Start from a baby to become a Taoist

Chapter 558 Wanbao Tower

Chapter 566

"Senior! We've arrived! That's Shattered Star City!" Tu Feng excitedly pointed ahead.

Xu Ran opened his eyes, stood up, and looked into the distance.

Even with his composure, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe upon seeing the city.

It was a piece of land debris of immeasurable size, like a broken divine sword, piercing diagonally into the void. On this debris, a bizarre and fantastical city had been built.

Some buildings are constructed from the massive skeletons of gods and demons, still radiating a faint divine aura. Others are stranded ancient divine ships, their hulls covered in the marks of swords and blades. Still others are built from various luminous crystals, metals, and even solidified fragments of laws, their styles varied and seemingly chaotic, yet forming a unique, wild, and vibrant aesthetic.

Countless streaks of light, like carp crossing a river, darted through the city. Some of these streaks were void boats, some were escape beams, and some were even enormous cosmic beasts used as mounts by powerful individuals.

Xu Ran could even see an abyssal demon with eight arms arguing heatedly with an angel engulfed in holy flames over the price of a piece of ore; and an elemental life form made of pure energy slowly drifting past a stall selling all sorts of strange and wonderful flesh and blood.

Chaos, prosperity, danger, opportunity...

All the contradictions have been perfectly integrated in this city.

"All incoming void ships, land at the seventh docking port, undergo inspection, and pay the docking fee!" A cold and majestic divine thought, containing the pressure of a Dao Ancestor, swept across and resounded on every void ship approaching Shattered Star City.

"It's the enforcement team of the Myriad Realms Alliance!" Tu Feng's expression tightened, and he dared not be negligent in the slightest. He quickly steered the Void Boat and flew towards the designated direction.

The harbor was enormous, and it was already filled with all sorts of void ships.

As soon as Xu Ran and his group disembarked, two cultivators dressed in identical black armor, exuding a chilling aura, approached. Their armor bore the emblem of a merchant guild composed of countless stars.

"The parking fee is one hundred low-grade Dao Source Crystals per day. In addition, each person entering the city must pay ten crystals to obtain an identity token. Within the city, all large-scale private battles are strictly prohibited. Violators will have their cultivation abolished and be expelled from Shattered Star City!" The leading enforcer said expressionlessly, his cultivation having reached the eighth level of the Dao Lord realm.

Tu Feng and the others immediately looked troubled. They hadn't gained much from this trip; a hundred or so crystal fragments were already a huge sum for them.

Xu Ran didn't care at all. He casually waved his hand, and a storage bag flew over.

The enforcer took it, scanned it with his divine sense, and for the first time, a hint of surprise appeared on his previously cold face. Inside the storage bag were exactly ten thousand low-grade Dao Source fragments, no more, no less.

"Senior, are you... planning to stay for an extended period?" The enforcer's gaze towards Xu Ran became more polite. In Shattered Star City, wealth is also a symbol of power.

"Attend the auction," Xu Ran said succinctly.

"So you're a distinguished guest here for the grand auction." The enforcer's attitude immediately became more respectful. "This is your identity token, as well as the tokens of your subordinates. With this token, you can move freely in most areas of the city. If you wish to participate in the grand auction, you must go to the 'Wanbaolou' in the city center for qualification verification."

Xu Ran took the completely black token engraved with the character "Xuan", nodded, and led Tu Feng and the others into this bizarre and wonderful city.

Walking along the wide streets, Tu Feng and his companions were overwhelmed by the sights around them. The creatures and races here were incredibly diverse, many of them completely unknown to them. The goods here were equally varied, ranging from tattered ancient scriptures to bizarre bloodline fruits, and even sealed otherworldly demons—you name it, they had it.

"Senior, where are we going now?" Tu Feng asked cautiously.

"Let's find a place to stay first, and then go to Wanbaolou," Xu Ran said.

He needed a quiet place to sort through the intelligence he had gathered, and at the same time, he wanted to see just how high the threshold for the Shattered Star City Grand Auction really was.

……

Wanbaolou is the most central building in Shattered Star City.

It is not a building, but a huge floating island suspended above the city, with palaces stretching out and shrouded in ethereal mist, forming a stark contrast with the chaotic city below.

When Xu Ran brought Tu Feng to the entrance of the floating island, they were stopped by two guards at the peak of the ninth level of Dao Lord.

