Eternal Life Begins with Learning

Chapter 372: Chapter 342: Completely Different

「The next morning.」

In a tavern, Chu Mu sat leaning against a windowsill, drinking by himself. A pot of Spirit Wine and several plates of Spiritual Food sat on the table before him.

Wangcai was lying to the side. In front of it was a large basin the tavern had specially prepared, filled to the brim with cooked Spirit Beast Flesh.

Since it was still early morning, the tavern had yet to grow boisterous and was rather quiet.

As Chu Mu drank, his mind remained focused, sensing the various changes within his body.

The Void Nether Saber Scripture had completely opened the gates of the Sword Dao to him.

The flow and refinement of his Sword Intent felt like being forged a thousand times, and he could feel his Essence, Qi, and Spirit transforming with every passing moment!

This constant feeling of growing stronger was, without a doubt, utterly captivating.

Furthermore, Chu Mu estimated this transformation would last for at least another year, until his Essence, Qi, and Spirit fully adapted to the current intensity of his Sword Intent. Only then would the two achieve a balance.

’At least... a thirty percent increase!’

Chu Mu judged silently. As his Divine Sense circulated, he couldn’t help but perceive the state of his Dantian. The Fire Spirit Root Supplement Pill had dissolved completely years ago, bringing his Fire Spirit Root to 99.9% completion.

Though he still possessed the talent of a Four Spirit Roots, compared to before, his aptitude had improved severalfold.

With a flick of his wrist, the Divine Fire Atlas Jade Scroll appeared in his hand. As his Divine Sense entered it, it was as if he were dreaming, transported ten thousand years into the past. He followed the legendary Divine Fire True Master, freely exploring all the mysteries of fire in the Fire World.

Chu Mu didn’t put down the Jade Scroll until sunset. Though he had already perused it several times, each viewing seemed to yield great rewards and left him with a deep sense of wonder.

The Divine Fire Technique and the Void Nether Saber Scripture... This trip to the Longevity Sect had yielded rewards far greater than he had ever anticipated.

He rose from the table, called out to Wangcai, and walked out of the tavern.

The sky had darkened, but the streets were still bustling with people and ablaze with brilliant lights. After walking for just a few miles, a short while later, Chu Mu arrived at his destination.

"Hundred Treasures Pavilion!"

Chu Mu gazed at the palace before him. Three large, gilded words were engraved on the plaque, right before his eyes.

"This way, Sir!"

As soon as he reached the entrance, a young woman dressed as a Maid came forward to welcome him.

"The auction is about to start, isn’t it?"

Chu Mu asked casually.

"It starts in one hour, Sir."

The Maid replied automatically, then looked at Chu Mu cautiously. "Sir, will you be sitting in the main hall, or would you prefer a private room?"

"A private room."

Chu Mu nodded, his Divine Sense already sweeping through his Storage Ring. ’When I first reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, I was dirt poor,’ he mused. ’I didn’t even have a handful of Middle Grade Spirit Stones to my name.’

’During my years in the Righteous Alliance, I made a name for myself as an Artifact Refining Master. Even though it was only for a few short years, the resources I earned were immense.’

’By comparison, Spirit Stones were hardly worth mentioning.’

’After all, back in Jingmen, the most common currency was Righteous Alliance contribution points. If you didn’t have enough points, you’d typically trade rare Spiritual Objects. Spirit Stones were a last resort.’

’Add to that the spoils of war from countless battles—even a single Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact would sell for at least tens of thousands of Lower Grade Spirit Stones.’

’All things considered, the amount of Spirit Stones I’ve amassed is naturally no small sum.’

’I have nearly fifty thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones, and a mountain of Lower Grade ones—several hundred thousand, at least.’

’But to me now, these Spirit Stones are just numbers.’

After all, the value of a Spirit Stone comes from the pure Spiritual Qi it contains.

In a Cultivation Immortal Realm that revolves around Spiritual Qi, this purity naturally makes them a hard currency.

However, there was also a very practical problem.

The value of Spirit Stones is based on the stable value of Spiritual Qi.

But in the Cultivation Immortal Realm, many rare treasures are difficult to measure by the value of Spiritual Qi alone.

Especially for those at the Foundation Establishment Realm and above, most transactions were done through barter. Spirit Stones were merely an insignificant supplement.

Of course, this insignificance was limited to Lower Grade Spirit Stones. Upper Grade Spirit Stones, or the legendary Top Grade Spirit Stones, were another matter entirely.

Rarity, fundamentally, determined value.

Because of this, for cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm, buying rare items with Spirit Stones—even if you found a seller—usually meant paying a steep premium.

And at an auction like this, the premium for any rare item could be described as nothing short of terrifying!

He had a lot of Spirit Stones, but if he really tried to compete for some of the rarest Spiritual Objects, his fortune probably wouldn’t last long.

"This way, Sir."

Arriving before a private room, the Maid pushed open the door and respectfully led him in.

The room wasn’t large, but it was exquisitely furnished. There was a set of table and chairs made from Spiritual Bamboo, upon which sat several plates of Spirit Fruits and a pot of Spirit Wine. To one side, an Incense Burner gave off faint wisps of green smoke.

