The High Grade Magical Artifact Catalog lists five items: [Human Bone Bell], [Xuanyin Triple Fetus Armor], [Three-headed Flying Heart], [Corpse Mountain], and [Taiyin Mother Palace Artifact].
Li Mo involuntarily swallowed hard.
Merely glancing at the catalog’s general information, he noticed that all items leaned towards Yin attributes, and their spiritual materials were composed of blood and flesh organs.
Li Mo even observed that some artifacts involved using living humans for Artifact Refining.
Li Mo wasn’t entirely sure whether the Great Ability Cultivators harbor secret intentions, but once these five artifacts’ catalogs are circulated, disaster will undoubtedly ensue.
Fortunately, the upper echelon of Rong Town also perceived the trouble within and immediately responded.
Manager Tian’s abdomen squirmed as a colossal Mountain Demon, about fifty to sixty meters in height, emerged.
Wearily, he declared, "The Magical Artifact Catalog will be collected by Rong Town. No Loose Cultivators may participate in the auction. Violators will be executed."
The moment his words fell, the auction hall plunged into silence.
Managers from various sections of Rong Town revealed their presence, decisively settling the matter to prevent any Loose Cultivators from refining High Grade Magical Artifacts using blood sacrifices of mortals.
Hu Wen, as the pawn shop’s Manager, was implicitly granted bidding rights.
Other cultivators shifted their attention to the spiritual materials and quickly realized the conditions for the third round of auction items weren’t excessively restrictive. Payment required only blood and flesh, regardless of the source.
However, due to Manager Tian’s earlier intimidation, they dared not brazenly kill people for flesh, though minor conflicts continued to escalate in secret.
For Han Cai, carrying flesh and blood with him was entirely ordinary; after all, repairing injuries of patients often necessitated such ingredients.
They effortlessly exchanged for a skull containing the Magical Artifact Catalog.
The four Great Ability Cultivators hovering in the clouds showed no concern for the scheming between cultivators below, perceiving them as nothing more than fighting crickets in a box.
Han Cai and his two companions returned to the brothel, only to discover that the skull had vanished, leaving behind solely a metallic baby that recorded the Magical Artifact Catalog.
The artifact, uniquely crafted by the Sub-Device Sect’s Jade Scroll artistry, made Li Mo increasingly apprehensive.
The auction had reached its climax; cultivators took advantage of the opportunity to sell their Magical Artifact Catalogs, ranging from Mid Grade to Low Grade, their records of artifacts varying widely.
Li Mo refrained from inquiring about the High Grade Magical Artifact Catalog—it was beyond his reach. He quietly selected suitable Mid Grade Magical Artifact Catalogs instead.
Theoretically speaking, crafting Mid Grade Magical Artifacts required the Foundation Establishment Stage.
However, Li Mo felt that with his refined and abundant Spiritual Energy, he could barely attempt it, provided he replenished his energy with Spirit Stones during the process.
While Li Mo ruminated, Hu Wen casually tossed the metallic baby beside him.
"You have half an incense stick’s time."
The High Grade Magical Artifact Catalog’s contents were exceedingly intricate, and Hu Wen didn’t believe Li Mo could memorize everything without omission. He simply granted him a chance to observe the refining process for a High Grade Magical Artifact.
Li Mo’s face flushed slightly. He expressed his thanks before placing the human slip against his forehead.
A torrent of information surged into his mind, which he fully absorbed within ten minutes thanks to his talent for memorization.
The artifact was called "Corpse Mountain."
It was a top-grade artifact with Yin Earth attributes.
A Low Grade artifact could undergo up to Five Refinements, a Mid Grade artifact up to Twenty Refinements, while a High Grade artifact could achieve Hundred Refinements, showcasing stark differences between artifact tiers.
The artifact embryo for Corpse Mountain required refining a mountain of over a hundred meters in height, with at least a thousand corpses interred within its body.
High Grade Artifacts exhibit remarkable malleability; future refinements could even integrate Sumeru Stones, allowing Corpse Mountain to contain living beings.
Li Mo immediately thought of the Deceit Beast corpse in the Iron Cauldron Secret Realm—it was an optimal material for crafting Corpse Mountain.
