Guishui Spirit Crystal, Fragment Map Goes Up for Auction

"That's... Guishui Spirit Crystal!"

Everyone's hearts jolted.

Clearly, most of those present recognized the identity of that blue crystal.

Guishui Spirit Crystal was one of the Five Elements Essence.

It was a true spiritual item that could be used for Foundation Establishment.

Although its effects were far inferior to a Foundation Establishment Pill,

its status as a Foundation Establishment spiritual item alone was enough to demonstrate its value.

"Hehe, it seems many fellow Daoists have already recognized the item in my hand."

Xue Yuling smiled and spoke at the right moment.

"That's right. The auction item in my hand is one of the Foundation Establishment spiritual items that can be used for Foundation Establishment: the Guishui Spirit Crystal, one of the Five Elements Essence.

Although its effectiveness in Foundation Establishment is far inferior to a Foundation Establishment Pill, it can still increase a cultivator's chances of successfully advancing to Foundation Establishment by fifteen percent.

If you are a cultivator specializing in water-attribute cultivation techniques, that chance can increase by another five percent."

Indeed.

Although the Guishui Spirit Crystal was a water-attribute Foundation Establishment spiritual item,

the essence of heaven and earth contained within it could also be used by cultivators who did not specialize in water-attribute cultivation techniques.

It was merely that, compared to cultivators specializing in water-attribute cultivation techniques, the increase in their chances of successful Foundation Establishment would be five percent lower.

Yet even so, its value as a Foundation Establishment spiritual item could not be denied.

Xue Yuling then said again, "The starting bid for this item is one thousand Spirit Stones. Each increase must be no less than one hundred Spirit Stones."

As soon as Xue Yuling finished speaking, a rapid succession of bids immediately rang out across the venue.

"Two thousand Spirit Stones!"

"Two thousand three hundred Spirit Stones!"

"Three thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!"

In just a short while, the price of the Guishui Spirit Crystal had been raised to three thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.

And it was still climbing.

"Haoyuan..."

Inside the Private Room, Ji Bochang's breathing grew slightly heavy.

He turned to look at Ji Haoyuan.

However, Ji Haoyuan shook his head at him.

"There's no need, Old Ancestor. Although the Guishui Spirit Crystal is a Foundation Establishment spiritual item, it is not the most suitable Foundation Establishment spiritual item for cultivators of our Ji Family.

Our target is still the Foundation Establishment Pill.

Before that, there is no need to waste too many Spirit Stones."

With Ji Haoyuan's reminder, Ji Bochang gradually calmed down.

Just now, he had been somewhat affected by the atmosphere in the auction hall.

Coupled with how rare Foundation Establishment spiritual items truly were,

he had felt a momentary impulse.

Now that he had come to his senses, he could not help but reveal a wry smile.

"I never thought that after living for so many years, I would nearly fail to maintain even my state of mind in the end."

Ji Haoyuan smiled and shook his head, offering reassurance.

"Old Ancestor, you worry too much.

The only reason you were like this was because your heart was tied to the family.

If not for that, would a mere Foundation Establishment spiritual item have any use for you or me?"

"Hehe, stop trying to comfort this old man."

Ji Bochang smiled and shook his head as well.

"Although Foundation Establishment spiritual items are already useless to you and me, their value cannot be denied.

At the very least, if you used one to exchange for resources, you would surely be able to obtain quite a few good things useful to you."

Ji Haoyuan: "..."

Fortunately, neither of them continued to dwell on that topic.

Because in that short span of time, the Guishui Spirit Crystal on the auction stage had already found an owner.

A cultivator from a local Foundation Establishment Family in Crimson Cloud Immortal City had purchased it for nine thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.

And with the Guishui Spirit Crystal warming up the auction, the atmosphere for the auctions that followed became rather lively.

Even some relatively ordinary first-rank spiritual items fetched fairly impressive prices.

Throughout this period, neither Ji Haoyuan nor Ji Bochang made a move.

Until the next auction item appeared.

"The next item we will auction is a Fragment Map originating from some ancient ruins."

On the auction stage,

a partially damaged map appeared in Xue Yuling's hand.

She displayed the Fragment Map for everyone present to see.

Only after a moment did she smile and say, "Although this map is incomplete, its material and markings make it certain that the ruins it points to are anything but ordinary.

Perhaps there is even a great possibility that it is the Cave Mansion of some Golden Core True Person from the past.

If any fellow Daoist present is interested in this map, you may try placing a bid.

The starting bid is three hundred Spirit Stones. Each increase must be no less than fifty Spirit Stones."

At the sight of the Fragment Map in Xue Yuling's hand, Ji Haoyuan finally sat up slightly straighter.

However, he did not hurry to bid. Instead, he first waited to see how the others in the venue would react.

Yet this time, everyone seemed rather uninterested in an incomplete map of unknown origin and unknown location.

A short while passed.

Not a single person in the venue made a bid.

Seeing this, Xue Yuling still wore a faint smile.

It was as though she did not care whether this Fragment Map would fail to sell.

But just then, a voice suddenly came from the direction where the Han and Zhang Families were seated.

"Five hundred Spirit Stones!"

Hearing that voice, Ji Haoyuan, who had likewise been preparing to bid, narrowed his eyes slightly.

Because he had heard clearly that the person who called out the bid was neither Zhang Mingyuan nor Zhang Mingze.

That meant it could only be one of the two Han Family members.

Sure enough.

They knew something about that Fragment Map as well.

But that made sense.

The Fragment Map he now possessed had originally been obtained from Han Pengshan's Storage Pouch.

As fellow clansmen of those two men, it was hardly strange that Han Penghu and Han Pengfeng knew about the Fragment Map.

Thinking of this, Ji Haoyuan no longer hesitated and immediately called out a bid.

"Eight hundred Spirit Stones!"

"Hmm...?"

Upon hearing Ji Haoyuan's bid, Han Penghu and Han Pengfeng, who were together with the Zhang Family members, suddenly narrowed their eyes.

Their expressions instantly turned sharp.

If they had not been mistaken, that person should be the Ji Family fellow who had achieved Foundation Establishment at the age of one hundred.

Back then, it was he who had severely injured their clansman Han Pengshan and cut off his Dao path.

Several years had passed since then.

Han Pengshan had vanished without a trace.

No matter how they investigated, they could not find any trace of him.

They only knew that before Han Pengshan had completely disappeared, he had come to Crimson Cloud Immortal City.

And by an unfortunate coincidence, Ji Haoyuan had also appeared in Crimson Cloud Immortal City at that time.

Whether Han Pengshan's disappearance was related to this man or not, as Han Pengshan's clansmen, Han Penghu and Han Pengfeng bore deep hostility toward Ji Haoyuan.

Now that they saw him actually bidding against them, the two understood what was going on after only a brief thought.

Truly, enemies were bound to meet on a narrow road.

At that thought, a glint of cold light flashed through both their eyes. Without hesitation, they called out again.

"Fifteen hundred Spirit Stones!"