Chapter 38: Auction Turmoil? I'll Crush Them with My Pay-to-Win Power!

The next day, at the hour of the Horse.

In front of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, there was a constant stream of carriages and horses, with ornate canopies gathered like clouds. Representatives of major factions, renowned rogue cultivators, mysterious figures hiding their identities... countless cultivators gathered here, waiting for the start of this grand event.

Accompanied by Qian Duoduo, Lin Xuan used the exclusive passage of the Four Seas Trading Firm to enter the interior of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion silently, arriving directly at the "Heaven-3" VIP box on the third floor, which was decorated with extreme luxury, offered an excellent view, and possessed the strongest defensive array.

Inside the box, spiritual fruits and fragrant tea were already prepared. In front was a massive, one-way crystal glass window, allowing a clear view of the entire auction hall below, while those outside could not catch a glimpse of anything inside the box. There were even dedicated attendants standing by, ready to await orders at any time.

"Elder Mu, everything has been arranged properly. You only need to place your bids from here; the outside will only show that the 'Heaven-3' box is bidding, and no one will know your identity," Qian Duoduo whispered, a hint of excitement on his face. "Our firm's representatives will assist in building momentum below and will also step in to support the price at critical moments to ensure nothing goes wrong."

Lin Xuan nodded and sat down on the comfortable soft chair, his gaze calmly cast toward the circular auction hall below, which resembled a Roman colosseum. At this moment, the hall was already packed, and the noise was deafening.

His spiritual sense swept slightly, and he could feel the powerful auras emanating from several VIP boxes, including the "Heaven-1" box where Ye Chen was located, and the "Heaven-2" box where the Third Imperial Prince was located.

"What a narrow path for enemies," Lin Xuan sneered in his heart.

Soon, an elderly man in a brocade robe with a spirited appearance walked slowly onto the central auction stage. His aura was deep and profound; he was clearly a Golden Core peak-stage cultivator! He was the gold-medal auctioneer of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion—Master Mo.

"Welcome, fellow Daoists, to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion!" Master Mo's voice was not loud, yet it reached every corner clearly, instantly suppressing all the noise. "I am Mo Chen, presiding over today's auction. I believe everyone knows the rules: the highest bidder wins, and those lacking spirit stones may use treasures of equal value as collateral... Now, the auction begins!"

Without further ado, the first auction item was presented. It was a third-tier high-grade spirit sword that shone with cold light, drawing many Golden Core cultivators to compete in bidding, and the scene heated up rapidly.

The subsequent items—cultivation techniques, elixirs, materials, talismans... emerged one after another, all of them extraordinary, causing bidding shouts to rise one after another in a heated atmosphere.

Lin Xuan sat firmly on the fishing platform, having no interest in the preceding items; he had only one goal. During this time, the "Heaven-1" box where Ye Chen was located also made a few moves, bidding on some body-refining materials and a lightning-attribute divine ability talisman, clearly preparing for his own cultivation.

Time passed bit by bit, and the auction gradually neared its end, the atmosphere becoming increasingly heavy. Everyone knew that the main event was about to take the stage.

"...Next, is the third finale item of this auction—the Ten-Thousand-Year Blood Ginseng! This ginseng contains vast blood energy and is a holy medicine for body refining; it can also be used to refine life-extending precious elixirs! Starting bid, 200,000 high-grade spirit stones!"

A collective gasp echoed through the hall. A Ten-Thousand-Year Blood Ginseng! This was a treasure capable of bringing the dead back to life and regrowing flesh on bones! The bidding instantly became intense, the price climbing all the way until it was finally won by a mysterious cultivator in the "Earth-5" box for the high price of 450,000.

"Below, is the second finale item—the damaged Ancient Spirit Treasure: Mountain-Suppressing Seal!" Master Mo's voice carried a hint of excitement. "Although it is damaged and the artifact spirit has been extinguished, its main body material is Nine-Heaven Meteorite Iron, containing a trace of mountain laws. If a grandmaster refiner can be found to repair it, its power will be immeasurable! Starting bid, 500,000 high-grade spirit stones!"

An Ancient Spirit Treasure! Even if damaged, it drove countless people mad! Especially those large sects and great families; if it could be repaired, it would be a treasure to suppress their sect!

"550,000!"

"600,000!"

"650,000!"

The price soared, with the competition mainly concentrated among a few VIP boxes. In the end, this Mountain-Suppressing Seal was pocketed by the "Heaven-5" box (representing a certain protector family) for the sky-high price of 880,000.

The atmosphere in the auction hall had boiled to its peak! Everyone knew that the last, and most eye-catching, finale treasure was about to appear!

Master Mo took a deep breath, scanned the entire venue, and his voice rose sharply: "Everyone! Next is the final item of this auction, and also the holy object for breaking through realms that countless Golden Core fellow Daoists dream of—the Core-Condensing Jade Liquid!"

A beautiful female cultivator carried a jade tray onto the stage. On the tray was a crystal-clear jade bottle, with runes flowing across its body, and one could faintly see a drop of liquid inside that looked like liquid emerald, emitting a hazy halo and vast spiritual energy!

The entire auction hall fell silent instantly, with only heavy breathing remaining! Countless fiery gazes were fixed firmly on that jade bottle!

Lin Xuan also sat up straight, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's.

