Chapter 145: The Atmosphere Boils Over

Just before the auction officially began, a person entered Xiao Zhangqing's VIP box.

It was Zhu Xiaochuan.

Zhu Xiaochuan came to the auction today not only as a buyer but also as "official staff."

Because he is a second‑rank Array Master, the massive hall of the auction is sustained by numerous arrays that require an Array Master on standby for on‑site maintenance and the like.

Zhu Xiaochuan has a good relationship with the City Lord's Office, so part of this job naturally fell onto his shoulders.

Thus while others attend the auction spending Spirit Stones, he can also earn a handful of Spirit Stones.

"Hundred Dao Companion, your box is so empty, may I come in and sip a cup of spirit tea?" Zhu Xiaochuan asked with a cheerful grin.

Although he now feels a bit "afraid" of Xiao Zhangqing and can no longer interact as casually as before, his talkative nature still makes him unable to resist greeting whenever there's a chance.

Of course, part of him also wants to flatter Xiao Zhangqing and improve their relationship.

Given his cultivation level and status, he rarely has the chance to meet a Fake Core True Person, let alone gain friendship.

In fact, if not for Xiao Zhangqing, his connection with Gu Zongyuan would be merely a nodding acquaintance; his outward claims of a good relationship with Gu Zongyuan are just self‑promotion.

Only after he helped recommend Xiao Zhangqing did Gu Zongyuan consider the favor and reluctantly treat him as a true friend.

"Just come in and drink."

Xiao Zhangqing did not refuse; when the auction officially started later, he also needed a well‑versed local cultivator to brief him and act as a commentator.

"Zixi, pour a cup of tea for Dao Companion Zhu," Xiao Zhangqing instructed.

"Ah, no need, no need, don't trouble Miss Lin, I'll do it myself…" Zhu Xiaochuan sat down brazenly but didn't dare ask Lin Zixi to pour tea.

When he previously visited Xiao Zhangqing's grotto as a guest, the Lin sisters served tea and water beside him, and he sat there motionless as a matter of course.

After all, he is a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a second‑rank Array Master, while the Lin sisters are only Qi Refining cultivators and Xiao Zhangqing's concubines; it would be natural for them to be his assistants, but now things have changed.

The Lin sisters are minor Qi Refining cultivators, yet their master is Xiao Zhangqing, comparable to a Golden Core True Person! Thus their status is no lower than that of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. Watching Zhu Xiaochuan pour tea himself and grin at her, Lin Zixi found it amusing.

It wasn't mockery; she thought this Zhu Array Master was truly a remarkable person.

After two cups of tea, the lighting in other parts of the venue dimmed considerably, while a massive floating terrace at the very center bathed the area in a brilliant white beam pouring down from above.

The host took the stage and began with some formalities, introducing the auction's rules and so on.

For example, prohibiting malicious price gouging, threatening others from raising bids, colluding to rig the auction, and the like.

If discovered, the Nine Union Chamber of Commerce and the City Lord's Office will jointly crack down.

"By the way, Hundred Dao Companion, have you heard about Character: Liyang Zhenren City dispatching cultivators to support the front line recently?" Zhu Xiaochuan suddenly asked.

Xiao Zhangqing's eyes flickered: "Support the front line? I haven't heard."

Zhu Xiaochuan glanced around before lowering his voice to explain: "This matter proves you have foresight, Hundred Dao Companion. You know the Demon Sect Evil Cultivator, right? Recently they have launched a massive invasion of the Southwest border of our Da Yu Cultivation World. South of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range has become a full‑scale battlefield, led by the two major Golden Core sects Baihua Valley and Luoxia Sect, suffering heavy casualties and barely holding. Consequently, the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace took the lead, urging all major sects and cities to send cultivators to the front."

The Southwest is flaring up again?

The Demon Sect really launched a full invasion?

Seems the Baihua Valley's excuse wasn't a pretense after all!

It's just that Xiao Zhangqing had previously guessed the City Lord's Office might face trouble and a shortage of manpower, so they began recruiting Guest Ministers everywhere.

He hadn't considered it was because of the Southwest Region's war.

"Although going to the front line counts as an opportunity—slaying Evil Cultivators earns merit points that can be exchanged for many treasures—it's dangerous! I've heard that years ago the Demon Sect tried to invade the Southwest Region of our Da Yu Cultivation World, but that was only a probing raid, a small skirmish. This time, however, a Golden Core True Person will personally lead, making participation at the Foundation Establishment level extremely perilous, with life‑threatening risks!" Zhu Xiaochuan shook his head.

He also tends toward a steady temperament.

