Chapter 93: Acquiring the Flying Needle
“Top-grade spirit artifact, Shadow-Dodging Needles, a complete set of thirteen. This old man won’t go into unnecessary details—I'm sure everyone here is well-informed. The starting bid for this set of spirit artifacts is eight hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones!”
As the elder of the Fengle Auction House introduced the item, the cultivators present were all amazed.
“Flying Needle-type spirit artifacts are not only the most notoriously difficult to refine, but they also place extremely high demands on the cultivator. Without powerful spiritual sense, one simply cannot control them.”
“Eight hundred and thirty mid-grade Spirit Stones!”
“Eight hundred and seventy mid-grade Spirit Stones!”
As the voices called out one after another, Lin Changan, sitting inside a private box, couldn’t help clicking his tongue and silently marveling. However, all he could do was look on with longing.
It wasn’t that he lacked Spirit Stones, but a complete set of Flying Needle spirit artifacts wasn’t his first choice.
A single Flying Needle-type spirit artifact—he could still manage to control. But a full set? His current cultivation level clearly didn’t allow him to manipulate them as effortlessly as his own limbs.
“Though this ancient cultivation method is powerful, it hasn't done much to enhance my spiritual sense. A full set of spirit artifacts is too difficult for me to control at the moment.”
Lin Changan shook his head inwardly. This set of Flying Needles would probably only become truly useful once he broke through to late-stage Foundation Establishment.
Some cultivation techniques could strengthen one’s spiritual sense, and certain treasures could do the same, allowing one to meet the usage threshold.
“Still, the fact that a complete set of Flying Needle magic treasures could draw so many bids—just a glimpse reveals the whole picture. It shows how many powerful Foundation Establishment cultivators have come to Tianxuan City this time.”
Lin Changan furrowed his brows. After this auction, he had already decided—he would head back and focus on cultivation quietly, waiting for this wave of chaos in Tianxuan City to pass.
Right now, the outside world was still too dangerous, and his cultivation was still somewhat lacking.
“One thousand one hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones, sold!”
Once the Flying Needle magic artifact set was sold, it stirred even more gasps of astonishment.
Flying Needle-type spirit artifacts (spirit tools), or magic treasures, were also known among cultivators as 'Yin Tools'—specifically used to counter protective auras.
As one top-grade spirit artifact after another was auctioned off, the venue was in a frenzy. Countless Qi Refinement cultivators could only gaze in admiration, their eyes burning with desire, yearning for the day they too would reach Foundation Establishment.
All types of spirit tools made appearances, including offensive, defensive, and many auxiliary types. Three Flying Needle-type items had already appeared.
However, all were complete sets of spirit artifacts (spirit tools), which made Lin Changan frown.
“Single-type Flying Needle artifacts place far less demand on spiritual sense. More importantly, combined with my spell 'Blood Spirit Thorn', which is meant for fatal strikes, this type is the best fit for me.”
Just then, the single-type Flying Needle artifact Lin Changan had been eagerly waiting for finally appeared.
“Everyone, this single-type Flying Needle top-grade artifact, 'Gilded Needle', is forged using Metal Essence and other rare materials. It is even more effective at piercing protective auras. Starting bid: eight hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones!”
“Eight hundred and thirty!”
“Eight hundred and seventy mid-grade Spirit Stones!” Lin Changan’s disguised elderly voice croaked out, his gaze calm as he looked down at the auction hall.
Though the scene was still lively, due to the sheer number of top-grade spirit artifacts and the fact that many late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators were likely targeting the final Golden Core item, the atmosphere now wasn’t quite as heated as before.
Still, Flying Needle-type spirit tools designed to counter protective auras remained quite popular.
The price steadily climbed. When it reached nine hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, the bidding finally began to slow down, causing Lin Changan to let out a sigh of relief.
He hadn’t expected that even after awakening his innate talent, there would come a day when he’d be troubled over Spirit Stones.
“One thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones!”
When Lin Changan’s hoarse voice placed that bid, the many cultivators present exchanged looks and murmured among themselves, but ultimately no one else raised the price.
After all, those who had reached late-stage Foundation Establishment generally didn’t lack for top-grade spirit artifacts, and this was only the first session of the auction. Most were likely saving their resources for the final event.
As for early- and mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, most lacked the wealth. And although Flying Needle-type artifacts were powerful, they were better suited for sneak attacks.
