Episode 24: Flying Divine Artifact
‘Ah… This isn’t good…’
Feeling guilty, Soso glanced at Jang So-cheon, but he looked completely unbothered.
“Lady, you’ve done well.”
“Um… Are you sure you have enough spirit stones? If you’re short, I can chip in.”
Soso, unable to let Jang So-cheon pay for everything out of conscience, was ready to offer her own savings.
Thirty medium grade spirit stones.
That was a huge sum even for her, a princess’s maid.
“Don’t worry, I have plenty of spirit stones. The auction is more entertaining than I expected.”
“I feel like we paid way too much for that manual… I’m sorry, sir.”
Soso replied in a barely audible voice.
Jang So-cheon burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! The manual might be worth even more, so don’t worry. I’m investing in its potential, so even if it turns out a bit disappointing, I won’t blame you.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
As the two chatted, the auction staff brought the manual to their seats.
Jang So-cheon handed over the spirit stones from the Black Phoenix Tribe woman’s spatial treasure and received the manual, storing it in his Heaven and Earth Pouch.
Was the Black Phoenix Tribe woman wealthy?
Even after the purchase, his Heaven and Earth Pouch still held a considerable amount of spirit stones.
However, it wasn’t enough to participate in further bidding.
They’d bought an interesting manual.
It seemed like a good time to leave, but Soso showed no sign of getting up.
Her sparkling eyes made it clear she was waiting for something.
“Are you waiting for something in particular?”
“Yes. Actually, the reason I joined you at the auction today was for a certain item.”
“What kind of item?”
“I put something up for auction myself. If you wait a bit, it’ll come up.”
She wasn’t here to buy, but to sell?
Jang So-cheon’s curiosity was piqued, and he leisurely watched the items being auctioned.
Beautiful accessories.
Rare alchemy ingredients.
Exotic spirit herbs.
Magical devices so expensive he couldn’t even consider buying them with his current wealth.
Even famous secret technique manuals appeared, drawing everyone’s attention.
Then—
An unexpected item came up for auction.
“Next, we have a Sacred Pill that can help Earth Yao Level cultivators break through. Bidding starts at twenty medium grade spirit stones.”
The auctioneer, voice trembling with excitement, held up a vial containing three elixir pills.
Jang So-cheon looked at Soso in disbelief.
They were the elixir pills he had given her.
Soso flashed a bright grin and sent him a voice transmission.
[Those are the leftover elixir pills you gave me. I’m sorry for putting them up for auction without asking.]
[Once I give a gift, it’s yours, Lady Soso. I’m not that petty.]
[Thank you. I actually need a large sum of money. There’s a magical device made by the Soyo Tribe that I really want….]
[Soyo Tribe? You mean where Princess Umji lives?]
[Yes. Among the beastkin, their enchantments are the best. Their magical devices are also incredibly unique.]
[Then I hope the elixir pills sell for a high price… But there are only three.]
[Don’t worry. The princess herself guaranteed their quality. I’m sure they’ll fetch a good price.]
Just as Soso predicted, the mention of Sacred Pill sent the beastkin into a frenzy.
“How do we know those are really Sacred Pills?”
A burly beastkin shouted, his voice booming through the auction house.
Sacred Pill—an elixir of legendary quality.
The auctioneer produced a sheet of paper.
“This is a certificate of authenticity personally written by Princess Eun Dan-bi. I’ll enlarge it for those with poor eyesight.”
Infusing the paper with law power, the auctioneer expanded it hundreds of times, making the princess’s name visible to everyone in the hall.
Before the auctioneer could shrink the paper again, someone shouted,
“Are you saying those Sacred Pills came from the palace?”
“That’s right. One of the princess’s close attendants took this pill and advanced two levels in an instant. Such an effect is only possible with a Sacred Pill.”
As soon as the auctioneer finished, bids started flying from all directions.
The price shot up from twenty medium grade spirit stones to seventy in a flash.
And it didn’t stop there—eventually, the pills sold for an unbelievable price: one superior spirit stone and thirty medium grade spirit stones.
Even Soso, who had put them up for auction, was astonished by the final bid.
On the way back from the auction, Soso spoke excitedly.
“I never imagined the elixir pills you made would sell for such a high price. This is more than enough to buy the magical device I wanted.”
“That’s great. By the way, how does one participate in the auction?”
“It’s simple. I’ll get you a VIP trading token tomorrow. With that, you can buy and sell anything at the Auction House.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“Is there something you want to buy?”
“Not exactly. I’d like to sell elixir pills. It’s good to have spirit stones on hand for when I need to buy something.”
“Haha! Leave that to me. I’ll get you the best price.”
“Are you sure?”
“Thanks to you, my cultivation has improved and I can finally get the magical device I wanted. You’re my benefactor—I’m happy to help. If you ever need anything else, just ask.”
“Haha! Hearing you say that makes me feel like I’ve gained an army. Thank you so much.”
“No problem.”
Back in his quarters, Jang So-cheon opened the secret technique manual he’d bought at the auction—and was stunned.
The auctioneer hadn’t lied: it was the manual used by Yaksoo the Immortal, the famous Pill Refining Grandmaster of the beastkin, containing the secret to controlling the pill furnace’s temperature during alchemy.
The manual described a technique called Mystic Ice Technique, which used water-attributed spirit energy—specifically, ice-attributed spirit energy—to cool the pill furnace after igniting it with fire-attributed spirit energy from the five elements.
Unfortunately, most of the ignition technique was missing, but the Mystic Ice Technique was fully intact.
Cool the pill furnace with spirit energy?
Why hadn’t he thought of that?
As he studied the technique, a hint of disappointment crossed Jang So-cheon’s face.
To master the Mystic Ice Technique, one needed a water-attributed spiritual root…
And a strange toad called an Ice Toad, at least a hundred years old, to continuously absorb its cold energy.
