The Chaotic Immortal Wood Sect: Immortal Cultivation War - Chapter 40

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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40. Discussing the Auction at Yeonmaedang in Butterfly Fall Market

“Wow, there was a ship like that too?”

In Deok grumbled as he watched a giant airship taking off from the market’s dock in the distance.

The massive ship, easily over thirty zhang in length, had just risen from the dock and was turning its bow toward the lakeside with its back to the market.

“That was instantaneous.”

And in the brief moment that Kang Hyeon and In Deok watched, the ship that had turned its bow disappeared from sight in an instant.

The ship flew away so quickly it was as if it had used spatial movement.

“Haha. But when it returns, it has to float on the water and come slowly.”

The boatman spoke with an excited expression toward Kang Hyeon and In Deok, who were focused on the airship.

“It looks like it could carry thousands of people at once, is that right?”

Kang Hyeon asked.

“It varies each time, but roughly 3,000 people at once. Sometimes they pack it full and bring 5,000 people.”

“The fare must be cheap too, right?”

“Haha. Is that a complaint? Do you think the fare you paid me was too expensive?”

“That difference is more than made up for by the value of the stories you’ve shared with us, senior. It’s not that I’m complaining about expensive fares or anything, but rather reflecting on our hastiness in not considering that such alternatives existed in the first place.”

“Kuhahaha. You speak quite nicely, junior. Right. The large ship that just departed has the advantage of cheap fares. But it’s hard to meet people who give advice like I do. So taking my boat is definitely not a loss. Haha, yes, I’m in a good mood so I’ll bestow one favor upon you.”

“I’ll gratefully accept without declining.”

“When you enter the market, go straight to find Yeonmaedang.”

“You mean Yeonmaedang?”

“That’s right. If you hurry, you might be able to get entry tickets for this month’s auction.”

“There’s an auction?”

“Not an ordinary auction, but quite a high-level one. Of course, you’ll need to prove your qualifications, but if you’re too late, you won’t even get a chance to prove yourself, so it would be good to hurry.”

“Ah, understood. Thank you, senior.”

“Thank you, senior.”

When Kang Hyeon gave his thanks with a sincere expression, In Deok, who stood beside him, also bowed his head accordingly.

“Now, now, you’ve entered the market’s territory, so go on. As you’ll feel now, the market sets limits on the level of spell arts and cultivation methods that can be used according to one’s realm. So don’t cross the line.”

“Thank you.”

“Understood. Well then.”

Kang Hyeon and In Deok thanked the boatman monk for his advice and lightly launched their bodies, jumping down onto the dock that had come within a dozen zhang.

Then the boatman monk didn’t even dock his boat at the pier, but turned the bow as it was and quickly disappeared toward the lakeside.

“Wow, so that’s how they go when leaving.”

In Deok’s mouth fell open as he watched the boat they had ridden race quickly across the water surface before taking flight into the air.

“Let’s hurry. The senior said there wouldn’t be much time.”

Kang Hyeon urged and pulled along In Deok as they headed toward the market’s downtown district.

As with most markets, large organizations or groups tend to establish themselves in the central area.

Kang Hyeon expected Yeonmaedang to be the same, and his guess was exactly right.

Kang Hyeon and In Deok, who had hurriedly flown, were able to find a five-story hall bearing Yeonmaedang’s flags as they approached the market’s central region.

***

Kang Hyeon and In Deok, who had entered Yeonmaedang Hall, were guided by a reception monk to the second floor of Yeonmaedang, where they met with a steward of Yeonmaedang in a small room with a table and chairs.

“How should I address you two fellows?”

The Yeonmaedang steward who entered the room after a brief wait was at the Early Qi Accumulation realm, making him a monk of the same level.

He asked for Kang Hyeon and In Deok’s forms of address, which was less about asking for their real names and more about asking for the public names the two would use in Butterfly Fall Market.

“Just call us Nok Hyeon and Geum Deok.”

Kang Hyeon introduced himself as Nok Hyeon and In Deok as Geum Deok.

Though he gave the names carelessly, since they wouldn’t be using them for long, he spoke without much concern.

“Your business in visiting our Yeonmaedang is to participate in this auction?”

The Yeonmaedang steward also showed an attitude of not caring about the carelessly given names.

“That’s right.”

“Well, we heard we need to obtain qualifications, so please let us know how to go about it.”

In Deok continued Kang Hyeon’s crisp words with a rough tone.

In Deok had set up his own role in that direction.

“We’re not particularly desperate to gather more auction customers, but there’s also no reason to turn away customers who have come. As long as they have the qualifications, as mentioned.”

