“Mystic stones are divided into nine grades, though naturally there are grades above that. However, that tier is beyond what you or I could ever hope for. If you were to obtain a mystic stone of that calibre, it would mean you had transcended mortality and achieved sanctity, allowing you to look down upon an entire region,” Ye Jingyun said. “Grade one and two mystic stones are of immense use to cultivators. Nearly a single stone is enough to create a cultivator at the Innate Realm.”
Saying this, Ye Jingyun looked at the few mystic stones on the stage and continued to explain, “Once mystic stones reach grade three, they are nourished by the essence of the sun and moon. Stones of this level can help a cultivator with decent talent reach the Yuanling Realm. Naturally, mystic stones at this tier can also be used to refine pills. Furthermore, a special property of the mystic stones can be brought into play.”
“Mystic stones can seal living beings! The higher the grade of the mystic stone, the stronger the creature it can seal! A grade three mystic stone cannot seal a human, but it is sufficient to seal small beasts whose strength rivals the Vitality Realm,” Ye Jingyun said. “However, most people still use grade three mystic stones for cultivation and pill refinement.”
Ye Chu nodded and asked curiously, “What about grades above three?”
“Grade four has a similar effect, except it can seal slightly stronger creatures. The power nurtured within is also more surging. However, only upon reaching grade five does it become truly extraordinary,” Ye Jingyun said. “A grade five mystic stone can seal humans. Although the strongest it can seal is a cultivator at the Innate Realm, that is still a massive breakthrough. Most importantly, grade five mystic stones can refine many rare medicinal ingredients. For instance, your Advancement Pill definitely contains a grade five mystic stone as one of its ingredients. Grade five mystic stones are immensely useful to cultivators below the King Realm. The rich sun and moon essence nurtured within can be utilised for cultivation. If two evenly matched individuals were to fight, the cultivator possessing a grade five mystic stone would have a continuous supply of spiritual energy to support them, guaranteeing their victory. Reaching grade six means it is sufficient to nurture a King. Such stones are extremely precious, and it is incredibly difficult to stumble upon them during excavation. As for grades seven, eight, and nine, one can only obtain them by venturing into forbidden zones or ancient ruins, otherwise they are nearly impossible to acquire.”
“Mystic stones can seal cultivators? How does that work?” Ye Chu asked curiously.
“The path of cultivation is a battle against the heavens, seizing the fortune of heaven and earth. Yet even the most heaven-defying figures have limited lifespans and inevitably face death. Some, however, are unwilling to accept this, or rather, unwilling to die at that particular time. Therefore, they seal themselves. Mystic stones possess this divine effect. By sealing oneself within one, a person can be turned into stone, becoming a living corpse. They no longer sense the passage of time and survive in that state,” Ye Jingyun said to Ye Chu. “The strongest existence of my Ye family in the outside world is merely an Emperor. Yet why does no one dare to launch an assault on the Ye family? It is precisely because our elders have been sealed away. Sometimes, the quantity of mystic stones represents the profound depth of a clan’s heritage.”
Ye Chu’s understanding of the preciousness of mystic stones came from Golden Doll, but Golden Doll had not told him this much. He had only mentioned that mystic stones could be exchanged for a great deal of gold.
Ye Chu had not realised mystic stones possessed such divine effects. That the older generation could be sealed within them explained why the Ye family stood aloof from the imperial authority of the capital.
Previously, Ye Chu had not understood why the Pang family, with only a single Emperor, commanded such caution and respect from the royal house. Now, his doubts were finally resolved.
Ye Chu took out some fine mystic stones he had obtained from the Ice Emperor’s treasury. He had originally thought they were grade four, as their lustre and other qualities were superior to those on the jade tray. However, Ye Jingyun shook her head and said, “They are merely upper grade three, not yet grade four. A single grade four mystic stone is worth ten upper grade three stones.”
Hearing this, Ye Chu involuntarily took out a jade box. He had acquired this box from the Ice Emperor’s treasury as well, and it contained exactly three mystic stones.
Ye Chu opened the jade box, revealing a flowing radiance. Ye Chu employed a method to conceal the light. Ye Jingyun looked at the mystic stones inside, her eyes brightening, and finally her gaze settled on the largest one in the centre as she exclaimed, “It is actually grade five!”
Inside the jade box, the other two stones shimmered with light, but they paled in comparison to the one in the centre. Ye Jingyun could not suppress her excitement and stared at Ye Chu, saying, “You are a Sha Spirit Master. A grade five mystic stone will be of immense use to you!”
“What kind of use?” Ye Chu did not understand, though he felt quite pleased internally. A grade five mystic stone was extraordinarily valuable and could help him reach the peak of the ninth tier of the Xuanming Realm. Even if the Qingyuan Pills had diminishing effects on him, Ye Chu no longer needed to worry about cultivation resources.
“You spendthrift!” Ye Jingyun, hearing that Ye Chu actually intended to simply cultivate with the grade five mystic stone, could not help but scold him in exasperation.
“For ordinary people, a grade five mystic stone can naturally only be used for cultivation. But for you, it holds immense potential. As a Sha Spirit Master, you can use it alongside Sha energy to forge exceptionally precious pills, which is far superior to directly absorbing the energy within the stone,” Ye Jingyun scolded. “Its value would multiply several times over at least!”
Watching Ye Jingyun about to leap up and snatch the mystic stone, Ye Chu was just about to ask her how to refine pills when he heard Nuoran announce, “Excellent! Five thousand Qingyuan Pills. The honoured guest in box number one has claimed them!”
“Five thousand Qingyuan Pills?” Ye Chu’s eyes twitched. Although these few mystic stones were valuable, two or three thousand Qingyuan Pills would have been a fair price. Yet now, five thousand had been offered. Indeed, this woman possessed extraordinary methods.
The woman swayed her slender waist and cast her peach blossom eyes towards Ye Chu’s direction. She had just seen Ye Chu employ a technique to block the crowd’s view. Though she did not know what he was doing, it had caught her attention.
“The next item is a sun and moon artifact. This particular artifact is only grade one, but if a cultivator at the Xuanming Realm holds it, their strength will increase by thirty percent. It certainly qualifies as a treasure. Bidding for this sun and moon artifact starts at three thousand Qingyuan Pills. Please place your bids, everyone!”
“This next piece is a longbow. Though it is not a sun and moon artifact, the materials used in its refinement are all of premium quality and can withstand power below the King Realm. Bidding also starts at three thousand Qingyuan Pills…”
“…”
Item after item was auctioned off. Nuoran smiled sweetly, and countless men were immersed in her charming demeanour. Watching thousands upon thousands of Qingyuan Pills flow into the auction house’s coffers, Ye Chu felt like a pauper. To think he had previously considered himself wealthy…
“The next item is a sole manuscript intended for Sha Spirit Masters. Heh, I wonder if there are any Sha Spirit Masters present here. This manuscript is incomplete, but it contains the introductory method for forging pills with Sha energy. Though it is rather obscure, its value should not be underestimated. Bidding starts at five thousand Sha Spirit Pills,” Nuoran said, her red lips parting as she smiled warmly at the audience below.
Gazing at the sole manuscript above, Ye Chu’s body instantly tensed, and his eyes grew feverish.