257: The Elixir of Life-Creating Power, the Pure Glass Cup of Purification!

Dressed in brocade robes, Zhang Yuan stepped forward.

Facing the gaze of dozens of Mahayana Cultivatorss and even several Void Immortal old monsters below the stage, he remained calm and composed, neither humble nor arrogant, exuding a confidence that showed he was in control of the entire scene.

“Welcome, Seniors, for gracing us with your presence.”

Zhang Yuan cupped his hands slightly. His voice wasn't loud, yet it spread clearly throughout the hall: “Without further ado, the auction officially begins.”

“The first item—the Life-Creation Pill!”

As a maid brought the tray up, a dense medicinal fragrance instantly filled the air.

The pill was emerald green all over, with nine pill patterns on its surface, as if it contained endless vitality.

“This pill was refined from an ancient Pill Formula; it can reshape the Physical Body and repair the Divine Soul.

Even if only a wisp of a remnant soul remains, by taking this pill, one can reconsolidate their Physical Body and live another life!”

The moment Zhang Yuan finished speaking, inside a private booth on the second floor, Heavenly Secret Master's breathing instantly became rapid.

This was exactly the treasure he dreamed of!

His Physical Body had been destroyed by Lu Yuan and his Primordial Spirit severely wounded. If he could obtain this pill, he could not only reshape his body but also repair his Primordial Spirit and return to his Peak!

“Starting price, one million Saint Grade Spirit Stones!”

“Two million!” Heavenly Secret Master bid impatiently, his voice trembling.

“Three million.”

“Five million!”

...The price soared all the way, quickly breaking through fifty million.

Gritting his teeth and exhausting all his family assets, Heavenly Secret Master called out an astronomical price: “Eighty million Saint Grade Spirit Stones!”

This was already the limit of what he could produce, and it would even require selling off some of the Tianji Pavilion's heritage.

The entire hall fell silent.

Eighty million for a single Medicinal Pill was indeed a bit of an overpayment.

Heavenly Secret Master breathed a sigh of relief, thinking victory was within his grasp.

Just then, a faint voice came from the opposite booth.

“Eighty million and one.”

Heavenly Secret Master looked up abruptly, staring fixedly at that booth.

That voice, that tone—he would recognize it even if it were turned to ash!

Lu Yuan!

“You!” Heavenly Secret Master trembled with rage: “Lu Yuan! You're deliberately making things difficult for me, aren't you?!”

“So what if I am?” Lu Yuan's voice remained flat: “I've made my bid. Are you following or not?”

“I... I bid eighty-one million!” Heavenly Secret Master's eyes were bloodshot as he practically roared the words.

“Eighty-one million and one.” Lu Yuan raised the bid again, still by only a single stone.

This naked humiliation almost caused Heavenly Secret Master to collapse.

“Ninety... ninety million!” Heavenly Secret Master shouted his final price. This was a figure gathered by overdrawing all the savings the Tianji Pavilion had accumulated over tens of thousands of years.

“Ninety million and one.”

Lu Yuan's voice was still unhurried, as if those weren't Spirit Stones but just a pile of waste soil.

“Pfft!”

Heavenly Secret Master spat out a mouthful of old blood and slumped into his chair, his eyes filled with despair.

He was out of money.

“Ninety million and one, going once, twice, three times! Sold!”

Zhang Yuan struck the gavel, finalizing the deal.

As the transaction was completed, a System notification sounded in Lu Yuan's mind.

[Ding! Successfully intercepted Son of Destiny Zhang Yuan's auction rebate. Triggered a thousand-fold critical hit return. Obtained 1,000 Life-Creation Pills.]

Lu Yuan's brow twitched slightly, showing a hint of surprise.

He hadn't expected that a normal competitive bid could also trigger a rebate. It seemed that the range of Zhang Yuan's System judgment was even broader than imagined.

As for those ninety million Spirit Stones? To him, it was indeed just a drop in the bucket.

Just from plundering the assets of several Longevity Families previously, his wealth was already an astronomical figure.

