Chapter 92: Auction
Auction.
After disguising himself, Lin Changan used the Breath Concealment Technique to suppress his magical aura and entered the auction venue.
“Palace of Blazing Fire—it's better to call it the Huang Clan’s sect.”
As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Lin Changan frowned slightly in his private box, silently reading the information Shen Lie had gathered.
“Among the three Golden Core cultivators of the Palace of Blazing Fire, two are from the Huang Clan. The remaining one holds weak influence. Originally said to have split from the Mystic Yin Sect, in truth, the Palace of Blazing Fire was a sect established with partial strength absorbed by the Huang Clan, a Golden Core family…”
Only by understanding the internal structure of the Palace of Blazing Fire could one realize—it was essentially the Huang Clan Fortress.
“No wonder Huang Shaohai is so arrogant.”
Lin Changan furrowed his brows. He hadn’t investigated it thoroughly before, after all, such a major sect seemed far removed from him.
“For the past hundred years, disciples recruited by the Palace of Blazing Fire, if female and talented, marry into the Huang Clan to continue its line. If male, they marry women of the Huang Clan to safeguard the sect…”
Only when this intelligence was compiled could one realize how astonishing the internal structure of the Palace of Blazing Fire truly was.
However, the Huang Clan wasn’t merely a leech. They were never stingy with techniques, magical tools, pills, and inheritances. Thus, within the sect, the Huang Clan gained the trust of countless disciples and flourished like the midday sun.
The intelligence also clearly stated that male disciples marrying Huang Clan women faced no restrictions and were free to choose any female cultivator.
“For meritorious contributors, the sect even allows them to establish their own clans under its jurisdiction.”
At this moment, Lin Changan couldn’t help but sigh. No wonder the Palace of Blazing Fire was so powerful—they truly had their own methods.
He couldn’t help but think of Yun Yao, his brows furrowing again.
“After reaching Foundation Establishment, Yun Yao became even more elusive. Her swift and decisive methods had taken down countless rogue cultivators. Her cultivation had even broken through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.”
While Lin Changan was deep in thought, cultivators from all directions began arriving at the auction.
…
“Master Lu’s disciples have arrived!”
An uproar surged in the venue as many cultivators straightened solemnly. Within the auction venue, three of Master Lu of the Blackwater Turtle’s disciples entered.
At the lead was Wu Yan of the Pseudo Core Realm, exuding a fierce aura. The pressure of the Pseudo Core Realm made countless cultivators present quiet their spirits.
The second disciple, Su Miaoyin, wore a Taoist robe. Her appearance was exceptional, and her expression was dignified, yet there was a touch of charm between her brows. Her cultivation had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment.
The third disciple, Song Tingfeng, was extraordinarily handsome, wearing a smile, also at the peak of Foundation Establishment.
“So these are the three disciples of Master Lu.”
Many cultivators in the auction hall nodded to themselves. Though they couldn’t witness the grace of Master Lu today, it was said that he would personally attend the final segment of the auction.
To the left and right were cultivators from the Palace of Blazing Fire and the Pavilion of Mystic Sound respectively.
Strength determined status. Master Lu, aided by the Blackwater Turtle, was worthy of being called the number one Golden Core cultivator in Yue Country.
“Sister Su.”
Huang Tianxiao of the Palace of Blazing Fire greeted Master Lu’s daughter with a faint smile. This scene made Song Tingfeng frown in displeasure.
The world of cultivation wasn’t just about fighting and killing—no one was foolish. Anyone who could become Dao companions with Master Lu’s daughter would gain a bountiful dowry.
After all, Master Lu didn’t have many years left in his lifespan. Just his five hundred years’ worth of accumulated wealth and that late-stage third-rank Blackwater Turtle were enough to make even the three great sects envious.
Even if all this wealth were given to his daughter, no one would object.
…
“Welcome, fellow Daoists and seniors, to the Fengle Auction House.”
Once everyone was seated and the auction began, an elderly man with white hair at the Foundation Establishment stage walked out, face full of smiles, and cupped his hands to the crowd.
This man was a follower brought back by Master Lu. His deep voice echoed across the hall, causing many cultivators to feel secretly alarmed.
“His cultivation is at least mid-stage Foundation Establishment.”
In his private box, Lin Changan was startled. He couldn’t see through this elder’s cultivation, but based on his aura, it seemed he hadn’t yet reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
Yet such a powerful Foundation Establishment cultivator was merely a follower.
Worthy of being the top rogue cultivator in Yue Country.
