Chapter 32: The Brief Gathering for Exchange and Trade

… However, this was an internal auction, and there were many treasures to be found. It was not open to outsiders. Rather than a true auction, it resembled a gathering where cultivators exchanged rare resources among themselves, each seeking what they needed.

Liuyun owed him a favor. Seeing his interest in attending, Liuyun took it upon himself to help, promising to arrange everything. He could secure for him an identity as a minor member of the Immortal Clan. This was precisely the result of the groundwork Cao Chengyu had laid earlier: favors exchanged, nothing more.

The exchange gathering would take place in fifteen days. Cao Chengyu needed to prepare a few items beforehand. After some consideration, he decided to reforge the magical artifacts he had seized from the Gourd Man and his companions. With their forms altered, he could try exchanging them at the gathering.

Previously, after seeking Brother Liu’s help in selling items, he still had a sword, a blade, and a shield remaining. Additionally, he had over thirteen hundred spirit stones in reserve, enough to trade for a pill recipe.

Time slipped by. Fifteen days passed in the blink of an eye. During that span, Cao Chengyu paid another visit to Spring Blossom Pavilion to refine a poison pill. His relationship with Luo Yuzhu was growing ever closer; each pill refinement required conversation, and her affection for him rose steadily. The favor meter had already reached eighty-nine points—just one step away from earning a medium-grade treasure chest.

At such a moment, patience was essential. He had to play the role of the innocent rabbit well; rushing would only spoil the effort.

On this day, the exchange gathering was held. Liuyun led him straight to a residence belonging to the Pill King’s estate, where a spatial expansion formation had been laid. Inside, the space was astonishingly vast.

Upon entering, Liuyun handed him a token inscribed with the character for “Cao.” The gatekeeper checked it, and, finding no irregularities, allowed them both in.

By then, seven or eight people had already arrived, their cultivation ranging from Spirit Refining to Dao Body. There were no Purple Mansion experts present. All were quite young, likely having acquired various materials during their training outside. What they could not use themselves, they brought here to exchange for treasures beneficial to their own advancement.

After all, competition within the Immortal Clans was fierce; falling behind meant little chance of recovery in the future. They had to provide resources for their families while satisfying their own cultivation needs—a nearly impossible balance.

An hour passed, and more people arrived.

In total, about a hundred gathered, all belonging to the third generation or younger among the capital’s Immortal Clans—the elite youth. The highest cultivator present had reached the mid-stage Dao Body realm and was already sixty-eight years old. Do not be deceived; anyone under a hundred still counted as the younger generation.

As for titles, there was no need to even think about it—only cultivators at the Purple Mansion realm had that privilege.

The Immortal Clans’ weakness in the capital partly stemmed from lacking outstanding young leaders. Take the royal family’s Second Prince as an example: he broke through to late Spirit Refining at fourteen and had hopes of reaching Dao Body at eighteen. If he achieved Purple Mansion before a hundred, he would be a true prodigy. Yet, the Second Prince’s talent surpassed even that standard. With royal resources backing him, he might break through to Purple Mansion at fifty or so, and Golden Core would be all but assured. Perhaps he could even hope to transcend Golden Core.

Turning back to the scene.

A sweet-faced young woman acted as the host. After a simple introduction, cultivators took turns ascending the stage, displaying their treasures and stating their exchange desires. If the match was suitable, the exchange was made; if not, they discussed and negotiated.

The first to take the stage was the sixty-eight-year-old Daoist. Dressed in Daoist robes and wearing a carefree cap with two ribbons hanging beside his ears, his handsome appearance gave him the air of a true immortal.

“Fellow cultivators, allow me to open this exchange gathering,” he announced. “This item is the Water Crocodile’s Eye, highly useful for those cultivating Spirit Eye techniques—a second-grade mid-tier spiritual material. I seek to exchange it for a Metal Element Heavenly Spirit Pill.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than another early Dao Body cultivator responded, “The value of the Five Element Heavenly Spirit Pill is considerable; the Water Crocodile’s Eye alone is insufficient.”

The Daoist smiled gently. “Indeed, I did not consider thoroughly. I can add the Water Crocodile’s Scale as well. It is also an excellent material for crafting defensive magical artifacts.”

“That is much better.”

After their transaction, other cultivators took the stage in turn, setting an example for the rest.

Beside him, Liuyun grew restless, eagerly explaining things to Cao Chengyu with a hint of admiration. “Brother Cao, among the capital’s Immortal Clans, Ning, Luo, Wang, and Zhao are the foremost, each with a Golden Core True Master. Zhao Shengye is one of the leaders among the third generation of the four clans. Before a hundred, if fortune favors him, he could break through to Purple Mansion.”

His tone was filled with reverence, clearly holding Zhao Shengye in high esteem.

Cao Chengyu was indifferent. His own talent grew with each stage of cultivation, and his pace was accelerating. Dao Body was within reach…

Once the Dao Body cultivators finished their exchanges, it was soon the Spirit Refining cultivators’ turn.

When Cao Chengyu stepped onto the stage, three reforged magical artifacts floated before him: two were first-grade mid-tier, and one was first-grade high-tier. The last, in particular, was a standard choice for late-stage Spirit Refining cultivators, its value considerable.

Of course, itinerant cultivators generally had no such high-grade magical artifacts, but after his reforging and the addition of various materials, these now qualified as high-tier items.

“Fellow cultivators, I am seeking a pill recipe suitable for mid-stage Spirit Refining, better in effect than the Yellow Bud Pill. I will choose an artifact for exchange according to its value; for the rest, I seek information on Five Element spirit creatures.”

He then introduced each artifact, detailing their effects, power, and consumption, speaking with clarity and confidence.

Soon, a late-stage Spirit Refining cultivator was intrigued and approached. “Fellow Daoist, I have a recipe for the Profound Origin Pill, a rare pill used for late-stage Spirit Refining cultivation. Would you exchange it for the first-grade high-tier Heavy Water Sword?”

Cao Chengyu considered briefly and agreed.

For mid-stage Spirit Refining, pills should primarily enhance qi absorption. Since the Profound Origin Pill was intended for late-stage use, its main effect was likely strengthening control of spiritual energy. It was not ideal for mid-stage consumption, but that did not deter Cao Chengyu from preparing in advance—an unexpected gain.

With the best artifact exchanged first, others were soon eager.

Another cultivator swapped the recipe for the Hundred Rivers Pill for the Serpent Scale Shield. This pill accelerated qi absorption for mid-stage Spirit Refining, two grades superior to the Yellow Bud Pill.

As for the last request—information about Five Element spirit creatures—those present hesitated for a long time, yet none was willing to trade, even when Cao Chengyu offered sixty high-quality Yellow Bud Pills. No one was tempted.

This was unsurprising.

In the Dawn Yue cultivation world, Dao Body realm cultivators formed the core of major powers, and Five Element spiritual bodies were among the five best forms for forging Dao Bodies. Aside from their own clan’s cultivation, they also possessed knowledge of locations where wild Five Element spirit creatures grew. Such information would never be disclosed lightly to outsiders.

Seeing this, Cao Chengyu gritted his teeth and produced ten supreme-grade Qi Nurturing Pills.

As had been said before, supreme-grade Qi Nurturing Pills could help those with excellent talent swiftly cross the Qi Nurturing stage—a rare pill for cultivating prodigies, invaluable in worth.