As he stepped into the room, a sense of peace and tranquility washed over him.

Clearly, this feeling came from the incense burning in the Incense Burner.

"Sir, if you need anything at all, please let me know. I will be waiting right outside the door."

The Maid bowed respectfully and withdrew, closing the door behind her. Chu Mu looked out the window. Below was the auction stage, surrounded by tiers of seats that rose up through the main hall.

In the hall below, Cultivators were already taking their seats. Their cultivation levels varied; some concealed their forms and sat in the corners, while others sat openly in the middle of the hall.

After a single glance, Chu Mu retracted his gaze. With a flick of his wrist, the Divine Fire Atlas Jade Scroll appeared in his hand. He sent his Divine Sense into it and once again became immersed.

「An hour passed in the blink of an eye.」

On the high stage stood a Female Cultivator. She had a bewitching aura, with long hair that fell to her waist, large eyes, a delicate nose, and a small mouth. She was buxom, with long, shapely legs.

She wore only a short, white gauze skirt. With every move, her slender waist swayed, offering tantalizing, fleeting glimpses of what lay beneath.

A single glance at her was enough to make one’s Qi and Blood surge, and to stir an uncontrollable desire.

Chu Mu’s brow furrowed. A faint, sharp intent circulated within his Sea of Consciousness, and in an instant, the surging of his Qi and Blood subsided.

’A Charm Skill...’

Chu Mu murmured to himself. The so-called Charm Skill was not uncommon in the Cultivation Immortal Realm. In the pleasure districts of any given Marketplace, most of the female cultivators practiced them.

Such Magic Techniques were considered unorthodox. Generally, they didn’t offer much in terms of Combat Power; their primary use was for seduction.

Those with weak wills or weak Divine Souls could easily fall prey to it, becoming slaves to her charms, to be commanded at will.

Without a doubt, women who cultivated such skills generally moved between male cultivators, seducing one man after another until they fell at their feet.

Many factions also specialized in training such female cultivators to serve and entice other cultivators, treating them like pawns or playthings.

He had experienced his fair share of such temptations back in Jingmen, at the Water Heaven Workshop.

But as far as he knew, there were also extremely profound Secret Skills within this school of magic. At the Longevity Sect, it was rumored that one of the True Inheritors had reached her position through a similar Charm Skill, and that she was incredibly powerful.

He had no way of knowing if it was true, and he wasn’t about to go asking around just for a bit of gossip.

’Charm... it must involve the Divine Soul...’

Chu Mu looked thoughtfully at the woman on the stage. ’A Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment cultivator... and one who practices Charm Skills at that. That’s more than just rare; it’s practically unheard of.’

"Today marks the first auction for my Hundred Treasures Pavilion since we established ourselves in Dubhe City! Fellow Daoists..."

The woman spoke gracefully. Her voice was elegant and poised, yet it carried an inexplicable, seductive quality that made one’s heart stir with restlessness.

Chu Mu glanced at the audience and, just as he expected, many of the low-level cultivators were red-faced, their spears already standing at attention. Normally, they would be overcome with shame, but right now, every one of them was staring at the woman on stage with near-obsessive fascination.

The corner of Chu Mu’s mouth twitched. He could hardly bear to look.

But then, his expression froze. As if sensing something, a look of clear surprise appeared in his eyes.

Right in front of the stage, a figure in red was rather conspicuous.

’Is that her?’

Chu Mu was puzzled. The woman’s face was familiar, as were her red clothes. It was unmistakably the woman in red he had met when he first entered the Cultivation Immortal Realm: Chang Hongyi.

They had met again later in the East Lake Secret Realm, but had had no contact since.

It was the same person, but her aura was completely different.

The Chang Hongyi of the past had seemed quirky and elfin, with a hint of playful charm.

Now, however, while a trace of that quirkiness remained, it was overshadowed by a bewitching allure. She wore a short red dress, and even seated, her graceful figure was apparent.

Chu Mu rubbed his nose. With a wave of his hand, he conjured a projection based on his memory.

On one side was the quirky girl-next-door; on the other, a seductive and bewitching witch...

A strange look crossed Chu Mu’s face. Just then, as if sensing his gaze, the young woman looked up.

Their eyes met. Despite the Array Prohibition separating them, Chu Mu keenly sensed that she had undoubtedly discovered his presence.

Chu Mu’s expression grew even more peculiar. The woman’s cultivation level was clear—Qi Cultivation Perfection. ’How could she possibly detect my gaze?’

’Did she have some sort of fortuitous encounter? Or is she a different person entirely? Or perhaps... she’s been a victim of Possession?’

Chu Mu picked up his cup of Spirit Wine. As he drank, he silently pondered the possibilities.

’If I remember correctly, after we met in the Secret Realm, she said she was returning to the north.’

’With her status as a Longevity Sect disciple...’

’Here in the heart of the Longevity Sect’s territory, it’s unlikely anything could have happened to her. And even if something had, she wouldn’t be appearing so brazenly.’

’So, it must be some other fortuitous encounter?’

...

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