Chapter 222

Chapter 222: Body Refinement Fourth Level

Early the next morning, Zhou Luo left Zhou Garden early and headed straight for the city auction house.

This time, he didn’t worry that Lin Xuanfeng would learn about the materials. Even if Lin Xuanfeng found out, he certainly wouldn’t guess what Zhou Luo was planning.

After all, Lin Xuanfeng now suspected him regardless of his actions, so Zhou Luo simply stopped hiding his intentions.

At the Maple Leaf City auction house, upon hearing of Zhou Luo’s arrival, the manager Lin An personally came out to greet him.

Lin An still had the same plump, round face, wearing a warm and enthusiastic smile as he asked respectfully, "Master Zhou, unknown what materials you wish to purchase today?"

Zhou Luo directly listed the several types of materials he needed.

After listening, Lin An’s expression shifted slightly. He immediately called his subordinates to check the inventory.

A long while passed before Lin An spoke apologetically, "Master Zhou, truly, several of the materials you requested cannot be found."

"Can’t find them?" Zhou Luo questioned, confused.

If they were merely scarce, Lin An would have promised more time to search. Yet he outright stated they were unavailable.

Could materials for a top-grade magical artifact really be that rare?

Lin An nodded and explained honestly, "Materials have become extremely scarce across the market recently. Almost all have flowed towards Qinyuan City."

"Qinyuan City? The city under Qinyuan Sect?" Hearing that name, Zhou Luo instantly realized something.

"Exactly. Two months from now, a major auction will take place in Qinyuan City. Hence, all scarce materials are being transported there. Everyone hopes to fetch a high price." Lin An replied.

Qinyuan City was the largest Immortal City in Qinyuan Domain. It drew loose cultivators from all directions, making it a renowned holy land for loose cultivators. Various forces also based themselves there, including many Foundation Establishment cultivators, according to rumors.

With Qinyuan City holding this auction, it would surely draw both those various forces and long-life families. Selling an item there, amidst such wealthy competition, promised tremendous profit.

No wonder even Lin An couldn’t guarantee obtaining these materials.

"Master Zhou, you might attend. Perhaps you’ll find the materials you require," Lin An suggested.

Not responding directly, Zhou Luo simply said, "Just provide what materials you can gather for now."

"Right away," Lin An promptly arranged for his staff to prepare them.

Half an incense stick’s time later, Zhou Luo returned to Zhou Garden with the acquired materials.

Not long after settling back in, Xu Changsheng approached him, face lit with excitement.

"Master, I’ve become a Spiritual Planter."

Over a year prior, Zhou Luo brought back spiritual plants from Illusionary Forest. He then assigned Xu Changsheng to diligently study the Spiritual Planting Technique.

Now Xu Changsheng had finally achieved entry-level status as a Spiritual Planter.

"Well done."

Zhou Luo offered brief praise, then walked towards the backyard plot where the spiritual plants were cultivated.

After a year of careful tending, these plants hadn’t faded. Instead, they flourished abundantly, exceeding the space originally allocated for them.

"Purchase more spiritual soil and expand this area," Zhou Luo instructed Xu Changsheng, who stood beside him.

With that, he handed Xu Changsheng a small storage bag.

Xu Changsheng happily took the spiritual stones and departed.

He had just become a Spiritual Planter and was currently troubled by the lack of opportunities to plant spiritual plants.

After he left, Zhou Luo walked over to the small patch of soil he had separately partitioned.

The Dragon Blood Grass planted here over a year ago still stood alone in the center of the soil. The only change was that it was gradually maturing.

The growth cycle of this rare spiritual plant, the Dragon Blood Grass, was longer than ordinary ones. According to ancient texts, it took three years to take root and sprout, ten years to grow, and twenty years to enter the mature stage.

This particular Dragon Blood Grass had been growing for almost thirty years and was now not far from maturity.

Once it reached the mature stage, it could start sprouting and propagating.

Withdrawing his gaze, Zhou Luo left the backyard.

Since Xu Changsheng had already become a Spiritual Planter, he could just leave these plants for him to manage.

Returning to the main building, he happened to run into Lin Xin who was coming downstairs.

As if recalling something, he asked, “Do you know about the auction in Qinyuan City?”

Lin Xin froze for a moment before responding with confusion, “Is Qinyuan City having another auction?”

According to her, Qinyuan City held an auction every five years. Each time, it was grandly celebrated and featured all sorts of precious and rare items, such as Lifespan Pills, and even Foundation Establishment Dan, among others.

This Third Young Lady clearly had no knowledge of the matter yet.

Zhou Luo nodded. “In two months. The Lin Family should be attending, right?”

He had already begun considering going to the auction.

After all, it was a city under the jurisdiction of the Qinyuan Sect, and it was said to have a Golden Core master overseeing it. Safety definitely wasn’t a concern.

Even if he didn’t find the materials to repair the top-grade magical artifact, he wanted to buy other things, like talisman materials, formation materials, or poison-making materials.

If the Lin Family was going, tagging along with them would be much more secure.

“Usually, Father takes some people there. Are you going?” Lin Xin stared at him, her beautiful eyes glimmering.

“Yes,” Zhou Luo admitted without denying it.

“Then you should go talk to Father about it.”

Having said this, Lin Xin walked straight out of the main building, heading off to continue instructing that group of little ones.

In the afternoon, Zhou Luo went to Lin Ze’s residence and explained his purpose to this Father-in-law of his.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ze naturally expressed his agreement.

After settling this matter, Zhou Luo spent the following several days on the third floor of the main building, refining pills and making talismans.

One month later, Lin Jin Xuan and Bai Zhi Yan became pregnant one after the other.

As some of the few holders of mid-grade spiritual roots among his wives and concubines, Zhou Luo naturally invested more time in them.

From the two draws, Zhou Luo obtained a strand of Qi of Innate Origins and one rare material.

This material happened to be for the Fourth Level of the Body Refinement Technique. So, Zhou Luo took advantage of this period to gather the remaining materials and commenced body refinement.

In the room, looking at the pot of boiling medicinal liquid that steamed fiercely and bubbled incessantly, he pasted a few talismans on it, took off his clothes, and sat inside.

The moment he entered, an excruciating pain pierced through his heart. Simultaneously, the potent medicinal effects began working intensely.

Under the assault of the medicinal liquid, Zhou Luo focused his mind tightly, circulating the method of the Bear Body Refinement Technique.

In the next instant, his crimson skin emitted faint strands of azure-red crystalline radiance. The color of the medicinal liquid gradually darkened, its medicinal properties being absorbed bit by bit.

If he could complete the Fourth Level of the Bear Body Refinement Technique, his physical body would be able to withstand attacks at the eighth level of Qi Refinement. Its resilience was even equivalent to a magical beast at the late first rank.

However, this body refinement truly came at a hefty cost. Just this single pot of medicinal liquid alone cost him several hundred spiritual stones.

Fortunately, at his current stage, he wasn’t short on spiritual stones and could still manage the expense.

He planned to complete this Fourth Level refinement before heading to Qinyuan City; that would give him more peace of mind.

Another half month passed.

Zhou Luo finally completed the Fourth Level of the Bear Body Refinement Technique, and his physical body underwent evolution once again.

At the same time, Lin Ze sent someone with a message.

They were preparing to leave for Qinyuan City.