Chapter 80: The Auction (Part Four)

Hearing the sound of the deal being closed, Dao Sansheng finally relaxed, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the scroll, as if afraid someone would switch it out. The baby-faced young girl carrying the tray exited the auction platform, leaving only Linna on stage.

Linna was overwhelmed with excitement, pacing the stage a couple of times before calming herself. She then smiled at the audience again, her two dimples especially prominent.

“Next, we have our second auction item. The first was just to warm things up; the second is something our fellow cultivators here can actually use. Let’s not waste words—let’s bring out the star of the show.”

With that, another young girl entered, carrying a tray covered with a large red cloth, making her way slowly onto the stage.

“Allow me to reveal what this is.”

As she spoke, she whisked away the red cloth, revealing a white tray. On the tray sat a green jade bottle, its mouth sealed with a red wooden stopper. Linna gently picked up the bottle with her delicate hand and pulled out the stopper.

She poured out several milky-white pills, which rolled in her palm—there were dozens in all, gleaming pure and lustrous under the lights.

“This is a bottle of Foundation Establishment Pills, ten in total. I know many of you present are formidable figures on the Windswept Continent, but these pills aren’t just any ordinary product—they’re personally refined by Master Wang, a renowned pill master. They’re perfect for your clan’s younger generation.”

She deliberately paused for effect before continuing, “The starting bid is one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones. Please begin bidding.”

Setting the jade bottle down, Linna stepped aside.

“One hundred and ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones,” an elderly man in the hall stood and announced his bid.

Dao Sansheng was surprised to see someone bidding. He had originally planned to purchase Foundation Establishment Pills at an outside trade fair, but now, with a master’s handiwork available, he decided to seize the chance. Several in his group were about ready to establish their foundations; these pills would be well used.

“Two hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones.”

The bid came again from the private room on the second floor, drawing gazes from the hall. Someone in the crowd called out, “That private room on the second floor—it's that wastrel Zi Chenyu! Be careful, everyone. He just spent four hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones on a worthless scroll.”

Everyone wore masks and couldn’t recognize one another, nor could they tell who had called out. The auction hall fell silent; if a pin had dropped, it would have been heard by all.

Linna surveyed the hall, finding no one willing to raise the bid. She could only proceed according to protocol. Even Master Wang, sitting in the second-floor box, was visibly annoyed.

“Two hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones, going once... going twice... going three times... Sold!”

The gavel fell heavily, marking the transaction complete.

Master Wang, the pill master in the second-floor box, was a famed alchemist on the Windswept Continent. He had assumed his pills would be fiercely contested, but was unexpectedly met with such a situation. “That wretched scion of the Zi family! I’ll have to pay Zi Fancheng a visit and demand an explanation. This is an utter humiliation for me, Master Wang!”

The sound of a teacup hitting the floor echoed inside the box.

The auction continued. The girl with the tray had already left the stage, and Linna resumed her duties as host.

“I see many eyes following our beautiful pill-bearer. Well, your wishes will soon be granted—we have a lovely, practical gift coming up. Bring it in!”

At Linna’s call, a spirit beast-drawn carriage was brought out from backstage and stopped at the foot of the stage. Several burly men lifted something from the carriage and carried it to the center of the stage before stepping aside.

Linna slowly approached the object, shrouded in a black cloth. As everyone watched in surprise, laughter emanated from within, prompting even the guests who had been resting with eyes closed to open them and look toward the stage.

Gripping the black cloth, Linna gave it a strong tug, revealing a massive cage. No one could tell what material it was made of. Inside lay a young girl, curled up. Alerted by the crowd’s shouts, she climbed to her feet.

The girl clung tightly to a pillar, her wings unfurling behind her. Her complexion was sallow, her hair obscured her face and neck, making her features hard to discern. Her body was frail, especially her hands, which protruded thin and sharp.

Laughter continued to spill from her lips.

“This is a tribeswoman of the Thunderwing Clan. It took us tremendous effort—and the lives of two Golden Core cultivators—to capture her from the Thunderwing Clan. Rumor has it that every member of their tribe is born amidst lightning, and they can help you overcome heavenly tribulations and ascend to higher realms.”

Before Linna finished speaking, lightning crackled from the girl’s wings inside the cage, striking at its bars.

“Is that really someone from the legendary Thunderwing Clan? This won’t come cheap!”

The entire audience buzzed with discussion, every private box thrown into a commotion.

“I heard the Purple Gold Trading Guild caught a Thunderwing girl this time—it’s true after all! Should we bid for her?”

As the youth spoke, a transmission talisman shot out of the auction hall, and he sat down again.

This was Tu Tianxiong of the Tempering Heaven Valley, sending word to his sect master. Transmission talismans now fluttered through the auction hall like a swarm of butterflies.

Linna, seeing the scene, smiled even more sweetly and explained, “This was originally meant to be the grand finale of our auction, but due to last-minute changes, we’re presenting her earlier. Rest assured, we still have even greater treasures for the end, so bid within your means.”

“What’s the price? How much?” shouted voices from below. Some knew this would not be cheap, but curiosity got the better of them.

“One million top-grade spirit stones, with a minimum increment of ten thousand each bid.”

Linna’s words set off a storm in the hall, excitement surging higher than at the start. The price was much lower than most had expected.

“One million and ten thousand top-grade spirit stones!” came a bid from a second-floor box, followed swiftly by another from the third floor.

“One million, one hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones!”

Dao Sansheng sat back, watching the bidding with his companions.

“One million, five hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones!”

The five turned to look as Zi Chenyu called out this astonishing new bid—one and a half million top-grade spirit stones.

All eyes in the hall once again settled on him.

“It seems the prodigal young master has made another move,” someone below called out. Until now, only major powers had been bidding; ordinary people wouldn’t even consider it, as keeping such a prize would be extravagantly costly.

Feeling Dao Sansheng’s gaze, Zi Chenyu grew nervous, deliberated for a moment, as if making a decision, then gritted his teeth and said, “Young Master Dao, if you want her, I’ll give her to you.”

He spoke as if it were nothing, as if one and a half million top-grade spirit stones were mere trifles—yet there were few on the Windswept Continent who could produce such a sum.