Chapter 53: The Treasure Born in the Pillar, The Mysterious Pill Recipe Emerges
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One night. One day. Another night.
On the morning of the third day, Yu Xian slowly opened his eyes as the wood-attribute aura surrounding him dissipated.
During this two-night, one-day stay in Black Mountain Market,
his Qi Sea and spiritual energy reserves hadn’t increased much.
While the ambient spiritual energy here was decent,
it still fell short compared to White Cloud Sect—by at least seven- or eight-fold!
Spiritual energy was the foundation of cultivation.
That’s why every major power always occupied the most energy-rich lands.
But Yu Xian hadn’t come here to cultivate.
So he wasn’t concerned about any progress in his Qi Sea.
Calm and composed, Yu Xian got up from his bed, exited the guest room, and left the inn—heading directly toward Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
Today was the auction on the third floor.
Yu Xian wasn’t particularly interested in auctions.
What truly caught his interest was the item that made his jade pendant heat up.
Upon arriving at the Pavilion, he noticed the increased crowd.
Clearly, today was a special event.
He entered the main hall with a neutral expression.
As usual, rogue cultivators crowded the counters, browsing items.
Notably, the staircase to the second floor, which normally had little traffic, was quite active today.
Even during Yu Xian’s short walk from the entrance to the stairs, two cultivators had already gone up.
Xu Le, the man who initially blocked Yu Xian’s ascent before, was now diligently guarding the stairs. Without the Ten Thousand Treasures Gold Token, no one was allowed up.
Yu Xian approached, raising the token.
Xu Le instantly recognized him. After all, Yu Xian’s fake human-skin mask was absurdly distinctive.
And a man who casually spent a thousand spirit stones just to go upstairs? Very rare.
No wonder Xu Le remembered him vividly.
He laughed and nodded, “Ah, Daoist Brother, you’re here! Haha! I believe you’ll be the star of today’s auction! I hear there are quite a few genuine treasures up for bid. They’ll surely end up in your hands!”
Yu Xian replied flatly, “You flatter me.”
He didn’t bother exchanging pleasantries and continued upstairs.
—
Today, the second floor was quite lively.
As Yu Xian reached the main hall, dozens of cultivators were already seated—men and women alike. The stairs were still seeing more traffic.
Suddenly, someone came rushing over.
“Brother Li, you’re here! I thought you wouldn’t come!”
Hu Li clearly remembered that Yu Xian had 38,000 spirit stones—an immense sum!
If this “Brother Li” decided to bid on anything today, it would surely be lucrative.
Yu Xian smiled calmly, “I said I would come. I don’t go back on my word.”
“Haha!”
A loud voice rang out.
Jiang Liu, along with four others—three men and one woman—stepped down from the third floor.
The crowd immediately recognized them and began greeting loudly:
“Daoist Jiang! Daoist Chu! Daoist Quan! Daoist Mo! Daoist Zhang! What a rare sight!”
“Looks like today’s auction has something incredible!”
“Haha! All five Pavilion Masters are here. Now I’m really curious!”
“Well, better bring enough spirit stones then! Haha!”
These five were none other than the five Floor Masters of Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion:
Jiang Liu, Chu Yiwu, Quan Hui, Zhang Xiaoling, and Mo Younan.
They were sworn siblings, having fought together through life-and-death trials to build this foundation in Black Mountain Market.
As they smiled and exchanged greetings, their eyes occasionally glanced at Yu Xian.
Clearly, Jiang Liu had already told them everything.
They were curious about this man’s identity—and well aware of how rich he was.
Soon, the five hosts stepped into the second-floor hall.
Among them, Zhang Xiaoling, though in her thirties, still carried a graceful charm—curvy figure, beautiful features, and a heroic aura. She smiled brightly:
“Thank you all for attending today’s auction. My brothers and I truly appreciate your support.”
The crowd responded with cheerful laughter and compliments, praising Zhang Xiaoling’s beauty and likening her to a fairy.
She responded gracefully—witty, composed, and charismatic—stirring continuous laughter.
—
Half an incense stick of time later.
