Chapter 458: Revised: Chapter 457 Exposing Identity
Bai Ziyue’s face showed a trace of hesitation at the right moment.
Seeing Bai Ziyue seemed somewhat moved, Master Fushui’s spirit lifted, and he quickly seized the opportunity to say, "Most importantly, if you want to create your own Cultivation Technique, our Qingxu Sect has an Innovation Hall, where countless predecessors of our sect have left behind their insights on creation over the past centuries.
This is truly a profound legacy of our sect.
It would definitely be of great benefit to you in creating your own technique."
"Innovation Hall!"
Bai Ziyue’s eyes sparkled as he realized his goal had been achieved, and he finally stopped hesitating. He cupped his hands and said, "In that case, I’ll trouble Fellow Daoist Fushui and Fellow Daoist Jin Ting."
"In the future, we will be fellow sect members, so there’s no need to be so formal.
To be honest, I do have a personal reason for inviting you to join the Qingxu Sect.
Due to past grievances and the incident with Junior Brother Xuu Jin, Master Dan Jun of the Pill Treasure Hall and I are like fire and water.
However, this Master Dan Jun is the highest in Alchemy skills, second only to True Monarch Dan Chen, which is why he is likely to be chosen as the next Hall Master of the Pill Treasure Hall.
Since I’m recommending you to join, it’s likely he will target you, so please be careful in the future."
Master Fushui knew that Bai Ziyue would eventually find out about this matter, so he didn’t hide anything and spoke candidly.
"This Master Dan Jun is greedy and petty, and indeed should not be underestimated."
Master Jin Ting also chimed in.
"No worries."
Bai Ziyue waved his hand, unconcerned.
Qiu Dashang stood aside, dumbfounded.
In the blink of an eye, this senior would be joining the Qingxu Sect?
The Pill Treasure Hall... It was the department responsible for distributing Spirit Pills to countless forces within the Qingxu Sect’s realm, wielding immense power.
Immediately after, he couldn’t help but feel a bit happy in his heart.
How could he not be pleased when their Qiu Family was one of the first forces to establish a relationship with the senior? With Qiu Dingyue and Qiu Yuepiao still managing the Kunlun Pavilion for the senior, sentimentally and logically, they would be given consideration. Not to mention that this could allow their Qiu Family to soar, and the resources they would enjoy would undoubtedly be far superior to before.
Next, Bai Ziyue engaged in a detailed conversation with Master Fushui, Master Jin Ting, and others, agreeing to return to the sect together after the Qingxu Summit concluded, and then they parted ways.
...
The next day, at the Qingxu Auction.
Bai Ziyue occupied an auction room alone, watching as one treasure after another went up for bidding, silently waiting.
Today was the tenth day of the Qingxu Auction, and it was also the day his main target, the Thousand-Year Ice Heart Fire of the Fire of Heaven and Earth, was about to be auctioned.
He had prepared for this day for a long time and certainly did not want to miss it.
"The Thousand-Year Ice Heart Fire is a Fire of Heaven and Earth, of extremely high value. Counting past years, it seems only seven hundred years ago was there a similar auction of the Fire of Heaven and Earth.
The Fire of Heaven and Earth auctioned that time was the Netherworld True Fire, which seemed slightly inferior in quality to the Thousand-Year Ice Heart Fire, yet the competition was fierce with five or six Middle-High Tier Third-Grade Alchemists and Artifact Refiners vying for it, driving the price up to a thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones.
This time, I’ve converted and sold various treasures, coupled with the income from the Kunlun Pavilion, amassing a total of five thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones. I won’t believe I can’t win this Thousand-Year Ice Heart Fire."
Bai Ziyue steeled his heart, determined to succeed.
Of course, he had the confidence to back it up.
Five thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones, equivalent to fifty million Low-Grade Spirit Stones, was not something a typical force could put together. As for individuals, unless they were above the Golden Core Realm True Monarch, hardly anyone could possess such wealth.
Green source stone, Middle-grade Dharma Treasure Binding Restraint, Third-Grade High-Tier Array Map, Golden Spirit Pill Formula... one treasure after another appeared, with prices climbing rapidly with each contention.
Bai Ziyue remained restrained, without making excessive bids.
It was not until a unique Dharma Treasure named the Sumeru True Mansion appeared that Bai Ziyue’s eyes lit up, and he joined the bidding.
This Sumeru True Mansion was actually a composite Dharma Treasure created by closely combining an Array and Artifact Refining.
Much like the Flying Shuttle Bai Ziyue used in his early days, assembled by combining several components into one special Dharma Treasure.
The Sumeru True Mansion operated similarly, but the composite Dharma Treasure formed was a True Mansion resembling a cave abode. Furthermore, a specialized Array Master could inscribe it with a High-tier Third-Grade Array, the Sumeru Array, extremely expanding the space inside the True Mansion.
Just like this auction hall, appearing vast and spacious due to the effects of the Sumeru Array.
The only difference being one’s application over an island, and the other’s over a Dharma Treasure.
For Immortal Cultivators, traveling was quite a normal activity, yet it was unavoidable to encounter harsh environments or even danger.
At such times, having a Sumeru True Mansion would not only greatly enhance comfort but also provide concealment and defense, allowing timely retreat into the True Mansion and ensuring safety to some extent.
Especially for someone like Bai Ziyue, if he had a Sumeru Immortal Mansion when traversing the Hundred Thousand Mountains, he wouldn’t have been so paranoid every nightfall.
Bai Ziyue spent one hundred thirty-five Top-Grade Spirit Stones to acquire this Sumeru True Mansion.
