Wei Zhong found his seat and sat down. The auction was held in an enclosed venue. Below, it was divided into eight sections according to the Eight Trigrams, while three pavilions floated overhead.
The Li family, the Chen family, and is that other one the Yan family? Or perhaps the Azurewood Sect?
Wei Zhong pondered inwardly.
He did not have to wait long before the auction began. A middle-aged man stepped onto the stage.
"I am Yan Ruhai. I will be presiding over this auction."
As soon as he spoke, he released the aura of Foundation Establishment. With a Foundation Establishment cultivator hosting the auction, naturally no one objected.
Yan Ruhai was the current head of the Yan family and a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Wei Zhong had seen him several times at major Yan family events.
Rumor had it that the Yan family also possessed an old ancestor, a Late Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Whether that was true or not, no one knew.
After the opening remarks, the auction officially began.
A female cultivator in a flowing skirt stepped onto the stage from the rear, carrying a round tray covered by a red silk cloth.
She only stopped when she reached Yan Ruhai's side.
"The first auction item: ten bottles of mid-grade Qi Nourishing Pills. The starting price is three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones."
Ten bottles of mid-grade Qi Nourishing Pills meant one hundred pills. Even at ordinary market prices, they would cost at least five hundred Spirit Stones.
Such a large quantity of Qi Nourishing Pills was not something ordinary rogue cultivators could afford to consume. Only family factions and the like possessed both the means and willingness to purchase them.
"Three hundred and ten..."
"Three hundred and twenty..."
The first item was immediately "fought over" by the crowd below. In the end, an unfamiliar cultivator wearing a hood took it for four hundred and twenty Spirit Stones.
His attire blocked spiritual sense probes, leaving the cultivators unable to discern his true identity.
I need to get my hands on something this good someday too.
Wei Zhong stared at the black hood, his gaze burning with desire.
Ten bottles of pills were merely an appetizer before the meal. When the second, higher-grade item was displayed, the cultivators' attention was drawn over once more.
"A low-grade second-order magic item, the Twin Water-Fire Swords. This item is a damaged second-order magic item. The mother sword is water-attributed and of the second order, but its sub-sword was missing. Our clan's artificer forged a high-grade First-Order fire-attributed sub-sword to fill the gap..."
Though it was only a half-ruined second-order magic item, it still stirred the entire auction hall.
Cultivators bid repeatedly, and even the floating pavilions above called out prices from time to time.
Sun Zhou looked at the second-order magic item below, his eyes carrying a trace of longing.
Seeing this, the middle-aged cultivator beside him spoke.
"This sword is merely a damaged second-order magic item, and its attributes clash with your water-wood spiritual roots. It is not suitable for you.
"Instead of coveting magic items, you would do better to consider the matter of becoming a true disciple. When that time comes, the sect elders will naturally forge a suitable magic item for you."
Upon hearing this, Sun Zhou withdrew his gaze and said respectfully,
"Thank you for your guidance, Master. This disciple understands."
"But Master, does this auction truly have a Second-Order Foundation Replenishing Pill?"
Unlike First-Order pills, which were used by various clans to nurture promising Qi Refining disciples, the Second-Order Foundation Replenishing Pill was used to repair a cultivator's bodily foundation. It possessed some Foundation Strengthening effects and was even somewhat effective for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"The information I obtained cannot be wrong. Just wait."
As they spoke, several more items below had already passed.
"The next auction item: a Second-Order Foundation Replenishing Pill. This old man need not elaborate on its effects. The starting price is three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and each bid must increase by no fewer than ten Spirit Stones."
It is finally here. This is exactly the pill I need.
While he was still thinking, the other cultivators had already raised the price by more than eighty Spirit Stones. Wei Zhong hurriedly called out,
"Four hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones."
"Five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones."
The voice came from one of the pavilions above. The sudden increase of one hundred Spirit Stones silenced the auction hall in an instant.
Someone upstairs has made a move too. Troublesome!
But this pill concerned Wei Zhong's future Dao Path, so he could not easily give up. He called out,
"Five hundred and fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones."
"Six hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones."
Wei Zhong gritted his teeth. "Six hundred and fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones."
At this point, no other cultivators were bidding. Only Wei Zhong was locked in a contest with that mysterious cultivator.
Seeing Wei Zhong spend so lavishly, those around him could not help turning their attention toward him.
"So it is Wei Zhong. No wonder. I heard his lifespan is nearly exhausted. So he has injuries and wants to heal himself to prolong his life!"
"Daoist, who is this Wei Zhong?"
"Hehe, he is a well-known spirit farmer of the Yan family. It is said that he has farmed land for the Yan family for over sixty years."
"Oh, so he is only a spirit farmer. No wonder I had never heard his name outside."
The surrounding crowd began discussing him.
After Wei Zhong bid several times, he had ultimately provoked the displeasure of the cultivator in the pavilion.
The middle-aged man extended his spiritual sense, releasing his Foundation Establishment pressure without restraint.
"I would like to see who dares contend with me."
Immense Foundation Establishment spiritual pressure blanketed the entire venue. The Qi Refining cultivators below were cowed by that force.
Cold sweat dripped down Wei Zhong's forehead. Before he could think further,
Yan Ruhai on the stage also released his spiritual pressure. His vast, sea-like Foundation Establishment might instantly swept away the oppressive atmosphere in the hall.
"Daoist Wang, do not bring ruin upon yourself. The spiritual pill goes to the highest bidder. Do not spoil the rules of this auction."
Only then did the mysterious cultivator surnamed Wang withdraw his pressure. He thought inwardly, Yan Ruhai's spiritual sense is this formidable—he may not be far from Late Stage Foundation Establishment.
A hint of wariness appeared on his face.
"Daoist Yan misunderstands. I have just come here from the Azurewood Sect, and I thought one of my enemies had deliberately sent someone to target me. I acted rashly in a moment of impulse.
"I will bid seven hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. If you are wealthy enough, little friend, feel free to continue raising the price."
His words carried no small measure of threat.
Wei Zhong understood that this pill was likely no longer his to obtain. The other party's attitude was resolute; he was determined to have it.
Even if Wei Zhong won it with a higher bid, the other party would very likely kill him and seize the treasure.
"So it is an expert from the Azurewood Sect! This auction has actually attracted the Azurewood Sect. That is a great sect with Core Formation Cultivators within its ranks..."
The Qi Refining cultivators immediately began chattering among themselves.
Wei Zhong fell silent and stopped bidding. A cultivator surnamed Wang from the Azurewood Sect, was it? He would remember this. Once he reached Foundation Establishment, Wang would have no good fruit to eat.
Yan Ruhai's expression darkened somewhat, but seeing that Wei Zhong would no longer bid, he simply announced,
"Seven hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, once,
seven hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, twice,
... three times.
Sold. This pill belongs to Daoist Wang."
Within the pavilion, both Wang Linpeng and Sun Zhou showed traces of delight in their eyes.
Neither gave Wei Zhong below a second thought. He was merely a minor cultivator with little lifespan remaining. If not for this auction, he would never have had the slightest chance of crossing paths with two Azurewood Sect cultivators who had hopes of reaching Core Formation.
Wei Zhong sat in his seat with his right hand against his forehead, seemingly lost in thought.
"The next auction item, the 'Nourishing Body Art.' Its grade is unknown. It can bolster one's vigor, enhance the body's vitality, and accelerate the healing of injuries. Even those without cultivation may practice it, making it an excellent method for all of you to raise your descendants. Its only drawback is that it is difficult to learn; even after years of cultivation, one may only barely enter the threshold..."
Hm?
Wei Zhong's eyes lit up.
Before you continue