Chapter 93: Kindred Spirits (Please Subscribe)

At the same time, Li Guanxuan breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had resisted temptation and declined Murong Li's gift back then. Otherwise, today, that mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Thunderfire Sect might have caught his scent and come looking for him.

After all, who knew if that second-rank superior secret art contained any magical marks that even purification talismans couldn't erase? Moreover, the cultivation world was vast, and it was generally difficult for a wandering cultivator like Murong Li to be found by the Thunderfire Sect. Only something unclean hidden within the "Thunderfire Puppet" could explain the current events.

Now, Murong Li no longer bore the proud demeanor of a master alchemist. His graying hair hung loosely, drifting in the wind. His bruised face contorted as he unleashed volley after volley of fireball spells, while numerous magical instruments crashed around him. He shouted, "It's a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! I have no intention of taking the 'Thunderfire Puppet'!"

However, the mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Thunderfire Sect looked dark and cold, a faint sneer curling at the corner of his mouth. Controlling a second-rank superior puppet with his spiritual sense, he relentlessly attacked Murong Li. Punch followed punch, the air filled with deafening impacts.

The devastating fireball spells were blocked by another defense-type puppet. Furthermore, the Thunderfire Sect cultivator summoned a terrifying cage of lightning from the sky, suppressing Murong Li beneath it.

"Spare me!" Murong Li, terrified beyond reason, abandoned any pretense of dignity and knelt frantically, kowtowing in plea: "I won’t dare to steal the Thunderfire Sect's secret arts again. Great immortal, have mercy and spare me this once!"

The Thunderfire Sect cultivator's eyes were icy and indifferent as he said, "Spare you? Did you think about sparing the weaker Qi Refining disciples when you stole our sect’s secret arts together?"

With those words, without hesitation, he clenched his right hand sharply, and the lightning cage contracted swiftly. The iron pillars formed from thunderclap transformed into terrifying blades, slicing Murong Li into pieces in an instant.

Watching this scene, no surprise crossed Li Guanxuan’s face. Although second-rank mid-grade alchemists were popular among cultivators, facing a second-rank superior puppet master with mid-stage Foundation Establishment strength, without any aid, death was the only outcome.

"If I had accepted his gift back then, I might have had to intervene today to resolve the karmic consequences…" Li Guanxuan mused silently.

Hence, accepting gifts depended on the person. It was best to avoid someone as scheming and ruthless as Murong Li.

If it weren’t for the puppet he auctioned off in Ruyi City, Murong Li’s cunning would likely have led him to find an excuse to kill Li Guanxuan and seize his storage pouch.

Li Guanxuan did not dwell further; all this was the fruit of Murong Li’s own actions, and now he had to bear it.

"I am Yan Mingyao, steward of the Thunderfire Sect, tasked with hunting down the thief Murong Li who stole the Thunderfire Sect’s secret puppet art 'Thunderfire Puppet.' If any of his friends or relatives seek revenge, I will deal with them as well!" The mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator raised his finger, confiscated Murong Li’s storage pouch, and his voice echoed through the surroundings.

"The Thunderfire Sect... a sect guarded by the renowned Fake Alchemist Master, its power rivals that of Huajing Immortal City."

"No wonder Yan Mingyao is so confident. Backed by Fake Alchemist Master, he dares to slay early Foundation Establishment cultivators outside Huajing Immortal City."

"I’ve heard some stories about Murong Li; this person in Yinfeng City..."

Listening to the surrounding cultivators gossip, Li Guanxuan quietly stored the information in his mind.

As a man who walked the path of survival, endurance and keeping a low profile were essential. Occasionally, it was also necessary to gather rumors and small gossip from the cultivation world, waiting for the right chance and perfect certainty to act in order to hope for longevity.

As for petty gains, they were not worth bothering about.

Wandering cultivators like Murong Li, who liked to grow stronger by fighting monsters and stirring up trouble, inevitably met obvious ends.

Besides, Li Guanxuan had a family to support; he should quietly lie low, avoiding trouble. Besides inviting karmic retribution, it would only drag him into difficulties.

Putting aside his thoughts, Li Guanxuan headed into Huajing Immortal City. His final goal was to acquire second-rank superior talisman and puppet materials and to help his master purchase Purple Feather Tears Gold.