After waiting for a while, his expression suddenly turned serious.
"Now, the treasure we’re auctioning, in most auctions, could serve as a finale treasure, and is considered a treasure by countless Alchemists and Artifact Refiners. It’s the key to breaking through the boundaries of Alchemy and Artifact Refining to achieve higher levels as Alchemists and Artifact Refiners..."
"Alright, let’s not waste words."
"Fire of Heaven and Earth, Thousand-Year Ice Heart Fire.
The starting price is three hundred Top-Grade Spirit Stones, with each bid increment not less than ten Top-Grade Spirit Stones."
Master Fengqin, who was hosting the auction, said as he solemnly opened a special Spirit Box.
Instantly, a piece of Profound Ice as tall as a person appeared before everyone’s eyes.
Within the Profound Ice, a cluster of blue flames flickered slightly, and an extreme icy aura spread forth.
"The Thousand-Year Ice Heart Fire has finally begun."
Bai Ziyue’s eyes sparkled brightly.
"The bidding starts now!"
As Master Fengqin’s words fell, one price after another was called out.
"Three hundred and fifty top-grade Spirit Stones!"
"Three hundred and sixty top-grade Spirit Stones!"
"Three hundred and eighty-five top-grade Spirit Stones!"
...
Bai Ziyue initially did not intervene, patiently waiting.
Through a round of fierce bidding, the auction price quickly surged to the level of eight hundred top-grade Spirit Stones.
The contenders for the auction also dwindled to just three people.
Only then did Bai Ziyue decisively make a move.
"One thousand top-grade Spirit Stones."
With his offer, he raised the price by two hundred top-grade Spirit Stones.
It was important to know that this was not the beginning of the auction; with the price soaring to eight hundred top-grade Spirit Stones, the sudden increase of two hundred Spirit Stones was a huge impact on all those participating in the auction.
The venue instantly fell silent.
This price had already reached the peak of the Fire of Heaven and Earth auction from seven hundred years ago. Countless eyes flashed with amazement, utterly shocked.
"Who is it? There are only a few Third-Grade Alchemists and Artifact Refiners here. Those competing with me should correspond to those few Third-Grade Alchemists and Artifact Refiners. Who is this sudden addition?"
In one of the auction’s private rooms, Master Dan Jun’s face suddenly darkened.
Being a Middle-Tier Third-Grade Alchemist of the Qingxu Sect, managing numerous alchemy affairs, he could reach out in many areas, and his wealth was considerable.
But rashly taking out one thousand top-grade Spirit Stones would still be very painful.
"One thousand top-grade Spirit Stones, is there any more?"
Master Fengqin timely spoke, tempting.
"One thousand and ten top-grade Spirit Stones."
Master Dan Jun gritted his teeth and reported the auction price.
He too could not afford to give up.
"One thousand and twenty top-grade Spirit Stones."
"One thousand one hundred top-grade Spirit Stones."
Bai Ziyue’s face stayed calm, speaking with composure.
The venue was stifled again.
Bai Ziyue showed absolute determination, immediately intimidating several people who were initially planning to vie for the Thousand-Year Iceheart Flame.
Even those who originally intended to continue the fight couldn’t help but hesitate and ceased to offer further bids.
This price had already exceeded the level of the Netherworld True Fire by one hundred top-grade Spirit Stones from seven hundred years ago. Even if the Thousand-Year Iceheart Flame was of higher quality than the Netherworld True Fire, it did seem unworthy of further bidding.
*No one’s Spirit Stones grow on trees.*
*Very few could afford to bear such a high price.*
*Delight now could easily mean poverty for decades, if not centuries; not everyone could make such a decisive move.*
"One thousand one hundred and ten top-grade Spirit Stones."
Master Dan Jun’s face was incredibly gloomy as he gritted his teeth and reported another price.
At this moment, he was truly filled with resentment. He hated the one bidding against him even more than Fellow Daoist Fushui.
*If it weren’t for the other party’s interference in bringing the Thousand-Year Iceheart Flame to auction, he could have acquired this Fire of Heaven and Earth through the sect’s internal channels at a much lower Spirit Stone cost.*
*Now, he had no choice but to offer over eleven hundred top-grade Spirit Stones.*
*And there was still the possibility of not getting it.*
*The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, his fury ablaze.*
"One thousand two hundred top-grade Spirit Stones."
Bai Ziyue had a reserve of up to five thousand top-grade Spirit Stones, wealthy, and with thorough resources, he showed no hesitation at all.
"One thousand two hundred and fifty top-grade Spirit Stones."
Master Dan Jun spoke once more, but after reporting the auction price, he didn’t pause and directly said, "I am Dan Jun, a Middle-Tier Third-Grade Alchemist from the Qingxu Sect.
This time, I indeed need the Thousand-Year Iceheart Flame to refine the Spirit Fire and thus break through the alchemy barrier to reach the realm of High-tier Third-Grade Alchemist.
"So, I kindly ask my fellow Daoist to take into consideration the face of my Qingxu Sect and my unceasing pursuit of the Alchemy Dao, and to relent this time.
I would be forever grateful."
With these words, the scene fell silent.
The face of Master Fengqin, who was hosting the auction, turned ashen, extremely enraged.
This kind of disruption of the normal auction order, using influence to pressure others, greatly affected the reputation of the Qingxu Auction.
Especially as the one speaking was a person from their Qingxu Sect, a Middle-Tier Third-Grade Alchemist from the Pill Treasure Hall of Qingxu Sect and the candidate for the next Hall Master, it was particularly detrimental.