“One thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones, sold!”
With a clear sound of the gavel striking, a smile appeared on Lin Changan’s face inside the private box. Now owning two top-grade spirit artifacts, his wealth among early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators was considered quite substantial.
“But even if more treasures appear next, I won’t have the Spirit Stones for them.”
Lin Changan shook his head. Actually, the Second-rank Alchemist legacy auctioned earlier—containing alchemy insights and several pill formulas—had piqued his interest too.
However, considering that improving his strength was the top priority, he had decided to pursue the Second-rank Alchemist legacy later once his skills had made a breakthrough.
From the secret passage behind the private box, a maid from Fengle Auction House respectfully brought the top-grade spirit artifact to him.
Lin Changan did not hesitate in the slightest. He directly tossed out a storage pouch containing one thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones, then picked up the Flying Needle-type spirit artifact and began to examine it carefully.
“What a fine treasure.”
The three-inch-long Gilded Needle was carefully observed in the palm of his hand, and a satisfied expression appeared on Lin Changan’s face.
The size of this top-grade spirit artifact was just right.
“If I leave the auction now, I’ll likely be targeted by opportunists outside. It’s better to wait until the auction ends before heading out.”
As someone experienced, he naturally understood the mindset of robbers.
Typically, after winning their desired treasure, some cultivators would leave the venue early, thinking they were being discreet, not realizing that there were professionals outside specifically lying in wait.
Their entire goal was to target people like this.
It couldn’t be said that these people lacked experience—leaving early might be fine at a small auction, but at a grand one like this, it was entirely unnecessary.
“Leaving together with everyone later—so many people, who would know who’s who.”
With a calm gaze, Lin Changan looked around the surroundings through the private box. Under the auction’s formation concealment, even his Spirit Eye could only vaguely make out shadowy figures.
“It seems that if the level of my Spirit Eye rises a bit more, the auction’s formation may become ineffective before my eyes.”
Lin Changan nodded to himself. The Palace of Blazing Fire, Pavilion of Mystic Sound, and even the great powers of Tianxuan City could see them—but with so many Foundation Establishment cultivators present…
All he had done was win a top-grade spirit artifact—not enough to attract anyone’s attention.
It wasn’t a Golden Core treasure, after all.
Now that he had obtained what he desired, Lin Changan simply treated the rest of the event as a learning experience. As treasure after treasure appeared, he found himself repeatedly amazed.
The finale treasure of the first auction session turned out to be an exceptional material for refining magic treasures, causing a stir among the attendees. In the end, it was taken by the Palace of Blazing Fire.
“This is the Pharmacopoeia of a Hundred Herbs.”
At the end of the auction, as the host, Fengle Auction House gifted every Foundation Establishment cultivator who had spent over one thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones a jade slip.
This jade slip recorded the customs and flora from Master Lu of the Blackwater Turtle’s travels across various nations.
In particular, it detailed the abundant yield of the Sea Abyss of Beasts.
“I nearly forgot—this Master Lu is a genuine high-grade Third-rank Alchemist.”
Looking at the Pharmacopoeia of a Hundred Herbs in his hand, Lin Changan smiled as though he had just obtained a precious treasure.
After all, as an alchemist relying on natural talent, his foundations were quite weak. With this Pharmacopoeia of a Hundred Herbs, he could now establish a solid base.
“This top-grade spirit artifact was worth every Spirit Stone.”
Lin Changan beamed with joy. He had spent exactly one thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones.
However, he also understood that the content recorded in this Pharmacopoeia of a Hundred Herbs was likely only the surface-level information. The truly rare parts definitely wouldn’t be given away so easily.
“A Third-rank Alchemist, late Third-rank spirit beast, and a personal cultivation at mid-stage Golden Core.”
Thinking through all of this, Lin Changan felt both admiration and a hint of regret. It was a pity that this Master Lu had already passed five hundred years of age—his remaining lifespan was likely less than a hundred years.
At the same time, Lin Changan also felt some relief. Even though Master Lu was on the decline, he could still provide protection for Tianxuan City for nearly another century.
“Hopefully, Master Lu’s remaining time is enough for me to cultivate to late-stage Foundation Establishment.”
Lin Changan nodded inwardly. He wasn’t asking for much. As long as this pillar of Tianxuan City could hold until he was ready for Golden Core, that would be enough.