Chapter 327: Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus

"Two hundred million high-grade spiritual stones…"

The guy bidding against Jia Baihe was clearly no pushover, and his aura was fierce.

Jia Baihe had no concept of spiritual stones; the hundred million high-grade spiritual stones in her ring, along with countless medium- and low-grade ones, had been piled up for years.

Moreover, once she entered the Immortal-Fanqiao realm, her need for spiritual stones would drop even further.

So when she saw the opponent raise the price to two hundred million, she unhesitatingly wrote "ten billion high-grade spiritual stones" on the bidding screen.

This wasn't Jia Baihe being arrogant or reckless—it was simply that she wanted to end the bidding quickly, as she couldn't stand having so many divine senses sweeping over her.

Since she started bidding on Jingye Spear, divine senses had never stopped landing on the seals of her seat.

As soon as the ten-billion price appeared, divine senses piled onto Jia Baihe's side one after another.

It wasn't that Jingye Spear wasn't worth that much—in fact, most people knew its value likely far exceeded ten billion spiritual stones.

But being worth that much was one thing; spending that much to buy it was another.

Moreover, who would dare own this spear? Spend a fortune to acquire it, only to wait for it to turn on you and kill you?

Everyone had only one thought: this person was absurdly rich.

Some even began leaving marks on the seals outside Jia Baihe's seat—marks that would cling to her once she stepped out.

Fan Jian Dan saw Jia Baihe casually throw down ten billion high-grade spiritual stones just to buy a spear she couldn't even use.

This level of wealth was beyond her imagination.

After Jia Baihe wrote "ten billion high-grade spiritual stones," the opposing cultivator fell silent.

Fu Ji Yuan Qi had never expected Jingye Spear to reach ten billion—he thought recovering fifty million would be a good outcome.

This spear was only fit for display, not for sale.

But even for display, someone had to refine it first.

While the Immortal-Fanqiao cultivators of the Ten Thousand Realms Guild weren't few, no one was willing to refine this spear.

If no one refined it, no one dared place it in the exhibition hall.

Who knew if the spear might suddenly erupt and tear the entire hall apart?

Now that someone had bid ten billion, it was nothing short of a heavenly blessing.

Though the Ten Thousand Realms Guild often put up items worth over ten billion for auction, each of those items had cost them a fortune to acquire.

He shouted without hesitation: "Ten billion high-grade spiritual stones once! Ten billion high-grade spiritual stones twice! Ten billion high-grade spiritual stones thrice… Sold!"

There was no pause—he was eager to get rid of the spear as soon as possible.

The transaction was completed swiftly; Jia Baihe sealed Jingye Spear and sent it into her small world.

"Big Brother Jia, you're truly wealthy—ten billion high-grade spiritual stones, tossed out like nothing, not even blinking." Fan Jian Dan couldn't help but exclaim.

Jia Baihe smiled, but inwardly thought: This trip was worth it.

Even if she didn't buy the Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus, this journey was already worthwhile.

Fu Ji Yuan Qi announced loudly: "Congratulations to the previous bidder! Next up for auction is a pill scripture, authored by a supreme Pill Dao King from ancient times…"

…

Ding Huan opened his eyes, his entire body feeling refreshed—the killing aura that had invaded his body had been completely stripped away and sealed with a talisman.

He would need these killing auras later, as he intended to use them to hunt down Lou Xihe.

Just as Ding Huan was about to deactivate his defense array, he sensed something was off.

His Primordial Spirit swept outward and found Jia Baihe was gone—and in his and Jia Baihe's suite, countless void formation patterns had appeared out of nowhere.

Lou Yunsheng's array patterns?

Ding Huan's first exposure to array patterns came from Lou Yunsheng's great array—he could even say he learned from it.

Now seeing these same patterns again, how could he not know that someone from the Jiuyuan Lou family had come to kill him?

No wonder he'd felt uneasy upon entering the Flying City—it turned out he'd truly been tracked.

Fortunately, this was the Ten Thousand Realms Guild's Void Flying City; its status was extremely high, and the pursuer wouldn't dare act here.

All he could do now was plant void formation patterns and divine sense marks outside Ding Huan's room—once Ding Huan stepped out, these marks would cling to him.

Ding Huan chuckled inwardly—this guy's void formation patterns couldn't even match his own, let alone Lou Yunsheng's.

How dare this fool show off his skills before a master?

It seemed Lou Xihe hadn't been killed after all—and had hired someone to hunt him down.

The reason this guy could track him here and plant void formation patterns in his suite was obvious: Lou Xihe had ordered it.

Before his injuries healed, Ding Huan still carried Lou Xihe's killing Dao resonance—this pursuer had followed that very aura.

Lou Xihe's body had been shattered by Ding Huan, severely injured—he likely survived only as a fragmented Primordial Spirit.

