Chapter 621: Chapter 619: Acquiring the Spiritual Tree (Extra Update Request for Monthly Ticket)_1
The furnishings inside the stone chamber were quite simple, with nothing more than a set comprising a table, chairs, and a meditation cushion.
However, right in front of the chamber there was a completely transparent crystal, upon which some sort of prohibition law must have been cast, as it allowed for a clear view of every single move on the auction stage.
Fang Xi took his seat calmly and soon discovered a jade slip on the wooden table.
Within the jade slip were introductions to some of the auction items being offered that day.
With a slight sweep of his Divine Consciousness, he saw densely packed rows of various elixirs, not only suitable for Nascent Soul and Transcendent God cultivators to enhance their Magic Power but also all kinds of healing, detox, and even Body Refining effects were available—a dazzling array that was almost too much for the eyes to take in.
According to the auction rules Fang Xi had learned, the items listed in this auction inventory were certain to be auctioned off during the event.
Besides these, there could also be some surprises, such as sellers who might add a few treasures at the last minute—many cultivators held great treasures but dared not reveal them to others, choosing not to expose them until the very last moment.
He scanned through the catalog rows, his gaze eventually resting on the last few lots which were the highlights of the auction.
"A section of Ten-thousand-year-old Underworld Wood, one zhang two chi three cun in length, weighing six thousand five hundred jin..."
Fang Xi’s eyes shone slightly.
This ’Underworld Wood’ was precisely one of the few spirit materials he had determined to be most suitable for use as flagpoles, based on the characteristics of the ’Nine Netherworld Underworld River Mysterious Sand Great Array’!
"Underworld Wood is naturally suitable for Sacrificial Refining of Array Flags... I must not let this slip by if I encounter it."
His gaze moved downward, and his expression subtly changed.
In the last section of the highlighted auction items, the following was prominently written—’Sixth-order Returning to Emptiness Treasure—Mixed Origin Heavenly Umbrella, incomplete, with the effect of ’Thunder Transformation’!’
"Sixth-order Returning to Emptiness Treasure?!"
Fang Xi’s pupils gleamed; he had some idea of the kind of treasures that were of this rank.
When Fang Immortal Taoist Master ascended to the Transcendent God, the ’Fang Immortal Taoist Palace’ lifted its seal, displaying power far beyond the usual Spirit Communicating Treasures, and even under the premise of restraining a Divine Demon Transcendent God Lord, it managed to stand its ground momentarily against another Perfect Transcendent God Demon Lord.
Even though part of this was due to Fang Immortal Taoist Master’s own extraordinary talent, enabling him to fight across cultivation levels, the Fang Immortal Taoist Palace was undoubtedly a key factor!
This was the might of a Sixth-order Returning to Emptiness Treasure!
Furthermore...
"It even has the ’Thunder Transformation’ effect."
Fang Xi murmured to himself.
For cultivators, overcoming heavenly tribulations is the greatest hurdle in the path of cultivation.
Starting from the Nascent Soul breakthrough, to the Transcendent God heavenly tribulations, and then to the Major Heavenly Tribulation faced upon reaching Returning to Emptiness...
And after Returning to Emptiness, every minor realm breakthrough would call down a Minor Heavenly Tribulation, and every major realm even a Major Heavenly Tribulation!
It could be said that even for those Integration Masters like the Five Sons of Human Race and even Mahayana Individual Immortals, who could smile amidst a racial war, there exists a possibility of perishing under the heavenly tribulations.
Therefore, in the Earth Immortal Realm, treasures that assist in transforming tribulations and secret skills for overcoming tribulations are valued even more than the ordinary breakthrough elixirs!
After all, even if one manages to break through to the next realm, perishing under the Major Heavenly Tribulation would be a huge loss!
That’s why he previously valued the ’Thousands Demon Armor’ secret skill so much.
But the ’Thousands Demon Armor’, having only absorbed the Essence Blood of four fifth-order Monster Beasts so far, it was indeed uncertain how effective it would be against the thunder tribulations upon advancing to Returning to Emptiness.
But that ’Mixed Origin Heavenly Umbrella’ was different; given its rank, it was certain to shine brilliantly during the thunder tribulation of Returning to Emptiness!
