116: Chapter 116 The Auction Begins! The Senior Actually Said the Sacred Weapon Was Just Jagged Metal?

"Clang—!" A melodious bell chime, like the morning bell of an ancient temple, resonated throughout the venue.

Under this bell chime, the clamorous auction house fell silent, as if mercury had been poured onto the ground.

Everyone's gaze turned in unison toward the central platform paved with "Flowing Light Crystal."

An old man in grey robes appeared silently on the platform.

He did not release any pressure, but just by standing there, he seemed to become the center of the world; his terrifying Late Nascent Soul Stage cultivation had already merged with the Void Realm.

"Fellow Daoists, welcome." The old man's voice was calm, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"At the Tianji Pavilion's centennial grand event, there are not many rules: the highest bidder wins."

"Now, bring out the first auction item!"

Before his voice faded, a female Cultivator holding a jade tray covered in red silk walked gracefully up the platform with light steps.

The red silk was lifted. A simple, ancient longsword lay quietly inside.

Azure light flowed over the sword body, and a wisp of peerless Sword Intent pierced through, turning into tangible needle-like rays that made the skin of the Golden Core Cultivators in the front row ache, causing them to involuntarily step back half a pace.

"A Sacred Weapon, Azure Edge!" The auctioneer's voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"An item worn by an ancient Sword Saint, its edge can sever rivers, and it can increase the power of Sword Qi by thirty percent!"

"Starting bid, one million High-Grade Spirit Stones! Each bid increment must not be less than one hundred thousand!"

Once this price was announced, a collective gasp echoed throughout the venue.

But the temptation of a Sacred Weapon was enough to drive anyone mad.

"One million one hundred thousand!" A hoarse voice broke the silence.

"The Heavenly Wind Sword Sect bids one million three hundred thousand! This sword is a perfect match for our sect's Cultivation Technique!"

"Hmph, the mere Heavenly Wind Sword Sect dares to boast? One million five hundred thousand!"

The atmosphere was instantly ignited. The price, like a wild horse off its leash, broke through the astronomical price of three million within just a few dozen breaths.

Inside the heavenly character no. 1 private box, Mo Wentian held his breath and gently poured a cup of hot tea wreathed in spiritual mist for Su Changge, afraid of making even the slightest noise that might disturb this Senior's peace.

"Senior, are you interested in this Sacred Weapon?" he asked tentatively.

"Although this sword is not top-tier, it is still a rare sacred object. If you like it, this Junior..."

Su Changge did not even lift his eyelids; he merely swept his gaze casually over the longsword being fought over by thousands below.

He picked up his teacup and blew away the swirling mist. Then, he set it down. A soft sound. The sound was ethereal, as if it did not belong to the mortal world.

"The sword bone is shattered, the sword soul is dead."

"It is only an empty shell; how does it deserve to be called Sacred?"

Mo Wentian's hand holding the teapot suddenly froze. The sword bone is shattered? The sword soul is dead?

That was a Sacred Weapon that could make a Deity Transformation Great Power envious! In this Senior's mouth, it had actually become a piece of trash that was nothing but an empty shell?

When he looked at the Azure Edge sword again, his eyes had changed, as if through that layer of azure brilliance, he could truly see a shattered skeleton.

This Senior's vision is truly... unfathomable!

Su Changge did not deliberately raise his voice when saying this.

But under the effect of [Words Become Law (Weak)], this evaluation, like an invisible ripple, easily penetrated the soundproof Formation of the private box and resonated faintly deep within everyone's Divine Soul.

"...Three million five hundred thousand!" A Nascent Soul Elder was preparing to raise the bid again, but the sound stuck in his throat at the last moment, leaving him flushed red.

Those Sect Masters who had been arguing until they were red in the face over a few hundred thousand Spirit Stones were also as if struck by a immobilization spell, all falling silent at once.

The entire venue fell into an eerie silence. Scrap metal? That voice just now... it came from the heavenly character no. 1 private box!

That mysterious existence, before whom even the Qilin Blood Prince had to retreat in embarrassment, actually evaluated a Sacred Weapon like that?

For a moment, all Sword Cultivators felt their Sword Heart trembling, as if something deeply rooted had been easily shattered by those words.

In the end, the Azure Edge sword was auctioned off to the Heavenly Wind Sword Sect for three million four hundred thousand.

That Sect Master walked onto the stage and took the longsword, but the wild joy on his face had disappeared without a trace, replaced by a complex and indescribable doubt.

Clutching the sword hilt, he felt that this Sacred Weapon... didn't seem so desirable anymore.

The next few auction items, a ten-thousand-year-old medicinal king, ancient scrolls of Divine Ability, defensive Magic Treasures... each one stirred up monstrous waves.

Only the heavenly character no. 1 private box remained as quiet as a lonely grave.

Su Changge leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest, as if the treasures outside the window that were enough to make the world bleed were nothing more than ordinary objects unworthy of his gaze.

"What kind of existence is this Senior? He doesn't even look at a ten-thousand-year-old medicinal king?"

"Perhaps, ordinary sacred objects are no different from roadside stones in his eyes."

"He must be waiting, waiting for that truly final treasure!"

The awe and speculation of the crowd surged like a tide toward that tightly closed door.

Just then, from the neighboring heavenly character no. 2 private box, came the irrepressible mockery of the Qilin Blood Prince.

"Hmph, bluffing." His voice was full of malice and glee.

"Looking down on everything? I think you're just strapped for cash and can't even take out a single Spirit Stone!"

"Pretend! I'll see how long you can keep up the act!"

"This Prince will wait and see what you use to compete for the final enlightenment stone!"

Inside the private box, Su Changge slowly opened his eyes.

His slender fingers tapped lightly on the warm jade teacup. "Tap."

A soft sound, drowned out by the clamor of the auction house. The hook is straight, and the bait is fragrant. I'm not afraid you won't bite.

Just at this moment, the grey-robed old man on the auction stage became incomparably solemn.

He spoke word by word, his voice like a great bell, shaking the entire venue.

"Everyone, what comes next will be the true highlight of this grand event!"

"It concerns the true interpretation of the Dao!"

"It contains the secret of Immortal Ascension!"

"Presenting—the enlightenment stone!"