Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

"Have you made your selection?"

The Dharma Transmission Elder had an expressionless face, his gaze toward Wang Chen was utterly indifferent.

"Yes."

Wang Chen immediately reported the names of the spells he had chosen, "Mysterious Fire Flying Crow and Metal Life Finger."

The Mysterious Fire Flying Crow was an advanced version of the Fire Crow Technique; the Metal Life Finger was an advanced version of the Geng Metal Finger. Wang Chen's selection of cultivation techniques and spells was never unconventional, always moderate and balanced.

Because his primary cultivation was the Innate Five Elements Skill, which emphasized the balance of the five elements, it was only natural that his spells would need to be aligned with this principle.

Even though this wouldn't make him stand out from the crowd, it also prevented missteps; he advanced steadily and surely, step by step.

A light flashed in the elder's eyes, and suddenly he pointed at the center of Wang Chen's forehead.

In his Sea of Consciousness, two orbs of spiritual light instantly appeared—these were the seed spells for Mysterious Fire Flying Crow and Metal Life Finger!

"Thank you, Elder."

Wang Chen bowed deeply in gratitude, and then left the Scripture Pavilion.

After departing the Dharma Transmission Department, Wang Chen was planning to go home and contemplate the new spells he had just acquired, when a streak of light suddenly appeared and stopped in front of him.

Wang Chen recognized it at a glance—it was Zuo Xiaomo's Messaging Flying Sword.

Having read the letter attached to the sword, he immediately summoned his own Glowing Light Flying Sword and sped towards the sect entrance.

Although the distance from West Sea City to the sect entrance was great, Wang Chen did not want to spend his precious Merit Points on transportation anymore.

The free benefits from the newcomer gift pack had all been claimed. If he wanted to learn new cultivation techniques, he would need to exchange with Merit Points, which he had just checked in the Scripture Pavilion, could cost hundreds of points for Purple Mansion Tier spells.

Higher tiers could cost hundreds or thousands.

It was best to save when possible.

Fortunately, the Glowing Light Flying Sword was swift enough, and he sped along his journey, arriving at his destination without too much delay.

"Brother, you've finally arrived!"

At the entrance to the Wanling Immortal Market, Wang Chen met Zuo Xiaomo, who eagerly pulled him inside, "If we're late, all the good items will be gone!"

Wang Chen was curious, "What's the matter?"

Zuo Xiaomo's Messaging Flying Sword only told him to hurry to the Immortal Market but didn't specify the matter.

"I only received the news just now; there's someone in the Immortal Market selling a large number of Ancient Sealed Jades."

Zuo Xiaomo explained, "Such a good opportunity should not be missed!"

"Ancient Sealed Jades?"

Wang Chen was even more confused—he had never heard of them.

Zuo Xiaomo then provided a detailed explanation.

The so-called Ancient Sealed Jades referred to the spirit jades used by ancient Immortal Gates, noble clans, or loose cultivators to store items, similar to Storage Talismans, albeit single-use as well.

However, the time limit for storing items in Sealed Jades was much longer than that of Storage Talismans.

Some Ancient Sealed Jades, having survived thousands or even tens of thousands of years, could still unveil intact items.

Most of the Ancient Sealed Jades come from relics, cave mansions, or secret caches, and often boast a venerable history. The items sealed inside might not be worth much in Spirit Stones by current standards, and there was a possibility of damage.

For example, pills would inevitably lose potency over time, turning them into dregs upon exposure.

In the past, cultivators who excavated Ancient Sealed Jades would break the seal on the spot to check the contents.

The results were often disappointing.

Latterly, some shrewd individuals started pricing and selling several Ancient Sealed Jades together.

If a valuable item was enclosed, the buyer scored big; if it was trash, the buyer took their losses. Either way, the seller profited.

Once Zuo Xiaomo explained, Wang Chen instantly understood.

This was akin to gambling on jades! Or one could say it was akin to opening a blind box, a genuine blind box where even the seller was unaware of the contents.

