The Murong family's territory was located southwest of Tian Nan Market on a flat plain. A series of splendid, magnificent halls stood in close succession, exuding luxury.
At the main gate of the Murong family estate, there were two gigantic white jade stone lions, each over ten feet tall, with "Murong Family" engraved in imposing golden characters above the entrance.
Surrounding the Murong family's territory was a more than two-feet-high wall, etched with formations that enveloped the entire estate.
The moonlight was like water, and although it was already night, the nearby market street was still bustling. The streets were busy with cultivators rushing past, and shops like the pill shop, talisman shop, and Wanbao Building were operating around the clock.
At this time, a middle-aged man with a sallow complexion, wearing gray clothes, walked past the main gate of the Murong family estate. As he passed, he casually waved his hand, and two fist-sized water balls landed in the mouths of the white jade stone lions at the gate.
The water balls broke, and the water flowed down the mouths of the stone lions. The gray-clothed man dropped another water ball at the threshold of the Murong family gate and continued along the family's wall, dropping water balls at intervals.
"Now that all the misfortune bath solution has been sprinkled around the Murong family's estate walls, and with the addition of over ten drops of Wan Yan Meng's blood, I wonder how effective this will be?"
Three hours later, Qin Wang stood ten miles away from the luxurious Murong family estate, looking expectantly.
Qin Wang waited for a while before turning to leave.
In the early hours of the morning:
Daily Intelligence Update!
Today's Intelligence:
1: Yesterday, you used a misfortune bath solution mixed with twelve drops of Wan Yan Meng's blood, sprinkling it on the walls of the Murong family estate. Intelligence indicates that the Murong family has been cursed with an ancient curse. Starting today, all members of the Murong family residing in Tian Nan Market will experience misfortune, such as choking while drinking water, failing breakthroughs during cultivation, and alchemical furnaces exploding.
2: Yesterday, you killed three Foundation Establishment cultivators, Murong Tai and others. Intelligence indicates that upon the shattering of their soul tablets, the Murong family reported to the third elder of Tian Nan Market, Murong Changtian, but learned that he was in seclusion. Thirteen Foundation Establishment elders of the Murong family are holding a council to investigate Murong Tai's death.
3: Yesterday, while sprinkling the misfortune bath solution on the Murong family estate walls, intelligence indicates that Murong Changtian was dealing with a cursed fetus in his abdomen. Due to the misfortune bath solution containing elements of an 'ancient curse,' Murong Changtian became plagued by misfortune, resulting in severe hemorrhaging and significant injury to his vitality, reducing his future chances of forming a Nascent Soul.
4: Yesterday, you sprinkled a misfortune bath solution containing an 'ancient curse' on the Murong family estate walls, obtaining intelligence that the ancient curse also has a considerable impact on the southern region's Murong family.
5: Your servant Zhang Fujian is digging a cave at Eagle's Drop. Intelligence indicates that the soul creature is fifty feet from the ancient god's left hand.
6: You went to Wanbao Building yesterday to participate in an auction. Intelligence indicates that twelve Foundation Establishment Pills will be auctioned. If you win one for Wan Yan Meng, it might significantly help in gaining her loyalty.
7: Yesterday, you went to Wanbao Building. Intelligence indicates that the rogue cultivator Wang Lin also obtained auction qualifications and plans to auction a rare herb.
8: Yesterday, you sprinkled a misfortune bath solution containing an 'ancient curse' on the Murong family estate walls. Intelligence indicates that Murong family is now cursed with misfortune. Their family territory, which once annexed the Lin family, will see the last surviving Lin family member, Lin Feng, now a Golden Core cultivator, arrive at Tian Nan Market, seeking revenge.
9: Your alter ego 'The Mysterious One' has gained fame in the southern region. Intelligence indicates that the entire southern region is curious about your true identity, with some speculating that you are a disciple of the Heavenly Secrets Sect's Heavenly Secrets Sage.
10: Yesterday, you overheard many cultivators discussing Golden Core opportunities at Tian Nan Market. Intelligence indicates that the Nanzhan tribe in the western region has Condensing Core Purple Qi emanating from Tianzhou Mountain. Absorbing and refining this Purple Qi could increase a Foundation Establishment cultivator's chance of forming a Golden Core by 30%.
