Successful Auction, Extreme Cold Ice Spirit Fruit

The Red Robe Auctioneer wasted no time. With a grand wave of his hand, he shouted:

"Bring up the first item!"

As his words fell, a curvaceous Maid stepped gracefully onto the stage, carrying a Silver Plate.

The Silver Plate was covered with red silk, beneath which the outline of an Ancient Book could vaguely be seen.

The auctioneer swept away the silk, revealing a yellowed thread-bound Ancient Book before everyone's eyes.

"The first item is a Palm Technique Martial Art known as the Shattering Jade Palm!"

"This palm technique is fierce and domineering. Once cultivated to Great Accomplishment, Splitting Stone would be no difficult task. More importantly, it is a—Fourth-Grade Martial Arts technique!"

Whoosh!

The moment the words "Fourth-Grade Martial Arts" were spoken, the entire auction hall erupted with a collective gasp, followed by a tidal wave of uproar.

"A Fourth-Grade Martial Arts technique right at the opening?!"

"My heavens, the Myriad Gold Merchant Association has really gone all out this time!"

"If our family had this Fourth-Grade Martial Arts technique, it would be enough to pass down as a family treasure!"

Countless people in the hall had reddened eyes and heavy breathing.

In a place like Qing Yang Town, even forces such as the Lin Family and Lei Family possessed no martial arts higher than Fourth-Grade Martial Arts.

Most of the Rogue Cultivators and Minor Forces present were still cultivating low-grade first- or second-grade martial arts.

Now that a Fourth-Grade Martial Arts technique was laid before them, none of them could remain calm!

Yet Liu Yuan, seated in a corner, merely curled his lip in disinterest as he looked at the Shattering Jade Palm that had sent the entire hall into a frenzy. He even could not help yawning.

"Is that all?"

Liu Yuan shook his head helplessly.

Had this been when he had first transmigrated, he might have been excited upon seeing a Fourth-Grade Martial Arts technique.

But now?

It was utterly dull.

I hope this goes by quickly. Don't waste my time.

Liu Yuan leaned against the Chair Back, lightly tapping the armrest with his fingers as he waited in boredom.

Although Liu Yuan had no interest in it, that did not affect the heated atmosphere in the hall.

"Starting price, five hundred Yang Yuan Stones!"

"Five hundred and fifty!"

"Six hundred!"

"I bid eight hundred! None of you better compete with me!"

Bids rose one after another, and in less than half the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the price had soared.

In the end, the Shattering Jade Palm was successfully purchased by a One-Eyed Big Man with a face full of flesh for the high price of one thousand Yang Yuan Stones.

The moment the sale was finalized, the man's face flushed with excitement, while those around him looked on with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Liu Yuan merely gave him an indifferent glance before withdrawing his gaze.

Soon after, the second item was brought up.

This time, it was a rather ancient-looking Parchment Scroll.

"The second item is a Cultivation Method Manual known as the Ironwood Art!"

The auctioneer introduced it enthusiastically:

"This Cultivation Technique specializes in Body Defense. Once cultivated, one's skin becomes as tough as ironwood, and ordinary blades cannot harm it in the slightest! It is a rare Second-Rate Manual!"

Whoosh—

The crowd below erupted once more.

A Second-Rate Manual was already considered quite high-grade in a place like Flame City. Even the leaders of many Medium Forces cultivated nothing more than Second-Rate Manuals.

Yet Liu Yuan only lifted his eyelids slightly before letting them droop again.

"A Second-Rate Manual..."

His heart remained utterly unmoved.

He had already obtained the first-rate manual, Demonic Body, from the system.

Naturally, he had no interest in a Second-Rate Manual.

"Boring. So boring."

Liu Yuan sighed, feeling rather listless.

Over the following period, the auction proceeded in an orderly fashion.

One item after another was brought onto the stage, then bought away by excited purchasers.

There were Pills capable of temporarily increasing one's strength, as well as all kinds of strange Monster Beast Materials.

The atmosphere remained exceptionally heated, with bids growing louder and louder.

