Wei Zhong found his seat. The auction was being held in a closed-off area. The grounds were divided into eight areas according to the Eight Trigrams, and above them, three attics rose into the air.
'The Li family, the Chen family, and the other one is the Yan family? Or perhaps the Qingmu Sect?'
Wei Zhong wondered.
Without waiting for long, the auction quickly began, and a middle-aged man approached the stage.
"I am Yan Ruhai, and I will preside over this auction,"
he declared, radiating the imposing aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Naturally, no one would object to a Foundation Establishment cultivator presiding over an auction.
Yan Ruhai, the current patriarch of the Yan family, was a cultivator in the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment stage. He had attended several important Yan family events, and Wei Zhong had met him several times.
Rumors circulated that the Yan family had an ancestor who was a cultivator in the late Foundation Establishment stage, but whether this was true or not was uncertain.
With these opening remarks, the auction officially began.
A female cultivator in a silk dress entered the stage from the back, holding a round plate covered in a red silk scarf.
Only when he reached Yan Ruhai did he pause.
The first lot, ten bottles of mid-grade Qi-nourishing Pills, had a starting price of three hundred low-grade spirit stones. Ten
bottles of mid-grade Qi-nourishing Pills would cost a hundred, and even the most affordable on the market would cost at least five hundred spirit stones.
Such a large number of Qi-nourishing Pills was beyond the reach of the average casual cultivator; only those with powerful families could afford and afford them.
"Three hundred and ten..."
"Three hundred and twenty..."
The first lot was snatched up by the crowd, ultimately being purchased by a strange, hooded cultivator for four hundred and twenty spirit stones.
His attire blocked spiritual detection, obscuring the cultivators' true identity.
"I want to get my hands on something like this someday,"
Wei Zhong said, his gaze blazing with excitement as he gazed at the black hooded figure.
Ten bottles of pills were merely an appetizer; the second, high-grade item was unveiled, drawing the cultivators' attention once again.
"A second-grade, low-grade magical weapon, the Mother-Daughter Water and Fire Sword. This weapon is a broken second-grade weapon. The mother sword is water-attributed, second-grade, but the daughter sword is missing. Our clan's weaponsmith forged a first-grade, high-grade fire-attributed daughter sword to fill it..."
Although it was a partially damaged second-grade magical weapon, it still caused a stir at the auction venue.
Cultivators frequently bid, even the Sky Attic saw bids from time to time.
Sun Zhou looked at the second-grade magical weapon below with a hint of envy in his eyes.
Seeing this, the middle-aged cultivator beside him said,
"This sword is merely a broken second-tier magical weapon. Its properties conflict with your water and wood spiritual roots, making it unsuitable for you. Instead of
coveting a magical weapon, why not consider the true inheritance? Then, a sect elder will naturally forge a suitable magical weapon for you."
Upon hearing this, Sun Zhou retracted his gaze and said respectfully,
"Thank you, Master, for your guidance. I understand."
"But Master, are there really second-tier Peiyuan Pills at this auction?"
Second-tier Peiyuan Pills, unlike first-tier elixirs used by various clans to train budding Qi-refining disciples, are used to repair a cultivator's physical foundation, having some effect on strengthening their foundation and replenishing their essence. They are also somewhat effective for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"My information is correct. Just wait."
As he spoke, several items passed by the auction floor.
"The next lot is a second-grade Peiyuan Pill. Its efficacy is self-evident. The starting price is three hundred low-grade spirit stones, and each bid must be no less than ten spirit stones."
"Finally, it's here! This pill is exactly what I need."
While pondering, Wei Zhong realized that the price had already been raised by over eighty yuan by other cultivators. He quickly bid:
"Four hundred low-grade spirit stones."
"Five hundred low-grade spirit stones."
This voice came from the attic above. The sudden increase of one hundred yuan silenced the auction hall.
"Someone upstairs is bidding too. Trouble!" However, this pill was crucial to Wei Zhong's future, so he couldn't give it up easily. He offered a price:
"Five hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones."
...
"Six hundred low-grade spirit stones."
Wei Zhong gritted his teeth and said, "Six hundred low-grade spirit stones."
No other cultivators were bidding now; only Wei Zhong was competing with the mysterious cultivator.
Seeing Wei Zhong's generosity, the surroundings couldn't help but turn their attention.
"So it's Wei Zhong! No wonder. I heard his lifespan was nearing its end. It turns out he's injured, and he wants to heal his wounds and prolong his life!"
"Fellow Daoist, may I know who this Wei Zhong is?"
"Hehe, he's the renowned spiritual farmer of the Yan family. Rumor has it he's been cultivating the land there for over sixty years."
"Oh, so he's just a spiritual farmer. No wonder he's not known to the outside world."
The crowd chattered.
Wei Zhong's repeated bids eventually aroused the displeasure of the cultivator in the pavilion.
The middle-aged man extended his spiritual awareness, unreservedly radiating the pressure of his foundation-building abilities.
"I'd like to see who's ready to challenge me for it."
A massive Foundation Establishment spiritual pressure enveloped the entire venue, intimidating the Qi Refiners below.
Cold sweat broke out on Wei Zhong's forehead, and before he could even think,
Yan Ruhai, on the stage, also radiated his own spiritual pressure. This vast, sea-like pressure instantly swept away the dull atmosphere in the room.
"Fellow Daoist Wang, don't make the mistake. The elixir goes to the highest bidder. Don't break the rules of this auction."
The mysterious cultivator surnamed Wang then withdrew his spiritual pressure, thinking to himself: With Yan Ruhai's spiritual awareness, he's probably not far from the late Foundation Establishment stage.
A hint of fear crossed his face .
"Fellow Daoist Yan, you've misunderstood. I just arrived from the Qingmu Sect and thought my rival was targeting me. It was just a spur of the moment.
So, I'll offer another 700 low-grade spirit stones. If you're wealthy, feel free to raise the price."
His words were thick with threat.
Wei Zhong understood that he probably wouldn't get the elixir. The other party was determined and determined to get it.
Even if he bid high enough, the other party would likely kill for the treasure.
"It's actually a master from the Qingmu Sect! This auction has attracted the Qingmu Sect. They are a major sect with Jindan cultivators..."
The Qi Refining cultivators couldn't help but discuss it.
Wei Zhong stopped bidding. "A cultivator surnamed Wang from the Qingmu Sect, right? Remember this. When I reach the Foundation Establishment stage, you will definitely suffer. "
Yan Ruhai looked a little unhappy, but when he saw that Wei Zhong had stopped bidding, he simply said,
"Seven hundred low-grade spirit stones for one time,
seven hundred low-grade spirit stones for two times
...three times.
Deal, this elixir belongs to Fellow Daoist Wang."
In the attic, Wang Linpeng and Sun Zhou both had a hint of joy in their eyes.
He paid no attention to Wei Zhong, a mere cultivator with a limited lifespan. If it weren't for this auction, there would have been no chance of him interacting with the two Qingmu Sect cultivators who were on track to achieve Core Formation.
Wei Zhong sat in his seat, right hand resting on his forehead, his thoughts unsettled.
"The next lot is the 'Health-Nourishing Technique,'" the grade of which is unknown. It enhances energy, increases physical vitality, and speeds up the healing of injuries. Even those without prior cultivation can practice it, making it an excellent method for cultivating future generations. The only drawback is its difficulty, requiring years of practice to barely reach the basics..."
"Hmm?"
Wei Zhong's eyes lit up.
(End of Chapter)