Chapter 390: Fifth Layer of the Venerable Realm, Zixia Mountain Range

Zhou Chen landed at the city gate, withdrew his spiritual power, and entered the city on foot.

Although Cultivators in the Venerable Realm can fly through the air, flying within the city is prohibited.

Only powerhouses at the Quasi-Immortal Realm or above are qualified to fly within the city.

The guards at the city gate glanced at Zhou Chen, their Divine Sense sweeping over him. After confirming there was nothing unusual, they let him pass.

Zhou Chen walked through the city gate, and the sight before him shocked him once again.

The streets of Qingfeng City were wide and clean, lined with spiritual trees that emitted a faint Spiritual Qi.

The streets were teeming with people, with various Cultivators rubbing shoulders.

There were Sect Disciples in magnificent robes, Loose Cultivators in black robes, and barbarian Cultivators clad in beast skins.

Shops lined both sides of the street.

"Wanbao Pavilion, selling all kinds of Magic Treasures, Medicinal Pills, and Talismans!"

"Artifact Refining Workshop, custom weapons of all kinds, everything below Immortal Rank covered!"

"Auction House, hosting auctions on the fifteenth of every month. Fellow Daoists are welcome to attend!"

Various signs and hawking calls rose and fell, making it exceptionally lively.

Zhou Chen walked down the street, his eyes full of novelty.

He had cultivated on the Tianxuan Continent for many years and could be considered well-traveled.

But the prosperity of the Spirit Realm far exceeded his imagination.

"An ordinary shop here is probably more well-stocked than the Holy Land treasuries of the Tianxuan Continent…"

Zhou Chen thought to himself.

Suddenly, he saw a large number of Cultivators gathered at the entrance of the Auction House ahead.

"Did you hear? The Auction House has a major treasure up for auction today!"

"Supposedly it's a Medium Grade Venerable Rank Magic Treasure!"

"There's also a Low Grade Immortal Rank Medicinal Pill!"

"Let's go, let's go, get in quickly, there won't be any seats left if we're late!"

Zhou Chen raised an eyebrow.

An auction?

It might be worth a look.

Maybe he could find some useful treasures.

He walked into the Auction House and spent a thousand Low Grade immortal crystals to purchase a VIP box.

The interior of the Auction House was extremely luxurious, with a hall capable of holding over a thousand people.

There were also dozens of VIP boxes surrounding it for the use of Cultivators with distinguished status.

Zhou Chen sat in the box, overlooking the entire auction hall through a one-way transparent window.

Shortly after, the auction officially began.

A beautiful woman in red walked onto the auction stage.

She was the auctioneer, with a cultivation at the Quasi-Immortal Realm First Layer.

"Fellow Daoists, welcome to the 389th auction of the Qingfeng Auction House."

"This auction features a total of thirty items."

"These include Spirit Rank Magic Treasures, Immortal Rank Medicinal Pills, ancient Legacy Jade Slips, and other precious items."

"Without further ado, let us begin the auction for the first item!"

With a wave of her hand, a longsword emitting spiritual light appeared on the auction stage.

"Low Grade Venerable Rank Magic Treasure, Blazing Flame Sword!"

"This sword contains the Law of Fire and possesses immense power, suitable for fire-attribute Cultivators."

"Starting price, one thousand Low Grade immortal crystals!"

"Each bid must increase by no less than one hundred!"

As soon as she finished speaking, someone in the hall immediately raised their paddle.

"One thousand one!"

"One thousand two!"

"One thousand five!"

Bidding voices rose one after another.

Ultimately, the Blazing Flame Sword was sold for three thousand Low Grade immortal crystals.

Next, one item after another was auctioned off.

Zhou Chen never made a move, simply observing quietly.

It wasn't until the twenty-eighth item appeared that his eyes suddenly lit up.

"The twenty-eighth item, a Top-Grade Venerable Rank Medicinal Pill, the venerable spirit pill!"

"This pill can help a Cultivator in the Venerable Realm break through small Realm Bottlenecks, increasing the success rate by fifty percent!"

"Starting price, fifty thousand Low Grade immortal crystals!"

A venerable spirit pill!

Zhou Chen happened to need exactly this.

