37: Auction begins

The next night, at the White Cloud Merchant Guild auction house.

The usually spacious auction hall was now teeming with people, every seat taken, and even the aisles were filled.

The atmosphere was heavy and feverish, the air thick with invisible pressure and greed.

Looking around, Golden Core Cultivators, usually rare to see, were everywhere, and there were even several deep and obscure auras,

figures faintly carrying Nascent Soul pressure hidden in the shadows of corners or VIP seats.

The number of people was more than double that of previous years!

Yao Delong and Lin Qingxue were personally led by Shopkeeper Jiang Yi to a VIP box on the second floor with an excellent view.

The box had walls of special crystal; one could see the entire hall from inside, but not a glimpse could be seen from the outside, and it was protected by a powerful Restriction that blocked Divine Sense probing.

Lin Qingxue removed her veil, her elegant face appearing even more moving under the soft light of the box.

She looked through the crystal wall at the crowded venue below, a hint of surprise flashing in her beautiful eyes:

“Senior Brother, there are so many people... It seems the storm stirred up by the Profound Dao Pill is even greater than we imagined.”

Yao Delong was still dressed in black robes, his withered fingers lightly tapping the armrest as his calm gaze swept over the hall, his voice raspy:

“Normal. A ten percent chance of forming a Nascent Soul is enough to drive every Golden Core in the world mad.”

Not long after they sat down, the curtain of a box diagonally opposite was also lifted,

and Mu Long, Liu Tiezhu, and a proud-looking Mu Baitie walked in.

Mu Baitie's gaze instantly locked onto Yao Delong's side; when he saw Lin Qingxue sitting intimately beside the black-robed old man,

the fire of jealousy in his eyes almost erupted! He clenched his fists tightly, his nails nearly sinking into his flesh.

Yao Delong seemed to sense something, his gaze from beneath the black robe indifferently sweeping across the opposite side,

taking in Mu Baitie's resentment and the figures of Mu Long and Liu Tiezhu without the slightest ripple in his heart.

The center of the auction stage lit up, and Shopkeeper Jiang Yi walked up with a glowing face, his voice booming,

infused with Golden Core Qi, instantly suppressing the noise of the crowd:

“Distinguished guests! Welcome to the White Cloud Merchant Guild's grand quinquennial auction!”

“Today, many talents have gathered and treasures abound; we will surely not disappoint you! The auction officially begins!”

After the opening remarks, radiant treasures were brought onto the stage one by one.

Top-grade Spiritual Artifacts, powerful Formation Plates, rare rank five Yao Beast Materials, precious Medicinal Pills that could assist in breaking through minor Bottlenecks... The atmosphere was gradually ignited, and bids rose one after another. Among them were several top-grade Earth-Grade Weapons,

prompting some Golden Core Cultivators to compete for them, resulting in high prices.

Yao Delong sat steadily in the box like a monk in meditation. Although these treasures were good, they were not what he needed.

Lin Qingxue also sat quietly to the side, occasionally casting a glance at some delicate Magical Artifacts or rare Spiritual Plants.

Time passed, the auction gradually neared its end, and the atmosphere became increasingly heavy.

The fifth to last item was brought up by a maid.

“Human-Grade Medium Grade Cultivation Technique—'Great Dark Heaven Art'!”

Shopkeeper Jiang Yi's voice carried a hint of excitement,

“This technique was created thousands of years ago by a Late Nascent Soul Stage expert, pointing directly to the Mid Nascent Soul Stage Realm!”

“Although its attribute leans toward the dark system, its power is unpredictable. When cultivated to its depths, it can turn a part of the world into eternal night, devouring the vitality of all things!”

“It is truly a supreme treasure for founding a sect or passing down to a Family! The starting price—1,000 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!”

A Human-Grade Medium Grade technique! For the many Golden Core Loose Cultivators and small families in the hall, it was practically a dream Legacy treasure!

It instantly triggered the first climax of the final stage!

Bidding rose like a tide, the price soaring all the way,

finally being claimed by a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator shrouded in a black cloak for the astronomical price of 1,500 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

Countless envious and greedy gazes focused on that Jade Slip emitting a dark aura.

