The three tribulations before the Nascent Soul tribulation were all Heavenly Immortal Wind Tribulations. For other Nascent Soul stage powerhouses, these might be calamities, but for Zhang Fan, they were rare opportunities.
If he wished, with his current strength, even after passing the second Nascent Soul tribulation, he could directly force the third Nascent Soul tribulation.
But Zhang Fan did not do so. His rich cultivation experience made him understand the importance of foundation.
With everything prepared, Zhang Fan naturally triggered the second Nascent Soul tribulation. The Heavenly Immortal Wind blew through the Nascent Soul again and again. This was the Nascent Soul's calamity, and also its baptism. Each time it underwent the tribulation's baptism, the Nascent Soul would be sublimated.
With ease, Zhang Fan passed the second Nascent Soul tribulation. Afterwards, he took out the few million spirit crystals he had from his storage space, placed them before him, and began to cultivate.
Why can spirit crystals become the hard currency in the myriad realms' starry sky?
It is precisely because spirit crystals contain the purest spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Cultivators can directly absorb and refine them, which helps in the rapid improvement of their cultivation.
Cultivators absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to cultivate. Not only is the efficiency low, but the spiritual energy in heaven and earth is far less pure than that contained in spirit crystals. After absorption, it still needs to be refined and transformed through cultivation techniques. Compared to directly using spirit crystals for cultivation, the efficiency is not just a little bit lower.
However, using millions of spirit crystals directly for cultivation is something very few Nascent Soul stage powerhouses would do, as it is too extravagant.
The further one progresses in cultivation, the more immense the amount of spiritual energy required to improve by one level.
If a four-tribulation Nascent Soul stage cultivator wanted to rely on absorbing the pure spiritual energy from spirit crystals to reach the peak of the four-tribulation Nascent Soul stage, even a hundred million spirit crystals might not be enough.
After spending nearly a month, Zhang Fan consumed almost all the spirit crystals he possessed, finally reaching the peak of the two-tribulation Nascent Soul stage.
The ability to achieve such efficiency, apart from the supply of a large number of spirit crystals, was also greatly related to the cultivation technique he practiced.
The speed of refining spiritual energy from a powerful cultivation technique is naturally far beyond that of low-level cultivation techniques.
"Fellow Daoist Haotian, there is news about the withered wood of the Du'e Tree you were looking for."
Zhang Fan suddenly received a message from Shangguan Jing. He immediately stopped cultivating and rushed to the Immortal Treasure Pavilion.
Shangguan Jing was already waiting in a private room on the second floor of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion.
"It's only been a month, but Fellow Daoist Haotian's strength seems to have improved considerably." Shangguan Jing felt that Zhang Fan had changed significantly upon seeing him again.
Zhang Fan did not deny it but directly asked, "What news did Fellow Daoist Shangguan mention?"
"Half a month later, Mo Xiang Tower will hold a rather high-end treasure auction. Our Immortal Treasure Pavilion has received news that a piece of withered wood from the Du'e Tree will be among the items."
"However, as far as I know, many people are interested in this withered wood of the Du'e Tree at this auction. Fellow Daoist Haotian, do you have enough spirit crystals prepared?" Shangguan Jing asked with a slight smile, reminding him.
At Shangguan Jing's reminder, Zhang Fan suddenly remembered that auction transactions were all done with spirit crystals. Although he had many valuable items now, he really didn't have many spirit crystals left.
The cultivation this past month had consumed almost all of his remaining millions of spirit crystals.
"Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Shangguan. I will take my leave now."
After leaving the Immortal Treasure Pavilion, Zhang Fan went directly to a popular black market in Wuning City.
A few days ago, Zhang Fan had browsed here in search of news about the withered wood of the Du'e Tree, but he found nothing. However, this time he came to deal with some of his valuable possessions.
Based on experience, the market price for a piece of withered wood from the Du'e Tree was usually around ten million spirit crystals. However, if it were auctioned at an auction house, the transaction price would increase by thirty to fifty percent on top of the original price.
Of course, if several powerful individuals were in urgent need of the withered wood of the Du'e Tree, the auction price could even be double the market price.
To be safe, Zhang Fan needed to prepare at least twenty million spirit crystals to have enough confidence to bid.
The black market was not as the average cultivator imagined. The black market in Wuning City was located on a very bustling street in the main city. Stalls lined both sides of the street, and cultivators walked to and fro, creating a very lively atmosphere.
On the stalls, there were all sorts of items, including magical artifacts, spirit pills, spirit herbs, rare refining materials, and various special treasures, but no one could guarantee their authenticity.
Zhang Fan strolled along the street and finally entered a shop with a somewhat dilapidated signboard.
The shop's storefront was not wide, and various items were placed haphazardly on the shelves inside.
"Yo, we have a customer."
Seeing Zhang Fan walk in, a short middle-aged man with a smile greeted him, his small eyes carefully examining Zhang Fan.
"What would you like to buy, sir?" the short man asked, ushering Zhang Fan inside.
"I'm not here to buy, I'm here to sell." Zhang Fan said, then took out a set of formation plates from his Starry Constellation Space Stone and casually tossed it to the short man, saying, "Take a look at this, how much is it worth?"
What Zhang Fan took out first was a set of low-grade Heavenly tier formation plates. The eight formation plates were like shuttles, their surfaces incredibly smooth, with mysterious patterns covering their entire bodies, exuding a sharp killing aura. This was a set of killing formations!
The short man took the formation plates into his hands and gently stroked the mysterious patterns on them. His heart suddenly leaped. He couldn't help but look at Zhang Fan and ask, "Where did this set of formation plates come from, sir?"
"What, you don't accept items of unclear origin?" Zhang Fan glanced at the short man lightly and said calmly.
With just a glance, the short man felt a chill in his heart, as if he had been stared at by a peerless fierce beast.
"Not at all, not at all, I was just curious," the short man quickly replied. "How much are you asking for this set of formation plates, sir?"
"Since you can recognize the patterns on the formation plates, you must have some achievement in the path of formations and can see that this is a set of Heavenly tier formation plates."
"Ten million spirit crystals, I can sell it to you," Zhang Fan said.
Hearing the price, the short man showed a wry smile and said, "I'm sure you know, sir, that although a set of low-grade Heavenly tier formation plates is not easy to refine, its price is at most equivalent to a general high-grade spirit treasure."
"Furthermore, to activate this set of low-grade Heavenly tier formation plates, at least a formation master at the peak Golden Core stage would have the ability."
"Cultivators who practice formations are already rare, and it is even more difficult to sell these formation plates."
"I am willing to offer eight million spirit crystals for this set of formation plates."
Zhang Fan watched the short man's act and shook his head, saying, "It is difficult to sell Heavenly tier formation plates, but it is even more difficult to buy a set."
"Nine million. Don't haggle further. If you don't buy, I'll find another buyer."
"If you agree, I can sell these two sets of formation plates to you together," Zhang Fan said, taking out two more sets of low-grade Heavenly tier formation plates.
"Three sets of Heavenly tier formation plates!"
Seeing this scene, the short man found his throat becoming dry.
"Deal!"
The short man hesitated for less than a second before shouting, "Deal!"
Three sets of low-grade Heavenly tier formation plates, totaling twenty-seven million spirit crystals. For him, this was a gamble. If managed well, he might make a substantial profit.
However, if he were unlucky and even one set remained unsold, he would lose everything.