Chapter 275: Ancient Relic
"I didn't think I'd get to see Fairy Miaoyun without spending a coin."
"No doubt about it—Myriad Treasures Pavilion really understands men."
"…"
Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, a graceful and enchanting figure slowly ascended the auction platform.
She wore a plain robe, her face veiled. There was no ornate makeup, nor any deliberate attempt to project charm.
Yet the moment she appeared, she captured countless gazes.
"Born with natural allure."
Cao Youqian blurted out instinctively as he looked at the woman.
Hearing this, Song Zhaoyi smiled faintly. "Brother Qian sure knows his stuff."
Cao Youqian instantly fell silent and made no further comments, quietly admiring her beauty.
Fairy Miaoyun carried a pristine box in her slender jade-like hands and placed it on the auction table.
Gu Sanbian promptly opened the box. A glow emanated from within, drawing all eyes toward it. Inside lay a bead the size of a large bowl.
"This is a South Sea Flood Dragon King Pearl. According to our Myriad Treasures Pavilion's appraisal, this pearl contains thirty percent of a true dragon's essence. Whether for body refinement or cultivation, it is a top-tier treasure. Moreover, by absorbing its essence, one can even comprehend a dragon clan divine ability.
Starting bid: one million lower-grade spirit stones. Minimum increment: one hundred thousand. Of course, fellow Daoists may also use treasures of equivalent value to bid."
As Gu Sanbian finished speaking, guests began placing bids one after another.
"One million one hundred thousand."
"One million two hundred thousand."
"…"
The price quickly soared toward two million.
However, most of the bidding came from cultivators seated in the front rows. Those in the private boxes remained silent.
When the price reached two million, Cao Youqian suddenly shouted, "Two million six hundred thousand!"
The moment the number was spoken, the hall fell into brief silence.
Many cultivators turned their eyes toward the private box where Cao Youqian and the others were seated.
Ye Beixuan didn't expect Second Senior Brother to call out such a high price. "Senior Brother, isn't that a bit too much?"
Cao Youqian laughed. "I was planning to bid two million five, but twenty-five is an unlucky number, so I added another hundred thousand."
In the Dayan Holy Land's private box not far away, Elders Sikong and Ouyang both looked puzzled.
They hadn't expected the Wendao Academy disciples to bid so soon.
Elder Sikong asked, "Elder Ouyang, should we follow the bid?"
Elder Ouyang shook his head. "This is just a regular King-grade flood dragon pearl. I don't understand why the Wendao Academy group wants it. Honestly, it's not even as good as the stuff found in the Taixu Secret Realm."
Elder Sikong said, "Perhaps it's something Cao Youqian needs for body cultivation."
"That's possible. Let's observe for now," Elder Ouyang replied, choosing not to bid rashly—their targets were elsewhere.
After a brief pause, the cultivators in the front resumed bidding.
"Two million seven hundred thousand."
"Two million eight hundred thousand."
Cao Youqian: "Three million."
The moment he spoke, an elder sitting in the front row looked visibly upset. He had intended to purchase the pearl for his precious grandson's body cultivation and was hoping to secure it for under three million. He didn't expect a big player to interfere.
He gritted his teeth. "Three million one hundred thousand."
Upon hearing the bid, Cao Youqian instantly fell silent. He could sense the determination in the man's voice. Any further bidding would be a loss.
Gu Sanbian, meanwhile, looked eagerly toward the box where Cao Youqian sat. The Pavilion's internal appraisal had set the expected price of the Flood Dragon King Pearl at three million lower-grade spirit stones.
Now that the bid had surpassed that, his commission would increase as well—of course, he hoped that honored guest would bid again.
Unfortunately, that guest let him down.
"Three million one hundred thousand, going once."
"Twice… three times—sold!"
…
Next came several more auction items, and Cao Youqian would throw out a few bids each time.
Before they knew it, they had reached the eighth item.
This time, Fairy Miaoyun stepped onto the stage holding a gilded box in her arms.
The box was inscribed with mysterious runes.
Gu Sanbian began the introduction.
"The next item up for auction is an ancient relic. However, this relic is rather unusual. That is why our Myriad Treasures Pavilion sealed it inside a gilded treasure box using ancient inscriptions. Before opening it, I must remind everyone—this relic carries intense baleful energy. Please be prepared."
As soon as he finished speaking, a defensive formation emerged around the auction platform.
Guests in attendance also drew out their protective treasures, watching the gilded box with curiosity.
With a click, the box opened, and a dreadful aura poured out, ancient and oppressive in nature.
Objects can deceive—but baleful energy does not.
Everyone's eyes focused on the box. Inside lay a complete qilin skull, radiating a chilling, sinister aura.
Within the qilin's mouth sat a stone bead roughly the size of a grown man's fist.
The next moment, a wave of exclamations erupted from the audience.
"A qilin bone! That's a Half-Saint-level qilin skull. A shame it's the skull, not one of the spinal bones."
"If it were a spine bone, there's no way it would be auctioned here. It's said that within the qilin's spine lies a divine beast bone. With that, one could forge a divine weapon. At most, this skull might be used to make a pseudo-sacred artifact."
"…"
Gu Sanbian smiled and said, "Fellow Daoists have sharp eyes—one glance and you recognized the qilin bone. Our Myriad Treasures Pavilion has also appraised it. That stone bead within the skull contains a mysterious power. Its value is no less than the skull itself. Starting bid: one million. Minimum increment: one hundred thousand lower-grade spirit stones."
Tap!
As he spoke, Gu Sanbian struck the table with the wooden gavel.
But the response was silence. The cultivators present were all seasoned veterans. Though ancient relics had a grand name, they also carried great risk.
Spending a million spirit stones only to lose everything had happened before.
So everyone was cautious when bidding on ancient relics—no matter how highly Gu Sanbian praised it.
Inside the private box, Xiao Chen and the others turned their gaze toward Ye Beixuan.
Ye Beixuan, however, was watching Qin Yun with his spiritual sense.
"One million."
After a brief silence, Qin Yun was the first to speak.
Gu Sanbian's eyes lit up. The qilin bone had long been a burden to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion—too costly to forge anything worthwhile. Now that someone was finally willing to bid, he was inwardly delighted and immediately said, "This gentleman has bid one million. Any other offers?"
The room fell into contemplation. Gu Sanbian paused, then continued, "One million, going twice."
He instinctively glanced at the private box that had been bidding earlier. Seeing no movement, he proceeded, "One million, going three times—"
Just as the words left his mouth, that familiar voice rang out again.
"One million one hundred thousand."
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