38: The grand finale

Shopkeeper Jiang Yi took a deep breath, the smile on his face vanishing, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity and gravity.

He carefully brought out a jade box shrouded in layers of restrictive runes.

At this moment, four figures suddenly appeared beside Shopkeeper Jiang Yi, the lowest cultivation level among them being Golden Core Perfection.

The moment the Restriction was slowly lifted and opened—

Buzz!

Seven-colored auroral light soared into the sky! A medicinal fragrance so dense it was palpable, mixed with the profound and mysterious aura of dao rhyme, swept through the entire auction house like a tidal wave!

The entire venue fell so silent a needle could be heard! Every Cultivator, regardless of their cultivation level,

had their gaze fixed firmly on that gold and purple Medicinal Pill resting quietly in the jade box, radiating a dreamlike glow!

“Everyone!” Shopkeeper Jiang Yi's voice trembled slightly with excitement, yet it rang clearly in everyone's ears,

“Today's grand finale auction item! The world-shaking miraculous pill—the Profound Dao Pill!”

“This pill has been personally appraised by Great Master Mo Daoyun, a Sixth-Rank Alchemist of the Alchemist Association! It has three effects!”

“First, for those below Golden Core Perfection, it grants an immediate Breakthrough of one realm!”

“Second, the cultivation stagnation period after consumption is only two months!”

“Third!!!” Shopkeeper Jiang Yi's voice suddenly rose, exploding like a clap of thunder:

“It contains the dao rhyme of heaven and earth, and can assist Golden Core Cultivators... in increasing the success rate of condensing a Nascent Soul by ten percent!”

“Hiss—!!!”

After a brief, deathly silence, the entire auction house erupted like a powder keg being ignited!

“Ten percent!! My god!”

“Is it real? Such a Divine Pill actually exists?!”

“Great Master Mo personally appraised it! It absolutely cannot be fake!”

The sound of countless heavy breaths rang out, and countless blood-shot eyes locked onto that pill with its flowing light!

The Golden Core Cultivators, especially those old monsters who had been stuck at the Late Golden Core Stage or Great Perfection for many years, were all trembling slightly!

Their eyes were filled with extreme longing, greed, and madness!

After the brief silence came a heaven-shaking clamor that could have blown off the roof!

“One thousand five hundred!”

“One thousand eight hundred!”

“Two thousand!”

Shopkeeper Jiang Yi didn't even have time to announce the starting bid before deafening shouts of competition from the floor and some of the private booths exploded one after another!

The price was like a runaway horse, skyrocketing frantically under the gaze of countless bloodshot eyes!

“Two thousand five hundred!”

“Three thousand!”

“Three thousand three hundred!”

The intensity of the competition far exceeded all previous auction items!

Those in the general seating with weaker financial resources were quickly eliminated, but in the VIP booths on the second floor, the bidding voices became increasingly dense and high-pitched!

Every price increase was accompanied by a suffocating clash of pressure!

Inside the booth where Mu Long was, the atmosphere was solemn to the extreme.

The veins on Mu Long's forehead throbbed slightly, his breathing was heavy, and every bid felt like a piece of flesh being carved from his heart!

That was the twelve thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones he had accumulated over most of his life, supplemented by selling several properties of the City Lord's Mansion!

It was the capital to fight for a glimmer of hope for his old friend to reach the Nascent Soul stage!

“Four thousand!”

“Four thousand five hundred!”

“Five thousand!”

When the price broke the five thousand mark, Mu Long's voice rang out for the first time, carrying the unique majesty and unquestionability of a Nascent Soul Cultivator: “Five thousand five hundred!”

This grand gesture of directly adding five hundred silenced the entire venue!

But it was only quiet for an instant.

“Five thousand eight hundred!” An old and hoarse voice came from a corner booth.

“Six thousand!” A sinister female voice rang out from another direction.

The price continued to skyrocket!

Mu Long's face was ashen, his fists clenched tightly. Liu Tiezhu sat beside him, the muscles on his bronze-colored face twitching slightly.

In his eyes, there was both a longing for the Profound Dao Pill and a heavy sense of guilt toward his old friend for exhausting his family fortune.

“Seven thousand three hundred!”

“Seven thousand five hundred!”

“Eight thousand!”

When the price broke eight thousand, the bidding voices finally became sparse. Only three or four voices were still persistently competing.

Mu Long's eyes were bloodshot as he suddenly stood up, his voice like rolling thunder, carrying the determination of someone burning their bridges.

“Nine thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!”

And that sinister female voice rang out again:

“Nine thousand five hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!”

Mu Long bid again without the slightest hesitation:

“Ten thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!”

“Hiss!!”

The guests present gasped in unison.

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence once more! Countless gazes focused on that booth. Ten thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones! This was already the entire foundation of a small Sect!

