33: Auction begins

Over the past few days, Lin Luoxue had been leaving early and returning late, searching for resources within the Xuantian Mountain Range.

At the same time, she searched for highly toxic substances for Zhang Daobai, which were meant for White Moon to absorb.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the day before the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce auction.

Inside the Small Courtyard's cultivation room, the aura of Zhang Daobai's Qi Refining Perfection cultivation quickly receded, dropping down to the Early Stage of Qi Refining.

But soon, the aura on Zhang Daobai's body slowly began to grow again, eventually stopping at the Late stage of Qi Refining.

"The ninth revolution!"

Zhang Daobai opened his eyes and murmured with a face full of pleasant surprise.

After twenty days of full-effort cultivation, Zhang Daobai had successfully cultivated from the seventh revolution of Qi Refining Perfection to the ninth revolution of the Late stage of Qi Refining.

Of course, this was also thanks to the cultivation feedback from Lin Luoxue after her Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Zhang Daobai felt the spiritual energy within his body, which was almost about to liquefy, and his heart was filled with excitement.

Now that the Nine Revolutions Foundation Establishment Method was nearing Perfection, he only needed to continue cultivating until Qi Refining Perfection to be able to directly Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

After using spiritual energy to shake the dust off his body, Zhang Daobai immediately left the cultivation room.

Since tomorrow was the start of the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce auction, Lin Luoxue had not gone to the Xuantian Mountain Range today.

"The ninth revolution?"

As soon as Zhang Daobai came out, Lin Luoxue noticed the spiritual energy fluctuations on his body at a glance.

"Mm, just a little bit more and I'll be able to Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment." A slight smile couldn't help but appear on the corner of Zhang Daobai's mouth.

"These are the insights on Foundation Establishment that I've compiled. Take them and have a look; I hope they will be useful for your upcoming Foundation Establishment."

Lin Luoxue took out a Jade Slip she had prepared beforehand and used spiritual energy to lift it in front of Zhang Daobai.

"Thank you."

Zhang Daobai didn't stand on ceremony and directly put the Jade Slip away.

"By the way, this is the auction list sent by the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce. See if there's anything you want."

Lin Luoxue took out a silver-paper-like page and placed it on the table.

Seeing this, Zhang Daobai sat down, took the auction list, and began to read.

Since Zhang Daobai was not lacking in Medicinal Pills or Magic Treasures for the time being, he ignored them directly.

"Hmm? thunder liquid?"

Zhang Daobai's gaze paused, and he quickly remembered that this was one of the main Materials for the hatching liquid of the Purple Thunder Eagle Egg.

"Yes, I saw it too. I'll make a move to bid for it when the time comes."

Hearing Zhang Daobai's murmur, Lin Luoxue responded.

Zhang Daobai nodded upon hearing this and continued to read.

It had to be said that the items at this large-scale auction of the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce were basically all rare treasures. The lowest-grade item was a Grade Two Foundation Establishment Pill.

In some small cities, a Grade Two Foundation Establishment Pill would be enough to be the finale of an auction—a pill sought after by countless small families and Loose Cultivators.

However, Zhang Daobai had the Nine Revolutions Foundation Establishment Method, so he didn't need a Foundation Establishment Pill to assist his Foundation Establishment.

Zhang Daobai's eyes quickly scanned through the auction list. Although there were many treasures that tempted him, just looking at their starting prices made him shake his head helplessly.

"How many Spirit Stones have you prepared during this time?"

Zhang Daobai put down the auction list, looked up at Lin Luoxue, and asked.

"About two hundred thousand, plus the remaining Spirit Stones from before, it's about three hundred and fifty thousand in total," Lin Luoxue replied after a simple calculation.

"Why? Do you need to buy something?"

After a pause, Lin Luoxue looked at Zhang Daobai with an inquiring gaze.

"No, keep it to buy the thunder liquid."

Zhang Daobai didn't have anything he urgently needed, so he didn't plan to bid for these things... Time quickly arrived at the next day.

Just before the auction was about to begin, Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue arrived outside the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower.

Ten Thousand Treasures Tower was an auction house under the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce, specializing in auction business.

After handing the auction invitation to the maid at the door, Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue were soon led by a maid into a private booth on the third floor.

"If you need anything, just ring this golden bell, and someone will come in shortly."

"If you want to place a bid, you can also use this sound-transmission jade to transmit your voice directly to the auctioneer..."

After entering the booth, the maid pointed to the golden bell on the side table, introduced all the equipment around, and then exited the booth.

"Have you participated in an auction before?"

After sitting down, Zhang Daobai turned and asked Lin Luoxue beside him.

"I've participated a few times."

Lin Luoxue nodded as she looked through the Illusion Spirit Gauze at the high platform below.

The entire auction house had three floors of private booths, and the window of each booth was covered by a layer of Illusion Spirit Gauze.

The Illusion Spirit Gauze was like the one-way glass from Zhang Daobai's previous life; one could see the situation outside from within the booth, but people outside could not see into the booth.

Just as Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue were waiting for the auction to begin, the door to the booth behind them suddenly rang.

"It should be Steward Wang."

Zhang Daobai's mind raced, and he soon thought of a figure.

In Purple Maple Immortal City, he and Lin Luoxue didn't know many people. The one most likely to come looking for them was Steward Wang of the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce.

"I'll go take a look."

Hearing this, Lin Luoxue stood up and walked quickly to the booth door to open it.

"Fellow Daoists, it's been a long time. I am truly sorry for the sudden intrusion."

As soon as the booth door opened, the person who came into view was exactly as Zhang Daobai had guessed—it was Steward Wang.

"Steward Wang, long time no see. Please, come in!" Zhang Daobai stood up and greeted him.

"Pardon the intrusion."

Steward Wang nodded with a face full of smiles and then walked in with a maid carrying a tea set.

"Quick, change the tea!"

After entering the booth, Steward Wang directed the maid to change the tea on the table.

Smelling the familiar clear fragrance, Zhang Daobai quickly remembered that this was Steward Wang's treasured green jade spirit tea.

Once the maid had finished changing the tea and left, Zhang Daobai got straight to the point and asked, "Steward Wang, what brings you here this time?"

Steward Wang hurriedly spoke with a glowing smile, "First of all, I want to thank you both for giving the Flame Flood Dragon to our Wanbao Chamber of Commerce for auction."

"During this period, due to the publicity of this Fourth-grade Perfection flame flood dragon bone, the reputation of our Wanbao Chamber of Commerce has successfully risen quite a bit, and it has also attracted more forces to participate in this auction."

It was precisely for this reason that he had received praise from the headquarters, along with many rewards.

"I should also thank you for your publicity, which allows our treasure to fetch a better price," Zhang Daobai also replied with a smile of gratitude.

"Oh, you're too polite. It's all mutually beneficial."

Hearing this, the smile on Steward Wang's face became a bit more sincere.

"By the way, to thank you for your support this time, I have applied to reduce the auction commission to the minimum of one percent."

"At the same time, we have also prepared a three million credit limit for you in advance to use for bidding on the treasures earlier in the auction."

Steward Wang immediately stated the true purpose of his visit.