Hide in the world of gods and demons

Chapter 207 Spiritual Crystal
The room was filled with a variety of smells.

The fragrance, the smell of sweat, and other indescribable odors mingled together, like spices mixed with clear seawater, fragrant yet slightly salty.

Zhang Shuniang was not a good sleeper. Her delicate body was curled up in a ball, and her sleeping face still had a lingering blush and sweat. Strands of hair were stuck haphazardly to her face, giving her a disheveled appearance as if she had suffered some great calamity last night.

Chen Li quietly got up without disturbing her, put on his robe, straightened his collar, cast a cleaning spell on himself, and left the bedroom.

……

Time always flies when you're busy. Chen Li felt like it was just the sweltering summer not long ago, and now autumn is already approaching. Although the plants in the city are still evergreen and lush, the air has already taken on a cool feel.

I haven't been out for a long time.

Stanley seems even more lively now.

The streets were bustling with people.

Various accents rose and fell, creating an extremely noisy atmosphere.

Thinking that the medicinal herbs for herbal baths at home were running low, Chen Li went to the herbal medicine shop he had been frequenting while the auction was still early.

Only after asking did I learn that the price of medicinal herbs had gone up again.

A few months ago, a medicinal bath cost only 21 mid-grade spirit stones, but now it has increased to more than 27.

Compared to a year ago, it has more than doubled.

"Alas, the borderlands are now plagued by monsters, and things are getting more and more chaotic. Many supplies have been cut off." The shopkeeper sighed. "More than one sect has been wiped out, and many people have died. Given the current situation, I estimate that things won't stabilize for another year or two."

"I do know of a True Sect. Could it be that other sects have been wiped out?" Chen Li inquired.

No wonder Stanley City has seen a significant increase in visitors.

Do you know about the Three Mountains Sect?

"I've seen it on the map."

The Three Mountains Sect is also located on the frontier, separated from the True Man Sect by a gate of artifacts.

Sigh, it seems that all the accidents happened in that area.

Chen Li sighed inwardly, feeling helpless.

Fortunately, the Immortal Skin and Jade Bone Technique is about to reach its maximum level, which will only take another six months at most.

Seeing that the price of these medicinal herbs wasn't going to drop anytime soon, he thought he might as well buy them all at once.

Based on the progress of the Immortal Skin Jade Bone Technique, Chen Li secretly estimated in his mind and gave a conservative number: "Give me eighty servings, I'm a regular customer here, you have to give me a discount."

……

After rounding down the amounts, Chen Li ultimately paid 21 high-grade spirit stones.

Even after leaving the herbal medicine shop and walking down the street, he still felt waves of heartache.

For the sake of this Immortal Skin and Jade Bone Technique, he has spent far more than a hundred high-grade spirit stones over the past six years, which is more than the amount of pills he has spent each year.

"Having spent so many spirit stones, I only hope that when the Immortal Skin Jade Bone Technique reaches its maximum level, it won't disappoint me."

He clenched his fist, feeling the immense power within his body, and secretly anticipated what was to come.

"It would be best if you could grant me some kind of supernatural power..."

He already possesses a supernatural power.

It was granted by the max-level Longevity Technique.

It is called "immune to all diseases".

However, this supernatural power was subtle and unassuming, seemingly only extending his lifespan, and sometimes even he would subconsciously overlook it.

Since coming into this world, he has never been sick or poisoned. After practicing swordsmanship, his body became even more vigorous and powerful. As for after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, it goes without saying that he never had the chance to experience the power of supernatural abilities.

I feel like it’s about time.

Chen Li then changed his appearance and, to be on the safe side, used a talisman to ward off bad luck before heading to the auction house.

……

"Top-grade spirit stones, also known as spirit crystals, are the essence of heaven and earth's spiritual energy. They are free from mineral poisons and impurities, and can be directly absorbed for cultivation. Their effects are comparable to being in a fifth-grade spiritual land. You should know that even the Fire Cloud Sect's mountain gate is only a fourth-grade spiritual land, while Red Pillar City is only a third-grade one..."