The Yeonmaedang monk said this and then stroked his chin briefly while looking at Kang Hyeon and In Deok.

Then.

“In terms of realm, there’s a shortfall, so we’ll have no choice but to gauge by wealth.”

He thus informed them that the Early Qi Accumulation realm didn’t meet the qualifications for auction hall entry and mentioned wealth.

At this, Kang Hyeon put his hand into his sleeve, took out two boxes from his storage pouch, and placed them on the table.

“I wonder if this will be sufficient.”

“Let’s see.”

When Kang Hyeon took out the boxes, the Yeonmaedang monk opened the lid of one of the boxes with leisurely movements.

“Huh?”

And he was startled to see the spirit stones filling the box.

“These are superior spirit stones? And fifty of them?”

He looked back and forth between the box and Kang Hyeon with an expression of disbelief.

“I’m revealing this because I trust that Liaison Trading Hall won’t carelessly spread a customer’s secrets. I can trust you, can’t I?”

Kang Hyeon asked the Liaison Trading Hall monk as if demanding a definite answer.

At this, the Liaison Trading Hall monk immediately straightened his posture and pretended to adjust his robes before bowing politely to Kang Hyeon.

“My introduction is late. I am Yang Yu, a third-class steward of Liaison Trading Hall.”

“I am Nok Hyeon.”

“Yes, Monk Nok Hyeon. Hahaha.”

At Kang Hyeon’s response, the Liaison Trading Hall steward who introduced himself as Yang Yu laughed awkwardly while gauging the reactions of Kang Hyeon and In Deok.

“Hyeon, that alone seems sufficient qualification, doesn’t it?”

Then In Deok spoke while subtly pulling toward himself the box that still remained unopened among the two boxes.

“No.”

But Kang Hyeon stopped In Deok’s action.

“Since we’re going to put it up for auction anyway, there’s no need to hide it.”

“That’s only if Steward Yang Yu here can handle the auction registration for us…”

“It’s possible. Of course I can help with item registration. Certainly.”

When talk of auction item registration came up, Yang Yu pressed down on the opposite side of the box that In Deok was pulling with urgent gestures.

“Then please take a look.”

At this, Kang Hyeon nodded toward Yang Yu, and In Deok removed his hands from the box.

“Then I’ll examine it.”

With Kang Hyeon’s permission, Yang Yu said this and carefully opened the box’s lid.

Click!

Whoooosh!

“Mmm.”

As the wooden box’s lid opened, the fragrance of spirit herbs filled the room.

Inside the box was a spirit herb with three water-colored leaves resembling lotus leaves attached to a brown stem two spans long.

And Yang Yu, having confirmed the actual item inside the box, let out a deep and heavy groan.

“After seeing the superior spirit stones, I suspected this wouldn’t be an ordinary item either… Spirit Spring Grass that’s over 10,000 years old. I’m not mistaken, am I?”

“Each leaf has clear water droplets imbued with purifying energy, and there are three leaves on one stem, with the ring patterns on the leaves overlapping ten times each in deep ink color, so it’s indeed Spirit Spring Grass over 10,000 years old, just as you see.”

To Yang Yu’s stammering words, Kang Hyeon calmly explained about the spirit herb in the box.

That Spirit Spring Grass was one of several spirit herbs discovered in Kang Hyeon’s mystic realm, which he had brought out expecting it would sell for an even higher price in this region with many demonic path cultivators.

Demonic path cultivators always suffer difficulties due to their consciousness being contaminated by demonic energy, and Spirit Spring Grass has excellent efficacy in purifying such negative effects of demonic energy.

“I, I see.”

Click!

After hearing Kang Hyeon’s answer, Yang Yu hastily closed the lid of the box containing the Spirit Spring Grass.

This was because Spirit Spring Grass is a spirit herb that requires extremely careful management.

If not properly stored, its efficacy often drops rapidly, so Yang Yu didn’t dare keep the box lid open for long.

“You don’t need to worry so much. That box was made under optimal conditions for storing Spirit Spring Grass. Just opening the lid won’t affect the Spirit Spring Grass’s medicinal properties.”

“Then that’s fortunate. I was worried that opening the lid just now might have reduced the Spirit Spring Grass’s efficacy even by a fraction.”

Yang Yu pretended to wipe sweat from his forehead while forcing a relaxed smile.

“It seems the qualification verification for auction participation is all finished now, so what should we do next?”

Then, sensing that the business was roughly finished, In Deok asked Yang Yu with an expression suggesting they wrap things up.