The eldest of the five, Chu Yiwu, stepped forward and bowed with a smile:
“The time has come. Everyone who needed to arrive is here. Fellow Daoists—please, to the third floor!”
“Please, this way,” echoed the others.
“Excellent!”
“Let’s go!”
Nearly a hundred cultivators ascended the stairs in an orderly fashion.
Yu Xian was among them, walking quietly, but he could feel the jade pendant at his chest growing warmer.
—
The Third Floor
It was surprisingly simple—even plain.
A wide open hall with about 110 grand wooden chairs arranged for guests.
At the front stood a raised platform and a single table.
No extravagance. Just a clean, efficient auction setup.
The experienced bidders found their seats with ease.
Those here for the first time simply followed suit after watching the others.
Only Yu Xian paused.
He frowned slightly and walked a slow circuit around the hall.
It looked like he was picking a seat… but in reality, he was tracking the source of the pendant’s heat.
Eventually, he stopped in a quiet corner.
That corner held one of the massive supporting pillars of the Pavilion—of which there were over a dozen.
Each was more than two zhang wide and made of ancient timber, rising two stories tall.
And the heat…
It was strongest at the southeast corner, within that particular pillar.
Or more precisely—inside the pillar!
Something was hidden inside that ancient timber.
Yu Xian gave it only a brief glance before quietly taking a nearby seat.
He didn’t want to stand out—just acted like a quiet cultivator who preferred solitude.
“It’s actually inside the pillar… this is tricky…”
He sat quietly, deep in thought.
That was a main structural beam. How was he supposed to take it?
Chopping it down? Buying it? No way. That would only attract suspicion.
No matter what lie he came up with, the Pavilion Masters would never agree to part with a central support beam.
At best, they’d tear it open themselves—and find the treasure for themselves.
And as for snatching it by force? Out of the question. Not in front of a crowd this size.
He needed another way.
—
“Fellow Daoists!”
A seductive voice interrupted his thoughts.
Zhang Xiaoling had taken the stage again—this time dressed in a sheer gauzy gown, her alluring figure faintly visible beneath.
With her charming smile, she addressed the audience:
“Time is precious. No need for empty words—let’s begin the auction!”
The crowd’s eyes lit up.
She raised a small pill bottle and smiled:
“Please take a look—this is a Grade 2 Superior Quality Pill: Spring Rain Clearing Dew Pill!
It clears negative Qi, expels impurities, purifies the Qi Sea, and condenses spiritual energy.
For cultivators who practice multiple techniques, this can remove conflicting residual energies.
For those on a single path—it helps refine spiritual energy to a purer state.
Particularly effective for calming frustration and clearing the mind!”
“Starting bid: 200 spirit stones. Minimum raise: 10 stones.”
Yu Xian glanced at it and immediately recognized it.
Wasn’t this one of the very pills he sold to Jiang Liu?
Just one of the dozens he’d sold off.
And now it was being auctioned.
“Boring…”
He closed his eyes slightly, feigning rest.
Meanwhile, his mind continued pondering ways to steal the pavilion’s beam.
Because clearly—the most profitable profession wasn’t alchemy, forging, herb farming, beast raising, or mining…
It was being a middleman!
Just 27 items had already earned the Pavilion nearly 30,000 spirit stones—almost covering the amount they paid him.
Yu Xian grew increasingly annoyed.
And increasingly determined—
That support beam—I’m taking it.
Suddenly, Zhang Xiaoling raised her voice again.
“Next up for auction: an unknown pill recipe.”
Her eyes sparkled as she continued:
“Though the name is lost, all the listed ingredients are Grade 2 or higher.
We had Master Gu—Black Mountain Market’s most renowned alchemist—examine it.
He confirmed it to be an ancient formula. The effects are unclear, but undoubtedly extraordinary!”
“If you are passionate about alchemy—or a collector of pill formulas—this might be for you.”
“Starting bid: 110 spirit stones. Minimum raise: 10 stones.”
Yu Xian, who had just closed his eyes—
Now slowly opened them.
His gaze landed directly on the pill recipe in Zhang Xiaoling’s hand.
