darknovel Chapter 20 Searching for the Teleportation Array
Chapter 20 Searching for the Teleportation Array
"Fellow Daoists, I am the Enforcement Elder of Jade Pavilion. Today, I will be presiding over the auction and will first establish three rules."
The old man's voice wasn't loud, but it carried the divine pressure of a Core Formation cultivator, each word clearly reaching everyone's ears: "Firstly, the auction must be fair and impartial; the highest bidder wins. Malicious bidding and disrupting the order are strictly prohibited. Violators will be expelled from the venue and never allowed to set foot in the Jade Pavilion again."
"Secondly, if there are any doubts after the auction is completed, you can check them on the spot. Once you leave the room, we will not be responsible for anything. It is forbidden to cause trouble in private. Otherwise, I will personally take action to suppress it."
"Thirdly, the use of spiritual power for fighting is prohibited within the venue. Anyone who dares to use force here will be dealt with according to the rules of the market and will be executed without exception."
The three rules were concise and carried an unquestionable authority, causing all the cultivators present to shudder, and no one dared to raise any objections.
After the old man finished speaking, he glanced around the room again. Seeing that no one was making a fuss, he nodded slightly and walked to a rosewood armchair that had been prepared on the left side of the platform and sat down.
He closed his eyes to rest, his aura subdued, yet he resembled a divine beast guarding the place, making the atmosphere in the entire hall even more solemn.
Then, a series of clear, tinkling sounds rang out.
An elderly man in a purple-red robe, with a shrewd face, walked onto the high platform with a smile, holding a gavel. He was the host of this auction.
Behind him followed twelve maids dressed in uniform light pink dresses, each with a slender figure and light steps. They each carried a tray covered with dark gold brocade, on which were placed storage bags, attracting the attention of the cultivators below.
The maids stood in neat rows on both sides of the high platform, their movements synchronized as they gently placed the trays on the jade table in front of them, then stood respectfully with their hands at their sides.
The host walked to the center of the platform, cupped his hands in greeting, and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoists, today's Jade Pavilion Auction is a rare and precious event. Without further ado, let's begin the auction for the first item!"
He raised his hand to signal the first maid on his left. The maid stepped forward, gently lifted the storage bag on the tray, and took out the auction items inside.
The host announced loudly, "The first item up for auction is the top-tier magical artifact, the 'Black Pattern Shield'!"
"This shield was forged with a small amount of iron essence, making it a rare gem among top-tier magic weapons. It can withstand a full-force attack from a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Starting bid is 700 low-grade spirit stones, with each bid increment no less than 50!"
As soon as the words were spoken, someone in the hall raised their paddle, instantly breaking the silence and officially starting the auction.
"Seven hundred and fifty!" "Eight hundred!" The price climbed all the way up, and was finally won by a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a dark complexion for nine hundred low-grade spirit stones.
Su Mixin held the spiritual tea, her expression calm, but she was somewhat surprised. Although the auction was not large in scale, there were quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators participating, and the quality of the auction items was also quite good. She was very satisfied with the scale of the auction.
The prosperity of the markets under the rule of the Hidden Moon Sect is indeed a notch above that of the Yellow Maple Valley and the Heavenly Star Sect.
The next few items to be auctioned were all top-tier magical artifacts.
A "Wind Shadow Sword" with a blade as thin as a cicada's wing, capable of concealing one's form when wielded, was acquired by a cultivator in blue robes for eight hundred spirit stones.
A "Spirit Gathering Pendant" can accelerate the gathering of surrounding spiritual energy and aid in cultivation. The final transaction price was 750 spirit stones.
……
Su Mixin occasionally glanced up, her fingertips lightly tapping the table, patiently waiting for her desired flying boat.
"This next item is a rare elixir for enhancing Foundation Establishment cultivation: three bottles of 'Qi-Forging Harmony Pills,' ten pills per bottle, offered as a package for auction!"
The old man's voice suddenly rose, and a maid brought over three jade bottles.
"This pill is made from century-old spiritual herbs and various other spiritual materials. It can stabilize Foundation Establishment cultivation and help cultivators break through bottlenecks. The starting bid is 500 low-grade spirit stones, and each bid must be at least 100!"