He would rather have his cultivation stall, even if he remains at the early Foundation Establishment stage, than risk the battlefield.

"I heard that more than half of the Guest Ministers recruited by the City Lord's Office this time were sent to the Southwest Region! That's dozens of people, and who knows how many will return alive," Zhu Xiaochuan sighed, looking out the window at the bustling auction outside.

Compared to fighting on the battlefield, he would rather stay in Character: Liyang Zhenren City and enjoy its splendid prosperity.

"Dao Companion Zhu certainly lives with clarity," Xiao Zhangqing said.

"I have self‑awareness. My talent, being able to establish a Foundation successfully, is already the merit of my ancestors and great luck. If I couldn't see myself clearly, I'd likely meet a bad end," Zhu Xiaochuan chuckled, then added, "Of course, Hundred Dao Companion, you're different. Even if you once agreed to join the City Lord's Office, as long as you demonstrate genuine strength, the Office won't force you to support the front line."

That's for sure.

Having finally left the Southwest Region and arrived at Character: Liyang Zhenren City, his purpose is to cultivate peacefully, using the inventory to raise his cultivation to the Golden Core realm.

Even if Character: Liyang the Immortal intervened and demanded his return to the Southwest Region, he would find a chance to escape midway.

The two exchanged a few sentences.

On the floating terrace at the center of the venue outside, the host had nearly finished introducing the rules.

"Enough small talk, Dao companions must be impatiently waiting. Let's officially begin today's auction…"

"Now I'll introduce today's first item: three Foundation Establishment pills, all premium."

"The effects of Foundation Establishment pills need no further explanation; every Dao companion here knows them well. The auction now begins: each pill has a base price of 12,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones, and each raise must be at least 100 Low‑grade Spirit Stones."

Wow! As soon as the first lot appeared, the atmosphere instantly heated up.

Foundation Establishment pills! In smaller cultivation markets, they are the supreme treasure—longed for by countless Qi Refining cultivators yet hard to obtain.

For a single Foundation Establishment pill, many minor cultivation families and sects could face annihilation! In a top‑tier city like Character: Liyang Zhenren City, they're less rare, since there are several second‑rank Pill Masters within the city.

Yet they're still uncommon.

Because many ingredients for forging Foundation Establishment pills are hard to find, even a second‑rank Pill Master cannot produce them without spirit herbs.

Thus many Qi Refining cultivators at great completion, besides leveraging connections and Spirit Stones to commission a second‑rank Pill Master, must primarily prepare the main ingredient themselves! Occasionally, small auctions in Character: Liyang Zhenren City feature Foundation Establishment pills, but they always serve as the finale items.

Today's auction presented the first item right away.

And it's a set of three at once.

"12,100 Low‑grade Spirit Stones!"

"I bid 12,300!"

……

"13,000!" …

Many cultivators placed bids; besides Qi Refining cultivators, a good number of Foundation Establishment cultivators also joined the bidding.

Although a Foundation Establishment cultivator himself has little use for a Foundation Establishment Pill, juniors and disciples can still make use of it.

Especially small cultivation families, they especially need Foundation Establishment Pills as reserves.

Otherwise, if an accident occurs in a family's Foundation Establishment Realm, the family can easily collapse.

Finally, the first Foundation Establishment Pill sold for 13,200 Low‑grade Spirit Stones.

Not expensive.

Considered a normal level.

But the next two Foundation Establishment Pills saw their prices skyrocket.

The second pill finally sold for 14,900 Low‑grade Spirit Stones.

The last pill even jumped straight to 16,700 Low‑grade Spirit Stones! At the start, the bidders likely thought there were only three Foundation Establishment Pills, letting the powerful and eager go first, while the remaining two waited for a chance.

They all thought of snatching the deal.

In the end, the final clash turned out to be the most brutal.

Especially the last pill, with no retreat left, three parties forced themselves to bid.

It was a full 3,500 Low‑grade Spirit Stones higher than the first pill!

"It seems you can't just try to snatch it. When it's time to act, you must act decisively; hesitation leads to defeat."

Xiao Zhangqing thought this silently to himself.

He has no interest in Foundation Establishment Pills.

Not only has he already reached Foundation Establishment, but his storage bag also contains two Foundation Establishment Pills, already prepared for the Lin Family Sisters.

The three Foundation Establishment Pills immediately shifted the auction's atmosphere.

"The second auction item is a second‑tier medium‑quality set Magic Treasure, Golden Lotus White Jade Ring… starting price, 8,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones."

"I bid 8,001!"

"8,002!"

