Chapter 616: Astonishment

The three appraisers passed the emerald-green beast bone on the long table among themselves, their faces showing confusion, as if they could not reach a decision for the moment.

“May I ask how many immortal spirit stones you intend to pawn this item for?” The three exchanged glances, and the white-haired elder looked up, asking the blue-robed man.

“Thirty thousand immortal spirit stones!” the blue-robed man declared loudly.

At these words, a buzz of murmurs arose throughout the venue.

Thirty thousand immortal spirit stones was no small sum; this price was higher than most treasures auctioned today, and even slightly above the current bid for the “碧海天波功” being auctioned.

“Esteemed Daoist, this beast bone of yours is quite peculiar in texture, but it has no spiritual energy fluctuation. May I ask what makes it so special that you would pawn it for thirty thousand immortal spirit stones?” the middle-aged scholar asked unhurriedly.

“Well... this beast bone is a treasure I obtained from a desolate ruin after a life-and-death struggle. Though it has no aura fluctuation, neither lightning nor fire, nor even sharp immortal artifacts, can leave a single mark on it. I have also invited several master refiners to appraise it, hoping to forge it into an immortal artifact, but they too could not do anything to it. Therefore, this bone must be a supreme treasure.” The blue-robed man’s expression faltered, his face flushing slightly, but he still replied loudly.

Upon hearing this, a hint of mockery flickered in the middle-aged scholar’s eyes, and he exchanged glances with the other two.

Having worked as an appraiser for many years, he had seen countless shallow people who, upon finding something slightly unusual, believed it to be a peerless treasure.

“So, you cannot articulate its value either. I’m sorry, but to ensure absolute fairness and impartiality in this auction, we only accept items of clear value for pawn. Please take this beast bone back.” The middle-aged scholar maintained a smile on his face, shaking his head with a chuckle.

“That fool Fei Bin...” In the VIP room, Jing Yang Shangren’s eyes flashed with urgency, muttering a curse under his breath.

Han Li, witnessing this, flickered his gaze and remained silent.

“You...” The blue-robed man’s face was full of indignation.

With the appraiser’s verdict, mocking glances swept over from all around, making the man’s expression even more unpleasant.

He had actually sought appraisers for this beast bone before, and the answers were all the same as the middle-aged scholar’s.

He had hoped that with so many experts gathered here today, a high price might attract attention, and perhaps someone with discerning eyes would recognize it. But now, it seemed he had miscalculated.

A doubt crept into the blue-robed man’s heart: could this thing really be worthless?

“Hold on, I’ll take it. I’ll give you thirty thousand immortal spirit stones.” A voice suddenly came from a VIP room, where a middle-aged man with a golden crown and an imposing demeanor sat.

This man was a Taiyi realm cultivator, his eyes fixed intently on the emerald-green beast bone, glinting with sharp light.

At these words, another wave of murmurs swept through the venue, but this time mixed with more surprise. Most eyes turned back toward the beast bone.

The middle-aged scholar and the other two behind the long table were also taken aback.

The blue-robed man, hearing this, immediately showed great joy and was about to nod.

“Wait, I bid thirty-five thousand immortal spirit stones!” Another voice rang out, this time from Jing Yang Shangren.

The blue-robed man was stunned, his mouth half-open, frozen in place.

“Forty thousand immortal spirit stones!” The golden-crowned middle-aged man frowned and spoke again in a deep voice.

“Fifty thousand!” Jing Yang Shangren immediately raised the bid.

“Sixty thousand!”

“Seventy thousand!”

…

The two went back and forth, quickly driving the price of this beast bone to an astonishing level!

At this moment, heated discussions erupted again in the venue. Even the dullest person could guess that this beast bone was no ordinary object.

Several wealthy and impatient Taiyi realm cultivators could not resist joining the bidding.

The blue-robed man’s face was now flushed with excitement, barely able to contain his elation.

Behind the long table, the three appraisers from Black Mountain Immortal Palace could not help but look somewhat embarrassed. Staring at the emerald-green beast bone they had deemed worthless, their expressions became increasingly colorful as the price soared.

Even the auctioneer, who had been calm and composed, was now dumbfounded.

In the blink of an eye, the price of the emerald-green beast bone climbed to a terrifying thirty thousand immortal spirit stones.

The Taiyi realm cultivators who had joined in midway all dropped out one by one, leaving only the golden-crowned middle-aged man and Jing Yang Shangren still in the race.

“Two hundred and twenty thousand!” Jing Yang Shangren gritted his teeth and bid.

“Two hundred and fifty thousand!” The golden-crowned middle-aged man seemed to have seen the limit of Jing Yang Shangren’s wealth and sneered as he raised the bid.

“Two hundred and sixty thousand!” Jing Yang Shangren’s face darkened, and he bid again.

“Two hundred and seventy thousand!” The golden-crowned middle-aged man showed surprise and raised the bid once more.

“Two hundred and eighty thousand!” Jing Yang Shangren followed closely.

“Three hundred thousand!” The golden-crowned middle-aged man’s expression also soured, as if his wealth had reached its limit.

