Soul Nourishing Wood!
A special kind of spiritual plant.
It was derived from the heartwood of a Soul Nourishing Tree.
Soul Nourishing Trees were by no means rare. Wherever Yin qi was thick and lonely souls and wild ghosts gathered, they were often found growing.
Even in mortal graveyards and ancient battlefields, Soul Nourishing Trees grew to varying degrees.
In fact, in his early years, Luo Chen had even personally cultivated a Soul Nourishing Tree. Back then, he had consumed Nether-Passage Pills to bolster his divine soul's foundation while practicing the Soul Capturing Art, drawing forth numerous souls from wild beasts and low-tier demonic beasts. Unable to put them to use at the time, he had fed them all to that Soul Nourishing Tree.
Later, while he was constantly on the move, that Soul Nourishing Tree had mostly been left in Bai Meiling's care.
Now, it was either on Danxia Peak or had been transplanted to the sect's new headquarters in the Howling Moon Mountain Range.
He wondered how it was growing now.
However, just because Soul Nourishing Trees were common did not mean Soul Nourishing Wood was common.
Because a Soul Nourishing Tree had to reach a thousand years of age before it could yield a single piece of usable heartwood.
A full thousand years!
How many cultivators possessed such an immense lifespan?
Furthermore, many Soul Nourishing Trees were felled before they could ever reach a usable stage, chopped down to craft low-tier soul-path magical implements.
Even when a Soul Nourishing Tree reached a thousand years of age, it would have long claimed an owner, claimed by cultivators or targeted by demonic beasts.
In short, while Soul Nourishing Trees were common and Soul Nourishing Wood was widely renowned, the wood itself rarely circulated on the market.
Now, for a piece of Soul Nourishing Wood boasting three thousand years of age to suddenly appear at this auction, it would undoubtedly draw everyone's attention.
Foundation Establishment cultivators, Golden Core Masters, and perhaps even Nascent Soul True Persons could very well be tempted.
Hearing the hesitation in Luo Chen's voice, Han Zhan said urgently, "This piece of Soul Nourishing Wood isn't large, and since it came from the Sunken Sea, it's likely a damaged fragment. An ordinary Nascent Soul True Person would never deign to look at it. The catalog also mentions that it's tainted with foul baleful energy, rendering it useless to ordinary Golden Core cultivators. You have a very good chance of winning it at auction."
Luo Chen countered, "If it's a damaged fragment and tainted with foul energy, what use will it be to you?"
"With my attainment in soul refinement, even a damaged piece of Soul Nourishing Wood can be put to some use." Han Zhan's voice held a touch of confidence, and he continued, "And as for that foul taint, don't you have a way to purge it?"
Luo Chen's brow twitched.
The Dragon Slaying Art!
Among the myriad spells he cultivated, it was his sole fourth-tier spell, acquired from Jin Buque of the Five Elements Divine Sect.
Originally, he had sought it for Chu Kui.
Yet over the years, to purge the fire poison within the medicinal power of the True Flame Pills, he had occasionally cast it himself.
Its proficiency had reached Master tier several years ago, just a step away from Grand Perfection.
In his view, even if the Five Elements Divine Sect expert who devised the spell were to cast it personally, they wouldn't necessarily surpass him.
Who would have thought Han Zhan was aware of his attainment in this spell and held such absolute confidence in him?
"Even so..."
Luo Chen remained somewhat hesitant.
Seeing his hesitation, Han Zhan suppressed his inner impatience and offered a term.
"Didn't you obtain a third-tier peak Concealed Dust Sand earlier?"
Luo Chen's heart gave a thump.
"I know you've been pondering how to utilize that Concealed Dust Sand. Using it as an alchemical ingredient would be too wasteful, and refining it into a one-time magical implement wouldn't be of much use to you. It's clearly a top-grade material, yet in your hands, it's rather like a chicken rib—tasteless to eat, but a pity to throw away."
Luo Chen asked tentatively, "Could it be that Senior possesses a method to make use of it?"
Clearly, Luo Chen was not one to release the hawk until he saw the hare.
Or rather, the dynamic between him and Han Zhan had been established from the very beginning.
It was conditional!
Luo Chen provided Han Zhan with the Ten Thousand Soul Banner as a place of shelter, and in return, Han Zhan had given him the formula for the Black Emperor Paste.
