But this price...
He calculated in his mind that the usual exchange ratio for Spirit Stones is one hundred to one, but in practice, the actual exchange often has an upward fluctuation of one or two percent.
The starting bid of thirty thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones was equivalent, at the lowest exchange rate, to three million Lower Grade Spirit Stones. If exchanged practically, it might even require an additional two to three hundred thousand.
More expensive than all the Spiritual Materials he had previously bid on combined.
"Indeed, items that are essential for breakthrough on the path always fetch astronomical prices wherever you go."
Chen Sheng gently nodded, his gaze falling on the private box area on the second floor, knowing the real contest was just beginning.
Box thirty-seven was the first to place a bid, the voice overbearing and unquestionable.
"Thirty-one thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones!"
Box thirty-six immediately followed, the tone icy cold.
"Thirty-two thousand!"
"Thirty-five thousand!"
"Thirty-eight thousand!"
The price rocketed upward like a rocket, surpassing forty thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones in just a few breaths.
At this point, the contest was only between boxes thirty-seven and thirty-six, with others withdrawing for various reasons.
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Inside box thirty-six, the previously indistinguishable voice now revealed its true nature, a voice Chen Sheng found familiar:
"Forty-one thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones, my friend in box thirty-seven, I am Jin Kaiyuan from the Celestial Puppet Sect. Would you give me some face?"
The image of this person emerged in Chen Sheng's mind.
Before he could think further, another voice from box thirty-seven no longer concealed its identity, coldly laughing:
"Forty-two thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones!"
"In the struggle of the path, there is no room for concessions. You won't get any face from me!"
"What? You think just because your box number is before mine, you can bully others? While others might fear your Celestial Puppet Sect, my Profound Fire Pavilion does not!"
Jin Kaiyuan recognized the voice, becoming irritated:
"So it's you, Lu Xiao, you actually came too?"
Lu Xiao coldly laughed:
"Why? Just because you can come, I can't? Do you really think this Pingyang Market is owned by your Celestial Puppet Sect alone? My Profound Fire Pavilion will not agree."
He paused, then shouted:
"Are there any friends from Cyan Grain Valley here, do you agree?"
The room fell silent, with no response from the Golden Core cultivators in Cyan Grain Valley's box.
Being in a tripartite stand-off with the Celestial Puppet Sect and Profound Fire Pavilion, they practiced neutrality and would not easily be drawn into their rivalry.
Inside the box.
Hearing this, Chen Sheng's heart stirred.
Having spent several months in this Market, he had gradually come to know many Golden Core Cultivators, even making drinking friends with several Foundation Establishment Cultivators of significant background, barely making inroads into this circle.
As a result, he had learned much seemingly public, yet deeply concealed information.
Such as the relationship between the Profound Fire Pavilion and the Celestial Puppet Sect.
Despite their joint management of this Market, their grievances were deep.
Over the years, fighting over Spirit-Enriched Ore Veins and Spiritual Qi Nodes, their open and covert conflicts never ceased, often causing losses among Low Tier Disciples.
The most noted was the battle over a Tier Three Top Grade Ore Vein decades ago, with nearly whole sects joining in, resulting in rivers of blood.
During that battle, Master Celestial Puppet, using a golden Tier Three Top Grade Eight-armed Puppet, robustly opposed the Venerable Profound Fire, achieving renown!
Chen Sheng had also heard of Lu Xiao, an Early-stage Golden Core Cultivator, Law Enforcement Elder of the Profound Fire Pavilion, and the direct disciple of Venerable Profound Fire.
The enmity between him and Jin Kaiyuan began decades ago over the contest for Core Formation Spiritual Objects, and meeting in the Market now, they were like fire and water.
The two argued back and forth, their tone becoming increasingly aggressive, with mana fluctuations subtly spreading behind the box windows.
The air seemed charged with invisible electricity, and even the Foundation Establishment Cultivators below felt the suppressed atmosphere, holding their breaths.
Just then, Master Withered Wood lightly coughed.
His seemingly casual cough carried robust mana, dispersing in all directions!
"Buzz—"
In the next moment, countless runes lit up the walls surrounding the auction house.
These runes moved quickly along the walls as if alive, ultimately converging into three colorful beams of light shooting skyward!
