Chapter 488

Chapter 488: Low-grade Spiritual Artifact

When preparing to go to the Jinyun Auction House, Zhou Luo made many preparations.

The foremost and natural priority was obtaining an Immortal Sect identity.

Regarding this point, he didn’t need to worry.

Because he had already written a letter to his son, Zhou Changtian, who would wait for him at the Immortal City.

Besides background, his personal strength was also crucial.

Over the years, possessing many treasures, his strength had become unrivaled within the Foundation Establishment realm. He could even hold his own against fake golden core masters, and against a true Golden Core master, it wasn’t out of the question for him to put up a fight.

Despite this, he still hastily concocted numerous second-level potions and talismans, and gathered all the materials needed to set up several Second Level top-tier formations.

Simply put, it couldn’t be helped; the Jin Yun Domain wasn’t like the Qinyuan Domain.

The bandits and evil cultivators operating there were far more powerful and terrifying, so he dared not be careless.

Fortunately, the industries under his command, including the dividends from Tian Xia Pavilion, had made him a significant fortune these years.

Not to mention running a single family now; even if he were to cover all four long-life families of the Qinyuan Domain, it wouldn’t be a problem for him.

His substantial wealth meant he didn’t have to worry about insufficient funds at all.

This time, he was determined to obtain the Heart of the Celestial Wood.

After making thorough preparations, since Zhou Changtian was going to be there, he decided not to bring Ye Qian along.

Actually, Ye Qian was nearly ready for forming the Golden Core, lacking only some materials.

Luckily, Zhou Luo had managed to find some for her.

But this Heart of the Celestial Wood, he definitely needed to use it himself.

One month later, as the date of the auction approached, Zhou Luo departed from Qinyuan City. He piloted his flying boat towards the Jinyun Immortal City.

Traveling alone and pushing the flying boat at full speed.

Zhou Luo traveled extremely fast.

In less than half a month, he once again set foot in the Jin Yun Domain.

This vast land’s overall strength far surpassed that of the Qinyuan Domain. Guiding the flying boat, he journeyed all the way until Jinyun Immortal City came into view, then slowly descended for landing.

Five years had passed, yet this enormous city remained unchanged, as prosperous and flourishing as ever.

Zhou Luo once again entered the city using the name Xu Changsheng and smoothly met his son, Zhou Changtian.

The current Zhou Changtian stood tall and slender. Clad in the disciple robes of Wan Gu Sect, he looked dignified, especially around the eyes and brows which bore a strong resemblance to Zhou Luo. Walking together, they somewhat resembled brothers.

"Father, long time no see."

Zhou Changtian smiled, greeting him respectfully with a courteous bow.

"Mmm, good. When are you planning your Foundation Establishment?" Surveying his son’s form, Zhou Luo asked with evident satisfaction.

The other had followed his advice and consolidated his cultivation for over a year. His aura was now deeply restrained, becoming increasingly unfathomable.

Though Zhou Changtian was only a Qi Refinement cultivator, his status within the Wan Gu Sect wasn’t low. Coupled with his innate First Grade spiritual root, many treated him with considerable respect.

Originally, when he left the sect this time, the sect had intended to assign an elder to accompany him.

Upon learning the other party was attending an auction, the sect refrained from further action and simply let him travel with the main group.

However, the moment Zhou Changtian arrived in the Immortal City, he requested permission from the elder leading the team to visit his father and then came straight here.

"Father, I believe it’s time for my breakthrough," Zhou Changtian declared confidently.

Becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator was a remarkably simple matter for him.

Had his father not urged him to consolidate his foundation, he might have broken through several years earlier.

Such was the unparalleled nature of a First Grade spiritual root — one simply couldn’t argue with its potency.

"Very well. After this matter concludes, find an opportunity to break through," Zhou Luo replied. He then inquired briefly about the sect’s affairs.

The Wan Gu Sect remained tranquil, showing no reaction to the Ice Snow Sect’s incident.

Even at Lieyang Mountain, where a sudden influx of people had arrived, Zhou Changtian’s management ensured smooth and orderly operations.

Yet, their lack of sufficient strength meant their influence didn’t match their expectations.

Thus, Zhou Changtian felt such urgency to improve his power.

Zhou Luo advised calmness. Despite the fierce internal conflicts within the Wan Gu Sect, Lieyang Mountain posed no threat and wouldn’t face excessive targeting.

Reunited after years apart, father and son conversed warmly and at length.

Soon after, the day of the auction arrived.

Zhou Luo led Zhou Changtian up to the second floor of the Golden Cloud Auction Hall.

Evidently, the items auctioned this time were considerably more precious, warranting the heightened security measures on the second level.

It was said a Third Level formation protected this floor, capable of restraining even a Golden Core master.

The layout mirrored that of the first floor but featured greater opulence and a higher entry threshold.

"Esteemed friends, your private room is this way. Please, follow me."

A fair-faced woman, named Yanran and wearing a charming smile, immediately guided them to their booth upon witnessing the quantity of spiritual stones Zhou Luo displayed.

Since the Wan Gu Sect had also sent representatives, theirs wasn’t one of the designated booths reserved for Immortal Sects and bore no special insignia.

This, however, was inconsequential.

When the time came, he could simply have Zhou Changtian place bids.

Outside, more cultivators steadily arrived. Figures clad in elegant robes and of esteemed status were ushered into private rooms as the crowd steadily grew larger.

Dong—

Nearly half an hour later, a resonant gong echoed through the hall.

A tall, poised, and alluring Foundation Establishment female cultivator walked gracefully onto the central platform.

Smiling directly at the assembly, she wasted no time with preliminaries and began speaking.

"Our heartfelt thanks to all fellow cultivators for gracing this event. This auction now commences. May every respected senior and cultivator here acquire their hearts’ desires."

"Let me now unveil our first auction item."

A Maid promptly approached, bearing an exquisite rectangular wooden box.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator stepped forward. With slender, jade-white hands, she gently lifted the lid to reveal a gleaming, brand-new longbow.

Crafted entirely of a special material with a lustrous brown sheen, the bow showcased intricate carved patterns and emitted an aura of uncommon power.

"This is the Riverspring Longbow, a low-grade spiritual artifact. It possesses exceptional piercing power and can be activated using spiritual stones, demanding minimal expenditure of magic power… Opening bid: fifty superior-quality spiritual stones."

A wave of astonishment swept through the room.

Immediately, voices rose, eager to raise the bid.

"Fifty-one!"

"Fifty-five!"

"Sixty!"

This was a spiritual artifact — low-grade perhaps, but lethally alluring to Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Its ability to unleash attacks using mere spiritual stones, bypassing the need for magic power, perfectly circumvented the usual limitation Foundation Establishment cultivators faced in wielding such artifacts.

Witnessing this, Zhou Luo felt a jolt of surprise.

A spiritual artifact as the opening item? This auction meant serious business indeed.

No wonder it had been moved to the second floor.

"One hundred stones!"

Zhou Luo smoothly placed his bid.

While he didn’t strictly need such a low-grade spiritual artifact currently, his Ten Thousand Refining Spirit Body Technique hadn’t yet achieved perfection.

Absorbing this artifact would undoubtedly hasten his own breakthrough.