Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 908 In full swing
"Three thousand and two."

"Three thousand three."

"Three thousand six hundred spirit stones!"

……

The golden patterns on the jade palace dome were suddenly stirred by the bidding, and the shimmering lights below the stage reflected the interplay of bidding voices on the dome.

Even though the cultivators in this world have little interest in Dao-aiding pills, those rogue cultivators who are trapped in the Ruins year after year and find it difficult to even ascend to the Three Heavens Palace naturally do not have as many options.

After observing for a while, Chen Mu also gave up the idea of ​​bidding.

My homeland is unknown how far away it is, and I don't know when I will be able to return.

Even if I managed to snag these pills at a bargain price, who could I give them to...?

Not long after, the pill was purchased by a Nascent Soul family within the seventh level of the Heavenly Realm for 4,200 high-grade spirit stones.

Hong Wuyai waved his wide sleeves lightly, allowing the maid to remove the jade bottle from the gilded tray.

The smile that lingered at the corner of his lips remained perfectly positioned, making it impossible to tell whether the price met one's expectations...

Through Liang Chongxuan's introduction, Chen Mu also learned that the Haixincheng auction had its own set of rules for displaying competing items.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the basic pattern of rotation among the major categories of elixirs, magical artifacts, spellbooks, secret manuals of profound skills, and rare and precious spirit beasts is followed.

Although there are occasionally some rare items that even expert appraisers struggle to identify, these hidden gems are ultimately like a drop in the ocean, causing little ripple in the vast torrent of auction items and can be completely ignored...

After figuring out the pattern, Chen Mu no longer felt tense.

Half an hour later, as the auction of the pills was nearing its end, Chen Mu raised an eyebrow and looked back at the scene.

Hong Wuyai put on ice silk gloves, poured out a perfectly round pill from the carved silver bottle, and held it up between two fingers, suspending it in the glass pillar of light.

The pill shimmered with golden-red luster, its surface embossed with mysterious cloud-script inscriptions, and fine dragon scale patterns bloomed out layer by layer from the cinnabar patterns.

Even through layers of barriers, viewers could still feel the surging, powerful energy within, as if it imprisoned the essence of an ancient dragon and elephant, causing the Adam's apples of the body cultivators in the front row to bob up and down, and the muscles under their robes to unconsciously bulge like dragons.

"This...it's actually the Dragon Elephant Prajna Pill?!"

"I never expected such a rare item to be found at this major auction..."

Once the elixir was identified, the atmosphere within the field immediately became distinct.

The group was small, but they were overjoyed. Their eyes were fixed on the golden pill on the stage, as if they wanted to snatch it up and hold it in their hands the moment they were ready.

On the other hand, most of them remained indifferent, with only a few curious onlookers, likely due to the rarity of this particular pill, and there was no sign of bidding.

Hong Wuyai's gaze swept over the crowd below the stage, and he smiled, "Dragon Elephant Prajna Pill, a top-grade fourth-order pill, inherited from the secret teachings of an ancient sect beyond the borders."

"Ordinary cultivators can use it to build a strong foundation, while body cultivators can enhance its effects by 30% by refining it with their own secret techniques."

He lightly twirled the pill with his fingertips, its shimmering gold color flowing within the array of light: "Although it is not as profound as the original pill of the ancient sect, it still has a miraculous effect on the transformation of the physical body into the spirit."

Body cultivation elixirs?

Chen Mu's eyes flickered. As a physical cultivator who entered the Dao halfway through his cultivation journey, he naturally paid special attention to the inheritance of physical cultivation when he joined the Chaosheng Pavilion to study the cultivation system of this world.

According to his deductions, the physical cultivation tradition in this world actually shares the same origin as the physical cultivation tradition in the Tai Xuan world, but it takes a different path and highly reveres the ancient path of physical sainthood.

Moreover, the threshold for body cultivation in the Floating Cloud Realm is astonishingly high.

Not only must one's innate talent be exceptional, but it must also be in harmony with the ancient Dao patterns. In the vast Floating Cloud Realm, only the Central Capital still retains the lineage of true immortals; the rest are all unorthodox and unorthodox sects.