Set Magic Treasures have always been popular in the Cultivation World.

Second‑tier medium quality essentially covers all Foundation Establishment cultivators, usable in early, middle, and late stages, so many bidders participate.

The final price rose to just over 12,000 before a Foundation Establishment cultivator from one of the Ten Great Families claimed it.

As time passed, item after item of treasures kept being presented.

At first, many Qi Refining Realm cultivators joined the bidding, grinding their teeth against a crowd of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Later, few Qi Refining Realm cultivators could still bid.

Besides the high price, the items were mainly things only Foundation Establishment cultivators could use.

Occasionally, one or two Fake Core True Persons would join the bidding.

"This is the Grand Elder of the Li Family, one of the Ten Great Families, with late‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivation…"

"His background is mysterious; he does not seem to be a local of Character: Liyang Zhenren City, but came specifically for the auction, and his cultivation strength is unclear. Yet Character: Liyang Zhenren City has always been this way—no guests are turned away, as long as they cause no trouble in the city and obey the rules…"

"His background is even greater; he seems to come from Xingyue Palace! Moreover, his status in Xingyue Palace is unusual, and his VIP ticket was gifted by Guangqin True Person."

Zhu Xiaochuan barely participated in any bidding; he was merely watching the excitement.

Either the auction items were of no use to him, or they were useful but he was short on Spirit Stones and simply couldn't afford them.

Yet he could recite the identities of most bidders one by one, greatly expanding Xiao Zhangqing's knowledge.

It isn't surprising that Zhu Xiaochuan, a core member of the Ten Great Families in Character: Liyang Zhenren City, knows about mysterious outsiders, disciples from other domains of Da Yu's cultivation world, and even pupils of the two major Nascent Soul sects; he learned this by helping set up formations at the venue these past days and gathering insider information.

"The next auction item will likely attract many seniors in the Core Formation Realm. It is a third‑tier premium Longevity Pill; if one has never taken a third‑tier Longevity Pill before, this one can extend life by sixty years! It is a holy longevity medicine. Starting price is 50,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones, with each increment not less than 1,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones!"

As the host's words concluded.

Immediately, the bidding voices rose incessantly.

And the bidders were almost all cultivators from the private boxes, while cultivators in the ordinary hall seats also eyed the third‑tier Longevity Pill, yet many were self‑aware.

They couldn't even afford the low price of this Pill, let alone bid higher.

With 50,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones, ninety percent of Foundation Establishment cultivators combined still couldn't reach that amount; only a few well‑connected late‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivators could possibly pool it together.

"62,000!"

In the blink of an eye, the bids had already risen more than 10,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones above the starting price.

Even so, the upward bidding showed no sign of stopping.

"70,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones! I, Lei Ming Shan, will claim this Longevity Pill!"

From a VIP box, an aged yet unmistakably mid‑stage voice rang out.

Before Xiao Zhangqing could ask who Lei Ming Shan was, Zhu Xiaochuan proactively began the introduction: "The Lei Family Patriarch has arrived! The Lei Family is unquestionably the top‑ranked of the Ten Great Families in Character: Liyang Zhenren City! Besides the Patriarch, who is a genuine Golden Core True Person, there are also two Fake Core level True Persons! Thus, in Character: Liyang Zhenren City, aside from the City Lord's residence, no other family can match the Lei Family. Compared with the Song Family, the gap is huge. Moreover, the Lei Family Patriarch is older than Character: Liyang Zhenren, with far more seniority!"

"Rumor… just a rumor, but when Character: Liyang Zhenren was in the Foundation Establishment Realm, he once received a favor from the Lei Family Patriarch, so there is a certain lineage connection between the Lei Family and Character: Liyang Zhenren! In the hundred‑plus years since Character: Liyang Zhenren City was founded, the Ten Great Families have changed many times, rankings often shift, yet the Lei Family remains unshakably first."

"However, the Lei Family Patriarch is already advanced in age, with little life essence left; obtaining this third‑tier premium Foundation Establishment Pill would extend his life by several years. Of course, the Patriarch likely has taken similar pills before, so this third‑tier premium Longevity Pill would be hard for him to achieve its full effect, perhaps extending life by one full cycle (a Jiazi)."

Indeed.

Zhu Xiaochuan had just finished speaking.

From another box, bidding cries echoed.

"Lei True Person, if I recall correctly, you have already taken at least two third‑tier Longevity Pills, right? Even if you obtain this Longevity Pill, how many years could it extend your life—twenty? Ten? Better leave the Spirit Stones to your descendants and give up the Pill! I bid 72,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones!"

(End of chapter)