C14 An Auction

Han Fei browsed the selection methodically.

"The Green Dragon Sword, a high-grade Profound weapon, cuts through hair as if it were mud—immensely powerful."

"The Ancient Mountain Blade, with its significant force and formidable power."

"Grand King Yue's Scepter, the epitome of strength, can only be wielded by those with great power." As Han Fei surveyed the array of weapons, none caught his eye. Time was swiftly running out, and although he had examined the entire collection of Profound weapons, he had yet to find one that suited him.

Just as Han Fei was about to settle for a random choice, he sensed an odd power emanating from a pile of discarded weapons. It was peculiar; that area was supposed to be devoid of any weapons with Spiritual Qi, so what could be the source of this strange energy?

Approaching, he found a rust-covered sword tip. It hardly resembled the form of an unparalleled divine weapon, yet something within Han Fei insisted that this weapon was far from ordinary.

Choosing only this piece would be unusual, so he decided to select another. After some thought, Han Fei picked up "Grand King Yue's Scepter" from the weapons he had previously considered. At present, it seemed the most suitable for executing the Shadowstrike technique.

Upon exiting the room, Han Fei presented the Grand King Yue's Scepter and the sword tip to the elderly man in green robes and inquired, "What are the values of these two weapons?"

The old man glanced at them and responded, "The Grand King Yue's Scepter is valued at three million gold coins. As for this," he gestured toward the sword tip, "if you fancy it, it's yours to take." To the old man, the sword tip held no value; giving it away was simply a kind gesture.

"Very well, I appreciate it," Han Fei replied. He then gathered his weapons and the Pulse Essence Powder and departed from the Blue Serve Auction House.

Watching Han Fei's retreating figure, the old man in green turned to the middle-aged man beside him and remarked, "In my opinion, this individual is likely a practitioner at the Vital Spirit Stage. Securing his allegiance could prove advantageous to you."

"Keep an eye on him and inform me the next time he visits."

The middle-aged man exuded an air of affluence, yet his aura of cultivation betrayed his true capabilities—a cultivator at the Vital Spirit Stage.

Upon returning home, Han Fei's initial focus was to restore his energy. At the outset of cultivation, it's crucial to get into the right mindset. Without it, the entire process could prove fruitless.

As evening fell, Han Fei hauled a large bucket into his room and filled it with steaming water. He then added a pound of Pulse Essence Powder. The moment the powder touched the water, it began to roil and bubble as if concealing a ferocious beast.

Staring at the now blood-red water, Han Fei was acutely aware of the excruciating pain that awaited him. However, determined to achieve a sense of triumph, he steeled himself for what was to come.

Stripping down, he cautiously stepped into the bucket. Each inch of skin submerged sent waves of agonizing pain through him, akin to being sliced with a blade.

Without faltering, Han Fei continued to immerse himself in the scalding water, his face slick with sweat and contorted with pain.

Once fully seated in the bucket, the pain intensified exponentially. His skin flushed a deep red, as if he had been boiled. Prostrate on the bucket's rim, Han Fei dared not move; the slightest shift brought excruciating torment.

In this state, he had to persevere with his Qi circulation, guiding it through the six established Qi Paths—a task made all the more challenging by his suffering.

It took a full two hours before Han Fei began to regain his strength. He exhaled deeply and commenced the slow process of Qi circulation.

This practice made his body itch intolerably, as though swarmed by unseen insects. And yet, he couldn't scratch; his skin was too damaged. A single scratch could cause it to rupture, allowing the medicine to seep into his flesh and transform into a lethal toxin.

The ordeal was beyond comprehension, a torment few could withstand. This was precisely why the Pulse Essence Powder was seldom used; the pain was simply too much for most to bear.

Han Fei painstakingly directed his Qi into his Qi Paths, watching them grow increasingly robust. Amidst the pain, he reassured himself, 'This suffering is worth it.'

Han Fei awoke the following day, utterly exhausted from the previous day's exertions. The medicine's effects had worn off, leaving him without the strength to even make it back to his bed, so he had fallen asleep right in the barrel. Now, looking at the still water, it was hard to imagine the immense pain he had endured the night before.

After drying off and changing into fresh clothes, Han Fei took a moment to appreciate the sensation of his expanded meridians. With a slight exertion of force, he executed the third technique of the Shadowstrike, and a massive boulder in the mountains crumbled to dust.

"Not bad," Han Fei acknowledged with a nod. Despite the intense pain he had gone through, the significant improvement in his abilities made it all seem worthwhile. He was convinced that no amount of suffering was too great for such gains.