Chapter 489: The Auction (Please Subscribe)
Chapter 489: The Auction (Please Subscribe)
A few days later.
Inside a cave dwelling.
Fang Xi had set up a defensive array around the perimeter before sitting cross-legged, toying with a pitch-black token in his hand.
"Such an auction. . . it seems quite interesting,"
he murmured, recalling the rules of the grand auction that Hei Xuan Shangren had explained.
This grand auction was, in fact, divided into two sessions.
One was an open auction, and the other a secret auction!
The open auction was naturally like many previous auctions: cultivators entered the venue, and the highest bidder won.
"I hope there will be something I need,"
Fang Xi murmured, closing his eyes.
His main purpose in coming this time was for an alchemy inheritance and Blood River Stone. Of course, if there were any demonic fire seeds, or even 'Ascending Cloud Pills', he wouldn't mind acquiring them as well.
...
Time flowed like water.
Soon, it was time for the grand auction to begin.
Fang Xi, as usual, wore a green robe and a bamboo hat, arriving at the auction venue.
The place featured upturned eaves and intricate brackets, with numerous palaces, flowing spiritual springs, small bridges, and bamboo pavilions. . . exuding an ethereal aura, truly unique and elegant.
The grand auction was held in the largest structure, the 'Starry Sky Palace'.
This palace was vast and magnificent, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of cultivators.
As a Nascent Soul Old Monster, even though he was merely a rogue cultivator, Fang Xi enjoyed the privilege of a private room. Holding the invitation gifted by Hei Xuan Shangren, he calmly stepped into the Starry Sky Palace.
A faint purple glint flickered in his eyes as he surveyed the entrance of the auction hall. He didn't release his Divine Consciousness, merely sensing the cultivation levels of those arriving.
'Not bad, not bad, there are quite a few Nascent Soul cultivators. . . '
Just then, two figures entered the Starry Sky Palace, one after the other. The one in front was a black-robed elder whom Fang Xi was quite familiar with—it was Hei Xuan Shangren.
The other person wore a verdant green robe, his face as fair as jade, and a golden crown upon his head. His cultivation was also at the early Nascent Soul stage, yet he gave Fang Xi an odd sensation.
'This person. . . something's not right! '
Practicing the 'Withered Glory Chant' allowed one to roughly sense a cultivator's life force.
And the golden-crowned cultivator gave Fang Xi the impression that his life vitality was excessively vigorous. . .
'Even a body cultivator wouldn't be like this. Could it be. . . '
Fang Xi stepped forward to greet them: "Daoist Friend Hei Xuan. . ."
"Daoist Friend Tian Kui. . ."
Hei Xuan Shangren cupped his hands and introduced the man to Fang Xi: "Though you haven't met this Daoist Friend yet, you must have heard of his esteemed title—Bi Yu Zhenjun!"
"So it is Bi Yu Zhenjun, the rogue cultivator who advanced to the Nascent Soul realm over fifty years ago? " Fang Xi cupped his hands. "Greetings, Daoist Friend. . ."
"Daoist Friend Tian Kui is too polite. As fellow rogue cultivators, and given your proficiency in puppet arts, I am quite interested and hope to learn from you in the future. . ."
Bi Yu Zhenjun smiled, his demeanor graceful and charming.
However, a Divine Consciousness, more powerful and concealed than that of an early Nascent Soul cultivator, unceremoniously swept over him, only to be unceremoniously repelled by the bamboo hat strange treasure.
Fang Xi uttered a polite affirmation, and they each ascended to the second floor, entering their respective private rooms.
The instant before stepping into the private room, his eyes grew slightly dark, and a small black wooden seal landed in his palm, hidden within his sleeve.
In that instant, Fang Xi was already in a state where his 'Withered Glory Mystic Light' was on the verge of activating.
In this state, he could clearly sense the lifespan status of various cultivators.
