As Li Ping's thoughts wandered, the auction finally began in earnest.
A long-bearded, middle-aged cultivator in a pale blue robe emerged from the back of the hall and stepped onto the auction platform.
His appearance immediately set the audience buzzing.
Listening to their discussions, Li Ping's expression shifted slightly.
It turned out that this long-bearded cultivator was named Fu Yu, one of the Immortal Alliance's external affairs elders, responsible for managing the many affairs of Heavenly Dao City.
His cultivation had reached the Nascent Soul middle stage, making him a major figure even within the Immortal Alliance.
So long as those four great Nascent Soul late-stage cultivators did not appear, with him presiding over this auction, even cultivators at the same Nascent Soul middle stage would likely not dare act recklessly.
After all, besides his own Nascent Soul middle-stage cultivation, Fu Yu also held the home-ground advantage and could call upon the power of Heavenly Dao City's defensive array.
"I imagine everyone knows who I am, and everyone should understand the auction's rules as well," Fu Yu said unhurriedly. "Should any disputes arise over an item during this grand auction, I hope you will all do me the courtesy of keeping them in check."
As he spoke, his gaze swept almost imperceptibly over the private boxes above the seating area. Clearly, these words were meant specifically for the Nascent Soul old monsters inside.
Having finished, Fu Yu yielded his place and sat cross-legged in a corner behind the auction platform.
Only then did everyone notice an elderly cultivator with white hair and beard in the center of the auction venue. He had been standing respectfully behind Fu Yu.
Fu Yu's presence was simply too overwhelming. Everyone's attention had been on him, so most of the cultivators had failed to notice