Watching the scene grow ever more frenzied, with everyone driven mad by the feverish atmosphere to raise their bids, Zheng Yi gave up on the idea.
In these circumstances, it was best to keep his hands out of it.
Otherwise, being able to take it but not take it away would be even more dangerous.
The bidding in the hall grew increasingly fierce. In the end, the Geng Metal Essence sold for thirty-seven thousand six hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones and was claimed by a buyer on the second floor.
When the auction ended, Zheng Yi did not linger. He left Secluded Central City directly and traveled under cover of night.
In the auction hall, he had sensed a gaze steeped in malice. Though he did not know who it belonged to, that person clearly bore him ill will; otherwise, it would not have stirred the Merit Seed.
Zheng Yi anticipated that trouble might arise. He had no choice but to guard against such things, so he acted with even greater caution.
He hurried onward and did not stop until he reached a dilapidated temple deep into the night, where he rested to recover his strength.
The ruined temple was small. Inside stood a faded statue of an unknown mountain god. Zheng Yi found a clean spot and swept it once more with a Dust-Avoiding Talisman.
He then sat cross-legged there, clutching a Spirit Stone in each hand as he rapidly restored the circulation of spiritual energy within his body.
About half an hour later, a rustling sound rang out in the night.
It was like a swarm of bats hunting in the darkness, beating their wings as they flew toward the ruined temple.
A shadow appeared atop a rise not far away, directing the blood bats as they formed a