Chapter 103, Three Years of Change and Underground Auction House  

Translator: Raznick

 

The gains from his journey to Lotus Province and Green Lotus Monastery was clearly far better than Zhou Chun had anticipated.

 

So, when Zhou Chun left, he was also in an excellent mood. After departing from Lotus Province, instead of hurrying back to the clan to report his success, he made a detour to pay a visit to Red Cliff Market.

 

Ever since being transferred back to the clan and promoted to serve as the Clan Leader’s aide, Zhou Chun had not stepped foot in Red Cliff Market. This time, however, he decided to go there, intending to deal with the items stored in his storage bag.

 

Normally, these kinds of items would be the best option for the Zhou Clan to purchase at market price and use for their internal exchange. However, after the Zhou Clan had engaged in a battle with the United Cloud Alliance, their treasury was already well-stocked with artifacts, leaving little room for additional acquisitions.

 

Furthermore, with so few people within the clan and the slow turnover of artifacts, there wasn’t much demand for even the average first-grade artifacts. As a result, Zhou Chun had no choice but to personally venture to market to dispose of them himself.

 

He entered the market and, as usual, made his way to the Spirit Beast Pavilion, where he had once worked for several years.

 

He noticed that while the proprietor was still Jiasheng, the assistant had been replaced by Zhou Zhengqiang, Zhou Chun’s cousin. A 27-year-old man of the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining Stage cultivation, Zhou Zhengqiang was seated on a stool behind the counter.

 

As Zhou Chun stepped inside, Zhou Zhengqiang, hearing the footsteps, quickly stood up and looked toward the newcomer. Recognizing Zhou Chun, he paused for a moment before breaking into a smile and greeted him with a cupping hands gesture: “Greetings Elder Brother Zhou Chun. What brings you to the market today?”

 

Zhou Chun returned the greeting with a smile before surveying the store. “Is it just you here, Little Zhang?” he inquired.

 

“Heard that over at the Li Clan, they’ve got some treasure for sale,” Zhou Zhengqiang replied. “Apparently, the item isn’t cheap, and since Li Jisheng is struggling to authenticate it, he sent someone to invite Sixteenth Uncle and a few other shopkeepers over to take a look.”

 

Zhou Zhengqiang softly replied to Zhou Chun’s question, his words dripping with obvious envy.

 

Zhou Chun naturally understood why he felt that way.

 

The item in question was one that even the head of Li’s Pharmacy dared not rush to judge—it must involve staggering sums, easily over five or six hundred spirit coins.

 

And once acquired, such a treasure could likely double or even triple in value when put to use.

 

For a shop, this kind of deal was nothing short of dazzling.

 

But Zhou Chun was now higher in rank within the clan than Zhou Jiasheng, the head of the Spirit Beast Pavilion. Matters like these no longer fazed him.

 

So he simply looked at Zhou Zhengqiang and asked, “How’s business lately? And how’s the sales of the Touch of Despair?”

 

“The business is still decent,” Zhou Zhengqiang replied. “Mostly regular customers. The sales of Touch of Despair have been growing steadily. It seems some rogue cultivators have found a niche—pooling their money to buy large quantities from us and reselling them in neighboring provinces!”

 

Zhou Zhengqiang’s face showed displeasure as he explained, “In my opinion, our Zhou Clan should send our own people to transport the Touch of Despair to other regions for sale. Why let those rogue cultivators earn all that money?”

 

“You’re mistaken,” came the reply.

 

Zhou Chun shook his head, patiently instructing this clan junior: “You must understand that the fundamental purpose of our Zhou Clan developing the Touch of Despair is not to make a fortune from this product, but to use it to attract customers and boost sales of other items.

 

“Even if we did what you suggest,” Zhou Chun continued, “let alone the fact that our current production capacity for Touch of Despair has reached its limit, whether we can supply enough stock is questionable. And even if we could arrange for transportation, ensuring safety would be difficult.

 

“That’s why it’s important to think long-term. We need to know which money is worth earning and which isn’t.”

 

As he spoke, his enthusiasm grew, and he immediately invited this younger brother to sit down beside him.

 

“Doing business,” Zhou Chun said, “is like going on an adventure together with others to hunt demon beasts. If only you benefit from the deal, eventually no one will want to work with you.

 

“Take the Touch of Despair as an example,” he continued. “Given that production is limited and our clan lacks the strength to open branches in other regions, it’s unlikely to make huge profits. Therefore, it’s better to establish this product as a reliable item for our store.

 

“Rogue cultivator reselling it for a bit of money isn’t much to us, but it actually gives them a decent gain.

 

“This way, they make money off it, and our Zhou Clan gains their trust and support. For any new products we come out with or tasks involving rogue cultivators, they’ll be first in line to buy or join up.

 

“That’s what’s called a win-win situation, you get it?”

 

Zhou Zhengqiang definitely didn’t get it right away.

 

But after Zhou Chun explained it, the resentment he felt died down. He nodded immediately and said, “I see, thanks for the explanation, Brother Zhou.”