Ice Toad?
He’d never seen or even heard of such a spirit beast.
Sighing, Jang So-cheon put the manual away in his Heaven and Earth Pouch and headed to the Refining Room to concoct Qi Spirit Pills.
Every three days,
He had Soso sell elixir pills at the auction.
The result—
“Lady! Two superior spirit stones? Did the elixir pills really sell for that much?”
“Of course. The Auction House we use is in an uproar. Word spread that Sacred Pills are being sold, and now people are lining up outside even on days without auctions. On auction days, it’s so packed you can barely move.”
“Wow. That’s a bit overwhelming.”
“Rumor has it that not a single person has failed to advance after taking a Sacred Pill. Some even say they advanced after just one pill. No wonder everyone’s clamoring for them. Sir Jang! Should we increase the supply?”
“I don’t think that’s necessary. I’ve been cooped up in the palace so long, I can’t even find ways to spend my money.”
The divine power consumption was no joke, but there was no need to mention that to Soso.
“Is there really nothing you want to buy?”
“It’s not that, but what I want isn’t easy to get.”
“Just tell me. I’ll get it for you.”
“Really?”
“Of course. I’ve never heard of anything that money can’t buy.”
“Then… how about this?”
Jang So-cheon pulled out the manual from the auction and showed Soso the drawing of the Ice Toad inside.
“Ice Toad. And it has to be over a hundred years old…”
“That’s probably impossible, right?”
“Not at all.”
Soso replied firmly.
“You mean you can get one?”
“Of course. As long as it exists in this world, there’s nothing money can’t buy. Price isn’t an issue?”
“As you know, I’m quite wealthy now. No matter the cost, just get it for me.”
“Then don’t worry. I’ll stake my name on it—I’ll get you an Ice Toad.”
As Soso strode out with determination, Jang So-cheon regretted not asking her sooner.
The Red Fox Tribe was one of the top powers in the Nine Ancient Kingdoms.
As Princess Eun Dan-bi’s maid, Soso could practically get anything she wanted.
A month later,
Soso actually brought back dozens of Ice Toads, each over a hundred years old.
Overjoyed, Jang So-cheon immediately set about mastering the technique.
After three months, he perfected the Mystic Ice Technique and finally succeeded in concocting Enhanced Spirit Energy Pills.
And he even infused them with divine power…
But there was a problem.
Compared to Qi Spirit Pills, Enhanced Spirit Energy Pills consumed far more divine power.
In the end, Jang So-cheon could only make them once every two weeks.
After two months, he managed to produce twelve Enhanced Spirit Energy Pills.
He placed three pills in each vial, preparing four vials in total.
The next day, Jang So-cheon told Soso he wanted to meet Eun Dan-bi.
But once again, Eun Dan-bi didn’t come alone.
Princess Umji, whom he’d met before, entered Jang So-cheon’s room as well.
“It’s been a while. I heard you’ve been busy with alchemy.”
“It’s all I can do, so I’ve been passing the time refining pills.”
“That’s an understatement. Master Jang, have you ever heard of the Sacred Alchemist?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“And Sacred Pill?”
“I know about that.”
“The Pill Alchemist who made the Sacred Pill is called the Sacred Alchemist. There’s a huge stir in the Red Fox Tribe about the birth of a new Sacred Alchemist… but it seems you haven’t heard.”
“I’m not concerned with titles. Princess, do you know what’s happening with the humans lately?”
“You mean the Extreme Heaven Sect?”
“Yes.”
“Half a month ago, the Fortress of National Defense fell. Many human cultivators died, but fortunately, the Extreme Heaven Sect managed to escape with little loss thanks to a Supreme Elder advancing to the mid-stage of the Void Refining Stage.”
“I see. Miss Eun, here are the elixir pills I promised you.”
“They’re for me?”
“They’re elixir pills suitable for Earth Yao Level experts.”
At the mention of Earth Yao Level, Princess Umji suddenly stepped forward and held out her hand to Jang So-cheon.
“What about my elixir pills?”
“Pardon?”
“Where are my elixir pills?”
“I’m sorry, Princess, but I don’t have any for you. I already promised to sell them to Miss Eun for a high price. She also provided all the ingredients.”
“I’m not asking for them for free! I’ll pay a very, very high price—just sell me some too.”
As Princess Umji pouted, Eun Dan-bi intervened.
“Sister, as you may have guessed, this is the Pill Alchemist known as the Sacred Alchemist. You should be polite and ask him properly to make you some in the future.”
“But… Didn’t you see how sad he looked when you mentioned the Extreme Heaven Sect? I bet he’ll return to the human lands soon, and then I’ll never get a Sacred Pill.”
Princess Umji’s words made Eun Dan-bi look at Jang So-cheon in surprise, as if to confirm his intentions.
Reading her gaze, Jang So-cheon didn’t bother to deny it.
“As Princess Umji said, I think I’ll have to return to the Extreme Heaven Sect. I miss my master and senior brothers.”
“Master Jang, we can look into your master and brothers’ safety. Why not stay a little longer?”
“I’m sorry. With the Fortress of National Defense fallen, I can’t just relax here not knowing if they’re alive or dead.”
“How will you make such a long journey alone? You don’t even have a flying magic device.”
At that, Princess Umji suddenly stepped forward.
“Master Jang! If you need a flying magic device, just ask me. For you, I could even lend you the Flying Divine Artifact, the pride of our Soyo Tribe.”
Hearing this, Jang So-cheon recalled what Soso had said before.
The Soyo Tribe’s enchantments were the best in the Nine Ancient Kingdoms, and their magical devices were truly extraordinary…
He also remembered hearing that the Soyo Tribe used Silver Essence to craft divine artifacts.