Free Web NovelChapter 199: Chapter 197: Auctioning a Tier 4 Body Ref
「One month later.」
On the Chongming Islands.
Su Qing had secretly used a disguise to come here.
The archipelago was vast, with many islands, most of them just reefs.
But who could blame them, with so many people practicing Immortal Cultivation?
Even reefs could be developed.
Today, many people had come to Chongming Island.
Su Qing was among them.
He had altered his cultivation to appear to be at the Golden Core Realm.
At the entrance to the auction house.
Su Qing wore a black cloak and a mask.
"Sir, a regular seat is two hundred Spirit Stones. A private box is one thousand Spirit Stones."
"A box."
Su Qing wasn’t trying to show off his wealth.
He was just acting as lavishly as a Golden Core Realm cultivator should.
Su Qing handed over a thousand Spirit Stones, and a mortal led him to a small private box. It wasn’t large, but it was isolated from the people around them.
Su Qing sat down and waited for the auction to begin.
The private boxes were soundproof, so he couldn’t hear a thing from outside.
...
Once most of the people had arrived,
a female cultivator at the Golden Core Realm took the stage.
She was undoubtedly beautiful, stood around five feet nine inches tall, and had a full figure, though her clothes were quite modest.
"Everyone, it is the Chongming Islands’ honor to have you attend our auction."
"I am your auctioneer for today, Zhi Shuihua."
"You all should have a catalog listing the items, including the final, mysterious auction piece."
"Now, let’s begin the auction with our first item."
"Foundation Establishment Pills! We have ten lots. Bidding for each starts at 10,000 Spirit Stones, with a minimum increment of 1,000."
"Twenty thousand."
"Twenty-three thousand."
...
Su Qing didn’t care much for the opening items.
The important thing was the Tier Four Body Refining Technique at the end.
The Five Directions Concealed Spirit Skill.
’The Tier Three Life Origin Spirit Wood is worth buying,’ Su Qing thought after looking at the catalog.
He now had his eyes on two treasures.
One was the Tier Four Body Refining Technique.
The other was the Life Origin Spirit Wood.
The Life Origin Spirit Wood was very small, but it could produce one drop of Life Origin Spirit Liquid each month.
The first time a cultivator consumed this type of spiritual liquid, it could extend their lifespan by half a year. Subsequent doses had no effect.
This effect alone was enough to classify it as a Tier Three Spirit Plant and Spirit Medicine.
Traces of this wood could even be found in alchemy, artifact refining, and array plates.
It was also quite rare.
...
...
In the end, Su Qing bought the Life Origin Spirit Wood for 3.47 million Spirit Stones, which was equivalent to just 34,700 Pure Spirit Stones.
"Next up is the final item of this auction: a Tier Four Body Refining Technique."
"A cultivation technique discovered in a ruin, on a single Jade Slip—the Five Directions Concealed Spirit Skill!"
"The bidding starts at 10 million Spirit Stones, with a minimum increment of 1 million Spirit Stones."
As soon as the auctioneer finished,
the bids started rolling in.
"Eleven million Spirit Stones."
"Twelve million Spirit Stones."
...
After a few rounds of bidding that Su Qing sat out,
the number of bidders began to dwindle.
Only three people were still bidding, all from private boxes—either multi-person or single-person ones.
"Thirty-nine million Spirit Stones. Everyone, please give face to the Liu Family of Long Lamp Island."
"We’re here to bid, not to give face. The Bai Family of Liushu Island bids 40 million Spirit Stones."
"Forty-five million Spirit Stones," Su Qing finally chimed in, raising the price by five million in one go.
"Forty-five million? Junior, are you, a mere Golden Core Realm cultivator, just shouting random prices? Are you a plant from the auction house?"
"Please do not insult the integrity of Chongming Island, guest in box number nine," Zhi Shuihua interjected sharply.
Su Qing said flatly, "Buy it or don’t. That’s my price. If you don’t want it, I’ll take it."
"Fine, boy. The Bai Family is out."
"Forty-six million. Junior, give the Liu Family of Long Lamp Island some face."
"Fifty million," Su Qing said coolly.
After that, all the private boxes fell silent.
"Fifty million, going once."
"Fifty million, going twice."
"Are there any other bids?"
"Fifty million, sold!"
"Congratulations to the distinguished guest in box number 36 for winning the Five Directions Concealed Spirit Skill."
Zhi Shuihua smiled. "And now, for the mysterious treasure of this auction."
Su Qing went to the back, paid the Spirit Stones, and had already received the cultivation technique.
