Ascending from the mortal realm to become an immortal begins with taking charge of a grotto-heaven.

The last private room on the second floor was lit up.

"Thump!"

A loud bell rang out, and the entire auction hall quickly fell silent.

Nearly a thousand cultivators held their breath and focused their attention on the high platform in the center of the venue.

Soon, a middle-aged man with a plump figure and a ruddy complexion slowly appeared.

"Fellow Daoists, welcome to the Jubao Tower's once-every-five-years auction and to participate in this auction event."

"My name is Ma Kun, and I will be the host of this auction."

The portly man who called himself Ma Kun was not tall. He wore a brocade robe embroidered with gold, and his round, plump figure and protruding belly made him look rather comical.

Yet, not a single person in the venue dared to laugh or show any disdain.

This is because Ma Kun is a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, and in terms of strength alone, he is already one of the top people in this auction.

Moreover, his use of the term "fellow Daoist" was already a demotion for a Qi Refining cultivator.

At this point, if anyone still doesn't know what's good for them, their fate will be dire.

"Before the auction begins, there are a few rules that I need to explain to all of you. I hope you will all abide by them and not disrupt the order of the venue."

Ma Kun stood on the high platform, still smiling, but his tone gradually turned somber.

"First, in this auction, the highest bidder wins. Malicious bidding and malicious price-cutting are strictly prohibited. Violators will be severely punished by Jubaolou."

"Secondly, all items in this auction will be settled in low-grade spirit stones, or can be exchanged for goods at an equivalent price, which will be assessed by Jubao Tower."

"Third, bidders should bid within their means. Those who bid maliciously but do not buy will be liable for double compensation."

As he announced the three rules, Ma Kun's smile gradually faded, and his gaze swept across the entire room, leaving everyone feeling utterly cold.

"Finally, let me warn you all: do not entertain any thoughts that you should not have."

As they spoke, three terrifying pressures suddenly appeared in the auction. Although the three pressures were not malicious and only carried a warning nature, they still caused the cultivators in the auction to change their expressions drastically.

Even some Foundation Establishment cultivators in the private room, who were usually quite nonchalant, couldn't help but change their expressions slightly.

For this auction, Jubaolou directly dispatched three late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators to oversee the event.

That's quite a grand gesture.

Seeing that the deterrent effect was good, Ma Kun narrowed his eyes and said:

"Therefore, I hereby declare the auction officially open."

"Please take a look at the first item."

As soon as the words were spoken, a graceful female cultivator, carrying a jade tray, slowly stepped onto the stage.

On the jade plate, twenty-four small and exquisite celadon medicine bottles were neatly arranged.

"The first item up for auction is the Cheyuan Pill, which was personally refined by the great alchemist Hu Xiu."

"This pill was created by Master Hu based on an ancient pill formula. It is mild in nature and can also refine one's magical power. Most importantly, it can be taken by all cultivators in the Qi Refining stage, without being restricted by their cultivation level. Long-term use is very beneficial for breaking through bottlenecks."

"This pill is appearing in the world for the first time. It is a rare opportunity. Fellow Daoists who need it should not miss it."

Ma Kun pointed to the bottle in the jade plate and explained loudly.

In just a few words, the eyes of many Qi Refining cultivators instantly turned fervent.

It can refine magical power and has a mild medicinal effect. For cultivators in the Qi Refining stage, it is a priceless treasure, far more precious than common pills that aid cultivation.

The more refined and pure one's magical power, the higher the success rate of breaking through realm barriers. This is an ironclad rule of cultivation that all cultivators tacitly understand.

"The Cheyuan Pill will be auctioned in four groups, with a starting price of 240 spirit stones for each group, and each bid must be at least 5 spirit stones higher."

"Two hundred and fifty spirit stones."

Immediately, a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator in the front row of the lobby on the first floor made a bid.

"Two hundred and sixty spirit stones."

Zhang Li merely glanced at the Che Yuan Pill before withdrawing his gaze.

As a fellow alchemist, he was all too familiar with this kind of gimmick.

The vague claim of long-term use alone dissuaded him from participating in the auction. The truth or falsehood of such an ambiguous promise of efficacy was impossible to verify.

Even if it is truly effective, it's difficult to see noticeable results without consistently taking it for two or three years.

As the auction progressed, the four sets of Che Yuan Pills were sold to four different Qi Refining stage cultivators for prices of 320, 325, and 330 respectively.

"Next, please welcome the second item for auction—a superior-grade magic weapon, a fire-breathing spear. It was forged to the second level by a Foundation Establishment cultivator using true fire. This auction house has confirmed that its power is greater than that of ordinary superior-grade magic weapons, approaching that of top-grade magic weapons."

"Fellow Daoists who cultivate fire-attribute techniques should definitely not miss this."

"The starting bid for the musket is 600 spirit stones, and each bid must be at least 10 spirit stones higher."

Zhang Li's main purpose in coming here was to bid for that breakthrough pill; other treasures, no matter how good, had to be put aside for later.

This flaming spear is indeed an excellent high-grade magic weapon, and its attributes are also compatible with his, which makes him quite tempted.

Although he was tempted, he didn't make a bid.

Ultimately, this superior-grade magic weapon, the Fire Spear, was auctioned off to a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining for 850 spirit stones.

As the auction progressed, one treasure after another was sold at high prices, and the atmosphere at the scene became increasingly lively.

Finally, on the fourteenth item, the breakthrough pill that Zhang Li had been longing for was brought out.

"One Jade Mushroom Pill can help a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator break through to the late stage of Qi Refining. It is a top-grade pill of its kind and is extremely rare on the market. Fellow cultivators who are stuck at a bottleneck should pay attention, as this pill is extremely rare and once you miss it, you may never have the chance to encounter it again."

"Without further ado, the starting bid for the Jade Mushroom Pill is seven hundred spirit stones, and each bid must be at least ten spirit stones higher."

As soon as Ma Kun finished speaking, the Qi Refining cultivators present immediately stirred up a commotion, and some immediately made bids one after another.

"Seven hundred and twenty spirit stones!"

"Seven hundred and thirty yuan!"

"Seven hundred and forty yuan!"

The price of Jade Mushroom Pills has been soaring. When the Breakthrough Pill appeared, no one in the trade immediately made a bid. The cultivators who are bidding now are just there to make up the numbers. The real hunters haven't made their move yet.

"Nine hundred spirit stones!"

When the price of nine hundred spirit stones was dropped, the arena suddenly fell silent, and the cultivators who had been bidding one after another stopped.

Seeing this, Zhang Li knew it was time to act and immediately said, "Nine hundred and thirty spirit stones!"

The cultivator who had offered 900 spirit stones thought he had the victory in his grasp, but when he suddenly heard someone raise the price by 30 spirit stones in one go, his smugness froze instantly, and he turned around sharply to look behind him.

Zhang Li sat there expressionless, completely ignoring the man's probing.

The man hesitated for a few seconds, then gritted his teeth and said, "Nine hundred and fifty spirit stones!"

"Nine hundred and sixty yuan!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhang Li immediately raised the price again.

Upon seeing this, the man's face darkened, and he slumped down, utterly dejected.