58: A Star Palace Auction? No, it's Gu Yang's Stolen Goods Disposal Event!

The heart of the Chaotic Star Sea, Heavenly Star Island.

This is a giant island floating above the Nine Heavens, controlled by the Chaotic Star Sea's number one power, the "Star Palace."

On the island are jade pavilions and buildings, Spiritual Qi turns into mist, countless high-level Cultivators travel through the sky, Nascent Soul Ancestors are seen everywhere, and Golden Core Cultivators are as numerous as ox hairs.

This is the most prosperous and safest place in the Chaotic Star Sea, and also the place where money is spent the fastest.

Gu Yang had already used the Bone-Shrinking Technique to change his appearance, turning into a two-meter-tall, bearded burly man.

Although still sturdy, it was much more low-key than his signature Glazed Golden Body.

He stood at the entrance of the Star Palace's magnificent auction house, looked at the entry threshold of up to a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, and touched his shriveled Storage Pouch.

"Thirty thousand Spirit Stones..."

Gu Yang sighed.

Although the merchant ship from before was fat, most of it was spiritual materials and Ore, which he had eaten as snacks along the way.

He only had this much cash, not even enough for a fraction of the starting price of that "taiyi essence gold."

"I have no money, I can't just rob the Star Palace's entrance, right? Those two Nascent Soul Old Monsters guarding the door aren't just for show."

Gu Yang turned and slipped into the "Dark Market" beneath Heavenly Star Island.

This was a place where all sorts of people gathered; as long as you could pay the stall fee, you could sell anything.

Gu Yang found a corner, spread out a ragged cloth, and began to pull things out.

"This... Crimson Flame Flood Dragon's dung? It's a bit smelly, but at least it's of the Dragon species, someone should want it."

"This... bat teeth picked up in the Ten Thousand Monster Cave, ground into powder they can be used in medicine."

"And these..." Gu Yang poured out a large pile of Storage Pouches, left behind by those "kind-hearted" wealth-delivering boys (slain Robber Cultivators and enemies) he met along the way.

Soon, a stall with a very peculiar style was set up.

A wooden sign stood next to it, with eight large characters written on it:

[Ancient Ruin Specialties, Honest Prices for All]

Three types of goods were displayed on the stall:

Category one: A few lumps of blackish stuff emitting a strange fishy smell, stored in jade boxes. Label: "True Dragon Treasure (Dragon Dung), a Divine Artifact for ripening Spirit Medicine."

Category two: A pile of white bone powder. Label: "Heavenly Demon Bone-Strengthening Powder, a gas station for men."

Category three: Dozens of unopened Storage Pouches. Label: "Golden Core Cultivator Relic Blind Boxes, one thousand Spirit Stones each, take a gamble, turn a bicycle into a motorcycle."

"What kind of junk is this selling?"

"Dragon Dung? I think it's dog poop! And a True Dragon at that?"

Passing Cultivators pointed and gestured with looks of disdain.

Gu Yang was not in a hurry, sitting cross-legged in a composed manner.

Until a white-haired old man wearing an Alchemist's robe passed by. His nose twitched twice, and he suddenly stopped in front of the stall, staring fixedly at the jade box containing the "Dragon Dung."

"This smell... this pure sulfur and fishy odor... could it really be the dung of a Flood Dragon?!"

The old man's hands trembled as he opened the box, and a rich Dragon Qi (though mixed with a foul smell) hit him in the face.

"Heavens! It really is the excrement of a Dragon species! The Dragon Qi contained within is enough to shorten the maturation period of a third-rank Spirit Medicine by ten years!"

The old man was so excited his face turned red, "Fellow Daoist! This lump of poop... oh no, how much is this treasure? I want it all!"

"Fifty thousand Spirit Stones per jin, no bargaining," Gu Yang said indifferently.

"Deal!" The old man threw out a heavy Storage Pouch without a second word.

That single "Deal!" instantly ignited the entire black market.

"Holy crap? Someone actually bought poop?"

"That's Great Master Gu of the Dan Ding Sect! If he bought it, it's the real deal!"

"Look at that bone powder! I just took a secret taste, and my blood instantly boiled! It's definitely a Body Refining treasure!"

"And that Blind Box! I got a top-grade Magical Artifact! I've made a fortune!"

In an instant, Gu Yang's stall was surrounded so tightly that not a drop of water could leak through.

Countless Cultivators waved Spirit Stones, fighting over the "trash" that Gu Yang usually wouldn't even glance at.

"Don't push! Everyone, don't push!"

Gu Yang had to stand up to maintain order.

An Early Nascent Soul Stage Old Monster, relying on his cultivation, tried to cut the line and buy everything by force.

"Get lost! This old man is taking it all!" The Old Monster released his pressure, knocking away several Golden Core Cultivators.

Gu Yang frowned.

He reached out a hand and lightly pressed it on the Nascent Soul Old Monster's shoulder.

Extreme Dao Force Field—10x Gravity!

"Old man, get in line."

Gu Yang's voice wasn't loud, but in the Nascent Soul Old Monster's ears, it sounded like a thunderclap. He felt as if a primordial divine mountain was pressing down on his shoulder; his legs weakened, and he actually knelt down in public!

"Hiss—!"

The whole place sucked in a breath of cold air.

Suppressing a Nascent Soul with one hand?! Who is this stall owner?!

"I'll line up! I'll line up!" The Nascent Soul Old Monster broke out in a cold sweat and instantly became well-behaved.

In just two short hours.

The Spirit Stones in front of Gu Yang had piled up into a small mountain.

The "junk" was sold out, and the blind boxes were empty.

Upon counting, there were a full 2.3 million Spirit Stones!

"Although it's not much, it's enough to get in."

Gu Yang satisfiedly put away the Spirit Stones and, under the reverent gazes of the crowd, strode toward the Star Palace Auction House... Star Palace, Heaven-Grade Auction Hall.

Gu Yang sat in a corner, holding a number plate, staring intently at the stage.

The auction was nearing its end, and the finale treasure finally appeared.

"Next is the highlight of this auction—taiyi essence gold!"

The auctioneer pulled back the red cloth, revealing a fist-sized metal block that emitted a piercing golden light. The sharp aura flowing over it even sliced the surrounding air.

A Metal Origin treasure!

"Starting price, one million Spirit Stones!"

"One and a half million!"

"Two million!"

The price soared all the way.

Gu Yang was about to raise his plate when he suddenly heard a familiar voice from a second-floor booth that made his teeth itch:

"Three million! Our Five Elements Sect wants this essence gold!"

Gu Yang looked up.

He saw the curtain of that booth lift, revealing a dignified middle-aged man wearing five-colored Daoist robes.

It was the Five Elements Sect's Sect Master! The enemy who had the entire cultivation world hunting him!

"What a small world..."

Gu Yang rubbed his chin, a dangerous smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

"Three million? I only have 2.3 million on me. It looks like normal bidding is out of the question."

"Since I can't afford it..."

He looked at the surrounding guards, who, although powerful, were not invincible.

"Then should I consider... a zero-dollar purchase?"