Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

Chen Li had barely sat down when the auction began.

There were seldom common items in the auction, which was reflected in their rarity.

The first item already caused a commotion, with the bidding being extremely fierce and the sounds of increasing bids rising one after another.

This was a set of a sword box combination artifact made up of seven top-tier first-order flying swords, which could be refined as one or used separately like a swift sword rain, and when combined could form a sword formation. It was considered a top-level artifact for those in the Qi Cultivation Stage.

For someone at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, facing such an artifact would be quite troublesome.

After a fierce round of bidding, the top-level artifact was finally sold for the price of two hundred and forty-five Mid-grade Spirit Stones.

"This price could match that of more than a dozen top-tier first-order artifacts." Chen Li felt that his trip here had been quite an eye-opener, as a single first-order artifact could be auctioned for such a high price.

When he was still in the Green River District, the second-hand, low-grade second-order sword he bought had only cost him thirty-five Mid-grade Spirit Stones.

One was second-order, the other first-order.

Yet, the price did not match that of the first-order ones.

The auction continued, with prices high and low, sometimes quiet, sometimes lively, with people coming in and others leaving, making the whole auction seem chaotic yet ordered.

In the midst of it all, Foundation Establishment Elixirs were auctioned off, typically selling for around two hundred Mid-grade Spirit Stones, which was not much different from Luoluo City.

Soon, it was Chen Li’s turn for his second-hand, low-grade second-order flying sword to be auctioned.

"Black Feather Sword, a second-hand low-grade second-order flying sword with slight wear on the blade but clear array patterns that do not affect its use, grade approaching mid-grade, speed completely within the mid-grade range, the advantage being its lightness and low Spiritual Power consumption, able to exert its power with just the first layer of Foundation Establishment..."

The auctioneer introduced the item with all his strength, "The starting bid is seventy Mid-grade Spirit Stones, with each increase of one Mid-grade Spirit Stone. Any bids?"

"Seventy-five."

"Eighty!"

The scene was somewhat quiet, with only a few people bidding.

Fortunately, as the auction went on, two people became competitive.

In the end, the sword sold for the price of one hundred and eighty-two Mid-grade Spirit Stones.

Chen Li’s mind was undisturbed, and he took a sip of his Spiritual Tea, quietly waiting for the Protector God Mirror to come up for auction.

A teacup slowly emptied as he waited.

What he was waiting for finally arrived.

"Protector God Mirror, a low-grade second-order magical instrument, capable of protecting the soul, resisting mental attacks. I won’t say more about this as such artifacts are always rare and precious. Nobody in the entire barren western region can refine it, each one is a rarity..."

The auction displayed it around!

It was a small, quaint-looking mirror, silvery-white throughout, and its back was covered with a dense array of runes, looking unremarkable at a glance.

"The starting bid is ten Top-grade Spirit Stones, with each increase of one Top-grade Spirit Stone," announced the auctioneer.

The price was still bearable.

Chen Li breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, just about to place a bid when bids came from other private rooms.

"Fifteen!"

"Sixteen!"

"I bid seventeen!"

...

The price climbed rapidly as if money were of no concern, and in the blink of an eye, it had reached nineteen.

Chen Li hurriedly cried out, "Twenty!"

Sweat began to bead on his forehead.

He only had twenty-nine Top-grade Spirit Stones on hand, and counting the price from selling the flying sword and some small change, he had a total of thirty-two.

Fortunately, after reaching twenty, the bidding slowed down, and at last, only three people were competing.

"Hmph, twenty-four. If it goes any higher, I will no longer bid and will leave it to the two of you!" a voice snorted coldly from one of the private rooms.

"I’m out, you two fight it out," another competitor said, feeling the pinch and ready to give up.

"Twenty-five!" said Chen Li.

"Twenty-six!"

Why couldn’t this person keep their word? They had just said they were out of the bidding.

Chen Li was speechless and again gritted his teeth and bid, "Twenty-seven!"

The scene suddenly became silent.

"Twenty-seven from this Fellow Daoist! Any higher bids?"

"Once, twice, thrice! Sold!"

...

"Phew!"

Chen Li leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath; it was as if he had gone back to square one.

"After deducting the auction fees, I’m left with just five Top-grade Spirit Stones in hand!"

However, he wasn’t worried about future expenses.

In the last year and a half, his Golden Light Body Protection Talisman had advanced to master level, and although he couldn’t claim a hundred percent success rate in talisman drawing, it was close, and failures were rare. And with his current Spiritual Power, he could easily draw up to eight at once.

Over the course of a year, he typically had an income of about six Top-grade Spirit Stones.

His earnings were enough to support his annual expenditures.

Of course, to avoid attracting attention, the talismans he sold were deliberately ordinary versions; he never sold optimized versions.

"Knock, knock, knock!" A knock came from outside the door.

"Come in!" Chen Li said.

Soon after, a man and a woman entered, bringing the auction items.

Chen Li took the Protector God Mirror and carefully examined it. Having handled so many magic artifacts, he now had some general judgment on their appraisal. At the very least, he could confirm that this Protector God Mirror was undoubtedly a low-grade Second Order artifact.

As for a deeper assessment... the backing of the auction house was the Artefact Sect. Having done business for so many years and able to hold such a grand auction, their reputation shouldn’t pose any problems.

Besides, for a sect that had lost its Golden Core, twenty-seven top-grade Spirit Stones were not enough to ruin their reputation over offending someone at the Foundation Establishment.

After settling the account with the auction house, the venue was already auctioning off a set of Second Order mid-grade formations, and the atmosphere was heated.

