Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

Time moved forward.

The atmosphere became increasingly lively.

On a rooftop.

"This should be the third time, if I remember correctly?"

A young man in black asked softly.

"No, this should be the fourth time. There was already one before you arrived."

The elderly man beside him was watching the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion without blinking.

"I really want to go in and take a look."

"All the people here are high-level cultivators from the Dao Institute, the treasures they have, huh!"

"Heh, even if you go inside to take a look, could you afford the items?" a woman sneered.

"It's good to broaden our horizons."

"Look—"

Suddenly, the woman looked towards a beautiful figure in front of the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion and excitedly shouted, "It's Fairy Shen, she once saved me."

"Who is Fairy Shen?"

The man in black asked curiously.

"You don't even know about Fairy Shen? Haven't you been combating devils in the battlefield recently? She's truly the pride of Dao Institute."

The contemptuous voice of the woman suddenly sounded.

The man in black didn't respond.

It was true that he hadn't been combating devils in the battlefield recently.

He had spent the first half of those days recuperating, and the second half... he had been busy toiling with demon cores, making a fortune in cultivation resources.

A little while later.

Another figure slowly entered the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion.

Seeing the figure, who appeared to be about the same age as Fairy Shen, the woman couldn't help but complain:

"Who is he? Why does he get to enter just like Fairy Shen, yet his aura seems nowhere near as powerful as hers?"

"Could he be the legendary Chen Xiandao who is on par with Fairy Shen?"

The elderly man guessed.

"No! When Fairy Shen saved me, Chen Shangxiu was there too. I will definitely not be mistaken. He is much weaker than Chen Shangxiu."

"Then who is he?" the old man scratched his head in confusion.

"Logically, those who can enter are not likely to be nobodies. Especially those who obviously have weaker cultivation, their reputation should be even bigger. Just like Fairy Shen and Chen Shangxiu."

At this moment.

The man in black seemed to be trying to regain his prestige, raising his head and puffing out his chest, the expression on his face full of pride.

"You don't even know about 'Plague God'? Haven't you been back to the market recently?"

As soon as his words fell.

"He is the 'Plague God'?"

The old man and woman both shouted in surprise.

The two immediately showed a touch of awe on their faces.

The title of 'Plague God' has been echoing around the market, how could they possibly not know, but this was their first time seeing him in person.

In fact, they owed him thanks.

Without the Plague God, they wouldn't have been able to exchange for such cheap low-grade talismans.

"To think that the Plague God is actually so young, I had always thought..."

The woman's gaze softened instantly, her hand gently cradling her cheek as if to hide the blush that emerged.

"He's really handsome!"

"Dragon Lake Dao Institute... it's indeed the dreamland of us loose cultivators in Nanli, the place really is full of monsters."

The old man's eyes were filled with complexity.

Not far from them.

Four figures in blue robes stood silently under a tree, their eyes also unblinkingly staring at the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion.

The amazed comments from the surrounding people kept flowing into their ears.

A hint of shock also searched through their faces.

After a long period of time.

Phew—

Tong Yao let out a breath, the shock on her face gradually fading.

"Who would have thought... Junior Brother turns out to be that 'Plague God', even Senior Brother Yangchu would never have guessed that in just a few short months, Junior Brother Zhang could have grown to this point."

Next to her.

Senior Brother Ding's eyes were equally unsettled.

Because Zhang Jing did not intentionally hide his spiritual fluctuations, he vaguely sensed something.

Junior Brother Zhang... he actually broke through to the fourth stage of Qi Refinement?!

Coming back to senses.

Senior Brother Ding subconsciously swept his gaze over Junior Sister Tong, Junior Brother Zhou, and Junior Brother Xia. After some consideration, he decided not to tell them for the time being.

He didn't want to affect their mentality.

...

At this moment.

Inside the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion.

Zhang Jing was led by an attendant slowly into the lobby on the second floor.

Inside, rows of seats had already been set up.

The floor was covered with thick carpets of unknown material, which felt like cotton underfoot; it was incredibly soft and smooth.

Yet, despite its softness, the carpet did not lack support and did not affect the movement of the people walking on it.

The four walls were decorated with various colored glazed jade lamps, silk tassels, and embroidered sachets.

Although they had tried to decorate it elegantly, the extravagant aura was conspicuous.

Zhang Jing's expression remained as usual.

But he couldn't help feeling a slight sense of awe in his heart.

He had heard about the reputation of the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion way back in Yong'an City. However, he never imagined that he would enter it under such circumstances today.

"Immortal, I can only lead you up to here."

The guide attendant stopped at the edge of the main hall and said respectfully.

"Thank you." Zhang Jing replied with a smile.

The attendant retreated quietly.

Zhang Jing swept his gaze forward.

The chairs inside were not many, only thirteen rows, and each row had nine seats.

There were a total of 117 seats, which was far less than the number of Dao Institute disciples who came to the Langya prefecture this time.

It seemed that what Senior Brother He said yesterday was true.

At this moment, quite a few people had already taken their seats at those chairs.

Zhang Jing looked around, then picked a seat in the second-to-last row at random and sat down.

This was his first time here, so he decided to get a feel for the place from the back first.

Just after he had sat down for a while.

He felt two gazes coming from the front, falling directly on him.

