Nine Evolutions of the True Spirit

Chapter 42 – Di Kun Island

Di Kun Island was one of the 36 medium-sized islands under the jurisdiction of Zhen Ling Sect. With a radius of nearly two hundred miles, the island had a small spirit vein and a small spirit stone mine, with an abundance of cultivation resources. It was rumored that more than one Core Forging Realm Enlightened Master was stationed there.

Di Kun Island and the dozens of smaller islands under its jurisdiction were located in a sea region full of cultivation resources. Geographically, the island fell on the border between Zhen Ling Sect and Xuan Ling Sect, not far away from Cang Hai Sect and Fei Yu Sect.

Due to Di Kun Island’s unique geographical location, a large number of cultivators gathered there, leading to its blooming and prosperous market.

Lu Ping walked on the market streets and looked at the cultivators around him. Because it was prohibited to fly in the market, one would often see a Blood Condensation Realm cultivator walking in the crowd. Occasionally, one could even spot a Core Forging Realm Enlightened Master.

The market here was much bigger than the one in Zhen Ling side hall. Naturally, the stores in the market were also bigger in size and better in quality.

Lu Ping was here to settle some business in advance because he didn’t want to expose any secrets to his martial siblings of Group 7 three months later.

He first visited Zhen Ling Sect’s Medicinal Pellet Store. As the owner of the island, Zhen Ling Sect’s properties were naturally situated at the best locations in the market.

Lu Ping walked into the store and a mid-stage Blood Refining Realm disciple quickly approached him and asked, “Senior Martial Brother, how can I help?”

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Of course, Lu Ping didn’t dare to act arrogantly here. He replied humbly, “Senior Martial Brother, can you please bring me to a store manager? I have some business to discuss with him.”

The disciple was surprised to hear Lu Ping’s request but said nothing and just nodded. He turned and entered the back hall of the store.

Not long later, the disciple walked out and said, “Senior Martial Brother, the store manager is ready to see you. Please, come with me.”

Lu Ping followed the disciple to the back hall where an elderly Blood Condensation Realm cultivator sat waiting. Lu Ping quickly stepped forward and greeted, “Junior Lu Ping greets Senior Master Immortal!”

The old cultivator looked at Lu Ping and smiled. “A side hall disciple? My surname is Li, and I am one of the store managers here. The disciple said you have something to discuss with me?”

After seeing the disciple leave, Lu Ping said, “Master Immortal Li, this junior here is fortunate to gather the eight spirit herbs required for a Blood Condensing Pellet. I am here to exchange them with the sect.”

Master Immortal Li who was initially indifferent now looked at Lu Ping with approval. “Oh? Very good. Take them out and let’s have a look!”

It wasn’t easy for a Blood Refining Realm disciple to gather eight of these spirit herbs. Without a clan’s support, it took a great deal of willpower, a strong cultivation base, keen tactics, and even a stroke of luck to achieve this feat.

This rule was mainly set up to encourage Blood Condensation Realm experts. They would go out and search for the spirit herbs, then exchange them for Blood Condensing Pellets to assist their clan’s promising Blood Refining Realm disciples in their breakthrough.

Lu Ping took out six jade boxes from his interspatial pouch. Two of them contained two spirit herbs of the same type, so they were placed in the same box.

Master Immortal Li was obviously an expert in distinguishing spirit herbs. After inspecting the spirit herbs in the six jade boxes, he nodded with satisfaction. “Eight spirit herbs, fully grown and all spiritual energy well preserved. They’re perfect and can be exchanged for a Blood Condensing Pellet.”

Lu Ping was overjoyed but Master Immortal Li continued saying, “But…”

Lu Ping’s heart tensed up.

Master Immortal Li looked at Lu Ping’s anxious expression and he smirked like an impish child who succeeded in a prank. “Don’t worry, young man. The Blood Condensing Pellet will be yours. But you have to understand that it is imperative that the sect has control over each and every Blood Condensing Pellet. Hence, they are never kept in the store. Instead, the store manager will have to return to the sect’s Pavilion of Alchemy to fetch it.”

Relieved, Lu Ping asked, “Senior, how long will that take?”

