluctuation of spiritual energy from outside.
Extending his spiritual sense, he found a message talisman fluttering in the air, blocked from entering the cave by the spiritual energy barrier.
Judging from the style of the talisman, it seemed to be from the branch hall of the merchant guild.
Lu Chen thought to himself as he paused his task and drew the message talisman towards him.
Infusing a wisp of spiritual energy into it, he heard the gentle and soft voice of Wen, the branch master.
"Senior Lu, I have something to discuss with you. Please forgive me if I disturb your secluded cultivation."
"As per your previous instructions, I have been paying attention to yin-yang treasures, spirit herb cultivation methods, and the like. I have made some progress and learned that one of our branch halls possesses a fifth-grade yin-yang treasure. I specially obtained it for you, Senior. Please feel free to come and take a look when you have the time."
"Additionally, the merchant guild will be hosting a grand auction at our headquarters soon. Due to the recent appearance of the Thundercliff Cave secret realm, the auction will feature even more rare treasures than usual, perhaps including the spirit herbs and cultivation methods you require."
As Wen's gentle voice faded, Lu Chen stood lost in thought.
"Finally, I've found a high-grade yin-yang treasure. It wasn't easy."
"At least now I have a suitable vessel for that quasi-seventh-grade Inversion Fruit of Yin and Yang."
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
It had been a long time since he obtained the Inversion Fruit of Yin and Yang, but due to his inability to find a suitable treasure, he could only cultivate it minimally in the Consolidation Spirit Soil.
"Also, the Sea Pavilion Merchant Guild is about to hold a grand auction at their headquarters. This is an opportunity I must not miss."
Lu Chen thought to himself.
As a guest advisor to the merchant guild, he naturally had a good understanding of their operations. Auctions held at the headquarters were not frequent, occurring once in a decade or two, or even once in a century.
Each auction attracted countless Li Yang Realm cultivators, as well as Golden Core Truebeings and even Nascent Soul Truelords from other realms.
He had been fortunate to attend one such auction when he achieved the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm, acquiring rare spirit herbs like the Sitting Buddha Lotus and the Ghost-Eating Evil Vine. It was also during that auction that the guild's treasure pavilion spirit noticed his talent in spirit herb cultivation, offering him the position of a guest advisor.
"With the emergence of the Thundercliff Cave secret realm, many treasures will surely surface. I must not miss this auction."
Lu Chen thought to himself as he carefully counted the spirit stones in his Beast Pouch, instructed his Grass Puppet and spirit beasts to guard the cave, and activated the sixth-grade 'Ten Thousand Barrier Mystical Crystal Formation' to fortify the cave's defenses.
He swiftly flew through the thunderous clouds surrounding Thunderfire Cavern and entered the branch hall of the merchant guild.
As soon as he entered the branch hall's main hall, the female cultivator named Wen, sensing his presence, hurried to greet him.
"Senior Lu, you came so quickly!"
A hint of surprise flashed across the female cultivator's face as she hadn't expected Lu Chen to arrive so soon after her message.
"I happened to be free, and since I heard that you've acquired a yin-yang treasure, I came without delay," Lu Chen replied nonchalantly.
"That is correct," Wen nodded slightly.
"I've been diligently following your instructions, Senior, keeping an eye out for any yin-yang treasures or spirit herb cultivation methods that appear in the merchant guild. A few days ago, I came across a treasure."
"The branch master of that hall learned that you needed it and sent it over."
"Thank you for your hard work. Please show me that yin-yang treasure."
Lu Chen offered a word of encouragement and spoke indifferently.
"Certainly, Senior. Please wait a moment."
'What is this?' Lu Chen asked, his curiosity piqued.
'This treasure is called the Yin-Yang Urn, a fifth-grade artifact,' the female cultivator named Wen explained slowly. 'It contains yin and yang spiritual energies, which can be released for combat or cultivated for the practice of yin-yang divine abilities.'
'The Yin-Yang Urn...' Lu Chen nodded gently.
'Though this Yin-Yang Urn is graded as a fifth-grade artifact, its origins are quite extraordinary,' Wen continued. 'According to the branch master, this treasure originates from a mysterious and powerful sect in the outer realms and is extremely rare in the cultivation world.'
'I was told that the Yin-Yang Urn is a replica of the Yin-Yang Spirit-Seizing Vase, a mid-tier artifact, and the Yin-Yang Spirit-Seizing Vase itself is said to be a replica of the legendary primal spirit treasure, the Urn of Dual Primordial Energies.'
'So, it's a replica of a replica,' Lu Chen concluded.
He had no qualms about this; in fact, he welcomed it. After all, if the original treasure was so divine, then this twice-removed replica of the Yin-Yang Urn was certainly no ordinary item.
'I'll take this Yin-Yang Urn. How much would it cost?' Lu Chen asked with a smile.
With this fifth-grade yin-yang artifact, he would be able to successfully cultivate that quasi-seventh-grade Inversion Fruit of Yin and Yang, and he was determined to acquire it.
'For a yin-yang artifact of this caliber, the price is fourteen thousand low-grade spirit stones,' Wen said after a moment's thought.
Lu Chen maintained a calm expression, as the price was well within his means. Moreover, once he used the urn to cultivate the Inversion Fruit, the Spirit Planting Pavilion's light beam would bring him tenfold or even a hundredfold reward.
'Very well,' he agreed without hesitation. 'Here are one thousand four hundred medium-grade spirit stones. Please take a look, Fellow Daoist Wen.'
As he finished speaking, a small pile of vibrant medium-grade spirit stones floated over to Wen.
Wen's spiritual sense swept over the stones, and she carefully collected them, her gratitude evident. 'The count is correct. Thank you, Senior Lu!'
'It's I who should be thanking you,' Lu Chen replied, a smile playing on his lips.
'Oh, right,' he continued. 'What news is there about the upcoming grand auction at headquarters?'
'Since I'm a guest advisor to the merchant guild, would it be inappropriate for me to participate in the auction they're hosting?'
Wen was a direct descendant of the Wen family, one of the major families within the Sea Pavilion Merchant Guild, and as the branch master of a division, she was more familiar with the guild's inner workings than Lu Chen.
'Guest advisors are free to participate in the guild's auctions; there are no issues with that,' Wen assured him. 'In fact, you might even receive some special accommodations.'
Her smile dispelled any concerns Lu Chen might have had.
'Oh?' Lu Chen's curiosity was piqued. 'How so?'
'As a guest advisor, once you enter the inner sanctum of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, you will have early access to detailed information about the auction items,' Wen explained. 'From what I understand, there might even be a seventh-grade spirit herb up for bidding.'
'A seventh-grade spirit herb?!' Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat.
'It's just something I overheard my grand-uncle mention, but I can't guarantee it,' Wen added hastily.
'Thank you for letting me know, Fellow Daoist Wen. That's more than enough for me,' Lu Chen replied, his gratitude sincere. He trusted Wen's words implicitly, especially since her grand-uncle was a Nascent Soul True Lord of the Wen family, making this information highly reliable.
'Looks like I'll have to prepare as many spirit stones as I can,' Lu Chen thought, his eyes gleaming with determination.
(End of Chapter)
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