106: The grand finale

Following the baxia carapace, several more decent treasures appeared one after another, drawing intense competition from various parties.

Gao De simply watched quietly, not making any further bids.

Until a Rank Three High Grade spiritual plant called the "Seven-Colored Glazed Lotus" was brought onto the stage.

This lotus contained seven types of pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, making it a rare treasure for Cultivators who practiced techniques with multiple attributes or those who needed to harmonize chaotic mana within their bodies.

Just as the auctioneer Su Xinghe announced the starting price of three hundred thousand Spirit Stones, a somewhat effeminate voice rang out from a booth on the second floor: "Three hundred and fifty thousand!"

Immediately after, from another direction, a coarse voice spoke with undisguised malice: "So it is Brother Yin. My apologies, but I have also taken a liking to this flower! Four hundred thousand!"

The effeminate voice chuckled, tinged with a hint of annoyance: "I wondered who it was; so it's Old Monster Crimson Python. What, do you expect to rely on this Glazed Lotus to harmonize that fire poison of yours? I'm afraid it's the wrong medicine for the symptom, a waste of a treasure! Four hundred and fifty thousand!"

"Bullshit! Whether it's useful or not, I can at least afford these few Spirit Stones. Five hundred thousand!" The coarse voice belonging to Old Monster Crimson Python grew even louder; clearly, the two had a long-standing grudge.

"Five hundred and fifty thousand."

"Six hundred thousand!"

...The price skyrocketed amidst their explosive bidding war, quickly surpassing eight hundred thousand Spirit Stones, which already far exceeded the normal market price of the "Seven-Colored Glazed Lotus."

Seeing this, other interested bidders in the hall shook their heads and gave up, happy to just watch the show.

Inside his booth, Gao De "looked" toward the two booths through the light screen. Although he couldn't perceive their specific appearances, he could imagine Old Monster Crimson Python's glee and the effeminate man's exasperation. Such instances of malicious price-hiking due to personal grudges were not uncommon at auctions.

"Nine hundred thousand! If Brother Yin adds more, then I shall withdraw." After saying this, Old Monster Crimson Python fell silent.

"Nine hundred and fifty thousand." The effeminate man remained unhurried, as if Spirit Stones were merely numbers.

There was a moment of silence from Old Monster Crimson Python's side, as if he were considering whether he could hike the price once more.

Finally, he let out a loud laugh: "Congratulations, congratulations! Yin, I'll let you have this flower!" He did not place another bid.

Seeing this, the smile on Su Xinghe's face remained unchanged as he asked perfunctorily, "Nine hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones, are there any other Fellow Daoists bidding?" After asking three times with no response, the gavel finally fell, and the deal was closed.

The effeminate man chuckled, his voice carrying a trace of anger: "Then I shall thank you, Fellow Daoist Crimson Python."

This prompted another loud laugh from Old Monster Crimson Python's booth, as if he had thought of something hilarious.

This little interlude livened up the atmosphere in the hall, with everyone whispering and speculating about the identities and grudges of these two.

Gao De took all of this in, becoming even more vigilant in his heart. In such a den of mixed company, one had to not only watch the treasures themselves but also guard against being inadvertently drawn into others' grudges or being targeted.

He secretly decided that after completing the hand-over of the baxia carapace, he would need to leave Sanchuan Workshop even more cautiously.

The auction gradually reached its climax. When a Rank Three High Grade flying Magic Treasure was sold, the auctioneer Su Xinghe's voice carried a clear note of incitement as he announced loudly: "Now... the next item is also one of the highlights of this grand auction—a single Rank Three Realm-Breaking Pill!

This pill can assist Early and Middle Stage Core Formation Cultivators in breaking through minor Bottlenecks. Its effects are gentle, with minimal side effects.

The starting price is five hundred thousand Spirit Stones, with each bid increment no less than ten thousand!"

The appearance of this pill was like pouring cold water into boiling oil, instantly causing the atmosphere of the entire hall to explode!

