Chapter 320: The Underground Auction

"Shopkeeper Gu, time to do business." Han Li smiled at Shu Tiansheng, then turned and stepped forward a few paces, knocking on the counter and speaking loudly.

The gaunt old man opened his eyes, lazily glanced at Shu Tiansheng, then at Han Li behind him. He slowly sat up, yawned, and said in a hoarse voice, "What would the two of you like to buy?"

"Naturally, the best items in your shop." Shu Tiansheng slid his finger across the tabletop.

Han Li glanced and saw Shu Tiansheng's finger tracing a strange pattern on the table.

A glint of sharpness flashed in the old man's murky eyes. He nodded, stood up, and walked toward the back of the shop.

Shu Tiansheng and Han Li quickly followed.

Before long, the three arrived at a dilapidated wooden hut in the back courtyard of the shop.

The gaunt old man tapped twice on an old wall. With a "clicking" sound, a layer of green light emerged on the wall. After a blur and distortion, a green-glowing door appeared, revealing a dark passage that seemed to lead underground.

"The venue is down below," the old man said, taking out two white masks and handing them to the two.

The masks were carved with patterns of stars and moons, emitting blue and white light that undulated like waves across the surface, appearing extremely mystical.

Shu Tiansheng took the masks, handed one to Han Li, and stepped into the passage first.

Han Li examined the mask in his hand, nodded to the gaunt old man, and also walked in.

With a rumble, the stone door behind them suddenly closed, plunging the passage into darkness.

But such darkness naturally had no effect on Han Li and the others.

Shu Tiansheng put on the star-moon mask. The blue-white light on the mask quickly brightened, coalescing into a light screen that concealed his body.

Han Li's heart stirred slightly. The blue-white light was quite mysterious; even his divine sense could not penetrate it, and most of Shu Tiansheng's aura was also concealed.

If the two had not been standing together, Han Li would not have been able to confirm that the person before him was Shu Tiansheng.

The star-moon mask's effect of concealing aura was quite similar to that of the Wuchang Alliance's masks, though it fell far short of the latter's ability to perfectly alter one's aura.

Han Li put on his mask and activated it with a slight spell.

The white mask remained motionless, showing no reaction.

He was slightly startled, then channeled his immortal spiritual power into the mask.

The white mask was like a bottomless pool, devouring Han Li's immortal spiritual power. Although the white light on its surface brightened somewhat, it was far from achieving the effect Shu Tiansheng had.

"Hmph!" Han Li snorted coldly, mobilizing most of his immortal spiritual power.

Hum!

Only then did the mask emit a brilliant blue-white light, forming a blue-white light screen that enveloped his body.

Han Li raised an eyebrow. He now understood that the mask was a means of testing cultivation level; without at least mid-stage True Immortal cultivation, one could not activate it.

The two walked along the passage for a while, turned a corner, and arrived at a stone chamber. At the far end of the chamber was a white light gate, emitting a soft radiance in the darkness.

"Let's go. The auction venue is inside," Shu Tiansheng said, seeming quite familiar with the place. He stepped into the light gate.

The blue-white light screen around him resonated slightly with the light gate, and with a flash of light, he vanished.

Han Li also stepped into the light gate. His vision blurred, and he appeared in a large hall.

Shu Tiansheng, who had entered a step earlier, was standing not far ahead.

Han Li looked around the hall. It was elliptical and arched, extremely spacious, appearing to be three to four hundred zhang in size.

The hall was lavishly decorated, with deep red luxurious floor tiles, several large and exquisite palace lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and many gems embedded in the walls.

However, this place seemed to be underground as well. Even with the lanterns and gems for illumination, it still felt somewhat dim.

Dozens of wide chairs made of precious wood were placed in the hall.

At the moment, many people were already seated, all like Han Li and his companion, their bodies shrouded in blue-white light screens, making their true appearances indistinguishable.

In front of these seats was a stone platform slightly raised above the ground, with a long rectangular table placed on it. Behind the table were three wide chairs, all empty.

Han Li and Shu Tiansheng's entrance drew little attention; only a few nearby turned their heads to glance before quickly looking away.

"It seems the auction will start in a while. Let's find a place to sit first," Shu Tiansheng said in a low voice.

Han Li nodded, and the two found two chairs near the back and sat down next to each other.

Han Li looked around the hall, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

The walls of the hall shimmered with a faint yellow禁制 light, seemingly inconspicuous, but he keenly sensed that the禁制 was extraordinary—extremely dense and heavy.

This formation禁制 was clearly of the earth attribute, and its power seemed to merge with the vast, boundless power of the earth. Attacking this禁制 would be like attacking the entire earth.

Such a brilliant禁制 was rare.

Han Li frowned slightly. Even if he went all out, he probably couldn't break this禁制.

This auction house, protected by such a powerful禁制, was evidently no ordinary affair.

