40: Chapter 40 Hidden Undercurrents

The entire auction was set within a hidden circular valley in the Luoxia Mountains.

The four walls of the valley had been smoothed by the magic power of powerful Cultivators and carved with complex runes, forming a massive composite Formation for gathering Spiritual Qi and protection, which both ensured an abundance of Spiritual Qi inside and isolated all outside prying eyes.

The bottom of the valley had been compacted and paved with smooth cyan spiritual jade, and in the center stood the main structure of this auction—a circular pavilion nine zhang tall.

This pavilion was constructed entirely of dark iron wood, with the entire center of the building hollowed out to form a huge atrium, where one could look up and see the valley sky rendered into a faint rosy color by the Formation.

Three huge circular light screens hung down from the atrium, each aimed at one of the three levels of stands, ensuring that guests in any position could clearly see the auction items that would appear on the central display platform.

The pavilion had three levels. The first level was the most spacious, like an ordinary hall, densely packed with thousands of ordinary meditation cushions for seats.

This was the main area for Cultivators in the Qi Refining Stage, noisy with voices, and the fluctuations of Spiritual Qi were the most chaotic.

Entering and leaving this level was completely unobstructed; one only needed to verify their qualifications.

The second level was a circle of exquisite corridors surrounding the atrium, featuring semi-open compartments shaded by bead curtains or light gauze, furnished with comfortable spiritual wood chairs and small tables.

These were the elegant seats for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, offering better views and better privacy.

Occasionally, there were wealthy Qi Refining Stage Cultivators who, after paying a hefty "seat upgrade fee," could also sit here, but compared to the Foundation Establishment Cultivators around them, their aura inevitably seemed cramped.

The third level consisted entirely of enclosed private rooms, covered with a flowing light Formation, appearing only as a hazy halo of light from the outside, with not a glimpse of the interior visible.

Only Golden Core Seniors, or those with extremely noble status, could be invited to ascend to this level.

Yun Ming used the Fuli Heaven-Concealing Record to confuse his aura, making himself look like a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

After paying a deposit of 10,000 Spirit Stones, he received a jade plaque with special Formation patterns used for bidding.

The attendant led Yun Ming into a compartment, and seeing Yun Ming sit down, she prepared to leave.

Yun Ming subconsciously grabbed her, thinking that since it was his first time attending, it would be better to ask clearly if he had any questions.

"This, Fairy," Yun Ming looked her up and down, thinking calling her Fairy should be fine: "This, how should I bid when I see something I love? Also, is there any catalog or something, so I can know what auction items there are?"

Seeing this, the attendant patiently explained: "Senior, if there is an item you fancy up for auction, you can use the jade plaque directly to bid by injecting Spiritual Qi and stating your price. The catalog is also in the jade plaque; you only need to project your Divine Sense into it to see it."

After listening to the attendant's explanation clearly, Yun Ming finally understood. To show his gratitude, he took out a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone and placed it into the attendant's hand.

The attendant took the Spirit Stone, a look of joy on her face, and asked again: "Does Senior want some tea? We have the Sunset Glow Sect's specialty Yunzhen tea, a first-grade High Grade..."

Before she could finish, Yun Ming waved his hand: "No need, I'm needle-phobic—no, I mean, I don't drink tea."

The attendant then exited the compartment.

Yun Ming picked up the jade plaque to see what auction items were available today and when the foundation establishment pill would appear, but a clear sneer came from nearby: "A Loose Cultivator from the countryside who doesn't understand anything dares to come to the auction." The voice floated over from the adjacent semi-open compartment, without any concealment.

Yun Ming didn't even look up, chuckled, and replied: "Does this auction have Yao Race participants? Why do I hear a dog barking?"

His counterattack drew a few suppressed snickers from several surrounding compartments.

The compartment that had just mocked him immediately shouted angrily: "Presumptuous! Do you know who we are?!"

Yun Ming's tone suddenly turned cold, and he raised his voice: "You are the one who is presumptuous! In the territory of the Sunset Glow Sect, you are shouting here—do you not have the Sunset Glow Sect in your eyes?!"

