66: Chapter 66 Return to the Divine City, Auction Plan

Seven days later, at the mountain gate of the Yaoguang Holy Land.

Lin Ye stood before the teleportation Formation, with Su Qingyue, Chen Hao, Shi Potian, and twenty carefully selected members of the Heavenly Court behind him.

These members were all core members who had passed layers of assessment and possessed the highest loyalty; they were between levels 30 and 34, with a balanced mix of professions.

"The Five Elements Secret Realm opens tomorrow. Today, we must rush back to the Divine City of the Yan State to rendezvous with Zhao Wuji."

Lin Ye scanned the group, "The teleportation Formation will send us to 'Wangxian Town', which is closest to the Divine City. Afterward, we will enter the city on foot. Everyone, change out of your Holy Land attire and put on casual clothing; do not reveal your identities."

"Understood!" the group replied in unison.

With the opening of the Five Elements Secret Realm imminent, all major factions in the Eastern Wasteland were gathering.

The reason Lin Ye chose to return to the Divine City a day early, besides discussing the subsequent development of the Heavenly Court with Zhao Wuji, was more importantly to handle the massive amount of Spirit Stone obtained from the mine.

Although the 128,000 contribution points had already been deposited into the Heavenly Court's public account, contribution points could only be used within the Holy Land.

The Heavenly Court's development in the Divine City, the activities of its members outside, and the establishment of an intelligence network all required actual Spirit Stone.

More importantly, Lin Ye needed to convert a portion of the Spirit Stone into actual combat power—equipment, Medicinal Pill, Talisman, and Formation Materials.

And regarding these resources, the market in the Divine City was far richer than that of the Holy Land.

The light of the teleportation Formation flared, and the figures of the twenty-three people vanished.

A quarter of an hour later, at the teleportation point in Wangxian Town.

This was a small town attached to the Yaoguang Holy Land, with a permanent population of no more than a few thousand, but it saw an endless stream of Cultivator traffic every day.

Although the town was small, it was fully equipped; inns, restaurants, general stores, and simple trading posts were all available.

Lin Ye and his group walked out of the teleportation Formation, did not linger, and headed straight through the town, stepping onto the official road leading to the Divine City.

On the official road, carriages and horses were like dragons, with Cultivator coming and going.

There were solitary Loose Cultivator carrying long swords, hurrying on their way; merchant caravans transporting goods moving slowly; and groups of Sect Disciples discussing the upcoming opening of the Five Elements Secret Realm.

"Have you heard? The scale of this opening of the Five Elements Secret Realm is unprecedented. It is said that the 'Five Elements Origin' will appear inside!"

"It's not just the Five Elements Origin; there are also ancient ruins emerging, and there might be Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique inside!"

"Forget it. With our cultivation level, it would be good enough just to pick up some scraps. The real good stuff will definitely be monopolized by those large Sect and large factions."

"However, this time the Secret Realm allows all Cultivator below the Dao Palace Realm to enter, so we Loose Cultivator also have a chance..."

The discussions of passersby reached his ears; Lin Ye's expression remained unchanged, but he secretly noted it down in his heart.

Five Elements Origin? Ancient ruins? He had heard of this information in his past life, but he could not clearly recall the specific details.

It seems this trip to the Secret Realm will be even more complicated than anticipated.

At noon, the towering city walls of the Divine City came into view.

The Divine City of the Yan State, one of the seven major cities in the Northern Region of the Eastern Wasteland, had a permanent population of over one million, with Cultivator accounting for thirty percent.

The city wall was fifteen zhang high, entirely built of "obsidian," and the surface was engraved with defensive Formation, capable of withstanding the full-force attack of a Four Extremities Realm Cultivator.

On the city wall, there was an arrow tower every hundred paces, and the top of the tower was inlaid with "spell-breaking crystals," capable of firing beams that interfere with the circulation of Spiritual Qi.

There was a long queue in front of the city gate, with city guards checking the identity tokens of those entering the city.

Lin Ye and the others presented the "Yan State Passage Token" they had obtained earlier—this was a legal identity Zhao Wuji had acquired through connections; although it was only the lowest-level temporary pass, it was sufficient for free entry and exit.