 

After that, they checked the store’s account book and saw that Jiasheng was still gone. Zhou Chun decided not to wait anymore and left the store right away.

 

Once outside, Zhou Chun didn’t head to his usual haunts for artifacts.

 

He had over a dozen artifacts in his hands, all of which would take at least ten to fifteen days to sell off at the market. Moreover, he couldn’t expect them to fetch particularly high prices. So instead of going to the market, he decided to head straight for a reputable artifact specialty store inside the market.

 

This store, known as Treasure Collection Pavilion, was run by a well-known late Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator from Mist Province. Interestingly, this individual also happened to be the leader of some rogue cultivator organization. As such, in terms of the mid-to-lower end artifact market, this store had an advantage that even big-name establishments like Heavenly Treasure Pavilion didn’t possess.

 

Because of this specialized focus, their prices for buying back artifacts were still somewhat reasonable—though, of course, what was considered reasonable depended on who you were dealing with. For someone like Zhou Chun, who came from a cultivating clan and had her own networks and an intimate understanding of market conditions, the prices they offered could genuinely be called fair.

 

But for other rogue cultivators or even bandit-like practitioners, those same “reasonable” prices would likely be a different story entirely.

 

Therefore, when Zhou Chun emerged from Treasure Collection Pavilion his storage bag had an additional six or seven hundred spirit coins. At that point, the number of spirit coins in Zhou Chun’s storage bag reached over two thousand! It was also because, after slaying the black-clothed old man, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Zhou Chun’s mindset had changed. Otherwise, with such a large sum of spirit coins walking on the street, he would indeed worry about others coveting them.

 

Zhou Chun didn’t plan to spend this batch of spirit coins right now. He had already begun preparing for his future Foundation Establishment, and it was essential to use resources wisely where they mattered most!

 

Upon Zhou Chun’s next return to the Spirit Beast Pavilion, Jiasheng had also come back. They spent some time catching up, after which Zhou Chun handed over some items unsuitable for individual sale for him to handle the transactions.

 

Such tasks of selling artifacts on behalf of clan members were part of the services offered by establishments like the Spirit Beast Pavilion, run by clans.

 

After completing all tasks at the market, Zhou Chun returned to his clan and began quiet recluse. Over the next three years, the reemerged Dragonized Sect clashed repeatedly with Green Lotus Monastery, which guarded Jing Kingdom’s southern region. Initially, Green Lotus Monastery issued orders to the major cultivating clans and small sects or rogue cultivator organizations across the four southern provinces of Jing Kingdom—Lotus Province, Mist Province, Cloud Province, and Ridge Province—to thoroughly investigate any remaining Dragonized Sect members within Jing Kingdom. Those who spotted or eliminated them were promised rewards.

 

During this period, including Green Lotus Monastery’s own efforts via intelligence networks to capture and eliminate official Dragonized Sect members and recruits, they managed to neutralize over two hundred and thirty individuals, even successfully targeting several of the sect’s recruiters. The Dragonized Sect was not one to back down. They began by luring Green Lotus Monastery disciples into traps, ambushing and wiping out several who came in response to the calls.

 

With ruthless cunning, they then annihilated three cultivating clans and two rogue cultivator organizations that had dared to act first, sending a strong message to all smaller factions. The Dragonized Sect also openly declared “open to all” and aggressively recruited members with extremely attractive offers, luring cultivators from across Jing Kingdom to join their ranks.

 

The Dragonized Sect went as far as to print pamphlets spreading their so-called “glorious history,” which had long been suppressed by all factions of the Jing Kingdom, and distribute them widely to clear their name. This bold move clearly indicated their intention to reenter the Jing Kingdom and challenge the other sects head-on.

 

In response, not only was the Green Lotus Monastery’s leadership absolutely furious, but even the Moon Cabal and Helios Sect, which had once collaborated in wiping out the Dragonized Sect, began to grow cautious. They all dispatched high-level cultivators to Green Lotus Monastery to gather information on the situation. If necessary, they would undoubtedly send their own forces southward to strike back at the Dragonized Sect.

 

However, these power struggles and strategic maneuvers between the major sects had little to do with the Zhou Clan or Zhou Chun. As a cultivating clan under the jurisdiction of the Green Lotus Monastery, the Zhou Clan had no choice but to follow the Monastery’s orders without question—unless, of course, the Green Lotus Monastery had lost control over Mist Province.

 

The same went for Zhou Chun. Over the past three years, the Zhou Clan had merely made verbal commitments to support the Green Lotus Monastery’s calls to action. They had carried out token efforts by checking for rogue cultivators within their estate and issuing verbal warnings. Beyond that, they focused entirely on strengthening their clan’s capabilities through rigorous training and preparation.

 

From Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi downwards, every cultivator in the Zhou Clan was striving to either enhance their own cultivation strength or boost the cultivation power of their spirit pet.

 

Over the past three years, not only had Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi’s cultivation been restored to the mid Foundation Establishment stage, but other cultivators in the Zhou Clan had also reaped significant benefits. For instance, Third Elder Zhou Daoquan had advanced his spirit pet to become an average second-grade demon beast.

