282: Xuan Qingzi arrives

In the center of the jade box lay a peculiar plant.

It was ice-blue all over, its leaves carved like the purest ice, with fine serrations along the edges reflecting a cold luster under the light.

Faint green streaks of light moved within the leaf veins, as if life itself were flowing through them.

Most striking was the top of the plant—there grew a thumb-sized, crystal-clear red fruit, its surface shrouded in a thin layer of white frost mist. The mist curled but did not dissipate, making the fruit stand out like Hong Mei in the snow, vivid and eye-catching.

"A Thousand-Year Ice Mist Grass, and the cold marrow jade fruit it bears!"

Mo Chenggui's voice carried a hint of well-timed admiration:

"This item grows in ice marrow fissures in extremely cold and dangerous lands, requiring the essence of thousand-year ice marrow to mature. Its leaves can be used to refine 'Ice Muscle Jade Bone Pills,' which can enhance a Cultivator's Physical Body's resistance to cold. This 'cold marrow jade fruit' is a primary ingredient for high-grade Medicinal Pills like 'Heart-Clearing Pills' and 'Soul-Cleansing Pills.' It can even be consumed directly to temper the Divine Soul, resist Heart Demons, and remove hidden ailments of the soul—offering great benefits to Golden Core Stage and even Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room. Seeing the burning light in the eyes of many Cultivators, he continued:

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

As his voice fell, a sound of collective gasps and excited discussions erupted below. Even the Withered Bone Ascetic sat up straight, staring at the jade box with burning eyes.

"It really is Thousand-Year Ice Mist Grass! I saw a record of it in an ancient text ten years ago; I never expected to see it with my own eyes today!"

"That cold marrow jade fruit is the key! My Sect Master is currently breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage and lacks treasures that can resist Heart Demons the most!"

"Ten thousand! I bid fifteen thousand!" a Cultivator in a gray Daoist robe shouted first, his voice trembling slightly.

"Twenty thousand!" someone followed immediately, refusing to back down.

"Fifty thousand!"

"Eighty thousand!"

A raspy voice suddenly rang out, like two stones rubbing together, carrying an unquestionable dominance.

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a gaunt monk in black robes slowly standing up in the western corner. He was bald, with a sallow complexion and sunken eyes—it was none other than the Withered Bone Ascetic of the Ten Thousand Gu Sect.

He was rotating a string of black skull prayer beads in his hand, his eyes fixed on the Ice Mist Grass in the jade box as if he wanted to swallow it whole.

The Withered Bone Ascetic's bid caused a brief silence, but soon, others continued to raise the price.

"Eighty-five thousand!"

"Ninety thousand!"

"Ninety-five thousand!"

The price soared all the way to a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Just as everyone thought the Withered Bone Ascetic would continue to bid, an old, slightly tired voice suddenly rang out from the periphery of the auction house, exploding in everyone's ears like a clap of thunder:

"Two hundred thousand."

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a group of people appearing at the edge of the auction house at some unknown time.

Leading them was an old man in a purple Daoist robe, with white hair and a youthful complexion. His face carried a hint of unavoidable paleness, but his eyes were as deep as an abyss. His aura flickered in and out of existence, as if he were merging with heaven and earth.

Behind him followed a dozen soldiers in armor, with the word "Tianqi" engraved on their breastplates. Holding long spears, their auras were steady—clearly an elite force.

It was the hurried arrival of Mysterious Clarity Master. Unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived, he encountered the auction of the Ice Mist Grass and the Cold Marrow Fruit, which were exactly the treasures he needed to heal his Divine Soul. He decisively doubled the price.

The Withered Bone Ascetic's face darkened, and he turned to glare fiercely outside the venue, his raspy voice carrying a threat:

"Who dares to compete with this old man?"

"Master Withered Bone, please calm yourself."

Mo Chenggui's voice rose at the right time, his smile still gentle but his tone carrying a bit of seriousness:

"At the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce's auction, we only consider the bid, regardless of status or Cultivation. Please, Master, do not intimidate other bidders and break the rules."

The Withered Bone Ascetic dared to lose his temper with other Cultivators but did not dare to offend Mo Chenggui. His face turned ashen with rage as he stared at the tired-looking Mysterious Clarity Master outside the venue and gritted his teeth:

"Two hundred and fifty thousand!"

"Three hundred thousand."

Mysterious Clarity Master's voice remained calm, as if he were speaking of a trivial matter.

His Divine Soul had been injured by backlash, so no matter what, he had to obtain this cold marrow jade fruit.

Just as the Withered Bone Ascetic was about to bid again, the Sect Disciple beside him hurriedly pulled him back and whispered in his ear:

"Elder, we don't have enough Spirit Stones left. If we bid more, we'll have to mortgage that Magical Artifact. What if there are better items later..."

The Withered Bone Ascetic glared fiercely at Mysterious Clarity Master, finally gave an unwilling cold snort, and slowly sat down.

All eyes were focused on Mysterious Clarity Master, waiting for Mo Chenggui to drop the gavel—three hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones had already far exceeded the usual price for a Cold Marrow Fruit. No one else was willing to compete with Mysterious Clarity Master.

Just as Mo Chenggui picked up the wooden gavel and was about to call out "Three hundred thousand once," a lazy voice suddenly came from the air, carrying a bit of arrogance:

"Five hundred thousand."

Everyone looked up to see a white figure slowly descending from the clouds. The man wore a white brocade robe with a mutton-fat jade pendant tied at his waist. His face was handsome, but his eyes held a hint of nonchalant arrogance.

His aura was as sharp as a sword, radiating the pressure of the Nascent Soul Early Stage Peak, giving off an unstoppable feeling.

The man landed by an empty table in the invited VIP area, casually picking up a teacup to toy with. His gaze swept over the Ice Mist Grass on the stage, his eyes shining with a look of determination:

"I'll take this Cold Marrow Fruit."

Mysterious Clarity Master frowned slightly and gave him a faint glance. His tone remained calm but added a bit of unquestionable majesty:

"One million!"

"Hiss—"

The sound of collective gasps rang out once again.

One million Low-Grade Spirit Stones! This was enough to bankrupt a medium-sized Sect. Even for a Nascent Soul Cultivator as wealthy as a nation, they would have to think twice.

The white-clad Cultivator's expression changed slightly, and his aura quietly spread out, an invisible pressure enveloping the venue. He looked deeply at Mysterious Clarity Master, seemingly measuring the other's strength, but in the end, he only gave a cold snort, put down the teacup, and stopped bidding.

Although he was wealthy, he was unwilling to go bankrupt for a single cold marrow jade fruit.

Mo Chenggui's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he called out loudly:

"State Preceptor Xuan Qingzi bids one million Low-Grade Spirit Stones! Does any other Fellow Daoist wish to raise the bid?"

Only at this moment did everyone realize that this person was the State Preceptor of Tianqi, Xuan Qingzi. No wonder Spirit Stones were just a number to him.

Mo Chenggui asked three times, and the entire venue was silent.

No one dared to compete with Mysterious Clarity Master anymore, nor could anyone produce that many Spirit Stones.

Mo Chenggui no longer hesitated and brought the wooden gavel down heavily:

"One million once! One million twice! One million three times! Sold!"

Mo Chenggui cupped his hands toward Mysterious Clarity Master:

"Congratulations, State Preceptor, on obtaining this supreme treasure. The chamber has prepared a VIP seat for you. Please follow the attendant."

Mysterious Clarity Master nodded slightly and walked toward the VIP area guided by the attendant. As he passed by the Withered Bone Ascetic, their gazes collided in the air, sparking invisible flames, but neither spoke.