Chapter 143: Chapter 66 Rongcheng’s Fine Jade Grotto Heavens_2

“Of course, we of Mount Laojun would never pry into Teacher Shen’s unique secret methods.

Also, the ancestor who passed down the decree has been in deep sleep for many years and doesn’t meddle with worldly affairs. He didn’t even wake during the last Spirit Energy Tidal Surge, and hence might not have seen these storage magic artifacts.”

The words of Yen Xiao make Shen Yuan’s eyes flash slightly.

Regarding the matter of bringing spirit treasures out of the blessed land with a Storage Ring, Shen Yuan didn’t feel much. Mount Laojun only uses this as a means of strategic reserve.

But what was said later about the command of the ancestors of Mount Laojun, made Shen Yuan tense up.

“Collecting special storage magic artifacts? Is there any other meaning to this?”

Shen Yuan recalled his encounter with Kuang Tianjie, who had deduced Pot’s Heaven Divine Power and Shen Yuan’s identity through the multitude of storage magic artifacts Shen Yuan had brought out.

Although eons have passed and few people know about this information, Shen Yuan still couldn’t neglect it.

“Could it be that the ancestors of Mount Laojun also knew about Pot’s Heaven Divine Power and wanted to collect storage magic artifacts to trace the clues of Pot’s Heaven Divine Power?”

With a slight squint of his eyes, Shen Yuan didn’t make any attempt to withdraw the storage magic artifacts. Doing so would only arouse Yen Xiao’s suspicions.

Moreover, as Yen Xiao mentioned, the ancestor of Mount Laojun who had not awakened for thousands of years probably was nearing his lifespan.

For such a powerful figure, each awakening would only bring him closer to the end of his lifespan.

The imminent shaking of the Great Schism and waiting for the opportunity to ascend to the Upper World is the top priority. He shouldn’t touch these storage rings in the short term.

And even if he comes into contact with the storage rings, he may not necessarily spot traces of Pot’s Heaven Divine Power, unless he has previously come across it.

Thinking of this, Shen Yuan was slightly relieved, but he still remained somewhat vigilant towards Mount Laojun.

“Perhaps I should find a way to investigate the origin of Mount Laojun. Maybe I could get some related information.”

Thinking this, Shen Yuan nodded, signifying his approval of Yen Xiao’s response.

Yen Xiao appeared calm on the surface, but breathed a sigh of relief within, taking the storage rings that Shen Yuan had left on the table.

“In that case, I’ll take my leave to arrange the auction.”

Yen Xiao gave Shen Yuan a slight bow and was about to leave but Shen Yuan stopped him, saying: “Please wait a moment, Executive Yen, I have another question.”

Yen Xiao stopped in his tracks and assumed a listening posture.

With a slight frown, Shen Yuan asked: “Since the Qi of heaven and earth will be auctioned off by your sect, there should be some estimate of its value.

I would like to enquire whether the storage rings I am offering would be able to bid for the Qi of heaven and earth.”

For a moment Yen Xiao looked nonplussed, then he exclaimed: “It seems Teacher Shen does not understand the value of the storage rings he is providing.”

He picked up one of the storage rings as an example:

“This storage ring, close to the rank of magical treasure, with a space that can remain stable for hundreds of years, even at the peak of Spirit Energy Tidal Surge, would still require a full thousand or more spirit stones.

If you put it in the current early Spirit Energy Tidal Surge era with scarce resources, even under extremely low spirit stone mining yield, such a storage ring can still be sold for a high price of more than eight thousand spirit stones.

Moreover, there’s often a lack of supply. Few people are willing to exchange such treasures for spirit stones.

“These thirteen storage rings are entirely enough for Teacher Shen to monopolize all the treasures in the auction process including the Qi of Heaven and Earth, and even leave you with plenty of spirit stones.”

Even though he was prepared, Shen Yuan was still shocked by Yen Xiao’ s words.

He knew the storage rings were valuable, but he didn’t expect their price to be so high.

Thinking of his ability to create storage rings effortlessly with spiritual objects, Shen Yuan even felt that, with hard work, it would not be a dream to become the first richest man in the Cultivation World by monopolizing all the storage magic artifacts.

However, that might just be wishful thinking as the high price of the storage rings is due to the lack of resources following the recent return of the Spirit Energy Tidal Surge.

Once the number of storage rings put out by Shen Yuan becomes excessive, it would inevitably lead to a significant drop in their price.

Shen Yuan, feeling more settled, said to Yen Xiao: “Thank you, Executive Yen, for clearing that up.”

However, Yen Xiao looked hesitant, after seeming like he wanted to say something but thought better of it, he gritted his teeth and said:

“While it’s true that the price of these thirteen storage rings Teacher Shen is selling is enough to bid for the Qi of Heaven and Earth, I don’t recommend Teacher Shen doing so.”

