Wei Zhong found his seat in the enclosed auction hall. The venue was divided into eight sections arranged according to the Bagua (Eight Trigrams), with three elevated pavilions suspended above.
The Li Family, the Chen Family... and could that last one be the Yan Clan? Or perhaps the Azurewood Sect? Wei Zhong pondered.
His speculation was short-lived. The auction soon began, and a middle-aged man stepped onto the platform.
"I am Yan Ruhai, and I will be presiding over this auction," he announced, radiating the imposing aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. No one dared object to such a venerable figure hosting the event.
Yan Ruhai was the current Clan Head of the Yan Clan, with a cultivation base at the Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment realm. Wei Zhong had seen him several times at important Yan Clan gatherings. Rumor had it that the Yan Clan also harbored an Ancestor, a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, though whether this was true remained unconfirmed.
With his opening remarks concluded, the auction officially commenced. A female cultivator in a flowing silk robe glided onto the stage from the rear, bearing a round tray covered with a crimson silk cloth. She stopped just short of Yan Ruhai's side.
The first item up for auction was ten bottles of Mid-Grade Qi Nourishing Pills, with a starting bid of three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
Ten bottles of Mid-Grade Qi Nourishing Pills, totaling one hundred pills, would typically cost at least five hundred spirit stones on the open market.
Such a large quantity of Qi Nourishing Pills was beyond the means of most Loose Cultivators; only powerful family clans and organizations could afford them.
"Three hundred and ten..."
"Three hundred and twenty..."
The first auction item sparked a frenzy among the attendees, ultimately being secured by a mysterious hooded cultivator for four hundred and twenty spirit stones.
The hood concealed the cultivator's spiritual aura, preventing others from discerning their true identity.
I need to get my hands on something like that someday, Wei Zhong thought, his gaze fixed on the black hood with burning intensity.
The ten bottles of pills were merely an appetizer. As the second, higher-grade item was unveiled, the cultivators' attention was immediately drawn back.
"Low-Grade Second-Tier Magic Artifact: the Mother-Child Water-Fire Sword. This incomplete artifact consists of a Second-Tier water-attribute mother sword, but the child sword is missing. Our clan's Artifact Refiner has crafted a high-grade First-Tier fire-attribute child sword to replace it..."
Despite being a damaged Second-Tier Magic Artifact, it still caused a stir in the auction hall.
Cultivators frequently bid, and even those in the aerial pavilions occasionally joined the fray.
Sun Zhou watched the Second-Tier Magic Artifact below, a hint of longing in his eyes.
The middle-aged cultivator beside him noticed his gaze and spoke up, "This sword is merely a flawed Second-Tier Magic Artifact, and its attributes clash with your Water-Wood Spiritual Root. It's not suitable for you. Instead of coveting this flawed item, focus on securing the True Inheritance. When the time comes, a sect elder will naturally forge a proper magic tool for you."
Hearing these words, Sun Zhou withdrew his gaze and replied respectfully, "Thank you for your guidance, Master. I understand."
"But Master," he continued, "will there truly be a Second-Tier Foundation Establishment Pill at this auction?"
Unlike the First-Tier pills used to nurture promising Qi Refining disciples across various clans, the Second-Tier Foundation Establishment Pill was designed to mend a cultivator's foundational constitution, bolstering their inherent vitality and strengthening their root essence. It even had some efficacy for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"My information is reliable. Just wait and see," the master replied.
As they spoke, several more items were auctioned off below.
"Next up, the Second-Tier Foundation Establishment Pill. Its efficacy speaks for itself, so I won't waste your time. The starting bid is three hundred low-grade spirit stones, with a minimum increment of ten stones per bid."
Finally! This is exactly the pill I need.
As Wei Zhong hesitated, other cultivators had already driven the price up by over eighty stones. He quickly called out his bid:
"Four hundred low-grade spirit stones."
"Five hundred low-grade spirit stones!"
The voice came from one of the upper-level pavilions. The sudden hundred-stone jump silenced the auction hall.
Someone in the VIP box is bidding too! This is trouble!
But this pill was crucial for Wei Zhong's future Dao Path, and he couldn't afford to give up easily. He called out:
"Five hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones."
...
"Six hundred low-grade spirit stones."
Wei Zhong gritted his teeth. "Six hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones."
By now, no other cultivators were bidding. It was just Wei Zhong locked in a bidding war with the mysterious figure in the upper pavilion.
Noticing Wei Zhong's willingness to spend so freely, the surrounding cultivators turned their attention to him.
"So it's Wei Zhong. No wonder. I heard his lifespan is nearing its end. He must be injured and trying to prolong his life by healing himself!"
"Fellow Daoist, who is this Wei Zhong?"
"Heh, he's the Yan Clan's renowned Spirit Farmer. Legend has it he's been cultivating their lands for over sixty years."
"Oh, just a Spirit Farmer? No wonder I've never heard of him outside the clan."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Wei Zhong's repeated bids had finally provoked the cultivator in the pavilion. The middle-aged man unleashed his spiritual sense, radiating the full force of his Foundation Establishment pressure.
"Let's see who dares challenge me."
The overwhelming spiritual pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator blanketed the entire venue, stifling every Qi Refining cultivator beneath it.
Cold sweat trickled down Wei Zhong's forehead. Before he could react, Yan Ruhai on the auction platform also released his own spiritual pressure. Like a vast, boundless sea, the Foundation Establishment aura instantly dispelled the oppressive atmosphere.
"Fellow Daoist Wang, do not misunderstand. The spirit pill goes to the highest bidder. Do not violate the rules of this auction."
The mysterious cultivator, Fellow Daoist Wang, withdrew his spiritual pressure, inwardly musing: Yan Ruhai's spiritual sense is extraordinary. He must be close to Late-Stage Foundation Establishment. A flicker of apprehension crossed his face.
"Fellow Daoist Yan, my apologies. I've just arrived from the Azurewood Sect and mistakenly thought my rival had hired someone to target me. It was a moment of impulse.
I'll raise my bid to seven hundred low-grade spirit stones. If you have deeper pockets, feel free to outbid me."
His words carried an unmistakable undertone of threat.
Wei Zhong understood that the elixir was likely beyond his reach. His opponent's determination was clear; they were set on acquiring it at any cost. Even if he managed to outbid them, they might simply kill him to seize the treasure.
"It's someone from the Azurewood Sect!" a Qi Refining cultivator exclaimed. "This auction has even drawn in the Azurewood Sect, a major sect known for its Core Formation cultivators..." Whispers rippled through the crowd.
Wei Zhong fell silent, abandoning his bid. The Wang cultivator from the Azurewood Sect, huh? I'll remember this. Once I reach Foundation Establishment, you'll regret this.
Yan Ruhai's expression darkened slightly, but seeing Wei Zhong's withdrawal, he promptly announced:
"Seven hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, once.
Seven hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, twice...
...Three times.
Sold! This elixir belongs to Fellow Daoist Wang."
Inside the pavilion, Wang Linpeng and Sun Zhou exchanged triumphant glances. They paid no mind to Wei Zhong below—a minor cultivator nearing the end of his lifespan. Without this auction, he would never have had the chance to interact with two promising Core Formation candidates from the Azurewood Sect.
Wei Zhong remained seated, his right hand pressed to his forehead, lost in thought.
"Next item: the Body Nourishing Art, grade unknown. It enhances vitality, invigorates the physical body, and accelerates wound healing. Even those without a cultivation base can practice it, making it an excellent method for nurturing future generations. Its sole drawback is its extreme difficulty—years of effort might barely yield a rudimentary grasp..."
Hmm? Wei Zhong's eyes lit up.