For this reason, the number of body cultivators in this realm is less than one in a hundred, a far cry from the prosperity of the Tai Xuan Realm where two out of ten are body cultivators.

Chen Mu originally planned to travel to Zhongdu to explore further, but unexpectedly encountered a body-cultivating elixir in this Guixu Sea Market...

While he was pondering, Hong Wuyai finished his introduction, put the pill back into the jade bottle, and announced loudly, "Dragon Elephant Prajna Pill, starting bid: five thousand high-grade spirit stones!"

Five thousand high-grade spirit stones, and that's just for one...

Chen Mu shook his head inwardly. In this world, the decline of body cultivation was due not only to the limitations of aptitude, but also to the fact that such exorbitant prices of resources kept ninety percent of cultivators out. Without the support of a powerful clan, it would be difficult to even cross the fourth-tier barrier...

"Five thousand three!"

"Five thousand five..."

As soon as Hong Wuyai finished speaking, several voices rushed to bid.

Although there are few body cultivators, all of them who have come here are from prominent families and have the confidence to bid high.

Despite the loud bidding, it was always the same few people bidding.

Although the crowd was not particularly enthusiastic, they were still happy to watch these direct descendants of powerful families compete...

In the short span of half a cup of tea, the price of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Pill had already exceeded seven thousand high-grade spirit stones.

At this point, only two companies remained in the auction room. Although they were very aggressive, it was clear to anyone with a discerning eye that they were about to give up.

Even so, everyone was still amazed.

Seven thousand high-grade spirit stones are enough to buy a fifth-order Dao mark of good quality. Why bother using them to pursue that elusive path of body cultivation?
The air inside the elegant room was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and Chen Mu lightly tapped the table with his fingertips.

As the bidding intensified once more, he suddenly looked up and smiled: "Master Liang."

Liang Chengxuan was watching the commotion when he heard this and immediately turned around. After understanding Chen Mu's meaning, he was quite surprised, but still obediently placed the price.

"Eleventh in the Heavenly Rank, seven thousand six hundred spirit stones!"

As the waiter announced the price in a clear and melodious voice, all the monks in the room looked up in surprise.

However, the dark light curtain outside the elegant pavilion flowed like water, making it difficult even for a True Monarch of the Dao to discern its true nature.

"Is the prestigious Tianzi Pavilion also interested in such elixirs?"

Several guesses flashed through everyone's minds in an instant: "Is it the Xu family of Yanchuan or the Zhou family of Guangling? Or perhaps the Cao family of Yongde, which has been enjoying immense popularity in recent years?"

These three families are all prestigious clans in Guixu, and each has a descendant who is a body cultivator. If they encounter the Dragon Elephant Prajna Pill, they may be willing to bid for it.

However, what they didn't know was that Hong Wuyai was aware that none of the three companies mentioned above had participated in this major auction.

His gaze swept over the room, and he roughly guessed that the elegant pavilion was probably a place where his subordinates had invited people from other noble families in as a favor.

However, he wasn't curious about which fellow Daoist was in the private room; as long as they bid according to the rules, he would welcome them.

"Seven thousand six hundred spirit stones, are there any fellow cultivators willing to add some to the prize?"

He glanced at the two cultivators who had bid earlier, and deliberately held his gilded hammer three inches above the array plate.

The two men exchanged a wry smile. The white-bearded old man on the left slumped into a seat, while the beautiful woman on the right released her spiritual pressure, revealing fine beads of sweat on her forehead.

Seven thousand spirit stones was already the limit the clan could give them, let alone compete with the Heavenly Pavilion.

Hong Wuyai was not disappointed, and with a smile, he asked loudly, "Is there anyone else who would raise the price?"

If no one responds after three calls, the deal is considered done...

Above the seventh heavenly staircase, the teacup in Li Zhong's hand trembled almost imperceptibly.

There was no sign of Liang Shi just now, and the place where Liang Shi usually stood was also empty. Where did Liang Chengxuan lead that foreign True Lord to?
"Brother Huang Tai, why is Fellow Daoist Qi not here to entertain us today?"