He was currently at the Fourth Layer of the Venerable Realm. Although he had plenty of immortal crystals and resources, he still needed an Opportunity to break through to the Fifth Layer of the Venerable Realm.

And this venerable spirit pill was the perfect Opportunity.

"Fifty thousand!"

Zhou Chen directly raised his paddle.

Someone in the hall immediately followed the bid.

"Fifty-five thousand!"

"Sixty thousand!"

"Sixty-five thousand!"

The price continued to climb.

Zhou Chen's expression remained calm as he continued to bid.

"One hundred thousand!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell into a brief silence.

One hundred thousand Low Grade immortal crystals was an astronomical figure for most Cultivators.

"One hundred thousand going once!"

"One hundred thousand going twice!"

"One hundred thousand going three times!"

"Sold!"

The auctioneer brought down the gavel.

Zhou Chen successfully bid for the venerable spirit pill.

Shortly after, a maid from the Auction House delivered the pill to the box.

Zhou Chen paid ten Medium Grade immortal crystals and put away the pill.

The auction continued, but Zhou Chen was no longer interested.

He got up, left the Auction House, and returned to the inn.

After returning to his room, Zhou Chen took out the venerable spirit pill and examined it closely.

The pill was golden all over, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

It contained pure spiritual power and faint pill veins within.

"A good pill."

Zhou Chen praised it, swallowed the pill in one gulp, and then sat cross-legged to begin cultivating.

Two days passed in a flash.

Zhou Chen's aura finally stabilized at the Fifth Layer of the Venerable Realm.

He then left the inn and sped off toward the Zixia Mountain Range.

…

The Zixia Mountain Range was located thirty thousand miles north of Qingfeng City.

This was a continuous mountain range spanning tens of thousands of miles, shrouded in mist and rich in spiritual energy.

The depths of the mountains were even more perilous, with Yao Beasts running rampant; even Quasi-Immortal Realm Cultivators did not dare to venture deep easily.

But at the same time, the Zixia Mountain Range also harbored countless opportunities.

Ancient Immortal Caves, Heaven And Earth Treasures, ancient ruins…

Every year, countless Cultivators entered the mountains to explore and seek opportunities.

Some became rich overnight, while others were buried in the stomachs of beasts.

This place was a paradise for Cultivators, but also their Hell.

Zhou Chen flew through the air and soon reached the outskirts of the Zixia Mountain Range.

Looking from afar, the mountain range was majestic and spectacular, with purple dawn light faintly visible flowing within the mist.

"Truly worthy of being the Zixia Mountain Range…"

Zhou Chen thought to himself, "The spiritual energy concentration here is three times higher than in Qingfeng City."

Zhou Chen concealed his aura, activated his spiritual power, and flew toward the depths of the mountain range.

Deep within the Zixia Mountain Range.

Zhou Chen carefully made his way through the dense forest.

The Yao Beasts in the depths of the mountains were much stronger than those on the outskirts.

Just now, he had encountered a Fifth Layer of the Venerable Realm Blazing Flame Tiger and was nearly discovered.

Fortunately, Zhou Chen restrained his aura in time and did not alert it.

"The deeper I go, the stronger the Yao Beasts become…"

Zhou Chen frowned. "It seems this place is indeed not a friendly land."

However, precisely because of this, the ancient Immortal Cave could be preserved to this day without being discovered by other Cultivators.

Zhou Chen continued forward, his Divine Sense constantly alert to his surroundings.

Suddenly, a heaven-shaking roar came from ahead.

Roar—

A huge black bear charged out of the forest, its eyes blood-red, its entire body emitting a violent aura.

Sixth Layer of the Venerable Realm!

Zhou Chen's face darkened.

This black bear was clearly the overlord guarding this area.

It had already discovered Zhou Chen's aura and was charging toward him.

"Since I can't avoid it, then I'll kill it!"

A flash of killing intent crossed Zhou Chen's eyes.

He drew the Void God Sword, and the blade instantly erupted with brilliant light.

Great Void Eight Desolations Slash!

A spatial rift appeared out of thin air, slashing toward the black bear.

The black bear sensed the danger and tried to dodge.

But the speed of the spatial rift was too fast, and it slashed into the black bear in an instant.

Puff!