The Essence of Heaven and Earth Could Trigger Martial Soul Evolution?!

He tilted his head in indication.

Then, a maid stepped forward carrying a jade tray. Resting on it was an herb that was verdant from stem to tip, giving off a faint fragrance.

Its roots were twisted and gnarled, its leaves seemingly carved from jade. At its peak grew a crystal-clear fruit no larger than a fingernail.

"This item is called Thousand Year Green Lingzhi."

Li An introduced it.

"It is a spirit medicine that has reached an age of eleven hundred years. It contains pure wood-attributed energy and has extraordinary effects whether refined through direct consumption or used as the main ingredient in alchemy."

"For Soul Masters with wood-attributed Martial Souls or plant-related Martial Souls, it is an exceptionally rare tonic!"

"Even ordinary people can strengthen their vitality by consuming it!"

"The starting bid is One Thousand Gold Soul Coins! Each increase must be no less than ten Gold Soul Coins!"

Upon hearing that price, the tense atmosphere in the auction hall seemed to relax at once.

Quite a few people let out long breaths, their faces showing expressions that said, "Now this is more like it."

"Whew... now this feels like an auction. Otherwise, what was the point of that starting price?"

"That second item just now was way too terrifying."

"A Thousand Year Spirit Medicine may be precious, but it's not as though we've never seen one."

"Yeah, this Thousand Year Green Lingzhi is neither particularly useful nor useless to ordinary Soul Masters like us. It's a little awkward."

"Right. Only Soul Masters with wood attributes or plant Martial Souls can get the most out of it. The audience for it is just a bit too narrow."

Discussion gradually rose, but the excitement had clearly dropped by more than a level, and the bidding was rather sluggish.

"One thousand and twenty Gold Soul Coins."

"I bid one thousand and thirty."

"One thousand and fifty, that's my limit!"

The bid increases were tiny, each one barely meeting the minimum requirement.

In the corner, Tang San's eyes lit up instead.

Others might only value the Thousand Year Green Lingzhi for the thousand years of medicinal power it contained.

But he knew that this spirit medicine's special quality lay in the small accompanying fruit at its peak. That was where its essence lay, and it had remarkable effects in neutralizing the properties of certain overbearing medicines.

Then, he raised the bidding paddle in his hand.

"One thousand two hundred Gold Soul Coins."

It was neither too high nor too low, yet it perfectly overwhelmed the previous slow upward trend.

The hall immediately fell silent.

The few people who had been hesitating or intended to slowly raise the price looked at one another, then ultimately lowered their paddles.

Further bidding for a spirit medicine they did not truly need seemed rather not worth it.

Seeing this, Li An immediately began the formal process.

"One thousand two hundred Gold Soul Coins! This distinguished guest has bid one thousand two hundred Gold Soul Coins!"

"Is there anyone with a higher bid?"

No one responded.

"One thousand two hundred Gold Soul Coins, first call!"

"One thousand two hundred Gold Soul Coins, second call!"

"One thousand two hundred Gold Soul Coins, third call!"

Clang!

"Sold! Congratulations to this distinguished guest for obtaining the Thousand Year Green Lingzhi!"

The smile on Li An's face remained unchanged, but inwardly, he let out a slight sigh of relief. At least it had not gone unsold.

Inside the Field Master's Office.

Ning Liu watched the Thousand Year Green Lingzhi being carried away by the maid in the Water Mirror, his expression calm.

One thousand two hundred Gold Soul Coins—not too high, not too low. It was within expectations.

Just then, the cold mechanical voice rang out in his mind once more.

Ding! Thousand Year Green Lingzhi auctioned successfully. Final price: 1200 Gold Soul Coins. Random return multiplier being calculated...

Congratulations, Host, for receiving: 1000x return!

Congratulations, Host, for receiving: Hundred Thousand Year Immortal Herb—Aromatic Silk Beauty!

A thousand times?!

Ning Liu's hand holding the teacup paused slightly.

That Zhuge Crossbow earlier had caused such a frenzy, yet it had only returned a hundredfold in the end.

This Thousand Year Green Lingzhi had drawn sluggish bids and a mediocre response, yet it gave a thousandfold return?

Could this system's return multiplier... really depend entirely on luck?

Still, this Hundred Thousand Year Immortal Herb did not seem to be a simple accumulation of years?

One thousand years multiplied by a hundred would make one hundred thousand years. Yet his was a thousandfold!

Suppressing the surprise in his heart, he focused on the information about the Immortal Herb provided by the system.

Aromatic Silk Beauty: Blessed by the essence of heaven and earth, it absorbs the radiance of the sun and moon. Noble and magnificent in bearing, it is the finest among immortal-grade treasures!

After consumption, it can transform one's body, cleanse the meridians and marrow, and greatly increase Soul Power. When absorbed by a Soul Master with a treasure-type Martial Soul, it can trigger Martial Soul Evolution!

Blessed by the essence of heaven and earth... an Immortal Herb?

Ning Liu's heart shook violently.

Even among the illustrated records of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he had never heard of so-called Immortal Herbs!

Not to mention a Hundred Thousand Year Immortal Herb!

Among the existing records, the highest was only ten thousand years!

And its effects were simply heaven-defying!

Transforming one's body, Martial Soul Evolution!

For someone like him, whose cultivation was limited by his Martial Soul, the value of this Immortal Herb was simply immeasurable!

It seemed the remaining multiplier had all been reflected in the Immortal Herb!

With a thought, a dazzling tulip appeared on the table before him.

Its petals overlapped layer upon layer, as though sculpted from golden glazed crystal, radiating hazy seven-colored treasure light.

