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, after passing the second Nascent Soul tribulation, he could even forcefully induce the third Nascent Soul tribulation.
But Zhang Fan did not do so. With his rich cultivation experience, he understood the importance of foundation.
With all preparations complete, Zhang Fan naturally induced the second Nascent Soul tribulation. The Heavenly Immortal Wind blew against his Nascent Soul, wave after wave. This was the tribulation of the Nascent Soul, and also its baptism. Each time it passed through the baptism of tribulation, the Nascent Soul would be sublimated.
Easily, Zhang Fan passed the second Nascent Soul tribulation. Afterward, he took out the few million spirit crystals he had left from his storage space, placed them before him, and began cultivating.
Why could spirit crystals become the hard currency in the Myriad Domains Starry Sky?
It was precisely because spirit crystals contained the purest Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, which cultivators could directly absorb and refine, aiding in the rapid improvement of their cultivation.
Cultivators absorbed the spiritual energy from Heaven and Earth to cultivate. The efficiency was low, and the spiritual energy in Heaven and Earth was far less pure than that contained in spirit crystals. After absorption, it still needed to be refined and transformed through cultivation techniques. Compared to cultivating directly with spirit crystals, the efficiency was more than just a little lower.
However, using millions of spirit crystals directly for cultivation was something few even among Nascent Soul stage powerhouses did, as it was truly too extravagant.
The further one's cultivation progressed, the more immense the spiritual energy required to refine for each level of cultivation increase.
If a cultivator at the Four Tribulation Nascent Soul stage wanted to rely on absorbing the pure spiritual energy from spirit crystals to reach the peak of the Four Tribulation Nascent Soul, even one 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.
Being able to achieve such efficiency was not only due to the abundant supply of spirit crystals but also greatly related to the cultivation technique he practiced.
The speed at which a powerful cultivation technique refined spiritual energy was naturally far beyond that of low-grade techniques.
"Fellow Daoist Haotian, there is news about the withered branch of the Du'e Tree you are looking for."
Zhang Fan suddenly received a message from Shangguan Jing. He immediately stopped cultivating and rushed to the Immortal Treasure Pavilion.
In a private room on the second floor of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion, Shangguan Jing was already waiting.
"It's only been a month, Fellow Daoist Haotian, but your strength seems to have improved considerably." Shangguan Jing felt that Zhang Fan had changed quite a bit upon seeing him again.
Zhang Fan did not deny it but directly asked, "What news are you referring to, Fellow Daoist Shangguan?"
"In half a month, Mo Xiang Lou will hold a rather high-end treasure auction. Our Immortal Treasure Pavilion has received news that a piece of withered Du'e Tree branch will be among the items."
"However, to my knowledge, many people are interested in this withered Du'e Tree branch for this auction. Fellow Daoist Haotian, have you prepared enough spirit crystals?" Shangguan Jing reminded him with a light smile.
Shangguan Jing's reminder made Zhang Fan suddenly recall that auctions were settled with spirit crystals. Although he had many valuable items on him now, he truly had very few spirit crystals left.
The cultivation in the past month had consumed almost all of the several million spirit crystals he had left.
"Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Shangguan. I shall take my leave for now."
After leaving the Immortal Treasure Pavilion, Zhang Fan directly headed to a rather popular black market in Wuning City.
A few days ago, Zhang Fan had also browsed this place in search of news about the withered Du'e Tree branch, but he had found nothing. However, this time, he came prepared to dispose of some of his valuable possessions.
Based on experience, the market price for a withered Du'e Tree branch was generally around ten million spirit crystals. However, if it were auctioned, its final price would increase by thirty to fifty percent.
Of course, if several powerhouses were in urgent need of the withered Du'e Tree branch, the auction price could even 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 secluded as some cultivators might imagine. The black market in Wuning City was located on a very prosperous street in the main city. Stalls lined both sides of the street, and cultivators bustled back and forth, creating a 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. However, no one could guarantee their authenticity.
Zhang Fan strolled along the street and finally entered a shop with a somewhat dilapidated signboard.
The shop had a small storefront, and various items were placed haphazardly on the shelves inside.
"Yo, a customer!"
Seeing Zhang Fan enter, a short middle-aged man greeted him with a smile, his small eyes scrutinizing Zhang Fan.
"What would the customer like to buy?" the short man asked, ushering Zhang Fan inside.
"I'm not here to buy, I'm here to sell," Zhang Fan said. He then took out a set of array discs from his Starry Imprint spatial stone and casually threw it to the short man. "Take a look at this. How much is it worth?"
What Zhang Fan first presented was a set of low-grade Heavenly rank array discs. The eight array discs were like shuttles, their surfaces extremely smooth, covered with mysterious patterns that exuded a sharp killing aura. This was a set of killing arrays!
The short man took the array discs into his hands. He gently caressed the mysterious patterns on them, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat. He couldn't help but look at Zhang Fan and ask, "Where did this set of array discs come from, guest?"
"What, you don't accept items with unclear origins?" Zhang Fan glanced at the short man indifferently.
Just one glance made the short man feel a chill run through him, as if he were being stared at by a peerless ferocious beast.
"Not at all, not at all. I was just asking out of curiosity," the short man quickly replied. "May I ask how much the guest intends to sell this set of array discs for?"
"Since you can recognize the patterns on the array discs, you must have some achievements in the path of formations. You can see that this is a Heavenly rank set of array discs."
"Ten million spirit crystals. I can sell it to you," Zhang Fan said.
Upon hearing this price, the short man showed a wry smile and said, "Guest, you must also know that although a set of low-grade Heavenly rank array discs is difficult to refine, its price is at most equivalent to that of an ordinary high-grade spirit treasure."
"Furthermore, to activate this set of low-grade Heavenly rank array discs, one would need at least a formation master at the peak Golden Core stage."
"Cultivators who practice formations are already rare, so it's even more difficult to sell these array discs."
"I am willing to pay eight million spirit crystals for this set of array discs."
Zhang Fan watched the short man's performance and shook his head. "It's hard to sell Heavenly rank array discs, but it's even harder to buy a set."
"Nine million. Don't try to haggle further. If you don't buy it, I'll find another buyer."
"If you agree, I can sell these two sets of array discs to you together," Zhang Fan said, taking out two more sets of low-grade Heavenly rank array discs.
"Three sets of Heavenly rank array discs!"
Seeing this, the short man felt his throat go dry.
"Deal!"
The short man, after hesitating for less than a second, shouted out the word "deal."
Three sets of low-grade Heavenly rank array discs totaled twenty-seven million spirit crystals. For him, this was a gamble. If he managed it well, he stood to make a huge profit.
But if his luck ran out, and even one set ended up unsold, he would lose everything.
...