"Halt! Wanbaolou is an important auction venue; unauthorized personnel are not permitted!"

“I’m here to verify your eligibility for the auction,” Xu Ran said calmly.

The guard sized him up. Although he couldn't see through Xu Ran's true strength, he didn't dare to be negligent because of his extraordinary demeanor. He stepped aside and said, "Please come with me."

Led by the guards, Xu Ran entered a side hall. Inside, an elderly man dressed in magnificent robes, exuding an aura of profound wisdom, sat behind a jade table, meditating with his eyes closed.

"Lord, a distinguished guest has arrived to verify his qualifications." The guard bowed respectfully and then withdrew.

The old man slowly opened his eyes, his seemingly cloudy pupils appearing to see right through people. His gaze lingered on Xu Ran for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

"Fellow Daoist, you look unfamiliar. May I ask which star region you come from?" the old man asked with a smile. His cultivation level was that of a genuine Dao Ancestor!

"A mere rogue cultivator, not worth mentioning," Xu Ran replied indifferently.

"Hehe, fellow Daoist is too modest." The old man didn't press further and went straight to the point, "To participate in this grand auction, there are three qualifications. First, a Dao Ancestor level cultivation. Second, possession of my Myriad Realms Merchant Alliance's Purple Gold VIP Token. Third, asset verification, which requires proof of owning no less than one million low-grade Dao Source Fragments, or equivalent items."

He looked at Xu Ran, clearly believing that Xu Ran could only meet the third condition.

However, Xu Ran only extended one finger.

hum!
An invisible and intangible sword intent, yet extremely sharp, seemingly capable of severing all cause and effect and overturning all laws, flashed from his fingertips and disappeared.

The smile on the face of that Dao Ancestor-level elder instantly froze!

His pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints at that moment!
He clearly felt that, in that instant, his causal connection with this world was as if it had been cleaved open by an invisible sword, leaving a barely perceptible crack! Although it was fleeting, the feeling sent chills down the spine of this long-established Dao Ancestor!
What kind of Dao is this?! What kind of sword intent is this?!

This is power that no ordinary Dao Lord could possess! In fact, it is even more bizarre and terrifying than many of the initial-stage Dao Ancestors he has ever seen!
"Dao... Fellow Daoist..." The old man's voice, for the first time, carried a hint of dryness and reverence, "You... have passed."

He didn't even mention the asset verification issue again.

A being possessing such terrifying sword intent has far surpassed the threshold of "Dao Ancestor level cultivation." Such a figure is, in itself, a highly valuable "ticket" to the game!
The old man quickly stood up, personally retrieved a token shrouded in purple aura, and presented it with both hands: "This is the highest-level certificate for this auction, the 'Purple Gold Heavenly Character Token.' Holding this token will grant you a private box on the top floor of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion and the right to bid on three items with priority. Please accept this, fellow Daoist, as a token of friendship from my Myriad Realms Merchant Alliance."

Xu Ran accepted the token, his expression remaining calm. He knew that, anywhere, strength was the best passport. "Thank you."

He nodded and turned to leave.

Only after Xu Ran's figure completely disappeared outside the main hall did the Dao Ancestor Lord let out a long sigh of relief, his forehead already covered in fine cold sweat.

"Who exactly is this person? When did such an unfathomable swordsman appear in the Black Sand Belt? His Dao is unheard of and unseen, full of subversion and ominousness... It seems that this auction is about to stir up trouble."

……

A month goes by in a blink of an eye.

The Shattered Star City Grand Auction has arrived as scheduled.

On this day, the entire Shattered Star City was in an uproar. Countless powerful auras rose from all directions of the city, converging on the Myriad Treasures Pavilion that floated in the sky.

Led by Tu Feng, Xu Ran, holding the Purple Gold Heavenly Token, entered the top floor of Wanbao Tower without any hindrance.

This was an incredibly luxurious private space, overlooking the entire auction hall through a massive crystal window. The hall was circular and enormous, capable of holding hundreds of thousands of people, and was now completely full. Those seated in the lower hall were at least Dao Lord level experts, while from the private boxes on the second floor and above, faint or overt Dao Ancestor level auras emanated.

