The mysterious object was finally revealed beneath the brilliant lights of the auction stage.
Resting inside a transparent jade container were two strange stones intertwined with one another.
One was pure black.
The other was flawless white.
Although they appeared to be two separate stones, they were naturally connected at their centers, forming a circular pattern resembling two opposing forces locked in eternal harmony.
Wisps of black and white Qi slowly revolved around them.
Yin and Yang.
Opposites.
Yet perfectly balanced.
Su Yang stared at the stones.
Deep within his dantian, the Dragon and Tiger Martial Spirits continued to stir.
ROAR!
ROARRR!
The reaction was completely different from when they had sensed the Millennial Earth Core Lotus.
Back then, they had reacted like starving beasts encountering food.
This time—
They resonated.
The Dragon Martial Spirit slowly circled within his dantian while the Tiger stood beneath it. Their opposing auras seemed to imitate the strange balance of the treasure on the stage.
Su Yang's expression became solemn.
Whatever this thing is…
I need it.
On the auction stage, Lady Yue began her explanation.
"Honoured guests, what you see before you are extremely rare Yin-Yang Qi Stones."
Several knowledgeable cultivators immediately reacted.
"What?!"
"Yin-Yang Qi Stones?"
"So they really exist!"
Excited discussions erupted throughout the hall.
Lady Yue smiled.
"As many of you may already know, Yin and Yang exist as opposing yet complementary forces. Cultivators who pursue techniques heavily inclined toward one side often face difficulties when that energy becomes excessive."
She gestured toward the stones.
"These Yin-Yang Qi Stones contain naturally balanced Yin and Yang spiritual energy."
"Their greatest value lies in their ability to regulate those two forces. For cultivators practicing extreme Yin or extreme Yang techniques, they can be used to stabilize the body's internal balance during critical periods of cultivation."
Her expression became serious.
"Under the right circumstances, they may even prevent cultivation deviation caused by an imbalance between Yin and Yang."
The excitement within the hall increased.
But when Lady Yue announced the starting price—
"The opening bid is ten thousand inferior-grade spirit stones."
Several cultivators immediately exhaled.
"Ten thousand?"
"That expensive?"
"And that's only the starting price!"
Many people who had initially been interested immediately abandoned the thought of bidding.
However, in another section of the auction house, two people's reactions were completely different.
The old man's eyes lit up.
So did the young woman sitting beside him.
They were precisely the elder and disciple from the Heavenly Law Palace whom Su Yang had noticed earlier.
The girl's fingers tightened around her robes.
"Master…"
The elder smiled.
"We finally found it."
The young woman cultivated an extremely Yin-oriented cultivation technique.
Although the technique granted her tremendous power, the accumulation of excessive Yin Qi within her body was dangerous.
Normally, she could suppress it.
But whenever she approached a critical breakthrough, her Yin Qi became increasingly difficult to control.
Without sufficient Yang Qi to balance it, cultivation deviation was a genuine possibility.
That was precisely why her master had travelled such a great distance to Windfall Town.
He had come specifically for the Yin-Yang Qi Stones.
The elder leaned comfortably into his chair.
"Don't worry."
His voice contained absolute confidence.
"Master will obtain them for you."
The young woman smiled.
"Thank you, Master."
Unfortunately—
They were not the only ones determined to obtain the treasure.
Inside VIP Room Seven, Su Yang slowly raised his bidding token.
He did not know why his martial spirits had reacted so intensely.
But after everything he had recently experienced, he had learned one important lesson.
Never ignore the Dragon and Tiger.
If they reacted to something—
There was a reason.
Lady Yue smiled.
"Let the bidding begin."
"Eleven thousand!"
"Twelve thousand!"
"Fifteen thousand!"
"Twenty thousand!"
The price rapidly increased.
"Thirty thousand!"
"Fifty thousand!"
At fifty thousand, many cultivators withdrew.
Then a calm elderly voice sounded.
"One hundred thousand."
The auction hall became quiet.
Everyone looked toward the Heavenly Law Palace elder.
"One hundred thousand immediately?"
"As expected of the Heavenly Law Palace."
Several people shook their heads.
There was no reason to compete with such an organization.
Lady Yue smiled.
"One hundred thousand inferior-grade spirit stones. Does anyone wish to offer more?"
From VIP Room Seven came a calm voice.
"Two hundred thousand."
The crowd immediately turned.
The Heavenly Law Palace disciple frowned.
Her master raised an eyebrow.
He glanced toward Su Yang's private room.
"Three hundred thousand."
Su Yang did not hesitate.
"Five hundred thousand."
Murmurs erupted.
The elder's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Six hundred thousand."
"Seven hundred thousand."
"Eight hundred thousand."
"Nine hundred thousand."
The bids came almost instantly.
The entire auction house gradually fell silent.
Everyone realized something.
Neither party was testing the other anymore.
They were fighting.