"You!" The person was furious and wanted to argue, but was held back by his companion. Another voice came from the compartment, the tone slightly milder: "No offense intended, please calm your anger, Fellow Daoist."

Yun Ming didn't buy it and retorted sarcastically: "Oh? When he mocked me just now, you didn't apologize, but when I brought up the Sunset Glow Sect, you apologized? You're not a good bird either, get lost!"

The companion was also provoked and his tone turned hard: "This Fellow Daoist, don't be too arrogant, we are..."

Before he could finish, Yun Ming impatiently interrupted: "Are you going to bring up some bullshit Family again? If you have the ability, kill me right now; if you don't, then honestly wait for the auction to start and don't cause trouble for the Sunset Glow Sect."

The next compartment instantly went quiet, with only the faint sound of heavily suppressed, ragged breathing. The two were clearly so angry that their veins were bulging and their teeth were almost shattered, but in the end, they dared not make a move.

Seeing the other side back down, several voices of onlookers who loved to stir up trouble rang out, adding fuel to the fire with jeers: "Yo, why is there no sound? Weren't you shouting quite loudly just now?" "Exactly, all thunder and no rain. Putting on airs in front of the Sunset Glow Sect—you kicked an iron plate, didn't you!" "That Fellow Daoist has a sharp tongue! Well said! If you don't have the ability, sit down honestly. Are we still going to hold the auction or not?" "Heh, is the Family name not working now? Why don't you make a move and let everyone see!"

Although these jeers and discussions were not loud, they drifted over in wisps, plunging the compartment of those two into an even more embarrassing dead silence.

Yun Ming shrugged, too lazy to pay attention to them, and carefully reviewed the Sunset Glow Sect's auction items for today.

The first auction item that caught his eye startled Yun Ming. "A first-grade low grade Spiritual Vein, starting bid 100,000 Spirit Stones, estimated minimum yield of millions of Spirit Stones."

An entire Spiritual Vein—Yun Ming suspected it was the one that was accidentally exposed when Daoist Jian Xia blew up the mountain range.

This Spiritual Vein was on the Sunset Glow Sect's territory; they probably wouldn't let anyone establish a sect on it. Whoever bought it could only mine it, which some small Families might be interested in.

His gaze moved down, skipping over the auction items he wasn't interested in at all, and finally found the foundation establishment pill he had been thinking about. "foundation establishment pill, starting bid 80,000 Spirit Stones!" The starting bid for just one foundation establishment pill was almost catching up to a first-grade low grade Spiritual Vein.

"It's a good thing I became an upstart once, otherwise I really wouldn't be able to afford this foundation establishment pill."

Looking further down, Yun Ming discovered a second-grade Low Grade Profound Spirit Turtle Shell, starting bid 28,000 Spirit Stones. Although it was only a palm-sized fragment, injecting Spiritual Qi into it could block an attack from a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator. It just so happened that his kui water spirit light shield had been destroyed before, and now that he had activated the Demon Suppression Order, he had to buy this to use as a life-saving Magic Treasure.

Behind it was a 100-year-old Jade Marrow Ganoderma with abundant Spiritual Qi, starting bid 18,000, which was one of the main ingredients for refining second-grade High Grade Peiyuan Pills. Yun Ming had no interest in the Jade Marrow Ganoderma, but he was very interested in the Pill Formula for the Peiyuan Pill; unfortunately, it was not among the auction items.

There were other things like: a Cloud-Patterned Crane egg, which could be used as a transport tool once hatched; a broken bronze Formation Plate of unknown use; a third-grade Low Grade Flying Sword; a pair of Concentric Jade Pendants that could sense the other person's location and safety from thousands of miles away; as well as the grand finale auction item, the five elements gold-condensing jade liquid, with a starting bid of 1,000,000 Spirit Stones—it was unknown what astronomical figure it would take to win this one. Finally, there was a mysterious auction item; many people guessed it was the Xuan Ying Pill, but up to now, the Sunset Glow Sect had not disclosed what it was. It seemed they really intended to reveal it at the very end.

Suddenly, a series of whistling sounds came from the sky; the Golden Core True Persons had arrived.