He leaned casually against the cloud-patterned armchair, but his peripheral vision was fixed on the fluttering black curtains of the Eleventh Pavilion of the Heavenly Character.

This person is the same as Huang Taiqi, only the person in charge is different.

The steward didn't think much of it and replied with a smile, "Brother Li, why are you asking about my cousin? I just heard him bragging in the alchemy room that he'd brought a distinguished guest that Elder Hong would personally receive..."

"Oh?" Li Zhong smiled without explaining, but he was already certain in his heart that the person in the Tianzi Pavilion was most likely that True Lord.

Thinking of this, he suddenly stood up, his voice booming like a bell: "Seven thousand eight hundred spirit stones!"

These words, spoken suddenly amidst the silence, brought the room back to life.

Thousands of gazes followed the stream upwards, and behind the seven-tiered cloud-patterned jade railing, a black robe fluttered in the wind, and the Li family crest shone brightly in the spiritual light.

"I've never heard of any body cultivators in the Li clan."

The steward Huangtai shared the same thought, his eyes widening as he asked, "Brother Li, what is this...?"

With nearly eight thousand high-grade spirit stones, Li Zhong was surprisingly decisive?

However, he shut his mouth the next moment. As a venue steward, why should he consider so much for others?
Li Zhong didn't offer any explanation, only glancing towards the Elegant Pavilion with a half-smile...

“Li Dan’s son, Li Zhong.”

Liang Chengxuan's expression darkened, but he didn't forget to introduce Chen Mu.

Chen Mu smiled knowingly and waved to Liang Chengxuan.

Liang Chengxuan immediately understood: "Eight thousand!"

“Eight thousand two!” Li Zhong followed closely behind.

"Eight thousand five hundred!"

"Eight thousand seven!"

The bidding was like a tidal wave crashing against the shore. Liang Chengxuan's forehead was already sweating slightly, but since Chen Mu didn't give any indication, he could only grit his teeth and continue bidding.

As the price broke through the nine thousand mark, Chen Mu suddenly smiled and waved to stop Liang Chengxuan: "Since the Li family is so eager for the Body Cultivation Pill, let's give it to them."

There's no rush to get strength; there will always be opportunities to go to Zhongdu in the future. A fourth-grade pill isn't something he absolutely has to obtain.

Upon hearing this, Liang Chengxuan breathed a sigh of relief. He only had a little over ten thousand high-grade spirit stones in his pocket. If the bidding went up further, and he exceeded the limit, should he continue or not?

Fortunately, Chen Zhenjun gave up voluntarily...

Hong Wuyai called out a few more times, and seeing that no one else responded, the sound of the golden gavel finally echoed throughout the area.

The fact that a single Dragon Elephant Prajna Pill could fetch nine thousand spirit stones was quite a sight, even for someone as used to such things as him.

Li Zhong laughed loudly, feeling that he had saved his family from a potential threat.

For a moment, everyone, whether bidders or simply those in the room, was all smiles and in high spirits—a rare and delightful scene indeed…

The auction continued, but the elixir was exhausted. Hong Wuyai waved his hand to disperse the coral jade stand, and then a bronze ancient sword emerged from his sleeve, its spine covered with a charred finger mark sealed within the thunder pattern.

As the suspended sword tip turned to the southeast corner, the entire venue was suddenly filled with the low roar of the Kui Niu.

"The sword left behind by Daoist Lei Ze seven thousand years ago contains the essence of three thunder beasts."

He flicked his finger at the hilt of the sword, and the grotesque beast head phantom crashed into the barrier, the exploding lightning spreading ancient seal script across the glazed dome.

"Starting price: 10,000 high-grade spirit stones!"

Despite being called the Dao Lord's lost sword, its grade is not very high, only at the level of a spiritual treasure. It is even inferior to the "Xuanhuang Yin Yang Flag" that Chen Mu obtained from the Luoxia Heavenly Sect, so its price is naturally not very high.

Even so, the starting price is still much higher than that of elixirs. Ultimately, this is inextricably linked to the distribution pattern of rare and precious materials in this world...

