Chapter 137: Bloodthirsty Demon Crystal!

"Giggle..." Meng Yunxi's jade hand covered her red lips, and a series of tingling, seductive laughs slowly echoed through the entire private room.

Her body, wrapped in red floral fabric, arched in a startling curve, drawing the attention of the maids beside her.

The several red-clad girls exchanged glances, couldn't help but burst into laughter, secretly guessing who was inside—someone so blatantly mocking Old Demon Wang.

In the private room, Qing Yuan licked his lips, looked at the two people laughing heartily before him, pouted, and muttered, "I could have raised the price a bit more..."

"..."

The entire auction was exceptionally lively, with the vast majority of items being highly aged spiritual herbs, opening many people's eyes. As the auction continued, the treasures unveiled were rare and exquisite.

Yang Tian had just obtained the bloodstone containing the Soul-Nurturing Lotus Seed, but before it could warm in his hands, it was taken away with a smile by Meng Yunxi.

"Next up for auction is a rare refining material." Meng Li waved his hand, and a thumb-sized blood-red stone appeared in his palm, covered with veins, giving off a bloodthirsty aura!

"Blood Vein Stone, extremely hard, can be used to refine high-quality Dao artifacts." Meng Li's gaze swept across the auction hall as he spoke indifferently.

Some who were skilled in artifact refining brightened up. The Blood Vein Stone was very hard and relatively rare, making it a scarce material in the cultivation world.

"Starting bid: five hundred thousand mid-grade bloodstones, each increment no less than fifty thousand."

As the indifferent voice spread through the hall, many began bidding. This material was not only rare but could also greatly enhance the quality of Dao artifacts, whose strength often depended on the material's quality.

"What is this?" In the Ancestral Dragon Ring, Yang Xiao's gaze was instantly drawn to the Blood Vein Stone. After observing it for a moment, his soul body inexplicably trembled! A flash of shock crossed his eyes.

"Xiao Tian, you must acquire this material, no matter the cost!" Yang Xiao was frantic, his voice trembling slightly.

Yang Xiao was usually very composed, even the Life Spring Water in the Ancestral Dragon Ring hadn't elicited such a reaction. Yang Tian was inwardly surprised; though they hadn't known each other long, Yang Xiao's self-control was formidable.

"Uncle Xiao, is this a treasure?" After a pause, Yang Tian asked. The Blood Vein Stone's price had already climbed to seven hundred thousand bloodstones; acquiring it would require considerable effort.

"This is a divine material!" At this, Yang Xiao's eyes blazed with fervor, his voice urgent: "I thought you'd have to wait a while to forge a weapon, but not anymore. Few materials are more suitable than this."

"Divine material!" Yang Tian was startled. Materials called divine were top-tier in the cultivation world, the highest grade of treasures.

"But Uncle Xiao... isn't this a Blood Vein Stone?" Yang Tian asked doubtfully. The Myriad Images Auction House shouldn't have misjudged, should it? If a divine material sold for mere hundreds of thousands of bloodstones, the auction house would lose out.

"This is no Blood Vein Stone; it's a piece of Demon-Devouring Crystal, and among divine materials, it's top-grade!" Yang Xiao said hastily.

After thinking for a moment, Yang Tian expressed confusion. He had never heard of such a material.

"Demon-Devouring Crystal was extremely rare even in ancient times. This divine material is so highly regarded because of a special property: it can grow infinitely. Its potential is limitless; evolving into a Heavenly Artifact is a certainty!" Yang Xiao explained.

"Evolve into a Heavenly Artifact!" Yang Tian was utterly shocked. A material that could definitely evolve into a Heavenly Artifact was considered divine in the cultivation world, and its price was unimaginable.

Yang Tian didn't ask further and continued listening.

"Bloodthirsty Demon Crystal: this material can devour blood to nourish the artifact. The stronger the blood devoured, the faster the evolution. In ancient times, there was a demon sword called the Bloodthirsty Demon Sword! It drank the blood of many peerless experts, terrifying enemies!"

