162: Chapter 162 You think you're on the fifth level, but Master Cao is actually in the atmosphere!

On the display stage.

The sole spotlight shone down.

It accentuated Pei Qinglan's graceful and enchanting figure, making her even more alluring.

She held the pitch-black fragment in her palm, her voice carrying out through the Formation.

"Honored guests."

"This is the final grand finale item of tonight's auction."

Everyone in the audience craned their necks.

Many old monsters in the second and third-floor boxes also extended their Divine Sense.

They attempted to probe the true nature of this black iron fragment.

But as their Divine Sense swept over it, it was like a clay ox entering the sea—vanishing without a trace.

They couldn't detect any useful information.

Pei Qinglan calmly met the countless inquisitive gazes.

"Even the Chief Appraiser of our Treasure Pavilion cannot determine the specific origin of this item."

As soon as these words were spoken.

A flurry of whispers immediately erupted from the audience.

Treasure Pavilion collected rare treasures from all over the world; if even they couldn't identify it, it must have an extraordinary background.

The eyes of many Elders and Prodigies from major powers were already burning with the flames of greed.

Pei Qinglan didn't offer much explanation.

She turned her head and gave a slight nod with her delicate chin toward the guard behind her.

The guard, at the Peak of Soul Transformation, stepped onto the stage.

He took out a heavy bronze shield from his Storage Ring.

Dense defensive Formation runes were engraved on the surface of the shield, with spiritual light flowing through them.

At a glance, it was clearly no ordinary item.

"This is an Earth Rank Top-Grade defensive Magic Treasure, the black tortoise shield. It is enough to withstand a full-strength strike from an Early Void Refinement Stage expert."

Pei Qinglan casually explained.

Then, she pinched the fragment with two fair fingers.

She didn't activate any spiritual power, nor did she perform any Martial Skill.

She simply held the fragment and lightly drew it across the surface of the black tortoise shield.

Screech—

With such a light stroke.

The black tortoise shield, claimed to be able to withstand a full-strength blow from an Early Void Refinement Stage expert.

The defensive Formation runes on it instantly dimmed.

Immediately after, the entire shield was sliced directly in half from the middle by the fragment.

The cut was as smooth as a mirror.

Clang!

The two halves of the shield crashed onto the display stage, their spiritual light completely extinguished.

This black fragment actually possessed such power?

Without the use of spiritual power, relying solely on the sharpness of the material itself, it could cut through an Earth Rank Top-Grade defensive Magic Treasure?

"I want it! No matter how many Spirit Stones!"

"This is definitely a fragment of an ancient divine weapon!"

The crowd below was filled with shock and uncertainty.

Countless Cultivators stood up with bloodshot eyes, wishing they could bid immediately.

However, before the crowd could fall into complete madness.

Pei Qinglan shook her head helplessly.

"Everyone, don't be in such a hurry to celebrate."

"Although this fragment is peerlessly sharp, it has one fatal flaw."

She placed the fragment back on the tray and sighed.

"Treasure Pavilion invited over a dozen top Artifact Refining Grandmasters. They used various Heaven and Earth Exotic Fires and burned it for three whole months."

"But they were unable to melt it in the slightest."

Pei Qinglan spread her hands, her tone carrying a hint of regret.

"If it cannot be melted, it means Formation runes cannot be inscribed, it cannot be refined to recognize a master, and it certainly cannot be integrated into other Magic Treasures."

"To put it bluntly, it's a dead object. Other than holding it in your hand to use as a thrown hidden weapon, it has no other function."

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over everyone's heads.

The heated atmosphere below was instantly dampened by more than half.

A dead object that could not be refined or controlled by Divine Sense.

For high-level Cultivators, it was indeed a useless chicken rib.

In a real fight, who would be foolish enough to stand there and let you slice them with a piece of iron?

"Because the material is unique and its origin is unknown."

Pei Qinglan struck the gavel.

"This auction item has no starting price. Everyone, please bid as you wish; the highest bidder wins. The bidding begins."

The audience was quiet for a moment.

A few Loose Cultivators sitting in the corners, hoping to pick up a bargain, tentatively raised their hands.

"One thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"I'll give fifteen hundred!"

"Two thousand!"

These sparse bids seemed somewhat comical compared to the previous scenes where millions were thrown around at every turn.

Just then, the Formation of Sky Box Two lit up.

"Ten million High-Grade Spirit Stones!"

Xiao Zhe's voice came through the Formation, extremely arrogant and disdainful.

"This item is fated to be with this Saint. I'll take it."

The Cultivators below looked at each other.

Ten million High-Grade Spirit Stones for a piece of scrap iron that couldn't be refined?

Did the people from the Taichu Holy Land have so many Spirit Stones that they were burning a hole in their pockets?

Inside Sky Box Two.

Elder Zhao Wuji stroked his white beard with satisfaction.

What did that group of fools below know?

They had traveled all the way from the heart of the Central Continent to this Yuheng Province transit station specifically for this fragment.

When the Holy Lord came out of seclusion, he had secretly passed down a Decree.

This thing was suspected to be a core fragment of an ancient Immortal Artifact.

Even if it couldn't be refined now, as long as it was brought back to the Holy Land and the Grand Elders in death-seclusion took action, there would always be a way to comprehend its secrets.

