Indeed, it wasn't that no one could offer a higher price. Rather, the numerous cultivators present, seeing Lin Feng was the bidder, voluntarily withdrew from the competition out of deference to his 'face'.
After all, Lin Feng was currently a 'celebrity' in Biquan City. Speculations about him ran rampant, growing increasingly exaggerated. Nearly every faction in the city wanted to curry favor with him, and naturally, they weren't willing to 'offend' him over a mere art technique. As for the independent cultivators, many withdrew out of 'fear' – this was someone who dared to eliminate the Li family's young master; who would want to risk earning his enmity?
Thus, the previously heated bidding suddenly fell silent after Lin Feng's participation. Shilan asked three times consecutively, but no further bids emerged. The Hidden Element Art was successfully won by Lin Feng.
The next auction item followed immediately: a relatively rare mineral core used for artifact forging. Purchasing it meant one could commission an artifact smith to craft a specific type of magic treasure, often cheaper than buying outright. Many cultivators bid, but Lin Feng showed no interest. His gaze fell on the walkway beside the high platform, where auction house staff were delivering the item he had just won. After paying the spirit stones, the jade slip recording the Hidden Element Art was truly his.
"It seems it can only be used once more..." Lin Feng observed the faintly glowing white jade slip in his hand, frowning slightly. The luster on the slip was extremely dim, indicating it had been used multiple times; one more reading would likely render it useless.
The recording of cultivation methods and art techniques could be textual or jade slip-based. Textual records were relatively rare. Jade slips were preferred not just for convenience, but because when a cultivator recorded a method or technique into one, they used spiritual sense to directly imprint it. This process infused the slip with some of their personal comprehension and insights into the method. Subsequent readers could directly receive these insights, experiencing them as if they were their own. This was far more effective than reading textual descriptions, making cultivation significantly easier and faster.
However, the information within jade slips wasn't infinitely accessible. After several readings, the imprinted information would dissipate. Hence, jade slips containing high-grade methods or techniques were exceptionally precious. If previous readers hadn't made copies or passed them on, the method could be lost forever.
Having little interest in the current auction item, Lin Feng couldn't wait. He immediately immersed his consciousness into the jade slip to read its contents.
He didn't plan to start cultivating immediately; he simply wanted to see what it contained. Once memorized, he could begin practicing anytime.
Those nearby noticed his actions but didn't disturb him. Within minutes, Lin Feng had absorbed and memorized all the contents. When he opened his eyes again, he saw the jade slip had become completely dull and lifeless. Probing it with his spiritual sense yielded no information.
"It's true... this Hidden Element Art is connected to the Element Perception Art!!"
Lin Feng carefully savored several key mantras within the Hidden Element Art, discovering they bore a striking resemblance to those in the Element Perception Art. Moreover, the two techniques seemed intrinsically linked, resonating with each other...
This discovery filled Lin Feng with pleasant surprise. It appeared the Element Perception Art truly was one part of the so-called Tri-Element Art, likely the first volume based on the sequence. However, studying the connection between the two techniques wasn't a simple task and wasn't suitable for the moment. Lin Feng suppressed the thought, refocused, and looked up to continue watching the auction.
Just then, another item was presented. Shilan introduced it: "The next auction item is another vial of pills – this contains ten Grade Two Top-quality 'Spirit Nourishment Pills', auctioned together. The starting price is one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. Bidding may now commence!"
"Grade Two Top-quality Spirit Nourishment Pills!!" Instantly, a significant stir swept through the hall. Many cultivators wore expressions of surprise and excitement.
"Top-quality Spirit Nourishment Pills?!" Lin Feng's eyes also lit up, revealing delight.
Among pills, some have fixed grades. For example, Qi Condensing Pills are Grade One, Essence Condensing Pills are Grade Two, and Qingxu Pills are Grade Three. Others, like the Spirit Nourishment Pill, span multiple grades. Their core effect is the same, but they are crafted from materials of varying potency, targeting cultivators at different cultivation stages.
The Spirit Nourishment Pill is an exceptionally famous pill in the cultivation world, available from Grade One up to Grade Five, Six, and even higher. Grade Two Spirit Nourishment Pills are specifically for Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their function is to accelerate cultivation speed, similar to Essence Condensing Pills, but far more potent. Crucially, among all cultivation-assisting pills, the Spirit Nourishment Pill possesses the lowest pill toxin!!
