Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

Xiao Yuan was quite enthusiastic. Seeing that Chen Li had plans to stay, he stopped wandering around and personally took Chen Li to an inn where they settled down, with rooms next door to each other. After all, it was good to look out for one another while traveling.

"Artefact Sect has welcomed a new Golden Core Sect Master. Have you heard about it?"

Chen Li shook his head, "I hadn’t heard of that!"

In truth, he did know a bit about it but not much.

Xiao Yuan used a Silencing Talisman, lowered his voice, and spoke mysteriously,

"The Golden Core was invited by Artefact Sect from Huoyun Sect. He just came over the day before yesterday. I heard he’s quite old. This time, not only did he come here himself, but he also brought his whole family. I guess he’s probably here to retire."

Huoyun Sect, a Nascent Soul Sect with an expansive territory.

Chen Li had heard of it long ago.

Such places have abundant resources, but the competition is fierce.

In front of a Nascent Soul, even a Golden Core would probably have to act humbly. Where could one compare with the prestige of becoming a sect leader in the wild west?

Moreover, with the connection to Huoyun Sect, as long as one has no ambition and sticks to guarding one’s own domain, living a small life of one’s own, probably no one would dare to have designs on the Artefact Sect in the future.

Indeed, a fine place to retire.

"This is actually good for our Returning True Sect. Now the northwest is stable!" Chen Li muttered to himself for a moment, then said.

"Indeed, our Sect Leader acts with deep foresight. A while ago, Luo Shen cursed our ancestor. That old fool, as drunk as a lord every day, doesn’t know shit. People, the older they get, the less they hold their tongues, without any sense of hierarchy.

But since they’re already one foot in the grave, the Sect Leader really can’t reprimand him.

Tianxing Sect, a sect with two Golden Cores.

It’s said that the cultivation level of Tianxing Sect’s Sect Leader is even higher than our ancestor’s and he is even younger. If we don’t take advantage of the conflict between Hongshan Sect and Tianxing Sect to get rid of them, the situation will be tough once the new Golden Core grows stronger.

This battle can be said to have laid the foundation for a hundred years of peace for the Returning True Sect."

Xiao Yuan, quite taken with the topic, continued, "You watch and see. Given our Sect Leader’s character, he would never ask for too much in this territory division. In the future, the sects bordering us will likely lose a quarter of their land, leaving only Shen Jian Sect, Artefact Sect, and Hongshan Sect."

Chen Li thought about it and nodded. It was indeed the case.

In just ten years, the Returning True Sect moved from being surrounded on five sides to backing up against the Barbaric Wilderness in the Longevity Domain, and now they had defeated Tianxing Sect, which had been showing surging ambition. The sect’s situation had improved a lot at once.

"So you see, being a Sect Leader is tough. In this wild west, it’s either you hit me, or I hit you, never a moment of peace," Xiao Yuan went on to say.

"I’ve always heard of Huoyun Sect, but how far is it from here?" Chen Li asked.

If he couldn’t buy a better magic sword here.

He’d have to look at the Nascent Soul sects.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, Chen Li felt the scarcity of resources here even more acutely.

Even hoping to buy a Second Order top-grade Magic Artifact depended on luck, let alone a top-grade Second Order magic sword, which even fewer people used.

"I’m not sure about that. With dozens of Golden Core Sects in the whole Barbaric Wilderness, and Huoyun Sect being in the central territory, it must be at least ten thousand li away!" Xiao Yuan guessed after a moment’s thought.

...

Evening.

Inn.

Chen Li counted the Spirit Stones he had.

"163 top-grade Spirit Stones, plus the income from drawing talismans, as long as I don’t squander, should be enough to cover the next fifteen years of expenses."

Apart from that, excluding the ones for his own use, the various Second Order Magic Artifacts and robes in his storage bag were also worth about a hundred top-grade Spirit Stones.

"But considering the current situation, there’s no rush to sell."

He stored his belongings properly, sat cross-legged, and began to cultivate.

... 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

In the following days, Chen Li basically cultivated in the inn and seldom went out.

Time swiftly passed by.

Soon, the day of the auction arrived.

The variety of items at this auction has increased quite a bit, with more than ten Second Order magic artifacts on offer, including two top-grade ones.

There was also a Second Order sword, but unfortunately, it was just a mid-grade Second Order sword.

It’s of the same grade as the Green Jade Sword in his hand.

Useless to him.

Besides that, formations, cultivation techniques, spells, secret techniques, and even rare pill recipes and artifact refining methods were available, although they were all low-level items. The high-level ones were probably already internally distributed and wouldn’t be on offer.

The auction began.

Indeed, the final prices were quite a bit lower than before.

Especially for Second Order items.

Second Order mid-grade magic artifacts, which used to sell for ten top-grade Spirit Stones or more, now only fetched a maximum of nine, typically around seven or eight, nearly half their previous price.

However, Chen Li had no intention of hoarding these items.

The number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in a region is limited, with a slow growth rate.

The market was too small.

Too slow to absorb.

And with severe fluctuations.

For the next few years, prices are expected to remain low, and in the event of any unrest in the surrounding regions, they could hit rock bottom. The risk was just too high.

"Second Order Third Grade spell, the Phantom Skill, creates a duplicate of oneself that can be controlled, lasting for the duration of a stick of incense. The duplicate is difficult to distinguish by the naked eye and serves as a decoy, a sacrificial substitute, and for reconnaissance, but it possesses no attack power. The starting bid is fifty mid-grade Spirit Stones, with each increase being at least one mid-grade Spirit Stone. Any bidders?"

"Sixty!"

"Seventy!"

...

"One top-grade Spirit Stone!" Chen Li called out.

This spell wasn’t available in the Huanzhen Sect Scripture Pavilion; he was always interested in life-saving techniques.

"One top-grade Spirit Stone from the Ding Room. Any higher bids? Once, twice, thrice, sold!"

Chen Li acquired the spell and, having no interest in other items, decided not to stay any longer. He quietly left the auction hall to wait for Xiao Yuan at the inn, preparing to head back to the sect together.

He waited and waited, and it wasn’t until nearly noon that Xiao Yuan finally returned.

"I’ve kept you waiting, Fellow Daoist!" Xiao Yuan said with a smile.

Seeing his cheerful expression, Chen Li asked with a smile, "I also just got back not too long ago. You must have had a great harvest this time, right?"

"Sigh, I sold things cheap and bought cheap as well. Overall, I didn’t lose but didn’t gain much either!" Xiao Yuan said with a laugh, stroking his beard: "We need to be careful when going out these days, making sure not to expose ourselves. There are quite a few remnants of the Tianxing Sect now. But with your strength, Fellow Daoist, there’s no need for too much worry."

Chen Li quickly responded with modesty.

After a brief chat, the two didn’t linger and soon set out on their return journey.

Traveling with someone else is a hassle.

To avoid drawing attention.

Chen Li could only fly on his sword like Xiao Yuan.

His flying sword was nothing more than a mid-grade Second Order magic artifact.

Not only was it slow.

It also consumed a lot of Spiritual Power.

Far less energy-efficient than the Max Level Rainbow Transformation Skill.

The two flew for a while and then stopped to recover their energy. Even Xiao Yuan was significantly hampered by this, and what should have been a four or five-hour journey on the way there took nearly an entire day and night on the way back.

When they returned to the sect, it was already the next morning.

Most of the time was spent on restoring energy—it truly was a hardship.

ps: My apologies, there was an unexpected issue yesterday, and also, I wish everyone a happy Women’s Day! Alas, there are three women in my household, so there’s an excess of yin and a decline of yang.