At the age of one hundred, I inquired about the Dao, awakening the supreme spiritual root that shatt

Everyone looked up toward the third-floor private room, following the sound.

An elderly man slowly rose from the private room, lifted the thin gauze curtain, and gazed intently at Ling Xiu below.

"Fellow Daoist, could you do me the honor of giving me this Separation Fruit today? It is of utmost importance to me."

The moment the old man appeared, all the cultivators in the audience saw his face clearly, and the entire audience was shaken.

"What? That...that's actually Shangguan Yiyun!"

Someone immediately recognized the old man and exclaimed in surprise.

"Shangguan Yiyun?"

"Who in Qingyang Holy City doesn't know him? Who doesn't know him! A dignified low-grade Earth-rank alchemist, a grandmaster of alchemy!"

I never expected him to actually attend this auction; I've finally met him in person today!

Shangguan Yiyun kept her gaze fixed on Ling Xiu below the stage, and continued speaking in a more condescending tone.

"That's right, I am Shangguan Yiyun."

If this fellow Daoist is willing to do me a favor and give me this Li Tu Fruit, I will remember your kindness.

"If you ever need anything in Qingyang Holy City in the future, just ask, and I will do my utmost to help you."

The entire audience erupted in uproar!

No one expected that Shangguan Yiyun, a highly respected alchemy master, would lower himself and offer a favor to an unknown cultivator.

Shangguan Yiyun's favor was worth a fortune in the entire Qingyang Holy City, and all the cultivators present were filled with envy.

"My goodness! A master alchemist personally pleaded for him; this cultivator in the bamboo hat is incredibly lucky!"

"Looks like he'll have to give up bidding, won't he?"

"Who dares to defy Master Shangguan? If you offend him, you'll never be able to buy high-grade pills in the entire Qingyang Holy City again, and you'll be unable to move an inch!"

A murmur of discussion arose all around, and everyone's eyes were focused on the gray-robed monk in the corner of the third row.

Everyone assumed that Ling Xiu would readily back down and accept this enormous favor for nothing.

But everyone guessed wrong.

Amidst the widespread discussion and the watchful eyes of the public, Ling Xiu remained calm, as if he hadn't heard a word of the coercive promises made by the other party.

He calmly raised the price again.

"Thirty thousand spirit stones."

The moment those words were spoken, the entire room erupted in chaos.

"What's going on? How dare this person not give Master Shangguan Yiyun any face at all?"

He immediately raised the price to 30,000 spirit stones? Does he really have that many spirit stones?

Inside the private room on the third floor, Shangguan Yiyun, who had been confident of victory, suddenly froze, a sharp killing intent flashing in her eyes.

He was a highly respected alchemy master in Qingyang Holy City, with an extraordinary status and top-notch connections. No one had ever dared to disobey his wishes.

Today, however, he was publicly humiliated by an unknown nobody at the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce.

Shangguan Yiyun clenched her fists tightly, suppressing the anger in her heart.

Reluctant to show his anger on the spot due to his status as an alchemist, he gritted his teeth and said coldly.

"Thirty-one thousand spirit stones."

His voice was icy cold, suppressing a torrent of rage.

Ling Xiu snorted coldly in his heart, deciding to confront the other party head-on.

He spoke calmly and directly announced an astronomical price that shocked everyone present, with an increase that exceeded everyone's expectations!

"180,000 spirit stones."

Ling Xiu understood.

Either avoid offending anyone, or completely break off relations.

Since the other party is using their superior status to exert pressure, there is no need for me to back down step by step.

His voice was firm and unwavering, brooking no argument.

"180,000 spirit stones? This guy must be insane!"

All the cultivators present were completely dumbfounded.

"Although the Li Tu Fruit is the main ingredient for refining the Tong Xuan Pill and is quite valuable, it is definitely not worth 180,000 low-grade spirit stones!"

This is clearly a deliberate attempt to oppose Master Shangguan!

"Just who is this person? How wealthy must they be to be so extravagant?"

Everyone speculated that this cultivator, who wore a bamboo hat and concealed his face, was definitely not a simple person.

Inside the private room on the third floor, Shangguan Yiyun's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently, and he could barely contain his anger.

This price far exceeds the market value of the fruit itself; it's clear the other party is deliberately targeting him.

As a high-level alchemist, Shangguan Yiyun already had a very wealthy family background, so it was not difficult for her to come up with 180,000 spirit stones.

However, paying an exorbitant price far exceeding the value of a single spiritual fruit is simply not worth it.

He coldly looked down at Ling Xiu below the stage, his face icy cold.