Master Immortal Li thought it over. “Three days later, I will be returning to the sect. I’ll bring back the Blood Condensing Pellet with me.”

But by then, Lu Ping would have returned to his station on Huang Li Island. Although he could apply for leave, he didn’t want anyone to know that he had a Blood Condensing Pellet. In fact, he didn’t even want Master Immortal Liu to hold onto his Blood Condensing Pellet before his breakthrough.

Lu Ping could only say helplessly, “If that’s the case, this junior will come and take it three months later during the auction.”

Master Immortal Li nodded. “That’s fine. But there will be many people at that time, so you should be careful.”

Lu Ping nodded and thanked him. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered his experience in the Medicinal Pellet Store in the side hall market. He turned around to ask, “This junior would also like to purchase some high-class medicinal pellets. May I ask if any are sold here?”

Taken aback, Master Immortal Li asked, “Where did you hear that? Aside from Blood Essence Pellets, we do sell high-class Blood Refining Realm medicinal pellets.”

Lu Ping immediately knew he’d acted correctly. He told Master Immortal Li of his experience with the Medicinal Pellet Store in the side hall market.

With his current cultivation base and level of arcane energy, Blood Solidifying Pellets could no longer meet his needs anymore. And because he was wary about the medicinal toxins, he refrained from consuming two medicinal pellets in his daily cultivation. Hence, the only solution was to find better quality medicinal pellets.

Master Immortal Li laughed happily at hearing Lu Ping’s story. “Xu Zixian is really interesting. But you should know, even though my store stocks more medicinal pellets, there are more cultivators on Di Kun Island than in the side hall. So, don’t even think about asking if you’re only looking for a few medicinal pellets.”

Lu Ping was excited to hear that. “Senior, may I ask how many bottles of Blood Vigor Pellets can be supplied per month?”

Wide-eyed with surprise, Master Immortal Li stared at Lu Ping. “Bottles? Where would I get so many? It’s already good enough that I can supply you a bottle each month. Even so, I’ll have to stop supplying them to any rogue cultivators that buy less than three pellets a month.”

Lu Ping didn’t care too much about that. He quickly sealed the deal. “Then, this junior would like three month’s supply in advance.”

After spending almost 600 spirit stones for three bottles of Blood Vigor Pellets, Lu Ping walked out of the Medicinal Pellet Store. He asked for directions to the auction house and proceeded to head over.

The auction house wasn’t too far away, being located in the center of the market. The auction house was a property managed jointly by Zhen Ling Sect and Multi-Treasure Pavilion. This was also the strategy that Multi-Treasure Pavilion used to expand its business into the regions of almost every faction and sect in the North Ocean.

The auction house organized auctions very frequently. But every auction was held for cultivators of different cultivation levels, and the sizes of the auctions also varied every time.

For example, the auction being held three months later was targeted towards Blood Refining Realm cultivators. It was a large-scale auction that only took place once a year.

Lu Ping entered the auction house’s main hall and he was immediately approached by a Blood Refining Realm cultivator. “My fellow Daoist, are you looking to join the auction or to auction something away?”

Lu Ping was surprised. “Is there an auction happening now?”

The cultivator replied, “Not now, but the auction house organizes auctions frequently for customers of all shapes and sizes. So, it’s not rare for cultivators unaware of the auction time to come and ask. By the looks of it, you’re here to auction something? Is it for the annual Blood Refining Realm auction three months from now?”

Lu Ping nodded in reply.

“What type of item do you wish to consign?”

Lu Ping answered, “Mystic instruments.”

“If that’s the case, please follow me. But please take note that only mystic instruments at mid-grade level and above are accepted.”

Lu Ping nodded in understanding. He had seven mid-grade mystic instruments in his possession now. He would keep the stone pagoda, the Flying Swallow Sword, the flying mystic instrument and the Fire Fan he plundered from the Xuan Ling Sect disciples. He planned to sell the other three mystic instruments.

This meant selling the mystic instruments he plundered from Lin Sheng which were the flying sword, handkerchief, and flying-specialized flying sword. This way, he didn’t have to worry about exposing his secret.