212: Auction

Just like the Human Realm, Sacred Ancestor Cultivators also establish markets, Sects, cities... and naturally, there are auctions.

Over several years, Gu Changsheng secretly participated in many, searching for Materials.

Unfortunately, most were from minor Sects, and rare spiritual Materials like the demonic spirit flower were seldom seen.

However, the invitation to the current auction was different.

“An auction held once every sixty years under the jurisdiction of Nirvana City...”

Nirvana City is a Sacred City ruled by the Nirvana Sacred Ancestor. This demon is one of the ten great Sacred Ancestors of the Sacred Realm, and his body-tempering Divine Ability is capable of destroying the heavens and earth.

He has conquered countless other worlds.

The ten great Sacred Ancestors each have their own methods, and their ranking is quite controversial.

Only the first is undisputed.

Holy Ancestor Jialan.

Among the ten great Sacred Ancestors, the Tree-Breaking Sacred Ancestor and the Mountain-Moving Sacred Ancestor all revere her.

Her prestige is a consensus formed over endless ages.

Those who dared to provoke her were long submerged in the river of history.

Nirvana City.

A restaurant.

“It’s been a long time, both of you.”

Gu Changsheng ordered a table full of spiritual food. Seated at the table was a woman in palace attire, dressed in flowing robes with a beautiful face—it was the Peach Blossom Fairy.

Several years ago, the Peach Blossom Fairy was severely injured and was searching for healing Medicinal Pills in the market, offering various flower spiritual Materials as a reward.

Gu Changsheng saw an eight-thousand-year-old demonic spirit flower among them and paid her a visit.

After some effort, he easily obtained the demonic spirit flower, refined it into a demonic heart crossing, and assimilated a wisp of True Devil Qi.

To his right was a bare-chested big man reeking of alcohol.

He was known in the market as Alcoholic Hero, and he was chugging fine wine from his gourd, not even bothering with chopsticks, tearing off a piece of a flying hyena pig leg with his bare hands and stuffing it into his mouth.

He completely disregarded the demeanor of a Profound Cave expert.

“Haha, three years unseen, Fellow Daoist Li’s cultivation has improved another notch.”

Alcoholic Hero took a big gulp of wine. Perhaps the wine was strong, making him grimace.

As he spoke, he shook his wine gourd, and the faint clinking of wine could be heard.

“Sister Peach Blossom, can you give this old brother a few petals? The peach blossom wine brewed from your petals is intoxicating!” Alcoholic Hero said, shamelessly.

“Go away, go away! My Fairy’s petals lose Origin Qi when picked; how can I easily give them away?” the Peach Blossom Fairy said with disdain.

“Fellow Daoist Li...”

Alcoholic Hero turned to look at Gu Changsheng.

Having known him for several years, Gu Changsheng had many skills, successively displaying Alchemy, talisman crafting, wine brewing, and other arts.

Especially his Hundred Flavors Wine, which was an exquisite fine wine, leaving Alcoholic Hero longing for more.

“You, ah...”

Gu Changsheng smiled faintly. With a clunk, a vibrant green wine pot was placed on the table.

Alcoholic Hero’s appetite was piqued, and he swallowed his saliva. Just as he reached out, Gu Changsheng pulled the wine pot back slightly.

“Fellow Daoist Jiu, I can give you this wine.

However, you need to answer a question...”

“Please speak, Fellow Daoist,” Alcoholic Hero said, staring intently at the wine pot.

“Is there truly a batch of demonic spirit flowers being auctioned at this event?”

As soon as he spoke, Alcoholic Hero’s expression changed, and he put a finger to his lips, shushing.

He was an Elder in charge of the underground market in Nirvana City, well-informed, even able to obtain the auction list.

However, this was a large-scale auction held once every sixty years.

Leaking the list could lead to disaster.

Alcoholic Hero whispered, “Fellow Daoist Li, just know it in your heart.”

Gu Changsheng smiled and pushed the wine pot forward.

He added, “What is the grand finale item for this auction?”

Immediately, Alcoholic Hero’s expression hardened, and he waved his hands repeatedly: “I cannot say, I cannot say... However, it should cause a scramble among many people... Hehe...”

This deliberate mystification did catch Gu Changsheng’s attention.

Fortunately, he only wanted the demonic spirit flower.

Other items, no matter how good, would only be icing on the cake.

A few days later.

Cultivators gathered in Nirvana City and entered the underground market’s auction house.

“Three Seniors, please proceed to the ‘Earth’ character private room.”