Next, the auction continued.

“The second auction item.”

Zhang Yuan clapped his hands, and a maid walked onto the stage carrying a tray.

The red cloth was pulled back, revealing a tattered bronze oil lamp that looked as if it had been picked up from a trash heap.

It was precisely the disguised world-cleansing glazed lamp.

“This item is called the Glazed Lamp, a damaged fire-attribute offensive Spirit Treasure.

Although it is damaged, its material is special, so it might have some research value.”

Zhang Yuan introduced it with a smile, his tone extremely perfunctory: “Starting price, one hundred thousand Saint Grade Spirit Stones.”

As soon as these words were spoken, a wave of sighs erupted below the stage.

“What kind of junk is this? It's worth a hundred thousand?”

“Fellow Daoist Zhang, are you taking us for suckers?”

“No thanks, buying this kind of thing would just take up space.”

Everyone shook their heads one after another, clearly having no interest in this “damaged Spirit Treasure” with such a poor appearance.

Standing on the stage, the corners of Zhang Yuan's mouth curled up, but his heart was blossoming with joy.

This was exactly the effect he wanted!

It was better if no one bought it! If no one bought it, the shill he arranged could “pick up the leak” at the lowest price, thereby creating a huge “loss” and triggering the System's ten-thousand-fold rebate!

“One hundred thousand going once...”

Zhang Yuan deliberately dragged out his voice, his gaze shifting toward a man in black in the corner.

That was his shill.

The man in black understood and was about to raise his paddle.

“One million Saint Grade Spirit Stones.”

A calm voice once again drifted out from that familiar booth on the second floor.

The entire hall fell dead silent.

Everyone's eyes widened, looking at the booth where Lu Yuan was as if they were looking at a fool.

One million?

For a broken lamp?

Does this Ancestor Qingyun have so much money that it's burning a hole in his pocket?

Even those Void Immortal old monsters looked at each other and shook their heads secretly.

“Although this lad's strength is formidable, his discernment... is truly average,” Jin Wugou stroked his beard and evaluated in his heart.

Only Zhang Yuan's smile instantly froze on his face.

One million?

While this could be considered a profit!

But his System gave rebates on losses! If he made money, the System wouldn't give a rebate!

In this wave, not only did he fail to fleece the System, but he had actually sold a true Transcendent Spiritual Treasure! Although one million wasn't a small amount, compared to the System's rebate, it was a bloody loss!

“Could... could this Lu Yuan... have seen through something?”

Zhang Yuan's heart was filled with uncertainty and suspicion, and cold sweat instantly broke out.

This disguise of his was performed using methods from the System's rebates; even a Void Immortal couldn't see through it, so how could Lu Yuan?

“One million, are there any more bids?”

Zhang Yuan asked through gritted teeth, still harboring a sliver of hope that someone would snatch this hot potato away, at least allowing him to earn a few more Spirit Stones.

Unfortunately, no one was a fool.

“One million once, twice, three times! Sold!”

Zhang Yuan dropped the gavel with tears in his eyes, his heart bleeding.

Inside the booth.

Lu Yuan looked at the tattered oil lamp that had been delivered, a smile playing on his lips.

[Ding! Successfully intercepted Son of Destiny Zhang Yuan's “loss-making rebate” Opportunity. Triggered a thousand-fold critical hit return. Obtained the advanced version of the “world-cleansing glazed lamp”—the “nine treasures glazed lamp” (Not only can it dispel ten thousand poisons and curses, it can also serve as a top-grade defensive Transcendent Spiritual Treasure, immune to all techniques).]

Lu Yuan casually handed the oil lamp to the Yaochi Holy Mother beside him.

“Fellow Daoist Lu, this... this is that world-cleansing glazed lamp?” The Yaochi Holy Mother looked at the tattered thing in her hand; although she trusted Lu Yuan, she was still somewhat hesitant.

“The Holy Mother only needs to inject a sliver of magic power to know the truth.”

The Yaochi Holy Mother did as she was told.