205: Soul-Condensing Jade

Several thoughts flashed through the old man's mind. His Divine Sense probed out, attempting to penetrate the light screen to investigate further information, but it was blocked by the Formation. He could only record the number of the Quiet Room and the bland voice.

He would settle this score later.

Halfway through the auction, the Third Manager clapped his hands lightly, signaling the whole venue to quiet down.

Two female Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators carried up a seemingly plain stone box. The lid was tightly closed, leaking no spiritual light whatsoever.

"The next item is quite special," the Third Manager announced clearly. "Its exterior is easily overlooked, even mistaken for a common rock. It requires a secret technique to activate, revealing its true appearance."

After speaking, he formed a hand seal, and a soft white light shot into the stone box.

The box trembled slightly, and the stone skin on its surface peeled away as if melting snow, revealing an inner casket entirely carved from cold jade.

The moment the cold jade casket opened, a cool and pure sensation instantly spread, causing the Divine Souls of all the Cultivators present to tremble slightly.

Resting quietly on the silk lining inside the casket was a jade stone, egg-sized, deep purple in color, with what looked like a nebula slowly rotating within it.

"This is soul condensing jade!" The Third Manager paused. "I presume some Fellow Daoists have already recognized it. This jade nourishes the Divine Soul, stabilizes the Dao foundation, and resists Heart Demons. It has miraculous effects for Core Formation Cultivators like us when attempting to break through a Bottleneck.

What is even rarer is that this jade has a plain, unadorned exterior and restrained spiritual aura, making it difficult to detect unless one has sharp Divine Sense or is proficient in appraising treasures, which is why it is often overlooked.

This piece was also accidentally identified by a Great Master in our Association from a batch of common rock Materials. The reserve price is ten thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones, or equivalent Medicinal Pills or ancient texts that enhance Divine Sense cultivation."

A low murmur immediately arose in the venue. Many Cultivators swept their Divine Sense over the soul condensing jade again, seemingly trying to memorize the astonishing Spiritual Aura that might be contained beneath such an ordinary exterior.

Inside the Quiet Room, Lin Feng's pupils contracted, and his heart trembled violently.

The shape of this jade stone, that unique coolness... it was incredibly similar to the dark, mottled Ore rough stones deep within his black jade bracelet, which he had only bought from a small market stall in Tiannan after the heaven-stealing vine sensed them.

Could it be... that those few ordinary-looking stones he possessed were actually this soul condensing jade?

Moreover, the quality of this piece on the auction stage, even after activation, seemed inferior to his own pieces, which were warm and translucent?

Just as his thoughts raced, a cold, clear female voice emerged from Quiet Room A-3. The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, immediately overpowering several voices that had intended to bid: "One bottle of Nine Revolutions Soul Return Pill, three pills."

The entire venue instantly fell silent.

The Nine Revolutions Soul Return Pill is a sacred healing medicine that can regrow flesh on white bones and revive the dead. At critical moments, it is equivalent to multiple lives, and its value is difficult to measure in Spirit Stones.

Using this Medicinal Pill to trade for soul condensing jade was undoubtedly a grand gesture.

A hint of surprise also appeared on the Third Manager's face. He then smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist in A-3 has bid three Nine Revolutions Soul Return Pills. Are there any other Fellow Daoists who wish to bid?"

A brief silence enveloped the entire venue. The value of the Nine Revolutions Soul Return Pill far exceeded that of ordinary soul condensing jade, and such a grand move was enough to deter most bidders.

However, moments later, an aged and slightly hesitant voice came from Quiet Room B-12 in another direction: "This old man offers a piece of Ten Thousand Year Warm Jade... plus five thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones."

This Ten Thousand Year Warm Jade is an excellent auxiliary Artifact Refining Material. It can harmonize True Essence and nourish the Meridians. Although its value is not comparable to the Nine Revolutions Soul Return Pill, it is extremely precious.

The cold, clear female voice sounded again. She did not raise the price but stated a name: "Jueqing Valley, Xu Miaoyin."

These five seemingly light words caused the atmosphere in the venue to instantly freeze.

Jueqing Valley, the foremost of the Seven Demonic Sects, the Sect whose Cultivation Technique is strange and whose disciples act unpredictably.

