The moment the auction gavel fell, applause erupted throughout the hall, a mix of envy and anticipation—everyone was waiting to see when the remaining three Rejuvenation Pills would appear and what astronomical price they would fetch.
Wanqiu gestured to the maid to hand the jade bottle to the old ancestor, then picked up the next item for auction, her voice still clear and melodious: "Next, the second item..."
On the second floor, Xiao Chen watched as the old ancestor carefully accepted the jade bottle, and the smile on his lips deepened.
Three for six hundred thousand isn't expensive.
He touched the three remaining Spirit Recovery Pills in his storage bag and had a general idea of what was going on—after this auction, he and Shi Tou probably wouldn't have to worry about spirit crystals anymore.
What he didn't know was that with the sale of these three Rejuvenation Pills, the power structure of the entire Illusionary City had quietly begun to change.
Those forces that possess the Rejuvenation Pill have an extra layer of confidence, while those that failed to secure it have already set their sights on the mysterious "client."
The auction proceeded at a well-paced pace, with one item after another appearing on stage—there was the "Azure Edge Stone" that could amplify sword intent, the "Moon Soul Grass" that could nourish the soul, and even a fragmented ancient array plate, which prompted several array masters in the main seats to frequently raise their paddles.
Xiao Chen sat in the unaffiliated cultivator's seat, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, his gaze calmly sweeping across the exhibition stand.
Although these auction items were rare, none of them could tempt him. The rusty iron spear that Lin Zhou gave him seemed ordinary, but it could transform itself as his cultivation improved. When he killed the Star Crystal Python last time, the spear had already faintly shown golden patterns, indicating that its quality was still improving. Ordinary magic weapons were simply not worth his attention.
Stone was even simpler. He wasn't very interested in those shiny magical treasures, but he was particularly fond of the spiritual fruits on the table. At the moment, he was happily munching on a fist-sized "Purple Cloud Fruit," the juice dripping down his chin onto his clothes, but he didn't care at all.
"Senior Brother, these fruits are much sweeter than the ones we picked on the way," Stone said indistinctly, picking up a red agate-like "Fire Crystal Fruit." "The Sanyuan Chamber of Commerce is quite good at business; even their fruits are so delicious."
Xiao Chen smiled, picked up a greenish-blue "Jade Dew Fruit", and tasted sweet and refreshing as it slid down his throat. It was indeed much more mellow than the spiritual fruits he bought outside.
It seems that the Sanyuan Chamber of Commerce not only offers reliable auction items, but also provides excellent snacks for its guests.
About an hour later, Wanqiu walked up to the stage and said softly, "Next is the intermission. We will continue in half an hour. You may rest in the pavilion or go outside for some fresh air."
As soon as he finished speaking, many cultivators got up to stretch their limbs and gathered in twos and threes to chat. The topics were nothing more than the items that had just been auctioned, or guessing what other great treasures were coming.
"Have you heard? The old patriarch Hong who just bought the Rejuvenation Pill is the second-in-command of the Heavenly Martial Sect. He's probably going to use the pill to break through to the Nirvana Realm!"
"The Heavenly Martial Sect and the Dragon Elephant Sect have been fighting fiercely recently. If Ancestor Hong breaks through, the Dragon Elephant Sect will probably have a headache."
"The Dragon Elephant Sect is not to be trifled with either. Their Ancestor Zhao is said to have been stuck at the peak of the Creation Realm for many years. He might also be here at the auction to find some treasures."
Xiao Chen held a cup of spiritual tea, quietly listening to the discussions of the cultivators around him, gaining a deeper understanding of the power structure of the Xuanqiong Realm. The Heavenly Martial Sect, the Dragon Elephant Sect… these all sounded like top-tier forces, their foundations undoubtedly profound.
"Senior Brother, it sounds like there's a commotion outside!" Shi Tou suddenly put down the spiritual fruit and pointed out the window. "Lots of people are running towards the door!"