Entering the city, the clamor rushed toward them.

The wide main street could accommodate eight carriages side-by-side, with shops lined up on both sides and banners fluttering.

Medicinal Pill shops wafted with the scent of medicine, blacksmith shops emitted the sounds of hammering iron, taverns were filled with the clinking of glasses, and gambling dens were filled with roaring shouts.

On the street, there were Loose Cultivator setting up stalls to hawk their wares, beast tamers leading Yao Beast mounts, children of aristocratic families riding in luxurious carriages, and mercenaries in a hurry.

This was the Divine City, one of the centers of wealth and power in the Northern Region of the Eastern Wasteland.

"Let's return to the stronghold first," Lin Ye said in a low voice.

The Heavenly Court's stronghold in the Divine City was located in the West District, in a three-courtyard residence.

This was originally the base of a small merchant association that had gone bankrupt due to poor management, and Zhao Wuji had acquired it at an extremely low price.

The location of the courtyard was not the best, but it had the advantage of being hidden, and there were existing warehouses and secret rooms underground.

The group passed through the bustling streets, turned into a quiet alley, and finally stopped in front of an inconspicuous black-lacquered wooden door.

Lin Ye knocked on the door seven times in a rhythmic pattern—three long, two short, two long.

The door opened in response, and the one opening it was none other than Zhao Wuji.

Having not seen him for half a year, this heir to a large financial group appeared even more steady.

He wore a moon-white brocade robe, with jade hanging from his waist, and held a folding fan in his hand; at first glance, he looked like a weak scholar.

But Lin Ye could feel that Zhao Wuji's cultivation had reached the Peak of the Wheel Sea Realm, only one step away from the Dao Palace.

More importantly, he was surrounded by a faint, almost imperceptible "aura of wealth"—this was a special aura that only Cultivator who were skilled in business and controlled vast wealth could form, which could subtly increase the success rate of transactions.

"Brother Lin, I've been waiting for a long time," Zhao Wuji said with a smile, cupping his hands. His gaze swept over the group behind Lin Ye, and a flash of surprise appeared in his eyes. "It seems this trip to the Holy Land has been quite rewarding."

"Let's go inside to talk," Lin Ye nodded.

The group entered the courtyard. Zhao Wuji instructed his subordinates to arrange for the other members to rest, while he led Lin Ye, Su Qingyue, Chen Hao, and Shi Potian to the main hall.

The main hall was simply furnished, but every piece of decor contained hidden mysteries.

The landscape painting hanging on the wall was actually the eye of a Formation, the tables and chairs were made of "Spirit Gathering Wood" that could gather Spiritual Qi, and even the stone slabs laid on the floor were engraved with sound-insulating patterns.

"Is it safe?" Lin Ye asked after taking a seat.

"Absolutely safe," Zhao Wuji said confidently. "The entire courtyard is set up with three layers of Formation: the outermost layer is the 'Illusion Mist Formation' to interfere with external probing; the middle layer is the 'Sound Insulation Formation' to prevent sound leakage; and the innermost layer is the 'Anti-Reconnaissance Formation', which can sense and repel Divine Sense spying. Additionally, I have hired twelve guards at the Wheel Sea Realm to patrol day and night."

He paused and added, "These guards are all orphans recruited from remote mountain villages, with clean backgrounds and no ties to any faction in the Divine City. I provide for their food, lodging, and Cultivate, and they are absolutely loyal to me."

Lin Ye nodded in satisfaction. Zhao Wuji was indeed thorough in his work; he was truly a business Genius.

"Tell me about the situation over the past half year," Lin Ye said.

Zhao Wuji unfurled a ledger: "Since the establishment of the Heavenly Court Chamber of Commerce, we have mainly operated three types of businesses: First, buying low and selling high to earn the price difference. I use Family channels to purchase local specialties from the Southern Region and transport them to the Northern Region for sale, with profits between 30% and 50%. Second, intelligence sales; Qin Ruoxue's Heavenly Secret Pavilion has initially built a network, mainly collecting intelligence on the Divine City and surrounding areas, with clients primarily being small and medium-sized factions. Third, commission tasks; we take on some escort, collection, and hunting commissions, which not only earn commissions but also train our members."

