Chapter 148 Auction Turmoil, Ice Lotus Acquired

The anomaly in the southwest of Heavenly Derivation City was like a stone thrown into a calm lake—though faint, it caught the attention of many discerning individuals. Several powerful Divine Senses intertwined and collided in the Void Realm, carrying inquiry and surprise, but the fluctuation quickly subsided, as if it had been an illusion.

Nightmare suppressed the urge to investigate immediately. The rule fragment’s sensing couldn't be wrong; that ruin definitely existed, but rushing there now would likely make him a target. He would stick to his original plan and resolve the matter of the seven-colored ice soul lotus first.

In the following days, Heavenly Derivation City clearly became more lively. Cultivators from all over Central Plains poured in continuously, many of whom possessed powerful auras. They were clearly here for the upcoming Tiandu Grand Gathering and its grand finale auction item, the seven-colored ice soul lotus.

Nightmare kept a low profile, consolidating his Cultivation while gathering intelligence on the various factions participating in the auction through the Myriad Treasures Tower and his informants in the city. He learned that many forces were interested in the ice soul lotus, including several large Sects renowned for their ice-element Cultivation Techniques, and possibly even members of the imperial family. The competition was bound to be fierce.

He also encountered Ye Fan, the Saint of Lingxiao Sword Sect, again. After extensive treatment by his Sect, the youth's injuries seemed to have recovered considerably, but his Cultivation had fallen to the Early Nascent Soul Stage, and his Dao foundation was damaged. His face was grim, and his gaze towards Nightmare was filled with venomous resentment, yet he dared not provoke him again, merely staring from a distance like a venomous snake.

Nightmare simply ignored him. A stray dog was not worth worrying about.

However, Elder Li of the Sky Patrol Alliance and the Deity Transformation Cultivator Elder of Lingxiao Sword Sect still occasionally swept their Divine Sense over his Immortal Cave, full of surveillance.

Half a month passed in a flash.

The Tiandu Grand Gathering was held as scheduled in the largest “Heavenly Derivation Auction House” in the center of Heavenly Derivation City.

On this day, the area outside the auction house was packed with people, shimmering with brilliant lights. Countless Cultivators, holding invitations, queued to enter. Those without invitations needed to pay a high amount of Spirit Stones to enter the main hall as spectators. As for the private rooms upstairs, they had long been reserved by major powers.

Nightmare did not hide his whereabouts. He directly displayed his Myriad Treasures Tower VIP token and was respectfully led into a medium-sized private room on the second floor. He could feel that the moment he entered the auction house, at least ten powerful Divine Senses locked onto him, including Elder Li and the Lingxiao Sword Sect Elder, and even a few more subtle and powerful auras.

“Hmph, are you all waiting for This Sovereign?” Nightmare sneered inwardly, calmly took his seat, and closed his eyes to rest.

The auction quickly began. Rare Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, Magic Treasures, and Materials were presented on the stage, attracting waves of bidding and a lively atmosphere. Among them were items that even Deity Transformation Cultivators found tempting, but Nightmare never made a move; he was waiting for the final main event.

Time flowed, and the auction gradually neared its end.

After the last auction item—a damaged ancient treasure—was sold, the auctioneer took a deep breath, a look of excitement on his face, and announced loudly: “Next, is the grand finale treasure of this Tiandu Grand Gathering—the ten-thousand-year-rare sacred medicine, the seven-colored ice soul lotus!”

The entire venue instantly fell silent, all eyes focused on the display stand.

Four Late Nascent Soul Stage guards, escorting a cold jade treasure box enveloped in multiple Restrictions, carefully placed it in the center of the display stand. The auctioneer cast a spell, and the treasure box slowly opened.

In an instant, seven-colored auspicious light shot into the sky, illuminating the entire auction house like a dream! An extremely pure yet incomparably icy medicinal fragrance permeated the air, invigorating all the Cultivators, as if their Divine Souls had been cleansed!

Inside the treasure box, a lotus with seven petals of different colors, crystal clear and carved from ice, floated silently, shimmering with brilliant light and emitting astonishing energy fluctuations and profound Law auras!

It was indeed the seven-colored ice soul lotus!

“It really is a sacred medicine!”

“Such astonishing cold Qi! For those of us who Cultivate ice-element Cultivation Techniques, it is an supreme treasure!”

“I must have this item!”

After a brief silence, the scene erupted into a huge commotion, and countless Cultivators’ eyes showed greed.

The auctioneer looked at the reaction with satisfaction and announced loudly: “The seven-colored ice soul lotus, starting bid, five hundred thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones! Each increment must not be less than ten thousand! Bidding starts now!”

“Five hundred fifty thousand!”

“Six hundred thousand!”

“Six hundred fifty thousand!”

The price instantly soared like a wild horse unbridled! In just a few breaths, it broke the one million mark! And it was still rising!

Most of the bidders were major powers in the private rooms on the second floor; the Cultivators in the main hall had long become mere spectators.

“One million two hundred thousand!” A cold female voice came from a certain private room; it was an Elder from the “profound ice Pavilion” in the Northern Region.