“You mean this? Your qualifications are more than sufficient. In terms of wealth, you’ve shown fifty superior spirit stones, and on top of that, you’ve even brought superior spirit herbs as auction items.”

Yang Yu said this to In Deok, then placed his palm on the corner of the table where the two boxes were placed and injected spiritual energy.

Then various complex lights flickered above the table, and soon two tokens appeared beside the boxes.

“Come now, please take one each.”

Yang Yu picked up the tokens that appeared beside the boxes and offered them to Kang Hyeon and In Deok respectively.

“The tokens are different – what’s the reason?”

In Deok didn’t take the token and looked at Yang Yu questioningly.

“The golden token represents wealth, the blue token represents registered auction items. Both signify top grade. Since two of you came, wouldn’t it be fitting for each to take one?”

“Then what if we had come with only spirit stones and no Spirit Spring Grass?”

In Deok asked with a frown.

“You would have shared one token between the two of you.”

Yang Yu answered as if it were obvious.

At this, Kang Hyeon asked Yang Yu as if he had guessed something.

“Are there advantages to having two tokens rather than one?”

“Haha. There’s not much difference, but you get two bidding opportunities, don’t you? You can take turns bidding. Moreover, while that blue token can’t bid on the Spirit Spring Grass, the golden token can even bid on the Spirit Spring Grass you registered.”

“Hmm? Then…”

“Haha. It would be possible to bid on your own item to raise the price. Of course, you might accidentally buy your own item and only lose commission fees.”

“There must be a minimum bid for registered items?”

“Of course there is, but self-bidding isn’t entirely useless.”

“Are those all the benefits of having two auction hall entry tokens?”

“Haha. The treatment differs between token holders and companions, so not experiencing that unpleasantness could be considered an advantage…”

“So nothing significant. Still, there’s no loss in each of us having a token.”

When Yang Yu glanced around nervously as he answered, In Deok stepped forward and grabbed the blue token, sliding it into his sleeve.

Then Kang Hyeon also took the gold token and put it away.

After that.

“Right. Now what should we do? I can take care of this again, but this one…”

Kang Hyeon pulled the box containing spirit stones in front of himself and asked while pointing at the box containing the Spirit Spring Grass.

“Didn’t I say I would help you with registering the items? The token that Geum Deok already took already specifies the receipt and storage of items, as well as compensation in case of problems.”

“Hmm? There’s such a thing?”

At Yang Yu’s words, In Deok made a surprised expression and took out the token from his sleeve, projecting his consciousness to check it.

“I see. Hmm hmm. So the Liaison Trading Hall takes responsibility? They appraised the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Spring Grass as the highest grade, and even added the value of the box that stores the spirit herb? And the minimum auction price is six Superior Spirit Stones?”

In Deok, who had been reading the contents written on the token, slightly frowned and glared at Yang Yu when he reached the final minimum auction price.

“One Superior Spirit Stone equals one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. And one Mid-Grade Spirit Stone equals one hundred Low Grade Spirit Stones, so a Superior Spirit Stone equals ten thousand Low Grade Spirit Stones. Isn’t the minimum bid insufficient…”

“If we’re only going to get six Superior Spirit Stones, there’s no reason to put the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Spring Grass up for auction. Hmph!”

Yang Yu hesitantly tried to explain, but In Deok firmly cut off his words as if there was no need to listen.

“Besides, who would exchange Superior Spirit Stones for Low Grade Spirit Stones? Even if you offered one hundred thousand Low Grade Spirit Stones, no one would give up six Superior Spirit Stones.”

Kang Hyeon added to that statement.

While it was true that there was a hundred-fold difference in the amount of spiritual energy contained in the spirit stones, that didn’t mean you could obtain a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone with one hundred Low Grade Spirit Stones.

This was because Low Grade Spirit Stones and Mid-Grade Spirit Stones had different uses.

And this was no different in the case of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and Superior Spirit Stones, so obtaining Superior Spirit Stones with Low Grade Spirit Stones could be said to be nearly impossible.

Moreover, since This Place was the Human Realm, Superior Spirit Stones were even rarer here.

“It’s the minimum bid price. What meaning would a minimum price have for such a precious item like Spirit Spring Grass? Naturally, the competition will be fierce.”

“Please set the minimum bid price at twenty Superior Spirit Stones.”

Yang Yu urgently spoke again about the meaninglessness of the minimum bid price, but Kang Hyeon demanded a new minimum bid price with a firm voice.

At this, Yang Yu looked at Kang Hyeon with a surprised expression.

“You mean twenty Superior Spirit Stones?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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