"Secure this item at any cost."

Those were the Holy Lord's original words.

Zhao Wuji picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Just when he thought the matter was settled.

From the neighboring Sky Box One, that lazy voice rang out once again.

"I bid... twenty million."

After shouting his bid, Cao Kun didn't forget to add a mocking comment.

"If you're going to bid, then hurry up and raise the price. Don't dawdle!"

"Besides, I don't think this scrap of iron has any fate with you whatsoever."

Fuck!

It's that bastard from Sky Box One again!

It was one thing to snatch the ten-thousand-year soul nourishing wood earlier, but now he was trying to intercept this too!

Did he really think the Taichu Holy Land was made of clay?!

Inside Sky Box Two.

"Are you intentionally making an enemy of my Taichu Holy Land?!"

Xiao Zhe pointed at the Formation and cursed.

Zhao Wuji's Face also turned completely dark.

He stood up and walked to the crystal wall, his terrifying pressure as a Half-step Body Integration Stage expert faintly radiating through the gaps in the Formation.

"Young man, leave some room in your actions!"

Zhao Wuji's voice was laced with chilling killing intent.

"My Taichu Holy Land is determined to have this item. Do not bring ruin upon yourself!"

On the surface, Zhao Wuji was warning Cao Kun and displaying the dominance of the Taichu Holy Land.

But in reality, he was secretly sending a Divine Sense transmission to Xiao Zhe.

"Zhe'er, don't get angry. Keep raising the price."

Xiao Zhe was stunned, then responded via transmission:

"Elder Zhao, what do you mean?"

Zhao Wuji responded coldly.

"Since he likes to snatch things, we might as well do Treasure Pavilion a favor."

"Drive the price up as high as possible and let him buy it for an astronomical sum."

"Once he steps out of this Treasure Pavilion's doors..."

"We'll kill him and snatch it back, along with that soul-nourishing wood from before."

Xiao Zhe's eyes lit up.

Brilliant!

Let this sucker pay the money first, and when he's lost in his own arrogance, we'll slaughter him.

And we can curry favor with Treasure Pavilion!

Killing two birds with one stone!

"This Saint understands."

Xiao Zhe took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and put on a determined smile.

He shouted toward the Formation:

"Since this friend is so wealthy and powerful, this Saint will play along with you."

"Thirty million High-Grade Spirit Stones!"

Inside Sky Box One.

Hearing the bid from next door, Cao Kun gave a mocking smile.

Trying to play me?

Playing the reverse price-raising game with me?

He was all too familiar with this kind of routine.

In the web novels he read in his past life, this scene of a villain raising the price to kill and loot later had happened hundreds, if not thousands, of times.

Fine, I'll play along with you today.

"Master~ you're hurting me..."

A delicate, coquettish complaint suddenly came from his arms.

Yu Linglong was lying on his chest like a lazy cat.

Cao Kun's large hand had unconsciously tightened while he was suppressing the Sword Intent earlier.

Looking at this seductive vixen's alluring appearance, looking like she was ready for the taking.

The hostility in his heart dissipated quite a bit, and his hand began to wander.

"There, there, a little rub and it won't hurt anymore."

"Forty million High-Grade Spirit Stones," Cao Kun said in a relaxed tone, showing no pressure at all.

Xiao Zhe immediately followed up: "Fifty million!"

"Seventy million!"

Cao Kun directly added twenty million.

The Cultivators in the entire venue were already numb.

A piece of scrap iron had been driven up to an astronomical price of over a hundred million by these two second-generation heirs of top-tier powers.

Pei Qinglan stood on the stage with her hands folded over her abdomen.

She didn't speak to interrupt, letting the two of them continue their bidding war.

Xiao Zhe was overjoyed in his heart.

Shout, keep shouting.

The higher you shout now, the more miserable your death will be later.

"Eight hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones!"

Xiao Zhe felt that bidding in High-Grade Spirit Stones wasn't satisfying enough, so he directly changed the unit of currency.

Yu Linglong sat astride Cao Kun's lap, her small feet adorned with silver anklets swaying gently, while her small hands caressed his chest, fanning the flames:

"Master~"

"That short-lived ghost next door is so annoying, always arguing with you~"

Cao Kun pinched her chin, leaned close to those luscious red lips, and smirked: "What's the rush? Let the bullet fly for a bit."

"Eight hundred and fifty thousand."

"Nine hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones!" Xiao Zhe's voice already carried a hint of excitement.

Almost there.

He had already calculated it.

To save Face, the spendthrift next door would definitely shout an even higher price.

As soon as the other party shouted one million.

He would immediately stop.

Then he would thoroughly enjoy the comical sight of that idiot next door buying a piece of scrap iron for an astronomical price.

Zhao Wuji also had a sinister, cold smile on his lips, quietly waiting for the final bid from Sky Box One.

Everyone looked up at Sky Box One.

Waiting for that 'Living Ancestor' to shout the number that would go down in the history of Yuheng Province.

One million Top-Grade Spirit Stones for a piece of scrap iron that couldn't be refined.

This was definitely a rare spectacle in the cultivation world for ten thousand years.

Pei Qinglan