The auctioneer went on to explain everything in detail, then opened a brocade box and showed it to everyone.

Chen Li's gaze was also drawn to it.

This is a crystal-clear spirit stone, as clear as water, faintly radiating a brilliant light.

"There are even spirit stones like this!" the auctioneer exclaimed, displaying the stones and encouraging the crowd. "That's why these spirit stones rarely appear on the market; they're extremely rare..."

Before he could finish speaking, an impatient voice came from a private box in the auction hall: "What are you babbling about? You're wasting time. Hurry up and bid!"

“Yeah, who doesn’t know this thing?” came a voice from another private room.

Fortunately, the auctioneer was experienced in this kind of situation and, seeing this, quickly smiled wryly and bowed to beg for mercy: "Seniors are right to teach me a lesson. I will begin now. The size of this spirit crystal is one standard crystal grid. The starting price is one thousand high-grade spirit stones, and each bid must be increased by no less than ten high-grade spirit stones."

Upon hearing the price, Chen Li gasped.

One thousand high-grade spirit stones.

All his savings amounted to nothing.

"One thousand and twenty!"

"One thousand and fifty!"

"Eleven hundred!"

……

The bidding was sparse, and almost all of it was done by Jin Dan from the private rooms.

Ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, let alone whether they could afford it, probably wouldn't dare to bid on it. This thing is just too eye-catching; even Golden Core cultivators would be green with envy.

In the end, this spirit crystal was sold for the astronomical price of 1,350 high-grade spirit stones.

……

The items were auctioned off one by one.

By the time the magic spell that Chen wanted was finally obtained, the auction was nearing its end, and most of the attendees had already left.

"Second-tier, fourth-level flight spell: Void Flight Technique. The spell lasts for the duration of an incense stick. It grants extremely high flight speed. Based on actual comparisons in this auction house, its speed is comparable to that of a second-tier, high-grade flying sword used by a fifth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator. During flight, the body is enveloped in flowing light, like a streak of light streaking across the sky..."

Having lived in this world for a long time.

Even from Chen Li's vague description of the time here, he could get a general idea of ​​what was going on.

One incense stick's time is about half an hour.

That's enough.

Moreover, it can be further optimized.

"The starting bid is five high-grade spirit stones, and the minimum increment for each bid is one high-grade spirit stone."

"Six!" Chen Li called out the price.

Seven!

Eight!

Chen Li originally thought that there wouldn't be much competition in a single technique.

Unexpectedly, quite a few people were interested.

In no time, the price of this technique was raised to fifteen high-grade spirit stones, a price that could buy a mid-grade second-tier magic weapon.

However, after thinking about it carefully, Chen Li understood.

Ordinary second-tier, fourth-level spells naturally don't have such high value, but flying spells are an exception; they are extremely practical.

Take this Void Flight Technique for example. It can give a Foundation Establishment Level 4 cultivator the speed of a Foundation Establishment Level 5 cultivator wielding a second-grade high-quality flying sword. The value of this is immeasurable. Sometimes, a slight difference in speed can mean the difference between life and death.

But isn't it just about comparing spirit stones?
It can't compare to those Golden Core cultivators, and it can't even compare to those Foundation Establishment cultivators.

……

"Twenty high-grade spirit stones once, twenty high-grade spirit stones twice, no higher bids, deal!"

Hmph, a bunch of poor bastards.

Chen Li walked out of the auction house and let out a long sigh of relief.

all the best.

The only thing that bothered him was that, after spending so much money to acquire the technique, he was still required by the auction house to swear an oath not to pass it on to anyone else.

It's equivalent to buying only the right to use, not ownership.

I didn't have this kind of trouble when I bought the Illusionary Body Technique from the Artifacts Gate last time.

(End of this chapter)