Free Web NovelChapter 524: Chapter 32: Arrival of the Ascendant
The three major families of the Si Shui Commerce Association are led by the Yuan Family, with the Hao Family and Jia Family supporting.
Hundreds of years ago, the Si Shui Commerce Association suffered a setback due to poor management, was schemed against, went bankrupt, and had to sell its ancestral land, resulting in its disintegration. Eventually, Master Yuxiao’s grandfather took his lineage and moved to the Celestial Cyan Domain to start anew.
During this time, the Hao Family and Jia Family stayed in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, struggling to survive.
It wasn’t until a century ago that Master Yuxiao, using the accumulation gained in the Celestial Cyan Domain, seized the opportunity provided by the Central battle to return and repurchase his ancestral assets.
During the return, both the Hao Family and Jia Family played a crucial role.
Therefore, Master Yuxiao fulfilled the promise of his ancestors by maintaining the three-family governance model.
"Thank you, President Jia, for your concern. This is my first time attending such a grand event, and I am mostly curious, without any particular targets," Li Ji’an replied with a smile.
Having been in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain for five years, he had little interaction with others in the Si Shui Commerce Association and enjoyed this state of affairs.
"For years, I have been focusing on preparing for this auction event and had little energy to care for the elders in the association. Finally, now I have some free time, and Elder Huang has been wronged," Jia Yuanqing suddenly said earnestly to Li Ji’an, clasping his hands.
Li Ji’an felt a slight stir, looking at him with some surprise.
"To be honest, I only recently learned about Elder Huang’s circumstances over the past five years. Considering your profound heritage, you should have had grand plans, but I didn’t expect..." Jia Yuanqing shook his head with a sigh, looking apologetic.
Indeed, there were all sorts of factions within the association.
Li Ji’an laughed internally.
He was uncertain whether it was the enormous prospects of hosting this auction that stirred ambitions, or if they had been harboring this for a long time.
"President Jia misunderstood, I am naturally laid-back, too lazy, and indeed have no grand ambitions. Such a situation suits me perfectly," Li Ji’an decisively refused his insinuation of recruitment.
Having an independent third-tier Dao Field in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain where he can cultivate undisturbed was already a great satisfaction; he had no desire to involve himself in these power struggles.
"Oh? Haha, Elder Huang still doesn’t trust me, no matter. A long journey tests a horse’s strength, and time reveals a person’s heart," Jia Yuanqing shook his head and laughed.
His approach to Li Ji’an today was naturally after five years of observation, confirming that Master Yuxiao and Li Ji’an were truly at odds, not just putting on a show.
Additionally, through the shopkeeper at Si Shui Building, he confirmed Li Ji’an’s interest in high-grade talisman materials.
A Talisman Master aspiring for high-grade materials was naturally someone with intentions to further advance in Talisman Dao, how could he be as complacent as he claimed?
Li Ji’an ignored him, turning back to focus on the auction items.
Already on the first day, the auction items left Li Ji’an in amazement.
Full sets of second-tier attack spirit talismans were being auctioned.
Even a Chessboard Formation, capable of trapping a Core Formation True Man, was openly displayed.
High-quality magical treasures frequently appeared, and after the successful auction of a sixth-grade magical treasure, the host even announced a third-grade magical treasure, whose full power could only be tapped by a Nascent Soul True Monarch, would be auctioned on the final day, sparking enormous interest.
...
These spiritual talents would never appear before the public eye in the Celestial Cyan Domain, because they pose a threat to the control of the Upper Sect.
Similarly, if obtained by a Tribulation Cultivator, they pose a great threat to the safety of cultivators within the domain.
Unfortunately, despite staking out for several days, not a single piece of spiritual material went up for auction, aside from a few early third-tier spirit medicines, it was almost all finished products.
Li Ji’an wasn’t in a hurry, treating it as a way to see the world.
The auction items tended to get higher in grade as the event progressed.
Third-tier mid and even late-stage talisman materials were rare throughout the entire Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, and there were sure to be a few skilled Talisman Masters able to draw them.
Twenty days later, when a mid-stage third-tier demon pill from a saber-toothed great demon appeared at the auction, it finally kicked off the high-tier auction session of this event.
A mid-stage third-tier great demon, comparable to a mid-stage True Core True Man of the human race, even a Core Formation Ascendant might not be sure to slay it, especially without giving it a chance to self-destruct its demon pill.
Typically, these demon pills were traded from Nascent Soul True Monarchs of the Central Ten Domains in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.
Demon pills can be used in medicine, artifact refining, and are key materials in many beast pills; they are also crucial resources in the demon beast world for mutual devouring and advancement, greatly appealing to same-tier demon beasts.
However, very few people in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain can make use of such high-tier demon pills.
Upon seeing the demon pill, Li Ji’an did consider purchasing one for Gugu to supplement itself.
Unfortunately, this demon pill was not compatible with Gugu.
Ultimately, an elder with hidden identity won the demon pill by offering fifteen thousand spirit stones plus a third-tier herb material’s skin, defeating the offer from Fierce Tiger Commerce Association.
This process caused quite a stir.
People were particularly interested in the elder with the hidden identity, speculating about their identity and the intended use of the demon pill.
Nevertheless, no one was too surprised.
The Ten Thousand Merchants Domain highly values personal privacy. No Immortal City would deliberately probe into someone else’s privacy, so the domain is home to many hidden experts.
Moreover, this auction event is widely known in the Great Marsh Cultivation Realm, attracting many mysterious individuals from the Outer Domain.
Following the mid-stage third-tier demon pill, a late-stage third-tier longevity peach brought this auction event to a small climax.
No matter if it is the Mortal Realm or the Cultivation Realm, lifespan-extending treasures are always highly sought after.
A late-stage third-tier longevity peach, even if not refined into a high-tier third-grade lifespan extension pill, can extend lifespan by more than thirty years.
If refined into a high-grade third-tier lifespan extension pill, of excellent quality, lifespan could be extended by at least fifty years.