Yet, he dared not imagine the amount of Spiritual Energy required to refine an entire mountain into an artifact embryo.
Li Mo returned the human slip to Hu Wen. If he aspired to attempt crafting Corpse Mountain, he estimated he’d need to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, perhaps even the Golden Core Stage.
A few paper cranes alighted on the windowsill.
The paper cranes were sent by various factions attempting to recruit him, offering him Mid Grade Magical Artifact Catalogs at a low Spirit Stone cost.
He had no desire to involve himself in factional disputes, especially before achieving Foundation Establishment.
If Death Disease were to break out, all would be rendered into fleeting memories of the past. Besides, Li Mo wouldn’t settle for merely reaching Foundation Establishment and Golden Core.
"Since Death Disease entails nine tribulations, it’s only natural to climb to the highest peak and behold it."
He waved a gust of wind with his palm, blowing the paper cranes out of Qinghong Flower Tower. Han Cai, observing this, smiled with approval. Staying true to oneself—this was the path to the Dao.
Li Mo’s actions earned him higher regard from some factions. However, others, slighted, couldn’t help but darken their expressions.
Hu Wen remarked indifferently, "As a representative of the pawn shop, there’s no need for tolerance. The resources directed toward you will only grow over time."
Li Mo used the Desert Map to fish out a skull holding a Mid Grade Magical Artifact Catalog.
He formed a peculiar gesture, and suddenly, the shadow of a colossal Kun Whale—fifteen meters long—surfaced and swiftly swam past.
The Kun Whale’s tail slammed heavily into the back of a cultivator; without even a scream, his corpse fragmented into dozens of pieces of flesh.
A whale’s cry reverberated, exuding a primordial aura.
The Childhood Stage cultivators observing the scene stepped half a pace back in unison.
Hu Wen was undoubtedly correct.
As the pawn shop’s Daoist, Li Mo represented the prevailing tide in Rong Town’s local sphere and Manager Tian’s standing.
With an impassive expression, he paid Spirit Stones and stored the Magical Artifact Catalog into his Storage Bag.
Skulls rained down from the sky again—the new auction items were once again spiritual materials, seemingly rewards from the Great Ability Cultivators for Li Mo’s display.
Li Mo felt a bucket of cold water doused his heart.
A so-called pawn shop Daoist, in comparison to the Great Immortal Sect, was akin to a village chief’s spoiled son—a laughable existence.
Li Mo continued selecting skulls and eventually purchased two more Mid Grade Magical Artifact Catalogs.
These were "Evergreen Tree" and "Breath Fog."
The Evergreen Tree could replace the Caged Bird; cultivators could raise mountain lords or foxes instead. Breath Fog was a Mid Grade artifact combining offensive and defensive capabilities.
Li Mo closed his eyes to Nourish Spirit—the main purpose of his visit to the auction was mostly fulfilled.
Now, he was merely waiting for the Magic auction items. He had no intention of spending further resources; the auction rewards would suffice to support him through the Weak Crown Period.
As the auction proceeded, the number of items presented by the Great Ability Cultivators noticeably dwindled.
All cultivators were anticipating the appearance of Magic inheritance, including the various shop managers of Rong Town. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
Li Mo’s thoughts wandered to the ancient Heart Beast Sect.
Only Tian Chenzi reached the Golden Core Stage within the sect; the other disciples remained stuck at Foundation Establishment, unable to make progress. Could it be that seven thousand years later, Rong Town is still enduring the same plight?
The shop managers likely had reached the Golden Core Stage. Perhaps the Cultivation Techniques for the Thirty Years Old Stage carried ineffable flaws.
While Li Mo mulled over these matters, the first Cultivation Technique descended from the sky.
The commotion was akin to throwing a boulder into a tranquil lake, triggering a fury of waves and silencing every cultivator’s breath.
[Taiwei Thousand Feet Scripture]
The technique focused on corrupt Spiritual Energy derived from blood and flesh. Cultivation required transplanting numerous arms across the body, enabling communication with external forces of Spiritual Energy.
Soon, additional skulls followed.
[Taishang Thousand Feet Technique]
[Multi-hand Talisman Secret Method]
[Thousand-Handed Immortal of Cosmic Transformation]
Without exception, all techniques required arm transplantation...