“One million three hundred thousand!” Another aged voice sounded, from a representative of a certain Prince of the Central Plains imperial family.

“One million five hundred thousand!” A bid also came from Lingxiao Sword Sect’s private room, seemingly intending to acquire it for Ye Fan’s healing.

Nightmare watched with cold eyes, not rushing to bid.

When the price was raised to two million High-Grade Spirit Stones, the bidding voices became significantly scarcer, with only three or four remaining in contention.

“Two million one hundred thousand!” The profound ice Pavilion Elder gritted her teeth, this was their limit.

“Two million one hundred fifteen thousand!” The imperial family representative’s voice remained steady.

“Two million two hundred thousand!” The Lingxiao Sword Sect Elder raised the price again.

Just then, Nightmare finally spoke, his voice calm, yet clearly audible throughout the venue:

“Three million.”

He directly added eight hundred thousand!

The entire venue instantly fell silent! All eyes turned in shock towards Nightmare’s private room!

Three million High-Grade Spirit Stones! This was already a medium-sized Sect’s annual income! This guy actually called it out so casually?!

The profound ice Pavilion Elder’s face paled, and she slumped back into her seat. The imperial family representative was silent for a moment, seemingly communicating with someone behind him, and ultimately chose to give up. This price had already far exceeded the intrinsic value of the ice soul lotus.

Inside Lingxiao Sword Sect’s private room, Ye Fan shouted excitedly: “Elder! Bid higher! Don’t let him get it!”

The Sword Sect Elder’s face was livid. Three million High-Grade Spirit Stones was no small sum even for Lingxiao Sword Sect, and using it to buy an ice soul lotus primarily for healing was truly painful. But seeing Ye Fan’s venomous and urgent gaze, he gritted his teeth and shouted: “Three million five thousand!”

“Four million.” Nightmare’s voice sounded again, still calm, as if he were just saying four hundred Spirit Stones.

Boom!

The entire venue was in an uproar!

Madman! This was absolutely a madman!

The Sword Sect Elder trembled with rage, pointing in the direction of Nightmare’s private room, but ultimately failed to shout out another price. To contend for a moment’s pride and spend such an enormous sum would be impossible to explain upon returning.

The auctioneer’s voice trembled with excitement: “Four... four million High-Grade Spirit Stones! Any higher bids? Four million going once! Four million going twice! Four million going three times! Sold! Congratulations to Fellow Daoist in Private Room A-7 for acquiring the seven-colored ice soul lotus!”

The hammer fell, sealing the deal!

Countless gazes, mixed with shock, envy, jealousy, and greed, focused on Nightmare’s private room. Everyone wanted to know the background of this Black-Robed Person with such terrifying financial power.

Guided by a attendant, Nightmare went to the backstage for settlement. He directly threw out a Storage Pouch filled with Spirit Stones, and also used some unused Materials and High-Grade Spirit Stones he had obtained from the Ancient Battlefield as collateral. Money Maple of Myriad Treasures Tower personally received him, smiling broadly, quickly completing the formalities and handing the cold jade treasure box, sealed with multiple Restrictions, to Nightmare.

“Fellow Daoist Ye is truly generous! Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on acquiring the sacred medicine!” Money Maple complimented, but a subtle, hard-to-detect glint flashed deep in his eyes.

Nightmare took the treasure box, carefully checked it with his Divine Sense to ensure it was correct, then directly put it into his bosom and turned to leave.

As soon as he walked out of the auction house, he felt those several powerful Divine Senses lock onto him again, like maggots to bone, the malice within them undisguised.

Nightmare’s lips curled into a cold arc. He did not immediately return to his Immortal Cave but walked unhurriedly towards the less crowded southern part of the city.

Sure enough, as soon as he left the bustling area and entered a secluded alley, his path was blocked by several powerful auras, both front and back.

In front were the grim-faced Elder Li of the Sky Patrol Alliance and the Lingxiao Sword Sect Elder.

Behind were three Loose Cultivators, dressed differently but all clearly at the Early Spirit Transformation Stage, evidently hired thugs.

Five Deity Transformation Cultivators, working together to surround him!

“Nightmare! Leave the ice soul lotus and your Storage Pouch, cripple your Cultivation, and perhaps you can keep a complete corpse!” Elder Li coldly shouted, his eyes burning with killing intent. He absolutely did not believe that the opponent could escape from encirclement time and again. This time, they were well prepared and determined to succeed!

The Lingxiao Sword Sect Elder also sternly said: “Devil Head! Today is your day of death!”

The three Deity Transformation Loose Cultivators said nothing, each conjuring their Magic Treasure to Seal off the surrounding space, preventing Nightmare from escaping again.

Nightmare looked at this formation and suddenly let out a soft laugh.

“Do you mere chickens and dogs also wish to court death?”

He simply raised his hand, and the cold jade treasure box he had just acquired appeared in his grasp. To everyone’s astonishment, he directly broke the Restrictions on it and took out the seven-colored, flowing light ice soul lotus!

“Since you want it, then… I’ll give it to you!”

He fiercely threw the ice soul lotus forward! At the same time, the power of the rule fragment secretly activated the extreme ice cold power contained within the ice soul lotus!