He turned to the last page of the ledger: "Total revenue for the half-year: 86,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stone. After deducting costs, salaries, and operating expenses, the net profit is 32,000. Of this, 10,000 has already been used, as per Brother Lin's instructions, to purchase basic supplies and equip members. With the remaining 22,000, plus the principal of 50,000, the current liquid funds of the Chamber of Commerce are 72,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stone."

72,000, for an emerging faction established only half a year ago, was already an astonishing achievement. You must know that for many small and medium-sized merchant associations in the Divine City, their annual turnover was only around this amount.

"Well done," Lin Ye praised, "But going forward, we need more funds."

He took out five Storage Pouch from his bosom and placed them on the table.

Zhao Wuji opened the first Storage Pouch in confusion, and instantly, a milky white spiritual light filled the main hall. He gasped: "This is... Low-Grade Spirit Stone? So many?!"

"53,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stone, 1,050 Mid-Grade Spirit Stone," Lin Ye said calmly, "Additionally, there are ten High-Grade Spirit Stone and a portion of Spirit Crystal Dust, but I have other uses for those."

Zhao Wuji's hands trembled slightly. He was a person who had seen the big world; his Family business involved transactions of tens of millions of Spirit Stone. But those were the Family's wealth, while what lay before him now was a massive amount of Spirit Stone belonging to the Heavenly Court, real and freely disposable!

"Brother Lin, did you... rob the Holy Land treasury?" Zhao Wuji joked, but his eyes were incredibly serious.

"Pretty much," Lin Ye briefly recounted the matter of the mine, omitting the details of the blood sacrifice crystal. "Therefore, we need a plan to convert these Spirit Stone into actual combat power, while simultaneously making a name for the Heavenly Court Chamber of Commerce."

Zhao Wuji quickly calmed down, his business mind beginning to operate at full speed.

"53,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stone, at market price, are worth about 53,000 contribution points. 1,050 Mid-Grade Spirit Stone are worth 105,000 contribution points. A total of 158,000 contribution points," he calculated quickly. "But this is only the theoretical value. If we dump so many Spirit Stone on the market at once, it will cause the price of Spirit Stone in the Divine City to drop in the short term, and the actual amount we get might only be around 140,000."

"So we cannot sell them directly," Lin Ye said.

"Exactly," a sharp light flashed in Zhao Wuji's eyes. "I suggest—holding an auction."

"An auction?"

"Yes," Zhao Wuji unfurled a blank scroll and began to sketch. "There are dozens of small and large auctions in the Divine City every month, but only three or five have real influence. As newcomers, if the Heavenly Court Chamber of Commerce wants to make a splash, we must bring out auction items that are attractive enough."

He pointed to the scroll: "The auction items are divided into three categories. The first category is the Spirit Stone themselves. But not sold in bulk; instead, they should be broken down into small portions and combined with other items to form 'Spirit Stone Gift Packages'. For example, '1,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stone + one bottle of Rank 3 Medicinal Pill + one piece of Fine-grade equipment'. This way, we can sell them at a high price without impacting the market."

"The second category is the Yao Beast Materials obtained from the mine. Heart of the Mother Empress, Spider Empress Carapace, mutated egg sacs... these are all rare Materials, which have a huge appeal to Alchemist, Artifact Refiner, and beast tamers. We can auction them separately, or they can serve as finale items."

"The third category..." Zhao Wuji looked at Lin Ye. "Brother Lin, you must have obtained some equipment or Materials in the Holy Land that you don't need, right? If there are Legendary-grade or even higher-quality items, they can serve as the finale of the finales, capable of attracting truly large factions."

Lin Ye pondered for a moment. He did have some things on hand that he didn't need, such as a few blue-grade equipment items obtained from the Bronze Ancient Palace, thunder-attribute Materials obtained from the Thunder Eagle King, and... that Dragon-patterned Black Gold sword embryo.

However, he intended to keep the sword embryo for his own use and could not auction it.

"I have three Epic-grade Materials, five Rare-grade equipment items, and several Fine-grade items," Lin Ye said. "They can serve as auction items."

"Epic-grade Materials?!" Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up. "What are they?"