It was a transaction, merely framed without blunt vulgarity.
And now, if Han Zhan wanted a piece of three-thousand-year-old Soul Nourishing Wood, he had to offer commensurate terms.
There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
His relationship with Han Zhan was certainly not intimate enough for him to freely throw away millions of spirit stones on the man's behalf.
Han Zhan said with considerable reluctance, "This old man does indeed know a method to utilize Concealed Dust Sand, a secret art unknown to ninety-nine percent of high-tier cultivators. Once mastered, this art will bring tremendous benefits to your cultivation, and it can even serve as a second life."
A second life!
Luo Chen's heart jolted, and he blurted out, "Could it be Senior's puppet death-substitute method?!"
He had personally witnessed Han Zhan's Nascent Soul puppet incarnation.
Not only could it form the Two Instruments Five Elements Sword Formation, but during battle, it could also transfer the injuries inflicted by enemy attacks away from Han Zhan. At the brink of death, it could even undergo a Nascent Soul transference, granting an entire extra life.
If it hadn't been incinerated by a wisp of Nirvana Sacred Flame while fleeing Mount Cangwu, completely ruining the puppet, Han Zhan would never have fallen into such a wretched state, sheltering under Luo Chen's roof.
A puppet body at the Nascent Soul stage, combined with an intact Nascent Soul, was virtually no different from a genuine Nascent Soul True Person!
Even if it couldn't match a living cultivator of the same tier, walking the North Sea would still have been more than manageable.
For a moment, Luo Chen's eyes burned, his blood surging with heat.
And Han Zhan's reply delighted him even further.
"That puppet of mine was crafted from the actual corpse of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Its might was immense—how could a single piece of Concealed Dust Sand compare to it?"
"However!"
"If you cultivate the secret technique I teach you, its sheer potential will surpass even my Nascent Soul puppet!"
"In fact, when you break through to the Nascent Soul stage in the future, you will even have the chance to manifest a true, genuine external incarnation!"
Han Zhan's voice echoed continuously in Luo Chen's mind.
An external incarnation!
Not some mere puppet avatar!
An external incarnation virtually indistinguishable from one's true body!
In his excitement, Luo Chen swallowed hard and pressed, "Is it truly that formidable?"
"Would this old man deceive you? A cultivator can only form one Golden Core and one Nascent Soul in their lifetime. But with my secret technique, you can condense a second Golden Core. When you cross the Nascent Soul Lightning Tribulation in the future, you can shatter the core to form a soul, granting you a second Nascent Soul incarnation."
Han Zhan said wistfully, "This method is called the Origin Core Art. It was originally a secret art I wished to cultivate back during my Golden Core days, but I never managed to find Concealed Dust Sand of suitable quality. Now, it can only benefit you."
Amidst his excitement, Luo Chen also felt puzzled.
"Since its potential is so immense, why didn't Senior cultivate it again after achieving the Nascent Soul realm?"
Han Zhan said gloomily, "The Origin Core Art can only be cultivated once in a cultivator's lifetime. Even if I were to cultivate it again later, I could at most condense a second Golden Core. Without the aid of the heavenly lightning tribulation, there is no way to shatter the core and form an infant soul. Think about it—what use is a second Golden Core to a Nascent Soul cultivator like me?"
Hearing this explanation, realization suddenly dawned upon Luo Chen.
Certain past details flashed through his mind.
Back when he had first obtained the Concealed Dust Sand, Han Zhan's tone had carried a strange nuance.
Luo Chen had asked Han Zhan back then whether there was any suitable method to utilize it, and Han Zhan had replied with a sullen 'no.'
Looking back, that tone hadn't been the somberness of helplessness, but rather the deep gloom of having missed a great opportunity!
This old fellow had certainly hidden it well!
Suppressing the excitement in his chest, Luo Chen gave a light smile. "Since this art possesses such immense potential, its grade must be quite extraordinary!"
"It has no grade to speak of; it is more akin to alchemy or artifact forging. However, its importance is beyond doubt. It is one of the two great secret techniques among the Three Cultivation Arts and Two Secret Techniques passed down in my Luoyun Sect, and its significance surpasses even the Core Formation secret technique, Locking the Beaded Curtain."
Han Zhan replied with lingering reluctance in his tone.
