After the time it took an incense stick to burn, Yun Xiuyan also appeared before everyone. She wore a purple brocade skirt, her black hair loosely draped. The moment she appeared, she drew every gaze at once.

Behind her followed eight female attendants, arranged in two rows and filing in one after another.

The attendants carried red wooden trays and placed them one by one before everyone. On each tray was a jade pot, one Spirit Jade Fruit, two jade plates-one with steamed spirit fish, the other with sliced venison.

Gu An recognized at once that the steamed spirit fish was made from his own Black Spirit Fish.

So that was why eight spirit fish had died last night, allowing him to make a breakthrough in one go. It turned out they were meant to entertain fellow disciples.

The other three items were also not simple. The wine was a first-grade middle-tier spirit wine, though its name was unknown. Although there was only a small pot, the wine was clear and the spiritual fragrance overflowed; it was not a mortal-grade item.

The Spirit Jade Fruit was a first-grade lower-tier spirit fruit. Three days ago, Yun Xiuyan had gifted Gu An two of them, and today she had taken out eight at once.

The venison was made from a first-grade middle-tier demon beast, the Giant Horned Deer. It was fine and firm, with seven or eight slices.

This entire spread cost at least six or seven spirit stones, totaling about fifty spirit stones.

Gu An smacked his lips, marveling at the Yun family's generosity.

Yun Xiuyan greeted the seven fellow disciples one by one, then sat down and spoke in a clear voice, "I thank all fellow disciples for gracing me with your presence. Xiuyan has prepared this modest wine here, awaiting your esteemed arrival."

Everyone stood up to thank her. Among them, Tan Chengfeng spoke the loudest, "Junior Sister Yun is too courteous. A small gathering of fellow disciples benefits everyone, yet we have put you to expense. We are truly ashamed."

The others also chimed in agreement, but their hands were not polite-pouring wine, eating dishes, making quite a lively scene.

Seeing that all the senior brothers and sisters had started eating, Gu An no longer held back. He first tasted the steamed Black Spirit Fish. A piece of fish cheek meat entered his mouth, feeling extremely smooth and tender, with a faint trace of spiritual Qi spreading out.

Gu An nodded slightly, feeling it was better than Bai Zhi and Qingliu's cooking. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "This fish had a good life. Even after death, it tastes better than its brothers. It even knows to think of its master-one fish, three uses: spiritual Qi, spirit stones, and fish meat all obtained. Not bad."

"I hereby name it the most grateful fish of the year."

To praise this Black Spirit Fish, Gu An ate it all up.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food.

Yun Xiuyan set down her jade chopsticks, rinsed her mouth with spirit wine, and then her clear, cold voice rang out like pearls falling onto a jade plate.

"Fellow disciples, my Yun Kingdom is located in a remote area, making exchanges and interactions inconvenient. Therefore, Xiuyan is holding this gathering today to facilitate mutual exchange. I thank all fellow disciples for your support."

"If any of you have transaction needs, you may come forward to display spiritual items. Buying and selling are both acceptable."

"We understand. Junior Sister Yun, please begin quickly." Tan Chengfeng said with a smile. He had the highest cultivation and had few concerns.

Yun Xiuyan looked around. Seeing no objections, she gracefully stepped forward.

Her delicate jade hand brushed over her storage bag, taking out three items. She said, "Then Xiuyan will cast a brick to attract jade."

"Everyone, please look. These three items are respectively the Barrier-Breaking Pill, the Golden Wind Sword, and the Earth-Shaking Hammer."

"The Barrier-Breaking Pill is a first-grade high-tier Spirit Pill. It has a miraculous effect on breaking through to the late Qi Condensation stage."

"The Golden Wind Sword and the Earth-Shaking Hammer are both first-grade high-tier magical artifacts. The former is of the metal attribute, the latter of the earth attribute. Their quality is excellent."

"What Xiuyan seeks are the spiritual herbs for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill. If anyone has any of the three main ingredients-Heaven Origin Fruit, Dragon Blood Grass, or Soul-Nourishing Flower-they can exchange for all three items, with additional compensation."

The pavilion fell silent for a moment. The Foundation Establishment Pill was a spirit pill that helped Qi Condensation cultivators break through to Foundation Establishment. It contained the three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit, precisely matching the three barriers of Foundation Establishment: physical sublimation, spiritual Qi liquefaction, and Divine Sense transformation. It could increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment by thirty percent and was extremely precious.

Even if it was only exchanged for spiritual herbs, it was still extremely difficult. So that was why she had to hold this small gathering of fellow disciples and treat everyone to spirit meals. So this was what she was waiting for!

After all, only Qingyuan Sect disciples had the opportunity to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills within the sect, and only they could possibly produce spiritual herbs for exchange.

Holding onto one or two spiritual herbs was useless anyway. It was better to exchange them for various spiritual items, increase strength, and strive for the sect's Foundation Establishment Pill.

As a disciple of True Person Qingxiao and a Dual Spirit Roots genius herself, the Qingyuan Sect would not deny Yun Xiuyan her Foundation Establishment Pill. So these herbs were obtained by the Yun family themselves. Who in the Yun family was trying to break through to Foundation Establishment-

Everyone was silent for a moment. The main ingredients, plus three thousand spirit stones within the sect, could directly exchange for one Foundation Establishment Pill. This was a sect benefit. Even if someone had them, they wouldn't exchange.

