Chương 108: Core Formation Cultivators Gather! Soul-Nourishing Lotus!

Soul-Nourishing Lotus!

High-energy chapter 108: Core Formation cultivators gather! Soul-Nourishing Lotus! Updated! Read now: As Zhou Ding, riding an inconspicuous gray escape light, quietly landed outside Kui Xing City and switched to walking to blend into the flow of people entering the city, his divine sense, far exceeding his cultivation level, spread out silently like invisible ripples, covering the core area within a radius of 150 miles.

As far as my divine sense could see, the scene in Kui Xing City today was vastly different from that of the past.

The air was filled with an indescribable restless atmosphere, a mixture of excitement, anticipation, tension, and even greed.

The streets were several times more crowded than usual, with people jostling shoulder to shoulder and creating a noisy atmosphere.

Looking around, eight or nine out of ten were cultivators with considerable aura. Qi Refining stage cultivators were rare, while Foundation Establishment stage cultivators were everywhere, including some who had reached the late Foundation Establishment stage or even the Pseudo-Core stage.

They either chatted in small groups or hurried along, heading towards Tiandu Street with clear goals, their faces mostly showing excitement and anticipation.

What made Zhou Ding even more apprehensive were those figures, like beacons in the night, whose immense life force and powerful spiritual pressure could not be concealed even when they tried to hide them.

Core Formation cultivator!

According to his divine sense, at this moment, there were at least seven or eight Core Formation stage beings gathered in Kui Xing City!

Among them, three auras were particularly profound and vast, far surpassing others, clearly indicating the cultivation level of the mid-stage Core Formation realm! There was also an aura that was obscure and deep, like a giant beast lurking in the abyss, bringing Zhou Ding a faint pressure.

That's a sign of the late stage of Core Formation!

"Truly extraordinary... Opening only once every fifty years, the Yunmeng Pavilion's allure is immense. It seems that today, Kuixing City is a true gathering of heroes, a convergence of extraordinary figures."

Zhou Ding pondered to himself, but on the surface he remained calm, like an ordinary passerby, following the flow of people towards the absolute protagonist of the day deep in Tiandu Street.

The closer one gets to the core of Tiandu Street, the more crowded the Baiyu Square becomes, and the more active the spiritual energy in the air seems, carrying a faint, mixed aura from different cultivators and different cultivation methods.

Finally, after passing through the last street crowded with monks, the view suddenly opened up before them.

The vast plaza paved with white jade was now packed with people, a dense, dark mass, probably numbering in the thousands.

Everyone's gaze, regardless of their cultivation level, was filled with expressions of either fervor, awe, curiosity, or calculation, as they looked up at the Emerald Pavilion, which stood silently suspended more than thirty feet above the ground in the very center of the square.

Yunmeng Pavilion!

After many years, seeing it up close again, Zhou Ding still couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.

The entire pavilion is lush and verdant, crystal clear, as if it were carved and polished from a single piece of flawless, top-grade imperial jade by the master craftsman.

The three-story structure, with its flying eaves and brackets, carved beams and painted rafters, is exquisitely crafted in every detail. Under today's exceptionally bright sunlight, it shimmers with a warm and dreamy green light, exuding an ethereal aura, unlike anything found in the mortal world.

It floated there silently, with nothing below it, only faint ripples occasionally spreading across the space, revealing the incredible array and technology supporting it.

A faint yet powerful array fluctuation, like the breath of a sleeping dragon, subtly enveloped the entire pavilion and the plaza below, bringing an invisible majesty and pressure.

At this moment, the magnificent gate of Yunmeng Pavilion, which was also carved from spirit jade and was tightly closed, was not open to welcome customers like ordinary shops.

There was only a pale blue, semi-transparent staircase of spiritual light that extended diagonally from the gate to the plaza floor.

On either side of the steps stood eight guards dressed in uniform cyan outfits, exuding a sharp aura and all at the early Foundation Establishment stage, their eyes like lightning as they scanned the crowd below.

At the entrance to the stairs, two elderly men dressed in moon-white robes, with deep and composed auras and already at the pseudo-core realm, were solemnly checking the credentials of those wishing to ascend the stairs, one on the left and one on the right.

Two long queues formed in front of the two fake alchemists.

The cultivators in the group were all at least at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and were usually quite prominent figures on Kui Xing Island. However, at this moment, they were all behaving themselves, concealing their auras, and stepping forward one by one to present various invitations and tokens, or to announce their names in a low voice.

