97: Thunder and Fire Twin Pillars Split the Sea of ​​Clouds

The twenty-first year of the lunar calendar, May.

The center of Lei Huo Mountain Market, Panshi Auction House.

This was the largest auction house in the Lei Huo Mountain Market. The owners behind it were the market officials, or rather, The Two Sages of Lei Huo!

May 5th was the day of the Panshi Auction House's annual grand auction.

Inside the auction house, over a thousand Qi Refining Cultivators were already seated in a dense crowd, while dozens of Dao Foundation Cultivators were present in the private rooms on the upper floor.

A thousand "Bright Light Stones" embedded within the Formation lines of the hall's ceiling cast down a brilliant radiance. Below, the clamor rose and fell in waves, filled with constant cries of surprise.

In the very center of the auction house, the auction stage was carved from a single three-zhang piece of "Tier 2 Sinking Fire Jade." Golden light flowed through its dark red base, a testament to the wealth of the Panshi Auction House.

However, at this moment, this piece of Tier 2 Sinking Fire Jade spiritual ore was rendered dull and lusterless by the two Talismans floating in the center of the stage.

The Talisman on the left was neither paper nor silk, but a small piece of strange leather shimmering with silver-white electrical arcs.

Drawn with strokes as sharp as silver hooks and iron bars was the phantom of a giant bird about to take flight. Every feather seemed to be composed of concentrated lightning, and the faint sound of wind and thunder emanated from it.

The Talisman on the right was a light green crystal flake as thin as a cicada's wing, with a cluster of ceaselessly dancing crimson flames sealed inside.

The form of the flames shifted unpredictably, sometimes like a lotus, sometimes like a sparrow. The surging heat waves gushing out caused the surrounding temperature to rise quietly.

The Cultivators near the front rows all had burning gazes.

But unfortunately, everyone knew that such treasures were prepared for the Dao Foundation seniors on the upper floor.

Furthermore, it had to be those with power and background; ordinary Dao Foundation Loose Cultivators were far from having such financial Resources.

Let alone minor Qi Refining Cultivators like them.

They could only feast their eyes and broaden their horizons.

“Tier 3 Low Grade offensive Talismans—【Thunder Roc Talisman】 and 【Lihuo Talisman】!”

“These are Talismans personally crafted by our two Immortal Master Mountain Lords of Lei Huo Mountain. They are of excellent quality and possess unpredictable power. When used together, the synergy of thunder and fire doubles their might!”

“Under normal circumstances, if used sparingly, each Talisman can be activated three times. Of course, the power will certainly not be as fierce as a one-time full activation!”

To one side of the high platform.

A Dao Foundation Stage auctioneer, dressed in a black robe embroidered with dark gold thunder and fire patterns, was giving a passionate introduction.

“These two Talismans have a clean origin and can be activated rapidly. They are enough to threaten a Xuantai True Person and can serve as your ultimate trump cards, or turn the tide of battle at a critical moment. Fellow Daoists, please do not miss out!”

“The two Talismans will be auctioned together!”

“Starting price, twenty-five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, with each bid increase no less than five hundred.”

“Please.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the bidding sounds were like cold water splashed into boiling oil, crackling and exploding.

“Twenty-six thousand!”

“Twenty-seven thousand!”

“Thirty thousand!”

“...”

In just a few breaths, the bidding price began to climb rapidly. Every increase elicited a low gasp and a stir from the scattered seating area below.

An ordinary Qi Refining Cultivator might not be able to save up even a fraction of the current bid in ten lifetimes.

Inside upper-floor private room number twenty-six, Yu Xuzi sat upright.

Today, he had come specifically for this.

In terms of Resources, he lacked nothing, and his combat power was almost invincible within the Dao Foundation Realm.

However, he was only lacking in means and trump cards of Tier 3 or higher, so he had to obtain these two Talismans.

The bidding slowed down around sixty thousand Spirit Stones.

This price had already exceeded the psychological limit and Spirit Stone savings of many people, reaching the Peak of a normal price range.

After all, for an ordinary Tier 3 Low Grade Talisman, the price would at most be around thirty thousand Spirit Stones; any higher would not be worth it.

They could only be used once or twice.

Their deterrent force was far inferior to a true Magic Treasure.

One must know that an intact Tier 3 Low Grade Magic Treasure that could be barely activated by a Dao Foundation Cultivator and used repeatedly and infinitely would only cost around a hundred thousand plus Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Only two voices, one male and one female, remained in a tug-of-war.

They were both hidden behind private rooms, their voices hoarse and blurred, making it impossible to guess their identities.

“Sixty-two thousand five hundred.”

The man's voice was somewhat heavy.

“Sixty-three thousand.”

The cold female voice followed immediately, her tone devoid of ripples.

The auction house fell into silence.

A full three breaths of time passed. Seeing that no one else spoke up to bid, the auctioneer's eyes flashed with excitement, and he called out loudly: “The Fellow Daoist in private room number eight bids sixty-three thousand Spirit Stones, going once!”