At the same time, an indescribably rich fragrance instantly spread throughout the room.

Ning Liu felt invigorated after taking just one breath, and even the Soul Power within him faintly stirred.

Most importantly, his Martial Soul was actually trembling and growing restless at this very moment!

What an incredible treasure!

Ning Liu's gaze burned.

After consuming this Immortal Herb, just how far could his Martial Soul evolve?

Would it become a Five Treasure Glazed Pagoda? Or a Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda?!

Ning Liu forcefully suppressed the desire in his heart and carefully stored the Aromatic Silk Beauty in his Space Ring.

He did not consume it immediately. The auction was still underway, and now was not the time.

On the auction stage, Li An clapped his hands.

Clap! Clap!

"Everyone, the next auction item is somewhat special."

As his words fell, four burly men worked together to carry a huge iron cage onto the auction stage.

The cage was tightly covered in heavy black cloth. One could only vaguely see a sizable shape moving around within, accompanied from time to time by low roars and the rattling of chains.

"Locked inside this cage is a genuine Thousand Year Soul Beast!"

"The species of this Soul Beast is not particularly rare. It is merely a Yellow Spotted Tiger!"

Li An stepped forward, pulled away the black cloth, and spoke.

The Yellow Spotted Tiger was covered in yellow markings, its muscles taut.

"Whoa..."

A small commotion rose among the crowd.

A living Thousand Year Soul Beast? That was indeed uncommon.

"This Soul Beast was originally captured by a family in the southern part of the city. They intended to keep it in captivity for their younger clan members to use in practical combat training."

Li An explained.

"When it was captured, it was only an eight-hundred-year Soul Beast. Who would have thought that it would break through on its own in the cage while being transported back, reaching the Thousand Year level in one go!"

"Luckily, this cage was built sturdy enough, or it would have broken out!"

"However, that left the family in a difficult position."

"A Thousand Year Soul Beast was no longer something they could easily control. After all, most of their clan members were only Soul Masters or Soul Grand Masters!"

"Continuing to raise it carried too much risk, but they were unwilling to release it. After much consideration, they entrusted our auction house to sell it on their behalf."

He paused and raised his voice.

"The starting bid remains One Thousand Gold Soul Coins! Each increase must be no less than ten Gold Soul Coins!"

Yet this time, the reaction below the stage was unexpectedly lukewarm.

Everyone merely glanced at the Yellow Spotted Tiger and discussed it among themselves, but no one raised a paddle.

"A Thousand Year Soul Beast? It sounds impressive, but what use is it?"

"Exactly. If a small family buys it back, they can't afford to raise it or control it. What if it goes berserk? Wouldn't that be inviting a wolf into their home?"

"Would a large family or major faction lack a single Thousand Year Soul Beast?"

A middle-aged Soul Master who appeared rather knowledgeable analyzed the situation.

"The Yellow Spotted Tiger is an extremely ordinary species."

"In the Soul Hunting Forest, it could be considered top-tier. But in a true Soul Beast Forest, it is not powerful at all!"

"Even after breaking through to a thousand years, its potential is only so-so."

"Besides, for families or factions with Soul Kings—or no, even factions with several Soul Elders and Soul Ancestors—if they want a Thousand Year Soul Ring, they only need to make a trip to the Soul Beast Forest. Why spend this money for nothing?"

"That's true. This Soul Beast was captured alive. Although no one knows how it broke through inside the cage, it definitely isn't in good condition. It might even have hidden injuries, making it worth even less after purchase."

In the corner, the president of some academy who looked exceptionally stingy curled his lips and muttered under his breath.

"A common Thousand Year Soul Beast can sell for a thousand Gold Soul Coins? Then I might as well go capture them every day!"

For a time, the scene became somewhat awkwardly quiet.

Li An sighed inwardly. He had actually expected this outcome long ago.

The auction had been prepared in such a short time that this was all they could manage.

This Soul Beast was neither here nor there, truly an awkward item.

Still, he dutifully tried to salvage the situation.

"Everyone, even if you do not consider keeping it captive, this is still a genuine Thousand Year Soul Beast!"

"After killing it, you are guaranteed a Thousand Year Soul Ring!"

"What if—just what if—you are lucky enough for it to produce a Thousand Year Soul Bone?"

As soon as he said that, a wave of low jeers arose below.

"A Thousand Year Soul Bone? Manager Li, isn't what you're saying basically gambling?"

"Exactly. Soul Bones are treasures worth a fortune. Even a Thousand Year Soul Bone would be fought over frantically! But the chance of getting a Soul Bone is so low. Who would buy it for that?"

"Heh, if that's how you put it, we might as well go test our luck in the Soul Beast Forest ourselves."

As the atmosphere grew colder and colder, Li An became somewhat helpless.

Just then, a plump middle-aged man dressed like a merchant raised his paddle.

"One thousand and ten Gold Soul Coins."

"Heh, Manager Li, this Soul Beast may be rather useless, but if I buy it back, I can still drain its blood for medicine, dismantle its bones to make tools, and skin it for armor. It will be of some use in the end."

"Consider it Old Qian lending your auction house some support, and giving Manager Li some face."

At his words, a grateful smile appeared on Li An's face.

"Thank you, Boss Qian!"

Though the price was pitifully low, at least someone had finally placed a bid.

He composed himself and called out the bid according to procedure.

"One thousand and ten Gold Soul Coins, first call!"

"One thousand and ten Gold Soul Coins, second call!"

Just as he was about to bring down the hammer for the third call, a voice suddenly rang out.

"One thousand one hundred Gold Soul Coins!"