Mortal: Starting with the Falling Cloud Sect, I proved my Dao through gacha pulls.

The atmosphere at the auction was somewhat strange.

All eyes fell on the withered, black branch on the stage. They looked at each other, speechless.

If it weren't for the faint, almost imperceptible fluctuation of spiritual energy remaining on the branches, they would have almost concluded that the Huayu Sect had just picked up a fire poker and was deliberately trying to fool all the cultivators present.

Seeing the scene suddenly become quiet, the old man presiding over the auction quickly raised his hand and cast a spell, sending the withered branch into the air.

In an instant, a faint wisp of life force and fire essence slowly bloomed from the withered wood, but the aura was so thin that it would be impossible to perceive if everyone present was not a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Fellow Daoists, please look, this is indeed a six-thousand-year-old Crimson Essence Fruit Tree, absolutely not a fake! If it were in perfect condition, why would our Transformation Rain Sect be willing to put such a spiritual plant up for auction?"

At this point, the old man's voice suddenly turned somber, and a look of deep sorrow appeared on his face. He sighed as if beating his chest and stamping his feet:

"It's a pity that when our sect acquired this tree, it had already lost all its vitality due to improper storage, which is truly regrettable!"

Changing the subject, the old man put on a seductive smile and began to coax:

"However, if any fellow Daoist possesses the secret technique to nourish spiritual plants, or can find spiritual liquid containing the power of creation, it may not be impossible to give them a new life. Such spiritual roots are enough to become the enduring foundation of a family or a sect. Fellow Daoists, are you really unwilling to give it a try?"

Upon hearing this, the cultivators below the stage sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly composed.

The Huayu Sect is renowned in the Yuanwu Kingdom for its ability to heal life and cultivate spiritual plants with the Yulin Technique. If even they are helpless against the withered fruit tree, what can others do?

Moreover, spiritual liquid containing rich creative power is extremely rare. Even if one were to find it by chance, wouldn't it be better to use it to improve one's cultivation and protect one's life? Who would waste it on a piece of dead wood?

Seeing that the audience was completely silent and no one was bidding, the old man grew increasingly anxious. He turned his gaze directly to the Fu family's private room and tentatively raised his voice:

"Fellow Daoist Fu, the Crimson Essence Fruit can purify magical power and temper one's foundation; its effects are no exaggeration. Could it be that the Fu family is unwilling to take a gamble?"

A detached voice, tinged with mockery, came from inside the private room: "Fellow Daoist, you jest. My Fu family has no such opportunity. This item should be left to the truly destined one."

The Fu family members sneered inwardly. The fruit tree was so withered that even if the entire Fu family sold off all their possessions, they might not be able to save it. The Huayu Sect's attempt to drag them into this mess was utterly ridiculous.

Seeing that even the well-established Fu family had resolutely refused, the last trace of hesitation in the hearts of the cultivators was completely extinguished, and the area around the auction stage was deathly silent.

"What is the starting price for this item?"

At that moment, a calm and serene voice slowly drifted out from a private room in the corner.

The entire room erupted in uproar, and everyone's eyes turned to that private room, filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Is there really a sucker willing to take this on? Or does this person truly possess extraordinary abilities, capable of bringing withered trees back to life?

The one who spoke was Su Mu.

Although the Red Essence Fruit Tree was withered and near death, its revival was merely a matter of lifting a finger in the face of his Immortal Elixir Spring.

The elderly host's eyes suddenly lit up, and he quickly cupped his hands towards the private room, his voice almost blurting out in urgency:

"It's good that you're interested, fellow Daoist! This tree only costs 1,500 spirit stones, or equivalent treasures. I wonder if that satisfies you?"

Upon hearing the price, the audience members in the audience cursed inwardly.

A 6,000-year-old spirit fruit tree, priced at 1,500 spirit stones, sounds as cheap as if it were given away for free.

But this piece of dead wood is devoid of life and is no different from rotten wood. Even if it were given to a Qi Refining cultivator to be made into a low-level magic weapon, it would probably be rejected as useless.

