154: The Star-Picking Hall's Wealth Showdown and the Appearance of Golden Thunder

Star Plucking Palace, Heaven-Grade Box No. 1.

The level of luxury here exceeded Ling Yunxiao's lifelong imagination of what it meant to be "rich."

The floor was covered with a whole pelt of a Rank 5 Snow Demon Bear, so soft one didn't want to lift their feet; the walls were hung with carvings of Ten-Thousand-Year Aloeswood that could calm the mind; even the spirit fruits on the table were "Vermilion Fruits," which were hard to find in the outside world.

"Mr. Han, please."

Ling Yuling (Young Master Wen) had changed into a pale gold palace dress today, looking even more imposing and noble. She personally poured a cup of spirit tea for Zhou Wannian, her movements extremely elegant.

"Thank you."

Zhou Wannian picked up the teacup and took a light sip, his gaze piercing through the one-way Restriction of the box to look at the massive circular auction hall below.

At this time, the hall, which could hold thousands of people, was already packed. The minimum requirement for entry was the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, while the boxes on the second floor and above were only accessible to those at the Core Formation Stage or from major powers.

"Young Master Wen, you've certainly made quite a scene."

Zhou Wannian set down his teacup with a faint smile. "Suppressing the matter of your 'five elements magnetic rings' until now was all for today's auction, wasn't it?"

Ling Yuling smiled slightly and did not deny it.

"Sir has a Wisdom Eye. Since my condition improved, those restless factions within the Palace have quieted down quite a bit. I invited you here today, firstly to show my gratitude, and secondly..."

She pointed toward the auction stage below.

"Someone wants to use this auction to test the strength of the Star Palace and, incidentally, to test your depths as well."

"Test me?"

A hint of coldness flashed in Zhou Wannian's eyes. "I see. After all, a 'miracle doctor' like me appearing out of nowhere has moved many people's cheese."

While the two were talking...

*Clang—*

A clear chime of a bell rang throughout the venue.

In the center of the auction stage, a pillar of light slowly rose. From within the light, a white-haired, energetic old man stepped out.

"It's Elder Ge of the Star Palace! An Early Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator!"

A commotion broke out among the crowd below.

Having a Nascent Soul Cultivator personally host the auction was enough to show how high the standards were this time.

"Without further ado, I am Ge Tianhong. I welcome all Fellow Daoists to the Star Plucking Palace."

Elder Ge's voice was sonorous, reaching every corner of the venue without the need for a voice-amplifying artifact. "This auction features a total of eighty-one items, each a masterpiece. The rules remain the same: the highest bidder wins. If you lack Spirit Stones, you may use treasures of equivalent value."

"The first item—a top-tier Magic Treasure, the Azure Nether Needle!"

"Starting bid: five thousand Spirit Stones!"

The auction officially began.

Zhou Wannian leaned back on the soft couch, closing his eyes to rest. To him, with his current vast wealth, these Early Stage Magic Treasures and Medicinal Pills were no longer worth his attention.

He was waiting.

Waiting for the thing that could trigger a vibration from the Cloud Seal Heavenly Scripture within him.

Time passed.

Half an hour later, as an ancient treasure was sold for the high price of fifty thousand Spirit Stones, the atmosphere in the hall reached a climax.

"The next item is somewhat special."

Elder Ge gave a mysterious smile and took a jade box covered in Talismans from his Storage Pouch.

He carefully peeled off the Talismans.

*Zzzzt—*

A numbing sound of electric current instantly filled the entire venue.

Inside the jade box lay a withered yellow bamboo leaf.

This bamboo leaf looked unremarkable, even somewhat tattered. However, within its veins, tiny arcs of pure golden electricity were flowing.

Although the arcs were weak, they emitted a holy aura that was supremely masculine and positive, as if it could cleanse all the evil in the world.

"Evil-Warding Divine Thunder!"

Inside the box, Zhou Wannian suddenly snapped his eyes open.

"Indeed, this is a leaf from one of the three legendary divine woods—the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo!"

