59: Chapter 59 Thirteen Transformations of Heavenly Fire

Inside the auction hall of the Treasure Gathering Tower, the lights were brilliant.

The smoke, tea fragrance, and incense blended into an air of luxury and tension.

The guests in attendance were either wealthy or noble; some closed their eyes to rest, while others gazed intensely. Most Martial Artists had restrained and composed auras, their sharp gazes like hawks, locked firmly onto that small space on the high platform.

Jiang Hanzhou sat steadily in seat number seventeen of the C-rank area, a position towards the back that was completely inconspicuous.

His fingertips unconsciously rubbed the sumeru pouch kept close to his body through his clothes, his gaze sweeping calmly over the faces in the hall.

In the A-rank seats, several Elders from the Water Mansion and deep-breathed experts sat as steady as Mount Tai.

Among the B and C-rank seats, however, undercurrents surged, with many people wearing expressions of determination or waiting for an opportunity.

After a moment, the auctioneer appeared.

The auctioneer was a spirited old man in brocade robes with a resonant voice and skilled crowd control.

The first few auction items were presented one after another: there were bones of exotic overseas beasts, "Soul-Fixing Incense" that could slightly nourish the Divine Soul, and several damaged but still potent talisman tools left behind by ancient Cultivators...

All were rare items, sparking waves of bidding frenzies.

But for Jiang Hanzhou, this only gave him a deeper understanding of the abundance of products in Bibo City; he was not truly tempted.

It was not until the auctioneer took out an old silk scroll made of some kind of supple tanned animal hide, with scorched yellow edges, that Jiang Hanzhou's half-closed eyelids lifted slightly.

"Distinguished guests, this next auction item is quite special." The brocade-robed auctioneer's voice suddenly rose a few notches, carrying an inflammatory eagerness, "It is an Incomplete Manual of a secret technique for increasing the explosive power of the Physical Body, the 'Thirteen Transformations of Heavenly Fire'!"

A slight commotion immediately broke out below the stage.

Boosting secret techniques, especially those that could act upon the Physical Body, were considered hard currency anywhere and could instantly raise the upper limit of combat power.

The auctioneer was very satisfied with this effect and continued: "This technique is exquisite. According to appraisal, when cultivated to Major Achievement, one can layer thirteen levels of 'Heavenly Fire Force' upon fists, kicks, or weapons in a very short time. Each level is fiercer than the last, and the power increases exponentially! If one can combine it with fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques or corresponding Martial Skills, it is even more like a tiger with wings!"

Once these words were spoken, many Martial Artists who cultivated masculine or fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques had their breathing become heavier, their eyes burning with heat.

However, the auctioneer changed his tone, a hint of well-timed regret appearing on his face:

"However, there are gains and losses. This technique has extremely harsh requirements for the Cultivator's Physical Body Foundation. Ordinary iron bones, or even Gold Bone, can hardly bear the terrifying pressure on the bones and Meridians when thirteen levels of Heavenly Fire Force are layered. Forcing cultivation will, at best, damage the muscles and bones and cause cultivation to regress, and at worst... result in exploding to death. According to the notes of the Incomplete Manual and the deductions of our pavilion's appraisers, one must at least use 'Jade Bone' as a basis to attempt cultivation, and it still comes with risks."

The moment the words "Jade Bone" were uttered, it was like a basin of ice water poured over the hearts of most people.

A chorus of disappointed boos and whispers instantly filled the hall.

Iron bones were common, Gold Bone was already one in a hundred, and as for Jade Bone... that was the true mark of a Genius, rare even among the Core Disciple of large Sects.

Although there was no lack of experts present, those who believed they possessed Jade Bone could likely be counted on one hand, and most of them were those with deep backgrounds in the A-rank seats.

And these people might not necessarily value this incomplete and high-risk secret technique.

The auctioneer seemed to have anticipated the cold response and was not embarrassed, loudly saying: "The 'Thirteen Transformations of Heavenly Fire' Incomplete Manual, starting bid—thirty thousand taels!"

The hall was quiet for a moment.

Thirty thousand taels was not a small amount; buying an Incomplete Manual of a secret technique that one might not be able to Cultivate at all, or might even cause self-harm, was not worth the loss for the vast majority of people.

Yet at this moment, Jiang Hanzhou's heart beat steadily and powerfully.

Jade Bone?

He possessed the Foundation of a newly formed dao bone, containing inner seven-colored rays of light, its essence far exceeding the concept of ordinary Jade Bone.

This "Thirteen Transformations of Heavenly Fire" had harsh requirements, which might be shackles for others, but for him, it might be tailor-made!

Not only could it perfectly fit the formidable Physical Body forged by his "Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming Skill," but if its method of instantly layering explosive force could be combined with the "Heavenly Dipper Precious Qi" condensed from the "Heavenly Dipper Treasure Refining Art" he was currently comprehending... its power would be far from a simple addition!

Such an opportunity must not be missed.