Lin Ye took out three items.

The first was a fist-sized, entirely purple-gold Ore, with thunder patterns entwined on its surface, and a faint sound of thunder could be heard from within.

[purple thunder essence gold (Epic)]

Quality: Purple

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

Attributes: Top-tier lightning-type Artifact Refining material; incorporating it into weapons can bestow lightning-element attacks, while incorporating it into armor can increase lightning resistance.

Special Effect: Comes with the "Heavenly Thunder Tempering" effect; equipment crafted with this material has a 10% chance to gain the "Thunderous Strike" skill.

Valuation: 8,000-12,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones

The second item was a pigeon-egg-sized, ice-blue crystal that emitted a bone-chilling cold aura.

[cold marrow crystal (Epic)]

Quality: Purple

Attributes: Top-tier ice-type Artifact Refining/Alchemy material; can be used to refine ice-type Magic Treasures or cold-attribute Medicinal Pills.

Special Effect: Long-term wearing can slowly increase ice-element affinity, with extra bonuses for special Physiques like the Vast Cold Spirit Body and Ice Spirit Body.

Valuation: 7,000-10,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones

The third item was a small bottle of viscous silver liquid, contained in a transparent crystal bottle, with starlight shimmering on the liquid's surface.

[starlight dew (Epic)]

Quality: Purple

Attributes: Rare spirit liquid, produced in places where the Star Power is concentrated; can be consumed directly or used for Alchemy.

Effect: After consumption, permanently increases Divine Sense strength by 5-10 points (limited to once per person), or can be used as the main material to refine the "Star Pill" (Earth Rank Low Grade, which significantly increases Divine Sense).

Valuation: 10,000-15,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones

Lin Ye had exchanged these three items for contribution points at the Holy Land, originally intending to use them himself or leave them for Su Qingyue and the others. However, for the sake of the auction, they could be brought out as a gimmick.

"Fantastic!" Zhao Wuji said excitedly. "With these three Epic-grade Materials as the grand finale, along with the Spirit Stones and Yao Beast Materials, this auction will definitely cause a sensation in the Divine City!"

He began to plan in detail:

"The time is set for three days from now, and the location will be the 'Treasure Gathering Pavilion'—it's the largest auction house in the Divine City. The rental fee for one day is five thousand Spirit Stones, but it's worth it. We need to pay 20% of the total sales as commission, but the Treasure Gathering Pavilion will provide comprehensive security and publicity."

"Regarding publicity, we will release the news today: the mysterious chamber of commerce, 'Heavenly Court,' will hold a large-scale auction in three days. The auction items include a large number of Spirit Stones, rare Yao Beast Materials, and three pieces of Epic-grade Heaven And Earth Treasures. The news should be vague to pique curiosity, but don't reveal specific details."

"Invitations will be sent to all prominent forces in the Divine City: the Four Great Families (Ji Family, Jiang Family, Yao Family, and Ying Family), the Three Great Chambers of Commerce (Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, Golden Jade Hall, and Four Seas Pavilion), and the top twenty player guilds. For Loose Cultivators, we'll set up one hundred regular seats on a first-come, first-served basis."

"As for security, the Treasure Gathering Pavilion itself has four Dao Palace Realm Cultivators stationed there, but that's not enough. I will hire the 'Iron Blood Mercenary Group' as additional guards; they are the most reputable mercenary group in the Divine City. The leader is a Dao Palace Third Layer Cultivator, and the members are all at the Wheel Sea Peak. Additionally, Brother Lin, you and your group must also remain on high alert in secret to prevent anyone from trying to seize things by force."

"Regarding the budget: five thousand for the venue fee, two thousand for publicity, three thousand to hire the mercenary group, and one thousand for miscellaneous expenses. A total of eleven thousand Spirit Stones will be paid from the chamber of commerce's liquid funds."

Zhao Wuji finished in one breath and looked at Lin Ye: "What does Brother Lin think?"

Lin Ye pondered for a moment and nodded: "The plan is feasible, but a few points need adjustment."

"First, change the name of the auction to 'Heavenly Court's First Treasure Appraisal Convention.' It sounds more formal and also implies there will be a second and third one in the future."