Only after the two fake alchemy elders verified his identity and confirmed that everything was correct could he ascend the spiritual staircase and enter the Jade Pavilion, which symbolized his identity and destiny.

No one dared to make a sound or act rashly; the atmosphere was solemn and slightly tense.

Zhou Ding did not join the queue.

He quickly scanned the crowd, and after confirming that no one was paying special attention to him, he walked straight toward the entrance of the spiritual staircase.

His actions immediately drew surprised, inquisitive, and even slightly disgruntled glances from some of the cultivators queuing nearby.

Is this person trying to cut in line?

Or does he/she have some special identity?

The two fake Core Formation elders, who had been scrutinizing the purple token with serious expressions, simultaneously narrowed their eyes!

The rigid, businesslike expression on his face instantly melted away, replaced by utmost respect and enthusiasm.

The elderly man on the left, with a slender face, subconsciously bowed slightly, his voice softening considerably.

"So it is the distinguished guest who possesses the 'Purple Cloud Token' who has arrived! My apologies, my apologies! Please follow me, a quiet room has been prepared for you inside."

He didn't even bother to take the token and examine it carefully—the token's unique material, spiritual aura, and restrictive fluctuations were enough for someone of their cultivation level to recognize.

The elderly man on the right quickly stepped aside to make way, gesturing for them to enter.

Zhou Ding nodded slightly, put away his token, and under the attentive guidance of the two fake Core Formation elders, amidst the complex gazes of the many cultivators queuing around him—some envious, some jealous, some enlightened, and some increasingly curious—he stepped onto the pale blue spiritual light staircase.

The steps were incredibly stable, feeling just like solid ground underfoot.

He walked with ease, step by step ascending, his figure gradually rising until, under the watchful eyes of countless people, he disappeared behind the slowly opening jade door.

Upon entering the Yunmeng Pavilion, the first sensation is not extreme luxury, but rather an indescribable tranquility, serenity, and subtle sense of awe, as if stepping into another realm.

All the noise from the outside world was instantly shut out, and the concentration of spiritual energy suddenly increased, becoming pure and gentle.

Beneath your feet lies a smooth, mirror-like floor of warm jade, and above you hangs an unidentified gemstone that emits a soft starlight, illuminating the interior with a luminous glow.

The air was filled with a subtle, refreshing sandalwood scent that instantly calmed the mind.

A young maid, dressed in a light green palace gown, with a beautiful face and a cultivation level at the peak of Qi Refining, was already standing at the door. Upon seeing Zhou Ding, she immediately gave a graceful bow and said in a melodious voice, "Honorable guest, please follow me. Your private room is on the third floor, room number 'B' 7."

Led by a maid, Zhou Ding ascended the inner, encircling corridor.

On the walls on both sides of the corridor, every few steps a profound ancient painting or a charming bonsai is hung, exuding elegance.

Along the way, they encountered several other monks also led by maids. Their eyes met briefly before looking away, all filled with scrutiny and caution, and no one spoke to each other.

Upon reaching the third floor, the environment became even more tranquil. A maid led Zhou Ding to a quiet room with a jade plaque bearing the inscription "Yi Qi" hanging outside the door, and then pushed open the door.

The quiet room was not large, but it was furnished very comfortably.

A large, comfortable rosewood chair is placed in the center, facing a huge, one-way transparent glass wall. Through the glass wall, one can clearly see a very spacious auction hall below, which descends in a circular, stepped manner.

The hall was bustling with people, with hundreds of cultivators already seated, mostly at the Foundation Establishment stage, and a few pseudo-Core Formation cultivators scattered throughout.

The crystal wall was clearly engraved with a special array, which was crystal clear from the inside out, but a blurry mess from the outside in, effectively blocking divine sense from probing.

A small incense burner and ice basin are placed in the corner of the quiet room to regulate the temperature and humidity.

On the jade table beside them were several plates of rare and precious spiritual fruits and a pot of spiritual tea that was still steaming. The aroma of tea and fruit blended together, making people feel refreshed and relaxed.

"Honored guest, please wait here for a moment. The auction is about to begin. If you have any requests, please ring this bell. I will be waiting outside the door." The maid respectfully presented a small silver bell, then bowed and withdrew, gently closing the door behind her.

