Cultivation Begins with Skill Points
Chapter 347 - 346: Competing in Wealth

Chapter 347: Chapter 346: Competing in Wealth

"This Earth Crystal is only worth about a million Spirit Stones; this guest overpaid."

Ming Ling shook his head and said.

Zhong Lin remained silent; in fact, he also wanted to bid just now.

The Earth Crystal is extremely precious, being an Earth Attribute spiritual object of nature. It can be fused into a Lifebound Weapon or used to condense a Spiritual Body. However, the three million bid had stopped him.

Though Zhong Lin has Spirit Stones, he doesn’t want to waste them by showing off.

Of course, the person in the private room who bid might not be showing off; perhaps they are truly wealthy.

"The Earth Crystal is indeed rare, but aside from that one bid from the private room, no one else was moved. It seems they all have high standards and deep pockets! I wonder who they all are."

Long Zhao glanced at those private rooms and said softly.

"I’m sorry, Young Master, we cannot disclose information about other people." Ming Ling apologized.

Long Zhao waved his hand; he was only casually asking. He certainly knew that revealing others’ information would mean the end for the Treasured Pavilion.

"The next auction item, Blood Crystal."

As the voice fell, a red, blood-dripping red crystal appeared on the auction stage, emitting a heart-stopping radiance under the luminescence of the Luminous Pearls.

With the appearance of this crystal, the entire auction hall turned into a Blood Sea, and there seemed to be a faint smell of blood in the air.

"Kill!"

Faint, grand killing sounds emanated from the blood glow emitted by the Blood Crystal, with numerous shadows flickering in the void, spreading an unsettling aura.

The Blood Crystal, legendary for being produced on ancient battlefields, only forms when a large number of Martial Artists are in conflict and the spilled blood gathers on the ground to form a Blood Sea.

The blood of top-tier Martial Artists contains immense energy, and when this blood seeps into the ground and condenses over a long time, it forms the Blood Crystal, which is exceedingly rare in quantity.

It can be refined into a Lifebound Weapon to enhance its killing aura and, when used in battle, greatly boosts effectiveness and intimidates opponents.

"Blood Crystal, starting bid at four hundred thousand Spirit Stones."

The auction price of this small Blood Crystal surprisingly surpassed that of the precious Earth Crystal, proving the saying "rarity brings value." While the Earth Crystal is indeed important, it is much more abundant than the Blood Crystal.

"One million."

As soon as the auctioneer’s words fell, someone in the private room immediately shouted a bid of one million, which was the same person who had just bought the Earth Crystal.

"Seven million."

A calm voice suddenly spoke out, as if throwing away seven million Spirit Stones was like discarding a piece of wastepaper.

The previous bidder immediately fell silent, acknowledging the existence of a stronger competitor who was even more affluent than him.

"Eight million."

A sinister voice sounded, making one shrink their neck and get goosebumps just upon hearing it.

For a moment, the room fell silent, with everyone intently watching the line of private rooms above, intrigued by the spectacle,

as the people below knew that the Blood Crystal was beyond their reach and that only the big figures above were involved, so they quietly watched, happy for the tale they could boast about later.

"Senior brother, would this item be of use to you? Should we also try our hand at it?"

Long Zhao sent a message with slight excitement, feeling a compelling urge to attempt a bid.

Zhong Lin glanced at Long Zhao and said, "It’s useless, don’t cause trouble."

"Alright then!"

"Ten million."

The calm voice sounded again, and the ordinary buyers were dumbfounded in shock.

Such a figure was astronomical to them, something they could only dream of reaching.

Others in the private rooms who were thinking about bidding fell silent, for everyone in the rooms had either background, status, martial prowess, influence, or, at the very least, wealth.

Ten million Spirit Stones were a large amount indeed, but not beyond their means. Just that, it far exceeded the Blood Crystal’s value and wasn’t worth it.

"Who... who is this person? Does he have a death wish?"

A black-robed man in one of the private rooms shook with rage, his Spiritual Origin fluctuating violently, barely held back by reason.

The Blood Crystal is essential for martial practices or artifact refinement by the Holy Blood Sect. Typically, anyone inquiring about purchasing Blood Crystals is likely someone from the sect. Others, knowing the sect’s backing, generally avoid conflict unless absolutely necessary.

The cultivation technique of the Holy Blood Sect is called the "Holy Blood Technique," which allows for the extraction of life essence from the blood of living creatures.

However, this technique has serious limitations; indiscriminate absorption can lead to violent fluctuations of Spiritual Origin, possibly resulting in physical explosion and death. Hence, they usually acquire Blood Crystals and similar treasures.

This is also why they can operate in the open, for a technique that allows for consuming others’ blood to strengthen oneself would have been eradicated countless times over; after all, no one wants to become prey.

"Eleven million."

"Fifteen million."

The calm voice finally had a slight wavering, which made the sinister man’s pupils contract and dissipated his anger, with his turbulent Spiritual Origin retreating within.

"Why did this lady have to show up?"

Not only him, but many people also recognized the voice, finding it peculiar.

In one of the private rooms, a handsome young man prettier than a woman reclined lazily in a wide chair, holding a white folding fan, while some pretty girls in long dresses massaged his shoulders and legs.

His face was delicate and exquisite, his eyes bright like stars, his lips soft as burning flames, and his body exudes a fragrance akin to a woman’s.

Clearly being someone who should be a beautiful maiden, yet he masquerades as a fan-wielding young master, even altering his voice to sound masculine.

"Soft jade and warm fragrance in embrace, life is thus, what more could one seek!"

The young master suddenly pulled a girl in a long dress into his arms and touched her bosom, laughing heartily.

The girl in the long dress didn’t mind, instead playfully glancing at him: "Princess, if you were a man, I would marry you, but alas, you are a woman, and we cannot engage in love. We can’t exactly use mirrors now, can we!"

The maids around her covered their mouths and giggled.

"Alright, Cui Zhu, get down!"

The young master teased with a playful scold and reverted to his original soft voice.

The maid chuckled and obediently got down.

"Young Master, it’s obvious that the people in the opposite private room are from the Holy Blood Sect. The Blood Crystal is extremely important to them. Would they bid more? Over a million Spirit Stones is no small sum, and if raised further, we’ll have to give up."

"Would they dare?"

The young master waved his unfolded fan arrogantly and said, "Even if they do, I will bid more. The worst case is the Treasured Pavilion will have to ask my father for Spirit Stones."