Auction

Over the next two days, more and more Qi Condensation Stage cultivators arrived in the immortal city. It seemed news of the Foundation Establishment Pills had already spread.

As for Foundation Establishment Pills, Tianlan Sect might put out two hundred and forty every ten years, but that did not mean there were many on the market. Only holy lands with deep foundations could produce so many at once.

First, the main ingredient of the Foundation Establishment Pill, the Mystic Ice Flower, was not something ordinary sects or clans could cultivate in large quantities. Though it was only a second-tier spirit herb, its demands on spirit veins and spiritual qi were extremely high. Tianlan Sect could cultivate it on a large scale only because it possessed a Secret Realm Cave Heaven. Thus, even if everyone knew the Foundation Establishment Pill formula, they still could not refine it.

Second, every sect kept detailed records of where its Foundation Establishment Pills went. They would never allow them to flood the market. Foundation Establishment Pills were the lifeline of low-level cultivators, especially Rogue Cultivators. Whoever controlled Foundation Establishment Pills controlled more than ninety percent of Rogue Cultivators, and those Rogue Cultivators were the cheap labor of every sect. If large numbers of high-level Rogue Cultivators emerged, they would inevitably snatch away the sects' leeks and touch upon their interests.

Still, sect forces released a small number of Foundation Establishment Pills from time to time. Like at this Auction, every Foundation Establishment Pill had a clear origin. Whoever could buy one depended on the depth of their pockets.

The first day was the Qi Condensation Stage Auction. Fang Xiao arrived at the auction venue in disguise. To enter, one first had to prove one's assets; anyone without at least a thousand Spirit Stones was not allowed inside.

When it was his turn to verify his assets, he took out ten Mid-grade Spirit Stones for the person in charge. Naturally, there was no issue. Taking the seat token handed over to him, he headed straight into the venue.

Though there was a sea of people outside the auction venue, not many Qi Condensation Stage cultivators possessed a thousand Spirit Stones. Fang Xiao was a special case. After taking a brief look around, he found that there were only nearly a thousand people inside.

After finding his seat, he sat down, closed his eyes, and rested his mind as he patiently waited for the Auction to begin.

After waiting a while longer, no one else entered the venue. There were now around two thousand participants, though more than half were bidding on behalf of the forces behind them.

"Everyone, welcome to the Auction held by our Myriad Treasures Merchant Association. We hope you will abide by the auction rules. Without wasting any more of your time, the Auction shall now officially begin."

After receiving the signal, the Auction host announced the start of the Auction.

"The first item is a High-grade magic tool, the Thunder Void Hammer. The starting price is five hundred Spirit Stones, and each increase must be no less than ten Spirit Stones."

Though it was a High-grade magic tool, it possessed the rare lightning attribute, so quite a few people bid on it. Fang Xiao, however, had no interest in it whatsoever.

"Seven hundred and eighty Spirit Stones, third call. Sold."

With attack power comparable to a Top-grade magic tool, its final price was slightly inflated.

The next dozen or so items included pills, magic tools, and cultivation techniques, but without exception, none were of any use to him.

"The twentieth item is a portion of Calming Earth. The starting price is six hundred Spirit Stones, and each increase must be no less than ten Spirit Stones."

Fang Xiao's spirits lifted. This spiritual material called Calming Earth could be used on the Soul Nurturing Gourd.

"Seven hundred and fifty Spirit Stones."

Before the price had even reached seven hundred Spirit Stones, he directly raised it to seven hundred and fifty. There was no special reason—he was simply rich and overbearing.

"Seven hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, third call. Sold."

The few people who had been bidding were cowed by his air of determination. Moreover, the price had already exceeded their limit, so none raised it further.

Among the next several dozen items, he only made two bids, both of which he successfully won: Soul-Shocking Wood needed for the Soul Nurturing Gourd, and a Top-grade magic tool Alchemy Furnace for Xiao Yan. Though Xiao Yan had become a disciple under a Golden Core cultivator, he was merely a Nominal Disciple. The pill furnace he used was the High-grade Alchemy Furnace bestowed upon him when he entered the sect. Since Fang Xiao intended to draw him into his team, he naturally had to offer him benefits. This Top-grade Alchemy Furnace was just right.

The further it went, the more precious the auction items became, but none were useful to him, so he made no moves. That was until the auction reached the two-hundredth item.

"The two hundred and thirteenth item is a piece of Copper Essence. The starting price is ten thousand Spirit Stones, and each increase must be no less than five hundred Spirit Stones."