But this guy's mindset was the same as Ding Huan's: Ding Huan couldn't sleep if Lou Xihe lived,

and Lou Xihe couldn't rest if Ding Huan lived.

So even if this guy was only a Primordial Spirit, he still intended to act—though he'd delegated the task to another.

In Lou Xihe's view, this might be the perfect moment to kill Ding Huan. Once Ding Huan recovered, even Lou Xihe himself wouldn't stand a chance.

Ding Huan had originally planned to seal the killing Dao resonance stripped from Lou Xihe—but since someone was tracking him by this very aura, he left it exposed, waiting for the killer to come.

Most importantly, Ding Huan wanted to capture this guy alive to find Lou Xihe's whereabouts.

Jia Baihe was probably attending the auction.

Ding Huan wasn't in a hurry—he'd wait until Jia Baihe returned, then leave the Void Flying City.

The pursuer would strike only after they left the Void Flying City.

The Ten Thousand Realms Guild's Void Flying City held immense status—few dared act here.

…

Over several days, the Ten Thousand Realms Guild's Void Flying City auction had sold over a thousand items.

Every item was no ordinary thing; even the worst had sold for a hundred million superior-grade spirit stones.

After purchasing the Jingye Spear, Jia Baihe made no further bids until Fu Ji Yuan Qi unveiled a jade box emitting an ethereal aura.

Not only Jia Baihe, but everyone's gaze fixed on the jade box.

Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus!

Without Fu Ji Yuan Qi speaking, everyone knew this must be the Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus.

Of those who came here for the auction, one in ten had come solely for the Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus.

At least four to five thousand people in the entire auction hall desired to purchase the Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus.

Fu Ji Yuan Qi shouted: "Since the Immortal World vanished, to ascend one must reach the Immortal-Fanqiao Realm—our paths to ascension have grown ever scarcer, for the Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus has nearly vanished."

Yet now, I hold in my hand a Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus capable of granting one an Immortal connection.

The bidding method for the Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus differs from other items: it may be bid for with spirit stones or spirit veins, or exchanged for spirit stones and spirit veins plus other treasures.

Moreover, the bidding method for the Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus permits outside assistance.

As long as your bid gains recognition from my Void Flying City, and your friend arrives here bearing treasure, the auction may be reopened at any time—and the Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus will be yours.

Even if time runs short, the transaction may proceed after the auction ends."

Fu Ji Yuan Qi's words were beyond what the cultivators who had crossed several Star Continents to bid for the Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus had ever imagined.

Generally, all auctions by the Ten Thousand Worlds Guild forbade contact with the outside world during bidding, and prohibited cultivators from leaving or entering midway.

This time, the Ten Thousand Worlds Guild had made such a radical change; all could not help but marvel at how shrewdly this guild conducted business.

Some, eager to win the Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus, might bring their most supreme treasures.

If one lacked such a supreme treasure, one could report to one's sect or family—still offering the Ten Thousand Worlds Guild a chance to acquire it.

"I only have spirit stones. What about you?" Hearing this, Fan Jiandan lowered his voice to ask Jia Baihe.

Jia Baihe replied coolly: "I only have spirit stones too."

"Oh no, our chances are slim," Fan Jiandan groaned, his tone deflated.

Fu Ji Yuan Qi's voice rang out again: "The reserve price for the Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus is one billion superior-grade spirit stones. Bids may rise freely. Auction begins."

"Ten billion superior-grade spirit stones." A sudden bid surged to the top.

Jia Baihe glanced at Fan Jiandan beside her, thinking: This woman bids just like me—no time wasted.

But this is not the Jingye Spear—it is the Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus.

Indeed, this bid only silenced the hall for a few breaths before the price leapt to eleven billion.

Fan Jiandan rubbed his hair and said to Jia Baihe: "Big Brother Jia, I still have five billion superior-grade spirit stones—I definitely can't afford the Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus. What if we combine our spirit stones and see how much we have?"

Jia Baihe replied coolly: "I never join others to buy things. If you can afford it, buy it. If not, let it go."

"No, Big Brother Jia!" Fan Jiandan reached out to grab Jia Baihe's arm, but Jia Baihe lifted her hand—seemingly a simple, ordinary motion—and Fan Jiandan grasped nothing but air.

"Fifteen billion superior-grade spirit stones, plus one supreme-grade spirit vein."

The price finally surpassed the realm of spirit stones alone; others began adding different treasures.

"Five billion superior-grade spirit stones, plus one Immortal Quan Flower."

As soon as this bid was announced, the hall erupted.

In truth, the value of the Immortal Quan Flower was no weaker than that of the Nine-Colored Immortal-Mortal Lotus; a one-for-one exchange would leave neither party at a disadvantage.

But this bidder added five billion superior-grade spirit stones—making it highly competitive.

With the Immortal Quan Flower revealed, many cultivators knew their chances were slim, yet still kept sending messages through their communication beads.

"Big Brother Jia, we have no hope left," Fan Jiandan sighed.