Elder Ge held the jade box high. "Although it is just a remnant leaf and the power of the divine thunder within is nearly exhausted, for Fellow Daoists who Cultivate lightning arts, it is a supreme treasure for comprehending the Concept of 'Evil-Warding Divine Thunder'! If used to refine a one-time high-power thunder Talisman, it can even severely wound a Late Stage Core Formation evil Cultivator!"

"Starting bid: ten thousand Spirit Stones!"

"Fifteen thousand!"

"Twenty thousand!"

The crowd below instantly erupted. Evil-Warding Divine Thunder was the nemesis of the Demonic Path. With so many demonic Cultivators in the Chaotic Star Sea, who wouldn't want an extra life-saving trump card?

"Fifty thousand."

Just then, a cold voice came from the "Earth-Grade Box No. 7," instantly doubling the price.

The whole venue fell silent.

Zhou Wannian raised an eyebrow.

That voice... though deliberately disguised, he could tell it was someone from the Reverse Star Alliance. It was the Nascent Soul Cultivator who had been watching him before—Elder Wu.

"Fifty thousand Spirit Stones for a single leaf? This price is already inflated," Ling Yuling commented from the side. "It seems this person is determined to have it."

"Determined to have it?"

A playful curve touched the corner of Zhou Wannian's mouth.

He pressed the bidding jade Talisman in front of him.

"One hundred thousand."

A flat voice, carrying an air of nonchalant indifference, echoed above the auction hall.

*Whoosh—*

The entire venue was in an uproar.

A hundred thousand Spirit Stones for a bamboo leaf? Which family's profligate son was this?

"Heaven-Grade Box No. 1..."

Everyone looked up; that was the exclusive box of the Star Palace's Young Lord.

Inside Earth-Grade Box No. 7.

Elder Wu's Face was grim, and the teacup in his hand instantly turned to powder.

"That old thing... he really is in the Young Lord's box!"

"He's provoking me!"

Elder Wu gnashed his teeth and pressed the bid again.

"One hundred and ten thousand!"

"Two hundred thousand."

Zhou Wannian didn't even pause for a second, directly following the bid.

It felt as if what he was throwing out weren't Spirit Stones, but sand from the seashore.

"You..."

Elder Wu was trembling with rage.

Two hundred thousand Spirit Stones could already buy a decent ancient treasure! To buy a leaf that only allowed for the comprehension of a Concept was simply insane!

But if he were to give up just like that, not only would he lose Face, but he would also lose the chance to investigate the clues regarding the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo.

"Two hundred and ten thousand!" Elder Wu almost roared it out.

"Three hundred thousand."

Zhou Wannian remained as calm as a light breeze.

This time, Earth-Grade Box No. 7 fell silent.

It wasn't that he couldn't afford it, but that it wasn't worth it.

More importantly, Elder Wu felt like a clown being toyed with.

"Three hundred thousand once, three hundred thousand twice..."

Elder Ge's Face crinkled with joy. "Sold! Congratulations to the honored guest in Heaven-Grade Box No. 1!"

Inside the box.

Ling Yunxiao sucked in a breath through his teeth in distress. "Old Man Han, three hundred thousand... just for a leaf? Don't we already have the map?"

"You don't understand."

Zhou Wannian looked at the jade box brought in by the maid, his fingertip lightly touching the bamboo leaf.

"What I want isn't the leaf, but the 'aura' remaining on it."

"This leaf was plucked no more than fifty years ago. In other words, that golden thunder divine wood is still in its growth phase."

"And..."

A sharp light flashed in Zhou Wannian's eyes.

"The person who was bidding against me just now has a scent that I find very unpleasant. The more he wants it, the less I can let him have it."

"This is also a way of 'establishing dominance'."

...For the rest of the auction, Zhou Wannian did not make another move.

Until the grand finale item appeared.

"Everyone, the final grand finale treasure of this auction."

Elder Ge took a deep breath, his expression becoming extremely solemn.

Two strongmen carried up a massive cage covered with a black cloth.

The black cloth was pulled away.

Inside the cage was a tiny, snow-white fox, no larger than a palm, but with three tails.

"A Rank 6 Yao Beast—a Three-Tailed Spirit Fox cub?"

Someone asked in confusion, "This counts as the grand finale?"

"No."

Elder Ge shook his head.