One must know that at the Qingyuan Immortal City's triennial auction, Foundation Establishment Pills could sell for seven or eight thousand spirit stones.

So let's see who among those present had auxiliary ingredients and was willing to exchange.

At this moment, after some hesitation, Wang Nan took out a spiritual herb and spoke, "Senior Sister Yun, I have a Three-Leaf Zhi here. Would exchanging it for the Barrier-Breaking Pill be acceptable-"

The Three-Leaf Zhi was one of the twenty-seven auxiliary ingredients for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill. It required fifty years before it could be used as medicine. Wang Nan's Three-Leaf Zhi was just over fifty years old, barely meeting Yun Xiuyan's requirements.

Yun Xiuyan waited a moment. No one else spoke up. Knowing it was impossible to exchange for the main ingredients, she agreed, "Acceptable."

Gu An estimated that the Three-Leaf Zhi was a first-grade high-tier spiritual herb, worth about eighty spirit stones. The Barrier-Breaking Pill was priced at one hundred spirit stones at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion. But the Three-Leaf Zhi was rarer, and with the Yun family's need, some premium was normal.

After the two exchanged, no one else came forward to trade. Yun Xiuyan could only say helplessly, "Exchanging for spirit stones is also acceptable."

Near the Qingyuan Sect, a first-grade lower-tier magical artifact cost about ten to twenty spirit stones, a first-grade middle-tier magical artifact about sixty to seventy spirit stones, and a first-grade high-tier magical artifact could sell for around two hundred spirit stones.

First-Grade Top-Tier magical artifacts were even more expensive, selling for around five hundred. Some inferior second-grade lower-tier magical artifacts were also at this price.

Yun Xiuyan's two magical artifacts were of excellent quality, so naturally, there was no shortage of bidders.

"I'll offer two hundred and thirty spirit stones for the Earth-Shaking Hammer. What do you think, Junior Sister Yun-" Tan Chengfeng was the first to bid, his voice booming.

"The price is fair. Naturally, there is no objection." Yun Xiuyan nodded slightly, indicating agreement.

The others were unwilling to compete with him. First, Tan Chengfeng was powerful; second, this price was indeed not low.

Tan Chengfeng put the Earth-Shaking Hammer into his bag, took out spirit stones from his storage bag, waved his sleeve, and the spirit stones flew toward Yun Xiuyan. He then sat down.

The remaining Golden Wind Sword was purchased by Qian Jinbao for two hundred and twenty spirit stones. Yun Xiuyan also agreed.

After happily obtaining the High-Grade magical artifact, Qian Jinbao did not sit down again. Instead, he took out an item and introduced it: "This is a first-grade lower-tier formation plate, called the Mist Formation. It has the effect of blocking Divine Sense. I'll exchange it for spirit stones or spiritual items of equal value."

The Mist Formation was the lowest level of formation, generally used to place in a cultivator's cultivation chamber. It could not conceal physical traces, but it could block Divine Sense. When others probed with Divine Sense, it could slightly obstruct and give a warning.

Gu An was somewhat tempted, but upon careful thought, he seemed to have no use for it. This formation had no offensive or defensive functions; it could only slightly block Divine Sense probing. He was on Garrison Duty in Blackrock Commandery, where it was hard to even see a person. What would he do with it-

If he returned to the sect later, he might use it, but then he could buy a better one in Qingyuan Immortal City.

The others had the same thought, and for a moment, it was somewhat awkward.

Finally, seeing that no one was buying after a long time, Yun Xiuyan advised Qian Jinbao, "Senior Brother Qian, please put away the spiritual item. In a few days, the Yun Kingdom's small gathering will be held. You can try selling it to them."

Qian Jinbao also took the opportunity to back down, returning to his seat dejectedly, his expression displeased.

Next, Tan Chengfeng stood up, stepped forward, and took out two items from his storage bag.

Letting the two spiritual items fly around before everyone's eyes, Tan Chengfeng said loudly, "Fellow disciples, I have two spiritual items here: a first-grade middle-tier magical artifact, the Mind-Bewildering Bell, and a first-grade high-tier Talisman, the Lightning Summoning Talisman. I also exchange for spirit stones."

"The Mind-Bewildering Bell can emit a bell sound that disturbs the mind and causes irritation. In a fight, it can often produce unexpected effects. Everyone knows the Lightning Summoning Talisman. It can summon a bolt of lightning to attack an enemy cultivator, equivalent to a full-force strike from a late Qi Condensation cultivator. Its power is extraordinary."

Gu An had a realization. It seemed that over two hundred spirit stones was not a small amount for late Qi Condensation cultivators. Both Qian Jinbao and Tan Chengfeng had taken out spiritual items to exchange for spirit stones.

Examining the Mind-Bewildering Bell, Gu An liked it more and more. He felt it suited him. Although he was reluctant to part with his spirit stones, he could still distinguish between what was important and what was not.

"Opportunity knocks but once. This Mind-Bewildering Bell is of good quality and worth acquiring." Gu An made up his mind and said to Tan Chengfeng, "Senior Brother Tan, I am willing to buy the Mind-Bewildering Bell for sixty-five spirit stones."

Tan Chengfeng hesitated for a moment. Seeing that no one else was interested in the Mind-Bewildering Bell, he agreed.

Gu An was overjoyed, but his face remained expressionless. He took out sixty-five spirit stones and sent them flying toward Tan Chengfeng. The Mind-Bewildering Bell also floated before him.