Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 490 - 488: Auction (Seeking Subscription)_1

Chapter 490: Chapter 488: Auction (Seeking Subscription)_1

Several days later.

Inside a cave dwelling.

Fang Xi had set up a defensive array around the perimeter before sitting cross-legged, toying with a pitch-black token in his hand.

"Such an auction, indeed quite interesting..."

He muttered to himself, recalling the rules of the grand auction introduced by Lord Hei Xuan.

This grand auction was actually divided into two parts.

One was an open auction, and the other a secret auction!

The open auction was naturally like the many others before, with numerous cultivators entering the auction hall, and the highest bidder winning the item.

As for the secret auction, it was said to be quite interesting, requiring the use of the pitch-black token in hand combined with the power of an array.

"I hope there will be items that I need,"

Fang Xi murmured and closed his eyes.

His main purpose for coming this time was for the pill refining legacy and the Blood River Stone. Of course, if there were items like Demon Fire Seeds or even a ’Rising Cloud Pill,’ he wouldn’t mind taking them if opportunity arose.

...

Time flows like water.

Soon, the time for the grand auction arrived.

Fang Xi, as usual, clad in a blue gown and wearing a bamboo hat, arrived at the venue of the grand auction.

This place had flying eaves and towering corners, with many palaces constructed, complete with spirit spring flowing water, small bridges, bamboo pavilions... the aura of immortality was rich, quite unique and elegant.

The grand auction was to take place in the largest ’Hall of Stars.’

This hall was magnificent and vast, able to accommodate tens of thousands of cultivators.

As a Nascent Soul old monster, even as an individual cultivator, Fang Xi still enjoyed the privilege of a private room. Now holding the invitation given by Lord Hei Xuan, he walked into the Hall of Stars with ease.

A hint of purple light flashed in his eyes as he observed the auction hall’s entrance, not releasing his Divine Consciousness but only roughly sensing the cultivation levels of those entering.

’Not bad at all, there are quite a few Nascent Soul cultivators...’

At that moment, two figures entered the Hall of Stars, one after the other. The one in front was a black-robed elder, familiar to Fang Xi—he was Lord Hei Xuan.

The other person was dressed in a green robe, with a jade-like face and a golden crown on his head. His cultivation was also in the early stage of Nascent Soul, yet Fang Xi felt something strange about him.

’This person...something’s not right!’

Practicing the ’Kuyong Skills’ allowed one to roughly sense the life force of other cultivators.

And this golden-crowned cultivator gave Fang Xi the impression that his vital life energy was excessively robust...

’Even for a body cultivator, it should not be to this extent, could it be...’

Fang Xi stepped forward: "Lord Hei Xuan..."

"Tiankui..."

Lord Hei Xuan cupped his hands together, saying to Fang Xi, "Although you have not met this fellow Daoist before, you must have heard his name—Master Biyu!"

"Is it the Master Biyu who ascended to Nascent Soul as an individual cultivator more than fifty years ago?" Fang Xi cupped his hands in greeting, "I’ve seen fellow Daoist..."

"You flatter me, Tiankui, we are all individual cultivators. I am quite interested in your mastery of puppet skills, and seek to learn from you in the future..."

Master Biyu’s mouth held a smile, and he was full of grace.

However, a Divine Consciousness, stronger and more secretive than that of an early-stage Nascent Soul, impolitely spread out towards Fang Xi but was obtrusively deflected by the exotic bamboo hat.

Fang Xi verbally agreed and they both ascended to the second floor, entering their private rooms.

Just as he was about to enter his booth, Fang Xi’s eyes became somewhat shadowy, and he caught a black wooden seal hidden in the palm of his sleeve.

In an instant, Fang Xi was ready to invoke the ’Kuyong Mysterious Light’ at any moment.

In this state, he could clearly sense the lifespan of the other cultivators.

’Lord Hei Xuan looks old but actually has over five hundred years of good life left...’

’This Master Biyu...can live for over two thousand more years?’

Fang Xi entered his booth and closed the prohibition door behind him, a cold smile appeared on his face: ’Even Transcendent God cultivators of the mortal world probably do not live as long as him. This is beyond the capabilities of any longevity elixir or secret skill; this person must be a monster cultivator!’

Thinking of the other party’s ascension to Nascent Soul a few decades ago, he became even more certain.

’Speaking of which... That fourth-rank high-quality Purple Thunder Kirin kept biting at me... Could it be because of the ’Bi Yi Universal Skills’ that follows the ’Sky Demon Slaying Immortal Tactics’?

Fang Xi sat cross-legged, silently noting down the booth number of Master Biyu.

After meditating for a short while, the sound of Yuxin rang out, filling the area with its calming effects.

All cultivators directed their gaze towards the auction platform.

Shortly after, a streak of black light fell upon the auction platform, revealing a middle-aged cultivator dressed in black.

This middle-aged cultivator had an ordinary appearance, but his aura reached the late stage of Nascent Soul. He was that Supreme Elder from the Black Dragon Sect!

What was memorable was that around him constantly lingered a Black Dragon Shadow.

This shadow’s aura was terrifying, reaching the level of fourth-rank middle quality, a treasure that could protect the wearer’s body and could be unleashed to kill enemies at any time!

’As the rumors say, this great cultivator once killed a middle-quality fourth-rank Flood Dragon and extracted its soul to form a protective Divine Skill. It seems to be true.’

Fang Xi inwardly praised, and then heard the great cultivator begin to speak:

"I am ’Lord Black Sky’, welcome to the auction. I hope everyone can purchase something to their liking."

Lord Black Sky had a hoarse voice, with a peculiar magnetism.

Roar!