'Hei Xuan Shangren looks old, but he actually has over five hundred years left to live. . . '
'This Bi Yu Zhenjun. . . can still live for over two thousand years? '
Fang Xi entered his private room, closing the restriction-laden door, a cold smirk appearing on his face: 'Even a Soul Transformation cultivator in the Human World likely wouldn't live this long. This isn't something any longevity pill or secret art can achieve. This person must be a demon cultivator! '
Recalling the other party's advancement to the Nascent Soul stage decades ago, his conviction deepened.
'Speaking of which. . . that superior-grade fourth-tier Purple Lightning Qilin, which was already in its late-stage transformation, kept trying to bite me. . . Could it be for the 'Two Forms Penetrating Primordial Art' that comes after the 'Heavenly Demon Extermination Manual'? '
Fang Xi sat cross-legged, silently noting Bi Yu Zhenjun's private room number.
After meditating for a moment, the clear chime of a jade chime echoed throughout the hall, carrying a calming effect.
All cultivators turned their gaze towards the auction stage.
A moment later, a black light descended onto the auction stage, revealing a middle-aged cultivator in black close-fitting attire.
This middle-aged cultivator was unremarkable in appearance, yet his aura had reached the late Nascent Soul stage, revealing him to be the Grand Elder of the Black Dragon Sect!
What was truly impressive was the black dragon phantom constantly swirling around his body.
The aura of this phantom was terrifying, having actually reached the mid-grade fourth-tier, making it a powerful Numinous Treasure for protection that could also be released to slay enemies at any time!
'Rumor has it that this Grand Cultivator once slew a mid-grade fourth-tier Flood Dragon, took its soul, and refined it into a protective divine ability. It seems the rumors are true. '
Fang Xi secretly praised him in his heart, then heard the Grand Cultivator speak:
"This Venerable One is 'Black Heaven'. Welcome, everyone, to the auction. I hope all of you can acquire items to your liking."
Black Heaven True Monarch's voice was hoarse, carrying a peculiar magnetism.
Roar!
After he finished speaking, a dragon's roar echoed, and his entire being was enveloped in a dragon-shaped light, entering a private room.
It seemed this Grand Cultivator knew his temperament wasn't suited to presiding over such a major event.
And once Black Heaven Venerable had retired, a captivating female auctioneer, accompanied by charming, smiling maidservants, stepped onto the stage: "This auction officially begins now. . . The first item for bid: five Five Elements Foundation Establishment Pills!"
She clapped her hands, and five maidservants each stepped forward, holding a tray.
The cultivators present couldn't help but cast interested glances.
Many Foundation Establishment cultivators were even more enthusiastic: "Indeed, the first round of items already includes such spirit pills! The auction catalog stated that these five Five Elements Foundation Establishment Pills consist of one each for metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. . ."
Fang Xi had no need for Five Elements Foundation Establishment Pills, so he quietly watched the many cultivators below vying for them, each Foundation Establishment Pill being auctioned for a sky-high price exceeding a million low-grade spirit stones.
'The Western Desert has more spirit stone mines, so pill prices have increased quite a bit. . . '
He inwardly sighed with emotion, then saw the beautiful woman promoting bottles of five-colored liquid.
This was the 'Five Elements Spirit Transformation Liquid', which was greatly beneficial for Core Formation cultivators' cultivation.
After this wave of various healing and Divine Consciousness-enhancing pills, another round of magical artifact auctions began. . .
Fang Xi yawned idly. It wasn't until the auction was halfway through that the beautiful woman lightly pursed her red lips and smiled: "The next item for bid is a mid-grade fourth-tier alchemy inheritance, named 'Langhuan Pill Scripture'. . . It not only contains many exquisite alchemy techniques but also six fourth-tier pill recipes, and a large number of third-tier and second-tier pill recipes. . ."
"Finally,"
his eyes lit up. Many other Nascent Soul cultivators were similarly stirred.
After all, such an inheritance was absolutely essential to a sect's foundation!