Yet faced with an opportunity to alleviate his current predicament, what did a secret art he could no longer use matter?
Luo Chen nodded inwardly. He had long heard of the Luoyun Sect's Three Cultivation Arts and Two Secret Techniques.
The profound mystery of *Locking the Beaded Curtain* had displayed remarkable power back when he formed his Golden Core.
Even though the version of *Locking the Beaded Curtain* provided by the Luoyun Sect had been incomplete, after he perfected it and cultivated it to Great Accomplishment, his core formation had indeed proceeded without a hitch.
Among the Three Cultivation Arts and Two Secret Techniques, Locking the Beaded Curtain corresponded to the Core Formation bottleneck, while this so-called Origin Core Art clearly corresponded to the Golden Core and Nascent Soul realms.
The Luoyun Sect's heritage was truly remarkable.
Presumably, among the remaining three cultivation arts, aside from their renowned puppet path, the other two must also have had their own extraordinary merits.
However, now was not the time for Luo Chen to pry into those ancient sect secrets.
Without further hesitation, he responded to Han Zhan's request.
"I will do my utmost to secure this Soul Nourishing Wood for you."
He thought Han Zhan would be satisfied with this promise.
To his surprise...
"Not your utmost—you must secure it no matter what!"
Luo Chen's brow furrowed. "Senior, aren't you overestimating me?"
Han Zhan said, "After selling that batch of monster crab materials, you hold a fortune of fully ten million spirit stones on you. Ordinary Golden Core cultivators don't possess anywhere near that much liquid spirit stones, and even newly advanced Nascent Soul True Persons might not be as wealthy as you. Securing a piece of Soul Nourishing Wood won't be difficult!"
Luo Chen shook his head. "It cannot be put that way. The primary purpose of these funds is to gather ingredients for the Nascent Soul Formation Pill. Secondly, I must spend on materials for a defensive magic treasure. Lastly, I want to see if there are any other treasures suitable for me at the auction. If I pour everything into bidding on the Soul Nourishing Wood for you, all my plans will be completely disrupted."
"Do you not want the Origin Core Art anymore?"
Luo Chen put on a forced, bitter smile. "As wonderful as this art is, cultivating it will surely be arduous, and its full potential can only be realized after I reach the Nascent Soul realm. If I lack path-protecting treasures and the pill to form a Nascent Soul, how can I even speak of the future?"
Unrealized potential was, in the end, nothing more than flowers in a mirror and the moon reflected in water.
Just like the countless cultivating geniuses in the cultivation world who crossed like carp in a river—once they perished, they were reduced to nothing more than a handful of yellow earth, falling far short of becoming true supreme experts.
"Luo Chen, don't push it too far!"
"My apologies, but I can only do my utmost."
As their words clashed, the atmosphere between them ground to a standstill.
Right at that moment, the preparations for the auction outside reached completion.
*Swish!*
Brilliant lights flared at once, instantly illuminating the vast, chilling palace.
The countless cultivators seated below came into clear view, the fervent anticipation in their eyes tinting the cold palace with warmth.
Standing before the open window of his private box, Luo Chen watched the scene, feeling quite a bit of anticipation himself.
As a Golden Core cultivator stepped onto the central high platform, a faint, resigned sigh finally echoed in his mind.
"Forget it, forget it!"
"I know you wish to gather a vast quantity of ingredients for the Nascent Soul Formation Pill in an attempt to deduce the complete pill recipe using your own alchemical skill. This process will inevitably consume a mountain of herbs, which is why you were willing to invest so heavily in attending this auction."
"The Nascent Soul Formation Pill recipe in the possession of Qingdanzi from the Azure Pill Valley was actually given to him by me."
"So long as you are willing to bid on this Soul Nourishing Wood for me at all costs, I will give you the pill recipe, and I can even personally recount the specific circumstances when I consumed the Nascent Soul Formation Pill back then."
"Luo Chen, is that enough?!"
A person sheltering under another's roof had no choice but to bow their head.
When one came begging for help, the transaction could never be truly fair.
The corners of Luo Chen's mouth curled slightly, and he whispered, "Deal!"
...
"I am Leng Ruolan, humbly serving as the deputy city master of Feileng City. I imagine many fellow Daoists present recognize me."
"Today, I welcome everyone to this auction to share in this grand occasion."