“Is there any other Fellow Daoist with a higher bid?”

“Going twice—”

At this moment, another voice suddenly rang out, sounding exceptionally abrupt in the silent hall:

“Sixty-five thousand Spirit Stones!”

“Whoosh—”

Countless startled gazes looked toward private room number twenty-six where Yu Xuzi was located.

The auctioneer was also slightly stunned, but then his face flushed again, and he shouted in an excited tone: “Sixty-five thousand Spirit Stones!”

“This Fellow Daoist in private room number twenty-six bids sixty-five thousand Spirit Stones! Are there any other higher bids?”

He looked toward private room number eight with expectant eyes.

“Sixty-six thousand!”

The female voice rang out again, but this time her tone held a hint of obvious solemnity and fluctuation.

“Seventy thousand!”

Yu Xuzi spoke up again without hesitation.

He wasn't afraid of being targeted.

Setting aside the fact that no one except the auction house officials knew it was him in private room twenty-six, even if they did know, it wouldn't matter.

After the session ended, he would immediately use the Grand Yin Qi Concealment Art and then completely change his appearance to blend into the crowd.

With his Divine Sense and cultivation, he could eliminate the possibility of any secret marks being left on him, ensuring that no one could find him.

Unless The Two Sages of Lei Huo abandoned their dignity and personally took action.

In that case, at worst, he would just Transmigrate to another world and hide for ten days or half a month.

“Seventy thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, going once!”

The auctioneer's voice even sounded a bit shaky.

However, that female voice ultimately did not appear again. The Talismans belonged to Yu Xuzi.

“Going twice!”

“Going thrice! Bang!”

The auction gavel fell, striking the Sinking Fire Jade stage and emitting a crisp, lingering ring.

“Sold!”

“Congratulations to this Fellow Daoist for successfully bidding for the Thunder Roc and Lihuo twin Talismans!”

...A moment later.

Having handed over the Spirit Stones and obtained the twin Talismans, Yu Xuzi had already left the Panshi Auction House and blended into the crowd outside.

Suddenly!

“Rumble— CRACK!!!”

Two thick and dazzling pillars of thunder and fire light, starting from the distant horizon, tore through the heavens without any warning!

One was pure white lightning, over ten zhang thick and twisted like a dragon, winding as it violently tore the sea of clouds burning with the sunset into fragments.

The other was a blazing crimson pillar of fire, as if an infinite inferno was being poured directly downward. The dazzling firelight dyed half the sky red, overpowering the final glow of the setting sun!

“This is??”

Yu Xuzi instantly looked up, his pupils shrinking.

In an instant, a terrifying roar exploded almost simultaneously.

“BOOM!!!”

He felt his ears ring, followed by an extremely sharp explosion. The sky above Lei Huo Mountain was instantly enveloped by the light of that thunder and fire.

Countless Cultivators beside him cried out and fell. One after another, spiritual energy shields lit up in response, their various lights flickering like candle flames in a gale.

“What happened?!!”

“Heavens!”

“This is the might of an Immortal Master! Could it be—”

“...”

The entire market instantly boiled over, a thick sense of unease enveloping everyone.

Almost in a flash, Yu Xuzi determined the origin of the external phenomenon.

“The Two Sages of Lei Huo!!”

“What happened to them?”

After those two world-destroying pillars of thunder and fire gradually dissipated, he vaguely saw two extremely wretched figures land on the Peak of Lei Huo Mountain.

The twin Immortal Masters of Lei Huo Mountain, experts at the Peak of the Middle Stage of the Profound Fetus, were actually fleeing back in panic as if they were being hunted!

“Activate the Formation with full power!!!”

A roar filled with shock and anger, yet forced into a state of calm, exploded on the Peak of Lei Huo Mountain like rolling thunder, instantly drowning out the rumbling of heaven and earth and the chaos of the market.

“Buzz— RUMBLE!!!”

The Tier 3 protective Formation covering the entire Lei Huo Mountain was instantly activated to its limit!

An incredibly thick, semi-transparent barrier of interwoven dark red and blue-purple light suddenly brightened. Countless complex runes flowed upon it, thunder snakes roamed, and flames rose.

At the same time, the sharp and piercing sound of warning bells echoed in every corner of the market.

Teams of Cultivators wearing the standard robes of Lei Huo Mountain rose into the air with solemn expressions, rushing toward various Formation nodes. Cold shouts of command rang out everywhere:

“The market is under martial law! Entry and exit are strictly forbidden!”

“All Cultivators are to return to their residences immediately. Do not move without authorization!”

“Activate secondary protection! All shops, activate your Restrictions!”

“Guard team, hear my orders...”

Every Cultivator on Lei Huo Mountain, even the lowest-level servants, all turned pale at this moment.

Only one thought remained in their hearts: something big has happened!