“Ten thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones! Is there anyone higher?”

Shopkeeper Jiang Yi's voice carried an irrepressible excitement as his gaze swept across the room, especially toward those few booths involved in the intense bidding.

A brief silence.

“Ten thousand once!”

“Ten thousand twice!”

“Ten thousand... thrice!!”

“Sold! Congratulations to the honored guest in Heaven Booth No. 3 for winning the Profound Dao Pill!” Shopkeeper Jiang Yi's voice trembled slightly as he slammed the gavel!

“Dong!”

The dull thud felt like it was struck against everyone's heart!

Mu Long exhaled a long sigh of relief, his body swaying slightly before being supported by Liu Tiezhu.

This iron-blooded City Lord actually felt a bit weak at this moment, but his eyes were filled with wild joy and relief!

It was done! The Opportunity for his old friend to form a Nascent Soul was secured!

Liu Tiezhu, an iron man who had experienced mountains of corpses and seas of blood, also had slightly red eyes. He patted Mu Long's shoulder hard, everything left unsaid.

Mu Baitie's face was deathly pale as he looked at those constantly jumping astronomical figures, then thought about his previous behavior of wanting to cause trouble.

If he had truly used these Spirit Stones, he would likely have been ground into the dirt by his father.

He was filled with lingering fear.

He slumped completely into his chair, cold sweat soaking his back.

The auction finally drew to a close in an atmosphere of extreme excitement and subtle suppression.

Booth Jia No. 7.

Yao Delong and Lin Qingxue were quickly and respectfully invited to a quiet room in the back hall for the handover.

“Honored guest, for the heavenly vein ganoderma and panyan gold puppet you purchased, after deducting the commission, your proceeds from the items you put up for auction are...”

Shopkeeper Jiang Yi personally presented two Storage Pouches and a palm-sized, ancient-patterned dark gold humanoid Puppet.

“After deducting the Spirit Stones for the two items you purchased and the commission, there are six thousand two hundred and fifty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones remaining. Please keep them safe.”

Yao Delong swept his spiritual power over them, confirmed everything was correct, and put away the Spirit Stones and the Puppet. His withered fingers rubbed the dark gold panyan gold puppet,

feeling a heavy sense of weight and sharp intent coming from it.

He nodded in satisfaction.

“The transaction is complete. This old man will take his leave.”

Yao Delong did not stay for a moment, getting up to leave. He knew well that this place was not one to linger in.

“Honored guest, please wait!”

A gentle voice rang out, and Yun Ruoning, dressed in a green dress, walked in with measured steps, a perfect smile on her face,

but deep in her eyes, there was a trace of imperceptible urgency.

“Senior Yao, Fairy Lin.”

Yun Ruoning bowed slightly, her gaze sweeping over the Storage Pouch in Yao Delong's hand, understanding the situation in her heart.

She spoke with concern, her voice soft yet carrying a hint of unquestionability:

“The auction has just ended, and it is now late at night. Given your identities and the heavy treasures you carry, leaving the Merchant Guild at this time might not be very safe.”

She paused, meeting Yao Delong's calm gaze, and continued:

“Ruoning observes that Senior's aura is condensed, as if you are near a Breakthrough point.

The top floor of our White Cloud Merchant Guild has several top-tier quiet rooms specifically for VIPs. Not only is the Spiritual Qi far more abundant than outside, but there are also powerful Restrictions to block detection.

Most importantly, right now, one of our guild's Mid Nascent Soul Stage Enshrined Elders is personally presiding here!

If you enter seclusion here, absolutely no one will dare to disturb you!

If Senior is in urgent need of breaking through a Bottleneck, this place is undoubtedly the best choice.”

Her gaze was sincere, and her words were even more well-organized, hitting every key point—safety, the environment for seclusion, and the presence of a Nascent Soul!

Especially the last point, which carried immense weight! She said these words very quickly,

with a trace of imperceptible urgency in her tone, clearly afraid that Yao Delong would insist on leaving.

Yao Delong's brow under his black robe twitched imperceptibly.

He naturally understood Yun Ruoning's intention. Her own cultivation had already reached the Middle Golden Core Stage, and she was only a step away from the Late Stage or even Great Perfection, needing only accumulation and Opportunity.

How could she not be moved by the Profound Dao Pill that could increase the chance of forming a Nascent Soul by ten percent? Keeping him here was nothing more than wanting to find a chance to privately purchase one.

“Senior Brother...” Lin Qingxue also gently pulled Yao Delong's sleeve and sent a transmission,

“What she says is not without reason. Who knows how many eyes are on us outside right now, especially that City Lord and his son; I fear trouble may arise.

With a Nascent Soul presiding here, it is indeed more secure. Besides, Senior Brother, you truly do need to consume the heavenly vein ganoderma as soon as possible.”