Chapter 33: Chapter 33: What is the Meaning of Cultivation?
It must be said, Fat Long was quite adept at adjusting his mood, quickly recovering from his emotions and seriously pondering whether there were other uses for the white entry.
There was no such thing as a completely useless white entry.
Even his trashy white entry of "Nine Ox Power" could easily be exchanged for nine random entries through the green entry "self-extinguishing root," if he wished.
Soon, Fat Long thought of something and said thoughtfully, "Brother Qiu, what do you think if I went around all the brothels in Da Xia and freed all the lost women there?"
"Once these girls are pregnant, the brothels definitely won't keep them, right? Maybe they'll all just take a break? Then if I open my own brothel at that time, isn't that a monopoly kill?"
"..."
After a long silence and without any expression, Chen Qiu gently patted Fat Long's shoulder and said, "The girls who become pregnant are more likely to become a turnover pearl than take a break. Stop thinking about these unrealistic things and let's go to the auction now."
...
The two of them walked one after the other on the main road of the trading area in Zone 7 of Wentian Pavilion market. It was still early, and the auction wouldn't start for another couple of hours, yet the streets were already populated with many pedestrians.
This auction was hosted by Wentian Pavilion market and occurred annually.
It gathered many fine treasures prepared by shops in Wentian Pavilion market in recent days, including many treasures not usually seen, and just two days later, the "challenge" type Heavenly Dao Secret Realm would open in Fufeng City.
Many Loose Cultivators and disciples from various major sect families had temporarily gathered in Wentian Pavilion market.
After the auction, a two-day rest would fit perfectly for attending the soon-to-open Heavenly Dao Secret Realm in Fufeng City.
Chen Qiu wandered around the streets casually, occasionally buying some appealing items. Before they knew it, a couple of hours had passed, and the auction was about to commence.
...
The auction was located in a three-story low-rise building in the center of Area 7 of Wentian Pavilion market, named "Wentian Pavilion." It was not usually open, only during the annual or quarterly auctions held by Wentian Pavilion market.
It opened only five times a year, each time packed with people.
Many powers within a hundred miles would send representatives, even if not to bid on anything, just to experience the sight, which was rare on regular days.
With an invitation letter, Chen Qiu had unobstructed access into the grand hall of the auction and found wooden benches marked with their numbers, a total of a thousand chairs filled the hall.
The space was indeed large, with most seats already occupied at that time.
The first and second floors were connected, and looking up, one could see the third-floor floor. The second floor was just a ring of private rooms built around the upper perimeter of the hall to accommodate guests, with about thirty or so private rooms in total.
Shortly after taking their seats, they saw the Shopkeeper from Zhao's Commerce of Wentian Pavilion market hustling over with a bowed posture, speaking in a low, respectful voice, "Mr. Chen, all the private rooms are booked. It's a bit difficult to arrange, but we can't possibly have you stay in the hall."
"Fortunately, I still have some friends in Wentian Pavilion market. I've managed to find you a private room, Heavenly No. 7 room. Please excuse us," he said.
"Please follow me."
Mr. Chen had spent thousands of Spirit Stones in his shop, qualifying as a VIP. Such guests must be well-maintained, as Zhao's Commerce, although spread throughout Da Xia Country, was not the only one. Maintaining such a VIP would significantly increase the annual sales of their Wentian Pavilion market shop.
His position could be promoted again soon.
"Hmm."
Chen Qiu nodded and stood up, gesturing for the shopkeeper to lead the way. He didn't refuse since indeed, making bids in the main hall was a bit too conspicuous.
...
After the two of them took their seats in the "Heavenly Character 7" private room on the second floor, two maids dressed in wine-red sheer gauze quickly came in, carrying fruit platters. They carefully crouched beside the two men and then delicately picked up fruits with their slender jade hands and fed them to the men.
Chen Qiu casually glanced at the two maids — they were just beautiful skeletons but admittedly good-looking ones.
The gauze on their bodies was as thin as cicada wings, and they wore nothing else, making the room's dim lighting, illuminated only by a few flickering oil lamps on the walls, slightly more obscure.
In the swaying light and shadows, that barely-there gauze added quite a flavor.
And in a corner of the room, another woman also draped in wine-red gauze and cradling a pipa was kneeling softly, playing a tune with an additional white face veil that gave her a purer appearance.
The private room was walled on three sides, and directly in front, a small formation had been set up. They could clearly see the scene of the main hall and the auction podium below, yet the people below couldn't look up and see them, which provided some privacy.
Chen Qiu wasn't paying attention to the maids; although they were pretty, they were just beautiful skeletons after all. He currently had no interest in such distractions, as chopping wood for a month had obliterated all his other thoughts.
Right now, he just wanted to become stronger, strong enough to live a dignified life.
Although he felt nothing for these beautiful skeletons, he knew that if he hadn't already advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage and if his pockets weren't filled with spirit stones, he wouldn't even dream of enjoying this kind of life.
For him, the purpose of cultivation was simple—to survive.
To live a dignified life.
And now, the melodious sound of the pipa behind him also gradually became more plaintive, as if narrating the tragic story of a child who had left home at an early age, living a lonely and miserable life under others' roofs.
And at this moment—
The auction below hadn't officially started yet; many people were sitting in their seats and chatting with one another. Some were acquaintances who had just not had the time to gather together, each busy with their own affairs, and were using this opportunity to catch up properly.
Others came in groups, discussing together, and it seemed they were already prepared to bid on some goods.
Most of the rest were more or less there for the excitement; items appearing in the auction were usually quite rare and not cheap, and not many could afford to buy them.
There were also those who were genuinely interested in a particular treasure but didn't have enough spirit stones. They came hoping against hope to see if they could snag a bargain.
A thousand people, a thousand faces.
Everyone had their own thoughts.
Among them were several Foundation Establishment strong ones, their gazes dark and secretive as they swept over every individual present, searching for easy yet lucrative targets to strike. Foundation strong ones had several ways to earn spirit stones, provided they were not at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment.
Of course, some of the Foundation strong ones preferred the methods that involved plundering to earn spirit stones.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone