Chapter 338: The Five Blessings Auction

The few people at the wine table immediately stared wide-eyed at one another, remaining speechless for a long time.

Gao Feng said with some puzzlement, "Could it be that Senior Hua has changed his nature?"

"Given his temperament, last time when we left right under his nose, I fear..."

"Do not discuss this further; beware of disaster coming from the mouth," Han Yuan hurriedly stopped them.

Qin Ming, however, found it somewhat amusing and drained the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Three days later.

Inside the Five Elements Mountain market, cultivators gathered in increasing numbers; various flying magical artifacts, ornate carriages, and bird mounts shuttled through the sky near the market, shimmering with colorful light.

Besides them, many cultivators from Modao Sect factions also traveled ten thousand li to attend this grand event.

Previously, when the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance invited various powers, they had already issued an ultimatum.

For any cultivator participating in this trading meeting, once they entered Five Elements Mountain, all grudges and enmities would be erased.

Should anyone dare to cause trouble, they would be suppressed by the Lei Ting methods of the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance.

However, once outside Five Elements Mountain, no one could control anyone else.

This was because the geographical location of Five Elements Mountain was extremely sensitive, situated at the junction of several major powers.

As the Five Blessings Auction began.

All invited cultivators began filing into the venue one after another.

The vast majority of these cultivators were at the Foundation Establishment stage, and there were quite a few Jin Dan cultivators as well.

When Qin Ming entered the venue, he also noticed several Jin Dan mid-to-late stage cultivators with powerful magic power auras, along with many high-ranking cultivators emitting demonic auras.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, you have finally arrived."

"Welcome to attend our auction," Du Xue said, dressed especially grandly today, her figure curvaceous; she greeted him with a charming smile that made one feel like bathing in spring breeze, "Fellow Daoist Lu's seat is in Private Room Jia-Zi-Bing; please follow me."

Qin Ming nodded faintly; he could see that this woman was in truly good spirits today.

After Du Xue led Qin Ming into a private room with excellent privacy and view, she said with immense gratitude, "This time, I must thank Fellow Daoist Lu for enabling me to secure such a large commission order, thereby earning the reward from my lord the Hall Master."

"After the auction concludes, I would like to invite Fellow Daoist Lu to my residence for a chat and a simple meal; I hope you will definitely honor me with your presence."

Ah... this... Qin Ming naturally understood this woman's intentions.

"Hehe! Fellow Daoist Du need not be so polite; in any case, Lu will sooner or later have to sell these things; keeping them in my hands is like holding a hot potato, so I shall decline the meal," he said with a faint smile.

Upon hearing this, Du Xue bit her silver teeth against her lips, a trace of disappointment flashing across her expression.

Subsequently, she personally served some exquisite fruits and spiritual tea for Qin Ming to enjoy, then bowed and withdrew.

Clang! Accompanied by the loud strike of a spiritual gong, signaling the start of this grand event.

Qin Ming raised his eyes to look.

Below, the seats were almost completely full, and the originally noisy venue suddenly fell silent.

Immediately afterward, an old man with crane-white hair and a youthful face, wearing a Bai Yu ceremonial robe, his eyes profoundly deep with contained divine light, emitting an overwhelmingly heart-palpitating pressure, slowly walked to the center of the stage.

"It is actually True Person Qingfeng, Elder Jin Han."

"One of the famous few Jin Dan late-stage great cultivators in Great Jin!"

"I did not expect the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance to even invite such a venerable person."

"With Elder Jin presiding today, I estimate no one will dare to act rashly here; otherwise, there will be no good fruit to eat."

The appearance of Elder Jin caused the cultivators below to begin whispering among themselves, speculating about what items would appear at today's auction.

When Qin Ming looked at Elder Jin Han, his heart also grew solemn; with just a slight scan, he could discern the other's strength, estimating it to be comparable to the Green-Faced Poisonous Flood Dragon from before.

Furthermore, based on Hua Tianxiong's memories, he knew that this Elder Jin Han was renowned for his formidable strength, possessing several powerful divine abilities, and had been famous within Great Jin for over four hundred years.

Qin Ming then activated the Yin-Yang Profound Mirror to take another look, only to see that within Elder Jin Han's body, lush green misty qi was abundant and full of vitality, indicating he had at least three hundred more years of lifespan.

It was estimated that this person had consumed quite a few life-extending pills or life-extending spiritual treasures, granting him significantly more lifespan than ordinary Jin Dan late-stage cultivators.

"Welcome everyone to Five Elements Mountain."

"The auction this time will be hosted personally by this old man."

Elder Jin circulated his Jin Dan magic power, and his loud, robust voice resonated throughout the entire venue, as if someone were speaking directly into each person's ear.

Just from this single move, one could glimpse a part of his capability.

"Everyone has come seeking treasures, so this old man will not waste words; next is the first one auction item."

Elder Jin scanned the auction venue, clapped his hands, and a maid dressed decently with a graceful figure, carrying a porcelain tray covered with red cloth, gracefully walked to the center.

He lifted the red cloth, revealing an exquisite jade bottle inside, and then Elder Jin gently removed the bottle cap.

An extremely dense aura of evil qi emanated from within.

"Core-Formation spiritual treasure: three drops of Profound Evil Spiritual Liquid."

"Starting price: three thousand middle-grade spiritual stones; each bid must increase by no less than fifty middle-grade spiritual stones!"

Whoosh! As soon as Elder Jin Han finished speaking, the atmosphere on site was instantly ignited, boiling up like bait dropped into a school of fish.

Qin Ming secretly thought that this Elder Jin also knew how to stir up the atmosphere, putting up heavy goods right from the start.

Of course, regarding such a Core-Formation spiritual treasure as Profound Evil Spiritual Liquid, Qin Ming's storage bag contained several full bottles... all cultivated over these past dozen years by using the corpses of demonic cultivators and ghostly spiritual bodies as fertilizer for the Fengyou Ghost Dates.

Therefore, Qin Ming had absolutely no interest in it and watched the fierce bidding competition below with boredom.

Taking advantage of this gap in time, he contacted Hua Tianxiong in the adjacent private room via the black talisman.

"Hua Tianxiong, in a moment I need you to step forward and bid on an important item for me; I will notify you when the time comes."

"Remember, you must secure it at all costs."

Hua Tianxiong was calmly drinking tea when Qin Ming's voice suddenly echoed in his mind, startling him so much that he nearly spilled the tea all over the floor.

He hurriedly responded, "Yes, I strictly obey Master's orders!"

After giving these instructions, Qin Ming's gaze returned to the auction venue.

Yet in the heart of Hua Tianxiong next door, blood was already dripping; hearing the tone in Qin Ming's voice, the item about to be bid on surely had a formidable background, and the spirit stones required would naturally have to come from him: 'At all costs.'

Upon hearing these words, Hua Tianxiong immediately felt a massive headache.

This was because, just half a year ago, he had finished offering a substantial sum of spirit stones and treasures to Elder Qian of the Li Fire Palace.

Although he held the prestigious position of Guild Master of the Thousand Mechanisms Merchant Guild, his private coffer had been nearly drained dry.

'Sigh, the world only sees my superficial glory.'

'But who can understand the bitterness within?'

'Living is truly damn hard!'

……

After a fierce round of bidding, the Profound Xuan Sha Ling Ye was secured by an old Foundation Establishment family at the high price of eight thousand mid-grade spirit stones.

Subsequently, while the crowd's high spirits had not yet dissipated, Elder Jin ordered a maid to bring forth an object.

Everyone's sight fell upon a pitch-black black-iron feather fan emitting a shocking aura of demonic energy.

The moment this fan appeared, even the Jin Dan cultivators within the auction hall could no longer remain seated; several powerful divine senses locked tightly onto this demonic artifact.

"A third-tier top-grade magical treasure, the Seven Sha Profound Feather Fan."

"Surely this treasure requires no further introduction from this old man?"

"The starting bid is twenty thousand mid-grade spirit stones."

Within the auction hall, two demonic cultivators hidden beneath black conical hats immediately cried out in shock:

"How is this possible?"

"Isn't that Elder Yang Jian's demonic treasure, the 'Black Flame Sha Feather Fan'?"

"Senior Brother, have no doubt; it is clearly the 'Black Flame Sha Feather Fan'."

"This local merchant guild is too disregarding of the rules, actually taking a sect elder's life-bound magical treasure, changing its name, and putting it up for auction directly!"

Thanks to the big shot "Master Wang Xiu" for the donation of 5000 coins.

Thanks to the big shot "Book Friend 20210301106584761042" for the donation of 100 coins! Thanks to all fellow Daoists for your monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, and following reads; a thousand thanks!

(End of Chapter)