"Before evolving into a divine object, this demon sword could already rival divine artifacts, ranking among the top three on the ancient Heavenly Artifact Ranking!" Yang Xiao explained, licking his dry lips.

A weapon that could grow infinitely was far more valuable than ordinary Heavenly Artifacts.

"Blood-forged weapon!" A flash of fervor crossed Yang Tian's eyes. If forged, this weapon would be a killing tool!

"I must have it!" Yang Tian smacked his lips, his gaze fixed on the auction hall. The Blood Vein Stone's price had now reached nine hundred thousand bloodstones.

"I bid nine hundred and fifty thousand!" A famous artifact refining master in Demon-Suppressing City shouted, his face slightly flushed.

"I bid one million." An aged voice slowly came from a Heaven-grade private room.

"So it's Master Gu. Since you fancy it, I'll have to yield this Blood Vein Stone." The artifact refining master from Demon-Suppressing City went limp like mud upon hearing the voice.

"Hehe, thank you for conceding, friend. I am much obliged." Master Gu nodded, his face full of pride, and gave a light laugh.

"Ancient Sacred Land, this makes things easier." Yang Tian's eyes lit up as he glanced toward the private room, muttering in his heart.

"If no one raises the bid, this Blood Vein Stone will be..."

Before Meng Li could finish, a lazy voice slowly rang out.

"Lord Meng Li, wait. I bid one million one hundred thousand bloodstones."

As soon as Yang Tian called out the price, many eyes turned to his private room. The hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted in discussion. The one competing with Master Gu was the same person who had vied for the Dragon's Tongue Grass with Li Qingji.

Master Gu's face darkened. Not only was he from the Ancient Sacred Land, but his artifact refining skills were also renowned across the Eastern Continent, making him highly esteemed. Few dared to defy him.

"I bid one million three hundred thousand!" Master Gu, flaunting his wealth, threw out a hefty sum.

Many were pessimistic about Yang Tian. Master Gu was a skilled refiner, so he naturally had plenty of money; forging a single artifact with divine patterns could yield a huge profit.

"I bid one million five hundred thousand!" The lazy voice rang out again without hesitation, directly following up.

"Do you think that's Yang Tian inside?" Qing Yuan and the others exchanged glances. Apart from Yang Tian, few young people would dare to oppose the Ancient Sacred Land.

"Hard to say." Xing Hao shook his head slightly. If it really were Yang Tian, with several half-step Greats nearby, his aura would surely be detected.

"Wait and see, don't rush. Everything is under control." Shan Qu sat upright in his chair, full of righteousness, exuding an air of a master, showing no tension, as if he had weathered countless storms.

"..." Xing Hao and Qing Yuan bared their teeth.

"I bid one million seven hundred thousand!" Anger appeared on Master Gu's face as he secretly wondered which junior this was. At the same time, a hint of doubt arose in his heart: was there something odd about this Blood Vein Stone?

Many below were already buzzing. Yang Tian had just spent one million bloodstones on a Dragon's Tongue Grass, and now he was butting heads with the Ancient Sacred Land.

"I bid two million!" Yang Tian threw out the bid dominantly. Several people felt dizzy; two million bloodstones was nearly enough to buy a Dao artifact.

"Uncle Xiao, could that old man have recognized it?" Yang Tian was worried. If he had, competing financially with Master Gu would surely end in defeat.

"Probably not? Even such a big auction house misidentified it; that old man likely can't tell." Yang Xiao was also uncertain.

"I have no choice." Yang Tian's eyes flickered, then he crushed a jade slip.

"What is that little beast up to?" Master Gu was furious. Two million bloodstones was no small sum. He carefully observed the Blood Vein Stone but found nothing unusual.

With his eyesight, he was among the best in the Eastern Continent. Having grown up in a superpower, he had seen a vast array of rare treasures.