Following the gazes, it turned out to be Senior Brother He in the second row and Shen Qingqing, who was sitting beside him with a familiar face.

Zhang Jing nodded with a smile.

The two people across from him responded with smiles as well.

Gradually, more and more people arrived.

At the protruding platform at the front, a white-robed figure with a powerful aura abruptly appeared.

She was a senior sister, with exquisite and bright features, her eyebrows expressing a hint of coolness. A tear mole at the corner of her eye was particularly eye-catching, and the loose Dao robe could not conceal her beautiful figure.

"Late stage of Qi Refinement! And at least on the ninth layer!"

Zhang Jing narrowed his eyes slightly.

"The few junior brothers who haven't arrived, we won't wait for."

"My name is Liu Nanshu, and I presume everyone here is already quite familiar with me. There are also a few new brothers and sisters. I am here on behalf of all seniors to welcome you."

Liu Nanshu on stage gave a sweet smile, giving the impression of a spring breeze.

"The fourth internal trading conference officially begins."

"Now it's the first part, auctioning the treasures that have been entrusted by everyone."

Saying so, she flicked her sleeve, and a jade bottle suddenly appeared on the table in front of her.

"First one, Advanced Spirit Pills, Water Element Pill, starting price two hundred Tao Merits."

"Two hundred and ten Tao Merits!"

"Two hundred and fifteen Tao Merits!"

...

At his seat below.

Zhang Jing reluctantly withdrew his gaze, leaning back and nestling into the soft cushion, showing no intention of participating.

It's not that he looked down on those things.

Frankly, he was quite intrigued by the Water Element Pills.

But... he simply didn't have enough Tao Merits.

He could only watch enviously.

He had quite a few Demon Cores, which were valuable.

Unfortunately, according to the senior sister's introduction earlier, the first part only accepts Tao Merits.

Zhang Jing unconsciously swept a glance at his senior brothers and sisters around him.

These people, who could easily throw out hundreds or thousands, were really rich!

It really validated that saying.

The drought dries to death, the flood drowns to death.

He now only hopes that in the second part, the purified Demon Cores and numerous talismans in his possession can be exchanged for something good.

Time slowly passed.

The auction was still ongoing, but it was nearing the end.

"The Yellow Dragon Whip, an earth-based top-grade magic artifact, of extremely high quality, starting price two hundred and fifty Tao Merits."

The voice reached his ears.

Zhang Jing suddenly raised his head, his gaze fixed on the Yellow Dragon Whip on the stage, which emitted a heavy aura.

How powerful would it be if this treasure was infused into the Five Treasures Spirit River?

And what if all five magic artifacts were top-grade magic artifacts?

As long as he could withstand the consumption, subduing the late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators with a middle-stage Qi Refinement cultivation would be a breeze.

At that time, with the stealth and apparent ability of the Five Treasures Spirit River.

Killing the White Deer, which hadn't yet fully entered the late-stage of Qi Refinement, wouldn't that be as easy as pinching it with a hand?

However, the next moment.

The astronomical price instantly shattered Zhang Jing's beautiful illusion.

With a value over four hundred Tao Merits... he might as well make do with the five middle-grade magic artifacts.

He simply couldn't afford it right now.

...

"Last item, five maces of Spirit God liquid, can help condense the divine knowledge, greatly improve the success rate of talisman making and alchemy, and the efficiency of cultivation, starting price is four hundred Tao Merits."

While Liu Nanshu was speaking, she slowly opened the jade bottle.

Immediately, a trickle of peculiar fragrance began to permeate the surroundings.

The entire scene fell silent.

The Spirit God liquid derived from devils, exceedingly rare and precious, its efficacy was even more exaggerated than what Senior Sister Liu Nanship described.

This was something these high-level cultivators have always been dedicated to collecting for future breakthroughs.

As for using it in talisman making and alchemy, that would be a waste.

However, why would someone sell such precious Spirit God liquid?

Most of the people in the room were puzzled, but this question was quickly dismissed.

The thing was right there.

Why worry so much?

Everyone began to frantically bid.

"Five hundred Tao Merits!"

"Five hundred and thirty Tao Merits!"

...

...

At his seat.

Zhang Jing unconsciously leaned forward, his eyes unblinking as he watched ahead, carefully sensing the peculiar fragrance lingering around his nose.

The smell was somewhat familiar.

This thing... it seems he had it too!

The next moment, he held his breath.

Zhang Jing controlled his Spiritual Sense to probe into the storage space, searching bit by bit.

Finally, he found two jade bottles around a crimson millstone.

After repeated confirmations.

Zhang Jing finally determined that one of the jade bottles contained the Spirit God liquid currently being auctioned, and there was as much as one liang in it!

"Seven hundred Tao Merits!"

"Seven hundred and fifty Tao Merits!"

The shouting of prices in the hall didn't stop.

Thump! Thump!

Hearing the ever-increasing prices, Zhang Jing felt his heart leaping into his throat.

"One thousand one hundred Tao Merits!"

When one of the brother in the front row raised his hand and shouted this price.

No one else responded.

The auction for the Spirit God liquid finally settled!

Two thousand two hundred Tao Merits!

Zhang Jing gripped a clear jade bottle tightly in his hand.

The effect of the Spirit God liquid was far inferior to that of Dharma Seeds and the Red Divine Spirit.

He doesn't need it.

But it can be sold.