’No wonder even a Returning to Emptiness cultivator like Master Zi Feng was attracted here; their advancement to a minor realm would summon a Minor Heavenly Tribulation, hence such a Thunder Transformation treasure is naturally beneficial to have as many as possible...’
A curiosity in Fang Xi’s mind was cleared up.
Several hours later, the stone hall doors thunderously closed, and then beams of prohibition law radiance surged upwards, bathing the auction stage in radiant light.
An elder in a dark robe, with silver hair, suddenly emerged; his Magic Power was robust, indicating he should be at the peak of the Transcendent God realm.
"Greetings to all, I am Mo Yinling, the Sect Leader of Mo Sect; thank you all venerable cultivators for gracing us with your presence..."
Mo Yinling’s face was full of wrinkles, exuding a sense of decay, indicating he was of considerable age.
Based on Fang Xi’s estimation, he had likely been alive for more than four thousand years... He was indeed the opponent his true form enjoyed facing the most!
’If I were to flip this person, how much could I earn? After all, he is at the peak of Transcendent God and also the head of Mo Sect...’
’Wait, I’m here for genuine business, not to become a cultivation-robber... It’s a bad habit of always pursuing easy money, as one day it will surely claim myself in the process...’
The Heterodox incarnation took some time to regulate his breath, and after feeling settled, he sensed that his state of mind had subtly improved.
Meanwhile, Mo Yinling finished his pleasantries and with a grand gesture, he clapped his hands.
Crack! Crack!
One by one, stone Puppets that seemed to be carved from rock, each bearing a tray, approached the auction stage.
Judging by the fluctuation of their Magic Power, they were subtly around the fourth-order level!
"Mo Yinling... your puppet skill has improved again. You managed to create Puppets comparable to Nascent Souls, shrunk down from the size of gigantic divine soldiers... It seems that within the Mo Sect, you should be recognized as the leader in puppetry, and who knows when you’ll be able to create a true fifth-order Puppet..."
A young voice rose.
"Elder Zi Feng has overpraised me. This little trick of mine is nothing impressive and certainly not worth displaying in distinguished company!"
Mo Yinling apparently recognized the speaker and promptly bowed respectfully, as the one who had spoken was indeed ’Master Zi Feng’!
"Hehe, Mo friend, you are too modest. From this Mechanism City, it’s clear that Mo Sect’s Mechanism Puppeteer Skills have already reached the pinnacle. I suspect, when it comes to the hurdle of ’Puppet Spirit Injection’, it won’t be an obstacle for you..."
A grating voice like a broken gong rose, the hoarse and unpleasant tone somewhat revealing the underhanded nature of the Mo Sect.
The countenance of Mo Yinlong did not change at all as he ordered the stone puppet to open the prohibition on the jade box.
Hum Hum Hum!
A series of multicolored radiance instantly attracted the attention of all the cultivators present.
They didn’t care what troubles Mo Sect had stirred up; their only concern was whether they could acquire their desired items at the auction.
"The first item of this auction, the spiritual treasure ’Dividing Water Ruler’, crafted mainly from ’Ten-thousand-year-old Deep Sea Cold Sand’..."
With a slight smile, Mo Yinlong began to introduce a jade ruler, which was flashing with spiritual light and had numerous blue runes moving erratically on its surface.
This spiritual treasure was incredibly powerful with several water-controlling divine skills and was fervently sought after by a group of Nascent Soul cultivators, fetching a high price to heat up the atmosphere.
Next up were bottles of Spiritual Pills that enhanced cultivation, hard-to-come-by overpowering cultivation secret skills, and even rare Spirit Medicines and ore materials...
Fang Xi sat upright, motionless as if a stone statue.
Finally, after several hours, Mo Yinlong instructed the puppet to bring up a long rectangular jade box.
The jade box emitted a hazy radiance, transforming into chains of runes.
"Next up, the finale of this auction, the first item—Ten-thousand-year-old Underworld Wood! This type of Spiritual Tree is most suitable for crafting Array Flags, and also fits the creation of several Wooden Element spiritual treasures. If one invests effort, it is also possible to craft a fifth-order Spirit Communicating Treasure. The starting price for this item—thirty top-grade Spirit Stones!"