Yet the longer Liu Yuan sat there, the more disappointed he became.

These things were simply too much of a Chicken Rib to him now.

"It looks like this trip will be wasted."

Liu Yuan rubbed his brow helplessly.

He even began to wonder whether the Wanjin Auction House had an undeserved reputation. Why was everything such low-grade merchandise?

If even the Grand Finale had nothing worthwhile, then this trip would have been a complete waste of effort.

However, at that very moment.

The temperature in the originally warm auction hall suddenly dropped by several degrees.

Visible White Cold Qi seemed to surge from the Depths of Hell, slowly spreading across the High Platform.

Even the guests seated near the front of the stage could not help shivering, a thin layer of White Frost forming on their brows.

"Hmm?"

Liu Yuan, who had been thoroughly uninterested until now, suddenly sat upright as a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes!

This cold aura...

So pure! So domineering!

It could only be the fluctuation emitted by a top-tier Ice Attribute heavenly treasure!

"Could it be..."

Liu Yuan's heart skipped a beat as he stared fixedly at the High Platform.

The Red Robe Auctioneer also wore a solemn expression as he carefully brought out a Brocade Box made entirely from Cold Jade.

Even through the Brocade Box, that astonishing chill could not be fully concealed.

"Everyone!"

The auctioneer's voice trembled slightly, clearly showing how excited he was.

"The next item is the final treasure of this auction!"

"It grew in the depths of the Ten Thousand Zhang Ice Cave on the Extreme North Ice Plains. It blooms once every fifty years and bears fruit once every fifty years, gathering the Purest Ice Power in the World!"

As he spoke, he suddenly opened the Brocade Box!

Buzz!

An Ice Blue beam of light shot into the sky!

Inside the Brocade Box lay a fist-sized fruit.

The fruit was crystal clear, as though carved from the purest sapphire. A dreamlike Ice Blue Halo flowed across its surface. The instant it appeared, the surrounding air froze, producing faint cracking sounds.

"This is—the Extreme Cold Ice Spirit Fruit!"

Boom!

The entire hall fell silent for an instant before descending into complete madness!

"The Extreme Cold Ice Spirit Fruit?!"

"It's actually such a Spirit Medicine?!"

"I heard that if Martial Artists who cultivate Ice Attribute techniques consume this fruit, it will bring tremendous benefits! It can even Cleanse Marrow and Improve Aptitude!"

Hearing the nearly hysterical discussions around him, Liu Yuan's lips slowly curled into a relieved smile.

"The Extreme Cold Ice Spirit Fruit..."

"Finally, I've waited for it!"

This was one of the main ingredients needed to refine the Ice Cold Fiend Control Pill!

"I must have this!"

Liu Yuan's Burning Gaze locked onto the fruit. The Yuan Power that had lain dormant in his body for so long began to boil slightly from excitement.

On the stage, the Red Robe Auctioneer was very satisfied with everyone's reaction. He cleared his throat and shouted loudly:

"Extreme Cold Ice Spirit Fruit, starting price—five hundred Yang Yuan Stones! Each bid must increase by no less than fifty!"

"Bidding begins!"

The moment his words fell, Liu Yuan's Clear and Firm voice exploded through the noisy hall like thunder:

"One thousand!"

Silence!

Those who had been preparing to call out "five hundred and fifty" or "six hundred" had their voices choked back in their throats.

Everyone turned around in disbelief, following the source of the voice.

In the corner, the Green-Robed Youth who had remained quiet the entire time was calmly raising his Number Plate.

"One thousand?!"

"Is this kid crazy? The starting price is five hundred, and he doubled it immediately?"

"Where did this Prodigal Son come from?!"

Everyone exchanged looks, momentarily intimidated by Liu Yuan's unconventional momentum.

One thousand Yang Yuan Stones was already a Huge Sum for most of those present. The Fourth-Grade Martial Arts technique earlier had only sold for one thousand.

After a brief silence, someone finally came to his senses.