The Lord of Shanggu City was currently secluded to form a core, regardless of success or failure, battles at the Foundation Establishment level would frequently erupt around, aiming to test and ultimately erode Shanggu City. After all, no one could resist the temptation of such a juicy piece.

The chaotic era was approaching… Li Guanxuan sighed lightly; he had to prepare thoroughly for whatever might come.

"The head of the Yu Beast Clan claims to seek revenge for the patriarch and Yu Shaoneng, but he knows well that the Yu family is at its end," Li Guanxuan thought. Without the sixth-layer Foundation Establishment patriarch to hold the fort, the Yu family was already declining.

From what he gathered, many cultivation families in Huajing Immortal City and surrounding cities were encroaching on the Yu family’s holdings.

Even the Hua family, guarded by Fake Alchemist Master, turned a blind eye.

The Yu family’s situation was dire.

If the opportunity arose, Li Guanxuan could secretly strike while they were down.

Yet, acting rashly to cause trouble was unnecessary and against his survival principles.

Moreover, the Yu family head was only a fourth-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator; with his own many trump cards, Li Guanxuan was not afraid.

What was once a formidable Yu Beast Clan was now insignificant.

---

Huajing Immortal City had thirteen market districts. The renowned Wanxiang Pavilion naturally held a place in District One.

Li Guanxuan arrived at Wanxiang Pavilion and, after stating his purpose and giving the secret phrase from Master Liu Xiaoxian, received three hundred mid-grade spirit stones.

Recalling that the beautiful master’s initial gift was merely a hundred mid-grade spirit stones, Li Guanxuan silently marveled at the treasures hidden in her small treasury.

As the only disciple of the beautiful master, if one day…

He quickly suppressed such dangerous thoughts; he was not about to raid her treasury now. After all, he no longer lacked spirit stones.

Spending time refining pills and painting talismans could steadily earn him more without resorting to risky ventures.

After staying about half a month in Huajing Immortal City, the grand auction finally began.

This auction did not require concealing one’s identity, as most attendees were powerful Foundation Establishment cultivators who knew each other’s backgrounds well, making disguise unnecessary.

Of course, some still hid their identities, clearly not wanting others to know.

Many Qi Refining cultivators also attended, mostly to observe and join the excitement.

"Fairy Bai Wei."

"Fairy Luyao."

"Fairy Zixi."

"Fairy Yunli."

…

Upon entering the venue, Li Guanxuan noticed many Foundation Establishment cultivators greeting four ethereal female cultivators, who responded with smiles and no airs.

Listening for a while, Li Guanxuan learned their identities.

Fairy Bai Wei hailed from the Ink and Wash Pavilion, a sect known for its talisman and painting techniques, mostly scholars of Confucianism and Taoism.

Fairy Luyao was the daughter of the Hua family patriarch, named Hua Luyao, with mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

Fairy Zixi belonged to the Danding Sect; as her name suggested, she was a second-rank superior alchemist with mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

Fairy Yunli was a sword cultivator from the Mingyue Sword Sect, dressed in white like snow, with long, straight eyebrows and a calm, serene aura akin to a secluded orchid in a valley, also mid-stage Foundation Establishment.

The four fairies enjoyed great reputations and countless admirers nearby.

Besides them, Li Guanxuan noticed several late-stage Foundation Establishment male cultivators, each supported by their sects.

Only one man, a hat-wearing figure clutching a sword scabbard with a rugged, worldly aura, stood silently alone in a corner.

From others, Li Guanxuan learned his name was Ruan Dajiang, a wandering cultivator who cultivated with four inferior elemental roots to late-stage Foundation Establishment and had created the “Great River Sword Technique,” highly revered among sword practitioners.

"In a third-rank spirit vein immortal city, one can meet so many capable cultivators…" Li Guanxuan felt deeply.

Previously, in Qing’an City, Shanggu City, and Yinfeng City, he had never heard of such formidable cultivators.

Now in Huajing Immortal City, he finally understood how many prodigies the cultivation world held.

Some achievements surpassed even those of Liu Xiaoxian.

No wonder the beautiful master was so impacted she fled to a second-rank spirit city.