Being publicly humiliated by an unknown junior was an insult he had never suffered in all his years of cultivation.

After a long silence, Shangguan Yiyun waved his hand dismissively and gave in a cold voice.

"Very well, very well! Young friend, you have the financial resources. I concede defeat and will withdraw my bid for this 'Separated from Earth Fruit'."

His voice was filled with suppressed anger, and everyone present could hear it clearly.

Even Vice President Lin Hao, who was hosting on stage, was shocked. In his many years in the industry, this was the first time he had ever seen Shangguan Yiyun so angry that she was trembling and losing face.

Lin Hao quickly broke the awkward silence with a loud laugh.

"180,000 spirit stones! What a bold move! This fellow Daoist's wealth is unparalleled in the entire gathering; I have never seen anything like it in my life!"

Are there any fellow cultivators willing to raise the price further?

The room was deathly silent.

Everyone was still caught up in the astronomical bidding of 180,000 spirit stones, and no one dared to say another word.

"Since no one is bidding higher, this Separation Fruit belongs to this fellow Daoist!"

Lin Hao made the final decision.

Ling Xiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, finally succeeding in obtaining the seven-hundred-year-old Separated Soil Fruit.

The price of 180,000 spirit stones was considerable, but in his eyes it was well worth it.

Even if he completely offended Shangguan Yiyun, he had no regrets.

As long as you can refine the Profound Pill using this spiritual fruit, all your efforts will be rewarded.

He could clearly sense a chilling killing intent locked onto him from inside the three-story private room.

But Ling Xiu showed no fear.

Meanwhile, inside a VIP box on the second floor of the auction house.

With a charming and innocent appearance, Su Nuonuo looked at Yun Ziling beside her, whose expression was solemn, and spoke with a face full of worry.

"Senior Sister Ziling, this person is too strong. He directly spent 180,000 spirit stones to bid for the Li Tu Fruit."

With him competing with us, we'll probably have a hard time getting the Profound Path Pill.

Their primary goal for this trip was to bid for the Tongxuan Pill.

Now that such a financially powerful competitor has emerged, the two of them instantly lost their confidence.

Yun Ziling's cultivation is stuck at the late stage of the Condensation Realm, just one step away from breaking through to the Great Perfection. The Profound Enlightenment Pill is the best pill for her to break through the bottleneck.

Yun Ziling composed herself and calmly reassured him.

"Nuonuo, just wait and see. This person's background seems complicated, but our Qingyun Sect's foundation is equally strong. Master and the sect will fully support me."

Even if we miss out on the Profound Pill this time, our trip won't be in vain.

I have a second goal: the Azure Sun Elixir.

"As long as I can acquire the Qingyang Spirit Pill, I will still have a chance to break through to the Tongxuan Realm. This trip will then be worthwhile."

"Okay! Go for it, senior! I'll use all my savings to support you!"

Su Nuonuo nodded vigorously. She was kind-hearted, grateful, and wholeheartedly supported her fellow disciple.

This Qingyang Spirit Pill is of extremely high grade and has an extraordinary origin.

This elixir was refined by Daoist Qingyang, who not only possesses unfathomable cultivation but also has two other significant identities.

The city lord of Qingyang Holy City and the president of Wanbao Chamber of Commerce.

This is precisely why the Qingyang Elixir is so precious.

For cultivators who failed to obtain the Tongxuan Pill, the Qingyang Spirit Pill is the best alternative for breaking through their cultivation level.

Countless powerful individuals coveted this pill.

After acquiring the Li Tu Fruit, Ling Xiu did not participate in the bidding for the subsequent treasures.

These spiritual materials and magical artifacts are not what he needs at this stage.

It wasn't until a strangely shaped, long, bone-like object was brought to the auction stage that Ling Xiu, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them and looked at the platform.

The item is entirely crimson, its surface covered with intricate and strange patterns. It resembles a piece of animal bone, and its eerie aura makes it hard to pinpoint what's so strange about it.

Lin Hao stepped forward and introduced the auction item to all the cultivators present.

"Fellow Daoists, please take a look. The material of this item is unknown, but its shape closely resembles ancient bone. Our merchant guild has named it Blood Bone."

"This bone was acquired by our Wanbao Chamber of Commerce from the patriarch of an ancient, reclusive family many years ago. He claimed it was an ancient artifact passed down through his family, dating back to the Primordial Era."

"This item has been in the Chamber of Commerce for sixty years. Dozens of senior elders of the Chamber have taken turns studying it, but so far they have not been able to figure out its material and specific use."