The Yun Meng Auction House continued to progress.
Medicine Sovereign, powerful cultivators from Eastern Sea's ancient tribes, and Five Elements Great Mage successively made their moves, exchanging some Rank 6 and Rank 7 Immortal Gu.
Only Huang Ting remained still; while some Immortal Gu had truly profound functions, their rank was too low. To refine them to Rank 7 or 8 would require deducing the corresponding Gu Recipe for advancement, which was a waste of time.
While he paid attention to the auction, he also took the Opportunity to integrate the three Luck Path Immortal Gu — Solve Difficulties, Invite Disaster, and Soaring — into the Rank 7 immortal gu house, Bearing Luck Cauldron, bringing the total to an astonishing eighteen Immortal Gu.
This immortal gu house once again underwent a qualitative change. Invite Disaster and Solve Difficulties were undoubtedly core Luck PathGu, capable of solving his own difficulties and inviting disaster for others. With the operation of Gu that turn misfortune into blessings and avert disaster, the transformations became even more profound.
Huang Ting was surprised to discover that he seemed able to use his own Heavenly Tribulation and Earth Calamity as a means of attack, transferring the destructive power of Heavenly Tribulation and Earth Calamity to others while enjoying the benefits of increased Dao Markshimself. This was named "Blame Shifting."
Coincidentally, he had achieved Rank 8 several months ago. Due to the failure of the Path of Time method, "Summer's End, Winter's Coming," the Human Sovereign Grotto-heaven had been flowing at a 1:40 time ratio, and his first Rank 8 Heavenly Tribulation would arrive soon.
The power could be stored in the Bearing Luck Cauldron, accumulating waves of Heavenly Tribulation and Earth Calamity, then releasing them all at once to destroy the world, becoming a trump card.
Crucially, his accumulation of Dao Marks was precise. His own blessings, the development of his Grotto-heaven, the overlay of the killer move "Tribulation Fire Forging Aperture" and "Blessing Not Calamity"—tsk tsk tsk, it was unimaginable how terrifying this calamity would be, and how immense the increased Dao Marks.
Huang Ting estimated that with his current cultivation, a Rank 8 Heavenly Tribulation could increase his Dao Marks by about seven thousand, a tenfold amplification.
This was nothing; when he faced his first Myriad Tribulation, building on eighty thousand Dao Marks, it would be strengthened several times, adding at least five hundred thousand Dao Marks in one go.
Before becoming a Venerable, his advantage in Dao Marks was immense.
Unfortunately, upon reaching Rank 9, the importance of one's own Dao Marks decreased. The Grandmaster Supreme Realm, combined with Rank 9 cultivation, produced a qualitative change, allowing one to refine the Dao Marks in heaven and earth, controlling all Dao Marks in the Gu World—that would be billions upon billions.
"Path of Time methods also need to be upgraded," Huang Tingpondered.
At this moment, Huang Ting was deep in thought. The core Immortal Gu "Extreme Heat" of the killer move "Summer's End, Winter's Coming"—even if upgraded to at least Rank 8—its effect would likely not be ideal. After all, it was a Flame Path simulating a Path of Timemethod; it was fine at lower ranks, but insufficient at higher ranks.
He also did not forget that during the Hei Tribe's operation, he was spied upon by the Wan Family using Path of Time methods. In the future Fate War, the River of Time was even more a battleground that must be contested; the Path of Time was indispensable.
With his current cultivation, he dared not act recklessly, and he also had a wariness of Red Lotus. If she couldn't defeat the current him, wouldn't she shamelessly restart for a third loop?
Even Spectral Soul was tricked this way; he needed to be vigilant in advance.
"The nearest Opportunity is only Hei Tribe's Hei Fan True Inheritance. If the Path of Time is improved, I can just use Hei Fan Grotto-heaven to pinpoint locations with the Dream Seeking killer move."
Huang Ting was thoughtful. This Opportunity was actually Lao Mo's, bringing precious Path of Time methods to slow down the flow of time in the Supreme immortal aperture, providing conditions for later delving into the River of Time to find Red Lotus True Inheritance.
It also contained the "Blood Light Suppressing Spirit" method, specifically targeting land spirits and Heavenly Spirits, laying a crucial groundwork for the future seizure of Lang Ya Blessed Land.
It could be said to be an indispensable condition for Lao Mo to destroy Fate Gu, as important as the Supreme Immortal Fetus.
He maintained an attitude consistent with a Venerable's will, pushing Lao Mo as a pawn to stand at the forefront.
At the Yun Meng Auction House, a small wave of excitement suddenly appeared, causing exclamations throughout the venue.
It turned out that when Lao Mo made a move for the core Gu of the immortal gu house "Near Water Tower," "Wandering the World" and "Enjoying Mountains and Rivers," the former was exchanged by Feng Jiu Ge using "Uprooting Mountains" and "Holding Back Waves" in a two-for-one trade, and the latter was exchanged for "Effort Immortal Gu" and the incomplete move "Met Before" in a two-for-one trade.
