"The first item has sold for a million. It looks like today's auction is off to a great start," the auctioneer announced loudly. Then he waved his hand. "Next up is our second item: a piece of Iron Bear Skin from the Old Sow's Ditch, a dangerous place in the Wasteland Zone."
The big screen flashed, displaying a coarse piece of black bear hide. It looked thick and tough.
"This hide is sturdy and thick, and can withstand multiple attacks from those Below Gang Realm without tearing. Once forged into armor, it'll be a top-tier defensive treasure. Bidding starts at five hundred thousand!"
Compared to the Purple Jade Branch, this Iron Bear Skin was much more popular.
After all, defensive artifacts could be used regardless of realm, cultivation, profession, or sexual orientation. The barrier to using them wasn't very high.
There were plenty of offensive weapons and artifacts, but defensive ones had always been scarce. A disciple of an Immortal Gate might own several offensive treasures and yet not have a single defensive artifact. Ultimately, it was because defense was harder than offense.
Offensive artifacts were easy to forge. A few decent materials paired with a useful array pattern would do the trick. But defensive array patterns put a refiner's skill at arranging formations and tempering materials to the test.
The reality for cultivators was that below the Sixth Realm, offense generally outweighed defense. Only after reaching the Sixth Realm and forging a Dharma Body could offense and defense potentially become balanced.
For that reason, a defensive treasure could prove decisive in battle if it came into play at a critical moment.
This had also caused defensive artifacts to be severely overpriced.
"Six hundred thousand!"
"Six hundred and fifty thousand!"
"..."
"Nine hundred thousand!"
"..."
In the end, a crude