Chapter 61: The Graceful and Handsome Top Scholar

"The Water and Fire Spirit Pearls?!"

Jiang Sheng looked at Lin Fan with some surprise.

The path of cultivation consists of numerous hurdles. Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, and Deity Transformation are all critical barriers that determine a cultivator's foundation, divine abilities, and destiny.

A cultivator who achieves Foundation Establishment through the Heavenly Dao will naturally travel much further than those who rely on the Earthly Dao or Mortal Dao.

A supreme-grade Golden Dragon Pill's divine abilities are far beyond what middle-grade or lower-grade Golden Elixirs can imagine, allowing one to step into the Nascent Soul stage naturally.

As for the hurdles during Deity Transformation, they further determine whether one can step into the upper three realms.

Having achieved a Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment through celestial auras and malevolent qi, Jiang Sheng naturally aimed for a supreme-grade Golden Elixir.

Once his essence, breath, and spirit were polished to a flawless state, he needed to consider the great elixirs for core formation.

The Five Elements Spirit Pearls, mica spirit sand, and other core-forming grand elixirs were of paramount importance.

Only cultivators with utterly no hope would use ordinary core-forming pills to forcefully condense a lower-grade Golden Elixir.

Anyone with ambitions for a supreme-grade Golden Elixir would generally collect the grand elixirs by themselves, rarely relying on family or sect forces.

The purpose was to temper their Dao heart while wandering the four directions, seeking that ethereal and elusive flash of spiritual insight.

Now that Lin Fan claimed to have news of the Water and Fire Spirit Pearls, Jiang Sheng was naturally moved.

"Spiritual treasures like the Water and Fire Spirit Pearls cannot be artificially manufactured; they can only be born naturally from heaven and earth. Could it be that you have discovered a natural secret realm spirit pool where water and fire merge?" Jiang Sheng asked tentatively.

Lin Fan smiled proudly, "Indeed! I have already verified that within the borders of the Chu State, there is a water and fire secret realm yet to be discovered. Within it, there must be naturally occurring Water and Fire Spirit Pearls!"

Jiang Sheng pondered this. If it were an undiscovered, nurturing water and fire secret realm, it would naturally contain innate Water and Fire Spirit Pearls, and their grade would certainly not be low.

Even if the quantity was scarce, it would be more than enough for the two of them.

At this thought, Jiang Sheng nodded, feigning helplessness, "It seems I have no choice but to accompany you, Lin Xuan, on this trip."

Lin Fan laughed, "Brother Yuanchen, just honestly come along with me."

After calling Tian Mingan over to give him some instructions, leaving behind some unneeded elixirs, and urging him to cultivate diligently, Jiang Sheng set off on the road to the Wei State with Lin Fan.

The Wei State lay to the west of the Qi State, and the Chu State was situated to the southwest of the Wei State. To reach the Chu State, passing through the Wei State was mandatory.

Emerging from Qingping Mountain, Jiang Sheng and Lin Fan swept through the air.

Although they could not yet ride the clouds and mists with the carefree ease of Golden Elixir cultivators, riding low across the clouds was barely manageable.

Lin Fan looked up and down at Jiang Sheng's attire and shook his head, "For the two of us to travel out like this in Daoist robes simply won't do. We must change our appearance."

Jiang Sheng thought for a moment and smiled, "In that case, I shall change."

With a flick of his sleeves, the cyan Daoist robe on Jiang Sheng transformed into flowing cloud brocades.

A white brocade robe adorned with a precious jade crown, a floral jade belt matching a sachet,
stepping in cloud-patterned brocade shoes—he looked every bit the dashing, refined top scholar of the imperial court.

With this attire, coupled with his otherworldly and refined temperament, Jiang Sheng truly resembled an immortal scholar of the mortal court.

Lin Fan laughed, "Now this is more like it, this is more like it."

At this moment, Lin Fan had also changed his attire.

He wore a dark brocade robe patterned with surging waves, a feathered golden crown on his head, a blue jade lion belt around his waist, and hanging cloud-jade ornaments.