"Senior, look, in that private room in the northwest corner is 'Mad Bone Dao Ancestor,' a ruthless man famous for refining the bones of gods and demons. The one opposite him is 'Thousand Illusion Demon Lord,' whose true form is said to be a nine-tailed celestial fox, skilled in illusions, and extremely troublesome..." Tu Feng dutifully introduced the various important figures in the room to Xu Ran.

Xu Ran listened quietly, his gaze indifferent.

Boom!
A melodious chime resounded throughout the hall, announcing the official start of the auction.

A graceful woman in palace attire walked onto the central auction stage. Her charming smile and voice, possessing a strange magic, instantly stirred the atmosphere of the entire hall.

"Welcome, fellow Daoists, to the once-in-a-decade Star Shattering Gathering..."

The opening lots were rare divine materials or extraordinary Daoist artifacts, which sparked fierce bidding in the hall below, quickly igniting the atmosphere.

Xu Ran did not make a move; he waited patiently.

Midway through the auction, a special item was presented.

That was a piece of flesh and blood sealed by layers of restrictions!
The piece of flesh, roughly the size of a human head, was a dark gold color covered with mysterious patterns. Although it was an inanimate object, it was still pulsating slightly. With each pulsation, it seemed as if a universe was being created and destroyed within it, emanating an ancient and terrifying aura.

"Please look, everyone!" The beautiful woman in palace attire's voice became excited. "This item was brought back by our Myriad Realms Merchant Alliance's exploration team from the edge of a forbidden area called 'The Burial Abyss of Gods,' after a near-death experience! According to the joint appraisal of several treasure masters, this is very likely a... fragment of an immortal being!"

boom!
The entire venue erupted in chaos!

immortal!

That is a legendary realm that surpasses even the Dao Ancestor! It is the ultimate goal pursued by all the powerful beings in the ruins of the myriad realms throughout their lives!

Although it is just a fragment of a body, the Dao and principles contained within it are priceless treasures for Dao Ancestor-level powerhouses! If one could comprehend even a fraction of its essence, it might be possible to glimpse the path to immortality!
"Starting bid: three million low-grade Dao Source fragments! Each bid must be at least one hundred thousand!"

"five million!"

No sooner had the beautiful woman finished speaking than an extremely domineering voice came from a luxurious private room, raising the price to an astonishing level.

"It's Xue Wuyai, the young master of Blood Prison Star Sea!" someone exclaimed.

Xu Ran looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young man in a blood-red robe standing in front of the window of the private room. He was handsome, but his face carried an eerie and malevolent aura, and his eyes were disdainful, as if he didn't care about anyone. Behind him stood two elderly men with profound auras, both at the Dao Ancestor level.

"The Lord of Blood Prison is actually willing to let his son take this risk?"

"Hmph, who dares to touch him? His father is the Lord of the Blood Prison!"

There was much discussion in the room, and many of the Daoist masters who had been eager to try their luck gave up.

The name "Lord of Blood Prison" is an insurmountable mountain in the Black Sand Belt.

"Six million!"

However, at that moment, another calm voice rang out, breaking the oppressive aura created by Xue Wuya.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and discovered that it was coming from a private room on the top floor that had never been lit up.

Xue Wuyai frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes: "Oh? Someone else dares to compete with me? State your name!"

Xu Ran ignored him and simply said to the void, "Seven million."

"You're courting death!" Xue Wuyai roared in fury. He had roamed freely in this Black Sand Belt, and had never been ignored like this before.

"Young Master, please calm your anger. In the auction, the highest bidder wins." The beautiful woman in palace attire on the stage spoke up at the opportune moment, neither humble nor arrogant. The background of the Myriad Realms Merchant Alliance was equally unfathomable, and they were not afraid of the Lord of the Blood Prison.

"Fine! Very well!" Xue Wuyai laughed angrily. "I'd like to see just how much wealth you have! Ten million!"

He quoted an exorbitant price, which he believed would deter any competitor.

however--

"Eleven million." Xu Ran's voice remained calm and composed, as if he were not quoting a terrifying figure enough to buy several star systems, but rather as casually as buying vegetables at a roadside stall.

Xue Wuyai's face turned completely gloomy.

An old man beside him whispered, "Young Master, the maximum value of the crystal fragments we brought this time is 15 million. We need to save them for bidding on that ancient shipping route map..."

Xue Wuyai stared intently at the private room where Xu Ran was, his eyes filled with murderous intent. In the end, he suppressed his anger, snorted coldly, and sat back down.

(End of this chapter)