Nonetheless, Liu Xiaoxian was a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator with third-rank puppet master skills, easily dominating someone like Li Guanxuan, a lower-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Soon, Li Guanxuan also saw the Yu family patriarch seated silently on a meditation cushion, eyes tired.

Clearly, the recent troubles of the Yu Beast Clan had left him overwhelmed.

Li Guanxuan remained unmoved; the Yu Beast Clan’s failure to discipline its members deserved this fate.

After a short incense stick’s time, an elderly man with frost-white hair ascended the stage, smiling kindly. After some polite greetings and explaining the rules, he declared the auction officially open.

"The first item up: a Foundation Establishment pill with a 25% success rate, starting price 5,500 lower-grade spirit stones, with minimum increments of 100."

Li Guanxuan’s face showed surprise. The warm-up item was a Foundation Establishment pill with only a 25% chance—Huajing Immortal City, guarded by the Fake Alchemist Master, was far stronger than he imagined.

"My master could come to the auction herself; even if she cannot appear in person, she could send a clone like me… If she doesn’t dare come, perhaps she offended some big figure here. Of course, that’s just my guess—she’s not the kind of reckless cultivator who looks for trouble," Li Guanxuan thought, refraining from bidding.

He no longer needed Foundation Establishment pills.

If Song Zhiqiao ever needed to establish Foundation Establishment, he could find materials and help her refine them.

By then, he would probably be mid to late Foundation Establishment.

However, he still needed to prepare materials for Wen Rongxin’s Bone Refining Pill.

Thankfully, Wanxiang Pavilion had most of those materials.

Unlike Toxic Pills, Life-Defining Pills, or late-stage Foundation Establishment breakthrough pills like Huangting Pill and Tianyuan Pill, which Wanxiang Pavilion did not stock; for those, he’d have to buy or hire people to search deep mountains.

When the seventh item appeared, Li Guanxuan’s spirit lifted at last.

"The seventh item: a dual cultivation heart method ‘Two Principles Technique’ obtained from a Golden Core cave dwelling. Verified as at least a peak Foundation Establishment heart method. Starting price 15,000 lower-grade spirit stones, minimum increments 100..."

The old man’s voice rang out. Many cultivators showed little interest, evidently indifferent to dual cultivation heart methods.

After three breaths without bids, Li Guanxuan spoke: "15,100!"

"15,500!" came a response.

Li Guanxuan was surprised—no bids before, now there was?

No matter; he lacked nothing but spirit stones.

"16,000!"

"16,500!"

"18,000!"

…

Upon hearing Li Guanxuan’s sudden bid of 18,000 spirit stones, the other bidder was speechless and turned to look at him.

Li Guanxuan smiled warmly, already knowing his rival.

It was Hua Yongyang, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, rumored to have twelve concubines in his mansion, also on the dual cultivation path.

"Where do you hail from, fellow cultivator?" Hua Yongyang greeted with a smile instead of immediately bidding.

"A wandering cultivator," Li Guanxuan bowed slightly.

"This is just a clone; judging by this clone, his true self is also a powerful Foundation Establishment cultivator..." a voice whispered into Hua Yongyang’s ear, making him realize Li Guanxuan’s background might be more than it seemed.

Hua Yongyang sighed, "I’m quite interested in this ‘Two Principles Technique’ and can’t let it go easily... 19,000!"

"Understood." Li Guanxuan nodded slightly and raised the bid to "20,000!"

Hearing this, Hua Yongyang’s right hand trembled slightly. This was his bottom price.

A peak Foundation Establishment dual cultivation heart method was worth about this much.

"20,100!" Hua Yongyang gritted his teeth.

"21,000," Li Guanxuan replied.

…

Hua Yongyang rolled his eyes and said irritably, "No more, no more. It’s yours—what bad luck!"

"Sorry, I truly need a dual cultivation heart method, not trying to inflate the price. Just want to secure it," Li Guanxuan apologized gently, explaining his reason.

"Don’t worry, as a Hua family member, if I acted against you in Huajing Immortal City, it would disgrace my family," Hua Yongyang laughed generously. "But I didn’t expect so few cultivate the dual path nowadays. Today I met one—interesting… We should exchange experiences sometime."