Steadfast and handsome, he possessed a truly spirited and extraordinary demeanor.

The two looked at each other and laughed heartily as they flew toward the Wei State.

In the spring of the 39,835th year of the Mountain and River Calendar.

***

The Wei State.

Bordering the vast Dayun Lake, the Wei State boasted fertile land and vast plains, making it a prosperous and powerful nation. It governed eight prefectures and seventy-five counties, housing hundreds of millions of people and numerous cultivators.

It was currently spring, and the marketplace in Qingyang County, Wei State, was exceptionally lively.

Located in the eastern part of Wei State, Qingyang County occupied a prime location connecting three prefectures, drawing numerous cultivators to its marketplace every year.

The marketplace held several auctions annually to attract sect cultivators, clan disciples, rogue cultivators, and bandits from various prefectures, reaping a massive fortune.

At this moment, the marketplace in Qingyang County was bustling with the sounds of morning trade and vibrant crowds. Brothels and wine shops hummed with a chaotic, lively din.

Amidst this clamorous marketplace, aristocratic scions accompanied by attendants walked with their heads held high.

Young ladies from noble families and female cultivators from various sects wore veils, following maids and servants as they curiously browsed and gazed around.

Suddenly, a group of noble ladies looked in a certain direction and let out gasps of surprise, drawing many sideways glances.

Two dashing and extraordinarily handsome young gentlemen had arrived gracefully.

One of them wore white, and the other wore black.

One had a face like a crown of jade, refined and handsome; the other was spirited, striking, and exceptionally dashing.

It had been unknown how long since Qingyang County had last seen such immortal-like figures.

The local aristocratic scions were instantly overshadowed; no matter how high they held their heads, they looked like plucked chickens, utterly eclipsed.

Meanwhile, the noble ladies and female cultivators beamed with radiant expressions—simply catching a glimpse of such gentlemen was a supreme delight.

"Is our attire too flashy for coming here?" Jiang Sheng asked via voice transmission.

Lin Fan smiled, walking at ease with natural unconstraint, "At our age, shouldn't we be flashy?"

"Brother Yuanchen, you are simply too solemn. Instead of waiting until our youth has passed, when we become Golden Elixirs or Nascent Souls, shouldn't we enjoy being flashy now?"

Jiang Sheng thought for a moment and chuckled involuntarily, "That is true as well."

The reason Lin Fan brought Jiang Sheng to Qingyang County was because Lin Fan had an appointment with someone.

That natural water and fire secret realm was not actually discovered by Lin Fan himself; he had been informed by someone else.

After receiving the tip, Lin Fan had even made a special trip to the Chu State to verify it.

Only after confirming its authenticity did he bring Jiang Sheng along.

"Where is this fellow Daoist of yours waiting for us?" Jiang Sheng surveyed his surroundings.

He brushed past the noble ladies and female cultivators without a second glance, and even the hostile aristocratic scions failed to catch his eye.

Jiang Sheng only cared about those who could pose a threat to him.

Within the marketplace of Qingyang County, there were quite a few Purple Mansion cultivators, but very few possessed genuine strength.

After confirming that his and Lin Fan's cultivation and strength were sufficient to handle any trouble, Jiang Sheng inwardly settled his mind.

Lin Fan glanced over, then smiled, "Brother Yuanchen, do you see that auction house? That fellow Daoist is waiting for us inside."

Confirming the location, Jiang Sheng and Lin Fan stepped into the auction house.

The auction house attendants were naturally sharp-eyed and promptly invited the two dignified and formidable seniors up to the third floor.

The auction house had four floors in total. The ground floor hall was mostly filled with Qi Condensation cultivators and ordinary rogue cultivators.

The second floor was mainly for aristocratic scions and sect disciples.

Only cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage and above were permitted to step onto the third floor.

While the second floor consisted of individual partitioned cubicles, the third floor featured spacious, independent private rooms.

Lin Fan led Jiang Sheng to knock on the door of private room number twenty-three in the Jia section, after which a clear female voice responded, "Please enter."

***

"Fairy, you've kept us waiting."