Zhou Ding sat down on the rosewood chair, without touching the spiritual fruits and fragrant tea.

He closed his eyes, and his powerful divine sense, like the finest tendrils, silently spread and sensed the entire interior of Yunmeng Pavilion, centered on his own private room.

Within his divine sense "vision," the internal structure of this jade pavilion, the array nodes, and the life force, whether strong or weak, bright or dim, were all faintly visible, like fish swimming underwater.

He could "see" that there were more than ten VIP rooms like his on the third floor. Most of them were already occupied, their auras obscuring, and they were all protected by the isolation arrays of the rooms, making it difficult to see them clearly.

However, in the occasional subtle fluctuations caused by the cultivators' movements or the operation of the formations in these private rooms, he still managed to detect several powerful auras that made his heart tighten.

Among them were three auras, like three dormant volcanoes, lurking in different private rooms. Their spiritual pressure was far stronger than that of the early stage of Core Formation. They were the three mid-stage Core Formation cultivators he had sensed earlier!

He carefully discerned that one of the auras was upright and peaceful, carrying vitality and a faint sense of majesty; it should be the Master of Kui Xing Island, Master Mu Long.

The other aura was harmonious and restrained, yet carried a hint of composure from someone who had long held a high position; it belonged to Elder Miao Li of the Six-Linked Hall.

The last unfamiliar aura, from a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, was quite sharp and domineering, carrying a fishy, sea-like scent, clearly belonging to a powerful outsider.

In addition, at a higher level, seemingly near the core area of the pavilion's dome, a hidden and profound aura, as vast as the endless starry sky and as cold as ancient ice, acted as a stabilizing force, suppressing the entire aura of the Yunmeng Pavilion.

That's the late stage of Core Formation!

Moreover, he was by no means an ordinary late-stage Core Formation cultivator. The level of refinement of his aura and the subtle sense of pressure he exerted on Zhou Ding were even stronger than those of Nangong Yu, the island master of Xuanxing Island!

Presumably, these are the true experts sent by the four major business alliances to oversee this auction and ensure its success.

"Nearly ten Core Formation cultivators gathered together... This is quite a spectacle." Zhou Ding became increasingly cautious.

Under the watchful eyes of so many high-level cultivators, one must act with utmost caution, striving to achieve one's goals while avoiding drawing too much attention.

He withdrew most of his divine sense, leaving only a trace of vigilance, and waited patiently.

Time passed slowly, and the auction hall below gradually filled up. The buzzing discussions could be faintly heard even through the crystal wall.

About half an hour later, when there were almost no empty seats left in the hall, a figure silently appeared on the jade auction platform, which was several meters high, in front of the auction hall.

He was an elderly man with gray hair, thin and simple features, wearing a dark blue Taoist robe.

He looked quite old, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, with a glint of light flashing between them. His aura was calm and still, clearly indicating that he was also a cultivator in the early stage of Core Formation!

As soon as he stood on the stage, an invisible pressure naturally emanated from him, instantly silencing the noisy discussions in the hall to the point where you could hear a pin drop.

All the cultivators, regardless of their cultivation level, focused their gazes on the old man with awe and anticipation.

The old man's gaze calmly swept over the dense crowd below, then seemingly casually drifted towards the VIP boxes above. He cleared his throat, his voice, though not loud, carrying clearly to every corner of the auction hall and reaching every box through a special sound transmission array:

"My surname is Zhao, and I am the host of this year's Yunmeng Pavilion Auction. Welcome, fellow Daoists, to our Yunmeng Pavilion's once-in-fifty-years auction extravaganza. As you all surely know, the highest bidder wins; spirit stones or other treasures of equivalent value certified by our appraisers are acceptable. Without further ado, I hereby declare this auction officially open!"

There was no lengthy speech, just a clean and concise one. As soon as the old man finished speaking, a graceful Foundation Establishment stage maidservant carrying a brocade tray walked up to the auction stage and gently placed the tray covered with red silk on the jade table in front of the old man.

The old man didn't keep anyone in suspense and reached out to unveil the red silk.

In an instant, a scorching, sharp aura, seemingly capable of burning the soul, accompanied by a dazzling crimson light, shot into the sky from the brocade plate! Within the light, a flying sword about three feet long, its entire body as red as blood, with runes seemingly flowing from its blade, lay quietly in the brocade plate. Even before it was drawn from its sheath, it already produced extraordinary phenomena!

