Song Changsheng quickly refined the ring and obtained some basic information about it.
It was called the Void-Breaking Ring, a mid-grade spiritual artifact. When worn, it gathered spiritual energy around the user, enhancing cultivation speed. In moments of crisis, it could release a shockwave capable of breaking restraints or knocking opponents back.
"So that's how it works. Not bad at all," Song Changsheng murmured with a trace of delight. No one ever complained about having too many treasures. Even if he didn't need it himself, it could be added to the clan's treasury or used as a reward for his clansmen.
Next, he examined the old man's storage pouch. The man wasn't particularly wealthy aside from two second-grade magical tools; there were fewer than eight thousand low-grade spirit stones.
Such things barely registered in Song Changsheng's eyes. But one item did catch his attention, a jade token.
"An official of the Haoran Alliance?" His eyes narrowed.
The Great Qi cultivation world was vast and filled with countless powers. Song Changsheng had gone out of his way to learn about them. He didn't claim to know every single sect, but he was well-versed in most.
He'd even heard of major factions in surrounding countries.
Yet nowhere among them had he encountered the name Haoran Alliance.
For a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator to be only a "steward" suggested this alliance was far from ordinary. Such a power shouldn't be so obscure.
"Two sects at war, beast tides invading… the beginning of chaos. No wonder all kinds of demons and ghosts are crawling out of the woodwork." A shadow passed over Song Changsheng's heart, along with a heavy sense of urgency. In troubled times, only strength could ensure the Song Clan's survival.
And at present, the Song Clan's strength was still far from enough.
"Grandfather… you must succeed." His voice dropped to a whisper.
Now, the clan's hopes rested entirely on Song Xianming's breakthrough.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Thanks to Song Changsheng's thunderous display of authority, would-be troublemakers kept quiet. Though more and more cultivators continued to arrive, the atmosphere remained surprisingly calm.
The Luo River surged endlessly under the washed-blue heavens. From early morning, cultivators converged toward the Song Clan's auction hall, shoulder to shoulder, numbering more than two thousand.
They came from all walks of life: local cultivators from Lingzhou, wandering rogues from neighboring states, and envoys of fallen clans seeking to rebuild after losing everything to the beast tide.
The crowd was a complicated mix, which kept Song Changsheng vigilant.
The clan's defensive formation was fully activated, and the Blackstar Warship hovered above, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
As for Song Changsheng himself, he took personal command at the auction hall to ensure nothing went wrong.
Fortunately, his earlier deterrence proved effective. The proceedings were orderly; no fool dared stir trouble. The entire clan breathed easier.
Like all major auctions, attendees were divided by status and wealth. Foundation Establishment cultivators, those backed by Purple Mansion patrons, or the truly wealthy, were guided to private boxes on the second floor.
The rest, those lacking strength, influence, or deep pockets, had to settle for seats on the ground floor. Thankfully, the venue was spacious enough that even with nearly two thousand attendees, it wasn't overcrowded.
By the final count, more than twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators had come. Even though Song Changsheng had prepared himself mentally, the number still weighed heavily on him. He dared not relax for an instant.
Yet if his burden was heavy, another's was even greater than that of the auctioneer herself, Song Luyun.
At thirty-five years old, she had already reached the peak of Qi Refining. For the Song Clan, that was respectable. But within the clan, she wasn't highly regarded.
She had no standout talents, and her combat ability was mediocre. In the last clan tournament, she hadn't even broken into the top twenty.
Perhaps because of this, she had been sent down the mountain early to manage the clan's businesses. Over more than a decade, she proved herself capable and reliable, eventually gaining the favor of the Grand Elder, who promoted her to clan steward.
It was by chance that Song Changsheng noticed her. After observing her, he found she not only had poise and presence but also a gift for public speaking. Against opposition, he appointed her as the auctioneer for this critical event.
If she performed well, then once Song Luzhou succeeded in refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, she would surely be rewarded.
For the sake of her cultivation path and to repay Song Changsheng's trust, failure was not an option.
Drawing a deep breath, Song Luyun slowly pushed open the grand doors and walked to her place.
