The Auction

The Heavenly Treasure Tower was particularly lively tonight. The reason was simple: it was holding a high-level auction.

Although those allowed into the auction were all wealthy or influential people of standing, that did not stop onlookers from gathering for the excitement.

The Heavenly Treasure Tower's auction was a highly regarded tradition. Every year, the tower sought out all manner of treasures and held a grand auction.

Every item deemed worthy of such an auction, without exception, was a treasure worth a thousand pieces of gold, something countless people would scramble to claim.

More than a decade ago, the Heavenly Treasure Tower in Myriad Phenomena City had even held an auction attended by Primordial Spirit Realm experts! All four kings of the Ling Kingdom had been present, and two Primordial Spirit Realm Rogue Cultivators who happened to be staying in the city had also joined the auction, staging a contest of wealth.

Although tonight's auction could not match the one held more than a decade ago, which had tempted even Primordial Spirit Realm experts, it was still enough to draw many powerful figures.

In Myriad Phenomena City, no one wanted to miss such a grand event.

After leaving the manor, Ling Yun headed straight for the Heavenly Treasure Tower. A quarter of an hour later, he arrived outside the tower, where a bustling crowd had packed the area so tightly that not even a drop of water could have slipped through.

"So many people?"

Ling Yun could not help frowning.

Waves of conversation rose around him. Most of these people were not qualified to enter, yet they had strained every nerve to squeeze their way here. Ling Yun could not help reflecting that people in another world loved watching a spectacle just as much.

"The list of auction items has already gotten out. There are ninety-nine in total, and every one of them is a third-tier or even fourth-tier treasure. It makes me green with envy!"

Someone spoke through gritted teeth.

"Damn right. Too bad I'm too poor, and my cultivation is low. Otherwise, I'd have to let everyone see how magnificent I, Generous Zhang, can be!"

Someone replied in a rather loud voice. Many people heard him and cast him looks of disdain.

"Everyone, please clear some space. The auction is about to begin receiving guests. Please don't block the main road and disrupt order!"

Soon, attendants emerged from the Heavenly Treasure Tower to maintain order. Every one of them was in the Essence Condensation Realm, while the few leading them were Core Formation Realm experts.

The crowd did not dare cause trouble and quickly made room. Before long, the passage outside the Heavenly Treasure Tower was spotless, the ground almost gleaming. The sight left Ling Yun silent for a moment.

"They're here, they're here! Look, isn't that the Azure King Manor's chief Attendant? He's a Core Formation Realm Perfection expert!"

Soon, an old man with a powerful presence and steady steps landed firmly in front of the Heavenly Treasure Tower. The attendants bowed respectfully as he strode inside.

After him, powerful figures entered one after another. Those attending the auction were not necessarily Core Formation Realm experts, but they were certainly people of astonishing wealth.

Ling Yun blended in among them and followed them inside without trouble. Zhang Yu had evidently given advance notice. Ling Yun's attire was not particularly conspicuous, but the attendants still recognized him.

The auction was being held on the sixth floor. The last time Ling Yun had come to make a transaction, he had only gone as high as the fifth.

The sixth floor had been built entirely for auctions, with many private rooms throughout the floor. Around a hundred people were attending this auction, but there were more than enough private rooms.

The private rooms were arranged around the sides, with the auction platform in the center, making it easy to examine the details of the items.

Once everyone was seated, the auction soon began. A beautiful woman stepped onto the platform and introduced herself as the auctioneer. Once she had set the mood, the auction officially began.

Items went up for auction one after another, sparking round after round of bidding. They included pills, magical artifacts, talismans, divine abilities and spells, spiritual objects born of heaven and earth, rare medicinal treasures, mysterious objects...

Throughout it all, Ling Yun did not place a single bid.

First, he had no need for these treasures and saw no reason to waste his money. His sole purpose in coming was the pill furnace.

Second, he truly did not think much of these treasures. The real treasures would appear later.

While observing his surroundings, however, Ling Yun spotted people from the Spirit King's Manor.

They did not bid often either, but whenever they did, they refused to give up until they had secured the item.

"They're all auxiliary medicinal ingredients for refining the Cold Essence Pill."