"I, Ruolan, will be presiding over the upcoming proceedings. I hope that everyone will bid amicably and let harmony bring wealth."
The layout of the venue radiated outwards in a fan shape.
The seats for the guests occupied one side of the fan, while the central high platform served as the focal point at the base of the handle.
On the platform, an elegant, beautiful, and dignified woman spoke with easy poise.
The many cultivators in attendance listened intently, keeping the hall remarkably quiet.
Yet clearly, this momentary calm was merely the prelude to the fierce bidding wars to come.
Everyone knew that when it came to resources vital to one's own cultivation, no one would remain polite and peaceful; there would only be ruthless contention down to the last grain, giving no ground whatsoever!
Dispensing with tedious formalities, Deputy City Master Leng Ruolan brought out the first auction item without delay.
With a flick of her wrist, a bronze mirror settled into her palm.
Luo Chen focused his gaze upon it, yet found nothing extraordinary about it. It was merely an ordinary low-grade bronze mirror magic treasure, and he could not fathom what power it possessed to serve as the opening lot of the auction.
After all, to stir up the atmosphere, auctions of this caliber usually chose something of immense value for the very first item.
This bronze mirror hardly seemed qualified!
Just as he was wondering, the woman directed a burst of Dharmic powers into the mirror.
Immediately, before the watchful eyes of the crowd, a screen of light projected outward.
Within the projection, an enormous giant fish appeared in everyone's sight.
The fish was dark cyan from head to tail, resembling a rugged boulder covered in moss, and its back was overgrown with all manner of flowers, grass, and trees.
The creature was swimming freely through the vast expanse of the sea, frolicking at will, with seabirds occasionally descending from the sky to perch atop its back.
Seeing this image, Luo Chen was momentarily stunned before murmuring hesitantly to himself:
"A Dark Cyan Treasure Basin Fish?"
"This big?"
He had seen one of these creatures before.
On the journey to Feileng City, when the Bai family's merchant ship had been attacked by demonic beasts, the leader had been a late second-tier Dark Cyan Treasure Basin Fish.
It had been slain by Bai Xiang using a lethal strike with his magic treasure.
Among the many ferocious sea demons, this was the kind most favored by cultivators.
Because these fish naturally craved spirit-imbued objects, they often roamed the deep ocean, absorbing and storing all sorts of spiritual essence.
Over time, they had earned the title of mobile spirit veins, attracting many low-tier sea demons to follow in their wake.
To cultivators, a Dark Cyan Treasure Basin Fish was a literal cornucopia.
Hunting just one was enough to make a person wealthy overnight.
The one slain by the Bai family's ship had later been claimed by He Yuan of the Yuan Demon Sect.
For an arrogant disciple of a demonic sect to shamelessly demand a second-tier demon fish showed just how valuable these fish were.
And from what Luo Chen could see, the Dark Cyan Treasure Basin Fish displayed in the projection was of a size that clearly placed it beyond the second tier.
The next moment, Leng Ruolan introduced this first item with a smile.
"A mid third-tier Dark Cyan Treasure Basin Fish!"
"Captured from the Demon Sea by our City Master, True Person Feileng, it was nurtured using secret techniques and fed special spiritual items over the course of a century, finally becoming a blessed land of cultivation."
"A cultivator residing on this fish is effectively situated atop an authentic third-tier low-grade spirit vein."
"Furthermore, this fish can be stored normally inside a spirit beast pouch."
"Fellow Daoists, obtaining this fish is equivalent to securing a portable third-tier cave abode—an indispensable asset for daily life, travel, and venturing out to sea!"
A mobile spirit vein, a blessed land of cultivation!
The moment those words were spoken, an uproar swept through the entire hall.
Even Luo Chen could not help but draw in a sharp breath, his heart thumping wildly against his ribs.
Though he yearned for a higher-grade spirit vein cave abode, he would never look down on a portable third-tier low-grade dwelling.
If he could win it at auction...
Before his wild thoughts could develop any further, Leng Ruolan announced the starting price.
"The starting price is one million low-grade spirit stones!"
"Each bid increment must be no less than one hundred thousand."
"Fellow Daoists, if you please!"
Luo Chen opened his mouth, but ultimately let the matter drop.
That was simply too expensive!
Chapter 578