This indeed presented a gamble worth taking.

"I know a senior brother…"

Zuo Xiaomo said enviously, "Last year, he spent five hundred Spirit Stones on an Ancient Sealed Jade here, and he unveiled a high-grade Spiritual Artifact from it. He made a fortune!"

To spend five hundred Spirit Stones and unveil a high-grade Spiritual Artifact was certainly a windfall.

Wang Chen laughed and said, "Don't just look at the potential increase, aren't there more who have lost everything?"

As the saying goes, nine out of ten gamblers lose. If the opener makes a lot of money, then why wouldn't the seller open it themselves?

It's simple logic!

Zuo Xiaomo chuckled, "That's for sure. Today, we're just playing for fun, trying our luck."

Wang Chen had no interest in gambling, but Zuo Xiaomo was so enthusiastic that he couldn't bear to let him down. Thus, he followed this noble clan's descendant to the stall selling sealed jades.

"Two thousand spirit stones!"

"I bid two thousand two hundred!"

"Two thousand five hundred!"

To Wang Chen's surprise, the stall was doing booming business, surrounded by layers of people who were packed in tight.

Many cultivators were bidding, and the atmosphere on-site was incredibly heated!

Wang Chen inquired and learned that ancient sealed jades had different grades and qualities. The seller would set a base price according to the different grades, letting the buyers bid, and the highest bidder would win.

"Excuse me, coming through!"

Zuo Xiaomo began to squeeze into the crowd, dragging Wang Chen along with him.

Those who were pushed aside glared furiously, and those with volatile tempers nearly cursed out loud.

However, upon seeing the white jade identity plaque hanging at Wang Chen's waist, they immediately shut their mouths and silently made way.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Zuo Xiaomo swaggered through the crowd like a crab marching straight to the front of the stall.

Wang Chen found it both funny and tragic.

It turned out that this guy had brought him along just to use him as a tool to clear the way and hold a spot!

It had to be said, the identity of an Inner Sect Disciple of the West Sea Sect certainly carried weight.

It was really useful.

The seller's stall wasn't very big. A long, sandalwood table covered with brocade cloth displayed a half-foot-long jade rod.

The rod had an antique design and color, with True Seal Talisman Script engraved upon it.

Is this the blind box ancient sealed jade?

Wang Chen focused his mana to send a private message to Zuo Xiaomo, "Could they be fakes?"

In his previous life, there were many tricks in the jade gambling world, and methods of fakery were endless—even experts could be fooled.

Could these so-called ancient sealed jades really be free from fakes?

"There are fakes."

Zuo Xiaomo replied, "But no one dares to sell fakes at the Wanling Immortal Market!"

The Wanling Immortal Market, under the jurisdiction of the Outer Sect of the West Sea Sect, holds the principle that market goods are sold 'as is', but the ancient sealed jades must be genuine. Otherwise, those who sell fakes will find themselves in big trouble, possibly even risking their lives!

While the two were having their "private chat," the displayed ancient sealed jade had already found an owner.

A cultivator bid four thousand seven hundred spirit stones, outbidding his competitors, and secured the piece of ancient sealed jade.

But he didn't open the jade on the spot; instead, he tucked it into his chest and left straightaway—ancient sealed jades had storage capabilities, which meant they couldn't be placed into storage bags.

Then, the stall owner brought out another sealed jade for continued bidding.

The starting price was one hundred spirit stones.

This time, Zuo Xiaomo also joined the competition, but withdrew from bidding once the price reached five thousand spirit stones.

This piece of sealed jade had better quality, and it ultimately sold for a high price of eight thousand spirit stones.

That buyer decided to open the jade on-site.

The result was a large amount of spirit stones emerging from within, which were all middle spirit grade!

It was a profitable gamble!

And quite a substantial profit at that, which left the buyer beaming with joy, further igniting the already fiery atmosphere.

Seizing the moment, the seller took out yet another ancient sealed jade.

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The second update is here.