"Twenty-eight!"

"Twenty-nine!"

"Thirty-five!"

...

Real fucking rich!

Chen Li cursed inwardly, no longer interested in staying. He glanced over and left through the hidden door of the private room.

After exiting, he quickly blended into the crowds on the street, reverting to his true appearance. However, he had not gone far when a woman’s voice came from behind him.

"Chen Li?"

Chen Li’s expression showed surprise. Could he possibly encounter an acquaintance here?

He turned around, and indeed there was an acquaintance: "You are... Zhao?"

It was Zhao Wanjun, who had once been his neighbor in Green River District for a while. After many years, she had lost some of her sharpness and gained a bit of gentleness, with traces of the years on her face. Judging by her hairstyle, she had obviously gotten married.

"It really is you; I thought I had recognized the wrong person. What are you doing here, and how have you become so young? You, you, you..." Zhao Wanjun started with a smile, but as she spoke, noticing the exceptionally youthful face of her interlocutor, she suddenly realized something and her face showed astonishment:

"You’ve achieved Foundation Establishment?"

"To meet an old friend in a foreign place, Fellow Daoist Zhao’s grace is undiminished from the past," Chen Li said with a smile.

"Senior... You jest. How can I, who lacks any grace, befit comparison with a senior Daoist? If there was any offense or disrespect in the past, please forgive me," Zhao Wanjun quickly reacted, bowing deeply as she spoke.

Her heart was a mixture of emotions. When she first met Chen Li seven years ago, he was just a down-and-out middle-aged Loose Cultivator, who was so cautious and anxious in her presence, as if afraid of being harmed by others.

Now, seven years later, she was still a Qi Cultivation practitioner with a bleak future, while he had become a Foundation Establishment cultivator, full of vitality.

"Ah, you’re too serious!" Chen Li said, "I didn’t expect to run into a fellow Daoist after so many years."

The two were merely acquaintances who met by chance, and with the difference in their cultivation levels creating an air of restraint and politeness, Chen Li’s initial joy at meeting a familiar face from his homeland also mostly faded away. After a few brief and distant words, they went on their separate ways.

Chen Li sighed softly to himself, but it was like the silence of geese flying past; there was no trace left in his heart. He executed the Fortune Seeking and Disaster Avoiding Skill, discerning auspicious and ominous signs as he walked out of the city along the main road, then slipped into the woods and changed into another set of robes.

Sensing no one was following him, he executed the Yuan Magnetism Evasion Skill. Accompanied by flashes of electric light, he leaped into the air, flying swiftly back the way he had come. The journey was safe and smooth, without any incidents, and by the time he returned to his sect, it was already night.

Zhang Shuniang was the first to notice Chen Li’s return in the courtyard, excitedly shouting, "Ms. Zhou, the Elder has returned."

Soon, Zhou Hong’s figure emerged from the house:

"How come you’re back so soon? I thought it would be a few more days. Did you manage to buy what you wanted?"

"I happened to come across an auction," Chen Li replied with a smile, nodding and walking towards the living room. "I brought gifts for you all this time. Take a look later and see if you like them."

"Whatever you buy, I will like it," Zhou Hong said, her heart sweet as honey.

"Uncle, do I have one too?" Zhang Shuniang said joyfully, her eyes fixed on Chen Li.

"Everyone has one!" Chen Li took out two sets of robes from his storage bag and placed them on the table. "The red one is for you, Ms. Zhou, and the tender green one embroidered with lotuses is for you."

Why would Uncle buy her something as intimate as robes? Zhang Shuniang’s face flushed red, and she was unable to suppress her embarrassment. Swiftly covering her face, she lowered her head and ran back to her boudoir.

"What’s wrong with her?" Chen Li was immediately confused.

"Perhaps she’s a bit shy," Zhou Hong said with a meaningful smile. "I’ll go console her later. These past few days you weren’t here, Shuniang asked me several times when you were coming back, even more eagerly than I."

"Ha, that girl!" Chen Li chuckled.

...

In the quiet chamber of the cave dwelling.

Chen Li carefully refined the Protector God Mirror.

After refining it, he felt an additional layer of protection, an inexplicable sense of security welling up within him. But when he tried to grasp that feeling more precisely, it was elusive, without a trace or explanation.

He strung the Protector God Mirror on a thin cord and hung it on his chest.

Then he rose to his feet and headed to the bedroom.

In the bedroom, Zhou Hong lay on the bed, her black hair spread out, covered with a thin quilt.

"Why are you sleeping so early?"

The heat in Chen Li’s heart subsided a little. He took off his robe, lifted the quilt, and lay down, only to discover that ’Zhou Hong’ was entirely naked, her body burning hot to the touch and quivering uncontrollably.

He immediately sensed that something was off.

It wasn’t Zhou Hong.

He quickly pulled back the quilt, his expression turning to one of shock: "Shuniang, why is it you? Where is Ms. Zhou?"

Zhang Shuniang’s face was burning red as she covered it, her voice trembling. "Uncle... Ms. Zhou asked me to come and serve you."

Her delicate body lay outstretched exposing her snowy peaks, slender waist, and jade-like feet, each feature stunning, her skin white as lamb fat and exuding a strong aura of youth.

"Do you want this yourself?"

"I... I am willing!" Zhang Shuniang replied in a trembling voice, her face as red as if ablaze: "Please be merciful, Uncle."

ps: Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, may your family be joyous. Considering I updated even on New Year’s Eve, I humbly ask for a monthly ticket.