"So that's the truth…" Fang Han exhaled slowly. "This Great Brahma Luminous Ship is a Buddhist artifact. Impressive, yes — but without Buddhist cultivation or their methods, no one can truly refine it. Even someone at the Longevity Realm couldn't elevate it into a Dao-grade treasure unless they dismantled every formation carved into it and started over from raw materials… and that would be a colossal waste. You might as well forge a new Dao artifact from scratch."
Yan had been observing the ship for a long time, his scales rustling with agitation. He finally shook his head.
Fang Han's thoughts drifted. "Speaking of Buddhism — that assassin woman who tried to kill me, the one who used World-Purifying Lotus, you said that was also a Buddhist technique. What exactly is Buddhism? I've never heard of such a sect. Even the ancient records across worlds don't mention them. What kind of hidden force is it?"
He really hadn't heard the name before. In the Great World of Xuanhuang, there was no sect calling itself "Buddhism." With the power of that lotus technique, if Buddhism existed here, it would've shaken the world already.
Yan's voice was low and solemn. "Buddhism isn't from the Xuanhuang world. Strictly speaking, it's not a sect, but a faith. Their path is totally different from immortal cultivation or demonic cultivation. Far out in remote dimensions and deep star-domains, their power is vast beyond imagination. Even the Outer Heavenly Demons have been subdued by them before."
He continued, scales humming lightly, eyes glued greedily to the luminous ship.
"They once came to the Xuanhuang world to spread their teachings. But for unknown reasons, they withdrew. Only the most ancient giants of the immortal and demonic paths know of their existence. Everyone else is oblivious."
Yan licked his lips. "Forget everything else — if I devour this ship, my power will skyrocket. The nine varieties of pure yang energy sealed inside… incomparable! It must've consumed an ocean of Nine-Sun Holy Water during refinement…"
Fang Han steadied his breath. "Let's see whether I can even win the bidding first…"
He had sixty million spirit pills — a fortune — but against what he suspected this ship would fetch, it was nothing.
The auction hall was silent as the Red-Palm Immortal announced in a flat, emotionless voice:
"This Great Brahma Luminous Ship is the final treasure of our auction. You have witnessed its power. Its value is beyond estimation. Starting price: fifty million."
Fifty million.
Even the first treasure, the Kunpeng egg that Meng Shaobai bought, had only reached that price at the end.
Fifty million was enough to sustain the entire Yuhua Sect for a hundred days.
"Fifty-one million!"
The first bid rose instantly — clearly from one of the private VIP rooms. No ordinary cultivator could even dream of speaking at this price. Even Golden Core elders would empty their life savings for such a sum.
"Fifty-two million."
The blue-robed youth — the same one who had stolen Fang Han's Western Taiyi True Gold — raised the price with cold eyes.
"Fifty-five million!"
Fang Han stepped in.
The blue-robed youth shot him a venomous glare. Seeing it was Fang Han, his face darkened further.
"Fifty-eight million!"
"Sixty million." Fang Han threw in every pill he currently had. Buying the Nine-Heaven Rest Earth Crystal earlier had cost him two million, but he could settle that in Yuan-Ying Pills later — barely a concern.
The blue-robed youth's jaw tightened. He wanted to continue… but his funds were clearly limited. He fell silent.
"Seventy million."
Meng Shaobai rose, arms folded, scanning the hall like a tiger choosing where to bite. An immediate ten-million jump silenced half the bidders at once. He had saved his strength, waiting for the final kill.
Fang Han's gaze sharpened. So he was waiting just for this moment…
"Looks like I'll have to borrow." He turned to Lotus Cloud and Floating Cloud. "I'll take a loan of one hundred million from Linglong Blessed Land. I'll repay in Yuan-Ying Pills within one year."
"Bid freely," Lotus Cloud replied, voice soft yet steady. "After you secure the ship, we'll discuss repayment."
The hunchbacked elder of Heavenly Dao Pavilion — Elder Gumo — spoke next, stroking the tower of pills Fang Han had gifted him earlier.
"Fellow Daoist Fang, I too will extend you a loan of one hundred million. A full year to repay in Yuan-Ying Pills."
"Good." Fang Han nodded.
"Eighty million," a childish, lazy voice drifted out — the same mysterious "child" who had earlier spent thirty million to buy the Rest Earth Crystal for Fang Han.
"Ninety million."
Meng Shaobai's tone remained flat, but the number was sharp as a knife.
"One hundred million."
Fang Han joined again.
Meng Shaobai stopped for a beat. He'd expected the child to counter, not Fang Han. But the child… remained silent. His jaw tightened.
"One hundred fifty million."
He flicked a finger, sounding calm — but everyone in the room felt the weight. At this point, even Gumo, who stood at the ninth level of Divine Ability, trembled faintly. That much wealth could crush sects.
Only ancient Longevity giants would remain unmoved.
"Two hundred million."
The lazy childlike voice returned, uncaring of Meng's expression. Another fifty-million leap — as though spirit pills were dirt.
"Two hundred million and one million."
Fang Han raised the bid by a token amount — enough to stay in the running without inflating the price. He already understood: the mysterious child was helping him deliberately.
"Two hundred fifty million!"
Meng Shaobai barked. His aura flared, the room around him trembling.
"Two hundred sixty million."
The child's voice finally stopped leaping, adding a mere ten million. But the message was still clear: I'll always outbid you.
Meng Shaobai froze.
Everyone sensed it — if he continued, the child would follow all the way into absurdity. Even he couldn't burn money endlessly. Gritting his teeth, he sat down.
"Two hundred sixty million and one million."
Fang Han calmly increased by the smallest margin.
This time, the child finally stayed silent.
Moments passed.
The auctioneer's voice echoed:
"Sold. The Great Brahma Luminous Ship goes to Fellow Daoist Fang."
A ripple of shock spread through the VIP rooms.
Lotus Cloud and Elder Gumo were still staring, not at the ship, but at Fang Han.
He swept his sleeve, storing the ship into the Yellow Springs Diagram. Yan coiled his body around the luminous vessel, studying not how to devour it… but how best to start.
Fang Han turned to the lenders.
"I'll remain in Tai-Bai City for a month. You'll have your Yuan-Ying Pills then. During my seclusion, I'd like Elder Gumo and Fairy Lotus Cloud to keep watch."
"What— A month? You'll repay two hundred million in a month?"
Even ancient cultivators who'd lived for centuries stared in disbelief.
Thirty-six thousand Yuan-Ying Pills in ten days.
Seventy-two million Bai-Yang Pills per ten days.
In a month? Over two hundred million.
It was insane — but mathematically undeniable.
Just then, the chains of a nearby VIP room clinked.
A small boy stepped out, a star-speckled bracelet on his wrist, its glow completely suppressed — no spiritual fluctuations at all.
A Dao artifact.
Fang Han's eyes narrowed immediately.
The Sun-Moon Five-Star Bracelet… it's advanced into an actual Dao artifact. Which means—
The child grinned.
It was exactly who Fang Han had suspected:
Xingyun Baobao — the son of the Supreme Master of the Stellar Cloud Sect.
And he, too… had stepped into the Divine Ability Realm.