The Extreme Cold Ice Spirit Fruit was simply too tempting. Even at such a high price, some were unwilling to give up.

"One thousand one hundred!"

A middle-aged man in white gritted his teeth and shouted.

"One thousand two hundred!"

Someone else followed.

The price began to climb slowly, quickly reaching one thousand five hundred Yang Yuan Stones.

At this price, the voices in the hall became noticeably sparser. After all, it had already exceeded the limit that many Minor Forces could afford.

However.

Just as the final bidder called out "one thousand five hundred," that indifferent voice rang out again:

"Two thousand."

It was still simple and direct, still incomparably extravagant.

The entire hall fell completely silent.

Two thousand Yang Yuan Stones!

Among all the Martial Artists present, unless they belonged to major forces, they might not necessarily be able to produce such a sum.

Just as the auctioneer raised his small hammer, preparing to bring it down.

A sinister, hoarse voice suddenly rang out:

"Two thousand five hundred."

The voice was not loud, yet it carried a bone-piercing chill that made everyone present feel their hearts tighten.

The crowd looked up to see the Emaciated Old Man in Gray-White Clothes sitting in one part of the auction hall, staring down gloomily.

"It's Ice Old Ghost from the Profound Ice Sect!"

"Hiss... he really made his move!"

"This Old Monster cultivates an ice cultivation technique. The Extreme Cold Ice Spirit Fruit is practically a supreme treasure to him!"

"It seems he is determined to get it."

At that moment, Ice Old Ghost fixed his cloudy eyes on Liu Yuan. A cruel sneer appeared on his lips as he threatened in a hoarse voice:

"Little brat, some things cannot be held just because you have money. Take this old man's advice: it is best not to touch certain Hot Potatoes, lest you get yourself burned to death."

The threat in his words was completely undisguised.

Had it been an ordinary youth facing the direct threat of an Origin Core Realm Minor Perfection expert, he would likely have been scared out of his wits and obediently withdrawn.

Unfortunately.

He had encountered Liu Yuan.

Liu Yuan slowly raised his head and calmly met Ice Old Ghost's gaze.

There was no fear, no panic, and even... a faint hint of mockery.

Threaten me?

You think you deserve to?

Liu Yuan could not be bothered to waste words with him. He directly raised his Number Plate and casually spoke a number:

"Four thousand."

Boom!

If two thousand had shocked everyone before, then four thousand was like a Heavy Bomb that completely blasted everyone's minds numb!

Four thousand Yang Yuan Stones?!

This kid actually dared to raise it that much!

The sneer on Ice Old Ghost's face instantly froze, replaced by an Ashen Face.

He had originally believed that his Fearsome Reputation, coupled with a high bid of two thousand five hundred, would be enough to make this ignorant brat retreat in the face of difficulty.

But unexpectedly, the brat not only refused to back down, he directly raised the bid by fifteen hundred!

Four thousand...

Even for him, as a Sect Master, that price was painfully steep!

"Good! Good! Good!"

Ice Old Ghost laughed in furious rage, his withered palm slamming down on the railing. The sturdy Wooden Railing was instantly covered in frost and shattered apart.

His venomous gaze fixed tightly on Liu Yuan, as though he wanted to carve the youth's appearance into his bones:

"You've got guts! Since you want it so badly, this old man will let you have it!"

"I only hope... you'll live long enough to take this thing out of Flame City!"

With that, Ice Old Ghost flung his sleeve and sat down with a dark expression, saying nothing more.

Clearly, he had given up bidding, but murderous intent had taken root in his heart.

Liu Yuan merely shrugged disdainfully at such Furious Incompetence, not taking it to heart at all.

Thinking of Murder and Robbery?

You're more than welcome to try.

Then we'll see who dies!

"Four thousand, going once!"

"Four thousand, going twice!"

"Four thousand, going three times!"

"Sold!"

As the Red Robe Auctioneer's excited, slightly distorted voice rang out, the Wooden Hammer in his hand came down heavily.

"Congratulations to this Young Master for successfully winning the Extreme Cold Ice Spirit Fruit!"