BXBX NOVEL Chapter 35 "Foundation Establishment Loan".
"Heavenly Dao Terms, special entry, entry effect inheritable."
"Starting bid 100 Spirit Stones, with each bid increment of 100 Spirit Stones."
The moment the words of the elder on stage fell,
Chen Qiu could clearly feel the whole hall instantly quiet down, while almost at the same time, lights in other private rooms on the second floor began to light up continuously.
"800 Spirit Stones!"
"1000 Spirit Stones!"
"1300 Spirit Stones!"
In the blink of an eye, the price surged from the starting bid of 100 Spirit Stones to 1300. The Wentian Market auctions always started with an arbitrary starting bid. A low starting price did not mean that the item was worth just that.
Of course, there was almost no chance of obtaining it below its value. If the highest bid called out onsite was far below the actual value of the item, insiders of Wentian Market would simply bid themselves and bring it back for the next auction.
...
The instant the eighth item was presented, it immediately ignited the enthusiasm of the entire venue. Many powers had come specifically for the "Heavenly Dao Terms." Who wouldn\'t love a permanent entry that could be passed down?
While it was a gamble, none who started from nothing and aspired to achieve something in this chaotic world would consider themselves anything less than the favored children of heaven.
Meanwhile, the hall was buzzing with discussions.
"This auction does have Heavenly Dao Terms for sale. Even though it was already listed in the catalog, it\'s still exciting to see them in person. It\'s not often that one gets a chance to witness such things."
"Indeed, they say that the type of Heavenly Dao Secret Realm opening in Fufeng City in a few days might produce Heavenly Dao Terms as well. If one is lucky enough to obtain a Heavenly Dao Term in the Secret Realm, wouldn\'t that mean striking it rich instantly?"
"Thousands of Spirit Stones, truly enviable, alas, I haven\'t finished paying off my Foundation Loan yet, so I don\'t have the qualifications to enter the Secret Realm. Otherwise, I\'d also like to try my luck in the Secret Realm."
"Foundation Loan."
It\'s a type of loan provided by the Qian Family Bank of Da Xia, specifically designed for members of the government office who make more than 5 Spirit Stones a month, with a fixed amount of 300 Spirit Stones—just enough to advance swiftly from the first level of the Qi Refinement Realm to the first level of the Foundation Establishment Stage.
To be eligible for such a loan, one must meet one criterion: a government office member with a monthly salary of over 5 Spirit Stones, and to fulfill this requirement, one must be at least at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
For a Qi Refinement Cultivator to get a Foundation Loan, they must become a member of the Da Xia government office; otherwise, they cannot get the loan. But to become a member of the Da Xia government office, one must first reach the Foundation Establishment Stage.
It seems like a vicious cycle, but in fact, as long as there\'s a \'middleman\' to facilitate the process, taking apart the western bridge to cross to the east, then dismantling the eastern bridge to cross to the west, it\'s feasible. The only downside is that until the loan is paid off, a whiff of Qi will remain in the Dantian.
This Qi has only one function: preventing entry to any Secret Realm.
After all, the death rate in Secret Realms is too high, and the Qian Family Bank does not wish for all their clients to fucking die in the Secret Realm.
...
"Oh?"
The man next to him, upon hearing this, paused slightly, envy flashing in his eyes: "It\'s said that this year, Fufeng City\'s government office recruited less than a hundred people in total. Could it be that you\'re one of them? A monthly salary of 5 Spirit Stones, with no risk to life—what a cushy job."
"Sigh."
The man who started speaking had a hint of pride on his face, but he let out a helpless sigh, "It\'s just good luck that I had a benefactor pulling strings for me, but real life is still a mess."
"I didn\'t feel it before, but after joining the government office, one day my aunts are severely ill and need to borrow money, the next day my parents want to build an impressive large house in the village, and I have to maintain good relations with my colleagues, taking them out every now and then for a meal. Although the benefactor hasn\'t said anything, you must show some gratitude, right?"
"The childhood friends who used to hang out with you also come by from time to time asking you to drink, although they don\'t explicitly say it, the implication is they\'re hoping for a helping hand. My wife\'s family brags everywhere they\'ve found a good son-in-law, and whenever her relatives run into trouble, they also come to me for help, and it\'s hard to refuse. If I refuse, it just bursts all the bubbles my father-in-law has been blowing."
"If I don\'t refuse, doesn\'t everything I do now require Spirit Stones to pave the way?"
"Every month, I also have to pay back the \'Foundation Establishment Loan\'. My brother, you don\'t know, although my Cultivation is much stronger than before and I have some confidence in Fufeng City, I really feel less carefree than I used to."
"Sometimes I think, if I were alone, I might be able to strive for the Golden Core Stage, seeking the Golden Core Path!"
"Although Demon Cultivators are denounced by everyone, I think their practice—"
"The day you step on the path to immortality, first kill your parents, then your children."
"Really can eliminate a lot of attachments."
"Eh..."
The man who was initially envious was at a loss for words upon hearing this. He was about to offer some comfort, but then thinking of his own pile of troubles, he suddenly lost the mood to console.
...
The private room on the second floor continued to make bids.
The price had sky-rocketed to 1700 Spirit Stones.
This was basically beyond the market price of Heavenly Dao Terms, which are a gamble, as they might leave a legacy entry that could make a family prosper or a flaw entry that couldn\'t be removed.
Generally speaking, 1500 Spirit Stones is about the market price for a Heavenly Dao Term.
"Who\'s seated in room number six with the word \'Heaven\'? To call out 1700 Spirit Stones without even blinking an eye?"
"I don\'t know, but I do know that families with \'Heavenly Dao Terms\' have an extremely complicated set of rituals when marrying. It is said to be for the Heavenly Dao to witness, and only then can the children born be eligible to inherit the Heavenly Dao Terms. Illegitimate children born without marriage ceremonies cannot inherit the Heavenly Dao Terms, and it is only the principal wife who counts, while the marriages of concubines aren\'t recognized by the Heavenly Dao."
"Sigh, I can\'t even imagine how happy it must be to be born into such a family, way ahead of peers from the start."
"That\'s not necessarily a good thing, what if your mother is a concubine, then your status in the family..."
...
"1700 Spirit Stones for the third time!!"
"Congratulations to the bidder in room number six with the word \'Heaven\' for winning the eighth auction item, the Heavenly Dao Term, at the price of 1700 Spirit Stones!"
And in room number six with the word \'Heaven\', a middle-aged man was excitedly hugging a beautiful woman, laughing as he said, "My dear, another Heavenly Dao Term is ours. The two Heavenly Dao Terms we got before were good ones, even if this third one has a negative effect, it\'s completely acceptable."
"If all three Heavenly Dao Terms are positive, our child will be born far ahead of his peers and will surely lead the Zhang Family to rise another step!"
"And you will be the premier wife of the Zhang Family!"