Medicinal Pills that can help Core Formation Cultivators break through Bottlenecks are the most sought-after commodities anywhere!

"Five hundred and fifty thousand!"

"Six hundred thousand!"

"Seven hundred thousand!"

Through the light screen, Gao De watched as the price of this pill rose like a runaway horse, soaring from the starting price of five hundred thousand and quickly breaking the million mark.

Ultimately, this Realm-Breaking Pill was bought by a Core Formation Cultivator with a magnetic, gender-neutral voice for the astronomical price of over 1.2 million.

And this was only the beginning.

Immediately after, Su Xinghe brought out several more Medicinal Pills that were extremely tempting to Core Formation Cultivators, even including the "gold core condensing pill" that could assist Foundation Establishment Cultivators in condensing a Golden Core, which was said to increase the success rate of Core Formation by twenty percent out of thin air!

When the introduction for the gold core condensing pill finished, the auction hall seemed to be set ablaze. The bidding voices were almost continuous, several times more frenzied than the previous struggle for the Realm-Breaking Pill!

Many Core Formation Cultivators might not need it themselves, but for the sake of their Sect's Legacy or Family descendants, they spared no expense in the competition.

In the hall below, those Foundation Establishment Cultivators all had incredibly fervent looks in their eyes and heavy breathing. Unfortunately, their wealth appeared so pale and weak in the face of competition at this level; they could only watch helplessly, their hearts filled with a complex mix of emotions.

Gao De observed all of this, feeling sentimental in his heart as well.

In this borderland of three countries, for a power to establish itself and pass down its Legacy, it needed at least one Core Formation Cultivator to hold the fort.

How many Foundation Establishment Families have exhausted centuries of accumulation and still find it difficult to nurture a single Golden Core?

Any resources related to Core Formation that leak out will inevitably cause a frenzied scramble among all powers; this is almost an ironclad rule... Unknowingly, the auction drew near its end.

The grand finale treasure was brought up, and even the auctioneer Su Xinghe's tone carried a hint of solemnity: "Everyone, next is the final item of this auction, the true grand finale—the 'Qianyuan Nascent Soul Secret Paste'!

This item is refined from dozens of types of thousand-year Spirit Medicines supplemented by secret methods. It can protect the Purple Mansion and stabilize the Divine Soul when a Cultivator is condensing a Nascent Soul, increasing the chance of success by a fraction!"

The hall fell into a momentary deathly silence, followed by an even greater uproar! A treasure that can assist in condensing a Nascent Soul!

This was a heaven-sent Opportunity concerning whether one could become a Nascent Soul Old Ancestor, enjoy a thousand-year lifespan, and become the patriarch of a Sect!

However, Su Xinghe's next words poured cold water over the vast majority of people: "This item is precious and can no longer be measured by ordinary Spirit Stones. The Senior who consigned this treasure has specified that they only accept bartering. It must be exchanged for a life-extending treasure of the same rank or a natural treasure that can nourish and strengthen the Nascent Soul."

As soon as these words were spoken, ninety-nine percent of the Cultivators in the hall could only sigh helplessly.

Such exchange conditions were too harsh; they simply could not produce the corresponding items.

Ultimately, after a brief, hidden communication limited to a few top-tier booths, this "Qianyuan Nascent Soul Secret Paste" was successfully exchanged by a mysterious person of unknown origin.

Gao De watched the whole process without much of a stir in his heart.

The Nascent Soul realm was still too far away for him, and he wasn't considered wealthy among those of his own rank. In a transaction of this level, he could only look on with envy.

However, this auction also allowed him to more clearly recognize the scarcity and preciousness of high-level cultivation resources, as well as the gap between himself and the truly top-tier powers.

With the sale of the grand finale item, this Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce auction officially came to a close.

Gao De stood up, preparing to complete the hand-over of the baxia carapace, and then leave this place of trouble to return to his Dongting Lake, using the newly acquired resources to continue his path to dragon transformation.

The winds and clouds of the outside world were temporarily unrelated to him; improving his own strength was the fundamental goal.