Soulwood Roots

The Treasure Pavilion stood in Luoyang City, one of the larger cities in the cultivation world.

The next day, Su Wan'er led the group into the city.

"Step right up! Don't miss out!"

"The Treasure Pavilion is slashing prices today with tears in its eyes! Handsome gentlemen and lovely ladies, don't miss your chance!"

They had barely entered the city gates when they saw several people shouting in unison to draw in customers.

"What are those people doing?"

"Second Senior Sister, those are attendants drumming up business for the Treasure Pavilion."

"We don't need to bother with them. The goods they sell are too low-end."

"I'll take you straight to the auction inside the Treasure Pavilion. That's where we'll find what we need."

"Oh!"

After hearing Wu Suowei's answer, Su Wan'er nodded, looking only half convinced she understood.

Whether she actually understood was perhaps something only she knew.

With Wu Suowei leading the way, the group passed through several streets and arrived before a magnificent building.

They looked up at the three large characters glittering gold above the building.

Wu Suowei smiled at the others. "Senior Sisters, we're here."

Lin Shuishui, Su Wan'er, and the others stared in surprise at the cultivators coming and going. "Are all those people here to buy things?"

"Isn't that an awful lot of people?"

The girls' little mouths hung slightly open as they spoke in surprise!

"Senior Sisters, this is the only place where mortals can buy things made by cultivators, so it gets a little crowded.

"But we don't go in here. This entrance is for mortals. The entrance reserved for cultivators is inside."

Wu Suowei led them into an alley at the side.

They reached a doorway, and Wu Suowei stepped forward and knocked.

The wooden door opened at once. An attendant inside smiled when he saw them. "Welcome to the Treasure Pavilion, honored customers."

"Please follow me."

The attendant led the group into a hall.

He asked them, "Would you like to attend the auction, or purchase something directly?"

This time, Wu Suowei did not answer. Instead, he stepped aside to let Su Wan'er face the attendant.

"We'd like to attend the auction."

"Certainly, honored guest."

"Would you like a private box? Booking one will require an additional fee."

Su Wan'er waved her hand grandly. "Give us the best one."

"Of course, honored guest."

One look at Su Wan'er's clothing told the attendant all he needed to know.

Here was someone with no shortage of money. He had to serve her well.

If she was pleased, he might even earn a handsome tip.

"Please follow me."

Led by the attendant, they passed through another doorway and entered a new hall.

They were taken straight to a private box on the second floor, where two maidservants were assigned exclusively to serve them.

"Fairy, our auction will begin shortly."

"If you wish to raise the bid, there's a price chart beside the chair. Just press the corresponding button."

The attendant pointed to the buttons beside the chair, then bowed and withdrew.

As soon as he left, a beam of light suddenly illuminated the stage in the hall below.

An old man in white robes walked onto the stage with a smile. "Welcome, everyone, to today's auction."

"I am your auctioneer, Old Lu."

"Without further ado, let's take a look at our first treasure."

Puzzled by the vast hall below with only the old man in it, Lin Shuishui asked Wu Suowei, "Why is he the only person down there when there's so much room?"

"Eldest Senior Sister, some treasures need to be demonstrated on-site. It would be inconvenient if people were sitting down there."

"Oh!"

Lin Shuishui nodded her adorable little head, then picked up Bao'er. "In a little while, I'll have my junior sister buy you some medicine that can heal your spiritual root. Then you'll be able to cultivate with me, Bao'er."

The little girl nodded, seeming to understand only vaguely.

She seemed to have been born disinclined to speak.

Meanwhile, Zhang Sanpang, standing beside Pei Zhujiu, could not help asking her with a chuckle, "Fairy, do you really intend to take me as your disciple?"

"Of course!"

Hearing Sanpang's question, Pei Zhujiu looked at him in puzzlement.

Does he not believe me?

"Fairy, look!"

"Tricking you into drinking that little bit of wine of mine really isn't worth you doing all this."

"Enough, spare me the nonsense. I, Pei Zhujiu, keep my word. If I said I'd take you as my disciple, then I will."

"In a little while, I'll also ask Second Senior Sister to help me buy a precious medicine that can heal your soul."

Zhang Sanpang had been about to say more, but the rest of his words lodged in his throat.

Looking at the earnest Pei Zhujiu, Zhang Sanpang thought that he must properly repay that grandmaster if he ever had the chance.

He believed Li Shouyi must have deliberately put Pei Zhujiu up to this. Otherwise, how could a dignified cultivator possibly—

Be unable to pay for a few dozen jin of wine?

"The next item I'll introduce is a rare treasure in this auction."

The old man on the stage below suddenly grew excited.

Then a female attendant carefully carried a jade box onto the stage.

The old man approached the stand holding the jade box, opened it, and lifted it with a smile. "Please take a look, everyone. These are Soulwood roots."

"They can repair damage to the soul."

"The opening bid is one hundred thousand spirit stones."

As the old man opened the box, the finger-thick root inside suddenly gave off a powerful yet delicate fragrance.

When everyone in the private box caught its scent,

They felt as though their entire souls had been immersed in a warm pool, leaving them utterly at ease.

"That's it! That's it!"

Pei Zhujiu suddenly rushed over to Su Wan'er and began shaking her.

"Third Junior Sister, calm down. Your senior sister is right here!"

"Second Senior Sister, hurry up and bid!"

"Plenty of people in the other boxes have already called out!"

Indeed, just moments earlier,

As soon as the old man finished speaking, bids had rung out from several private boxes.

"Box three bids one hundred thousand."

"Box five bids two hundred thousand."

"Box ten bids five hundred thousand..."

The old man grew more excited with every announcement, for the highest bid had already reached nine hundred thousand.

"Box eighteen bids nine hundred and thirty thousand. Does anyone offer more?"

Silence immediately settled over the room, and no one spoke for a long while.

Inside box eighteen, two black-clad men exchanged smiles. "Although Soulwood trees are incredibly precious, their roots are worth no more than this."

"Senior Brother, we're going to earn great merit this time."

But they had barely finished speaking when the old man onstage suddenly announced excitedly, "One million! Box two bids one million!"

"What?"

The sudden announcement shattered the fantasies playing out in their minds.

Once they recovered, one of them gritted his teeth. "Junior Brother, raise the bid to one million two hundred thousand. We'll fight him for it."

"But Senior Brother, that's our own money!"

"We can't worry about that now. If we fail to bring back a treasure that can heal the soul this time, we'll both be expelled from the sect."

The other black-clad man considered it, then gritted his teeth as well. "All right. I'll fight alongside you, Senior Brother."

The old man had waited so long that he was about to announce the final price.

But suddenly his expression changed again, and his whole body trembled. Veins bulging with excitement, he cried, "One million two hundred thousand! Box eighteen bids one million two hundred thousand..."