Chapter 429: Expenditure is Too High

Fang Chen noticed a particular feature of the trade conference. Cultivators from fifth-tier empires were mostly searching in the fourth-tier empire area. Similarly, cultivators from sixth-tier empires were mainly searching in the fifth-tier empire area, and they rarely came to the fourth-tier empire's region.

After walking with Fang Jue and the others for a while, Fang Chen parted ways with them as they also had many things to purchase.

"Little Zhou, you mentioned earlier that the Dragon Bone Heavenly Lantern is useful. Is the lamp core really made of dragon bone?" Fang Chen asked in his mind.

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Absolutely true. Don't underestimate this lamp just because it's only a mid-grade, yellow-rank treasure. If you change the lamp oil, it can unleash power that even Nascent Soul Realm cultivators would find difficult to approach," Little Mirror explained.

Fang Chen's expression shifted. "That powerful? Even Nascent Soul Realm cultivators can't easily approach it?"

This was a good item then!

Even though the Little Sword had advanced to the third stage, it could only threaten Golden Core Realm cultivators. If they faced a mid-stage Golden Core Realm or a late-stage Golden Core Realm, or even a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, things would be extremely challenging. Without using the Eight Desolation Supreme Sword Scripture, Fang Chen might not even withstand a single move.

"Yes, even Nascent Soul Realm cultivator would find it hard to get close to you."

"What kind of lamp oil should be used?"

"Dragon Blood. If you don't have Dragon Blood, the essence blood of a descendant from a Dragon Blood Family can also have the same effect."

Fang Chen sensed that Dongfang Haojie had gone to entangle himself with Fairy Yu and her senior sister.

The essence blood on that fatty was indeed miraculous. It can promote Foundation Building Pills to the saint rank and allow mid-grade, yellow-rank treasures to unleash power comparable to high-grade, yellow-rank treasures. No wonder they had to conceal their identities. If certain cultivators, like those from the Spirit Blood Sect, were to find out, they would probably capture and confine them to extract their essence blood.

Apart from the Dragon Bone Heavenly Lantern, he also had the high-grade, yellow-rank Binding Bell which had seventy-two Soul Imprints. Although it was incomplete, if forced to use it, it can still unleash considerable power. The only question is whether it will be effective against Nascent Soul Realm cultivators.

Fang Hao, who was accompanied by a dozen disciples from the third branch, bravely asked. "Fang Chen, don't you have anything you want to buy? I heard that those Golden Core Realm ancestors are all preparing to snatch a high-grade, yellow-rank treasure. Why don't we go take a look together?"

These disciples from the third branch all looked at Fang Chen with a hint of awe in their eyes.

Fang Chen nodded lightly. "Sure, let's go take a look together."

In the central area, hundreds of Golden Core Realm cultivators had already gathered, and what they were preparing to fight over were some cultivation resources brought by Immortal Void Rush, Immortal White Tiger, and Supreme Expert Dragon Wood.

At the same time, Abbess Zhu Yue and the others had dispersed and gone to various stalls of the fifth-tier empire.

Li Daoye and the others did the same.

As soon as they arrived at the stalls, they directly inquired about high-grade, yellow-rank treasures.

"I wonder why Young Master Fang wants to buy so many treasures. Could it be that he plans to use them for us?" Li Daoye wondered with a mix of suspicion and anticipation.

***

A Golden Core Realm cultivator with a red glow on his face held up a flying sword and announced loudly to the surrounding cultivators, "Everyone, this Kun Fish Sword has eighty-three Soul Imprints, making it not just an ordinary item even among high-grade, yellow-rank treasures.

"Although it has traces of previous use and the Soul Imprints on it are slightly damaged, the price is still affordable. The starting bid is seven thousand low-grade spirit stones."

Beside him were two familiar figures, one was Wu Jiuquan, the steward of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, and the other was Manager Wu.