Well-trained beautiful maidservants led the three to a private room.

Profound Cave Cultivators, even in Nirvana City, were prominent figures.

As for Yang Spirit Realm mighty figures, they were always like a Dragon seen only by its head, rarely by its tail; it was difficult for ordinary Profound Cave Great Sages to even meet one.

However, even so, the ‘Heaven’ character private rooms, even if empty, had to be reserved.

This was a courtesy to higher-ranking Cultivators.

“Earth character thirteen...”

Gu Changsheng glanced around as the three entered the private room.

The furnishings inside were all antique and elegant. A large profound light mirror was placed directly in front, allowing a clear view of everything in the auction hall.

Not far away, a refreshing incense was burning.

On the table, various rare fruits were arranged.

Alcoholic Hero was not polite; he immediately grabbed a snow pear and bit into it, juice spilling everywhere.

“Three of you, would you like maidservants to attend to you?”

The leading woman in palace attire asked.

Gu Changsheng and Alcoholic Hero exchanged glances.

Maidservants attending to bidders was an unspoken benefit of many auction houses.

However, with the Peach Blossom Fairy here, it would be quite inconvenient.

So, they both declined.

As they left, the accompanying maidservants looked rather resentful.

Many beautiful low-level female Cultivators were eagerly hoping to climb the social ladder.

“Sister Peach Blossom, Fellow Daoist Li, if you fancy an item later and are a bit short on funds, I happen to have a batch of demonic crystals... only a three percent interest...”

Hearing this, the Peach Blossom Fairy rolled her eyes.

This fellow was lending money at interest, even calculating her into it.

Gu Changsheng smiled faintly and took a sip of tea: “Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist Jiu.

I believe my personal wealth is sufficient...”

Just kidding, putting Ling Xuzi aside, the wealth of Flame Demon and Pure Burning Demoness alone far surpassed that of ordinary Profound Cave Cultivators.

Before long, a gaunt old man with disheveled hair and crimson eyes entered the auction hall, immediately causing a stir.

“Sanlei Old Freak! They actually invited him to this auction!”

“This Great Sage hasn’t shown his face for several decades.

Many speculated that he failed to Breakthrough to the Yang Spirit Realm and had already passed away, but now it seems that was utter nonsense.”

“The grand finale item this time must be quite significant.”

Gu Changsheng’s expression was calm, and information about Sanlei Old Freak appeared in his mind.

‘A Late Stage Peak Profound Cave Cultivator, suspected of failing to Breakthrough to the Yang Spirit Realm but surviving.

This person achieved Dao through a thunder-roc exotic beast, proficient in speed and thunder techniques, and is quite renowned among Profound Cave Cultivators.’

His anticipation for this auction suddenly increased significantly.

Auction Hall.

Clap!

The jujube-red gavel fell, and the sound of a grand bell vibrated throughout the hall.

Sanlei Old Freak bowed with a smile: “This old man is humbly serving as the host for this auction.

I’ll give you all a little preview beforehand.

This auction will definitely be the most abundant in items in several sixty-year cycles.

However, everything is about harmony.

This humble old man thanks you all in advance and wishes you all success in bidding for your desired items.”

After he finished speaking, a line of maidservants came forward, each carrying a tray covered with a red cloth.

As the red cloth was lifted, an ancient, gray, hexagonal altar appeared before everyone’s eyes, gurgling and emitting wisps of Devilish Qi.

“This is... an altar!?”

“Such pure Devilish Qi!”

Sanlei Old Freak’s gaze swept across the hall, and he said with a chuckle: “As you all can see, this is an altar for refining demonic bodies.

The Devilish Qi inside has been specially processed, making it exceptionally suitable for refining the demonic bodies of younger generations.

If one has good bone structure, the refined demonic body has the potential to be above the fourth grade.”

Demonic bodies are divided into grades one to nine.

Above the first grade is the True Demonic Body, which cannot be obtained without being refined by True Devil Qi.

Fourth grade is already just a hair away from the top three grades.

This immediately caused exclamations of surprise.

“This item is truly rare, a strategic treasure that can be passed down to Family descendants...”

“We really came to the right auction this time.

The very first item is already so impressive; in other auctions, it would be enough to be the grand finale.”

“Excellent, excellent!”

Compared to the fervor of the crowd, Gu Changsheng’s face showed no ripples.

Fourth-grade demonic body?

Heh heh.

He still had over a hundred wisps of True Devil Qi in his possession.

Refining a True Demonic Body would not be surprising.