At the center of the auction hall stood a raised platform, where a refined middle-aged man delivered the opening remarks:
"Welcome, everyone, to the Heavenly Goods Branch! My name is Li Yuanxing, president of the provincial branch and host of this auction. Thank you all for honoring us with your presence at this month's second auction. On behalf of Heavenly Treasures, I thank you all!"
Zhao Huai propped up his chin and watched the refined man stand tall upon the stage. His voice carried dense True Qi; there was no need to think twice to know that he possessed cultivation. After all, how could a place like an auction house lack powerful cultivators to hold the fort?
"We're all old friends here, President Li. Why be so polite?"
"Exactly. Save the pleasantries for later—we've been eagerly waiting for the auction to begin!"
Before he had said much, quite a few cultivators and wealthy merchants from Jinzhou were already urging him on from their seats.
"Alright, since that is the case, I won't beat around the bush."
Li Yuanxing was equally straightforward. After a hearty laugh, he lifted the red cloth and unveiled the first auction item.
"This first item is a Strengthening Essence Pill refined by a Rank 7 Alchemist. It can strengthen the physical body of Qi Refining Stage cultivators, invigorating the blood and reinforcing the sinews."
"And as everyone knows, Rank 7 Alchemists are already quite rare. After all, the greatest alchemists in all Great Xia are only Rank 3. A Rank 7 Alchemist is a Lineage's money tree, and this Strengthening Essence Pill was put together by that alchemist to raise funds for expensive medicinal ingredients. An opportunity like this must not be missed!"
"The starting price is three thousand taels of silver, or three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Each bid must increase by no less than one-tenth of the starting price."
"Three thousand five hundred taels!"
The instant the host finished speaking, a middle-aged man in Daoist robes raised his hand and called out a bid.
"Four thousand taels!"
A plump, prosperous-looking middle-aged man also joined the fray.
This pill truly seemed to be in high demand. For cultivators below Qi Refining Level 5, the Strengthening Essence Pill could greatly fortify their physique. Beyond that, however, its effects were quite limited.
Thus, Zhao Huai had no interest in the fragrant pill inside the glazed case.
He was already at Qi Refining Level 9, and his physical body had initially reached its limit. This kind of pill no longer suited him.
Yet the bidding continued, quickly soaring to seven thousand taels of silver!
A single pill selling for seven thousand taels of silver was enough to buy a fine villa in any large, prosperous city of Great Xia—even one that came with maidservants.
Zhao Huai did not sit idle either. He took out the Golden Coin and tossed it.
He needed to form a habit: whether there was business or not, he should give it a spin. What if there was a pleasant surprise?
Misfortune and fortune depend on each other; for now, let us see.
Divination Sign One: On the path of cultivation, body refinement comes first. Before you is a Strengthening Essence Pill refined by a Rank 7 Alchemist. The guidance you received is "fortune."
Tracing Guidance: This pill was refined in haste and crudely made. Taking it will certainly do no harm, but it will not do much good either.
Zhao Huai could not help but laugh. "The guidance actually got longer for once. Is it because I'm appraising a treasure? As expected, this pill is something a black-hearted alchemist made to fool people."
Before he could react, a bright yellow ball of light shot directly into his mind.
"Oh? It's here already?"
Zhao Huai said in surprise.
Alchemy Maniac (Yellow-Grade Low-Rank): Your speed in refining Yellow-Grade pills is slightly increased, doubling your efficiency. Special effect: you may refine two batches of pills simultaneously, but mental energy consumption increases.
Looking at the newly acquired Fate Attribute, Zhao Huai pursed his lips, dissatisfied.
He did not even know alchemy. What use was this Fate Attribute to him? He might as well dismantle it to upgrade his other Fate Attributes.
"Let it gather dust at the bottom of the chest for now."
Zhao Huai decided to ignore it for the time being and continued watching the auction.
However, the bidding for the Strengthening Essence Pill had already ended.
In the end, it was sold to a middle-aged wealthy merchant for seven thousand taels of silver.
"Next is a Treasure Sword forged from Deer Demon Bone. Unfortunately, it is a failed product. The forger—also known as a blacksmith—ran into a little trouble during the smelting process. Thus, this is a failed magical treasure and cannot truly be considered a magical treasure, though it is still more useful than an ordinary Treasure Sword."