"Core-Condensing Jade Liquid, there is no need for me to elaborate on its effects! Starting bid—300,000 high-grade spirit stones! Each increment must not be less than 10,000! Now, let the bidding begin!"

As soon as Master Mo finished speaking, the bidding shouts erupted like a volcano!

"320,000!"

"350,000!"

"400,000!"

The price climbed at an astonishing speed, breaking the 500,000 mark in the blink of an eye! Most of those participating in the bidding were wealthy rogue cultivators and representatives of small families in the hall; the VIP boxes were still silent, clearly waiting for the final moment.

When the price reached 600,000, the bidding shouts in the hall clearly thinned out; this price had already exceeded the affordability of the vast majority.

"650,000." A cold voice came from the "Heaven-2" box; it was none other than the Third Imperial Prince!

Once he spoke, the hall went completely quiet. The imperial family making a move meant the final struggle had officially begun!

"680,000." Another box (Heaven-7, suspected to be a hidden sect) followed up.

"700,000." From the "Heaven-1" box where Ye Chen was, his calm and firm voice finally came out.

"720,000." The Third Imperial Prince did not show weakness.

"750,000." Ye Chen increased the bid again.

The price rose steadily amidst their alternating bids, soon breaking 800,000! The cultivators in the hall watched with heart-palpitating anxiety; was this the contest between top-tier factions?

When Ye Chen called out the price of "850,000," the Third Imperial Prince's side fell silent for a moment, as if weighing the options. This price was already very high.

"850,000, going once!" Master Mo began the countdown.

The corners of Ye Chen's mouth curled up slightly, as if victory was already in his grasp.

However, just as Master Mo was about to call out "going twice"—

"900,000."

A calm voice drifted leisurely from the "Heaven-3" box.

Whoosh—!

The entire venue was in an uproar!

An increase of 50,000 at once! Jumping from 850,000 to 900,000! Who was this?! Daring to challenge both the Ye family and the imperial family at the same time?!

The smile on Ye Chen's face froze instantly, his gaze shooting fiercely toward the direction of the "Heaven-3" box, his eyes icy. He recognized this voice; it was that "Mu Xuan" who had "helped" him in the Ten Thousand Beast Mountains and made him feel somewhat strange!

From the Third Imperial Prince's side, there also came fluctuating, suspicious spiritual sense ripples.

"Heaven-3 box, bids 900,000 high-grade spirit stones!" Master Mo's voice carried a hint of excitement. "Is there any higher bid?"

Ye Chen's expression was gloomy; he had not expected this "Mu Xuan" to have such financial power! He took a deep breath and spoke coldly: "910,000!"

"950,000." Lin Xuan's voice remained calm, as if he were merely stating an insignificant number.

"You!" Ye Chen's breath hitched, a flash of anger in his eyes. 950,000 was already approaching the upper limit of the funds he had prepared for this trip! He had originally thought that 800,000-plus would be enough to secure it!

"960,000!" Ye Chen said this price through gritted teeth.

"1,000,000."

Lin Xuan did not hesitate at all, directly calling out a price that made the entire auction hall fall into instant silence!

1,000,000 high-grade spirit stones! Just for one drop of Core-Condensing Jade Liquid!

This price had already far exceeded the value of the Core-Condensing Jade Liquid itself! It was simply madness!

Ye Chen stood up abruptly, his fists clenched, lightning light faintly appearing around his body, and the temperature inside the box seemed to drop by a few degrees. He stared fixedly at the direction of "Heaven-3," and in the end, he sat down dejectedly. 1,000,000—he could not bring that out, and the Ye family would not invest unlimitedly for his sake.

The Third Imperial Prince's side also went completely silent.

Master Mo called out three times, and no one else increased the bid.

"Sold! Congratulations to the fellow Daoist in the Heaven-3 box for winning this finale treasure—the Core-Condensing Jade Liquid!"

The gavel fell!

The entire venue's gazes focused on the "Heaven-3" box with complex expressions; there was envy, jealousy, and even deeper wariness. Who exactly was this mysterious person?

Inside the box, Lin Xuan let out a long sigh of relief; although the process was intense, he had finally secured it. Spending 1,000,000, while painful, was worth it for the foundation of his Dao!

Qian Duoduo rubbed his hands excitedly on the side: "Elder Mu, domineering! Now let's see who still dares to look down on you!"

Soon, the manager of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion personally delivered the sealed Core-Condensing Jade Liquid to the box. After Lin Xuan checked it and confirmed it was correct, he completed the payment (directly deducted from the credit of the Four Seas Trading Firm).

Holding the warm jade bottle and feeling the vast energy contained within, Lin Xuan's heart was stirred and hard to calm. With this item, his chances of breaking through to the Golden Core mid-stage, or even the late-stage, were much greater!

However, he also knew clearly that winning this item was only the beginning.

The moment he walked out of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion would be the start of the real test.

He did not know how many pairs of eyes were hiding in the shadows, coveting the jade liquid in his hands and his "abundant" wealth.

Ye Chen's hostility, the imperial family's attention, the Nether Sect's revenge, the Zhao family's prying... all the conflicts would be completely ignited at this moment!

Lin Xuan carefully put the jade bottle into his Dust Ring, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"Come on, let me see just how deep the water in this Imperial Capital really is!"

He straightened his robes and, taking Qian Duoduo with him, walked out of the Heaven-3 box with composure.

(End of Chapter 38)