 

Among the core members of the clan, Zhou Jiapeng had managed to pair his spirit pet, the Steel Plume Falcon, with a female counterpart, successfully breeding and capturing her within the confines of the Zhou Clan estate.

 

Then there was Zhou Chun. After three years, his cultivation had surged forward to the Eleventh Layer of Qi Refining Stage. His body’s open acupoints were sitting at ninety-six, and with just four more, he would rise to the Twelfth Layer of Qi Refining Stage.

 

Simultaneously, Zhou Chun’s spirit pet, the Rock Turtle, had consumed the Yellow Field Rock, fortifying its bloodline. Its cultivation now stood at a level comparable to that of a Twelfth Layer of Qi Refining Stage cultivator, and it had awakened an extremely practical earth mystical arts ability known as Gravity.

 

But the most drastic change was undoubtedly experienced by Silver Thunder Python Whitey. By now, Whitey had transcended to become a superior first-grade demon beast, with its internal Flood Dragon bloodline beginning to awaken and strengthen.

 

This transformation not only increased its body size to over fifteen meters in length but also caused its snake-like scales to mutate into the armor-like plates of a Flood Dragon, greatly enhancing its defensive capabilities.

 

After becoming a superior first-grade demon beast, the Silver Thunder Python finally had access to all the lightning-based mystical arts it had mastered, allowing it to showcase them effectively in combat.

 

Currently, Whitey possessed six different types of mystical arts: Lightning Strike, Chain Lightning, Forked Lightning, Thunder Storm, Lightning Shield, and Lightning Net.

 

From these six techniques alone, it was clear what direction Silver Thunder Python Whitey was heading in terms of combat style.

 

Using the analogy from Zhou Chun’s previous life, the Rock Turtle served as a tank and shield, absorbing damage and drawing enemy attacks, while the Silver Thunder Python functioned as a damage-dealing powerhouse.

 

With these two pets by his side—one offensive, one defensive—and having re-cultivated the two copies of the Hard Gold Sword Energy as his ace in the hole, Zhou Chun was nearly unmatched among cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage within the Qi Refining realm.

 

However, time had its pros and cons.

 

The downside was that over the course of three years, the Zhou Clan had suffered the loss of three clan cultivators, including two “Shou” clan members who passed away naturally and one “Jia” member who went missing while on a journey.

 

Although during that period, the Zhou Clan had also seen five children and infants exhibiting spiritual roots, the loss of cultivators in the short term was clearly beyond immediate replacement. However, this was just the norm for a clan, with births, aging, sickness, and death being impossible to completely avoid.

 

“Jiasheng from the market had sent word, stating that there were rumors of an upcoming underground auction recently in the market. The auction is said to feature items deemed unsuitable for open sale.

 

“From what the organizers have hinted at, the auction is already confirmed to include at least a few Foundation Establishment Pills and Soul Nurturing Jade.

 

“Our clan still has quite some spirit coins in reserve. I want to send Fourth Elder to see if we can acquire one Foundation Establishment Pill. Would you like to join them, Zhengchun, for the opportunity to broaden your horizons?”

 

That day, Zhou Chun had just returned from Pagoda Peak after cultivating at the top when Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi suddenly presented a piece of news that left him in shock.

 

The so-called “underground auction,” Zhou Chun had already heard about during his days working as an apprentice in a shop at the market. These events were organized secretly by some powerful forces, usually with several factions collaborating behind the scenes.

 

The event was by invitation only. Before it was held, the organizers would send out invitations to those they deemed wealthy enough—whether clans or individuals—whilst hinting at some of the important treasures to be auctioned, to attract attendees.

 

If someone was interested in attending the underground auction, they could gather at the designated location during the specified time mentioned in the invitation. From there, a specialist would lead them to the auction site.

 

Since such underground auctions were rarely held, whenever one took place, it would draw numerous Foundation Establishment cultivators and even Violet Palace cultivators. In fact, some cultivators from other states would go to great lengths to obtain an invitation once they heard of it.

 

If Zhou Chun recalled correctly, the last time such an underground auction had been held in Mist Province was more than a decade ago—and back then, the Zhou Clan hadn’t even relocated to Jing Kingdom yet.

 

After being initially surprised and stunned, Zhou Chun respectfully bowed toward Zhou Daoyi and said, “It is truly a great honor that Clan Leader would grant me this opportunity. I am deeply grateful.”

 

Pausing slightly, he then added with a look of concern, “However, since Fourth Elder intends to purchase something as important as the Foundation Establishment Pill, wouldn’t it be a bother for me to accompany him?”

 

Zhou Daoyi reassured him, “You can rest assured on that point. I would not have you join Fourth Elder if I didn’t have full confidence in ensuring your safety.”

 

Hearing his confident words, Zhou Chun’s expression shifted as if he had suddenly thought of something, setting aside his worries.

 

About half a month later, Zhou Chun and four Elder Zhou Jiarui left Nine Peaks together and headed to the designated meeting point near Red Cliff Market for the underground auction.