Chapter 150: Bidding

Outside the Golden Cloud Pavilion, a beam of green light flew over from afar and landed on the steps at one side of the palace, revealing the figure of a bearded man—Han Li in his altered appearance.

He took a look at the magnificent palace before him, then strode toward the main entrance.

On both sides of the entrance stood many black-robed attendants, receiving every cultivator who approached.

"Senior, have you come to attend the auction?" Seeing Han Li approach, a black-robed attendant immediately greeted him with a smile.

"If not to attend the auction, why else would I come today?" Han Li frowned, somewhat displeased.

"Please do not be offended, Senior. This year's auction is somewhat different from previous ones, so I need to explain a few things to you," the attendant said with an apologetic smile.

"What do you mean?" Han Li asked.

"This time, the number of participants is much larger than in previous years. To control the crowd and exclude those who merely come to watch without intending to bid, the organizers have stipulated that participants must pay a certain amount of spirit stones as an entry fee. However, if you successfully bid on any item during the auction, the fee will be refunded," the attendant explained respectfully.

"Oh, such a rule? How many spirit stones?" Han Li said casually.

The attendant was about to speak.

"Presumptuous! How dare you speak to a senior like that? Withdraw!" A middle-aged man who appeared to be a steward hurried over and dismissed the attendant with a scolding.

Han Li glanced at the middle-aged man, who was a cultivator at the Combined Movement stage.

"The staff are inexperienced; please do not take offense, Senior. These rules apply only to ordinary guests. For a great cultivator like yourself at the True Immortal stage, you may enter through the special VIP passage and naturally need not pay any spirit stones. However, the same applies here—please come in," the middle-aged man said respectfully.

Han Li could not help but smile wryly at this.

It seemed that no matter where one went, strength was paramount; those with higher cultivation received vastly different treatment.

Thinking this, he nodded slightly to the man and stepped into the golden hall.

From the outside, it did not seem remarkable, but once inside, he realized the space was astonishingly vast.

The hall was divided into three levels. The lowest level was an immensely open hall, like a giant square, magnificent beyond compare.

At the front was a wide auction stage, currently empty.

Countless seats were arranged around the hall in a tiered fashion, and more than half were already occupied, making it seem somewhat crowded and noisy.

"This area is for ordinary cultivators. Please follow me; there are special VIP seats on the second floor," the middle-aged man said, leading Han Li up a nearby staircase to the second floor.

Here, several hundred seats were sparsely arranged, each spacious and well-spaced. On the side tables were fruits and spirit tea—a stark contrast to the treatment downstairs.

Many of these seats were already taken, all by True Immortal stage cultivators. Han Li even vaguely recognized a few from his visit to the city lord's mansion.

At the steward's invitation, Han Li took a seat.

From here, the view was excellent; the auction stage below was clearly visible, giving one a sense of superiority over the cultivators in the main hall.

Han Li nodded, then looked up toward the third floor and asked, "Who are the guests up there?"

The third floor consisted of private rooms, each with restrictive spells that blocked the view from outside, clearly offering even better treatment than the second floor.

He was not dissatisfied at not being invited to the third floor, merely curious.

"The third floor is reserved for the island lords," the middle-aged man replied.

Han Li gave an "oh" and withdrew his gaze, asking no further questions.

The middle-aged man, apparently quite busy, summoned a beautiful maid to attend to Han Li and excused himself.

Han Li paid no mind to this and sat quietly, waiting for the auction to begin.

Time passed little by little. Soon the main hall was fully packed, and there were almost no empty seats on the second floor either.

An hour or so later.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Three resonant bell tolls echoed through the hall.

The noisy venue immediately fell silent. A white-bearded, red-faced old man stepped onto the auction stage, apparently the auctioneer for this event.

"Master Wen!"

A buzz of discussion arose in the hall.

Han Li's expression flickered slightly. Could this red-faced old man be Wen Hua? According to rumors, he was one of the three Earth-ranked alchemists of Black Wind Island and also a guest elder of the island lord.

"Hehe, today marks the grandest auction in the Black Wind Sea region, held once every hundred years. It is a rare honor that you have all come to support this event. As today's auctioneer, I, Wen, feel deeply honored," the red-faced old man announced in a resonant voice that echoed through the hall.

As the old man's voice rang out, the clamorous discussions among the crowd ceased abruptly, and the venue fell into utter silence.

"Many of you here are familiar faces, but there are also some friends attending this auction for the first time. Allow me, Wen, to first explain the rules of the event. Bidding shall be conducted in units of top-grade spirit stones. If you lack sufficient spirit stones, you may use immortal origin stones at an exchange rate of one to one hundred, or offer items as collateral. The value of the collateral will be appraised by these three individuals," Wen Hua paused before continuing.