Furthermore, this Xu Miaoyin is a Mid-stage Core Formation Cultivator whose strength is unfathomable.

Lin Feng narrowed his eyes slightly inside the Quiet Room.

The name Jueqing Valley was not unfamiliar to him.

When he explored the Foul Abyss Marsh with Senior Sister Xiao Qinghan back then, they had seen several remains of Jueqing Valley Cultivators deep within the swamp.

At that time, Senior Sister Xiao had specifically reminded him that Jueqing Valley disciples acted mysteriously and their Cultivation Techniques specialized in attacking the mind and spirit; if not necessary, they should avoid conflicts with them.

He never expected to encounter a Mid-stage Core Formation Cultivator from Jueqing Valley here today, acting so high-profilely.

Quiet Room B-12 immediately fell silent. It was clearly not worth offending Jueqing Valley just for a piece of soul condensing jade.

However, what was even more unexpected was that Xu Miaoyin's voice once again spread throughout the entire Star Splendor Hall: "Third Manager, besides finalizing this transaction, I would like to make an additional commitment using this esteemed location."

My Jueqing Valley will indefinitely purchase higher-quality soul condensing jade. If someone can provide a lead that results in a successful transaction, Jueqing Valley will not only pay treasures far exceeding the market price but also agree to assist once, or provide definite information regarding the source of the 'Nine Heavens Stardust'!"

Nine Heavens Stardust! The dream Material for refining top-tier Flying Swords and magic robes!

The entire Star Splendor Hall fell into a shocked silence. Everyone was stunned by the astonishing conditions offered by Jueqing Valley.

To obtain high-quality soul condensing jade, they were willing to trade such secret information?

Lin Feng couldn't help but feel a hint of curiosity towards Xu Miaoyin. This woman was vying for the soul condensing jade at any cost and publicly revealed her identity to offer a reward. Jueqing Valley's need for this item must be extremely urgent.

What secret was hidden behind this soul condensing jade?

Lin Feng's heartbeat involuntarily quickened slightly. Suppressing the shock in his heart, he took advantage of the brief interval while the soul condensing jade was being handed over on the auction stage, and retrieved the seven gray rough stones from deep within his black jade bracelet.

They lay quietly in his palm, warm to the touch, their exterior still plain and unadorned, almost indistinguishable from ordinary pebbles found by the roadside.

Following the Hand Seal demonstrated by the Third Manager earlier, he slowly probed the interior of one of the rough stones.

In an instant, a coolness far purer and more magnificent than that of the soul condensing jade on the auction stage fed back along his Divine Sense.

The intensity of this internal Spiritual Aura far surpassed his imagination.

There was no doubt that these seven stones, which he had ignored for years, were the high-quality soul condensing jade Xu Miaoyin spoke of.

However, just as his Divine Sense probed the interior of the jade stone, causing an extremely faint leak of the jade's Spiritual Aura, Xu Miaoyin, inside Quiet Room A-3, was tucking the newly acquired soul condensing jade into her sleeve.

Her delicate body suddenly trembled, and the jade stone, which hadn't even warmed up in her hand, nearly slipped out.

The Cultivation Technique she practiced, the Seven Emotions Severing Self Technique, operated spontaneously, and her sensitivity to high-quality soul condensing jade peaked at this moment.

Although the pure Spiritual Aura leaking from the high-quality soul condensing jade was fleeting, it nearly caused the blood in her entire body to boil.

"Found it!" A storm raged in Xu Miaoyin's heart, but her face maintained its icy composure.

She forcefully suppressed the urge to rush over immediately, instead firmly memorizing the location of Quiet Room C-79 and the vocal characteristics she had heard earlier when Lin Feng traded the blood cicada saber.

At the same time, Lin Feng's heart tightened the moment the Spiritual Aura leaked out. He cursed inwardly, "Crap," and without hesitation, instantly withdrew his Divine Sense. With a flick of his wrist, he swiftly stuffed the troublesome stones back into the deepest layer of his black jade bracelet.

Possessing a treasure invites trouble.

Clearly, in a venue crowded with Core Formation Cultivators and involving major powers like the Four Seas Association and Jueqing Valley, exposing himself as possessing a great treasure would undoubtedly lead to a situation where death was certain and escape impossible.