Chapter 459: Chapter 458: Refining the Thousand-Year Ice Heart Fire
In the auction, most people were in their respective secret rooms, but at this moment, most people’s faces inevitably showed a schadenfreude expression.
Master Dan Jun, Middle-Tier Third Grade Alchemist, the next candidate for Hall Master of the Pill Treasure Hall, held a status that absolutely belonged to the higher-ups within the Qingxu Sect. If the Qingxu Auction could not handle this matter properly, a crisis of trust might arise from a single mishandling.
In the Cloud-piercing Mountain Range, not everyone wished to see the success of the Qingxu Auction.
Even among the Cloud-piercing Four Sects like Taiyi Immortal Sect, Thunder Sect, and Great Buddha Sect, their relationships were not one of mutual support. They also competed and clashed with each other, and if given the chance, they would certainly not hesitate to lend hidden hands to fan the flames.
"One thousand three hundred upper-grade Spirit Stones."
At that moment, a voice once again spread out through the power of the Array.
It was Bai Ziyue bidding again.
Master Dan Jun’s self-revelation of identity, seemingly sincere yet implicitly threatening words, might cause ordinary cultivators to weigh their options and give up on further bidding, but this didn’t include Bai Ziyue.
For the Thousand-Year Ice Heart Fire, he had made many preparations even before the auction officially started, and had gathered a total of five thousand upper-grade Spirit Stones for it, meaning it was something he was determined to obtain.
Naturally, he wouldn’t simply give up because of Master Dan Jun’s words.
"Fellow Daoist, are you not giving face?"
Master Dan Jun was thunderously furious, his voice extremely cold.
No one had ever dared to so blatantly disregard his words, especially in front of so many eyes.
Immediately, a violent expression flashed across his eyes.
*This was getting out of hand, really getting out of hand.*
*Such blatant threats, ha, there’s a good show to watch now...*
*Causing trouble in an auction organized by one’s own sect, Master Dan Jun truly had no scruples.*
*What does he have to worry about? A Middle-Tier Third Grade Alchemist about to become a Third-Grade High Tier Alchemist and also the next candidate for Hall Master. In the entire Qingxu Sect, there were only six Hall Masters.*
*It could be said, aside from the Sect Leader, only those six Hall Masters could balance against him.*
*Though Master Fengqin’s strength wasn’t weak, even he wouldn’t dare to speak in front of Master Dan Jun.*
*It’s just a pity for the Qingxu Auction. After this, its momentum is likely to be suppressed, and others attending the auction would have to consider whether their auction items would be forcibly taken by the disciples of the Qingxu Sect...*
*...*
Immediately, discussions arose.
Weng! Weng! Weng!
Suddenly, a series of trembling sounds of the Array rippled out. Soon after, everyone felt an awe-inspiring aura descend.
This aura was overpowering, unstoppable, carrying a silent dominance that left everyone feeling heavily burdened.
A Golden Core Realm Powerhouse, a Golden Core True Monarch!
"This old Taoist, I am True Monarch Lingjiu."
Soon, a majestic voice rang out.
True Monarch Lingjiu?
The scene immediately fell silent, no one daring to speak.
A Golden Core Realm Powerhouse, especially a Mid-stage Golden Core Realm True Monarch like Lingjiu, had a deterrence far beyond that of an average Golden Core True Monarch.
"I thank fellow Daoists for attending the Qingxu Auction.
I have understood the situation.
We will show no leniency to any cultivator daring to cause trouble at our Qingxu Auction.
Therefore, I hereby announce, Master Dan Jun is banned from participating in the Qingxu Auction for life, will be immediately escorted to the Qingxu Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall, judged by them, and all of his auction bids are nullified... Now, the auction will resume!"
As soon as the words fell, the overwhelming oppressive aura vanished.
And Master Dan Jun also seemed to accept this punishment, not daring to make another sound.
In the face of a Golden Core Realm True Monarch, his status as a Middle-Tier Third Grade Alchemist and the next candidate for the Pill Treasure Hall Master was of little use.
True Monarch Lingjiu possessed not only formidable strength, reaching the Mid-stage Golden Core Realm, but also served as the Foreign Affairs Hall Master, an identity equivalent to the Pill Treasure Hall Master. If truly provoked, even if he killed Master Dan Jun on the spot, no one would pursue it.
...
"True Monarch Lingjiu... Truly worthy of a Golden Core Realm True Monarch, his might was incredibly strong.
Mid-stage Golden Core Realm, already superior to many Demon Monarchs I saw in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
Except for those three Primordial Spirit Realm Demon Ancestors, perhaps only that old turtle dared to claim superiority over him."*
Bai Ziyue marveled.
*He couldn’t help but compare with the Golden Core Realm Demon Monarchs he encountered in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, and quickly made a judgment.*
Following that, the auction continued.
As for that Thousand-Year Ice Heart Fire, it was naturally acquired by Bai Ziyue.
The price, however, wasn’t the thirteen hundred top-grade Spiritual Stones he last offered, but twelve hundred instead.
Although it didn’t make much difference to him, the feeling was decidedly distinct.
"But this time, I inexplicably provoked Master Dan Jun..."
