272: Chapter 272 Qingyun Sect Auction

Azure Cloud Sect.

As a top-tier Sect in the Southern Region, the Azure Cloud Sect has a deep foundation. News of this large-scale auction has already spread throughout the Southern Region, attracting Cultivators from all sides.

With three days left until the auction begins, the area inside and outside the mountain gate is already bustling with people and noise.

Qin Changsheng's figure also appeared outside the mountain gate of the Azure Cloud Sect.

He came to the Azure Cloud Sect in person, wanting to use the Heavenly Dao Entry Intelligence to see what treasures would be at the Azure Cloud Sect auction.

"This Azure Cloud Sect auction is massive!"

"You're telling me! I heard there's even a Heaven-Grade Magical Artifact!"

"That's just a damaged Magical Artifact!"

"There are also top-tier Cultivation Techniques!"

"I heard several Core Formation Cultivators have come here!"

Within the Azure Cloud Sect, many Cultivators gathered in small groups, talking in low voices filled with anticipation and excitement. Without exception, the topic was the upcoming Azure Cloud Sect auction.

Qin Changsheng passed through the noisy crowd and arrived at an inn, where he booked an ordinary room.

Qin Changsheng closed the door behind him and summoned the Heavenly Dao Entry Intelligence.

"heavenly dao fragment." Qin Changsheng typed the name "heavenly dao fragment" into it.

In the next instant, words slowly appeared on the attribute panel.

[heavenly dao fragment: A special treasure that can upgrade a Golden Trait to a Heavenly Dao Trait!]

[Possession: None]

[Location: Qingyun Sect Auction House!]

Looking at the information on the panel, a flash of joy crossed Qin Changsheng's eyes.

He hadn't expected the Qingyun Sect Auction House to actually have a heavenly dao fragment. With this heavenly dao fragment, Qin Changsheng could upgrade another Golden Trait into a Heavenly Dao Trait.

After searching for the Heavenly Dao Trait, Qin Changsheng searched for many more treasures in succession.

[purple-gold key: A special treasure that can break the Seal of the Demon Empress]

[Possession: None]

[Location: Qingyun Sect Auction House]

[purple-gold earrings: A treasure of the Demon Empress]

[Possession: None]

[Location: Qingyun Sect Auction House!]

[golden marrow ganoderma: A treasure required for Core Formation]

[Possession: None]

[Location: Qingyun Sect Auction House!]

Qin Changsheng sat cross-legged in the center of the room, looking at the words on the attribute panel, lost in thought.

This Azure Cloud Sect auction had many treasures, and various forces were gathering. It would be extremely difficult to win all the treasures he wanted. He had to prioritize and plan the use of his Spirit Stones rationally.

Qin Changsheng soon decided on three treasures he had to obtain.

The heavenly dao fragment, golden marrow ganoderma, and Heaven-Grade Magical Artifact—these three had to be acquired at the auction; not one could be missed.

The heavenly dao fragment could upgrade a Golden Trait to a Heavenly Dao Trait.

It could significantly enhance Qin Changsheng's strength.

Following that was the golden marrow ganoderma. As a rare medicinal herb essential for Core Formation, it could greatly increase the success rate of reaching the Golden Core stage.

He was now at the Peak of Foundation Establishment and had long possessed the Aptitude to strike for the Golden Core.

He had already collected many of the necessary medicinal herbs.

Once he won the golden marrow ganoderma, he could immediately prepare for Core Formation and enter the Core Formation Realm as soon as possible.

And that damaged Heaven-Grade Magical Artifact was even more indispensable.

Although it was currently damaged and unusable, he possessed the Golden Trait [Repair]. As long as he could win it, he could use the power of the trait to restore it to perfect condition.

The power of a Heaven-Grade Magical Artifact far exceeded those of Earth Rank. Once successfully repaired, his combat power would surely achieve a qualitative leap, allowing him to hold his own even against a Cultivator in the Late Stage of Core Formation.

As for the purple-gold key and the Demon Empress's earrings, he would take them if he could.

If the required Spirit Stones were too many, Qin Changsheng would have to give them up.

After all, there were many Golden Core Cultivators at the Azure Cloud Sect auction.

Those Cultivators had a vast amount of Spirit Stones in their hands.

...

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

The Azure Cloud Sect auction also took place as scheduled.

The auction was held within a grand hall in the Qingyun Sect market.

At the entrance of the hall, more than ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Azure Cloud Sect stood guard.

The rules for entering the auction house were simple: no identity verification was needed, just a payment of ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones to receive an Entry Ticket from the guards.