Shen Yuan immediately looked puzzled, “Why is that?”

“This Entity of Heaven and Earth Qi is particularly special and exudes an incompatibility with the majority of cultivation methods. Teacher Shen, it would be best if you don’t hold too high expectations.

The outside world widely claims that this Qi originates from our Mount Laojun, but this is not the case. This particular Qi was put up for auction on the request of an outside power.

Although the purpose of this force is unclear, since the outside world continues to claim this Qi is from our auction, it is likely that they wish to seize this opportunity to achieve some other hidden objective. Please consider this, Teacher Shen.”

Having said this, Yen Xiao took out a Token from his bosom and handed it to Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan reached out and took the Token. This green Token had the characters ‘Rong-cheng’ written boldly on it, and it faintly shimmered with a magnificent light.

Shen Yuan suddenly recalled that there was detailed info about Mount Laojun, the foremost sect of Yun Province, on the forum.

The sect’s name, Mount Laojun, was only established after Great Xia was founded – and even then, the sect merely relocated to Mount Laojun, from whence it took its new name.

The original lineage of Mount Laojun was Rongcheng’s Fine Jade Grotto Heavens, one of the famed 36 Grotto Heavens. Its birth during the prosperous Age of Cultivation one million years ago puts it among the pinnacle lineages of even Great Xia.

“This Token originates from Rongcheng’s Fine Jade Grotto Heavens. All the spirit stones Teacher Shen has earned from selling the storage ring will be instantly transferred into this Token. The auction items will be purchased by deducting the appropriate amount of spirit stones.”

“Anyone bearing this Token can exchange spirit stones at any of the Dao temples under the Mount Laojun lineage.”

After saying this, Yen Xiao turned and left the box.

Shen Yuan did not ask what the special Qi was, nor did he further question Yen Xiao about who exactly the power was.

If Yen Xiao was willing to say, he would certainly have told Shen Yuan everything directly as a courtesy.

Now that he has only said half, he clearly intends both to form a connection with Shen Yuan, the generous Artifact Refiner, as well as to guard against the intentions and means of the outside force.

Although fence-sitters are resented by many, it’s obvious that Mount Laojun has the power to do so.

If the manipulations of this force truly involve Shen Yuan, Shen Yuan will unavoidably owe a favor to Mount Laojun.

Turning the Rongcheng’s Fine Jade Grotto Heavens Token over in his hand, Shen Yuan couldn’t help but admire, “It’s no wonder they have millennia of lineage standing behind them; their ability to take advantage of both sides is indeed impressive.”

As Yen Xiao left, Xue Mingzhi, who had been observing from the side, finally recovered from his initial shock.

“Could the price for a storage magic artifact be so high?” Xue Mingzhi asked, truly unable to believe it.

“But last time, the storage magic artifact presented by Sir to my uncle was sold for only five hundred spirit stones, even after it was auctioned in the Imperial Capital’s marketplace. Damn these deceitful merchants!”

Hearing this, Shen Yuan responded with an indifferent smile, “The storage ring gifted that time was crafted from Cold Iron Ore, the storage space inside it is relatively small, just enough to meet the threshold of being a storage magic artifact.”

“But even that price was quite low; it must be that the trader noticing you were not aware of the real usage of storage rings intentionally quoted a lower price.”

Xue Mingzhi was disappointed, but he did not dwell on it for too long.

He was a witness to Shen Yuan’s incredible abilities. He knew that a mere storage magic artifact meant nothing to Shen Yuan.

This made him feel more and more that clinging onto Shen Yuan, was the wisest choice he had made in his life.

Just at that moment, something was placed in front of Xue Mingzhi. He reached out subconsciously and took it.

A cool sensation filled his hand. Xue Mingzhi was astonished to find that what he was holding was a Rongcheng’s Fine Jade Grotto Heavens Token.

“Sir, what is this for?” asked Xue Mingzhi looking puzzled.

Shen Yuan casually joked, “I’m leaving all the bidding to you. Didn’t you say you wanted to impress your secret crush and future aunt? Well, here’s your chance.”

Xue Mingzhi’s face flushed. He hand’t confessed his feelings to anyone but Shen Yuan, not even to Wen Ya.

Using that as a joke, Shen Yuan both excited and embarrassed him.

This impressive looking token in his hand signified over a hundred thousand spirit stones – an amount the Xue Family couldn’t hope to acquire even if they drained all their resources.

“Tha… that, Sir, what should we bid for?”

Shen Yuan glanced down at the auction floor, a faint smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

“Didn’t Yen Xiao say that the spirit stones from selling the storage ring could buy everything in the entire auction?”

If that’s the case, I’ll take everything!”