Xiao Chen looked in the direction he pointed and saw that on the square outside the Sanyuan Pavilion, cultivators were gathered together, looking up at the sky, and people were constantly running out of the pavilion. Obviously, something exciting had happened.
"Let's go take a look." Xiao Chen stood up. Although cultivators emphasize purity of mind and few desires, their inherent tendency to enjoy watching the excitement is no different from that of ordinary people.
The two followed the crowd out of the Sanyuan Pavilion. As soon as they reached the square, they heard a deafening roar, accompanied by a powerful collision of spiritual energy, which sent the surrounding cultivators staggering backward.
"Hong Xiao! You old bastard, don't think you can be arrogant just because you've obtained a broken pill!"
In the sky, two figures were engaged in fierce combat.
The old man on the left, dressed in a gray robe, had a resolute face and was surrounded by pale golden spiritual energy. He was none other than Hong Xiao of the Heavenly Martial Sect, the patriarch who had just bid for the Rejuvenation Pill. He held a giant axe in his hand, and each swing of the axe carried the power to split mountains and shatter rocks, clearly indicating that he was a physical cultivator.
The middle-aged man on the right was wearing a black python robe, with a burly body like an iron tower and skin with a light bronze color. He was Zhao Yue of the Dragon Elephant Sect.
He formed a hand seal, and a phantom image of a dragon-elephant appeared behind him, roaring as it charged towards Hong Xiao. Its spiritual power was as thick as a mountain, indicating that he was cultivating some kind of body-refining divine power.
"Zhao Yue! You scum of the Dragon Elephant Sect, how dare you interfere in my affairs?" Hong Xiao roared, his giant axe sweeping across, cleaving the dragon and elephant phantom in two. "We haven't settled the score for your sneak attack on my junior brother last time!"
"Hmph, if you're not as skilled, who can you blame?" Zhao Yue sneered, and the dragon-elephant phantom materialized again. "As for you, the Heavenly Martial Sect has recently lost three mines, and you still have the nerve to come to the auction to squander your wealth? I think you've given up!"
The two exchanged blows, the shockwaves from their spiritual energy clashes forcing the cultivators in the plaza to activate their defensive artifacts, fearing they might be caught in the aftershocks. Both were at the peak of the Creation Realm, each move imbued with the power of laws, causing the heavens and earth to tremble and the clouds to disperse.
"Good heavens, these two are really fighting hard!" The cultivators in the square exclaimed in amazement. "I heard that their feud has lasted for almost a hundred years. The Heavenly Martial Sect and the Dragon Elephant Sect are evenly matched in the eastern part of Xuanqiong. Each of them wants to be the better one, and they have to fight every time they meet."
"Zhao Yue arrived at the auction late this time, probably because he didn't get any good items and is already feeling frustrated. Then he ran into Hong Xiao, and that's when things blew up?"
"Hong Xiao just got the Rejuvenation Pill, so he's very confident. He probably wants to use this momentum to beat Zhao Yue into submission!"
Xiao Chen stood at the back of the crowd, watching the battle in the sky with a calm expression. Hong Xiao's axe technique was fierce and domineering, while Zhao Yue's Dragon Elephant Skill was profound and enduring. The two were evenly matched, and it would be difficult to determine a winner for the time being.
He noticed that although Hong Xiao was arrogant, he held back a bit in his actions, clearly not wanting to really escalate the situation—after all, this was in front of the Sanyuan Chamber of Commerce, and it would be embarrassing to kill someone.
"Senior Brother, who's stronger between these two?" Stone asked, his blood boiling with excitement. "I think the one with the axe is stronger!"
Xiao Chen shook his head: "It's hard to say. Hong Xiao just got the Rejuvenation Pill, so his spiritual power is more abundant, but Zhao Yue's Dragon Elephant Technique has amazing defensive power. If it goes on, it's not certain who will win."
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