This single attribute – the lowest pill toxin – was enough to make Spirit Nourishment Pills the most sought-after cultivation aid. Whenever they appeared in pill shops, regardless of grade, they were snapped up immediately. Even the materials required to refine them were highly coveted commodities.
Of course, this didn't mean Spirit Nourishment Pills were entirely free of toxin, just that it was minimal. Like any pill, Spirit Nourishment Pills also varied in quality. Taking Grade Two as an example, even a Low-quality Spirit Nourishment Pill had less toxin than a Top-quality Essence Condensing Pill, let alone Mid-quality, High-quality, or Top-quality ones.
Now, on the auction platform was a vial containing ten Grade Two Top-quality Spirit Nourishment Pills. This was absolutely the dream pill for Foundation Establishment cultivators desperate to advance quickly without accumulating heavy pill toxin!
Even though the price was staggering – the starting price alone equated to ten thousand low-grade spirit stones per pill – many cultivators were tempted.
"One hundred and ten thousand low-grade spirit stones!"
"One hundred and twenty thousand!"
"One hundred and thirty thousand!!"
"..."
After a brief stir, bids erupted immediately. More and more joined in, the price climbing rapidly, the competition even fiercer than during the Hidden Element Art bidding.
"Top-quality Spirit Nourishment Pills... the ideal pills I can use right now... I'll try to win them!"
While others bid fiercely, Lin Feng quickly weighed his options and made his decision. He wanted this vial. His current goal was to accelerate his cultivation by any means possible – seeking the Grade Three array disk was part of it, desperately earning spirit stones was part of it, and now, acquiring these pills was the same.
"Three hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones!"
Having decided, Lin Feng raised his voice clearly, joining the bidding and significantly raising the price in one go.
"..."
Just like during the Hidden Element Art auction, the hall fell silent again the moment Lin Feng spoke. All eyes turned towards him, filled with surprise.
"Sigh..."
Murmurs of resignation seemed to ripple through the crowd. Many who had been bidding earlier wore expressions of disappointment, gazing longingly at the pills on the stage, but refrained from making another offer.
Thus, Lin Feng smoothly secured the vial of Spirit Nourishment Pills once more.
...
As Lin Feng received the vial of Spirit Nourishment Pills, the next auction item was already presented.
Shilan introduced: "Flame Net Art, Human-rank Top-grade Fire-element art technique. Allows the user to manifest a net of flames, usable for both offense and defense, also an extremely practical technique. Starting price: one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. Bidding begins."
"Flame Net Art?"
Lin Feng, having just stored the Spirit Nourishment Pills, brightened again. After a moment's consideration, while others were actively bidding, he once more spoke up: "Two hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones!"
"..."
Then, amidst the resentful gazes of numerous cultivators, Lin Feng successfully acquired this excellent Fire-element technique as well.
...
The item that appeared next was a pair of gauntlets of Top-grade Artifact Treasure quality – one tier higher than the pair Lin Feng currently wore. Therefore, he bid again and secured them.
Following that was a Human-rank Mid-grade body technique named Mountain Sundering Fist. Lin Feng wasn't personally interested, but he noticed Zhang Fangzhou beside him seemed quite tempted after hearing the description. So, Lin Feng simply bid for it and won it for his companion.
Next came another Fire-element offensive technique, Inferno Burst Art, rated Human-rank Top-grade. According to the introduction, its power surpassed that of the Flame Net Art. Lin Feng thought it excellent and promptly placed another winning bid.
After that came a damaged Top-grade Artifact Treasure level spiritual light defensive magic treasure – a dark gold pendant. Shilan explained that the refining materials for this treasure were quite special; even Lian Ye of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion couldn't analyze them, making repairs impossible. It retained roughly 30% of its energy. Lin Feng was inwardly thrilled. Needless to say, he bid and won it. Upon receiving it, he examined it and found one of the repair materials listed was 'Grade Two Luminescent Beetle Wing Covers' – a material he had never encountered before, likely quite rare, and probably what stumped Lian Ye.
Then came a rare piece of Grade Five Genyin Stone, precisely the material needed to repair his flying sword. When he had forcibly repaired it before using Grade Four Genyin Stone and other materials, he had speculated that using higher-grade materials of the same type might make the repair easier. Thinking he could experiment later, he naturally didn't let this Grade Five Genyin Stone pass and 'casually' bid and won it too.
And so, under the dumbfounded stares of those around him, Lin Feng successively won bid after bid. Moreover, judging by his expression, his enthusiasm only seemed to grow...