After he finished speaking, a dragon’s roar was heard, and the entire figure was enveloped in dragon-shaped golden light before entering one of the private rooms.

It appears that this great cultivator was also aware that his personality was not suited to preside over such a grand gathering.

And after Lord Black Sky took the stage, a charming auctioneer took to the podium with her smiling maid in tow, "The auction officially begins... The first item up for bid, five Five Elements Core Formation Pills!"

She clapped her hands, and five maids each presented a tray and stepped forward.

The cultivators present couldn’t help but cast interested glances.

Many Foundation Establishment cultivators showed eager excitement, "As expected, the first round of items includes such Spiritual Pills. The auction catalog mentioned that these five Five Elements Core Formation Pills consist of one for each element: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth..."

Fang Xi had no need for Five Elements Core Formation Pills, so he quietly watched as the many cultivators below him competed fiercely, with each pill being auctioned for over a million low-grade Spirit Stones — a sky-high price.

’The Western Desert does have many spirit stone mines, causing the prices of pills to rise a lot...’

He pondered internally, then saw the stunning lady promoting bottles filled with a five-colored liquid.

This was the ’Five Elements Spirit Liquid,’ extremely beneficial for those in Core Formation in their cultivation.

After this wave of various healing pills and those enhancing Divine Consciousness, another round of magical treasures was auctioned...

Fang Xi, out of boredom, yawned until, halfway through the auction, the beautiful woman slightly pursed her red lips and smiled, "The next item up for bid is a mid-tier fourth-order alchemy legacy called ’Langhuan Pill Book’... It not only contains many exquisite alchemy techniques but also six fourth-order Pill Recipes, as well as a large number of third and second-order Pill Recipes..."

"Finally, it’s here."

His eyes lit up, and he wasn’t the only one moved; many Nascent Soul cultivators felt the same.

After all, such legacies are absolutely a foundation for a Sect!

Even if the Sect was in ruins, it’s unlikely that any cultivator would willingly bring it out.

"For this item, the seller has provided specific requests. If you have any of the spirit materials listed in the catalog, please state your bid..."

The beautiful lady clapped her hands, and a scroll floated up, shining light from all sides, allowing the cultivators present to see it from any angle.

"Supreme Etheric Golden Essence, Heavenly River True Water, Carbide Wood Spirit..."

Fang Xi took one look and his face darkened slightly.

’As expected, by the fourth order, one can hardly hope for auctions in low-grade Spirit Stones... Unless a major power urgently needs a large amount of Spirit Stones, but such good fortune wouldn’t come cheap to outsiders... It’s almost entirely barter.’

The problem was that such rare treasures were not only something he didn’t have, but even if he did, he couldn’t bear to exchange them for an alchemy legacy.

"Life hardly ever goes as one wishes, seven out of ten times..."

Fang Xi curled his lip and sat down calmly.

For one pursuing Long Life, mentality is crucial.

As for these minor disappointments... Time will always gradually smooth everything over.

"I have a piece of Carbide Wood Spirit, though it is slightly damaged... I wonder if it meets the seller’s requirements?"

At that moment, a voice as smooth as jade rang out.

Fang Xi raised an eyebrow, showing a hint of a smile, "It seems that this legacy and I are still somewhat fated?"

He recognized the owner of the voice; it was none other than Master Biyu.

With this thought, Fang Xi quietly watched as the other man postured, negotiating with the beautiful woman and eventually successfully acquiring the ’Langhuan Pill Book’.

...

"The next item up for bid is a Spirit Fire Seed!"

Fang Xi, who had been sitting comfortably, straightened up upon hearing the woman’s voice.

"What kind of Spirit Fire?"

"I didn’t see this in the catalog earlier, did I?"

"It seems the seller added this item just in time for the auction!"

...

Amid the various discussions of the cultivators, the beautiful lady signaled for a maid holding a tray to come forward.

On the tray was a pitch-black bowl.

This bowl had an ancient design, with Sanskrit Prohibitions running along its surface, emitting a circle of Golden Light, almost like a translucent golden cassock surrounding it, sealing a flame inside.

"They actually need a Buddha treasure to seal it... It must be a kind of Demon Path Spirit Fire," Fang Xi commented with interest.

"Heh heh... Just by looking at this Buddha treasure, one can tell this flame is powerful," came a laugh, asking the question Fang Xi wanted to ask, "May I ask the origins of this flame?"

"If it’s Demon King Yunmeng who’s asking, please wait a moment..."

The beautiful woman seemed to recognize the voice, her expression slightly changing. She took out a Prohibition token, and carefully loosened the Buddha treasure’s seal a bit.

Whoosh whoosh!

A Blood Red flame shot out from the Prohibition, carrying a spine-chilling howling sound with it.

"This Spirit Flame is called ’Bone-Melting Blood Flame’ and is a Demon Path Spirit Fire. It can be condensed by a cultivator who has practiced Blood Demon Skills to an extremely profound level, destroying their own Primordial Energy, and combining it with many precious Demon treasures..."

The woman continued talking while extracting a white bone from her Storage Bag.

This white bone was crystal-clear like jade, emanating a faint majesty; it was actually a bone from a fourth-order Flood Dragon.

"This is a bone from a fourth-order Flood Dragon... Please observe."

The beautiful lady pinched a Magic Spell, manipulating the white bone to slowly fly above the Blood-colored Flame.

Roaring!

A trace of Blood Red Flame attached itself to the white bone, wrapping it completely as though it were a malign festering sore.

And then...

Almost within a moment, the white bone began to rapidly melt under the Blood-colored Flame.

Such power left even the Nascent Soul cultivators aghast!