The moment she appeared, countless eyes locked onto her. The weight of that collective gaze pressed down like a mountain.
Never before had she been the focus of so many, especially with so many Foundation Establishment cultivators among them.
Steadying her trembling heart, she bowed gracefully and declared in a clear, ringing voice:
"Thank you, honored seniors and fellow cultivators, for gracing this auction with your presence. I am Song Luyun, your auctioneer today. It is my great honor to preside over this event, and I hope fortune smiles upon you all."
The opening words were standard fare, and the audience reacted with little more than silence, and an awkward lull spread through the hall.
It wasn't surprising. Song Luyun was neither a breathtaking beauty that could captivate the crowd at a glance, nor a famous auctioneer with a reputation that preceded her. Their indifference was only natural.
But Song Luyun didn't mind. She clapped her hands, signaling a clan member in ornate robes to bring forth a wooden box. Her phoenix eyes swept across the room as she declared in a clear voice:
"Here is the first item of today's auction: a second-tier high-grade Sword Pellet!"
The moment her words fell, the once-still atmosphere ignited like fire, the hall bursting into noise. And no wonder the appearance of a Sword Pellet on the market was exceedingly rare, let alone one of such grade.
The cost of refining one was astronomical, and the difficulty immense. In fact, in the current Great Qi cultivation world, no one could even make them anymore. Sword Pellets had long been in a state of demand far exceeding supply; many had sought one in vain.
Yet rarity alone wasn't what sent the crowd into a frenzy.
The true reason lay in the Sword Pellet's power. It might scale with its grade, and a second-tier high-grade Sword Pellet unleashed the equivalent of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator's full strike. Most importantly, it required no regard for the user's cultivation.
Thus, whether kept for personal protection or bestowed upon a junior, it was an invaluable treasure.
Among those gathered, only a handful had cultivation at the late Foundation Establishment stage. For the majority, acquiring this Sword Pellet meant a leap in strength. As for those stronger? Even they had beloved disciples and juniors to arm.
So, as soon as Song Luyun's words landed, many cultivators began itching to bid, eager to fight for it.
But instead of rushing straight into the auction, Song Luyun produced the Sword Pellet for a demonstration.
With a light infusion of spiritual power, the pigeon-egg-sized metal orb burst into dazzling sword light. Since there was no set target, she guided the thin flying sword to circle the hall before recalling it. It returned like a silk ribbon, twining gracefully around her fingertips.
Normally, such an act, sending a weapon sweeping over people's heads, would be considered highly disrespectful. Yet no one took offense. On the contrary, their fervor only grew.
For when the sword light had passed overhead, everyone had felt its razor-sharp intent. Even late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators were shaken.
Now, even those who had no initial interest found themselves yearning for the Sword Pellet.
Seeing this, Song Luyun allowed herself a small, satisfied smile. This was exactly the effect she had aimed for.
But one man's face darkened at the Zhang cultivator who had originally come with his eye set on this very item.
Her little display had multiplied his competition.
Glancing at his storage pouch, he turned to the elder beside him. "Brother Qi, no matter what, I must secure this Sword Pellet. I ask for your support."
The elder nodded gravely. "Brother Zhang, rest assured."
Zhang's eyes flashed with gratitude.
At last, when she sensed the timing was right, Song Luyun announced:
"The starting price for this treasure is five thousand low-grade spirit stones. Each increase must be no less than five hundred. Fellow cultivators, please make your bids."
Almost before she had finished, a voice rang out from the second floor:
"Ten thousand low-grade spirit stones!"
"Thirteen thousand!" another quickly followed.
The bids came like crashing waves, pushing the price up to thirty-five thousand in no time. By then, many had dropped out; the sum was no trifling matter.
Seeing his chance, Zhang immediately raised it to forty thousand.
Sensing his determination, the remaining competitors withdrew one after another.
At last, the Sword Pellet was his. Ecstatic, Zhang hurried off backstage to complete the exchange.
But few spared him a glance now, for Song Luyun had already presented the second item: a vial of top-grade second-tier Heavenly Tempering Pills.
Its value was far beneath that of the Sword Pellet, yet it still drew spirited bidding before selling for two thousand stones.