Mo Yinlong opened the jade box and presented a piece of murky yellow Spiritual Tree, announcing with a gleeful smile.
"Thirty-five pieces!"
"Forty pieces!"
That piece of Ten-thousand-year-old Underworld Wood, already a fifth-order material, immediately had many Transcendent God cultivators placing their bids.
Fang Xi remained quiet throughout until the price gradually stalled at sixty top-grade Spirit Stones, only then he spoke indifferently, "Sixty-one pieces!"
The previously confident bidders hesitated and tried bidding again, "Sixty-two pieces!"
"Sixty-three pieces of top-grade Spirit Stones!"
Fang Xi followed up without hesitation, with such boldness immediately causing the other party to back down.
After all, besides crafting Array Flags, Underworld Wood was mainly favored by Ghost Cultivators and had rather specific uses; the price had already significantly increased.
Cultivators of high rank had already developed a sense of weighing pros and cons as an instinct.
By the time Fang Xi won the bid for the item, it wasn’t long before a knock on the door sounded, "This humble Mo Yinling of Mo Sect requests the esteemed guest to open the door."
With a slight movement in his heart, Fang Xi lifted the prohibition and saw a middle-aged woman, escorted by two stone puppets, enter the stone chamber.
"This is the Ten-thousand-year-old Underworld Wood that the Sir has won, please inspect it," Mo Yinling said politely, herself possessing the cultivation of a Transcendent God.
However, Fang Xi unceremoniously took the Underworld Wood; its weight of several thousand jin felt as nothing in his hands. He lightly tapped it with his hand, and a bean-sized flame emerged, carrying a chilling aura.
"Ghost Fire of Yellow Spring?!"
The middle-aged woman gasped slightly in surprise, then said, "Sir actually cultivated this kind of Spirit Fire, no wonder you were so set on obtaining the Underworld Wood..."
The wisp of Ghost Fire of Yellow Spring reached the Underworld Wood and the flame suddenly grew to the size of an egg.
"Not bad, such a rich aura of the Yellow Spring, indeed it is the Ten-thousand-year-old Underworld Wood..."
Fang Xi counted out sixty-three top-grade Spirit Stones and placed them on the table, allowing the middle-aged woman to check them.
In the Mortal Realm, top-grade Spirit Stones were scarce, mostly in the hands of Nascent Soul and Transcendent God old demons.
Even though he had plundered the South Wilderness, the Western Desert... and later destroyed the Sacred Fire Sect, he actually did not have many.
At this moment, much of his wealth came from the profits of operating the Kong Sang Market.
Soon, the middle-aged woman finished inspecting the Spirit Stones, said her farewells with the puppets, and left.
Fang Xi’s gaze returned to the auction stage.
The item now up for auction was a fifth-order Spirit Communicating Treasure—the ’Golden Scale Boat’. It was a large-scale Spirit Communicating Treasure, with an interior that formed its own void and astonishing defensive capabilities, causing a heated competition among the Transcendent God cultivators.
"Two hundred top-grade Spirit Stones!"
A melodious woman’s voice rang out, and Fang Xi recognized it; it must be that ’Supreme Elder Luan Bing’ from Qingyin House.
It was clear that this woman had her heart set on this treasure.
’This woman wouldn’t be planning to come to the Mysterious Dark Abyss to compete with me for business, would she?’ Fang Xi wondered, his expression turning somewhat hostile.
But quickly, another voice filled with mockery spoke up, "Qingyin House is truly wealthy indeed, though I wonder if the tributes have been sufficient... I bid two hundred and one top-grade Spirit Stones!"
"That voice... Qin Longzi."
Fang Xi shook his head.
This Transcendent God cultivator from the Dragon Controlling Sect might only be at the initial stage, but with a fifth-order ’Red Blood Flood Dragon’ as his life-bound spiritual beast, even mid-stage Transcendent God cultivators were not keen to provoke him lightly.
Luan Bing seemed to have thought of something as she did not continue bidding and said softly, "Turns out to be Elder Qin Longzi... This treasure I will cede to you, Sir."
With adept maneuvering, her words seemed yielding, but in fact, she had openly set a trap for Qin Longzi.
Sure enough, after the auction was concluded, Mo Yinlong’s expression became a bit unpleasant...