Even if a sect was in decline, cultivators might not be willing to part with it.
"For this item, the seller's requirements are as follows. If you possess any spiritual materials listed, please make your offer. . ."
The beautiful woman clapped her hands, and a scroll soared into the air, radiating light from all four sides, allowing every cultivator present to see it regardless of their angle.
"Taiyi Golden Essence, Heavenly River True Water, Jia Wood Spirit. . ."
Fang Xi glanced at it, and his expression darkened slightly.
'Indeed, at the fourth-tier level, there's basically no more good fortune to be had with low-grade spirit stone auctions. . . Unless a major power urgently needs a large quantity of spirit stones, but even then, such good fortune wouldn't benefit outsiders. . . It's almost entirely trade-in-kind. '
The crucial point was that he didn't possess such rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Even if he did, he wouldn't be willing to exchange them for an alchemy inheritance.
"Life is often unsatisfactory, seven or eight times out of ten. . ."
Fang Xi pursed his lips and calmly sat back down.
As a longevity seeker, one's mindset was incredibly important.
As for these minor dissatisfactions. . . time would always slowly smooth everything over.
"This one has a piece of Jia Wood Spirit, though it is slightly damaged. . . I wonder if it meets the seller's requirements."
At that moment, a voice as warm and clear as jade sounded.
Fang Xi's eyebrow arched, and a faint smile appeared: "It seems this inheritance and I still have some destiny?"
He recognized the owner of this voice: it was indeed Bi Yu Zhenjun.
With that thought, Fang Xi quietly watched as the other party flaunted his power, traded with the beautiful woman, and ultimately successfully acquired the 'Langhuan Pill Scripture'.
...
"The next item for bid is a spirit fire seed!"
Fang Xi, who had been comfortably sitting cross-legged, couldn't help but straighten up upon hearing the beautiful woman's voice.
"What kind of spirit fire?"
"We didn't see any news of this in the catalog before?"
"It seems the seller added it at the last minute!"
...
Amidst the cultivators' lively discussions, the beautiful woman had a maidservant bring a tray forward.
On the tray was a pitch-black alms bowl.
The alms bowl was ancient in design, its surface adorned with Sanskrit restrictions, emitting a golden aura that enveloped the flame within like a translucent golden kasaya, sealing it away.
"To actually require a Buddhist treasure for sealing. . . it seems to be a demonic spirit fire."
Interest flickered in Fang Xi's eyes.
"Heh heh. . . just by looking at this Buddhist treasure, one can tell that this flame's power is considerable."
A strange laugh echoed, asking the very question Fang Xi wanted to ask: "May I know the origin of this flame?"
"Ah, it's Demon Monarch Yun Meng. Please wait a moment. . ."
The beautiful woman seemed to recognize the voice, her expression shifting slightly. She took out a restriction token and slightly loosened the Buddhist treasure's seal.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
A blood-red flame immediately emerged from the restriction, accompanied by a hair-raising whistling sound.
"This spirit flame is named 'Bone-Dissolving Blood Blazefire'. It is a demonic spirit fire that can only be refined by cultivators who have cultivated blood demon techniques to an extremely profound realm, by expending their vitality and combining it with numerous rare and wondrous demonic treasures. . ."
As the beautiful woman spoke, she retrieved a white bone from her storage pouch.
This white bone was entirely crystalline like jade, carrying a faint sense of majesty. It was surprisingly the skeleton of a fourth-tier demon beast.
"This is a bone from a fourth-tier Flood Dragon. . . Please observe."
The beautiful woman formed a hand seal and cast a manipulation spell, causing the white bone to slowly float above the blood-red flame.
Blaze! Blaze!
A wisp of blood-red flame touched the white bone, immediately clinging to it like a persistent ulcer, completely engulfing it.
Subsequently. . .
In less than a moment, the white bone rapidly melted beneath the blood-red flame.
Such power astonished even the Nascent Soul cultivators present!
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