Auction House

Time flew like a shuttle; less than half a month remained before the Spirit Sealing Grotto-Heaven ruins opened.

Shen Yi had continued his secluded cultivation and had now reached the third level of the Qi Condensation Realm.

"Begin simulation."

Simulation in progress. Remaining simulations this month: 0

Year One: The Spirit Sealing Grotto-Heaven ruins opened. You entered with your fellow disciples, encountered Space Turbulence, and were separated from your companions, exploring alone.

Year Two: You encountered pursuit by your enemies and successfully escaped. After enduring a series of hardships, you returned safely.

Year Three: You fell victim to your enemies' treacherous scheme, were imprisoned and tortured to death.

This simulation has ended. Reward obtained: one Foundation Establishment Attack Jade Slip (can only be used once)

After the simulation ended, a jade slip appeared in Shen Yi's hand. He then placed a map and half of a broken Stone Key before him.

"These three items are the gains from the simulations over the past three months. There is no need to say more about the map, and the jade slip can serve as a means of preserving my life. As for this key, I still do not know what it is for."

Today happened to be Ningzhou City's annual auction. The auction house had long since sent Shen Yi an invitation, inviting him to attend.

"I've been in secluded cultivation for so long. It's time to relax."

With that in mind, Shen Yi picked up the invitation on the table and headed toward the auction house.

Though it was still early, the auction house was already packed so tightly that not even water could pass through. Many people held up their Cosmic Bags, hoping to enter on the strength of their wealth, only to be stopped by the guards.

"Brat, get lost! Why don't you take a piss and look at your own poor, shabby face? You think you're worthy of attending tonight's auction?"

Shen Yi had barely found his footing when someone grabbed his shoulder hard. A great force came from behind, trying to shove him aside. Anger rose in him. He had not expected someone to bully him so brazenly. He abruptly turned around and saw that the man was a lump of fat, his round body wrapped in luxurious robes. One look told Shen Yi he was some wealthy family's wastrel.

When the man saw that he could not budge Shen Yi in the slightest, fury surged into his heart. Just as he was about to summon the attendants behind him to attack together, Shen Yi circulated his spiritual power and gave his shoulder a shake, easily sending the fat man flying into his attendants.

Without even looking back, Shen Yi walked straight to the guards and took out his invitation.

"Shen Yi!"

The guards, who had been watching the show with delight, immediately became respectful and invited Shen Yi inside. The fat man's face was full of shock, and he nearly burst into tears. He scrambled to his feet and fled in panic. How could he still have the mind to enter the auction house, much less seek vicious revenge?

Inside the auction house, a female attendant approached Shen Yi as soon as he entered and handed him a mask to conceal his identity.

"Tonight is the final auction of our Myriad Gold Auction House. Young Master Shen, please rest here for a moment. The auction will begin shortly." The attendant served him a cup of tea, then stood to one side.

Standing at the entrance of his private room, Shen Yi saw that the hall below was already full. Waves of clamor surged into his ears like a tide sweeping over the heavens and earth. Yet everyone wore masks that concealed their auras.

The brightly lit surroundings suddenly dimmed, while the center of the auction hall lit up. A Thousand-Year Night Pearl shone with radiant light, illuminating the entire auction platform.

Then, an energetic old man appeared before everyone. To Shen Yi's surprise, the people in the hall below all rose to their feet and bowed to him.

"Young Master may not know this, but that man is the Chief Elder of our Myriad Gold Auction House, Jin Wánliǎng. He is now at the Golden Core Stage."

Hearing the attendant's explanation, Shen Yi was somewhat surprised and grew even more expectant of tonight's auction items.

With a grand wave of his hand, Jin Wánliǎng sent five identical boxes flying into the air. They were tonight's five auction items, but unfortunately, they were all sealed in jade boxes, making it impossible to tell what was inside.

"Everyone, these are tonight's five auction items. The old rules apply: a blind auction!"

The hall instantly grew lively as everyone began guessing what was inside the boxes, their faces brimming with excitement. Shen Yi looked at the scene before him in confusion. Blind boxes had been so popular in his previous life—he had not expected them to be just as popular in this world.

"Young Master may rest assured. These five auction items are certainly no ordinary goods. As for whether they are worth the price, that depends on your luck."

"The first auction item has a starting price of five thousand Spirit Stones! Each bid must increase by no less than one thousand Spirit Stones."

Before Jin Wánliǎng had even finished speaking, bidding cries rose and fell throughout the hall.

"Ten thousand Spirit Stones!"

"Twenty thousand Spirit Stones!" another voice followed at once.

The price continued to climb. In only a short while, it had already reached the lofty sum of fifty thousand Spirit Stones.

Shen Yi listened with excitement, but he did not bid. The price of this first item had already exceeded his expectations.

The scramble continued for a while longer before the voices finally weakened. At the same time, a voice came from the private room to Shen Yi's right. "Seventy thousand!"

As soon as that bid was called, the hall fell silent.

Seeing that no one else was bidding, Jin Wánliǎng struck the deal with his bronze hammer. He then removed and opened the first jade box, and a scorching heat instantly swept through the hall.

"Congratulations to this fellow cultivator for winning a Thousand-Year Vermilion Bird Fruit!"

Many people revealed regretful expressions, but in the next instant, their gazes burned as they turned toward the second auction item.

"This second auction item also starts at five thousand Spirit Stones, with each increase no less than two thousand Spirit Stones."

Again, before the words had fully fallen, bids rang out across the hall.

"Seven thousand Spirit Stones!"

"I bid nine thousand!"

"This old man bids fifteen thousand Spirit Stones. I ask all fellow Daoists to give me some face!"

"Your face is a face, but mine isn't? Thirty thousand Spirit Stones!"

Amid such a drawn-sword, bent-bow atmosphere, the price of the second item had already neared sixty thousand Spirit Stones. At this rate, it would likely soon break through seventy thousand. Shen Yi's fingers moved back and forth over his Cosmic Ring as though weighing something.

"Eighty thousand!"

Shen Yi calmly called out the price, and the hall immediately fell into dead silence. Raising the bid directly to eighty thousand Spirit Stones caught many people off guard. Everyone silently calculated whether to bid again, but in the end, they gave up.

"Eighty thousand Spirit Stones, once!"

"Eighty thousand Spirit Stones, twice!"

"Eighty thousand Spirit Stones, three times!"

With a bang, Jin Wánliǎng brought down the bronze hammer in his hand. "Sold! Congratulations to this fellow cultivator for winning the second auction item for eighty thousand Spirit Stones!"

Shen Yi let out a sigh of relief. He had finally secured it. Eighty thousand Spirit Stones had already been his limit. Fortunately, his gamble had paid off. Now he was even more eager to see what exactly this second auction item was.

"This second auction item is a Stone Casket!"

Jin Wánliǎng opened the jade box and drew out a Stone Casket roughly ten feet long. Patterns were carved across it, while its center was recessed, clearly the mechanism for opening the casket.

"Ah, it's actually a Stone Casket that can't be opened. What a pity, what a pity."

"Even if it contains a treasure, it cannot be opened. It is like walking at night in brocade robes. Fellow cultivator, you've suffered a terrible loss."

Seeing this, everyone spoke up, some mocking and some rejoicing. Only Shen Yi's eyes flashed with brilliance. The missing portion on the Stone Casket seemed somewhat similar to the half of the damaged Stone Key in his hand.