Understanding dawned on Ling Yun, and he knew this was Madam Wang's arrangement.

It seems Madam Wang is very efficient. I hope she can gather all the ingredients within half a month.

He prayed silently in his heart.

The auction soon neared its end, but the atmosphere in the hall did not cool in the slightest. Instead, the high point of the evening had arrived.

"The auction of the ninety-nine items has concluded. Congratulations to everyone who acquired a precious treasure." Beaming, the auctioneer bowed to the audience.

She then walked off the platform and disappeared backstage.

Everyone remained seated, their expressions unchanged, and waited.

A moment later, an old man walked onto the platform.

The old man had sparse hair and a decrepit appearance, and he was impeccably dressed. After stepping onto the platform, he smiled calmly and said, "I am the head steward of the Heavenly Treasure Tower. I will personally preside over the bidding for the final three treasures tonight!"

As his words fell, a stir ran through the hall. Even the people present could not remain unmoved by the final three treasures.

"Without further ado, let us look at the first item."

A spiritual light flashed from the ring on the old man's hand, and a treasure box appeared in his palm.

For safety's sake, the old man always kept these three treasures in his personal care, bringing them out only when it was time to auction them.

Although the old man looked like a kindly elder, he was a genuine expert. After failing to break through to the Primordial Spirit Realm years ago, he had narrowly escaped death, and his strength had instead become far greater than that of an ordinary Core Formation Realm Perfection cultivator.

Everyone held their breath, watching the old man's movements closely. Even Ling Yun was no exception. Though this was not what he had come for, he could not help wondering what kind of treasure was being auctioned.

Under the gaze of more than a hundred people, the old man's expression remained unchanged as he leisurely opened the brocade box.

In an instant, the entire sixth floor was bathed in precious light. Everyone narrowed their eyes and finally saw what was inside.

A precious pearl lay quietly on a piece of silk within the brocade box.

Most people frowned at the sight, evidently unaware of what it was, but a few looked excited.

The old man closed the brocade box, and the precious light faded.

He smiled as he surveyed the hall before saying, "I expect some of you already know what this is?"

"Haha, I won't keep you in suspense. This first item is called a Sea Essence Pearl. It comes from the Sea Clam Demon Race."

The old man offered no detailed explanation, but many people had already realized what it was. For a moment, no one could remain calm.

At the edge of the Eastern Desolation lay a stretch of sea, but because of an unknown force, no one could travel there.

Sea demons sometimes came ashore to cause trouble, however, and this Sea Essence Pearl had come from a Sea Clam Demon.

Ling Yun was not particularly interested. The Witchcraft and Gu Pill Physician's inheritance recorded many of the world's spiritual objects, and the Sea Essence Pearl was one of them.

A Sea Essence Pearl was formed from a Sea Clam Demon's pure demon essence, and it was also tremendously useful to cultivators.

As he watched everyone scramble to bid, Ling Yun remained calm and began to look forward to the pill furnace that would follow.

At last, the Sea Essence Pearl was sold.

Ling Yun immediately sat up straight, his gaze growing serious.

"The second item!"

Without wasting any time, the old man took another object from his ring.

Boom!

A muffled thud rang out as a heavy object was placed on the ground, drawing everyone's attention.

They looked over and saw a three-legged pill furnace. Its exterior was plain and unremarkable, but it gave off a faint sense of oppression that made many people's expressions shift slightly.

The old man reached out and patted the pill furnace, producing a deep, muffled resonance.

His eyes flashed, and he said in a somewhat elevated voice, "This pill furnace is called the Mother Si Suppression Furnace. It was made by a fifth-tier artifact refiner and is only a hair's breadth away from reaching the standard of a fifth-tier pill furnace."

"Pill furnaces are also magical artifacts. I hardly need to tell you the value of a quasi-fifth-tier magical artifact, do I? For an alchemist, something like this is even harder to come by!"

The old man spoke at length, watching with satisfaction as the gazes fixed on it grew noticeably heated. A few people in particular looked ready to rush onto the platform and take the Simu Suppression Furnace away at once!

"Without further ado, the Simu Suppression Furnace starts at fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones, with each bid no less than five thousand low-grade spirit stones higher!"

In an instant, bids rang out one after another.