“Three hundred... fifty thousand!” Jing Yang Shangren’s eyes flickered with a strange light as he said in a deep voice.

Hearing this, the crowd gasped in unison.

“Three hundred and fifty thousand immortal spirit stones? Hmph, do you really have such wealth? If you can actually produce that many immortal spirit stones or equivalent items in public, I will immediately give up this item. But if you cannot, you are deliberately causing trouble. I hope Fellow Daoist Fu will handle this matter impartially!” The golden-crowned middle-aged man turned to look at Fu Yuhai below the stage, speaking coldly.

Jing Yang Shangren’s eyes darkened slightly, but his face remained calm.

Fu Yuhai turned to look at Jing Yang Shangren, frowned briefly, then immediately regained his composure and stepped onto the auction stage, saying, “Of course, the rules of the auction must not be violated by anyone.”

“That’s best. Please, this Daoist, produce the immortal spirit stones in public.” The golden-crowned middle-aged man sneered, his pupils contracting to pinpoints as he stared at Jing Yang Shangren.

Han Li glanced at Jing Yang Shangren, a flicker of light in his eyes.

Others might not see it, but sitting beside him, Han Li could detect Jing Yang Shangren’s unease.

Jing Yang Shangren probably did not have that many immortal spirit stones on him.

“Having so many immortal spirit stones piled up here would be unseemly. After the auction ends, I will naturally settle with this blue-robed Daoist. You need not trouble yourself.” Jing Yang Shangren snorted and said.

“This blue-robed Daoist’s item is not an auction lot, so there is no need to wait until the end. If you truly have such wealth, it is already exposed now. Why fear letting everyone see? Your evasion only suggests guilt.” The golden-crowned middle-aged man sneered repeatedly.

“Fine, since you insist, then take a good look.” Jing Yang Shangren’s eyes flashed, then he gave a faint smile, stood up, and waved his hand.

A stream of white light shot out, carrying a dozen or so items that landed on the appraisal table.

Most of these items were materials, along with two immortal artifacts and a bottle of pills, each radiating formidable spiritual energy fluctuations.

“Please, the three of you, appraise the value of these items in immortal spirit stones.” Jing Yang Shangren said.

The middle-aged scholar and the other two exchanged glances and immediately began a careful appraisal.

Seeing this, the golden-crowned middle-aged man frowned slightly.

“Fellow Daoist Li, do you have any spare immortal spirit stones on you? Could you lend me some?” Han Li suddenly heard Jing Yang Shangren’s voice in his mind.

“How much do you need?” Han Li asked via voice transmission, without changing his expression.

“Eighty thousand immortal spirit stones.” Jing Yang Shangren replied immediately.

“Eighty thousand immortal spirit stones is no small amount.” Han Li paused for a moment before slowly transmitting.

“I know, but please rest assured, Fellow Daoist Li. Within ten years, I will repay you in full.” Jing Yang Shangren, seeing that Han Li had not refused, was overjoyed and transmitted back.

“Fellow Daoist Jing Yang is going to such lengths to obtain that emerald-green beast bone. It must indeed be a treasure. I have also carefully examined it with my divine sense but found nothing special. May I ask what kind of rare treasure this is? Please enlighten me.” Han Li asked.

“To be honest, this item is a spatial treasure, but its aura is concealed by an extremely sophisticated restriction, which is why you could not detect its origin.” Jing Yang Shangren hesitated briefly before transmitting.

“Spatial treasure...” Han Li raised an eyebrow.

“How about this: if you lend me the eighty thousand immortal spirit stones, regardless of what is inside this item, I am willing to give you one-third of its contents.” Jing Yang Shangren raised the offer again.

“Since you put it that way, it would be unfriendly of me to refuse. However, I would like to observe when you open this item. Please forgive my curiosity.” Han Li smiled slightly and transmitted.

“Very well, but please do not disclose what you see.” Jing Yang Shangren’s expression changed slightly, but after a brief hesitation, he nodded in agreement.

Hearing this, Han Li immediately agreed via transmission and took out a small storage ring, quietly slipping it into Jing Yang Shangren’s hand.

Jing Yang Shangren probed it with his divine sense, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes, and his expression became completely calm.

The middle-aged scholar and the other two soon finished their appraisal and announced, “After our assessment and discussion, these treasures are worth no less than one hundred and twenty thousand immortal spirit stones.”

Jing Yang Shangren waved his hand again, and two beams of light, one black and one white, landed before the three appraisers—two storage rings.

“The remaining immortal spirit stones are inside,” he said flatly.

The three appraisers took the two rings, briefly examined them, and announced loudly, “In the two storage artifacts, one contains eighty thousand immortal spirit stones, the other one hundred and fifty thousand. Together with these materials, the total value is three hundred and fifty thousand immortal spirit stones.”

“Fellow Daoist, if you are still not at ease, you may personally inspect these two storage rings.” Jing Yang Shangren glanced sideways at the golden-crowned middle-aged man and said with a snicker.

The golden-crowned middle-aged man’s face darkened, and he snorted, turning his head away.

Seeing this, the auctioneer on stage announced the ownership of the emerald-green beast bone, bringing this sudden auction to an end.