Chapter 53: Bafang Pavilion

“With so many spirit stones, isn't he afraid I'll run off with the money?” Song Changsheng said jokingly, weighing the Universe Bag in his hand.

“He agreed only after learning your identity. He believes your reputation is worth more than these ten thousand spirit stones.”

Song Changsheng grinned. If he were merely a rogue cultivator, he would certainly choose the ten thousand spirit stones, but he was a member of the Song clan—the grandson of Song Xianming and the son of Xia Yunxue.

“Let’s see what it is he wants first.” Song Changsheng took the jade slip out of the Universe Bag and pressed it against his forehead. What he saw was an ordinary-looking black stone.

A stone like this could be found by the thousands on any roadside; could it truly be some kind of treasure?

He asked skeptically, “Can this thing really be put up for bidding at an auction?”

Zhu Yiqun shrugged and said, “These are the clues provided by that senior. He said that if this item does not appear at the auction, the [Heart-Protecting Pill] is still yours. Seeing how confident he is, the clues should be reliable.”

“Fine, then I shall wade into these troubled waters.” Song Changsheng made up his mind. After bidding farewell to Zhu Yiqun, he returned to the Treasure Seeking Pavilion to wait quietly for the auction to begin...

————

In the Floating Cloud Market, although it was ostensibly governed by the six major Foundation Establishment powers, everyone knew that the Eight Directions Pavilion was the true behemoth.

After all, in the Purple Imperial Realm, from the moment a human cultivator enters the path of cultivation through Qi Refinement, they must pass through several realms—Foundation Establishment, Purple Mansion, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, and Void Refinement—before they can ascend to the Upper Realm and become true "Immortals."

Ascension was a low-probability event. The number of "Immortals" from the human race who had ascended could be counted on two hands, and of the orthodox lineages they passed down, only five had survived to the present day, revered as the Five Great Sacred Lands.

Consequently, the entire human cultivation world was divided into five great continents, each guarded by one of the Five Great Sacred Lands. The Sacred Land of the Southern Continent was the "Yang Clan."

The Yang Clan was the leader of the human race in the south and sat at the very top of the human pyramid.

Below the Sacred Lands were what people commonly referred to as the top-tier powers. Only factions that currently possessed, or had once possessed, Void Refinement experts could be classified among them.

The Eight Directions Pavilion was one of them. Although they currently had no Void Refinement expert presiding over them, they possessed profound foundations, and their shops were spread across the world; even in border regions like Spirit Province, one could see their presence.

Their business scope was extremely wide, and their auction houses were one of their many enterprises.

In the Floating Cloud Market, relying on their deep background and immense strength, the Eight Directions Pavilion had crushed auction houses large and small to become a monopoly.

They stipulated that a small-scale auction would be held once a month, and a large-scale auction once every three years. The so-called small-scale auctions involved accepting commissions from cultivators within Spirit Province.

The large-scale auctions were different; in addition to commissions from others, the Eight Directions Pavilion would also put up a portion of its own treasures for bidding, covering all sorts of types—it could be described as all-encompassing.

Every single one would draw crowds of cultivators from all over Spirit Province.

The one Song Changsheng was participating in was merely a monthly small-scale auction. It wasn't as explosive, but it was also easier to be targeted.

Wearing the black robe Zhu Yiqun had given him, he arrived early at the auction house under the Eight Directions Pavilion's name.

This auction house was built very grandly, with three floors in total. The first floor was open to everyone, while access to the second floor depended on one's background or strength; for instance, the six local Foundation Establishment powers of Spirit Province each had a fixed private room on the second floor.

Song Changsheng could have entered his family's private room, but that would have been too conspicuous. He silently sat down in an inconspicuous corner and waited quietly for the auction to begin.

Just as he sat down, a figure also dressed in a black robe approached him and said, "Friend, is anyone sitting next to you?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Song Changsheng froze for a moment. He pulled the person into the adjacent seat, lowered his voice, and asked, "Why are you here?"

Zhu Yiqun chuckled and said, "I'm here to provide cover for you."

"This is sheer nonsense. Don't you know the risks involved? Why are you getting involved?" Although Song Changsheng was moved, he did not want him meddling.

"What's there to fear? No matter how powerful those people are, can they compare to my old man's enemies?" Zhu Yiqun said nonchalantly.

Song Changsheng wanted to persuade him further, but in the next moment, the doors of the auction house closed, and the auction was about to begin.

"Sigh." Song Changsheng sighed helplessly and could only keep this kindness in his heart.

*Bang!*

The gavel struck the table with a crisp sound, and the previously noisy hall instantly fell silent. Everyone's gaze converged on the figure standing beside the central auction podium.

It was a woman dressed in light-colored palace attire, with a graceful, curvaceous figure. Her hair was styled in a high bun, and she had a standard oval face. Beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows were a pair of enchanting phoenix eyes, and her vermilion lips were set in a charming smile.

Holding a small wooden gavel, she looked around and said in a delicate voice, "Thank you, fellow Daoists, for attending today's auction. My name is Su Rou, and I am the auctioneer for this session. It is a great honor to host this auction, and I hope to bring good luck to all of you.

I declare that the Eight Directions Pavilion auction is now officially open.

Now, let us look at our first item. This is a second-grade low-tier magical tool that is about to evolve into a spiritual tool. The starting price is one thousand spirit stones, with a minimum increment of two hundred spirit stones. Let the bidding begin."

As soon as Su Rou finished speaking, the hall erupted. A magical tool about to evolve into a spiritual tool—what a grand opening!

"One thousand five hundred spirit stones!" someone immediately raised their paddle and bid.

"I bid two thousand!" "Two thousand five!"

...

Under the frantic bidding of the crowd, the price of the magical tool was quickly pushed to fifteen thousand spirit stones. The price continued to climb, eventually being snatched up by a Foundation Establishment cultivator on the second floor for twenty-three thousand spirit stones.

This far exceeded the price of a standard second-grade low-tier magical tool; the allure of a spiritual tool was evident to everyone.

The event had started with a bombshell, completely igniting the atmosphere. The subsequent items also fetched very high prices.

Song Changsheng also spent five hundred spirit stones to bid on a second-grade metal ingot, after which he remained a cold observer, waiting quietly for his target to appear.

As the auction neared its end, Su Rou took out a small box and opened it in front of everyone. "Fellow Daoists, this auction item was transferred from another auction house in the Great Qi Kingdom.

After joint appraisal by our pavilion's appraisers, it has been confirmed to be a treasure. However, due to its unknown value and origin, it has failed to sell several times. The starting price for this item is one thousand spirit stones, with no limit on increments. Fellow Daoists may bid at your discretion."

Her words surprised everyone present. After all, the Eight Directions Pavilion had never presented such an irresponsible auction item before, which inevitably piqued everyone's interest.

All eyes turned toward the dark object lying in the box...

(End of Chapter)