"Six hundred!" "Eight hundred!" "One thousand!" The competition for pills was far more intense than for magic weapons. Several late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators had burning eyes and raised their bids without hesitation. In the end, the three bottles of pills were sold for a high price of one thousand three hundred low-grade spirit stones.
Su Mixin nodded slightly. Although the price was high, it was worth it. Pills that could improve cultivation had always been in a state of high price but no market.
The appearance of the seven- or eight-hundred-year-old spiritual herbs that followed caused an even greater sensation—a "Purple Cloud Grass" with pale purple leaves and spiritual energy flowing like rosy clouds in its veins, which is the core spiritual material for refining high-level pills.
The starting bid was 800 spirit stones, but it was eventually won by a middle-aged cultivator with a gloomy face for 1,100 low-grade spirit stones.
Following that, several cultivation techniques and spiritual materials were auctioned off. The cultivation techniques were mostly mid-to-high-level methods suitable for the Foundation Establishment stage, while the spiritual materials included millennium-old cold iron and deep-sea pearls. The transaction prices were all between several hundred and one thousand spirit stones.
Su Mixin remained aloof throughout, until the auctioneer's voice became impassioned again: "Fellow Daoists, the next item is one of the highlights of this auction—a top-tier rare magical artifact flying boat, the Yellow Crystal Boat!"
As a maidservant carried a half-foot-long crystal-yellow flying boat model onto the platform, the entire auction hall fell silent for a moment, before erupting into even more heated discussions.
"This boat is crafted primarily from topaz crystal, supplemented with various spirit woods. Not only is its defense formidable, but its flight speed is also unparalleled among its peers, making it a true treasure!"
The old man, pleased with the crowd's reaction, announced loudly, "This Yellow Crystal Boat magic artifact can accommodate five people. It contains multiple layers of magic arrays, which can be activated with spirit stones or controlled by cultivators' spiritual power. It flies smoothly and silently, and can even activate the magic arrays for a short time to accelerate, making it easy to evade pursuit! The starting bid is 1,500 low-grade spirit stones, with each bid increasing by at least 100!"
"One thousand six hundred!" Someone immediately raised their paddle; it was the middle-aged cultivator who had just bid on the Purple Cloud Grass.
"Seventeen hundred!" Another Foundation Establishment cultivator, dressed in fine clothes, was not to be outdone, clearly determined to get his hands on the flying boat.
The price soared and quickly broke through 1,900 low-grade spirit stones. The bidding in the hall gradually subsided, leaving only two people still locked in a stalemate.
"One thousand nine hundred and fifty!" The middle-aged cultivator shouted through gritted teeth, his face flushed, his eyes fixed on the direction of the VIP room, seemingly wary of the powerful figure hidden there.
Just then, a calm voice came from the VIP room where Su Mixin was: "Two thousand low-grade spirit stones."
The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly carried throughout the entire auction hall, instantly silencing all other discussions.
Everyone present was startled and looked towards the VIP room where Su Mixin was, wondering who this generous Foundation Establishment cultivator was.
The middle-aged cultivator's face turned pale and then red. After hesitating for a moment, he finally couldn't bear to add any more spirit stones and angrily put down his token.
The auctioneer's eyes lit up, and he called out three times in quick succession: "Two thousand low-grade spirit stones once! Two thousand low-grade spirit stones twice! Two thousand low-grade spirit stones three times! Sold!"
With the gavel falling, Huang Jingzhou's fate was sealed.
The old man announced with a beaming smile, "Congratulations to the fellow Daoist in the VIP room for successfully bidding on the Yellow Crystal Boat! After the auction, you can present your wooden token in the backyard to settle the spirit stones and collect your item!"
Su Mixin put down her teacup, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Two thousand low-grade spirit stones were nothing to him. Acquiring this yellow crystal boat, which combined speed and quality, perfectly met his needs for traveling, and he no longer had to compromise himself by using the disc-shaped magic artifact.
He had no interest in the remaining items; he only needed to wait for the auction to end so he could take his newly acquired flying boat and set off to find the teleportation array.