Next was one of Yao Delong's most important goals for this trip.

“The fourth to last item!” Shopkeeper Jiang Yi's voice remained steady, but everyone's gazes grew even more heated,

“Five-hundred-year-old—heavenly vein ganoderma!”

A ganoderma, entirely purple-gold with clear veins that seemed to contain Dao patterns,

and emitting a dense life aura and strange spatial fluctuations, appeared on the stage.

“This item needs no words from me; it is an essential main ingredient for refining various high-level Medicinal Pills, especially those for breaking through Realms!”

“Its contained life Origin and spatial power have endless uses! The starting price—600 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!”

While the heavenly vein ganoderma was precious, its main value lay in Alchemy.

For Cultivators who didn't understand Alchemy or lacked access to top Alchemists, buying it would greatly reduce its effectiveness.

Thus, while the bidding was intense, it was far less frantic than for the previous technique.

The price quickly climbed to 800 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, and the bidding voices thinned out.

“One thousand!” a raspy voice rang out.

“One thousand one hundred!” someone in a corner followed up.

“One thousand three hundred!” a voice came from another box.

Just as the price was stuck at 1,300 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones,

Yao Delong's low, raspy voice passed through the box's Restriction and clearly spread throughout the hall:

“1,500 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.”

This price far exceeded the normal market value of the heavenly vein ganoderma! The hall instantly fell silent.

Those bidding Golden Core Cultivators hesitated for a moment and gave up one after another.

There was no shortage of Alchemists, but those who could spend such a high price on raw Materials either had deep backgrounds,

or were completely confident in refining high-level pills; there was no need to compete, and they couldn't win anyway.

Yao Delong was determined to get it.

However!

“One thousand six...!” A young voice with clear provocative intent rang out from the box diagonally opposite; it was Mu Baitie!

He had been waiting for this moment, specifically to cause trouble for Yao Delong!

But before the bid was finished, one only heard—

“Slap!”

The crisp sound of a slap faintly drifted from the opposite box!

Followed immediately by Mu Long's low growl, suppressed with anger:

“Vile creature! Shut up! The Spirit Stones are for your Uncle Liu to compete for the Profound Dao Pill! How can I let you mess around!”

The entire hall was silent. Everyone recognized the voice of the City Lord Mansion's Third Young Master and heard City Lord Mu Long's scolding.

Mu Baitie clutched his face, feeling it burning, and his heart was filled with extreme shame and indignation!

He stared intently at Yao Delong's box, the resentment in his eyes almost turning tangible!

He didn't dare resent his father, so all his anger was redirected toward Yao Delong once again! It was all because of this old thing!

“1,500 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, once! Twice! Three times! Sold! Congratulations to the honored guest in Box A-7!”

Shopkeeper Jiang Yi dropped the gavel decisively. Yao Delong successfully bid for the heavenly vein ganoderma.

“The third to last item,” Shopkeeper Jiang Yi's voice took on a hint of mystery,

“is a 'panyan gold puppet'! This Puppet is made of Gold Essence as the main material, supplemented by various rare ores, and inscribed with profound runes,”

“its cultivation can erupt up to the Golden Core Perfection Realm! Its driving core requires Mid-Grade Spirit Stones to be embedded,”

“consuming ten for daily actions and fifty for a full-scale eruption! Starting price—1,000 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!”

A dark gold humanoid Puppet, about ten feet tall and emitting a heavy, solid aura, was pushed onto the high stage.

A Golden Core Stage battle Puppet was indeed rare, but its enormous consumption also discouraged people.

There were few bidders, and the price rose slowly.

“1,300!”

“1,400!”

When the price stopped at 1,500, Yao Delong's steady voice rang out again:

“1,800 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.”

Once this price came out, the other bidders shook their heads and gave up.

In the end, this powerful Golden Core Stage Puppet was also claimed by Yao Delong.

The second to last item was a cold, glinting low-grade heavenly artifact Flying Sword,

which sparked a competition among several Nascent Soul Cultivators and wealthy families,

finally selling for 2,800 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

Finally!

The lights in the hall dimmed, leaving only a soft beam of light focused on the center of the auction stage.