Lady Yue's eyes shone brightly.
Nothing delighted an auctioneer more than two wealthy parties refusing to surrender.
The old man finally spoke.
"One million."
BOOM!
The crowd erupted.
"One million?!"
"For Yin-Yang Qi Stones?"
"They've lost their minds!"
"That could purchase several Peak-Grade Spirit Weapons!"
Even Su Yang became silent.
One million inferior-grade spirit stones was no insignificant amount.
The Heavenly Law Palace disciple released a quiet breath.
Surely the mysterious cloaked cultivator would finally stop.
She looked toward VIP Room Seven.
Silence.
A smile began appearing on her face.
Then—
"Two million."
Her smile disappeared.
The crowd nearly exploded.
"Two million?!"
The Heavenly Law Palace elder's expression became serious.
He could afford it.
But the question was—
How far was this mysterious person willing to go?
"Two million five hundred thousand."
Su Yang answered.
"Three million."
The elder's eyes narrowed.
"Three million five hundred thousand."
"Four million."
The young Heavenly Law Palace disciple began to panic.
"Master…"
The elder raised his hand.
She fell silent.
He stared toward the black-cloaked figure in VIP Room Seven.
Even from this distance, he could not sense the person's cultivation.
That Midnight Star Cloak completely obscured everything.
The elder's thoughts raced.
Who is he?
The Sacred Mansion Sect?
Someone from another major power?
A hidden expert?
More importantly—
Why does he need the Yin-Yang Qi Stones?
The elder slowly raised his token.
"Four million five hundred thousand."
The auction hall became so silent that a needle dropping could have been heard.
Everyone turned toward VIP Room Seven.
Su Yang sat motionlessly.
He stared at the Yin-Yang Qi Stones.
Inside him—
ROAR!
The Dragon stirred.
ROARRR!
The Tiger responded.
Su Yang made his decision.
He raised the bidding token.
"Five million."
Silence.
Lady Yue's lips parted slightly.
Even she had not expected the price to reach such a ridiculous level.
The Heavenly Law Palace disciple's face paled.
"Master…"
The old man did not immediately respond.
His fingers slowly tapped against the armrest.
Five million inferior-grade spirit stones.
He could continue.
But he did not know the financial limits of his opponent.
Worse still, he did not know the opponent's identity.
Blindly raising the price could create an unnecessary enemy.
After several breaths, the elder lowered his hand.
The young woman's expression immediately changed.
"Master?"
The old man shook his head.
"Enough."
"But—"
"We'll find another way."
She lowered her head.
Disappointment filled her eyes.
On the stage, Lady Yue waited.
"VIP Guest Number Seven has offered five million inferior-grade spirit stones."
She looked toward the Heavenly Law Palace elder.
No response.
"Five million once."
Silence.
"Five million twice."
The young disciple bit her lip.
"Five million…"
Lady Yue raised the auction hammer.
"…three times!"
BANG!
"Sold!"
The auction hall erupted.
"The Yin-Yang Qi Stones belong to VIP Guest Number Seven!"
Su Yang finally relaxed.
He leaned backward.
Five million inferior-grade spirit stones.
Even for him, that number hurt.
"Five million…"
Su Yang's mouth twitched beneath his mask.
He had entered Windfall Town intending to purchase a simple gift for Su Lan.
Somehow, he had bought a Peak-Grade Spirit Saber for ten thousand spirit stones and then spent five million on two mysterious stones because the Dragon and Tiger inside him had roared at them.
Su Yang rubbed his forehead.
So much for being rich.
Still—
He looked toward the Yin-Yang Qi Stones.
There was no regret in his eyes.
His instincts told him that whatever connection existed between those stones and his inheritance was worth far more than five million inferior-grade spirit stones.
Across the auction hall, the Heavenly Law Palace disciple remained dejected.
The treasure her master had travelled so far to obtain had been taken away before her eyes.
"Let's go."
The old man suddenly stood.
"Master?"
She looked surprised.
"The auction isn't finished."
"There's nothing else we need here."
The elder glanced once more toward VIP Room Seven.
Something unreadable flashed through his eyes.
Curiosity?
Suspicion?
Perhaps something darker.
Su Yang could not tell.
The elder turned away.
His disciple reluctantly followed.
Several other Heavenly Law Palace cultivators rose and left with them.
Su Yang watched quietly from behind his mask.
For some reason—
He did not like the way the old man had looked at him before leaving.
His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.
"Five million spirit stones…"
He looked toward the exit through which the Heavenly Law Palace group had disappeared.
"And possibly five million spirit stones worth of trouble."
Deep within his dantian, however—
The Dragon and Tiger continued to resonate.
Su Yang's eyes gradually sharpened.
Whatever happened next, one thing was certain.
He had obtained the Yin-Yang Qi Stones.
And soon—
He would discover exactly why his inheritance desired them so badly.