Just as the auctioneer was preparing to declare the item unsold or waiting to see if anyone would make a symbolic bid, a calm and waveless voice suddenly sounded:

"C-seventeen, thirty thousand taels."

The voice was not loud, but it caused the originally somewhat noisy auction hall to suddenly fall silent.

Countless gazes, surprised, curious, and scrutinizing, were cast toward the back row of the C-rank area, at the young man wearing an ordinary cyan long robe with an unremarkable face.

Someone actually bid for it?

And it was a young man sitting in the C-rank seats, someone unknown?

Does he have Jade Bone? Or is he just burning money?

A flash of brilliance appeared in the auctioneer's eyes, and he reacted extremely quickly: "The distinguished guest at C-seventeen bids thirty thousand taels! Are there any other bidders?"

The hall was silent.

In the A-rank seats, several big figures only glanced slightly at Jiang Hanzhou before withdrawing their gazes, clearly having little interest in this item.

In the B and C-rank seats, no one was willing to be this sucker.

"Thirty thousand taels, going once!"

"Thirty thousand taels, going twice!"

"Thirty thousand taels, sold! Congratulations to the distinguished guest at C-seventeen for winning the 'Thirteen Transformations of Heavenly Fire' Incomplete Manual!"

The gavel fell, sealing the deal.

Soon, an attendant brought the scorched yellow silk scroll to Jiang Hanzhou, and the transaction was completed.

Jiang Hanzhou verified that it was correct, put the silk scroll into his sumeru pouch, and paid with silver banknotes.

The auction continued, and the atmosphere became lively again.

As for Jiang Hanzhou, he kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, as if he had just bought an insignificant trinket.

Time passed, and one treasure after another was auctioned off, with the climax following climax.

Nearing the end, the last few grand finale items brought out by the auctioneer pushed the atmosphere to its peak.

Jiang Hanzhou sat quietly the whole time, until an Ore the size of a human head, covered throughout with fine, star-like silver spots, was carried onto the high platform, at which point he looked up again.

"profound iron essence gold!" The auctioneer's voice carried excitement, "Produced from the bottom of a ten-thousand-zhang deep sea trench, nurtured for hundreds of millions of years by geomagnetism and heavy pressure! It is incomparably hard, several times superior to ordinary profound iron, and is a top-tier Material for refining divine weapons and blades, and for reinforcing Magic Treasure! Starting bid, fifty thousand taels!"

Jiang Hanzhou's pupils contracted slightly.

As stated in the opening of the "Heavenly Dipper Treasure Refining Art," one of the core rare treasures needed to Cultivate the first layer, "Metal Essence Casting the Body," was precisely this "profound iron essence gold"!

The Geng Metal Sharpness contained within it was one of the best primers for condensing the first wisp of "Heavenly Dipper Precious Qi."

The bidding instantly became white-hot.

Such a supreme treasure for Artifact Refining had wide applicability, and there were many who needed it.

The price climbed steadily, quickly breaking through sixty thousand taels.

"Sixty-five thousand taels!" A hoarse voice came from the B-rank seats.

"Seventy thousand taels!" An old man with a short and sturdy build in the A-rank seats, suspected to be an Artifact Refiner, said in a deep voice.

Jiang Hanzhou did not hesitate any longer and transmitted his voice again: "C-seventeen, seventy-five thousand taels."

The price rose again, attracting sidelong glances.

The short and sturdy old man frowned, looked at Jiang Hanzhou, seemed to weigh the situation, and finally shook his head, giving up the competition.

Two other bidders gritted their teeth and followed up to eighty thousand taels, but were suppressed by Jiang Hanzhou with "eighty-five thousand taels."

In the end, this heavy piece of profound iron essence gold was secured by him at the high price of eighty-five thousand taels.

Added to the previous "Thirteen Transformations of Heavenly Fire," most of the funds he brought on this trip had been exhausted, but he felt incredibly at ease.

The auction ended, and the guests began to leave one after another.

Jiang Hanzhou blended into the crowd and walked out of the Treasure Gathering Tower unhurriedly.

The night was already deep, and the cool sea breeze dissipated the stuffiness inside the building, also bringing the noise from the distant taverns and gambling dens.

He seemed to turn casually into a relatively secluded alleyway, walking in the direction of the "Haiyunju" inn.

His pace was steady, his breathing even, as if he were just an ordinary attendee.

However, just as he turned the second street corner and stepped into a narrow alley with dimmer lighting and high walls on both sides, the center of his brows twitched slightly.

Three extremely obscure, cold, and slippery auras, like venomous snakes, were silently trailing him thirty zhang behind, like maggots on a bone.

The auras were restrained extremely well; if his spiritual sense had not far exceeded those of the same rank, he would have been almost impossible to detect.

A curve immediately rose at the corner of his mouth.

"It seems someone knows I'm short on money and has delivered it to my door."

He glanced at the city wall and then walked quickly toward the outside of Bibo City.

After all, in this city guarded by a Dragon Elephant Realm expert, these people might not dare to make a move.

Wouldn't that cause Jiang Hanzhou to miss an opportunity to make a fortune?