One item after another went under the hammer. With each round, Song Luyun grew more at ease, her confidence shining through.
The first day concluded smoothly, and thirty-five treasures were successfully auctioned.
The second day was even more intense. Materials taken from the great demon Silvermoon fetched prices far beyond expectation.
Even more, the Ascending Dragon Pills, which could aid Foundation Establishment cultivators in breaking through their bottlenecks, sent the hall into chaos. Three in total, each sold for around twenty thousand stones. Elder Qi even secured one for himself.
After two days of fevered bidding, excitement reached its peak. Anticipation burned high for the final day, especially since the three spiritual artifacts the Song Clan had promised had yet to appear.
These were the true targets of the many Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Morning came swiftly, and the final auction commenced.
Right from the start, Song Luyun dropped a bombshell:
"This is the Water-Stabilizing Banner, a low-grade spiritual artifact. It can attack, it can defend, it can still the flow of rivers, lakes, and seas. There is no reserve price; please bid freely."
The moment those words left her lips, the hall erupted with eager bids. In less than a quarter of an hour, the price had climbed several levels before finally settling at forty thousand low-grade spirit stones, won by a wandering Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Many cultivators failed to secure it, yet they weren't too disheartened. After all, according to the announcements, two more spiritual artifacts were still to come.
Little did they know, the final two already had predetermined owners. No matter how many spirit stones others had, they could only look on with envy.
The last round of items largely consisted of idle mining veins and spiritual veins in Lingzhou. The Song Clan held the lion's share, with the rest consigned by sects like Wuling and the Wang family. Fierce bidding soon saw every lot sold off.
Then Song Luyun brought out another low-grade spiritual artifact: the Mountain-Splitting Axe.
After a heated competition, the price soared to forty-five thousand spirit stones, leaving only two bidders:
The Xu Clan of Bianzhou: A formidable family with six Foundation Establishment cultivators. Confident in their wealth and background, they bid aggressively, as though assured of victory.
A black-robed cultivator: Wrapped head to toe, his identity concealed. Each time the Xu Clan raised its offer, he immediately topped it by an even greater margin.
"Fifty thousand spirit stones!" Elder Xu ground his teeth, seething with fury. Damn, cur, you've chosen the wrong person to cross!
But the black-robed man simply leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, and said lazily, "Fifty-five thousand."
He spoke as though spirit stones were mere numbers, not precious resources.
Elder Xu slammed the table in rage. Where did this filthy nouveau riche come from? This was already far beyond the usual value of a low-grade spiritual artifact.
"Hmph! Sixty thousand! If you've got the guts, follow me!" His eyes burned red, the urge to tear the man apart barely restrained.
Yet the black-robed figure only replied lightly, "Seventy thousand."
Elder Xu nearly kicked over his table.
Luckily, his clansmen pulled him back, and once he cooled slightly, he realized something was off.
Could this be a trick? At auctions, it wasn't rare for shills to maliciously inflate prices.
With that thought, he sneered, flicked his sleeve, and said coldly, "If you want it so badly, I'll graciously let you have it."
Convinced he'd seen through the Song Clan's ploy, he refused to bid further.
He had expected his rival to panic or regret the sudden silence. Instead, the man burst into hearty laughter and eagerly rushed backstage to finalize the purchase.
The sheer joy in his voice didn't sound like an act at all.
"Could I have been wrong?" Elder Xu suddenly doubted his judgment.
From the third floor, Song Changsheng watched the entire scene unfold, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
You thought I was playing on the second floor? In truth, I was in the stratosphere.
Admittedly, Song Lutong's acting had been rather clumsy, but it hadn't spoiled the outcome.
Next, Song Changsheng had Song Changan repeat the same trick to secure the final item: the Equilibrium Sword, another low-grade spiritual artifact.
Unlike Lutong, Changan's performance was far subtler, leaving no one suspicious.
And so, the auction concluded perfectly. The crowd dispersed, satisfied with their spoils, while the Song Clan quietly celebrated their hidden gains.
Without wasting time, Song Changsheng immediately convened a clan council to tally the immense harvest from the event…
-support me in Patreon for more chapter, 260+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LordoftheReader