Within the beams, dragon shadows faintly swirled, with low dragon roars echoing in the venue, causing a heart-palpitating pressure.
Witnessing such a grand array, Chen Sheng's heart stirred:
"This is... the Tier Three Top Grade Illusionary Light Dragon Lock Array."
"The array contains the Dragon's Might Illusion, capable of both trapping enemies and intimidating the mind. Setting up this array requires at least three Golden Core Cultivators to join forces, consuming countless Spiritual Materials."
"As expected from a Nascent Soul Grand Sect backed auction, the depth is indeed different!"
Master Withered Wood set down the mallet, his voice calm yet carrying unquestionable authority, full of confidence:
"Fellow Daoists, the Black Water Auction is guaranteed by the Profound Mansion, and no private fights are allowed in the venue. If anyone wishes to cause trouble here, it would be the same as challenging the Profound Mansion."
As soon as he finished speaking, three powerful auras emerged from the backstage of the auction, pressing down like three invisible mountains.
These were the pressures of three Late-stage Golden Core Cultivators, coupled with the Illusionary Light Dragon Lock Array, enough to make anyone contemplating action reconsider.
In the box, the faces of many Golden Core Cultivators became serious. Three Late-stage Golden Core Cultivators, in cooperation with the grand array, could effectively control the scene.
Jin Kaiyuan's expression turned grim as he slowly unclenched his tightly gripped fists, suppressing the mana fluctuations around him.
He took a deep breath and stated a number: "Forty-five thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones."
"Forty-six thousand!" Lu Xiao followed without hesitation, a trace of pride in his voice.
"Forty-seven thousand!"
"Forty-eight thousand!"
Then, almost like a grudge match, they frenziedly raised the prices, pushing the price of the Elixir Pills past fifty-five thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones due to their bidding war.
The cultivators inside stared dumbfounded; this amount already equaled over five hundred million Lower Grade Spirit Stones, sufficient to buy an ordinary Tier Three Ore Vein!
As the price reached fifty-five thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones, Jin Kaiyuan gradually regained his calm, speaking through gritted teeth:
"Fifty-six thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones! Lu Xiao, if you can still afford it, I'll let you have the Pills!"
Clearly, he was somewhat unable to bear such a vast price!
Lu Xiao laughed heartily, his voice brimming with joy:
"You think my Profound Fire Pavilion is poor? Fifty-seven thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones!"
Jin Kaiyuan snorted coldly:
"Fine! Very well! Your Profound Fire Pavilion is rich; I'll not be the fool here, I'll let you have it!"
Lu Xiao smiled triumphantly:
"For the sake of the path, what's a mere Spirit Stone? I'm willing!"
The wrinkles on Master Withered Wood's face formed a smile as he raised the mallet, speaking loudly:
"Fifty-seven thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones, first call!"
"Fifty-seven thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones, second call!"
"Fifty-seven thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones, third call!"
"Bang!"
The mallet fell, making a crisp and loud sound.
Master Withered Wood did not forget to provide emotional value, looking toward box thirty-seven with a sincere tone:
"Congratulations to Elder Lu of the Profound Fire Pavilion! The Yuqing Barrier-Removing Pill is yours!"
"Elder Lu's willingness to spend a fortune for the path is truly admirable! Indeed, mere Spirit Stones are nothing in the face of the path!"
Lu Xiao laughed loudly:
"What Master says is very true!"
But as he turned to sit down, the hand holding the tea cup trembled slightly; anyone who spent six hundred million Lower Grade Spirit Stones could hardly remain entirely indifferent.
Sitting in the box, listening to the commotion outside, Chen Sheng couldn't help but laugh softly:
"Thirty-six and thirty-seven, a pair of enemies, and the Pill both are determined to win, I don't believe it's just a coincidence!"
"This Master Withered Wood truly has a knack for business, providing grounds for raising bids, cooling tempers before a fight, and finally, flattering Lu Xiao to make him content; this skill of escalating, controlling, and extinguishing the fire is indeed refined!"
Their grudge match naturally benefited the auction!
Chen Sheng shook his head, his gaze returning to the stage; clearly, this auction was just reaching its climax!