"The first item up for auction—the Crimson Flame Sword!"

The elderly man surnamed Zhao raised his voice, tinged with inflammatory intent: "This sword is crafted primarily from Earth Core Fire Jade, supplemented with various fire-elemental spirit ores. Forged by a master craftsman over three years, its quality has reached the level of a fine magic weapon! It contains the power of Earth Core Flame, making it incomparably sharp, and its power is further amplified for cultivators using fire-attribute techniques.

The starting price is 20, 000 spirit stones, with each bid increment no less than 500 spirit stones. Gentlemen, please place your bids!"

The very first item up for auction was a superb magical flying sword!

"hiss--" A collective gasp filled the auction hall, followed by barely suppressed gasps and uproar!

Many Foundation Establishment cultivators stared wide-eyed. Many of them might never come into contact with a real magic weapon in their entire lives, but Yunmeng Pavilion brought out such a high-level treasure right from the start!

As expected of the four major business alliances, their ambition is truly astonishing!

Even some cultivators in the early stages of Core Formation had their eyes fixed on the Crimson Flame Sword, showing expressions of interest.

Zhou Ding, sitting in the private room, also raised his eyebrows slightly, somewhat surprised.

Using exquisite magical artifacts to start the event and liven up the atmosphere and boost morale, the Yunmeng Pavilion's foundation and spirit are truly extraordinary.

However, he already possesses treasures such as the Green Radiance Sword and the Mountain-Suppressing Seal, so he doesn't have much need for fire-attribute flying swords. Although the Crimson Flame Sword is good, it's not enough to tempt him.

After a brief silence, the bidding quickly resumed.

"Twenty-one thousand spirit stones!"

"Twenty-three thousand!"

"Twenty-five thousand!"

……

Bidding voices rose and fell, mostly from the pseudo-core cultivators in the hall, as well as from several private rooms where the voices had been neutralized by array formations.

The price quickly broke through 30, 000 spirit stones and is still steadily climbing.

Finally, after more than a dozen rounds of fierce bidding, the Crimson Flame Sword was successfully auctioned off to a cultivator in a private room on the third floor for 35, 000 spirit stones.

After a successful start, the atmosphere at the auction was completely ignited.

The old man surnamed Zhao was clearly well-versed in this art. The next few items, while not as stunning as the Crimson Flame Sword, were all rare and precious.

There was a bottle of "Golden Essence Pill" that could greatly enhance the mana of a cultivator in the early stages of Core Formation; "Millennial Frost Crystal Iron" from the depths of the outer sea that could be used to refine top-tier water-attribute magic weapons; an ancient jade slip that recorded a powerful lightning-type divine ability; and a mid-level "Drawing a Circle on the Ground as a Prison" talisman that could temporarily trap a Core Formation cultivator...

Each item attracted considerable competition, and prices soared.

The elderly man surnamed Zhao was experienced and his words were persuasive. He managed the atmosphere of the auction perfectly, creating one climax after another.

However, Zhou Ding remained quietly seated in the private room, like an observer, and never made a single bid.

He has no shortage of magical treasures; he can refine better elixirs himself; as for cultivation techniques and supernatural abilities, he possesses the "Azure Origin Sword Manual," "Soul Extinguishing Thorn," and the Heavenly Talisman and Heavenly Origin inheritances, which are profound enough; and for talismans and arrays, Xin Ruyin and Xiao Mei can handle them internally.

What he urgently needed were the rare main ingredients or key auxiliary ingredients that were almost extinct in the cultivation world and were essential for refining the ancient pills recorded in the "Tian Yuan Dan Jing" that could greatly aid the cultivation of the Core Formation stage.

Those medicinal herbs were his primary objective in coming here.

The auction lasted for about an hour, during which more than twenty treasures were sold, and the atmosphere remained lively.

After another magical artifact was sold at a high price, the old man surnamed Zhao paused slightly, a meaningful smile appearing on his face, and said loudly, "The next item in the auction may be a great opportunity for many of you who are aspiring to the path of the soul, or who need to nourish your primordial spirit and break through bottlenecks."

As soon as he finished speaking, another maidservant gracefully walked onto the stage, carrying a jade box about a foot long. The box was opened, and a cool, pure, and seemingly soul-cleansing fragrance instantly filled the air, invigorating everyone who smelled it and clearing their minds.

