Then, once Hee Qi’s partner returned.
The two of them set off together, heading to the secretive Formless Ghost Collection.
...
Hee Qi, well-acquainted with the route, led Chen Ye out of the Moon Rhinoceros Lake District into the outskirts beyond the Market.
The night was deep, and travelers were scarce on the official road. The two wound left and right, veering off the main path, following a deserted trail that led into a desolate, rocky hillside seldom frequented by people.
The hill was strewn with strange rocks and overgrown with weeds, with the occasional dead tree moaning in the night wind.
"This Formless Ghost Collection is truly remote..." Chen Ye clicked his tongue.
"Brother Chen, you may not know this, but among the Loose Cultivators who come to the Formless Ghost Collection, there are many Practitioners who shy away from the light. If it were conducted openly in the Market, these Practitioners wouldn’t feel at ease."
Hee Qi stopped in front of a giant rock shaped like a reclining cow, took an iron token from his pocket, and gently tapped it three times in an inconspicuous groove in the rock wall, pausing briefly before tapping twice more.
"Rumble——"
The seemingly dormant giant rock slowly moved aside, revealing a pitch-black entrance, with flickering firelight and muffled noises emanating from within.
"Brother Chen, stay close." Hee Qi whispered and then bent down to enter first.
Chen Ye donned a bronze mask and followed closely. Inside the cave was a sloping passage that descended for about a hundred steps, opening up into a vast space.
It was an enormous naturally formed cave; bizarre stalactites hung from the ceiling, and countless torches lit the stone walls, casting the cave in shifting light and shadow.
Once at the Ghost Collection, Chen Ye, with familiarity, went to find a stall to sell his goods.
Although he didn’t have many Spirit Stones, his assets were rather ample.
Like three Spirit Plants from Baiqi Garden, or the spoils from a Ten Thousand Puppet Sect disciple and Ji Yunting.
In truth, these resources are not something ordinary Loose Cultivators can easily afford.
Especially the Tier One Upper Grade Spirit Plant from Baiqi Garden...
Yet in the Formless Ghost Collection, most Practitioners were at the late-stage Qi Cultivation, with abundant wealth.
Chen Ye quickly sold all his resources, earning a total of 276 Spirit Stones.
Combined with his remaining Spirit Stones.
Now, Chen Ye had as many as 300 Spirit Stones on hand!
After selling the Spirit Plants and Magical Artifacts that he couldn’t use, Chen Ye didn’t leave immediately but instead signaled to Hee Qi to stay calm.
Hee Qi understood, knowing that Brother Chen had come today not just to sell items, but likely also to seek out some good treasures.
The two started wandering in the darker corners of the cave. These stalls were often more discreet, and the items displayed more extraordinary, though naturally, the prices were higher.
"Profound Soul Crystal, Condensing Ghost Soul... In the Puppet Refining Technique, these two Spiritual Materials can serve as lower-level substitutes for Second Tier materials, enough to barely repair the General Puppet Core."
Chen Ye looked and, without much hesitation, spent 100 Spirit Stones to buy the two Spiritual Materials.
He never expected to fully restore the General Puppet Core to its peak.
To do that, he would need to obtain Second Tier materials and find a Second Tier Artifact Refiner, which was too difficult.
It was better to buy some First Tier materials and refine them himself, making do for now.
Moreover, the General Puppet Core was still largely intact, and even using low-tier materials to repair it wouldn’t greatly diminish its power.
"Now, only lacking a furnace..." Chen Ye mused.
Unfortunately, in the Formless Ghost Collection, although there were Artifact Refining Furnaces for sale, they weren’t the kind Chen Ye wanted.
He wanted to buy a furnace suitable for both Artifact Refining and Alchemy, which would save him a considerable amount of financial resources.
"Dong—Dong—Dong—"
Suddenly, three deep and prolonged bell tolls came from the depths of the cave, instantly quieting the previously noisy Ghost Market.
All the Cultivators wearing masks simultaneously looked toward the source of the bell sound.
In the center of the cave, an impromptu stone platform had been erected at some point. On stage stood a burly man wearing a wolf-head mask, who loudly announced, "Fellow Daoists, as per routine, there will be a small-scale auction today at the Ghost Market. The highest bidder wins, we only accept Spirit Stones, no credit!"
Auction?
Chen Ye became instantly intrigued.
He had long heard of auctions by name, but this was Chen Ye’s first experience of an auction.
The burly man wasted little time, once the crowd quieted slightly, he brought out a pitch-black wooden box from behind him, carefully opening it.
A thick scent of blood and a chilling aura immediately filled the air. Inside the box lay a fist-sized skull, pitch-black and covered with eerie blood-red patterns!
"The first auction item, a skull from a First-Layer Foundation Establishment Demon Beast, the Blood Evil Demon Wolf! This wolf is an exotic variant from the Three Thousand Great Mountains; its skull is incredibly hard, making it excellent material for crafting Demon Path Magical Artifacts or setting up a Yin Evil Array. The starting price is 100 Spirit Stones, with each bid increment no less than ten Spirit Stones!"
As soon as these words were spoken, a wave of suppressed gasps echoed through the room.
The materials from the Second Tier Demon Beast, even just at the Foundation Establishment First Layer, were rare among Loose Cultivators.
"120 Spirit Stones!"
"I’ll bid 130 Spirit Stones!"
"160 Spirit Stones!"
After a brief silence, the sound of bidding began to rise, including one Cultivator wearing a gold mask, exuding a chilling aura.
Chen Ye had no interest in the item, merely observing the crowd silently.
Among the crowd, most were divided into four categories, each wearing a different level of Ghost Mask.
The lowest level was like himself and Hee Qi, Loose Cultivators wearing bronze masks, with cultivation just reaching the Late Period Qi Cultivation stage.
Then came the iron masks, worn by Loose Cultivators whose aura was much more solid and subdued.