"Not bad, the misfortune bath solution is effective!"
"Murong Changtian failed to eliminate the fetus and hemorrhaged? Excellent!"
Qin Wang was satisfied as he read through intelligence items 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8. This was precisely the desired effect. Murong Changtian's severe injury was a boon for him.
"Condensing Core Purple Qi from the Nanzhan tribe?"
"A 30% increase in Golden Core formation probability for Foundation Establishment cultivators?"
"Hmm... I should visit it when I have time!"
Qin Wang pondered over intelligence item 10. With his current mid-Foundation Establishment stage, it was time to consider Golden Core opportunities.
After reviewing the intelligence, Qin Wang put away the panel and began honing his cultivation skills.
The next day:
At Wanbao Building:
Qin Wang had just entered Wanbao Building.
"Senior, please follow me!"
"Please wear this mask."
The sharp-eyed, graceful female cultivator, Miao Ling, quickly approached, respectfully gesturing for Qin Wang to follow and handing him a bronze mask.
Qin Wang knew this mask was for concealing his identity at the auction, so he put it on and followed Miao Ling. They passed through the main hall of Wanbao Building and entered a doorway, leading to a two-meter-wide corridor with a red carpet. At the end of the corridor, four beautiful female cultivators in split skirts greeted them. Seeing Qin Wang, they all bowed respectfully.
"Welcome, Senior!"
"Mm."
Qin Wang nodded to the welcoming female cultivators and entered.
In front of him was a thousand-foot-wide auction hall, identical in scale to the one at Wan Ling Market's Wanbao Building. In the center of the hall was a five-meter-wide auction stage, with a long table covered in yellow cloth. Four maidservants in red stood at the four corners of the stage.
Qin Wang scanned the room, noting that three to four hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators had already gathered, with most being at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment.
"Senior, this is your seat, number 148. The auction will start shortly. If you need anything, just call me!" Miao Ling said respectfully.
"Mm."
Qin Wang nodded, and Miao Ling stood quietly behind him.
Seated at number 148, Qin Wang occasionally glanced at the surrounding cultivators.
More cultivators continued to enter the auction hall, guided by Qi Refining stage maidservants.
As time passed, the auction hall filled up with Foundation Establishment cultivators.
At this moment, a twenty-seven or twenty-eight-year-old, well-proportioned female cultivator in red flew to the center of the auction stage. Her arrival immediately drew the attention of many male cultivators.
The red-clothed female cultivator acknowledged the eager gazes with a polite bow, her voice melodious. "Thank you for your patience, fellow Daoists. I am Hong Ling, and I will be the auctioneer for today's event!"
"Without further ado, let's begin with the first auction item!"
"The first item is a Purple Thunder Divine Bomb from Tian Lei Sect. This bomb's power is enough to kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator. The starting price is 2,000 spirit stones!"
Hong Ling waved her hand, producing a foot-long sandalwood box from her storage bag. She opened the box, revealing a fist-sized, deep purple sphere.
"A Purple Thunder Divine Bomb!"
Qin Wang looked at the first auction item, deep in thought.
He knew a Purple Thunder Divine Bomb typically fetched more than 2,000 spirit stones. However, as the first auction item, it was priced lower to energize the atmosphere, a common auction tactic.
This Purple Thunder Divine Bomb, capable of killing an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, was highly attractive. It eventually sold for 7,000 spirit stones to a black-clothed cultivator.
"Next, we have an alchemy furnace!"
Hong Ling announced, and with a wave of her hand, a half-meter-tall, bright red alchemy furnace appeared on the auction stage. The furnace seemed quite heavy, causing the stage to tremble slightly upon impact.
Qin Wang glanced at the alchemy furnace but didn't bid. Currently, his spirit stone count had reached 700,000, including what he gained from killing three Foundation Establishment cultivators yesterday.
However, he intended to auction the remains of a great power, a flying boat, and a Foundation Establishment Pill, so he needed to use his spirit stones wisely.