Everyone in the hall sat quietly with eyes closed, almost no one speaking. The air was filled with a heavy, tense atmosphere.

Time passed little by little, and an hour slipped by in an instant.

During this time, two more cultivators arrived, both silently finding empty seats and sitting down.

Just then, a wooden door on the side of the hall creaked open, and three figures—two tall and one short—emerged.

These three were also entirely shrouded in blue-white light screens, their true faces unseen.

The three walked to the long table on the stone platform and sat down, with the short figure taking the middle seat.

"Apologies for keeping you all waiting. Before the auction begins, let me first introduce the procedure," the short figure said.

His voice was loud and clear, with a piercing quality. The audience below perked up and sat upright.

"Today's auction is divided into two parts. The first half is our regular auction. After that, if any of you have rare items, you may come up to display and trade freely. We will not interfere or charge any fees. Alright, let us begin." After briefly explaining the rules, the short figure calmly announced.

As his voice fell, the tall figure on the left side of the auction table waved his hand and placed an item on the table: a long wooden box with several talismans stuck on it.

The short figure took the box, removed the talismans, and opened it.

Inside the box was a blue-green longsword, ancient in shape, emitting dazzling blue light. Flowing water seemed to run along the blade, accompanied by a faint rushing sound.

Blue runes occasionally emerged within the blue light, and a strong law power radiated from it.

"An immortal artifact!" Before the short figure could speak, someone below exclaimed.

Han Li's heart stirred. The first auction item was actually a high-grade immortal artifact, which made him look forward to the subsequent items.

"This fellow daoist is correct. Today's first item is this Sea-Splitting Immortal-Slaying Sword, a genuine immortal artifact. It contains abundant water law power, far surpassing ordinary immortal artifacts. It was forged using..." The short figure laughed and then spoke eloquently.

This man was very articulate, praising the immortal artifact-level longsword as unparalleled in the world, immensely powerful, as if wielding it would make one invincible.

Many in the audience were swayed, gazing greedily at the blue sword, eager to try.

"Sea-Splitting Immortal-Slaying Sword, starting price sixty immortal spirit stones. Each bid must increase by at least two immortal spirit stones," the short figure announced.

"Sixty."

"Sixty-five."

"I bid seventy!"

As soon as he finished, the audience eagerly bid. In no time, the price of the Sea-Splitting Immortal-Slaying Sword was pushed to one hundred and thirty immortal spirit stones.

At this price, only a few people remained in the bidding. After several more rounds, it was finally taken by someone for one hundred and sixty immortal spirit stones.

Han Li did not bid at all.

Although the Sea-Splitting Immortal-Slaying Sword contained abundant law power, careful perception revealed that it was somewhat impure, as if a mistake had been made during its refinement. The price was a bit high.

The first auction item had already created a considerable climax. The short figure was evidently pleased and announced loudly:

"Next, the second treasure: a ten-thousand-year-old Soul-Birth Flower. I need not elaborate on its value; it is the best auxiliary material for refining an external incarnation..."

The tall figure beside him took out a jade box and opened it to reveal a pale golden spiritual flower.

The audience buzzed with discussion. Although this item was not as valuable as an immortal artifact, it was prized for its rarity.

The short figure, as usual, lavishly praised the Soul-Birth Flower and then announced: "Starting price thirty immortal spirit stones, each bid must increase by at least one."

Han Li sat quietly in the back, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

He hadn't expected to see a Soul-Birth Flower here, and one with a ten-thousand-year age at that.

Naturally, he had no intention of bidding. He still had seeds of the Soul-Birth Flower and could ripen them himself if needed.

Although Han Li had no intention of bidding, Shu Tiansheng beside him seemed very eager for the Soul-Birth Flower and joined the bidding.

After a few rounds, the price of the Soul-Birth Flower quickly exceeded eighty immortal spirit stones. Shu Tiansheng withdrew in disappointment, and the item was finally taken by someone for the high price of ninety-five immortal spirit stones.

Seeing this, Han Li's heart stirred slightly.

The Soul-Birth Flower could sell for such a high price in the Guyun Continent. With the Vial of Time, he could naturally ripen it at any time, but the ripened spirit herbs all contained time power. Selling them casually in the immortal realm risked exposing the vial—something he absolutely must not do.

With this thought, Han Li couldn't help but sigh.

The auction continued, and in the blink of an eye, twenty or thirty items were sold.

These items were indeed extraordinary, all extremely precious, with none priced below fifty immortal spirit stones.

However, the Blood Crystal Lotus Root had yet to appear.

Han Li frowned, and Shu Tiansheng beside him also seemed somewhat uneasy.

"Brother Shu, is your information correct?" Han Li transmitted his voice to Shu Tiansheng.

"Absolutely correct. I have some connections with the forces behind this auction; they wouldn't deceive me," Shu Tiansheng quickly replied.