"Second, add ten sets of 'Heavenly Court Standard-Issue Equipment' to the auction items as a bonus. These items don't need to be exceptionally good—Excellent Grade is fine—but they must have a unified insignia. This will showcase the Heavenly Court's manufacturing capabilities and help establish the brand."

"Third, set a 'mysterious grand finale item' but don't reveal what it is. Announce it at the very end of the auction to leave enough suspense."

"Fourth, of the Spirit Stones obtained from the auction, thirty percent will be used to purchase equipment and Medicinal Pills, thirty percent for expansion of our forces, thirty percent as a reserve fund, and ten percent as dividends for core members."

Zhao Wuji quickly took notes: "Understood. I'll go and arrange it right away."

"Wait." Lin Ye called out to him. "There's one more thing. During the auction, hostile forces might cause trouble. The Overlord Pavilion, Zongheng Alliance, Olympus... these forces won't sit idly by and watch us rise. You must prepare a contingency plan."

Zhao Wuji said solemnly: "I've already thought of that. On the day of the auction, I'll arrange for thirty plainclothes members to be mixed in with the audience; if there's any unusual movement, they will immediately control the situation. Additionally, I've already established a good relationship with a Lieutenant General of the Divine City Guard; if necessary, we can ask them to step in and maintain order—of course, we'll need to grease some palms."

"Very well." Lin Ye finally broke into a smile. "Then it's settled. In three days, at the Heavenly Court's First Treasure Appraisal Convention, we will make the Divine City remember this name."

Over the next two days, the Divine City was abuzz.

Every street and alleyway was talking about the upcoming "Heavenly Court Treasure Appraisal Convention."

"Have you heard? That newly emerged Heavenly Court Chamber of Commerce is going to hold a large-scale auction!"

"Not only have I heard, but I also saw the flyers—a large number of Spirit Stones, rare Materials, and Epic-grade Heaven And Earth Treasures! Good heavens, Epic-grade! I've only seen one once in forty years!"

"What is the background of the Heavenly Court? To be so wealthy and powerful?"

"It's said to be supported by some Hidden Family, and others say it's backed by the Yaoguang Holy Land... in any case, it's not simple."

"Do you know what the most mysterious part is? The end of the flyer says: a mysterious grand finale item, beyond Epic! Could it be that a Legendary Grade item is appearing?"

"That's impossible, right? In the entire Eastern Wasteland, only a few Legendary Grade items appear in a year. Would one appear at an auction of such a burgeoning chamber of commerce?"

"Why not go and see for yourself? After all, the regular seats are free, first-come, first-served."

The Four Great Families, the Three Great Chambers of Commerce, and various player guilds all received exquisitely crafted invitations. The invitations had a black background with gold trim; the front featured a big dipper pattern, and the back contained the auction information. The material was a specially made "Spirit Rune Paper," each one worth ten Spirit Stones, highlighting the financial power of the Heavenly Court.

The Ji Family Mansion.

A middle-aged man dressed in luxurious clothing was fiddling with an invitation and said to the old man beside him, "Third Elder, what do you think of this Heavenly Court?"

The old man squinted his eyes: "It suddenly emerged six months ago, first by acquiring that courtyard in the West District, and then operating discreetly. Now it's suddenly holding a high-profile auction... either they've gained a major backer, or they've struck it rich. Or perhaps both."

"Are we going to the auction?"

"We go, of course we go," the old man said. "Even if we don't buy anything, we must see the true quality of this Heavenly Court. If there really are Epic-grade Materials... the Ji Family happens to be missing a piece of 'cold marrow crystal' to refine an ice-type Magic Treasure."

Similar scenes were also playing out in the Jiang Family, Yao Family, and Ying Family.

The Three Great Chambers of Commerce were even more wary. The rise of the Heavenly Court meant another competitor. In particular, the manager of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower frowned as he looked at the words "large number of Spirit Stones" on the invitation—where did the Heavenly Court get so many Spirit Stones? Could they have discovered a new Ore vein?

As for the player guilds, their reactions varied.

At the Olympus Temple, Ares tore the invitation to shreds: "Heavenly Court? That organization of Lin Ye's? Are they even worthy of holding an auction? Athena, what do you think?"