Exchange? A silver party? Li Guanxuan internally scoffed, smiling politely, "An honor indeed."

When a palace-dressed maid brought over the dual cultivation heart method, Li Guanxuan had already prepared 21,000 lower-grade spirit stones.

Seeing his generous bid, Hua Yongyang had no further thoughts.

A clone attending such a grand auction—many cultivators glanced at Li Guanxuan deeply. Using a clone to attend such an event made his identity quite mysterious.

Hua Luyao, daughter of the Hua family patriarch, glanced disdainfully at the family disgrace Hua Yongyang and looked down on Li Guanxuan as well.

Dual cultivation was only chosen by those with poor aptitude.

…

The auction continued, but many items failed to interest Li Guanxuan.

At night, the auction paused and would resume the next day.

Li Guanxuan returned to his inn, unaware he was being watched.

In the cultivation world, using clones to travel was not unusual.

After all, cultivators who worked hard to reach Foundation Establishment invested immense effort and resources and would not easily perish.

However, Hua Yongyang made inquiries about Li Guanxuan’s lodging.

At night, the innkeeper personally visited Li Guanxuan, asking if he wanted to meet Hua Yongyang.

Li Guanxuan considered: Huajing Immortal City was the Hua family’s territory, and Hua Yongyang was one of them. Meeting him posed no threat; he wouldn’t fight here.

Once the auction ended, the beautiful master would come to fetch him.

Even if she couldn’t bring the clone, at least the items and puppets could be taken away.

"Hua Daoist," Li Guanxuan greeted with a bow and introduced himself: "I am surnamed Li, skilled in talisman and puppet arts. Due to my personality, I traveled here with a clone."

"Understood, understood... It’s wise to be cautious when traveling," Hua Yongyang smiled, not finding fault.

"I thought you’d stay at Meixian Tower, but you settled in a random inn—quite surprising."

"Clones don’t carry much spirit stone, so no need to burn through the treasury," Li Guanxuan laughed.

Hua Yongyang produced a jar of medicinal wine, asking, "It contains tiger whip and other fiery yang medicines. Are you accustomed to drinking this, Daoist Li?"

Li Guanxuan spread his spiritual sense briefly, sensing no danger nearby, and then transferred his primordial spirit to the clone.

The clone’s aura subtly dispersed; Hua Yongyang understood the situation.

"Please," Li Guanxuan cupped his fingers, pointing to the wine bowl with a smile.

Hua Yongyang laughed heartily and poured it himself.

They clinked bowls and drank heartily.

Seeing Li Guanxuan’s normal complexion, Hua Yongyang laughed, "You truly are a kindred spirit—interesting, very interesting!"

Soon, the two exchanged cultivation experiences for several hours.

"Sigh, I manage about two hours per session," Hua Yongyang modestly said.

A man who lasts two hours per session is already quite impressive; half that time is not exaggerated, and Hua Yongyang likely only lasted about half an hour, Li Guanxuan guessed, feeling a bit ashamed.

"I’m average, my longest was one hour," Li Guanxuan admitted, avoiding mentioning his former record of eight hours to prevent Hua Yongyang from probing deeply or asking for lessons.

Hua Yongyang thought, "This Daoist can barely last half an hour, much weaker than me," his smile growing wider.

"Drink, drink! Ha ha ha..." Hua Yongyang was genuinely cheerful.

Cultivators walking the dual cultivation path at Foundation Establishment level were rare; he looked down on Qi Refining dual cultivators. Meeting Li Guanxuan was like finding a kindred soul.

…

After about two hours, Hua Yongyang took his leave.

Two grown men staying in one room all night was somewhat inappropriate.

The next morning, Li Guanxuan returned to the auction venue.

Alcohol between men fostered bonds; Hua Yongyang sat beside him on a meditation cushion.

"First item today: three hundred years old spirit wood, one zhang of fierce tooth wood, starting price 4,000 lower-grade spirit stones..."

"5,000 spirit stones!" Before the old man finished, someone bid.

Everyone looked; it was Fairy Bai Wei from Ink and Wash Pavilion.

[Five chapters owed, total 25,000 words.]

(End of chapter)