236: You're not going to take on another apprentice, are you?

"world spirit..."

Su Lin's fingers lightly tapped the armrest of his seat, producing a rhythmic knocking sound.

His gaze passed through the one-way crystal wall, lingering on the girl in the cage for a long time.

In his Divine Sense perception, that girl was not a being of flesh and blood, but an extremely dense yet highly unstable energy aggregate.

Every strand of her hair, every breath she took, stirred faint fluctuations in the surrounding Space Law.

"If refined, one could obtain the complete rules of a Small World."

Old Ancestor Cang Ming's voice, filled with temptation, echoed through the massive auction hall.

"For a Mahayana Stage Cultivator, this is also a supreme divine artifact for strengthening one's own Domain, or even using it as a foundation to open a grotto-heaven."

"Starting bid—fifty million Top-Grade Spirit Stones!"

As soon as this price was announced, the previously somewhat noisy hall instantly quieted considerably.

Fifty million Top-Grade Spirit Stones—this was no longer a figure an ordinary Sect could bear; it was even enough to drain a medium-sized School's savings of a thousand years.

But this was merely the starting bid.

"Revered Master, should we buy it?"

Luo Ximei leaned over. She wasn't interested in the girl who looked as fragile as a porcelain doll; in fact, she felt somewhat repelled.

As a Demonic Path Cultivator, she instinctively disliked things that appeared too pure.

"This thing looks dull and foolish. Buying it back would just be a decoration; it's not as practical as buying two Puppets."

"Superficial."

Before Su Lin could speak, Mu Qingxue on the other side coldly took over the conversation.

Although she also had no fondness for the girl, her insight was sharper than Luo Ximei's.

"The value of a world spirit does not lie in combat."

Mu Qingxue condensed an ice flower at her fingertip and said calmly:

"Revered Master currently possesses the [Myriad Heavens Star Chart]. Although it forms its own world, it is still an illusion after all.

"If this world spirit can be integrated into the chart, perhaps it can make the stars within... truly come to life."

A flicker of appreciation flashed in Su Lin's eyes.

"Qingxue is correct."

He nodded, his gaze becoming profound.

"This world spirit, I want it.

"Not just for the [Myriad Heavens Star Chart], but also because... I see a trace of familiar Karma on her."

"Karma?"

Cold Moon was somewhat puzzled, but since her Revered Master had spoken, she immediately assumed the role of steward.

She tallied the wealth plundered from Myriad Corpse True Person and various places in the Black Sea Market, a confident smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

"Revered Master, rest assured. In terms of fighting, perhaps this Disciple must now exercise some caution, but in terms of spending money... in this Void Black Market, no one can surpass us."

"Sixty million!"

While they were conversing, the bidding below had already begun.

The bid came from a black-robed old man in the front row of the hall, his entire body exuding a sinister ghostly aura—clearly also a mighty figure in the ghost path.

"Seventy million!"

Immediately after, a rough voice came from a private room on the second floor.

"Eighty million!"

The price soared, breaking through the one hundred million mark in the blink of an eye.

"One hundred twenty million!"

The voices calling out bids began to thin.

After all, those who could produce one hundred million Top-Grade Spirit Stones in liquid assets were as rare as Phoenix feathers and unicorn horns in this cultivation world.

At this moment.

Private Room Number Two, which had been silent all along—the one where Luo Ximei had previously sensed Righteous Path auras—finally lit up.

A gentle, calm voice, sounding full of righteous and majestic energy, slowly emerged:

"One hundred fifty million."

This single bid directly raised the price by thirty million.

The hall erupted in an uproar.

"It's people from the Orthodox Dwelling Sect!"

"Listening to that voice... could it be the Righteous Sword Saint Li Qingyun?"

"Goodness, even the leader of the Righteous Path comes to such a place to buy this kind of thing? Does this world spirit have some unspeakable secret?"

Inside Private Room Number Two.

Several Cultivators wearing Daoist robes and possessing extraordinary bearing were sitting together.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a sword on his back and a refined appearance—precisely the Righteous Sword Saint Li Qingyun, at the Late Stage of Body Integration.

"Junior Martial Uncle, is it worth spending so many Spirit Stones on a world spirit about to dissipate?"

A young Disciple beside him asked somewhat painfully.

"You don't understand."

Li Qingyun picked up a teacup, took a light sip, a trace of greed flashing imperceptibly in his eyes.

"The Alliance Leader is currently cultivating the great Divine Ability [Palm Buddha Kingdom] and precisely lacks a world core as a catalyst.

"Although this world spirit is weak, its purity makes it the best sacrificial offering.

"As long as it can help the Alliance Leader achieve Major Achievement in his divine technique, what are a mere few hundred million Spirit Stones?"

"Moreover..."

He sneered.

