Spells Grinding: From Basic Sparks to Divine Arts

Chapter 272: Each Has Their Gains

“Monster Essence?”

Qin Lu paused, surprised by the name.

“Correct,” the young appraiser confirmed, his eyes fixed on the white pearl. “Based on your description, this object materialized only after the death of a water demon. There is no doubt—this is its essence.”

“And what exactly is Monster Essence?”

“When monsters cultivate, they absorb the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth into their bodies. This energy naturally converts into demonic power. In very rare cases, this power coalesces into a physical manifestation of vital energy—an essence. It is an exceedingly scarce occurrence; not every monster can produce one.”

Qin Lu nodded slowly, digesting the information. He cut to the heart of the matter. “What is it used for?”

“In its raw form? Very little,” the appraiser admitted. “Human cultivators cannot absorb it directly to convert into Spiritual Qi. Its primary use is as a specialized ingredient for refining specific types of Pills.”

Qin Lu felt a twinge of disappointment.

If it was merely an alchemy ingredient, its value was capped. Furthermore, rare materials often suffered from a lack of liquidity—unless a specific alchemist needed this exact ingredient for a niche recipe, it would be difficult to sell.

Still, he pressed on. “What would it fetch here at Wanbao Pavilion?”

“That… is difficult to say.” The appraiser shook his head slowly. “Because Monster Essence is so rare, there is no established market price. Its value is indeterminate.”

Seeing Qin Lu’s hesitation, the young man added, “However, if Fellow Daoist wishes to sell, you can consign it with us. You may set your own reserve price, and we will put it up for auction to see if there are any takers.”

“And your fees?”

“If the auction is successful, we take ten percent of the final sale price as commission. If it fails to sell, we charge a flat fee of ten Spirit Stones for the listing.”

Qin Lu considered the offer for a moment before shaking his head.

“Forget it. I’ll hold onto it for now.”

Since the price was unpredictable and he wasn’t currently strapped for cash, there was no urgency to sell. It was better to keep it in his Storage Bag; perhaps it would prove useful in the future.

“Very well.”

The appraiser’s shoulders slumped slightly, his disappointment evident. He had hoped to secure a commission.

But before the mood could sour, Qin Lu produced a second item—a white porcelain bottle—and placed it on the table.

“Fellow Daoist, please take a look at this one as well.”

“This is…”

The appraiser’s professionalism snapped back into place. He banished his annoyance and picked up the bottle, examining it with practiced scrutiny.

Moments later, he set it down, a helpless expression on his face.

“This is a spatial-type Magical Artifact, but I cannot determine its specific function.”

“Why not?” Qin Lu asked.

He already knew from Wei Zimo that the Mutton-Fat Jade Bottle was a powerful spatial artifact. What he needed to know was how to use it.

“Look here, Fellow Daoist.” The appraiser pointed the mouth of the bottle toward Qin Lu, revealing an interior as dark and fathomless as a black hole. “There is a restrictive Formation placed upon it. The complexity suggests it was sealed by a cultivator at the Golden Core realm or higher.”

“A Golden Core restriction?”

“Precisely. Unless you possess Golden Core cultivation, you cannot simply break it open. You would need to use your Spiritual Qi to slowly grind away the restriction over a long period of time. Until that seal is broken, its true function remains a mystery. As I am only at the Foundation Establishment realm, I am powerless to assist.”

The appraiser spread his hands in resignation.

However, a sudden thought seemed to strike him. A glint of avarice flickered in his eyes as he leaned forward.

“Fellow Daoist, this item is useless to you in its current state. Why not consign it here? I guarantee I can get you a satisfactory price.”

Qin Lu raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. “And how much would that be?”

The appraiser extended three fingers, his tone serious. “At least thirty thousand Low Grade Spirit Stones!”

“Tsk, tsk. That is no small sum…”

Qin Lu sighed with exaggerated emotion. He hadn’t expected the bottle he swiped from Wei Zimo to be so valuable. A pang of guilt pricked his conscience—but only for a second.

“What do you think, Fellow Daoist?” the appraiser pressed.

“I think… I’ll keep it.” Qin Lu waved his hand dismissively.

He wasn’t a fool. If the appraiser was offering thirty thousand, the bottle was likely a genuine treasure worth far more. Besides, Qin Lu was wealthy enough that thirty thousand Spirit Stones, while significant, wasn’t enough to make him sell a potential strategic asset.

The appraiser’s face stiffened. To be refused twice in a row was frustrating.

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Qin Lu casually retrieved a pouch containing five hundred Spirit Stones and slid it across the table.

“Thank you for your guidance, Fellow Daoist. A small token of my appreciation.”

“You… are quite generous.”

The appraiser’s stiff expression melted instantly. He swept the Spirit Stones into his sleeve, his demeanor softening into genuine warmth. While he charged a standard fee for appraisals, a five-hundred-stone tip was lavish.

Qin Lu didn’t linger. He stood up, offered a polite cupped-fist salute, and exited the private room.

He found his three disciples back at the bargain counter in the main hall.

Their faces were flushed with excitement, the thrill of the hunt evident in their eyes. It seemed their shopping spree had been fruitful.

“What did you find?” Qin Lu asked.

Feng Xi beamed, holding up two worn manuals. “I found a sword technique and a book of alchemy insights! The sword manual had been passed over at auction several times, so it ended up here. I got it for a steal!”

It was no secret that Feng Xi’s interest in the sword stemmed from her admiration for Qin Lu. She wanted to emulate her Master.

Cao Mo, on the other hand, held a manual on talisman crafting.

“This records various Talisman drawing methods and the previous owner’s personal notes,” Cao Mo explained eagerly. “It was actually bundled with Feng Xi’s alchemy book. The starting price for the set was too high for the main auction, so it failed to sell. We pooled our resources to buy the bundle and split the items!”

Qin Lu nodded approvingly at their cooperation. Then, he turned to Wu Zhengtian.

“And you?”

Wu Zhengtian stepped forward, dragging a massive object behind him.

It was a pitch-black scythe, easily eight feet long—a weapon that looked like it had been torn from the hands of the Grim Reaper himself.

Qin Lu almost choked on a laugh.

Wu Zhengtian was a delicate, handsome youth with porcelain-white skin—traits that had earned him the nickname “Little White” among his peers. To see such a pretty, fragile-looking boy wielding a brutal, heavy metal scythe created a visual contrast so jarring it was comical.

“I… I liked the weight of it,” Wu Zhengtian muttered, looking a bit sheepish under Qin Lu’s gaze.

“It suits you,” Qin Lu lied effortlessly, suppressing a smile.

Whatever worked.

The three disciples were beaming. Thanks to their work in the shop at White Jade Market, they received a monthly share of the profits. They had saved diligently, and today, they had spent like young masters.

“Alright, if you’re done, let’s head back,” Qin Lu said.

They left the Wanbao Pavilion and returned to their inn.

Now, all that was left was to wait for the grand auction in fifteen days…