“The first item in this auction is a premium-grade first-rank pill—‘Qi Condensation Pill.’ It greatly benefits late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators in advancing their cultivation. I won’t elaborate further on its effects. The starting bid is…”
A refined-looking female cultivator at the late stage of Qi Refinement respectfully brought out the tray, signaling the crowd to inspect it.
“Starting off with a premium-grade first-rank pill, this really is quite the show of wealth.”
Lin Changan couldn’t help but sigh. Back in the Bamboo Mountain Marketplace, when he had just reached the late stage of Qi Refinement, finding such a pill had been extremely difficult.
But now in Tianxuan City, it seemed so easily available.
Indeed, puddles and lakes could not be compared.
The Fengle Auction House—rumor had it that it was a force established by Master Lu of the Blackwater Turtle during his time in the Sea Abyss of Beasts. When he later returned to his homeland Yue Country, he brought back many followers.
As one auction item after another was presented, exclamations of surprise echoed among the cultivators.
The lowest were premium-grade magical tools—late first-rank treasures.
Inside the private box, Lin Changan waited calmly. He had a specific goal in mind, and what was currently presented were merely items needed by Qi Refinement cultivators.
“I bid eight hundred spirit stones!”
“I bid nine hundred!”
The late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators were flushed with excitement, their voices raised as they watched this grand feast.
The first thing upon entering the auction was verification of assets. Those with fewer than five hundred low-grade spirit stones were not qualified to enter. Otherwise, this auction could not possibly accommodate the tens of thousands of rogue cultivators outside.
Foundation Establishment cultivators, on the other hand, had no such requirements. Each was even given a private box.
…
“Next item is a spirit artifact, also referred to by many cultivators as a supreme-grade magical tool—the ‘White Phosphorus Shield’, a defensive-type magical tool. Starting price: six hundred mid-grade spirit stones!”
As the auction moved into the second half, Qi Refinement cultivators could only watch helplessly. Every bid now came solely from Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Already, too many treasures had appeared—even the extremely rare Foundation Establishment Pills had shown up in dozens, causing an uproar among the Qi Refinement cultivators present.
Now, a supreme-grade magical tool had appeared—one that Lin Changan had long been anticipating.
“A defensive-type supreme-grade magical tool… the slightly higher price is understandable.”
Lin Changan nodded silently. Though there was only a one-grade difference between premium and supreme-grade magical tools, the disparity in power was like night and day.
The materials used to forge a supreme-grade magical tool already included many used in the crafting of spirit artifacts by Golden Core cultivators.
Thus, supreme-grade magical tools were also called spirit artifacts.
“Up next is a supreme-grade magical tool for auxiliary flight—the ‘Divine Wind Boat’, crafted using the fin and tail of a second-rank demon beast, the Ink Flood Dragon, along with other rare materials. It is compact, agile, and extremely fast.”
The old man hosting the auction was visibly excited, pointing to the magical tool as he shouted:
“This tool’s speed is unparalleled. Starting bid: seven hundred mid-grade spirit stones!”
“Seven hundred fifty!”
“Eight hundred!”
“Eight hundred twenty!”
The scene turned fiery, and Lin Changan felt a stirring in his heart.
“With this tool, even if I run into a tough opponent, I could always escape if I can’t win.”
But after considering the spirit stones in his storage pouch and his overall goal, Lin Changan finally sighed quietly and gave up on the item.
It wasn’t that flying magical tools were bad, but he spent most of his time cultivating in Tianxuan City, which was already the safest place. Where would he need to escape to?
Even though Master Lu of the Blackwater Turtle didn’t have much lifespan left, maintaining order in Tianxuan City for the next century wouldn’t be a problem.
Therefore, for now, a flying-type magical tool wasn’t as valuable to him as one that could enhance his combat power.
However, for other cultivators, it was a different story. Many late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators grew envious—most of them were from outside the city. If the winds shifted in the future, their chances of survival would greatly increase.
“Nine hundred eighty mid-grade spirit stones! Is there any higher offer!”
“Nine hundred eighty mid-grade spirit stones—sold!”
Amidst the crowd’s exclamations, another supreme-grade magical tool was sold.
Among magical tools, offensive types were usually the cheapest. But there were exceptions—such as complete sets of offensive tools, which commanded higher prices.
At the same time, such sets also required stronger divine sense from the cultivator.
“Next up is a flying needle-type…”
When the flying needle-type magical tool appeared, Lin Changan’s interest stirred—it was finally the target he had been waiting for.