"If this thing falls into the hands of the Demonic Path and they refine it into a demonic artifact, that would truly be a calamity for all living beings.

"We are also doing this for the sake of the world's populace, to eliminate demons and defend the Dao."

What a fine 'eliminate demons and defend the Dao.'

If Su Lin were here to hear these words, he'd probably laugh his head off.

Buying a living being back to use as a sacrificial offering, yet speaking so sanctimoniously.

The price of one hundred fifty million indeed intimidated the vast majority.

Old Ancestor Cang Ming looked smilingly at Private Room Number Two, tapping his pipe on the table.

"One hundred fifty million. Any higher?"

"If not, this world spirit will belong to..."

"Two hundred million."

A lazy, hoarse voice, carrying a hint of nonchalance, came from the Celestial Character Private Room Number One.

That was Su Lin's voice.

After disguise, it sounded like a Demonic Path old monster who had lived for who knows how many years.

The entire venue erupted in an uproar again.

All eyes converged on that top-level private room.

"It's that mysterious person again!"

"We didn't see clearly who he was earlier, and now he dares to confront the Orthodox Dwelling Sect head-on?"

"Now there's a good show to watch!"

Inside Private Room Number Two, Li Qingyun's Face darkened.

He hadn't expected that in this Void Black Market, someone would dare not give the Orthodox Dwelling Sect Face.

"Two hundred thirty million."

He coldly raised the bid, simultaneously releasing a wisp of the pressure belonging to the Late Stage of Body Integration, attempting to intimidate the other party.

"Three hundred million."

Su Lin's voice remained flat, as if reporting just a number, not a mountain of Spirit Stones.

As for that bit of pressure?

Before him, it wasn't even worth a gentle breeze.

"Three hundred fifty million!"

Li Qingyun gritted his teeth, his voice already carrying anger.

"Four hundred million."

Su Lin followed instantly, without even a pause.

At this point, even Old Ancestor Cang Ming couldn't help but take a few extra glances at Celestial Character Private Room Number One.

This financial power, this boldness—even in this spendthrift Black Market, it was extremely rare.

"Who exactly is this person?!"

Li Qingyun abruptly stood up, the teacup in his hand crushed to pieces.

Four hundred million Top-Grade Spirit Stones!

Even though the Orthodox Dwelling Sect was large and prosperous, liquid assets didn't come from the wind.

This had already exceeded his budget bottom line.

"Junior Martial Uncle, what should we do?" The Disciple beside him cautiously asked.

"Investigate!"

A flash of killing intent appeared in Li Qingyun's eyes.

"Find out clearly who is in that private room!

"Whoever dares to ruin the Alliance Leader's great undertaking, no matter who he is, must pay the price!"

He took a deep breath and shouted again: "Four hundred fifty million!"

This was the limit he could mobilize.

If the other party raised again... "Five hundred million."

Su Lin's voice, like a death sentence, lightly fell.

Without the slightest hesitation, without the slightest delay.

As if speaking of five copper coins with ease.

"..."

Li Qingyun slumped back into his chair, his Face ashen.

Couldn't follow anymore.

"Good! Very good!"

He laughed in extreme anger, his voice transmitting through the private room to fill the entire hall.

"Fellow Daoist, what great financial power!

"But this world spirit is an inauspicious object. Fellow Daoist spending such a huge sum to buy it back, be careful... not to bring misfortune upon yourself!"

This was a blatant threat.

"Hehe."

From Private Room Number One came a charming, coquettish laugh.

It was Luo Ximei.

"That's no concern of yours."

"My Revered Master's fate is extremely tough, specializing in overcoming all kinds of hypocrites and petty people.

"Rather, Fellow Daoist, your forehead is dark; I fear you may Face a bloody disaster."

"You!!"

Li Qingyun trembled with rage all over. If not for concerns Old Ancestor Cang Ming's presence, he wished he could rush over right now and tear that reckless woman to pieces.

"Five hundred million, once."

"Five hundred million, twice."

"Five hundred million, thrice."

"Sold!"

Old Ancestor Cang Ming finalized with a hammer strike, the smile on his Face bright as a chrysanthemum.

Five hundred million! The commission alone was a huge sum!

"Congratulations to the honored guest of Celestial Character Private Room Number One for winning the world spirit!"

As the auction hammer fell, the cage imprisoning the girl was slowly pushed down and sent backstage.

Inside the private room.

Su Lin lightly let out a breath.

"Finally secured it."

"Revered Master, is it really worth spending so much money on a little girl?"

Su Hongling lay Lying down on the table, her Face pained.

"That's five hundred million! How much meat could that buy! How many swords could that buy!"

"Wealth is external to the body."

Cold Moon, however, viewed it quite openly. After all, as an empress, she had no concept of money; as long as her Revered Master was happy, it was fine.