In the shadows, Athena's voice was calm: "Go and see. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles. Moreover, if there really are Epic-grade Materials, they will be useful to us as well."

At the Zongheng Alliance headquarters, the Alliance Master of Henghe Alliance had a gloomy expression on his face: "Heavenly Court... Lin Ye... very well, in three days, I will personally go to 'show my support.'"

At the Green Robe Tower, Qingluan gently stroked her zither strings: "Send a message to the sisters. On the day of the auction, everyone should go and join in the fun. But remember, only watch and don't buy; don't cause trouble."

In the Eternal Star Domain Exploration Team, a man in silver clothing looked at the scanned data of the invitation: "Energy fluctuation analysis... the paper of the invitation contains a faint Star Power, which originates from the same source as the Cultivation Techniques of the Yaoguang Holy Land. The Heavenly Court has a close relationship with the Holy Land, confirmed."

Among the remnant forces of the Shadow Kill Tower, nine black shadows knelt before a divine statue: "The Tower Master has ordered: on the day of the auction, create chaos and seize the auction items amidst the confusion. Primary target: the Epic-grade Materials."

Undercurrents were surging.

And at this moment, within the Heavenly Court stronghold, the final preparations were in full swing.

Zhao Wuji personally supervised the categorization, numbering, and packaging of the auction items. Each item was placed in a specially made display box, which was engraved with a Formation to prevent probing. The three Epic-grade Materials were even more heavily protected, stored in an underground secret chamber and personally guarded by Chen Hao and Wang Iron Pillar.

Qin Ruoxue's Heavenly Secret Pavilion was operating at full capacity, collecting intelligence on the movements of various factions. Every two hours, a briefing was delivered to Lin Ye's hands.

"The Ji Family is interested in the cold marrow crystal and may become the largest buyer."

"The Ten Thousand Treasures Tower has sent three appraisers, intending to evaluate the true strength of the Heavenly Court."

"Ares of Olympus is confirmed to attend, accompanied by twelve people, all of whom are in the Dao Palace Realm."

"The Alliance Master of Henghe Alliance of the Zongheng Alliance has reserved a VIP box, but has secretly mobilized thirty experts on the periphery of the auction house."

"There are unusual movements from the Shadow Kill Tower; all nine remnants have left their hiding place, and their whereabouts are unknown."

Lin Ye looked at the briefings, his expression calm.

Everything was within expectations.

The auction was both a stage to display strength and bait for fishing. Which forces were friends, which were enemies, which could be collaborated with, and which must be eliminated... in three days, it would all surface.

As night fell, Lin Ye stood alone in the courtyard, gazing up at the starry sky.

Su Qingyue quietly came to his side: "Are you worried?"

"A little," Lin Ye said frankly. "This isn't a game, but a real gamble. One wrong move and you lose the whole game."

"But you will definitely win," Su Qingyue said softly. "I believe in you."

Lin Ye turned to look at her. Under the moonlight, Su Qingyue's profile was as serene and cold as a painting; the moonlight naturally drawn by her Vast Cold Spirit Body flowed around her, making her look just like a Fairy from the moon palace.

"Why do you believe so much?" Lin Ye asked.

"Because you are Lin Ye," Su Qingyue's answer was simple and firm.

Lin Ye smiled, a sense of warmth welling up in his heart.

Yes, he was Lin Ye, returning after Rebirth, possessing the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body, and knowing the future general trend. If he couldn't even control an auction, how could he talk about Solely Deciding the Ages?

"Go back and rest," Lin Ye said. "Tomorrow there's the final pre-battle meeting. In three days..."

He looked toward the Treasure Gathering Pavilion in the West District; it was brightly lit, with the final arrangements for the auction being made.

"In three days, the name of the Heavenly Court will resound throughout the Divine City."

The night wind blew, carrying away the low whispers.

And in every corner of the Divine City, countless pairs of eyes were staring at that building where the auction was about to be held.

Some were expectant, some were wary, some were jealous, and some... had hidden killing intent.

Three days later, the Treasure Appraisal Convention.

A war without gunpowder smoke was about to begin.