To get a private box on the second floor, one had to pay a thousand Spirit Stones.

At this moment, a long queue had formed at the hall entrance. People were paying Spirit Stones, receiving tickets, and entering the hall in an order manner.

Some were dressed luxuriously, clearly Disciples of large Sects or children of noble families, who spent lavishly to secure private boxes.

Others wore simple gray robes and kept a low profile; they were obviously Loose Cultivators, yet they couldn't hide the longing in their eyes, hoping to find an Opportunity at the auction.

Hu Nan also spent a thousand Spirit Stones to purchase a private box.

After Hu Nan purchased the box, a Disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect led him inside.

The interior of the hall was extremely spacious, divided into two levels with a neat and clear layout.

The lower level was the main hall area, with hundreds of wooden chairs arranged in neat rows. Hundreds of Cultivators were already seated, and the air was thick with the sounds of chatter and laughter, filled with excitement and anticipation.

At the front of the hall, a high auction stage was set up, with a jade tray placed in the center.

The upper level consisted of individual private boxes arranged on both sides of the hall. Each box had dark curtains to hide the people inside, ensuring high privacy.

The Azure Cloud Sect Disciple led Hu Nan into a secluded private box.

The box was very simple, containing only a table, a few chairs, and a pot of Spiritual Tea.

The Azure Cloud Sect Disciple briefly explained the rules of use to Hu Nan and then left in a hurry.

Qin Changsheng also used his Golden Trait [Teleportation] to appear inside the box.

At the same time, he quietly observed the crowd below.

He also spotted several familiar figures in the crowd.

There were Senior Brother Wu Yong, Jiang Hui, and some experts from the Qingyun Ranking.

Besides them, Qin Changsheng saw many Disciples from various major Sects in the Southern Region, as well as some Loose Cultivator experts rarely seen in daily life. Various forces had gathered; while it seemed calm on the surface, undercurrents were surging, as everyone had their own goals and designs on the treasures in the auction.

In a private box not far from Qin Changsheng, Wang Cheng and Shen Bing were sitting.

At this moment, Shen Bing's expression was terrifyingly gloomy.

The reason Shen Bing looked so upset was that she had received a message from Shen Guhong yesterday, informing her that all two hundred million Spirit Stones in the Flowing Fire Sect's treasury had been stolen.

In the letter, Shen Guhong told Shen Bing to go all out for the purple-gold key and give up on the purple-gold earrings.

Hearing this news, Shen Bing was also completely bewildered.

The guards of their Yao Race treasury were extremely tight; not even a fly could escape.

Yet now, two hundred million Spirit Stones had vanished without a sound.

One must know that these Spirit Stones were collected by their Yao Race over many years of plundering.

"Senior Sister, what's wrong today? Your face looks so pale. Are you feeling unwell? Or is something bothering you?" Wang Cheng asked carefully.

Hearing Wang Cheng's inquiry, Shen Bing was silent for a moment before slowly shaking her head: "It's nothing. I just felt uneasy during my Cultivation last night, a minor setback. It's no big deal."

She did not intend to tell Wang Cheng about the theft of the Spirit Stones.

This matter was of great importance. If the news leaked, it would not only cause the Flowing Fire Sect to lose face but also damage the morale of the Yao Race Cultivators. Furthermore, other forces might notice something and take the Opportunity to suppress the Flowing Fire Sect.

Moreover, Shen Guhong had already ordered that this matter was strictly forbidden from being spread and could only be known by core personnel.

Wang Cheng was Qin Changsheng's External Incarnation, so he naturally knew that Shen Bing was upset because of the stolen Spirit Stones.

However, Wang Cheng did not plan to press further.

More than half an hour later, "Dong—Dong—Dong—" a series of rapid and heavy bell tolls suddenly echoed from outside the auction hall.

The moment the bell tolls ceased, the originally noisy hall instantly became silent.

All the Cultivators stopped talking and turned their gazes toward the auction stage.

They all knew that this bell was the signal for the official start of the Azure Cloud Sect auction. The long-awaited treasures were about to appear one by one.

Inside his private box, Qin Changsheng also turned his gaze toward the auction stage.

As everyone's attention was focused, Wen Xuanli slowly walked onto the auction stage.

Wen Xuanli walked to the center of the stage, raised his hand, and cupped his fists slightly toward the crowd below: "Fellow Daoists, thank you all for gracing us with your presence today at this large-scale auction hosted by my Azure Cloud Sect."

"I, Wen Xuanli, on behalf of the Azure Cloud Sect, express my sincere gratitude to all of you."