Immortal of the Nine Realms-Chapter 1287: Spiritual Treasure, Void Breaking Boat

Fang Chen was deep in thought. Yang Essence? So that's their objective this time? It can replace Anomalies, serving as the immortal herb for Ji Tianjun to walk the Immaculate Immortal Path?

Now that he understood their goal, things would be much easier to handle. The only tricky part was that he couldn't show himself in person.

He would have to send the old flood dragon to bid for the Yang Essence instead. As a fourth-transformation Loose Immortal, even if Ji Tiandu and Lady Suya could see through his identity, it would be difficult for them to gauge his true cultivation. They'd simply assume he happened to need that particular spiritual material.

Fang Chen was curious. Still... What exactly is this Yang Essence?

If it could act as a substitute for Anomalies, and very few people knew of it, then it was clearly no ordinary item.

Can it benefit an Anomaly?

***

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

Over the course of that month, several more people reached preliminary agreements with Fang Chen to trade for immortal souls. He still didn't know whether Lin Bao was among them.

During this time, Ji Tiandu visited him a few more times, but avoided discussing the actual deal.

At Fang Chen's repeated urging, Ji Tiandu finally relented and agreed to sell the two peak-grade spirit stones in his possession for a price of ten immortal crystals.

Ji Tiandu was secretly pleased. Not because the price had doubled, but because he was now almost certain that Fang Chen would not back out on their deal.

Fang Chen, on the other hand, was secretly delighted for a very different reason.

Of the two peak-grade spirit stones, one contained the power of Primordial Origin, and the other held Azure Lightning. These were relics from a distant age, remnants left behind in the long river of time.

In the current era, these forces were no longer mainstream. Even the ancient cultivation methods once connected to them had long since lost their ability to help cultivators refine such forces.

Today, their value was merely scholarly—used for research or collection. But to Fang Chen's Great Heavenly Sovereign Chapter, they were nothing less than immortal herbs, crucial materials for his immortal path.

Paying a small premium was no loss. In fact, it gave him greater initiative and flexibility in his future actions.

Once the Immortal Exchange was over and he killed Ji Tiandu and Lady Suya, these two spirit stones would be counted among his spoils.

As for the immortal dwelling Ji Tiandu spoke of, perhaps in the future, if the opportunity arose, Fang Chen could make his own plans for it.

In short, without Ji Tiandu even realizing it, Fang Chen had already unilaterally ended their deal. This did not violate any terms in the immortal contract, and Ji Tiandu couldn't use the contract to retaliate.

This time's auction was a large-scale event and wasn't held inside an inn. Instead, it took place outside.

The auction was hosted by one of the key figures behind the Immortal Exchange. A renowned cultivator from the Daotai Mountain region, and the master of the Shikong Market, Jidu Kongyuan.

By the time Fang Chen arrived, the place was already bustling with cultivators from various factions. He saw Immortal Taixu, whose appearance was not concealed, and standing beside him were Immortal Xingyu, her senior brother, both without any disguise. He also saw sixth-transformation cultivators from the Ten Directions Immortal Sect, accompanied by Immortal Dayu.

Besides them, several other hosts of this Immortal Exchange had arrived, and it was clear that their purpose today was also to participate in this auction.

Apart from these familiar sixth-transformation Immortal Sovereigns, there were many sixth-transformation cultivators inside whose auras were very unfamiliar to Fang Chen. Like Immortal Taixu, they also chose not to hide their appearances.

There was only one reason for that: they couldn't be bothered to.

But... there should also be some sixth and fifth transformation cultivators who did conceal their appearances.

Fang Chen glanced around but did not find the Grand Desolate Immortal.

Since the Grand Desolate Immortal was a fifth-transformation Immortal Sovereign, he would definitely attend this auction, even if only to see who would get their hands on the fourth-transformation immortal herb.

After a few moments, a smile suddenly appeared in Fang Chen's eyes. Someone had just been sizing him up. Besides Ji Tiandu, no one in this Immortal Exchange would deliberately pay attention to him. He had assigned the task of competing for the Yang Essence to the old flood dragon. Today, he would not make an appearance. He was just a spectator tuning in to the excitement.

"Sister-in-law, that peak-grade spirit stone collector is here too. Do you think he might also have designs on the Yang Essence? After all, people like him like to collect all sorts of strange things," transmitted Ji Tiandu.

Lady Suya transmitted back, "Unlikely. Even if he really wants to compete for it, he can't outbid us. Besides my husband, no one here knows the true value of the Yang Essence, including that half-step Ancient Immortal."

Ji Tiandu nodded. He cast a glance toward Immortal Taixu, feeling a bit of admiration in his heart.

Though those of the Minor Immortal Realm were lofty existences, and their cultivators carried a natural pride even when dealing with the Upper Three Realms, there were still certain figures in the Nine Mortal Realms who inspired reverence—like the one before them.

A half-step Ancient Immortal was an existence that had dwelled at the sixth transformation for countless years. They were only one immortal herb shy of ascending. Such a cultivator stood at the very peak of existence beneath true Ancient Immortals.

Unless an Ancient Immortal appeared, their strength, methods, and authority were unmatched anywhere in the Nine Mortal Realms.

Unfortunately, the immortal herb needed for a Great Luo Immortal to ascend to the seventh transformation was vanishingly rare, even in the Upper Three Realms. Besides personal strength, luck was also needed.

Thinking of this, a faint pride flashed in Ji Tiandu's eyes.

The completeness of heritage within the Minor Immortal Realm was beyond imagination. Even immortal herbs required for various immortal paths could be artificially cultivated by certain experts!

***

The auction soon began.

The early items didn't hold much value for ordinary Immortal Sovereigns. When they made a bid, it was only to obtain something their disciples could use.

"Yin Yang Mask: two-imprint, heaven-rank treasure. Final bid: forty-six immortal crystals."

"Heavenfire Divine Cauldron: one-imprint, heaven-rank treasure. Final bid: twenty-seven immortal crystals."

"Spirit Stealing Immortal Shell: a heaven-rank spiritual material. Final bid: twelve immortal crystals."

Meanwhile, Xu Guangyuan had separated himself from the old flood dragon. He was standing among the crowd with Xu Dongjiang, watching the lively scene with emotion.

For Loose Immortals like him, today's auction was purely for show. He could only watch from the sidelines. He was so poor he didn't even qualify to caress the items up for auction. To force a bid would only endanger the very foundation of Guangyuan Hall.

I wonder if that senior will make a move today, thought Xu Guangyuan, sighing as he scanned the crowd.

That person who separated from him clearly intended to bid for a valuable item without drawing attention.

Fang Chen waited patiently. Just as he felt the Yang Essence would soon be announced, Jidu Kongyuan's expression suddenly shifted.

After a moment, Jidu Kongyuan smiled warmly at the crowd. "Everyone, I have good news. The next auction item has been changed."

The crowd was slightly surprised.

An impromptu change? Did someone suddenly decide to sell something interesting?

Everyone grew a bit expectant. If it weren't something good, why would the lord of Shikong Market alter the carefully planned auction schedule?

"The next auction item is... a spiritual treasure—the Void Breaking Boat."