As a result, Su Mixin did not leave immediately after the auction, because the newly acquired magic weapon still needed to be refined. He had no choice but to stay at the inn for two more days.
Several days later, they arrived at the border state of Yue Kingdom. This state was the birthplace of Han Laomo, and the famous Seven Mysteries Sect was also located here.
Jingzhou is located in the northwest of Yue Kingdom, far from Jingu Plain in the east of Yue Kingdom. There is a spirit stone mine in the state that is jointly managed by multiple factions of Yue Kingdom. It is located in a desolate valley, which is exactly as described in the original work.
Su Mixin had been wandering around the canyon and even the surrounding wasteland for more than a day. Feng Hou had been monitoring the liveness map, but had not found any trace of the Blood Jade Spider.
"It seems this is indeed not the place." After carefully examining and confirming the location several times, Su Mixin turned her gaze to another target.
Another spirit stone mine that may contain a teleportation array is located in the southwest of Jianzhou in the Yue Kingdom.
Three days later, Su Mixin arrived in the vicinity of this place.
This is also a wasteland, and the spirit stone mine is still located in a canyon, jointly owned by the seven factions of the Yue Kingdom.
Because this place is closest to the location of the Spirit Beast Mountain sect, it is usually managed by Foundation Establishment cultivators dispatched by Spirit Stone Mountain and Hidden Moon Sect.
Su Mixin was standing on a low hillside in the wasteland, gazing at the canyon several miles away.
Below the canyon, a bluish-green light emanated and flowed continuously, clearly a protective formation that had been activated for many years, enveloping the entire mine.
This spirit stone mine has been mined for many years, and the rich ore has long been exhausted, with many mine tunnels abandoned and collapsed.
However, the remaining branches and scattered mineral veins still have considerable value, so the protective formation has never stopped for a moment, strictly resisting all kinds of villains.
"After the wind, open the Marauder's Map and begin the maximum area scan."
"Yes, Master!" Feng Hou's voice was crisp and clear.
Just a few breaths later, that excited voice, carrying a hint of precision, rang out again: "Master, target detected, level four Blood Jade Spider."
Su Mixin's lips unconsciously curled up. Her days of running around had finally come to an end. "I've finally come to the right place."
Along with the joy, a problem arose: how to infiltrate the mine.
Su Mixin took out the Marauder's Map and examined it carefully with Feng Hou.
Two bright spots on the map clearly indicate that two Foundation Establishment cultivators are currently stationed inside the mine.
"A direct assault would be unwise and not a good strategy." Su Mixin immediately rejected the possibility of a direct assault, as the idea was unrealistic.
With two Foundation Establishment cultivators defending the formation and dozens of Qi Refining cultivators assisting, it was impossible for Su Mixin to break through in a short time.
When the nearest Spirit Beast Mountain receives the message and sends reinforcements, I'll be in big trouble. Given the importance of the spirit stone mine, they might even send Core Formation cultivators directly.
Even if I manage to win quickly, the group of Qi Refining cultivators here will scatter and flee, and I won't be able to stop them. If the news leaks out, I'll be in big trouble, and there's even a risk of exposing the teleportation array.
Su Mixin gazed at the spiritual light of the array and restrictions flowing at the valley entrance, her fingertips lightly tapping her palm, her gaze growing increasingly focused.
After careful consideration and weighing the options, the only way to proceed safely is through strategic thinking.
Su Mixin chose a secluded earthen slope and set up a simple concealment formation to lie in ambush.
The live map had been monitoring the Spirit Stone Mine's movements, and finally, on the morning of the seventh day, as dawn broke and the morning mist had not yet dissipated, they spotted a team heading out.
The leader was a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, wielding a bronze flying blade, followed by six mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators.
Three people were riding on a round magical artifact, and three others were riding on a short-handled flying shuttle. All of them had multiple storage bags on their waists, as if they were going to the nearby market to make purchases. They were riding on the morning mist and flying slowly over the wasteland.
Seeing this, Su Mixin quietly unleashed the innate divine power attached to her spiritual body.