Immortal Void Rush and the two other Nascent Soul Realm cultivators were sitting not far away, occasionally chatting but not paying much attention to the auction. Clearly, what they brought was also being sold through the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

In this area, the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion had the most stalls, and all kinds of cultivation resources were abundant.

Fang Chen sighed inwardly. "Is there only one high-grade, yellow-rank treasure like this?"

Fortunately, he had made preparations in advance and had given some spirit stones to Abbess Zhu Yue and the others to help purchase high-grade, yellow-rank treasures. Such high-tier treasures were rare, and the fact that one was being sold here was probably due to the reputation of the trade conference. Otherwise, such items would only be in the hands of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators and wouldn't be available outside.

"Little Sword, crunch the numbers and tell me. How many yellow rank high-grade treasures do you need to advance to the fourth stage?" Fang Chen wondered.

In just a short while, the bidding for the Kun Fish Sword had already reached eleven thousand.

Fang Chen realized that what they might be buying wasn't just a treasure; they were buying social connections. A high-grade, yellow-rank treasure with eighty-three Soul Imprints, even if brand new, wouldn't likely fetch this price.

Little Sword's voice rang out. "Thirty? No, fifty!"

Little Mirror intervened there. "Damn it, junior, you better be honest. With your current cultivation level, I think you only need around twenty or thirty high-grade, yellow-rank treasures to advance to the fourth stage.

Little Sword's voice carried a hint of annoyance as it said, "Mind your own business!"

Fang Chen calculated silently. "Even if it's only thirty, it would probably cost two to three hundred thousand low-tier spirit stones. Right now, the spirit stones I have are only enough for one-sixth of that."

He suddenly realized that Little Sword's expenditure was indeed too high. Luckily, apart from this aspect, he didn't have any other expenses requiring spirit stones.

"After advancing to the fourth stage, I estimate I'll be able to pose a threat to Nascent Soul Realm cultivators. The investment is large, but so is the return." Fang Chen looked up at the Kun Fish Sword and confidently declared. "Thirteen thousand."

"Who?!"

Fang Wanli was a bit annoyed, but when he saw it was Fang Chen, a strange expression crossed his face. He was the one who had made the previous bid.

The Nascent Soul cultivators around also looked at Fang Chen with surprise.

Could this kid have such a hefty fortune? Thirteen thousand low-grade spirit stones were not an amount an ordinary person could casually spend.

"Young man, buying this high-grade, yellow-rank treasure is useless for you. With your cultivation level, you won't be able to activate it. It's better to save your spirit stones and buy Spirit Essence Pills," Fang Wanli advised. This amount of money could buy more than a hundred Spirit Essence Pills.

"Ancestor, I want to buy it to leave it in my home and appreciate it. After all, it's a treasure used by a Golden Core Realm expert. Perhaps I can gain some insights from it," Fang Chen explained with a smile.

The expressions of the powerful Golden Core Realm cultivators were indeed strange; they didn't really want to buy this treasure, but it was a matter of feasibility. The treasure came from the Azure Cloud Empire, and regardless of its number of Soul Imprints, it was certainly of inferior quality.

Furthermore, since they hadn't reached the Golden Core realm yet, they couldn't fully unleash the power of such a treasure, and it might not be as effective as a high-grade, yellow-rank treasure with seventy-two Soul Imprints. They only made bids to prevent awkwardness at the trade conference and preserve the reputation of the Nascent Soul Expert who put it up for sale.

Immortal White Tiger glanced at Fang Chen and smirked. "How interesting, a mere Qi Refining Realm cultivator can actually afford a high-grade, yellow-rank treasure. The Fang family must be spoiling him too much, don't you think?"

Immortal Void Rush remarked lightly, "It might not be the Fang family giving him the spirit stones. I heard that this young man is an Immortal Origin Stone Master."

"An Immortal Origin Stone Master?!" Immortal White Tiger was taken aback, a strange expression crossing his face. Alchemists, Artifact Refiners, Immortal Origin Stone Masters, and those of similar professions were all wealthy individuals among cultivators, never lacking in ordinary cultivation resources.