Fang Xiao was so excited he nearly stood up. He had already given up hope, yet it had actually appeared—the Copper Essence among the Essence of Five Metals.

This piece of Copper Essence bore a Purple-Gold Color. One could tell from its quality that it had been refined to the extreme and was of superior grade, but it was only the size of a corn kernel.

"Eleven thousand Spirit Stones."

"Twelve thousand five hundred Spirit Stones."

"Seventeen thousand Spirit Stones. My sect is Qingxi Sword Sect; I hope everyone will give us some face."

"Eighteen thousand Spirit Stones."

That man had raised the bid to seventeen thousand in one go and invoked his sect, hoping others would have some reservations. Unfortunately, someone was not afraid of him.

"During an Auction, you may not use the force behind you to pressure others. This is your first warning, and also your last."

The Auction host directly interrupted the bidding to issue a warning. At the same time, a powerful pressure rose from the backstage of the auction venue, only to vanish in a flash.

"Golden Core Stage."

A Foundation Establishment cultivator cried out in alarm.

"My apologies, Senior. This junior spoke that way only in a moment of panic and had no such intention. I ask Senior to forgive me."

The Foundation Establishment cultivator from Qingxi Sword Sect was drenched in sweat as he quickly apologized.

"Then let the bidding continue. This fellow cultivator just bid eighteen thousand Spirit Stones. Is there anyone with a higher bid?"

"Twenty-five thousand Spirit Stones."

Seizing the opportunity, Fang Xiao once again called out an astronomical price. The entire venue fell silent. Given the size of the Copper Essence, it was not worth that price. Of course, everyone was also saving Spirit Stones to compete for the finale item—the Foundation Establishment Pill.

"Twenty-five thousand Spirit Stones, first call."

"Twenty-five thousand Spirit Stones, second call."

"Twenty-five thousand Spirit Stones, third call. Sold."

He simply sat there, calm and composed. Recalling that Fang Xiao had previously called out astronomical prices in a single breath, everyone began to wonder whether some old monster was bidding against them here.

His confidence came from the more than one hundred thousand Spirit Stones in his Storage Bag. Besides, after the Auction, he would return to the Outer Court, where the court master Li Daoyuan was. Who would dare touch him? If anyone had the nerve to intercept and kill him, Li Daoyuan could scatter their ashes on the spot.

The next two items were a top-tier wood-attribute cultivation technique along with its matching divine ability, and a talisman treasure refined from a High-grade Magic Treasure, the Vermillion Bird Ring.

He had no need for the cultivation technique at all. As for the talisman treasure, the one he had bought was still gathering dust in his Storage Bag, so he had no interest in it either.

"The two hundred and sixteenth item, and today's finale item: five Foundation Establishment Pills, to be auctioned separately in five rounds. The starting price is fifteen thousand Spirit Stones, and each increase must be no less than one thousand Spirit Stones."

It could be said that more than half the forces were here for the Foundation Establishment Pills. A clan without a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be swallowed by other forces, while Rogue Cultivators without Foundation Establishment Pills would live out their lives in mediocrity. But what did any of that have to do with him? Fang Xiao was determined to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill today.

"Fifteen thousand Spirit Stones."

"Sixteen thousand Spirit Stones."

"Twenty-six thousand Spirit Stones."

The bidding was extremely intense. In the blink of an eye, the price of this Foundation Establishment Pill had nearly reached thirty thousand Spirit Stones.

"Thirty-two thousand Spirit Stones."

"Thirty-three thousand Spirit Stones."

By now, only a few forces could still afford to bid. They were likely forces with some capital.

"Thirty-eight thousand Spirit Stones."

Fang Xiao once again called out an astronomical price, but this time, someone still refused to give up.

"Thirty-nine thousand Spirit Stones."

"Forty thousand."

Seeing that the other party was already making a desperate final bid, Fang Xiao rounded it off and called out the highest price of the night.

"Forty thousand Spirit Stones, third call. Sold."

With the item in hand, Fang Xiao had no intention of watching where the remaining four Foundation Establishment Pills would go. He stood and headed for the backstage of the Auction, intending to pay the Spirit Stones, collect his items, and return to Wangshu Pavilion.

After he got up and left, several groups also departed the venue directly. It seemed they had some ideas about Fang Xiao.

"Fellow cultivator, the number of Spirit Stones is correct. These are the items you won. Also, do you require protection from our Myriad Treasures Merchant Association for a time?"

"Hehe, no need, no need. If they want to come, let them come."

Seeing Fang Xiao's confidence, the person in charge said nothing more.