Underground Auction

At the end of the dark passage, two men in black stood motionless on guard before a door, each holding a great-saber-shaped artifact upright in one hand as they glared fiercely at those approaching.

They carried a blood-soaked, icy aura, as though they had been through countless battles. They were somewhat like the mercenaries from Lin Chen's previous life, utterly unlike the cultivators of most sects.

When Lin Chen approached and swept his gaze over them, one of the men confirmed the password once more before opening the door. He then stepped aside without another movement.

Without further hesitation, Lin Chen strode inside.

Beyond the door was a spacious hall. A red carpet covered the aisle, while rows upon rows of chairs filled the hall. The chairs were not connected, with roughly one zhang separating each one, as if they had been arranged according to some particular order.

After entering the hall, Lin Chen noticed several more doors like the one behind him around its perimeter. Cultivators were steadily emerging from them, apparently because the auction house had several entrances and exits.

Without drawing attention to himself, Lin Chen walked to one of the rear rows, casually chose a chair, and sat down. He then began glancing around as though unintentionally, taking stock of his surroundings.

Besides the first floor, the hall also had small staircases leading to private rooms on the second and third floors. Each private room had a small window through which one could see the hall.

As far as Lin Chen knew, the private rooms were reserved for consignors or regular patrons of the auction house.

Though it was underground, the hall was exceptionally bright. Upon closer inspection, one could see dazzling pearls embedded in the ceiling, giving off a soft white radiance.

At this moment, scattered cultivators occupied the chairs in the hall. Most wore black robes that concealed their faces, sitting quietly in their seats. With everyone dressed in black in the spacious hall, it rather felt like a gang meeting.

At the same time, the room was utterly silent. Some closed their eyes to rest, while others looked about, but no one spoke, clearly unwilling to reveal their identities.

It seemed Lin Chen had arrived fairly early. Many seats remained empty, and it was not yet time for the auction to begin.

Lin Chen sat quietly in his chair, continuously planning his next moves in his mind.

"According to the information Xu Mengyun provided, she has attended this auction for five years and has already mapped out every entrance and exit. Of course, those are only the entrances and exits for guests like us. The auction house's managing cultivators must have a dedicated hidden passage, but it obviously won't be used by anyone buying Spirit Marrow. So this is my opportunity..."

Without question, Lin Chen had no intention of buying anything. He planned to make a move and seize it directly.

As for whether that was improper?

What a joke. His moral bottom line had always been flexible. Besides, wasn't there a popular saying in this Side World? Treasures go to the virtuous!

After roughly a quarter of an hour, the seats gradually filled, and more and more figures appeared. A rough count put the number at around a hundred cultivators.

Three enormous chimes rang through the hall, and the underground auction officially began.

BANG

Several large doors slammed shut with a thunderous crash.

Lin Chen narrowed his eyes and saw that all the doors around the hall had been tightly sealed. However, no spiritual light flickered over them, so they were evidently merely ordinary doors. If he wished, he could break through them at any time.

After the doors closed, a black-clad man of average build, his face obscured from view, briskly emerged from behind the platform.

"Thank you, fellow Daoists, for honoring us with your presence. I am Zhao Ming, the host of this auction."

The man in black clasped his hands toward the room. His voice was hoarse and low, making it impossible to tell whether he was male or female.

"First, let me make this clear: this auction prohibits all forms of price suppression and collusion that interfere with normal bidding. Violators will be punished by our auction house. In serious cases, they may even be seized on the spot and have their Cultivation Level crippled!"

"Bids shall be made in Low-grade Spirit Stones. Those lacking Spirit Stones may also trade other items of equivalent value."

"Lastly, let me reiterate: anyone who dares violate the auction house's rules will certainly be punished!"

Zhao Ming's tone had initially been calm, but at the end, a biting Killing Intent seeped into his words. As his voice fell, a terrifying Spirit Pressure spread out from the auction house's rear area.

A Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator!

Lin Chen's gaze sharpened, and he was somewhat surprised. But after giving it some thought, he found it only natural.

After all, to run an underground auction under the control of the Azure Cloud Sect in Jiaqing Market, the force behind it was clearly no simple one. Having a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator was nothing strange.

Upon hearing this, whether disdainful or fearful, none of the cultivators in the hall spoke up in the end.

"Very well, I declare this auction officially open!"

As Zhao Ming spoke, he took a small hammer and a little bell from his Storage Bag, then lightly tapped the bell with the hammer.

After the bell rang once, a fairly attractive maidservant dressed in flamboyant clothes swayed her hips as she emerged from behind the platform.

She carried a jade tray holding nine jade bottles.

"The first auction item is the Yellow Bud Pill."

"The Yellow Bud Pill is one of the finest pills for increasing True Qi and raising one's Cultivation Level during mid-Qi Refining. Its medicinal effects are mild and easily absorbed, allowing cultivators to complete their True Qi Realm cultivation more quickly and have more ample time to condense a Qi Vortex."

"Each bottle of Yellow Bud Pills contains six pills. There are nine bottles total, to be auctioned in three groups of three bottles each."

"The starting price is thirty Spirit Stones, and each increase must be no less than three Spirit Stones."

Pointing at the jade tray in the maidservant's hands, Zhao Ming explained loudly.

"Thirty-five Spirit Stones!"

A cultivator immediately called out a bid.

"Forty Spirit Stones!"

Listening to the rising and falling bids throughout the hall, Lin Chen felt no stir in his heart.

He consumed pills only to replenish his own Essence, Qi, and Spirit. As for pills like these that increased one's Cultivation Level, he generally did not take them. On one hand, there was no need; on the other, they would cause slight impurities to appear within his True Qi.

Therefore, whenever he could avoid them, he did his best to do so.

"Fifty-five Spirit Stones!"

As the price was driven up to this amount, the crowd fell silent. No one called out another bid.

Although these three bottles of Yellow Bud Pills would normally cost only thirty Spirit Stones, their medicinal power was mild and easy to absorb and refine. They were often sought after but unavailable; once refined, they had long since been reserved, and very few ever circulated on the market.

Perhaps having gotten off to a good start, Zhao Ming amiably said to the cultivator who had won the pills, "These three bottles of Yellow Bud Pills go to you, Fellow Daoist. You may proceed to the side hall for the transaction at any time."

As the auction continued, the three batches of Yellow Bud Pills were sold for sixty, sixty-five, and seventy-five respectively.

"Now, please welcome the second auction item."

With a wave of Zhao Ming's hand, the Maidservant carrying the Yellow Bud Pills withdrew, while another beautiful Maidservant stepped forward carrying a jade tray.

"A first-rank artifact, the Golden Light Shield. An Artifact Refiner poured his heart and soul into forging it over seven days. It can withstand the full-force attacks of a Late Qi Refining Stage Cultivator for a period of time, making it an excellent artifact for preserving one's life."

"Fellow Daoists who often travel abroad must not miss this. With this item, it is equivalent to having an extra life!"

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

Lin Chen had come This Time only for the Hundred Year Jade Marrow. Coupled With the fact that the other treasures had not caught his eye, he had not made a bid.

However, the next item to be auctioned stirred his interest.

"Now, please welcome the sixty-sixth auction item: the Body Refining Method—the Blood Origin Marrow Refining Scripture!"