Chapter 346

Fang Yu, facing the Nirvana Elixir, directly bid eight hundred million.

The starting price was four hundred million, and each increment only required ten million, yet Fang Yu bid eight hundred million outright.

This was not due to his stupidity or ignorance of the elixir's value; he knew that in competition for a Heaven-grade elixir, a high bid could deter many rivals and perhaps secure the item outright at that price.

A starting bid of four hundred million signaled a stance—a resolute one—that would cause those hoping to try their luck, gradually raising bids until they lost their heads and began a bloody bidding war, to abandon immediately.

In past auctions, some Young Masters had merely played along, not truly wanting the treasure, but upon sensing competition, they lost their heads and kept raising the price—such Young Masters did exist.

The kind who would do anything for face, even at great cost.

Fang Yu's sudden bid would cause such people to abandon the auction outright.

"Eight hundred million? A jump of four hundred million at once? This one is determined to win."

When Fang Yu's eight hundred million echoed, the hall fell utterly silent for a moment, then—rustle, rustle—powerful divine senses swept toward him, but the VIP suites here differed from those in border cities, possessing a barrier against divine sense probes, rendering all attempts to spy on Fang Yu futile.

"Eight hundred million? Who is this? That VIP suite must be of great stature—directly raising four hundred million. I doubt I can compete with this person."

In one VIP suite sat a man clad in imperial yellow robes; he was unmistakably a Golden Core cultivator.

And to wear yellow robes on the territory of the Great Xuan Empire, his identity was obvious.

This Golden Core cultivator was none other than the Imperial Prince of the Great Xuan Empire.

The Great Xuan Empire was not like the weak Great Li, Great Xu, or Great De dynasties, where a Divine Ability Secret Realm cultivator was treated as an honored guest; in the Great Xuan Empire, even the Emperor had reached the Longevity Secret Realm, and every Imperial Prince cultivated Dao and Divine Abilities, each at least at the 5th Stage of Divine Abilities, Heavenly Man Realm.

If an Imperial Prince of the Great Xuan Empire remained below the Heavenly Man Realm, he was certainly a waste, good for nothing.

Of course, a prince who had reached the 7th Stage of Divine Abilities, Golden Core Realm, was among the most renowned in the Great Xuan Empire.

This prince was none other than the illustrious Prince of the Blood Feng, a figure of lofty status and formidable power.

At this moment, Prince Feng, hearing the eight hundred million bid from a VIP suite, furrowed his brow; he had intended to compete for the Nirvana Elixir, but now hesitated.

"Eight hundred million is indeed high. Normally, this Nirvana Elixir would sell for seven hundred million, but now that man has bid eight hundred million. To secure it, we'd need to raise to nine hundred million—or even ten billion—and ten billion for a Nirvana Elixir is too great a loss."

Beside Prince Feng, another man in yellow robes spoke.

This prince's cultivation base was the 6th Stage of Divine Abilities, Return to Oneness Realm; his eyes gleamed as if genuinely considering Prince Feng's interests.

"Indeed, ten billion could buy a low-grade Dao artifact. To spend it on a Nirvana Elixir is wasteful."

Prince Feng finally shook his head.

"Who is this expert, bidding eight hundred million at once? I was planning to buy the Nirvana Elixir, refine it, and break through to the 10th Stage of Divine Abilities—but even all my elixirs combined are worth only eight hundred million."

In another VIP suite, a middle-aged man in black robes wore a grim expression; he indeed possessed eight hundred million in White Sun Elixir, painstakingly accumulated through years of killing and looting—but even an eight hundred million bid wouldn't secure the elixir unless he sold his top-grade Treasure, which would severely weaken his strength.

Selling his top-grade Treasure for a Nirvana Elixir seemed foolish.

"Eight hundred million, eight hundred million—this man clearly has absolute confidence. If so, I'll drop out. After all, another top-grade Treasure is up for auction today—that's my true target."

A young man whose body shimmered with swordlight weighed his options, then decisively withdrew from bidding.

For a moment, though murmurs filled the hall, no one raised a higher bid.

"Eight hundred million, first call."

"Eight hundred million, second call."

"Eight hundred million, third call."

Yu Jizi, overseeing the first auction, watched as no one spoke again; he spoke slowly, yet still no one answered, so he finally struck the gavel.

The Nirvana Elixir was thus auctioned to Fang Yu for eight hundred million.

After handing over the crystal card bearing eight hundred million, Fang Yu rose and said, "Sister, friend, let's return now."

"Return now?"

Qiushui Xianzi blinked. "The auction has just begun—won't you stay to see more?"

"The Five Element Treasures hold no appeal for me, and aside from Dao artifacts, nothing else interests me. Better to return and cultivate than waste time here watching."

Fang Yu transmitted the thought directly.

Qiushui Xianzi considered it—indeed, it made sense.

Fang Qingxue nodded.

"Of course, Qiushui Daoist, you've helped me greatly—I'll arrange for an Xuanwu, a Huang She, and other Five Element Treasures to be sold in your Exalted Linglong Tower."

As they prepared to leave the auction hall, Fang Yu's words reached Qiushui Xianzi's ears.

"Excellent, thank you, Daoist! We'll return immediately—I must report this matter upward."

Qiushui Xianzi's face lit up with joy, her gaze toward Fang Yu filled with admiration.

She knew she hadn't come in vain—this Fang Daoist had entrusted her with such abundant business; even a small cut would bring her great profit.

She could even buy some auction items herself to cultivate her Divine Abilities.

It was the advantage of proximity.

The group left Jiuding Pavilion at once and returned directly to Exalted Linglong Tower, where Fang Yu entered a secret chamber to begin cultivation.

The Nirvana Elixir, costing eight hundred million, lay before him; Fang Yu swallowed it outright.

In that instant, flames erupted from every part of his body, an intense force scorching every inch of his flesh, as if a phoenix underwent Nirvana, reborn from fire.

Even every great array within his body, the Five Emperors Divine Abilities, were being forged; boundless power surged through him, which he firmly seized and absorbed relentlessly.

His body had first endured the lightning strikes of the Lei Gu Relic, then now the scorching of the Nirvana Elixir—his entire form underwent a wondrous transformation.

His physical strength continued to increase.

Though he had already received the Lei Gu Relic's lightning strikes, after the Nirvana Elixir's burning, his flesh underwent yet another metamorphosis—like charcoal refined endlessly until it became diamond.