As his words fell, three cultivators in flowing robes ascended the auction stage: a white-browed elder in gray robes, a sturdy man in a blue short shirt, and a middle-aged woman with lingering charm. All three were clearly at the True Immortal realm.

Without a word, the three took their seats behind a long table beside the auction platform.

"Many of you likely recognize these three. As elders of the Everlasting Commerce Association, the Mystic Moon Association, and the Great White Association, they are well-versed in appraisals and will show no bias. You can rest assured. As for security, Black Wind City strictly prohibits any conflict. Offenders will be severely punished! Now, without further delay, let the auction begin!" Wen Hua announced with a wave of his hand.

A black-clad strongman stepped forward, carrying a large white box. Opening it revealed a red crystal the size of a human head, its surface adorned with flame-shaped patterns. Even from hundreds of feet away, one could sense the astonishing waves of fire spiritual power emanating from it.

"This is a whole piece of high-grade Flame Pattern Imperial Jade, an excellent material for refining top-tier spiritual treasures. The starting bid is twenty top-grade spirit stones, and each increment must be no less than one top-grade spirit stone!" Wen Hua announced loudly.

"Twenty top-grade spirit stones!"

"Twenty-one pieces."

"Twenty-five!"

……

The venue below buzzed with exclamations of surprise; many eyes lit up immediately, and someone quickly made a bid.

Han Li sat in his chair, watching everything below with a calm expression.

Although this Fire Vein Imperial Jade was a decent item, it was not worth his attention.

The price of Fire Vein Imperial Jade soared all the way, quickly reaching the high price of fifty top-grade spirit stones, and finally no one continued to bid.

"Deal!" Wen Hua announced the result, a smile appearing on his face.

That the first auction item could fetch such a high price was somewhat beyond his expectations—a good omen.

Not long after, the second auction item was also brought up—a thirty-thousand-year-old spirit grass—which ultimately also sold for a high price.

Time passed bit by bit, and auction items were brought up one after another like flowing water.

They were all kinds of materials, elixirs, and some spirit treasures. Although quite precious, they were clearly prepared for the He-Chelation and Mahayana cultivators below.

Han Li watched with some disinterest, and the True Immortal cultivators on the second floor rarely bid either.

Time quickly passed two or three hours, and the value of the auction items began to gradually rise. Some extraordinary treasures started to appear, among which were fine-grade Connate Divine Treasures, spirit treasures and elixirs used during tribulation transcendence, and some advancement elixirs. This caused the True Immortal cultivators on the second floor to become restless and start bidding one after another.

Before long, another auction item was brought up—a large piece of jade, dark red in color. On the crystal, one could faintly see blood-red veins forming a vague Fire Phoenix pattern, emitting strong fluctuations of the Law of Fire.

"The next treasure is this Phoenix Blood Flame Jade Crystal. It was formed from a mass of essence blood left behind after a late-True Immortal stage Fire Phoenix true spirit fell. It contains a trace of the Fire Law and is an excellent main material for refining post-natal immortal artifacts! Starting price: two hundred top-grade spirit stones. Each bid must increase by no less than ten top-grade spirit stones." Wen Hua first slowly swept his gaze around, and only after seeing everyone's eyes gather on the jade did he leisurely introduce it.

Han Li's heart stirred. The Law power contained in this Phoenix Blood Flame Jade Crystal was extraordinary, and even he felt an impulse to buy it. However, he did not have many spirit stones on him. After a brief hesitation, he suppressed the urge.

"Two hundred ten."

"Two hundred forty top-grade spirit stones."

"I bid two hundred eighty!"

"Three hundred!"

Many coveted this Phoenix Blood Flame Crystal, but they were mostly the true immortal cultivators on the second floor; those on the first floor, though envious, could no longer afford such a price.

The price of the Phoenix Blood Flame Crystal quickly climbed to four hundred and fifty, quoted by a bald, burly man in a red robe on the second floor.

Once this price was announced, the second floor also quieted down considerably; many who had been eager to bid refrained from offering further.

Seeing this, the bald, burly man revealed a hint of joy on his face.

"Five hundred!"

At that moment, a voice came from a private room on the third floor, rather ethereal, sounding like a woman's voice, raising the bid by fifty top-grade spirit stones.

The red-robed loose immortal was first startled, a flash of anger passing through his eyes, but after a series of expressions flickering on his face, he slowly lowered the hand he had just raised and did not continue bidding.

"Five hundred top-grade spirit stones, sold!" Wen Hua's face lit up with joy as he announced the result.

The Phoenix Blood Flame Crystal was quickly taken down and delivered by a special attendant to the private room on the third floor.

Han Li glanced in that direction and then withdrew his gaze, feeling in his heart that this price was somewhat expensive.