A Mortal's Start in the Spirit Beast Mountain

Chapter 138 Fire Spirit

After all, he had only just advanced to the Core Formation stage and had just finished refining his natal magic weapon. Logically speaking, he should have been short of money, but he made two moves and acquired quite a few good items. The group's opinion of Luo Ming immediately changed.

Considering what Jin Qing said back then, that the other party had gone to the outer sea for several years, everyone speculated that hunting monsters in the outer sea was now very profitable.

Luo Ming naturally noticed the strange looks in the eyes of the others and thought to himself that he had been a bit too high-profile. So when it was his turn next, he simply took out two ordinary monster materials and exchanged them for some spirit stones.

Finally, there is Lu Yan.

He took a deep breath and took out several gleaming items: a small bronze alchemy furnace with flowing fire patterns on its body, exuding a powerful spiritual energy; several bottles of pills labeled "Fire Essence Pill" and "Spirit Fusion Powder"; and several deep red crystals of varying sizes, radiating pure fire spiritual energy.

"Most of my possessions are related to fire-based alchemy. This 'Crimson Pattern Furnace' is a decent top-tier alchemy furnace artifact, almost a prototype of a magic treasure. Fire Essence Pills can improve fire-attribute cultivation techniques, and Spirit Fusion Powder can increase the efficiency of refining fire-attribute spiritual materials. Earth Fire Crystals are also good fire-attribute materials."

Lu Yan explained, his face showing obvious urgency, "I only want to exchange for the 'Crimson Sun Fire Jade'! Size doesn't matter, and if there are other auxiliary materials that have miraculous effects on refining fire-attribute magic weapons, we can discuss that too!"

His gaze swept intently over everyone present, lingering particularly long on Luo Ming and Yuan Gang, as if he held high hopes for them.

Luo Ming's performance just now showed that the other party was not as simple as an ordinary cultivator who had just formed his core, and Yuan Gang had an extraordinary background, so perhaps he could possess this item.

Luo Ming shook his head slightly. Although his harvest from the Sea Abyss was plentiful, it was mostly water-attribute materials. He did not have any top-grade fire-attribute spirit jade like the Crimson Sun Fire Jade.

Yuan Gang also calmly shook his head.

Cao Yunfeng smiled wryly: "The item that Fellow Daoist Lu needs is too rare. I, Cao, do not possess such a spiritual object."

Liu Su also shook her head to indicate no.

In fact, many Core Formation cultivators who started as rogue cultivators have encountered situations like Lu Yan's. This is because their cultivation methods are special and require specific materials to refine magical treasures. These materials are either extremely precious or particularly obscure, making it difficult for cultivators to collect all the necessary materials for magical treasures.

Some cultivation methods are more flexible, and the natal magic weapon is not limited to fixed materials, as long as its attributes are compatible with one's own spiritual root.

Jin Qing pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "The Crimson Sun Fire Jade... This item is indeed hard to find. I remember seeing one at a large auction decades ago, but the bidding was fierce and it was eventually sold for a high price."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan's face betrayed his disappointment. He sighed, "I know this item is hard to find. I've searched far and wide for years, but I've only managed to collect a few small pieces, far from enough to refine any magic weapon. Do we really have to wait decades?"

Just then, Cao Yunfeng, who had been observing, suddenly remembered something and spoke up: "Fellow Daoist Lu, don't be discouraged. I just remembered something. Speaking of the auction... according to a friend of mine in the Fengle Trading Company, in about two and a half years, the four major merchant alliances of Tianxing City will jointly hold a large-scale auction, inviting cultivators from all directions. At that time, rare treasures from all over the world will gather, and perhaps... the Crimson Sun Fire Jade will appear."

"A joint auction by the four major merchant alliances?" Lu Yan's eyes lit up, and his breathing quickened. "Fellow Daoist Cao, is what you say true?"

Jin Qing nodded and said, "Now that Fellow Daoist Cao mentions it, I also recall something. There have indeed been rumors circulating. I wonder what the four major merchant alliances' motives are this time."

They've actually joined forces to prepare this auction; in the past, they always held their own separate events. This auction is of extremely high caliber, with a long preparation period, so there must be many good items to offer. While the Crimson Sun Fire Jade is rare, its appearance at an auction of this scale is indeed possible.

"However... the competition at such an auction is bound to be fierce. If the Crimson Sun Fire Jade really appears, its price will probably skyrocket."

Yuan Gang rarely spoke first, his voice still indifferent but with certainty: "With the four major merchant alliances joining forces, there are bound to be many good things, but those who lack the financial resources can mostly only watch from the sidelines." Although these words were direct, they were the truth.

Lu Yan's joy faded, replaced by solemnity and determination. He gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "No matter what, I must try! I must gather as many spirit stones as possible in the next two years! Thank you, Fellow Daoist Cao, for informing me of this!"

He had already decided that he would not only have to get rid of the resources he didn't need to exchange for spirit stones, but he would also probably have to use some of his most treasured collections, and even consider taking on a few risky but rewarding missions.

After the exchange, everyone enjoyed tea and conversation for a while before parting ways, thoroughly satisfied. Luo Ming and Jin Qing, among others, bowed and said goodbye, promising to stay in touch in the future.

Back in his cave, the restrictions closed again. Luo Ming sat cross-legged in the quiet room, toying with the piece of firewood he had acquired in the exchange, pondering his next steps.

"The auction two years from now... is worth attending. There might be news about Xuanming True Water and Geng Essence. I should also start preparing some spirit stones."

They summoned the Fat Sun Bird and tossed the piece of Fire Paulownia wood and the Yang Flame Grass to the other party.

The normally calm Zhiyang bird was startled when it saw the piece of firewood. Then its eyes widened and it stared intently at the other end.

"Chirp chirp!"

The Zhiyang Bird cried out in confusion twice, then opened its beak and spat out a stream of blazing white flame, which transformed into a miniature firebird in the air, looking exactly like the Zhiyang Bird.

The firebird circled the firewood tree twice, as if confirming something, and then with a flash, it pounced on the firewood tree.

An incredible scene unfolded: the firewood tree shuddered, absorbed the ball of flame, and then returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

"Is there a remnant soul inside? Or an incompletely formed fire spirit?"

Luo Ming was startled. He had just sensed that there seemed to be a living thing hidden inside the wood. The flames of the Zhiyang Bird seemed to have awakened it, and it automatically devoured the flames.

Seeing its flames being devoured, the Zhiyang Bird was enraged. Its body blazed brightly with fire, and then it gently pecked at the wood. A golden phantom shot out from its beak and disappeared into the piece of firewood in a flash.

The piece of firewood, as thick as an arm, immediately began to vibrate violently, accompanied by a faint chirping sound, as if a spirit insect was struggling frantically inside.

"Hey!"

Seeing that its supernatural powers were no match for a small insect, the Zhiyang Bird felt humiliated and let out a sharp cry. Immediately, an invisible ripple spread out, and the little creature struggling inside the firewood trembled with fear, its resistance weakening.

Taking advantage of this moment, the hook-shaped golden light shot out from the firewood and then disappeared into the mouth of the fat sun bird.