Lin Fan smiled as he began introductions, "Brother Yuanchen, this is Fairy Muchan. The water and fire secret realm was discovered by Fairy Muchan."

"Fairy Muchan, this is my closest friend, Jiang Yuanchen."

Fairy Muchan wore a cyan gauze dress. Though she looked young, she carried herself with composure and grace, clearly the result of rigorous upbringing from a prestigious aristocratic family.

"Greetings, Fairy Muchan."

"Greetings, Young Master Jiang."

After the three exchanged pleasantries, Muchan spoke, "This Qingyang Auction House holds seven consecutive auctions every spring."

"Elixirs, cultivation techniques, and magical artifacts that are usually hard to find will appear here. Even Foundation Establishment Pills and Purple Cloud Barrier-Breaking Pills might show up."

With that, Muchan gave a light laugh, "Of course, these items are quite ordinary to Young Master Lin and Young Master Jiang; they aren't worth much mention."

"However, the auction frequently features maps pointing to certain ancient dwellings or secret realms, and occasionally fragments of profound cultivation techniques. I imagine the two of you would be more interested in those."

Lin Fan laughed heartily, "If Fairy Muchan fancies them, why not procure one or two to play with?"

Muchan shook her head, "The water and fire secret realm is far more important. That realm will manifest in at most two years. Trying to enter it then will be extremely difficult."

Lin Fan was full of confidence, "Please rest assured, Fairy, with Brother Yuanchen's assistance, the three of us will be more than enough to breach that secret realm."

Muchan glanced at Jiang Sheng, who stood silently and steadily beside them, feeling somewhat surprised.

She was familiar with Lin Fan, knowing him to be formidable in magic power, exceptional in methods, and warm yet measured in his interactions.

Although she had not yet fully probed Lin Fan's background, Muchan knew he was trustworthy—at least far more trustworthy than the people in her own clan.

Furthermore, Muchan knew that this dashing young master Lin was also of a proud nature, and ordinary people simply did not catch his eye.

Looking across the eight prefectures and seventy-five counties of the Wei State, there were very few Purple Mansion prodigies whom Lin Fan held in regard.

Whether from sects or noble clans, they all seemed much the same in Lin Fan's eyes.

Naturally, Lin Fan possessed genuine skill; he had slain a half-step Golden Elixir Flood Dragon and killed a false-core evil cultivator. Such strength naturally warranted his pride.

Yet now, Lin Fan held this Jiang gentleman in such high regard. Muchan could not help but feel curious: what kind of background did this Jiang gentleman possess to be worthy of being called Lin Fan's closest friend?

Both Lin Fan and Jiang Sheng possessed extraordinary demeanors, acted with natural unconstraint, and were blessed with supreme appearances. Where on earth did such figures emerge from?

Muchan harbored a vague guess in her heart, but she did not voice it.

Since neither Lin Fan nor Jiang Sheng wished to bring it up, she would not pierce the veil.

The auction proceeded with great fervor, with rogue cultivators fighting tooth and nail over a bottle of elixirs or a magical artifact.

Aristocratic scions and sect disciples competed for rare spiritual herbs, treasures, and even cultivation technique fragments.

Jiang Sheng paid no mind to any of this; in truth, if permitted, he would have preferred to head straight for the Chu State.

However, Lin Fan clearly cared deeply about the auction. Seeing Jiang Sheng's incomprehension, he lowered his voice to explain, "It is rumored that news regarding Earthly Core Fluid will appear at this auction."

Jiang Sheng frowned slightly, "News of such a rare treasure as Earthly Core Fluid would appear in a place like this?"

Lin Fan explained, "I previously heard that news of Earthly Core Fluid existed within an undiscovered Golden Elixir ancient dwelling."

"It is said that the scroll recording the location of that Golden Elixir dwelling was seized and torn apart during a struggle among bandits."

Suddenly, the auction host shouted loudly, "The next item is a fragmented treasure scroll! This scroll is rumored to be connected to a True Person's ancient dwelling!"

Lin Fan's eyes lit up, and he smiled, "Look, here it comes!"