Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

After all, just over ten years ago, it was merely an ordinary plum tree. Song Qingxi, by her own power, had caused a change in its very life form, elevating it from a Mortal Grade plant into the ranks of a Tier One Spirit Plant.

This was no small feat. It was akin to turning a mortal without a Spirit Root into a Cultivator. While luck and many coincidences were involved, the process was far more arduous than simply using a Growth Spiritual Liquid.

"Let’s try it on the Star Tempering Fruit first." After some thought, Song Changsheng decided to start with the most numerous plant and let Song Qingxi experiment on it.

After all, the properties of every Spirit Plant are different. The saying ’one man’s nectar is another man’s poison’ applies here. There were plenty of Star Tempering Fruits, so losing one or two wouldn’t be a major issue. But the Dragon Blood Ginseng and the Foundation Establishment Fruit Tree were one-of-a-kind; they couldn’t afford to lose them.

But Song Qingxi had no intention of doing as Song Changsheng suggested.

"Uncle, it’s better to formulate them individually. The effects will be better that way." Song Qingxi could understand Song Changsheng’s eagerness, but she believed the current Growth Spiritual Liquid wouldn’t be sufficient.

"Are you confident?"

Song Qingxi nodded gently.

Seeing this, Song Changsheng didn’t hesitate. "Very well," he said bluntly. "Aside from the Dragon Blood Ginseng, you can do as you please with the others. If you need anything, just make your request directly to the Minor Affairs Elder."

Experiments involved risk. Song Changsheng understood this deeply.

However, Song Qingxi didn’t have much room for trial and error.

The Song Clan had three Star Tempering Fruit plants, which gave her two attempts at most. There was only one Foundation Establishment Fruit Tree. Fortunately, it had already borne fruit, so even if it were destroyed, they would have a chance to cultivate a new one.

Only the Dragon Blood Ginseng had yet to produce seeds. If it were destroyed, finding another would be incredibly difficult. Therefore, even though Song Changsheng trusted Song Qingxi’s abilities, he didn’t dare let her experiment on this sole specimen.

Fortunately, with the Dragon Blood Mud, the Dragon Blood Ginseng’s growth cycle had already been greatly shortened, even without the Growth Spiritual Liquid.

Hearing this, Song Qingxi smiled faintly. "Rest assured, I will definitely formulate a suitable Spiritual Liquid."

"It’s just one attempt, after all. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. It would be wonderful if you succeed, but it’s no big deal if you don’t."

Although he was anxious, Song Changsheng didn’t want to place too much pressure on her.

She was only in her early twenties, still a child in Song Changsheng’s eyes. In his past life, she’d just be a carefree college student, enjoying her meals without a worry in the world. There was no need for her to bear such burdens so early.

"I know. You can rest easy." Song Qingxi gave him a sweet smile, then dove headfirst into formulating the Spiritual Liquid.

’Actually, for her, being busy was a good thing. When she was busy, she had no time to think about other matters...’

Time flew by. It had been over half a month since Song Lutong and Song Luyun arrived in Luoxia City. During that time, they had helped Song Qingluo re-establish the Song Clan’s intelligence network there.

And today was the day the auction was set to officially begin.

The two of them arrived early and waited by the entrance. As time passed, Song Lutong’s expression grew increasingly grim as the area around them became packed with people.

Foundation Establishment Cultivators, a rare sight in Ling Province, were now everywhere you looked. He even sensed the auras of Purple Mansion Cultivators—and not just one.

"Damn it, you were right. It looks like everyone in the Daqi Cultivation World with any savings has shown up, huh?" Song Lutong’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot. He had originally thought Song Changsheng was making a big deal out of nothing, thinking that bringing a huge sum of three hundred thousand Spirit Stones for five Foundation Establishment Pills was being far too conservative.

He didn’t think that anymore. Now, he was trying to figure out how they could possibly win five Foundation Establishment Pills with only three hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

"Our funds are still quite substantial. Completing the Clan Leader’s task shouldn’t be a problem," Song Luyun said, sounding rather confident.

As the two were talking, the grand doors of the auction house slowly swung open. Everyone surged forward, and the hall was quickly filled to the brim.

