Not Arguing with the Dead

"This auction item is called the Azure Condensing Mirror. Though it is not among the finest top-grade magic artifacts, it possesses a wondrous function. Let this old man demonstrate it for everyone."

Azure Condensing Mirror?

Luo Hong, who had been discussing the Jade Dragon Gourd's marvelous uses with Liu Jing, suddenly noticed that the new auction item's name sounded familiar. Looking up, he saw the kindly-looking old man bring out a small mirror-like magic artifact. The azure light it cast froze a top-grade flying sword magic artifact in midair, immediately drawing startled cries from the crowd.

Liu Jing stared for quite a while at the flying sword spinning endlessly in the air, then shook his head. "This magic artifact is rather remarkable. The wielder's divine sense and magic power can clearly pass through the azure light and reach the flying sword, yet the sword simply keeps spinning in place. I truly cannot make sense of it."

"But the azure light's range is limited, and once unleashed, it seems difficult to move. Unless it can immediately restrain the opponent's key magic artifact, its practical use is actually quite limited."

Following Liu Jing's lead, Luo Hong offered his own assessment. Both of them believed that the Azure Condensing Mirror was only suitable for dealing with Cultivators whose abilities were unknown.

Moreover, after witnessing the Azure Condensing Mirror's demonstration, Luo Hong immediately recalled its owner in the original Mortal novel. Thinking of the crystal ball that the sharp-tongued Female Cultivator always kept in hand, he was almost certain that she was Treasure Woman, the one who had been backstabbed to death in the Bloody Forbidden Zone.

Sure enough, the moment the Azure Condensing Mirror appeared, it caught the sharp-tongued Female Cultivator's interest, and she began calling out bids one after another.

"Nephew-disciple Luo, that Female Cultivator insulted our Yellow Maple Valley first. Why not compete with her again, so she does not obtain this magic artifact too easily?"

Liu Jing was not the sort to endure a beating without striking back. On the contrary, he most enjoyed repaying things tenfold. The Evil Cultivators who had died miserably at his hands had the greatest right to speak on that matter.

Of course, he also intended to waste the Moon Concealing Sect's Spirit Stones, so there would be one fewer competitor when the pills went up for auction later.

"There is no need, Martial Uncle Liu. Ancestor would not like it if this junior did such a thing."

The sharp-tongued Female Cultivator was Treasure Woman. She did not have many years left to live, so Luo Hong saw no reason to argue with a dead person. The resentment in his heart had long since completely dissipated when he learned his opponent's identity.

Furthermore, Li Huayuan had explicitly stated that they were not to misuse his name. Given how stingy this Ancestor was, Luo Hong felt it was best not to knowingly break the rule, especially regarding such a sensitive matter as the Moon Concealing Sect.

"Er, you are right. I was too fixated on it."

Liu Jing's expression stiffened, as though he had recalled being reprimanded by Li Huayuan. He shuddered slightly and raised his teacup to conceal it.

In the end, even without Luo Hong and the others taking revenge, Treasure Woman still spent a full seven hundred Spirit Stones, more than the price of those two top-grade magic artifacts of superior quality.

Clearly, everyone who had bid believed that the Azure Condensing Mirror's miraculous ability could become a decisive trump card at a critical moment, which was why they spared no expense.

Yet compared to the Azure Condensing Mirror's displayed wonders, Luo Hong was more interested in the spiritual materials used to refine it.

Others might not have been able to see through the azure light, but Luo Hong had already guessed its principle with near certainty.

Cultivators relied on magic power and divine sense to wield magic artifacts. Their relationship was somewhat like a car's engine and steering wheel.

By increasing or decreasing the output of magic power, one could control the might a magic artifact displayed. But if one relied on magic power alone, the artifact could only fly in straight lines, lacking any variation.

Only by attaching divine sense to a magic artifact could one control it as easily as an arm, making it exceptionally agile.

Since the flying sword's wielder had not noticed any obstruction to his divine sense or magic power, and increasing the magic power output clearly increased the flying sword's force, then an error must have occurred when the flying sword received the wielder's divine sense.

The azure light had altered the flying sword wielder's divine sense, causing the sword to mistake its master's command for an order to spin in place.

"If I could get my hands on that mirror, it should greatly aid my research into divine sense. But forget it. I do not have any spare energy right now."

The benefit of having found his path yesterday became apparent at this moment. The instant the thought of opening a new line of research arose, Luo Hong swiftly snuffed it out himself. He then collected his thoughts and turned his attention to the next auction item.

After the Azure Condensing Mirror, no more magic artifacts that caught the eye appeared. Just as the atmosphere in the venue gradually grew dull, the kindly-looking old man suddenly produced a jade bottle and poured out a Milky White pill with spiritual light flowing over its surface.

"Qi Gathering Pill!"

Foundation Establishment stage cultivators immediately cried out in alarm, followed by the heated breaths of Cultivators throughout the venue.

"That is right, it is the Qi Gathering Pill! This old man need not introduce it, surely. There is only one bottle of it at this Trade Fair. The bottle contains five pills, to be sold together. The starting price is—"

"Six hundred Spirit Stones!"

Before the kindly-looking old man could announce the starting price, a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator could no longer restrain himself and called out a high bid first.

"Seven hundred Spirit Stones!"

"Seven fifty!"

These Qi Gathering Pills were pills used by Foundation Establishment stage Cultivators to increase their cultivation. Normally, even a single one was hard to find. Now, five of them had been placed before this group of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators. How could they possibly remain calm?

Amid the unceasing calls of quoted prices, the price of this bottle of Qi Gathering Pills quickly surpassed eight hundred Spirit Stones and continued to rise. However, the increase was no longer as steep as before. Clearly, most of the less wealthy Foundation Establishment Cultivators had already been eliminated.

"Nephew-disciple Luo, what price do you think this bottle of pills is worth?"

Liu Jing clenched his fists nervously. Though he had long since made up his mind, when the moment came to truly spend nearly a thousand Spirit Stones, he could not help but hesitate.

What he needed was not actually Luo Hong's advice, but the resolve to grit his teeth and stamp his foot.

The moment he saw the Qi Gathering Pills, Luo Hong had already used his special ability.

Medicinal Power: 600.

As expected of pills consumed by Foundation Establishment stage Cultivators. A single one was equivalent to a hundred Yellow Dragon Pills!

If priced solely according to medicinal power, one Yellow Dragon Pill was worth roughly one Spirit Stone, so each Qi Gathering Pill could be priced at one hundred Spirit Stones.

However, rarity made things valuable. Luo Hong believed this bottle of Qi Gathering Pills was truly worth five hundred Spirit Stones, but even at one thousand Spirit Stones, someone would buy it. Considering its ability to help break through bottlenecks during the Foundation Establishment stage—

"Martial Uncle Liu, in this junior's humble opinion, as long as the price remains below twelve hundred Spirit Stones, bid without hesitation!"

It was only a matter of time before Liu Jing made his bid. Luo Hong was merely giving him a little confidence.

"Haha, Nephew Disciple, what boldness. It makes me, your Martial Uncle, seem stingy instead! Everyone, I, Liu Jing, bid eleven hundred Spirit Stones!"

The moment that price was announced, the lively venue fell utterly silent. Even the veiled Female Cultivator from the Moon Concealing Sect furrowed her delicate brows. She had called out several bids in succession just moments ago.

The Originally price of this bottle of Qi Gathering Pills had still been hovering below one thousand, but Liu Jing raised it to eleven hundred in one stroke, instantly extinguishing many people's intentions.

Even the few Cultivators in the venue who still had the means to continue bidding could not help but develop concerns.