He became the one who profited the most.
Huang Ting regained his senses and focused his attention on the scene.
Immediately, an unfamiliar Gu Immortal presented an immortal gu house plan called "Scarlet Fiend Divine Boat," a Rank 7 Flame Pathimmortal gu house, which once again ignited a wave of frenzy among the immortals.
The Northern Plains Zombie Alliance was furious. Deputy leader Yin Liu Gong even spoke on the spot: "This person once traded this immortal gu house plan with us but broke his promise midway. I hope everyone gives me some Face; the Zombie Alliance will surely repay you."
Everyone on the scene was silent. Huang Ting snorted coldly at the sight, and said in a booming voice: "Hmph! My auction house will not tolerate your Zombie Alliance's meddling. Since it has been put up for auction, it is under my protection."
"If he loses even a single hair after leaving the auction, I will hold your Zombie Alliance accountable!"
White-Eyebrowed Ancestor's words spread, and the Zombie Alliance immortals' expressions stiffened, daring not to speak their anger.
Medicine Sovereign, watching the show from the side, said: "Yin Liu Gong, it seems I can't help you this time."
And Five Elements Great Mage, Old Ancestor Xue Hu, and Centipede Celestial Lord all chuckled softly, saying: "Heh heh heh, a mere Zombie Alliance. Not to mention Fellow Immortal White-Eyebrowed Ancestorhas spoken, just with your threat, let's see who among us will take you seriously."
"Talk to us again when the Fiery Heaven Demoness, the leader of the Northern Plains Zombie Alliance, is present."
Yin Liu Gong's Face alternated between green and red.
That Gu Immortal was delighted and proposed a price, requiring Wood Path-related resources.
Soon, the Scarlet Fiend Divine Boat was eagerly snatched up by everyone. Huang Ting took the Opportunity to secretly participate in the bidding. Because he was well-prepared, when others were adding Wood Path immortal materials piece by piece, he decisively offered two Rank 6 Wood Path Immortal Gu, plus precious Food Path immortal materials.
Immediately, the entire venue was awed by this Aura, and no one was willing to make another move.
The Gu Immortal selling the Scarlet Fiend Divine Boat immortal gu house plan was ecstatic.
Huang Ting succeeded. He didn't care about the Rank 6 Wood PathImmortal Gu, as they originated from Old Freak Tian Nan's massive collection of Gu Recipes; he merely refined a few unused ones.
He eagerly checked the Scarlet Fiend Divine Boat. This Flame Pathimmortal gu house excelled in offense and movement, composed of a total of four Rank 7 Immortal Gu and thousands of Rank 5 mortal Gu as auxiliary. Surprisingly, one of its core components was the "Fire Escape" Immortal Gu.
He happened to possess this Immortal Gu, which had been shelved since he developed the "Hide the Body" killer move and the "Ru Meng You (Dream Walking)" of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. It seemed it could be put to good use.
For the other Immortal Gu inside, he had alternative solutions for his less-used Flame Path Immortal Gu.
"A mere Rank 7 immortal gu house is somewhat lacking. I can completely modify it and create a Rank 8 Flame Path immortal gu house."
Huang Ting, with his quasi-Grandmaster Supreme attainment in Flame Path, examined it and saw many areas for improvement in the plan. He could use it as a foundation and integrate the concepts from several incomplete immortal gu house plans.
After the Scarlet Fiend Divine Boat was auctioned, the remaining items were unremarkable and no longer aroused the enthusiasm of the immortals.
The Yun Meng Auction House reached its conclusion.
Mainly, after Huang Ting obtained the Sentient Luck True Inheritance, he held it tightly in his hands and did not auction it, making this grand auction actually yield less than originally expected.
Even so, it was enough to establish his reputation.
The Gu Immortals were either regretful or satisfied, but all had gained something.
Only Lao Mo did not know what he had missed.
In the original timeline, when competing for the Scarlet Fiend Divine Boat, Centipede Celestial Lord offered an Immortal Gu in exchange, named "Decipher Immortal Gu," which was the core Gu of Lao Mo's only Dream Dao killer move, "Dream Interpretation."
He could have helped Lang Ya Land Spirit sell the Gu Immortals who invaded the blessed land, and traded three Wood Path immortal apertures for it with Centipede Celestial Lord. Afterward, he would assist Centipede Celestial Lord, obtaining the Scarlet Fiend Divine Boat immortal gu house plan, achieving a win-win-win situation.
Now, Huang Ting made a decisive move, immediately pushing the price to the top. No one was willing to compete, and Centipede Celestial Lordalso gave up.
Lao Mo missed out on this Gu. Without this Immortal Gu, and without the Dream Dao's blessing, even if he obtained the Supreme Immortal Fetus, he probably wouldn't be able to develop it.
It must be known that the prerequisite for devouring apertures is that one's attainment in the respective path needs to meet the standard.