This Huayu Sect really dares to ask for an exorbitant amount!

Su Mu chuckled. He certainly didn't lack those spirit stones, but he didn't want to be taken advantage of. So, in front of everyone, he started haggling with the old man on the spot.

This scene left all the cultivators in the audience dumbfounded. While bidding wars were commonplace at auctions, this was the first time they had ever witnessed such public haggling and price negotiation.

After some negotiation, the price was finally set at 1,300 spirit stones. The old man refused to budge, and Su Mu said no more, officially bidding for the withered Crimson Essence Fruit Tree.

The old man breathed a sigh of relief and quickly announced the sale. At the same time, he gave a wink, urging the protector to send the spiritual plant to the private room as soon as possible, while he himself couldn't wait to start auctioning the next item.

Inside the private room, Su Mu took a sip of spiritual tea, his expression calm. He knew that this move would inevitably attract attention, but with his trump card, he felt no panic whatsoever.

A short while later, a soft knock sounded on the door.

Su Mu's expression shifted; it seemed that the people from the auction had sent the Red Essence Fruit Tree.

"Please come in!"

The person who pushed open the door was one of the two pseudo-Core Formation Realm guardians of the auction. He glanced at Su Mu discreetly as he entered, then presented the jade box with both hands, his face beaming with smiles.

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on acquiring this spiritual plant. If you truly have a way to revive it, that would be an immense stroke of luck."

Su Mu remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was on high alert. It seemed that the Huayu Sect indeed harbored suspicions and had sent someone to test them.

"Fellow Daoist, you jest. I merely enjoy studying all sorts of strange plants and animals, and I only took a picture of this tree to satisfy my curiosity."

He calmly handed over the spirit stones, took the jade box, and brushed it off in a flat, neither humble nor arrogant, tone.

"I see. Fellow Daoist, your refined taste is truly rare."

The protector gave Su Mu a deep look, as if trying to discern something from his face, but to no avail. He could only exchange a few polite words before turning and leaving.

After leaving Su Mu's private room, the man made several turns and went straight into a secluded room. Several cultivators from the Transformation Rain Sect were already waiting inside.

"What's the situation? Can you see any clues?"

"His aura is ordinary, just a typical Foundation Establishment cultivator, nothing unusual."

"You must have something to rely on to have dared to bid on this tree. Do you have a backup plan?"

"Don't worry, I've already infused the fruit tree with the aura of the Rainfall Technique. With his cultivation level, there's absolutely no way he could detect it."

"Excellent! Send someone immediately to keep a close eye on him!"

......

On the other side, Su Mu opened the jade box, his fingertips tracing the withered black branches. With a sweep of his divine sense, he sensed an extremely subtle foreign aura hidden within the tree trunk.

"Hmph! As expected, the cultivation world is full of heartless maggots!"

Su Mu snorted coldly, and with a slight movement of his divine sense, he instantly and completely erased that aura. He casually discarded the original jade box, replaced it with a brand new storage jade box, and carefully stored the Crimson Essence Fruit Tree away.

Before the auction ended, Su Mu got up, walked out of the private box, and left the auction venue.

Almost at the same moment he stepped out the door, several dark figures quietly rose and followed him like a persistent leech.

Su Mu mingled with the noisy crowd, weaving through the streets and alleys of the market. After several turns, when he reappeared, he had transformed into a disheveled, fat Taoist priest wearing a Taoist robe, thanks to the Monkey Talisman.

At the same time, he activated the talisman to completely transform the fire elemental aura of the Crimson Essence Fruit Tree into a concealed water elemental aura, ensuring that nothing went wrong.

He chuckled, suppressed his cultivation aura to the eighth level of Qi Refining, casually took out a cheap magic weapon, and shakily flew out of the market on it.

At that moment, all the trackers lost track of their target and stood on the street in astonishment.

"Impossible! How could the aura of the Rainfall Technique vanish into thin air!"

"Strange, it was right in front of me just now, how could it vanish without a trace in the blink of an eye?"

"Damn it! This man is no ordinary person; he managed to get rid of us so easily. It's too late for regrets!"