Suddenly, a blue light shone on the Northwest Jade Platform, and someone immediately threw out a chip: "Eighteen thousand spirit stones!"

"Fellow Daoist Liu is indeed generous!"

A second bid came from behind the mica screen: "But the Dao Lord's lost sword, how can it be taken away with such a small amount? Twelve thousand!"

"Thirteen thousand..."

……

Looking at the lively scene below, Chen Mu had an idea and said with a smile, "Master Liang, let's join in the fun."

Upon hearing this, Liang Chengxuan looked troubled and was about to stand up and bow when Chen Mu seemed to see through what he was about to say. He waved his hand and laughed, "Just raise your plaque. I will take care of the spirit stones."

Liang Chengxuan felt extremely embarrassed, but since he had a limited number of spirit stones in his pocket, he could only suppress his mixed feelings and bid for Chen Mu.

Seeing that he had made another move, and it was with such an offensive magical treasure, Li Zhong became very wary again and hurriedly raised his bid.

As the two bid against each other, and with the others making scattered bids, the number in the cloud-shaped script on the jade disc steadily increased, eventually settling on an astronomical figure of 18,000 spirit stones.

The extraordinary generosity of the Li family impressed everyone. The bidder who had just praised the generosity of others shook his head and laughed, "Nephew Li, could it be that your father intends to abandon the Way of Qiankun Evolution and instead cultivate the Five Thunder Orthodox Method?"

Although this person was not a True Lord of the Lingzhu Mountain Clan, he often interacted with Li Dan and had a good relationship with him, so his teasing was not offensive.

Li Zhong dared not be impolite, and greeted him from afar with a vague reply: "Uncle, you jest. This sword is related to a clan's secret formation..."

The conversation abruptly ended there, leaving only lingering echoes within the Treasure Pavilion.

"Hahaha……"

The man clapped his hands and laughed: "If that's the case, then I'll grant your wish."

Hong Wuyai remained expressionless; discussing relationships in the meeting room was something they would definitely forbid.

But the Guixu is only so big. If a family or lineage has been passed down for two or three thousand years, who wouldn't have some kind of relationship or entanglement with whom?

Prohibition is futile; it cannot eradicate the problem entirely.

Fortunately, everyone had a sense of propriety, and they were happy to go along with it, doing a favor and making a small profit, without having to offend anyone...

"True Lord, shall we push the price higher?" Liang Chengxuan asked.

Chen Mu shook his head and said with a smile, "Forget about this item. But since the Li family is so wealthy, please raise the price for me later."

Liang Chengxuan immediately understood, and with a flick of his wide sleeves, replied, "Yes!"

With three strikes of the gavel, the Daoist's lost sword was finally acquired by the Li family.

The astronomical price of 18,000 high-grade spirit stones caused an uproar, but Li Zhong was smug.

As the auction continued, Liang Chengxuan made bids from time to time, covering a wide variety of items, including many collectibles. It was only then that he realized the Liang family was deliberately trying to entice him to bid...

But what good is realizing it now? Even though he knows Liang Chengxuan is deliberately stirring up trouble, he still doesn't dare to risk stopping...

"Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free..."

He gritted his teeth and not only spent all 30,000 spirit stones he had brought, but also his savings. Only when he could find no more spirit stones on his body did he have no choice but to give up...

After several more tests, and confirming that Li Zhong had no more power to obstruct the auction, Liang Chengxuan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

It was fortunate that the real purpose of this trip was to hold the auction at the very end; otherwise, it would have been difficult to fool Li Zhong into giving away his spirit stones...

The auction gradually entered a heated phase, with the gilded stage shimmering with precious light, and the sounds of bidding rising and falling like surging waves.

But the once frequently called-out Tianzi Eleven Pavilions and Li Clan Heavenly Rank have quietly fallen silent...

Chen Mu no longer paid attention to ordinary auction items, only raising his eyes slightly when he heard of something novel or particularly rare.

Outside the dark curtain, pearly light shimmered, while he had already closed his eyes and meditated on the sandalwood chair, awaiting the final stage of this grand auction...

……

(End of this chapter)