Inside the jade box, nourished by the spiritual spring, was a strange lotus flower, translucent and blood-red in color, with seven lotus leaves, a fist-sized lotus seedpod in its center, and a dark golden pod. The lotus seemed to be alive, slowly breathing in and out spiritual energy, with a faint blood-red halo flowing across its surface, emanating a Daoist charm.

"This item is the finest of the thousand-year-old spiritual herbs—the 'Soul-Nourishing Lotus'!"

The old man surnamed Zhao said with a hint of admiration, "The growing conditions for this lotus are extremely demanding. It needs to be in a place where Yin energy and spiritual spring meet, to absorb the Yin energy of the earth and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. It takes a thousand years for it to have seven leaves, and another thousand years for the lotus seedpod to turn golden before it is considered mature."

Its lotus heart, lotus leaves, and even lotus root can all be used in medicine, making it an excellent main ingredient for refining elixirs that nourish and strengthen the primordial spirit, such as "Soul Nourishing Pill" and "Spirit Tempering Ointment"!

Even when taken raw, it has miraculous effects such as calming the mind, nourishing soul power, and aiding in breaking through bottlenecks in spiritual consciousness! Starting price: 3, 000 spirit stones; each bid must increase by at least 100 spirit stones!

Soul-Nourishing Lotus!

Zhou Ding, who had been lounging lazily in his chair in the private room, suddenly sat up straight!

An uncontrollable glint flashed in his eyes!

He had already cultivated the Great Evolution Technique to the peak of the second level, and was only one step away from breaking through to the third level.

However, this final bottleneck requires extremely high levels of spiritual refinement and the strengthening of the soul, and ordinary pills and cultivation methods have little effect.

He had been searching for a treasure that could help him break through, and this "Soul-Nourishing Lotus" was simply tailor-made for him!

If he could use this lotus as the main ingredient, along with several other auxiliary ingredients, he was confident that he could refine a pill with a stronger effect than the "Soul Nourishing Pill" and break through the third level in one fell swoop!

At that time, his spiritual strength will surely rise to another level, reaching an even more terrifying state, which will bring endless benefits to fighting enemies, setting up formations, refining pills, and making talismans.

He was determined to get his hands on the Soul-Nourishing Lotus!

Clearly, he was not the only one interested in this item.

No sooner had the old man surnamed Zhao finished speaking than the bidding began at an astonishing speed!

"Three thousand five hundred spirit stones!" a pseudo-core cultivator shouted impatiently in the hall.

"Three thousand eight hundred!"

"four thousand!"

"Four thousand three hundred!"

The price broke through the five thousand spirit stones mark in just a few breaths!

Moreover, almost all of those participating in the bidding came from the VIP boxes on the second and third floors!

Clearly, those Core Formation cultivators, including True Man Mulong and Miao Li, were extremely interested in this thousand-year-old spiritual medicine that could nourish the primordial spirit.

While physical improvement is important for cultivators at their level, the strengthening of their primordial spirit and the refinement of their divine consciousness often determine the upper limit of their strength and the probability of breaking through bottlenecks.

The appearance of the Soul-Nourishing Lotus has undoubtedly touched a nerve for many people.

"Five thousand five hundred spirit stones!" A hoarse, aged voice came from one of the private rooms.

"Five thousand eight hundred!" another private room immediately echoed, the voice flat.

"Six thousand spirit stones!" The third private room joined, with a hint of determination.

The bidding slowed slightly after the price broke through six thousand, but the atmosphere became even more tense. Each bid was followed by a brief silence and deliberation.

"Five thousand eight hundred!" another private room immediately echoed, the voice flat.

"Six thousand spirit stones!" The third private room joined, with a hint of determination.

The bidding slowed slightly after the price broke through six thousand, but the atmosphere became even more tense. Each bid was followed by a brief silence and deliberation.

Zhou Ding remained calm and observed, without making a move.

He is evaluating, he is waiting.

When the price climbed to "six thousand five hundred spirit stones," it was announced from a private room with a cold voice. There was a moment of silence in the room, as if this price had approached the psychological bottom line of some people.

Zhou Ding finally made a move.

He reached out and placed his hand on a small magic circle inside the private room, which was specifically used for telepathic bidding. He calmly infused it with magic power and announced a number.

His voice, processed by an array, became a neutral, unremarkable sound, clearly echoing throughout the auction hall and all the private boxes:

"Six thousand eight hundred spirit stones."