The shimmering white mist rose silently into the air, taking advantage of the natural morning fog and the air currents of the wilderness, trailing far behind the column like a ghost.
He didn't rush to make a move, but instead followed the team flying over the wasteland for more than half an hour, watching them gradually move away from the protective area of the spirit stone mine. All around was a vast wasteland, without a single person in sight, and even low-level demonic beasts rarely appeared. It was the perfect time to make a move.
With a thought, Su Mi's illusionary mist suddenly accelerated, instantly blocking the front of the group by dozens of feet, and solidified into a figure standing with his hands behind his back.
The pressure from the Foundation Establishment stage cultivator slowly dissipated, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable penetrating power: "This path is blocked. Leave your storage bags behind, and I may spare your lives."
The cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining had barely seen the figure in front of him when he was struck by the invisible pressure that made his heart tremble and his face turn deathly pale.
Foundation Building Stage!
The six Qi Refining cultivators behind him were trembling with fear, their hands controlling the flying artifacts shaking. They dared not have the slightest thought of resistance and hurriedly retreated, some even abandoning their artifacts and kneeling to beg for mercy.
"Foundation Establishment... Foundation Establishment senior! Spare me!"
The late-stage Qi Refining cultivator's voice trembled, yet he instinctively invoked his sect's background in an attempt to protect himself, "We are garrison cultivators from the seven sects of Yue Kingdom, ordered to guard the mine. If you harm us, senior, the seven sects will certainly not let this go!"
Although the lower-level cultivators knew how terrifying the Foundation Establishment stage was, they still subconsciously felt that the sect's name could have a deterrent effect, so they shouted it out with a sense of wishful thinking.
Su Mixin's lips curled into a cold smile: The Seven Sects? In his eyes, they were nothing but chickens and dogs.
Too lazy to waste words, he flicked his fingertips, and a replica of the Miro Illusion Mirror flew out.
As the mirror light shifted, a soft yet eerie beam of light enveloped the seven people, aiming to quickly take control of the situation.
The cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining was already in a state of mental chaos. Once entangled in the illusion, the scene of countless poisonous insects devouring his body instantly appeared before his eyes, and the bronze flying blade went out of control.
The six Qi Refining cultivators were utterly powerless to resist, either standing motionless or collapsing on the flying magical artifact, completely lacking the strength to escape.
Taking advantage of the illusion's effect, the Nine Mystic Sword Shuttle shot out swiftly. Initially a condensed flying shuttle, it instantly dispersed into nine flying swords, which attacked the seven people like stars.
The late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, relying on his survival instinct, summoned a cracked wooden shield, only to have it instantly shattered by the first flying sword. When the second flying sword came straight at him, he didn't even have the courage to dodge. A deep, bone-revealing wound was slashed open on his left shoulder, and blood splattered everywhere.
The fourth and fifth flying swords blocked all escape routes, while the remaining four flying swords accurately struck the foreheads of the four dazed cultivators, instantly killing them with sword energy, and their bodies fell into the wasteland below.
The remaining two Qi Refining cultivators had their dantian pierced by the swirling flying sword, causing their spiritual energy to dissipate.
Under the triple attack of pressure, illusion, and sword net, the late-stage Qi Refining cultivator couldn't even last three breaths. His limbs were pierced by flying swords, and he collapsed onto the bronze flying blade, barely breathing, with only despair and fear in his eyes.
A flash of sword light, and it slashed towards the neck, severing his last vestige of life.
The nine flying swords circled once, then condensed back into the flying shuttle and entered the storage bag. The mirror light dissipated, and Su Mixin also put away the replica magic artifact made from the Mi Luo Illusion Mirror.
"Heh, my combat skills have been honed to the point where they've become somewhat artistic. These nine flying swords intertwine like a painting, a feast for the eyes." Su Mixin was very satisfied with the combat experience she had gained from hunting demons for more than two years.
While cleaning up the scene, he confiscated the flying artifacts and storage bags of the seven people, and found the guard tokens that could be sensed by the magic array.
Su Mixin steered the Yellow Crystal Boat into the air, changed direction, and flew towards the valley mouth where the spirit stone mine was located.