Five hundred thousand Pure Water Spirit Stones. One-third of the assets the Sea-covering Master had left him was gone in an instant.
The final auction item was presented.
It was a yellow object.
It resembled a potato, but its surface was a brilliant gold.
"One hundred million Spirit Stones."
Someone called out a price before the auctioneer could even start.
"It seems a distinguished guest recognizes this treasure."
"This is a rare, life-extending treasure, the Yellow Spirit. Even without being refined into an elixir, it can extend one’s life by a full sixty years. For this auction, the Yellow Spirit can only be obtained through barter," Zhi Shuihua said with a light chuckle.
"Ahem, esteemed sirs, please do not be hasty. This is only a sample. The real Yellow Spirit is not here. I implore you all to remain calm," Zhi Shuihua added, growing fearful as the atmosphere in the room grew heavy.
’A Tier Five Heavenly and Earthly Treasure is actually being auctioned here,’ Su Qing mused, silently observing the sample below.
It was a fake.
’They’re probably afraid someone would try to snatch it.’
"How about a portion of Ten Thousand Years Ice Marrow?"
"Esteemed sir, that price is not enough. For the Ten Thousand Years Ice Marrow, it would take at least five portions to make the exchange," Zhi Shuihua replied.
"Fine, five portions! Let’s make the exchange now!" the person in the box said impatiently.
"A mere five portions for a life-extending Spirit Medicine?"
"Five portions of Ten Thousand Years Fire Marrow, plus one piece of Tier Five Profound Spirit Wood!"
...
In the end, a fight nearly broke out in the auction hall.
However, the crisis was averted, and no conflict occurred.
A Spirit Medicine that could extend one’s life by sixty years had actually fetched such a high price.
It was only then that Su Qing realized how foolish he had been to trade a Spirit Fruit that could extend one’s life by five hundred years to Su Hongshang for just a pill formula.
At the time, Su Qing had thought that life-extending spirit medicines might be rare, but not *this* precious.
The result was that he had just been taught a valuable lesson.
Life-extending treasures.
They were truly precious.
Su Qing left a short while later.
He feigned several changes in direction and appearance,
managing to avoid the trouble of being followed.
Although Su Qing could have killed them,
it would have easily exposed his presence.
Within an hour, he feared, Divinity Transformation Cultivators would be searching for him everywhere.
’That’s the Immortal Realm we’re talking about.’
Never mind Divinity Transformation; Su Qing was willing to bet that even cultivators beyond that realm would be looking for him.
The temptation of longevity.
It was something coveted by all cultivators, including the Demon Race and other races.
Su Qing was willing to bet
that he wouldn’t be able to show his true face for the next few years.
This year, it was probably only the Human Race who believed Su Qing possessed the Immortal Realm.
But as word spread, it would inevitably attract the attention of all sorts of races.
That made Su Qing even more reluctant to show his face.
He estimated that he would have to remain in hiding for some time to come.
He returned to the Profound Bright Islands. Everything was normal.
First, Su Qing used the Curse Killing Technique to curse Ji Qianqiu again.
’I have to hit him with this once every month.’
—
—
Ji Qianqiu was struck by the curse for the second time.
His handsome face, now covered in black lines, darkened. He had no idea why someone was cursing him.
He was in a terrible mood. The curse seemed to have grown stronger.
He went before the Grand Elder once again.
"Sect Lord, what is it?"
"The curse is back. Could it be the Demon Court?" Ji Qianqiu asked, his face covered in black lines.
The Grand Elder was also taken aback. "How is the Curse Power?"
"It’s not strong, but it feels a bit heavier."
The Grand Elder had never seen a curse like this before. He began to perform an inference again.
With heavenly secrets currently obscured and karma in a tangled mess, it was impossible to divine anything.
The Grand Elder sighed again. "I cannot determine the source, but the karma seems to originate from within the Ten Thousand Tribulations Sacred Land."
"A Demon Race spy? Or a member of the Human Race?"
"Could it be the Demon Race?" Ji Qianqiu desperately wanted to resolve this. This was the second time.
’If there’s a third time, a fourth time... this is going to drive me crazy.’
"It’s unclear. The karma is within the Ten Thousand Tribulations Sacred Land."
"Think about it. Could it be Su Qing? That brat has the Immortal Realm, so it wouldn’t be strange for him to have a weird Curse Killing Technique. Plus, his karma is tied to the Ten Thousand Tribulations Sacred Land, isn’t it?"
The Grand Elder’s words suddenly enlightened Ji Qianqiu.
’It’s actually very possible.’
But there was no way Su Qing would just pop out of hiding.
...
