Chapter 37: The Scroll

If the first half of the auction consisted of first-tier spiritual items specifically meant to satisfy Qi Refinement cultivators, then the second half had absolutely nothing to do with them.

The Yuanming Sect was presenting second-tier spiritual items, many of which were quite precious. So far, among the twenty to thirty items auctioned, the Clear Dew Pearl was considered the most valuable.

It was because of this treasure that everyone realized a Golden Core cultivator truly existed within the auction house!

"The next item for auction is a demon beast egg!" As soon as Ziyan spoke these words, she immediately captured the attention of Li Zhirui and his two companions.

Since the auction was nearing its conclusion, the fact that this demon beast egg was being brought out so late meant it was definitely no ordinary egg.

"The third-tier demon beast, the Thunder-Shock Eagle. Once fully grown, this creature possesses a massive physique, high intelligence, a gentle temperament, and extreme speed. Its wingbeats produce roaring thunder, and it excels in lightning arts. It is an extremely rare lightning-attribute demon beast and an excellent mountain-protecting spirit beast."

"The starting bid is five thousand spirit stones, with a minimum increment of two hundred spirit stones per bid."

In Ziyan's mouth, there was nothing negative to say about the Thunder-Shock Eagle, yet she wasn't exactly deceiving the crowd either, for everything she said was true.

However, she intentionally or unintentionally omitted a crucial point: cultivating a spirit beast not only consumes vast amounts of resources but also progresses at an incredibly slow rate.

To raise a Thunder-Shock Eagle to the third tier would take at least one or two hundred years, and even that would be the result of massive resource investment. If left to grow naturally, one might not even see hope of it reaching that stage for three or four hundred years!

"What a pity." Li Shilian's eyes were filled with regret. Although there were no clan members with lightning spiritual roots, it wasn't impossible to form a contract with a Thunder-Shock Eagle.

Furthermore, as a third-tier demon beast, the Thunder-Shock Eagle was inherently precious. If the Li family could obtain one, they could breed it with the Jade-Beaked Eagles the family cultivated, producing offspring with Thunder-Shock Eagle bloodlines. If they were lucky, they might even obtain a Thunder-Shock Eagle with slightly impure blood.

Regardless of the outcome, it would enhance the family's foundation.

When a high-tier spirit beast mates with a low-tier one, the offspring are generally low-tier, but they will certainly carry a certain amount of high-tier bloodline. Moreover, such hybrid spirit beasts find it easier to break through bloodline shackles and advance to higher realms than ordinary spirit beasts.

Unfortunately, the Li family did not have many spirit stones on hand. If they took the Thunder-Shock Eagle egg now and a third-tier water-attribute spirit beast appeared later, they would be stuck.

"However, it seems the factions in Yunping Prefecture do not place much importance on demon beast eggs," Li Zhirui remarked thoughtfully, noticing that the auction house was not as lively as before.

Despite Ziyan's flowery descriptions of the third-tier egg, not many cultivators entered the bidding, resulting in the current price being only around seven thousand three hundred spirit stones.

But it made sense; after all, Yunping Prefecture was not the territory of the Beast Taming Sect. Although cultivators here also formed contracts with demon beasts, most were master-servant contracts. They treated demon beasts as tools to be driven, so why would they be willing to buy such expensive eggs?

Unlike the Li family, who signed equal contracts with demon beasts, treating them as close partners.

Furthermore, while high-tier spirit beasts possessed great combat power, few were willing to spend decades raising one from an egg.

"Looking at the current situation, the price of this egg won't be too high. Should we take it?" Li Zhirui felt tempted. A third-tier spirit beast egg was not something easily encountered.

In truth, Li Zhirui didn't even need to persuade him; Li Shilian was already tempted!

Back when they were under the rule of the Beast Taming Sect, buying a third-tier spirit beast egg would have required an enormous price. For example, for Li Zhirui's Daqing, the Li family had to promise the Beast Taming Sect many conditions in addition to paying a massive amount of spirit stones.

However, with the destruction of the Beast Taming Sect, those promised conditions had naturally vanished with the wind.

Because of that experience, combined with their lack of knowledge about the outside world, the three of them had misjudged the price of this third-tier egg, believing it would cost at least ten thousand spirit stones, and thus hadn't dared to bid.

But now, knowing that third-tier eggs were not highly sought after and the price wouldn't be that high, they were naturally interested.

But just as Li Shilian was about to speak, a voice suddenly rang out from the third floor: "I am in need of a mount. I will take this Thunder-Shock Eagle for seven thousand five hundred spirit stones."

The egg, which was already unpopular, saw no further competition once this Golden Core cultivator spoke.

"Sigh!" Faced with this situation, Li Shilian could only sigh softly, lamenting that the family was not destined to meet this Thunder-Shock Eagle.

Li Zhirui and Li Shiren also let out sighs, but they did not dare to discuss matters involving a Golden Core cultivator.

"The next item for auction is something for which this servant does not know how to introduce, for even our Yuanming Sect does not know what this is. We only know that this treasure fears neither water nor fire; even a full-strength strike from a Foundation Establishment cultivator cannot destroy it."

As Ziyan spoke, a scroll was unfurled on the stage. It was one foot wide and three feet long, with a large amount of white space on the scroll and a lifelike divine turtle painted in the very center.

"The starting bid for this item is four thousand spirit stones, with a minimum increment of one hundred spirit stones per bid." As the auctioneer, Ziyan herself did not believe the scroll would sell.

While it sounded impressive, it wasn't actually very useful. Perhaps it could be wrapped around the chest to protect vital organs? Ziyan thought to herself.

The reaction from the crowd was very cold. Only a few cultivators, who considered themselves "children of destiny" and believed they could uncover the treasure's secrets, were bidding, but the highest price reached only four thousand five hundred spirit stones.

"Grandpa Shilian, I want to buy this scroll!" Li Zhirui said urgently.

Li Shilian looked puzzled, but he did not ask why Li Zhirui wanted it. He simply calculated in his head and said, "I brought twenty thousand spirit stones from the family. I must leave at least twelve thousand behind, but I can lend you the rest."

"Thank you, Grandpa Shilian!" Li Zhirui was overjoyed and immediately shouted, "Six thousand spirit stones!"

With his opening bid, Li Zhirui jumped the price by fifteen hundred spirit stones, instantly scaring off many cultivators. Only one person remained: "I'll add another hundred spirit stones."

"I'll add a hundred too." Li Zhirui pressed forward, showing his firm determination to take the scroll.

Seeing this, the other person could only give up, muttering under their breath, "I wonder which family's young master is being so extravagant with his spirit stones."

Li Zhirui made no effort to hide his voice; that kind of high spirits was not something an older cultivator could project.

"Congratulations to this fellow Daoist for getting what they desired!" Once the time was up and no one else competed with Li Zhirui, Ziyan eagerly finalized the ownership of the scroll and brought out the next item.

It was an extremely rare sword-box dharma treasure containing eighteen spiritual swords: the main sword was a second-tier low-grade, while the other seventeen sub-swords were first-tier high-grade.

The price was very expensive, yet it was highly sought after by the cultivators, instantly dispelling the chilliness brought by the previous two items.

As for Li Zhirui, he had successfully obtained the scroll. If it weren't to avoid drawing attention, he would have wanted to take possession of it immediately to prevent any future complications.