Boom!

The ice soul lotus violently exploded in mid-air! It wasn't destruction, but rather the instantaneous, unreserved release of the pure extreme Yin ice-cold Qi it had accumulated for ten thousand years!

In an instant, it was as if a ten-thousand-year ice prison had descended! A terrifying blue cold tide swept through the entire alley like a tsunami! The air was frozen, the space creaked and groaned, and the ground was instantly covered with thick, solid ice!

Elder Li and the Lingxiao Sword Sect Elder bore the brunt, their faces drastically changing. They felt their own magical power instantly stagnate, and their Divine Souls seemed to be freezing! They desperately urged their magical power to resist, yet they were still repeatedly forced back by the terrifying cold tide, their bodies covered in a layer of frost!

The three Deity Transformation Loose Cultivators were even more caught off guard, swallowed by the cold tide, and instantly turned into three crystal-clear ice sculptures, the horror on their faces frozen in place!

Now!

A fierce glint flashed in Nightmare’s eyes. His body merged into the cold tide like a phantom, ignoring the extreme low temperature, and instantly appeared before Elder Li, who was fumbling to resist the cold Qi!

“Die!”

He simply pointed with one finger, the Nirvana Star Evil condensed to its extreme, aiming at Elder Li’s glabella!

Elder Li was terrified, wanting to dodge, but his body was eroded by the cold Qi, his movements slowed by more than just a beat!

Pfft!

The fingertip effortlessly pierced his protective spiritual light, penetrating his head!

The Power of Annihilation erupted, instantly annihilating all his life force!

A Mid-stage Dao Replenishing Cultivator, fallen!

Nightmare did not stop, his figure flickered again, appearing beside the Lingxiao Sword Sect Elder as if teleporting, and pointed out another finger!

The Sword Sect Elder was scared out of his wits, roaring, he conjured his Natal Flying Sword to block in front of him!

Crack!

The Finger Wind, imbued with the power of Law, directly shattered the Spirit Treasure Flying Sword, and its momentum undiminished, struck his chest!

Pfft!

The Sword Sect Elder violently spat out blood mixed with fragments of internal organs. A terrifying bloody hole appeared in his chest, and he flew backward, crashing heavily against the ice wall. His aura instantly withered, and he was clearly beyond saving!

In the blink of an eye, of the five Deity Transformation Cultivators, two were dead, one severely wounded! The remaining two were still frozen in ice!

The severely wounded Sword Sect Elder looked at Nightmare, who was approaching like a demon god, his eyes filled with fear and despair, and he hissed: “You… you actually…”

Nightmare didn’t bother to listen to his nonsense, casually waved his hand, and an Annihilation Finger Wind ended his life.

Afterward, he looked at the two frozen Loose Cultivator ice sculptures, equally merciless, and pointed his fingers repeatedly.

Crack! Crack!

The ice sculptures shattered, and along with the Deity Transformation Cultivators inside, they turned into dust.

After all this was done, silence returned to the alley, leaving only five rapidly chilling corpses and the lingering cold Qi.

Nightmare raised his hand, and the remaining essence and cold Qi of the exploded ice soul lotus were reabsorbed by him. Although most of its medicinal power was lost, the core Origin remained, still making it priceless. He casually collected the five individuals’ Storage Pouches into his own.

The entire process was swift, clean, ruthless, and decisive!

He coldly swept his gaze across the surrounding Void Realm. He could feel that there were still a few subtle Divine Senses peering from afar, but they were now filled with terror and quickly retreated.

After this battle, it should make certain people sober up for a while.

Nightmare tidied his black robe, as if he had done a trivial matter, and slowly walked out of the alley, disappearing into the night.

What he didn’t know was that in the shadow of a distant tall tower, the Black-Robed Person who had traded with him quietly appeared. Looking in the direction where Nightmare disappeared, a strange smile curved at the corner of his mouth beneath the shadow.

“As expected, he didn’t disappoint me… Strong enough, ruthless enough… Just right to be that blade…”

“Next… it’s time to go to ‘that place’… I suppose the ‘Holy Emissary’ can’t wait any longer…”

The Black-Robed Person muttered a few words, and his figure slowly dissipated, as if he had never appeared.

Nightmare returned to his Immortal Cave, set up Restrictions, and took out the significantly depleted ice soul lotus, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Although the process was arduous, the goal was finally achieved. With this lotus in hand, dispelling the hidden danger in his left shoulder and fully recovering from his injuries was just around the corner.

And just as he was about to refine the ice soul lotus, the rule fragment once again transmitted a resonance fluctuation from the southwest, even clearer than before!

This time, the fluctuation even contained a trace of… a faint summoning intent?

Nightmare’s gaze suddenly sharpened.

That ruin, it seemed, had undergone some kind of change?

He glanced at the ice soul lotus in his hand, pondered for a moment, and then made a decision.

First, heal his injuries and dispel the poison, restoring himself to Peak condition. Then, immediately head southwest to investigate!

He had a premonition that the Star Palace Ruins in Central Plains might bring him unexpected surprises.