Bai Ziyue couldn’t help but chuckle. *In terms of alchemy prowess or Immortal Technique strength, he was confident he could crush Master Dan Jun. Even if they were to encounter each other in the future, why should he fear?*
*What’s more, due to the nature of the auction, unless he exposed himself, the other party would find it incredibly difficult to discover that the Thousand-Year Ice Heart Fire fell into his hands.*
True Monarch Lingjiu’s handling of the situation was timely and decisive, yet the subsequent auction was still somewhat affected, casting a shadow on the faces of all Qingxu Sect personnel involved.
Fortunately, as various treasures appeared and countless cultivators competed, the atmosphere rekindled, allowing them to feel slightly reassured.
In such circumstances, Bai Ziyue quietly left, returning swiftly to his abode within his grotto.
"This Sumeru True Mansion..."
Bai Ziyue first took out a stone platform. It appeared to be only the size of a palm, but atop it, a grand hall was revealed. The exterior was intricate and detailed, lifelike.
He lightly touched it, and a wisp of Divine Thought Power surged forth.
In an instant, the stone platform expanded a thousandfold with the wind, and immediately, a grand hall appeared before him.
Stepping into the hall, Bai Ziyue’s eyes were full of wonder.
"Truly the Sumeru True Mansion, with an Alchemy Room, Artifact Refining Room, Cultivation Room, Spirit Beast Room, and Library Pavilion... everything was present, quite spacious, resembling a hall with an area of tens of thousands of meters appearing before me.
Additionally, within this Dharma Treasure, besides the Sumeru Array’s space-expanding effect, there were functions like defense, concealment, illusion, and alarm. Cultivators below the Divine Realm would not be able to detect traces of this True Mansion.
And for those above the Divine Realm, once they attempted Divine Thought probes, I could detect it in advance, which was very convenient.
The only regret, perhaps, was that although this True Mansion was comfortable, and the space seemed wide, the actual space wasn’t vast, merely derived from the peculiarities of Array Power.
The Sumeru True Mansion itself was not a Grotto Heaven Type Treasure, as its internal space still melded with external space.
So, my idea of using it as a large storage space also fell through. If I were to store the True Mansion into a Storage Bag, everything inside would spill out.
However, even so, this Sumeru True Mansion was still a powerful Dharma Treasure, a mobile Immortal Mansion, truly an essential item for Immortal Cultivators to have on their journeys."
Bai Ziyue conducted a round of investigation and testing, reaching a conclusion quickly.
He felt a touch of satisfaction in his heart.
With this Dharma Treasure, at least during future travels, he wouldn’t have to endure harsh elements or maintain constant vigilance against dangers.
Of course, what he truly desired in his heart was a Grotto Heaven Type Treasure with its self-formed space.
Unfortunately, treasures like that were so rare that even few Golden Core Realm True Monarchs possessed them. Among the Cloud-piercing Four Sects, it seemed only the Great Buddha Sect had a Gravel World, reportedly where the sect’s true mountain gate was situated. As long as the Gravel World remained intact, the Great Buddha Sect would remain unscathed.
*Mysterious and mighty.*
"Next comes the crucial Thousand-Year Ice Heart Fire."
Bai Ziyue’s expression turned serious as he waved his hand, causing a special Spirit Box to appear before him.
Opening the Spirit Box, a wave of extremely cold air emanated, causing him to shiver slightly, raising goosebumps on his skin.
Within the massive Profound Ice, a blue flame flickered gently.
"The Fire of Heaven and Earth, the Thousand-Year Ice Heart Fire is now in my possession, preparing me fully for what lies ahead.
Next, if I integrate this Spirit Fire into my Divine Power Technique, the Ten Thousand Flames Melting Furnace, its flame power would increase drastically, breaking through tier limits to reach a level equivalent to Golden Core True Fire.
With the help of this Spirit Fire, I could not only refine that section of Primordial Spirit Realm Demon Bone to forge my strongest Lifebound Dharma Treasure but also advance further in alchemy and artifact refining.
At the very least, the main Spirit Fire power limitation from high-tier Third-Grade Alchemist to Fourth-Grade Initial Stage Alchemist no longer constrained me."
Bai Ziyue took a deep breath, feeling immense excitement.
*In the contest of the Great Dao, triumphs everything.*
*In the face of such a path, how could he yield to Master Dan Jun?*
With no hesitation, he willed, and the Divine Power Technique, Ten Thousand Flames Melting Furnace, was instantly unleashed.
In the blink of an eye, a mass of four-colored flames transformed into raging waves, engulfing the Profound Ice.
Hiss hiss hiss...
The Profound Ice melted, quickly drawing out a strand of Thousand-Year Ice Heart Fire.
Buzz buzz buzz...
The four-colored Spirit Fire flickered, and the Thousand-Year Ice Heart Fire swiftly spread.
However, Bai Ziyue’s expression remained unchanged, and his Divine Thought Power surged frantically, instantly suppressing the layer of ice flame, rapidly operating the Ten Thousand Flames Melting Furnace to absorb and transform it, grinding and refining the traces of ice flame swiftly as if with a millstone.
"Good!"
Bai Ziyue’s eyes brightened, immediately sensing the Ten Thousand Flames Melting Furnace, which he had already elevated to its peak, was once again surging in power.