Li Yuanxing carefully introduced the ghastly pale longsword that had just been carried onto the stage.
"The starting price is five thousand taels, or five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones."
"A failed product? Forget it." Zhao Huai shook his head.
But that did not affect what he did next.
Misfortune and fortune depend on each other; for now, let us see.
Divination Sign One: To do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools. Before you is a failed magical treasure. The guidance you received is "misfortune."
Tracing Guidance: Even a careful blacksmith can make mistakes. Hopefully, he will not drink the next time he forges iron.
Using the same method, another bright yellow Fate Attribute arrived.
Sword Heart Like a Boulder (Yellow-Grade Mid-Rank): Your Dao Heart is as sharp and unyielding as a Treasure Sword, and will not easily be disturbed by external things. Special effect: increases the sharpness of weapons.
"Hiss."
Zhao Huai drew in a breath, unable to stop a bitter smile from forming in his heart.
He already possessed the Firm Dao Heart (Mystic-Grade) Fate Attribute. Sword Heart Like a Boulder had very limited use for him. This was truly maddening.
"It's fine. Let it gather dust at the bottom of the chest. Keep farming!"
Zhao Huai did not lose heart. He pulled himself together and began rapidly farming Fate Attributes.
Several items were brought onto the auction stage one after another. Every single one sparked fierce competition, including pills, weapons, spiritual herb seeds, Daoist talismans, demon armor, and more.
Basically, every time Zhao Huai tossed the coin, he obtained a Fate Attribute. The drop rate was nothing short of astonishing.
Rather than coming to the auction to buy cultivation techniques, he had really come to farm Fate Attributes.
That was truly the case. Many times, he seemed not to need these dispensable items at all.
As long as he obtained their Fate Attributes, he could produce no small effect.
Compared to that, why should he buy them? The atmosphere at the auction grew increasingly heated, and Li Yuanxing was delighted to see such a scene before him.
The better the business, the more they earned.
"Once again, thank you all for your support. Everyone may rest for a while now. I will have the next items brought onto the stage first," Li Yuanxing said with a smile.
During the break, Zhao Huai also took stock of the new Fate Attributes he had acquired.
He examined them in his mind.
Plant Scholar (Yellow-Grade Low-Rank): The growth rate of plants and medicinal ingredients you cultivate doubles, limited to low-level spiritual objects.
Master's Ultimate Skill (Yellow-Grade Upper): The power of all cultivation techniques and methods performed with your physical body receives a doubled boost.
Talisman Expertise (Yellow-Grade Low-Rank): Your speed in inscribing basic talismans doubles. Special effect: you may draw two talismans simultaneously.
Indestructible Body (Yellow-Grade Mid-Rank): Under the coverage of True Qi, your physical body becomes extremely hard. Ordinary blades and swords cannot harm you in the slightest.
Of the four Fate Attributes, aside from the first, every one of the others was of considerable use to Zhao Huai.
Talisman Expertise could increase his efficiency in drawing talismans, perfectly matching the Three Thousand Thunder Talisman Secrets. As for Master's Ultimate Skill, there was no need to say more—it was simply too useful!
What did doubled cultivation technique power mean? One punch from him would deal twice the damage. And this was only Yellow-Grade. If it were upgraded, this Fate Attribute would likely transform into something even more terrifying!
Time quickly passed. Li Yuanxing returned to the center of the raised platform and announced loudly, "The next item up for auction is a cultivation technique that our Heavenly Treasures Guild obtained by chance. It is said to be exceedingly obscure, like a heavenly tome. To this day, no one has been able to understand it, and no one has learned it. All we know is that it is a powerful mind technique originating from a fallen great cultivation sect."
"No one can understand it?"
Those words immediately caught Zhao Huai's attention. His interest suddenly rose, and curiosity filled his eyes.
"Because no one has been able to learn it, it has been left idle for a long time and become nothing more than decoration. That is why it has been brought to the auction. Everyone, act within your means. It would not be bad as a collectible either."
Li Yuanxing smiled at the crowd.
Before you continue