Once the heavy doors swung shut again, Xia Wanyun, dressed in magnificent attire, gracefully strode onto the stage. Her face, beautiful enough to topple kingdoms, wore a bewitching smile. Her appearance alone prompted a wave of audible gulps from the audience.

"So this is the Auctioneer that Changsheng said was almost turned into a Furnace Cauldron by an Evil Cultivator? She’s really something else. I’ve got to admit, even my heart skipped a beat." In a private room on the second floor, Song Lutong smacked his lips as he watched the fiery figure below.

"Do you men all like this type?" A trace of disgust showed in Song Luyun’s eyes. ’It’s an auction, so what’s the point of her wearing so little?’

She had hosted a few auctions at the Moon Viewing Marketplace herself and was thoroughly disgusted by those who used their looks to entice others.

"Heh, who wouldn’t like this type? Look at that guy down there—he came with his partner, and his eyes are still glued to the stage. With an Auctioneer like her, the auction house’s business must have at least doubled."

Song Lutong seemed oblivious to the cold glare coming from his side, his eyes still fixed with great interest on her glowing white calves and chest, the very picture of a lecher.

But a closer look would reveal that while he appeared to be ogling her, his eyes were clear, holding none of the lust seen in the crowd below, who were already so mesmerized they’d lost all sense of direction.

Although the auction hall was crowded, only a very small fraction of the Cultivators present could restrain their desires and maintain a clear mind.

Not far from the Song Clan’s private box, a one-armed young man watched with the most complicated expression of all.

Unlike the others, his reason for being here was different. He had come simply to see one person.

After one last, deep look at the figure below, the one-armed youth took up his sword and departed. The moment he opened the door, Xia Wanyun seemed to sense something and glanced in his direction, but she only caught a glimpse of the young man’s departing back.

’It’s him...’

Xia Wanyun’s heart trembled. Memories of the past surged into her mind, and for a moment, she forgot where she was.

Seeing her standing there in a daze, the auction house Steward couldn’t help but send her a voice transmission. "What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and start! You were the one who insisted on hosting this auction. I’m shouldering a huge risk for you, so don’t you dare mess this up for me."

His voice pulled Xia Wanyun back to reality. Her heart filled with bitterness, but her face remained wreathed in a charming smile. She skipped the usual opening pleasantries and said directly:

"Seniors, fellow cultivators, I believe most of you are here today for the Foundation Establishment Pills. However, I want to tell you that this auction features not only Foundation Establishment Pills, but many other treasures as well."

"A total of one hundred and fifty Foundation Establishment Pills will be auctioned today. The first fifty will be auctioned individually. The remaining one hundred will be sold in lots of five. One lot will be auctioned every hour until they are all sold. So please, everyone, be sure to seize this opportunity!"

The moment she said this, the crowd erupted. One hundred and fifty pills! This number far exceeded everyone’s expectations.

However, the auction format also put them under immense pressure.

Lots of five, with a starting bid of at least one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. This rule alone was enough to discourage most of the smaller factions and Loose Cultivators in attendance.

While it seemed to lessen the competition, there were only twenty lots in total. It was still a case of too many wolves fighting over too little meat. The bidding for each lot was bound to be fierce; after all, passing on a single lot meant losing out on five pills—the cost was simply too great.

As for the fifty pills being auctioned individually, the competition would be even more brutal, with hundreds of smaller factions and Loose Cultivators vying for them.

Their financial resources were too limited to compete for the lots of five, so their only option was to fight with all they had for one of those fifty individual pills.

One could only imagine the absurd prices a single Foundation Establishment Pill would reach. The air was already thick with the scent of gunpowder.

"We’ll go all out for the first lot of Foundation Establishment Pills," Song Luyun suddenly said to Song Lutong.

"Why?" Song Lutong asked, confused.

"For the first lot, most people will still be watching from the sidelines. If we’re lucky, we can win it for a relatively low price."

"That makes sense!" Song Lutong realized, suddenly eager to get started.

Soon, the bidding officially began. The first lot was five Foundation Establishment Pills, with a starting price of one hundred and twenty thousand. Just as Song Lutong was about to make a bid, a light, airy voice drifted down from the third floor: "Two hundred and fifty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones!"

Everyone present: "?"

...

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