"As long as it benefits Revered Master's Cultivation, not to mention five hundred million, even five billion, this solitary can afford it."

"Senior Sister is indeed magnanimous."

Su Lin smiled.

Not long after, the private room door was knocked.

The manager led several strong men, carrying the black-cloth-covered cage inside.

"Senior, this is your auction item."

The manager respectfully placed the cage down and handed over a jade token.

"This is the Restriction jade token controlling this cage. Just crush it, and the cage will open.

"However, Senior, be careful. Although this world spirit has no cultivation, she carries Law backlash on her body. If touched directly, it might harm the Divine Soul."

"Understood. You may leave."

Su Lin casually tossed him a few Top-Grade Spirit Stones as a tip.

The manager thanked profusely and withdrew, closing the door.

Inside the private room, all eyes were fixed on that cage.

Su Lin was in no hurry to open it.

He stood up, walked to the cage, and reached out to lift the black cloth.

Inside the cage, the girl still maintained that indifferent posture, curled up in a corner.

Her eyes were golden, empty and lifeless, as if everything in this world had nothing to do with her.

Even being auctioned, being treated as merchandise, she showed no reaction.

"This is the world spirit?"

Chu Weiwei He came closer, curiously poking the cage bars with her finger.

"She looks... like an idiot?"

"You're the idiot."

Su Lin glared at her In a bad mood.

"She has lost the support of her world; her Divine Soul is sealed."

Su Lin took a deep breath and crushed the jade token in his hand.

"Crack."

The cage's Restriction Release, the bars slowly dissolved.

The girl finally reacted.

She slowly raised her head, those golden pupils gaining focus for the first time.

She looked at Su Lin.

Unlike others who felt Su Lin's pressure or were deceived by his disguised appearance.

She seemed to see directly through Su Lin's Soul.

"On you..."

The girl spoke.

Her voice was very light, very ethereal, not like a sound made by a human, more like an echo of wind through a valley.

"...there is the scent of the starry sky."

"And... the aura of a kindred."

Su Lin's heart shook.

Kindred?

Did it refer to the [Myriad Heavens Star Chart] within him?

"What is your name?"

Su Lin crouched down, trying to make his tone as gentle as possible.

"Name?"

The girl tilted her head, as if pondering the meaning of this word.

"I have no name."

Saying this, a trace of sorrow finally flowed into those golden eyes.

It was a sorrow of losing one's homeland, losing all support—a rootless, drifting sorrow.

"Eaten."

"By those greedy worms."

Su Lin knew that the "worms" she spoke of referred to those Cultivators who plundered resources, or perhaps... some higher-level existence.

"Since you have no name."

Su Lin looked at her and extended his hand.

"Then I'll call you... Little Star."

"Little Star?"

The girl repeated it, seeming not to reject this address.

"Stars... are they eternal?"

"Perhaps."

Su Lin smiled.

"At least, they live longer than we do."

"Come, follow me."

"I'll give you a new home."

Little Star looked at Su Lin's extended hand, hesitating for a moment.

Then, she extended that pale, nearly transparent small hand and gently placed it in Su Lin's palm.

Cold.

Without any warmth.

But at the moment of contact, the [Myriad Heavens Star Chart] within Su Lin suddenly It shook violently..

A vast, pure Law power flowed along their joined hands into Su Lin's body.

"Hum."

Su Lin's disguise instantly Failure at this moment.

Starlight Brilliant, illuminating the entire private room Transparent.

The Body Integration Stage Bottleneck within him actually showed signs of loosening at this moment!

"Revered Master!"

Several disciples Shocked.

"Don't come over!"

Su Lin Stopped drinking them.

He looked at Little Star before him, his eyes full of surprise.

This was clearly buying a cheat!

Little Star's true form was a world's will; she herself was an aggregate of Laws.

As long as she was by his side, Su Lin's speed of comprehending Laws could increase a hundredfold!

"Good... very good."

Su Lin took a deep breath, suppressing the surging spiritual power within him.

"These five hundred million Spirit Stones were spent too worthily."

"Revered Master..."

At this moment, Su Hongling suddenly He came closer, staring Watching warily at Little Star.

"You're not going to... take another disciple, are you?"

"We already have enough! One more and we'll have to sleep on the floor!"

Su Lin: "..."

"What are you thinking."

Su Lin I tapped her.

"She is an Artifact Spirit."

"From now on, she will be the Artifact Spirit of the [Myriad Heavens Star Chart]."

"Artifact Spirit?"

Everyone I breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as she wasn't a Junior Sister.

Even if an Artifact Spirit, it was still an object, not a person.

As long as not a person, she wasn't qualified to compete with them for their Revered Master!

"Whew... scared me to death."