Chapter 67
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Chapter 67: Lotus Patterned Green Fruit
Having easily obtained the Star-Settling Crown, Fang Lie was thoroughly pleased.
This item proved most suitable for Golden Pool realm cultivators, while Purple Palace realm cultivators considered it rather inferior. As all attendees hailed from great family clans, none particularly valued it.
Yet for Fang Lie, the Star-Settling Crown held immense value. Protected by the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams Dao Robe and armed with the crown’s ability to shatter enemies’ defensive treasures, he needed only to unleash his renowned fists – the best in Mo Sect – to overwhelm opponents.
With these two treasures secured, Fang Lie’s confidence for the Outer Sect Competition grew substantially.
His sole remaining concern was cultivation progress. Reaching three hundred zhang in Qi Sea would enable him to activate the Nirvana Healing Technique, instantly recovering from any injury and rendering him virtually unbeatable in the arena.
However, achieving this through normal cultivation required three to five months – impossible with merely twenty days remaining before the competition.
As Fang Lie wrestled with this dilemma, the auction progressed through multiple rounds, culminating in fierce bidding for a three-thousand-year purple-leaf Lingzhi mushroom. Fang Lie suspected even his participation would have sparked intense competition for such treasure.
Disinterested in aged spirit pills, he refrained from bidding until the Old Shopkeeper produced a green fruit that instantly captured his attention.
"Lotus Patterned Green Fruit," announced the Old Shopkeeper, "recognizable by its distinctive markings. Though not medicinal, consuming it directly doubles Qi Sea capacity – a potential game-changer in dire situations! Opening bid: one hundred thousand spirit stones!"
"One hundred ten thousand!" Fang Lie declared without hesitation.
The crowd stirred with curiosity. The fruit’s limitations were well-known: effective only for Qi Sea cultivators, harmful to Golden Pool realm practitioners by muddying their magic. Even for Qi Sea users, the temporary expansion came with chaotic, foreign magic that dissipated over time. Minimal purification yielded less benefit than regular cultivation, while residual impurities demanded tedious cleansing.
Superior alternatives existed through spirit pills offering similar boosts with fewer drawbacks. Combined with the steep price, few present would have bid without Fang Lie’s intervention.
Speculation arose – did Mo Ancestor’s secret formulas require this fruit? Yet none deemed it worth challenging Fang Lie over such mediocre merchandise.
Recognizing the situation, the Old Shopkeeper swiftly concluded the sale. Fang Lie’s delighted expression upon receiving the fruit sparked suspicions of hidden value.
In truth, no ancestral formula required it. Fang Lie’s interest stemmed from his unique circumstance – the Linglong Qi Locking Tower within him. While preventing Golden Pool advancement, this artifact excelled at magic purification.
His plan was simple: consume the fruit, then employ the tower to refine its chaotic magic into pure, usable energy. Even with losses, this could potentially push his Qi Sea to the crucial three hundred zhang threshold.
Barely containing his excitement, Fang Lie nearly bolted from his seat to immediately test this theory.
After all, he had been invited with sincere intentions, and the old shopkeeper even gave him four companion slots to bring his younger siblings and broaden their horizons. With such generosity, Fang Lie couldn’t possibly embarrass his host!
Suppressing his curiosity, Fang Lie sat quietly watching the ongoing auction.
Time passed swiftly in the lively atmosphere until reaching the final featured items.
The penultimate highlight – three flawless Five Elements Detoxification Pills – was purchased by a Purple Palace realm cultivator from a great family clan for three million spirit stones.
The elderly cultivator nearly leaped with joy upon obtaining them, immediately dashing off with his precious pills without caring about subsequent proceedings.
Spectators murmured that this cultivator’s lifespan was dwindling while his cultivation remained stuck at Purple Palace Peak, though he’d previously shown potential to become a Nascent Soul True Immortal.
Excessive pill toxin accumulation had created dire circumstances – further cultivation would poison him before advancement, while abstaining meant dying of old age.
These flawless detox pills could eliminate most toxins, granting him another chance to attempt Nascent Soul breakthrough. Success would extend his lifespan by eight centuries!
This explained the profound gratitude in the old cultivator’s parting glance toward Fang Lie.
The final auction item, Purple Palace Pills, sold for four million spirit stones to someone trapped at Golden Pool realm for over two hundred years. A new Purple Palace cultivator would likely emerge soon.
With the auction’s conclusion, Fang Lie and many others reaped substantial gains. However, those who failed to obtain the three pill types grew anxious. Seventeen cultivators soon surrounded Fang Lie requesting custom pill orders.
Having no time for them, Fang Lie pushed Ice Second Brother forward with a clap. "He’ll handle future orders as my representative!"
Leaving the astonished Ice Second Brother behind, Fang Lie departed with his group.
The once-overlooked Ice Second Brother now found himself surrounded by polite seniors addressing him as "young friend." Before proper conversations could start, spirit stone pouches already filled his arms.
A particularly memorable visitor was Ice Second Brother’s former employer – someone who’d regularly slapped him for minor mistakes and withheld wages. Now this man slapped himself twice before offering a first-rank Flying Sword, pleading: "I was blinded before! Please accept this humble gift and forgive my past offenses!"
Ice Second Brother felt euphoric, as if walking on clouds rather than solid ground.
While Ice Second Brother basked in newfound respect, Fang Lie returned home. After distributing snacks to his siblings, he entered the main hall with Fang Huo.
Fang Huo obsequiously fetched a chair for Fang Lie’s seat of honor. Longxing Tianxia produced a fan and began cooling him. Only Mao Mao remained composed, watching with a gentle smile.
"Enough!" Fang Lie waved off the flatterers. "I know your expectations. Now that we’re wealthy, improvements are due. Fang Huo!"
"Ready!" Fang Huo answered eagerly.
"You’ll study alchemy with me. Our family’s sole talent lies with you."
"Absolutely! I’ll learn diligently!" Fang Huo vowed.
Longxing Tianxia watched enviously – studying under Mo Ancestor’s alchemical heir represented an enviable opportunity that would cause widespread envy in Mo Sect.
"Mao Mao," Fang Lie continued, "You’ll manage our new herb repository with your organizational skills."
The girl nodded obediently.
"Xiao Wu," Fang Lie addressed Longxing Tianxia, handing him a Sumeru Bag containing a million spirit stones. "Handle all purchases. Your connections and experience suit this task."
Longxing Tianxia accepted happily, honored by this financial responsibility.
Fang Lie rose decisively. "Our crumbling cave dwelling needs renovating to match Fengbo Garden’s splendor. Spare no expense – handle this immediately. I must cultivate."
With that, Fang Lie retreated to his chambers, burning with anticipation to test the Lotus Patterned Green Fruit’s effects.