"This is indeed a Three-Tailed Spirit Fox. But its special quality is... it is a 'Treasure-Seeking Fox'."

"Furthermore, a 'Bloodline Restriction' has been placed within it. Only the person with the specific key can make it lead the way."

"Lead where?" someone asked.

Elder Ge lowered his voice and spoke a name that made the breath of every Nascent Soul Old Monsters present hitch.

"Void Heaven Palace."

*Boom!!!*

As soon as those three words were spoken, the entire Star Plucking Palace seemed to undergo an earthquake.

Void Heaven Palace!

The number one Secret Realm of the Chaotic Star Sea! Legend has it that it's a passage to the Spirit Realm! It opens once every three hundred years and contains countless ancient treasures, even the Spirit Treasure—the void heaven cauldron!

"This spirit fox can sense the entrance to a hidden medicine garden on the outskirts of the Void Heaven Palace."

"Starting bid—five hundred thousand Spirit Stones!"

"One million!"

"One and a half million!"

This time, Zhou Wannian did not participate.

He merely watched coldly as those Nascent Soul Old Monsters bid frantically, nearly coming to blows on the spot.

"Young Master Wen, this fox was intentionally released by your Star Palace, wasn't it?" Zhou Wannian suddenly asked.

Ling Yuling pursed her lips, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes.

"The Void Heaven Palace is about to open, and the Chaotic Star Sea is in turmoil. Although the Star Palace is powerful, it cannot monopolize it."

"Rather than letting them plot in the shadows, it's better to cast out a bait and muddy the waters."

"This fox is that bait."

Ultimately, this Treasure-Seeking Fox was bought for the astronomical price of three million Spirit Stones by the mysterious Earth-Grade Box No. 7 (Elder Wu).

"A fine calculation."

Zhou Wannian stood up and straightened his robes.

"The auction is over."

"That Elder Wu has a hot potato on his hands now; he'll definitely be in a hurry to leave."

"And when he leaves..."

Zhou Wannian looked out the window.

"He will definitely take the opportunity to get rid of me, this 'eyesore' of a recycling station old man."

"Young Master Wen, thank you for the hospitality. As for the road ahead, this old man will walk it himself."

Ling Yuling stood up, her expression solemn.

"Sir, there are Netherworld Assassins lying in ambush outside. Do you really not need an escort from the Law Enforcement Team?"

"No need."

Zhou Wannian walked to the door and waved his hand with his back to Ling Yuling.

"Some trash, I have to clean up myself."

"And..."

"I've also taken a fancy to that fox."

"Since he spent three million to buy it..."

"Then I'll save him the trouble and 'look after' it for him."

...Half an hour later.

Tianxing City, 70th floor.

This was the boundary between the core area and the outer area, and also the place with the most unstable spatial fluctuations in all of Tianxing City—the [Chaotic Space Layer].

Zhou Wannian led Ling Yunxiao and Li Feiyu, seemingly leisurely walking into a secluded aerial corridor.

The surroundings were deathly silent.

Only the mist beneath their feet was churning.

Suddenly.

*Chii!*

A sword light as black as ink shot out without warning from the shadow behind Zhou Wannian, aiming straight for the center of his back.

Fast.

Extremely fast.

This was a killing blow specifically aimed at Golden Core Cultivators.

Just as the tip of the sword was about to pierce Zhou Wannian's body...

*Clang!*

A crisp sound rang out.

A metallic palm covered in a five-colored halo appeared behind him at some unknown moment, firmly grasping that lethal sword.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Zhou Wannian slowly turned around.

Around him, the air distorted.

Over a dozen assassins dressed in black, seemingly merging with the darkness, slowly emerged, surrounding the three of them.

And on the clouds not far away...

Elder Wu, who had just bought the spirit fox, was holding a folding fan, watching the scene with a playful expression.

"Boss Han, the business is done."

"Now, it's time to settle the score."

Zhou Wannian looked up at the high-and-mighty Elder Wu and grinned.

"Indeed, it is time to settle the score."

"Tiezhu, Star Lord."

"Get to work."

*Boom!!!*

In the next moment.

This silent corridor instantly turned into a meat grinder.