Cultivation Starting from Choosing Augments

Chapter 287 - 169: Covered Pearl · Tiger Bone · Yin-Yang Unity Contract

"According to the appraisal, this pair of Covered Pearls should have come from a Red-beaked Crane chick, less than five years old."

"Although in terms of grade, this would be considered a Tier Three Spiritual Object."

"However, since the chick was immature, it never actually reached the standard of a Tier Three Spiritual Object."

Xiao Chen finally understood. In other words, this thing could only be considered half a Tier Three Spiritual Object, which was why it didn’t need to be offered directly as tribute to a Golden Core True Man.

But then again, half a Tier Three Spiritual Object was still a Tier Three Spiritual Object.

’It was the classic principle of "eat what you want to strengthen." My cultivation of the Eye of Truth is only at the entry-level, so I could really use a treasure like this.’

He pressed on, "Did the seller specify any conditions for the auction?"

Generally, auctions in Li State were conducted using Spirit Stones.

But Hezhou was different. Aside from the exchange meets, auctions here sometimes came with special conditions for the transaction.

For example, a seller might specify they only want to trade for a certain type of Spiritual Object. If you didn’t have one, you couldn’t even bid.

Xiao Chen had only learned this himself the day before yesterday when he’d gone to submit his own items for the auction.

Of course, he hadn’t set any such requirements. The items he was selling were all things he no longer needed; he just wanted to convert them into Spirit Stones.

Qiu Qichen nodded. "The seller of this item is asking to trade it for a Defensive Spiritual Artifact of at least Upper Grade Dharma Artifact Level."

"And they won’t accept silk handkerchiefs or Jade Pendants."

’That’s not a cheap asking price.’

Even Xiao Chen, who rarely left his home, had heard that the price of Defensive Spiritual Artifacts had skyrocketed recently.

At the start of the year, there were already basically no Upper Grade or Top Grade Defensive Spiritual Artifacts available on the market.

The few that did appear were priced thirty to forty percent higher than before.

Even the more common Middle Grade Magical Artifacts had seen a small price bump.

Back at the Qiu Family’s exchange meet, Xiao Chen had run into several Foundation Establishment Cultivators looking to trade for Defensive Spiritual Artifacts.

Then, following the Demon Cultivator invasion late in the first month, the prices for Defensive Spiritual Artifacts shot up once more.

They were now seventy to eighty percent more expensive than they had been two years ago.

An ordinary one now went for five to six thousand Spirit Stones.

Some of the more powerful Upper Grade Magic Shields could even be priced at eight or nine thousand Spirit Stones, nearly hitting the ten-thousand mark.

In truth, many Cultivators already owned a Defensive Spiritual Artifact.

But they still wanted to stock up on a couple more. After all, keeping a spare in one’s Storage Bag could mean the difference between life and death at a critical moment.

’This is actually good news for me.’

’Last time, I got two excellent Upper Grade Magic Shields from the White Bone Sect’s Saint Heir, and I just sent them to be auctioned the day before yesterday.’

’I also have three ordinary Upper Grade Magic Robes. They should all fetch a good price.’

’But if I do that, I won’t have any spare Defensive Spiritual Artifacts left.’

At this thought, Xiao Chen quickly asked, "Mr. Qiu, has this list been made public yet?"

Qiu Qichen shook his head. "Not yet. Besides me, you’re the first to see the compiled list, Xiao."

Xiao Chen instantly relaxed. "In that case, I’ll have to trouble you to amend the list, Mr. Qiu. Please withdraw one of the Magic Robes from the auction."

"I really have a use for this pair of Covered Pearls."

Qiu Qichen nodded. "Of course. However, I suggest you finish reading the list before making any decisions."

He had brought the preliminary list over so quickly precisely because he had anticipated this.

’There are even better things to come.’

Hmm?

Now Xiao Chen was genuinely surprised.

He flipped to the third page and, sure enough, saw the bone of a Cyan-eyed Flower-faced Tiger.

HISS!

Xiao Chen drew in a sharp, cold breath.

The Cyan-eyed Flower-faced Tiger was also a Tier Three Spirit Beast, but it was much rarer than the Red-beaked Crane.

Furthermore, they were typically only found in the heart of the Ten Thousand Demons Mountain Range.

If he hadn’t chanced upon a description of it in the Lingyuan Sect’s Scripture Pavilion a few days ago, he wouldn’t have even recognized this Spirit Beast.

Xiao Chen asked curiously, "Is this from a cub, too?"

This time, however, Qiu Qichen shook his head. "No, this is the bone of a fully grown Cyan-eyed Flower-faced Tiger."

"It’s just that this bone comes from one of the Yao Family’s grand-uncles."

"In his younger years, he rendered a great service to the sect and was gifted this Tiger Bone by Thunder Sound True Man to supplement his Qi Blood. Unexpectedly, he never brought himself to use it."

"Its origins are completely legitimate, so it can be included in the public auction."

’Oh, so that’s how it is.’

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen was instantly tempted.

’This is a Tier Three Tiger Bone. Its effectiveness at supplementing one’s Qi Blood would be absolutely top-notch.’

’I was just planning to advance my Body Cultivator Realm. It seems this Tiger Bone and I are fated to be together.’

So he asked, "Mr. Qiu, does the Yao Family have any conditions?"

Qiu Qichen held up two fingers. "There are two conditions, and at least one must be met."

"Either trade one Top Grade Dharma Artifact Level Defensive Spiritual Artifact, or at least five Upper Grade Dharma Artifact Level Defensive Spiritual Artifacts."

"Likewise, they won’t accept Jade Pendants."

’Xiao Chen didn’t think the conditions were steep. If it was truly the bone of an adult Cyan-eyed Flower-faced Tiger, then it was definitely worth that price.’

Increasing one’s Qi Blood was an extremely luxurious endeavor to begin with.

Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was everywhere. Even if one wasn’t near a Spirit Vein, the worst that would happen is that one’s absorption efficiency would be a little lower.

But increasing the total volume of one’s Qi Blood couldn’t be done through exercise alone. Exercise could only unlock one’s potential; one had to consume all sorts of supplementary tonics.

This was one of the reasons why Magic Cultivators far outnumbered Body Cultivators.

It was similar to the old concept of "poor scholars, rich warriors." For Cultivators, however, the saying was more like "poor magic, rich body."

Xiao Chen had just recently seized the Ringed Water Black Tortoise Shield and the Mirror-Like Golden Shield from the Four Great Wanderers.

’I can’t possibly use so many Defensive Spiritual Artifacts by myself, so that condition won’t be hard to meet at all.’