"This one?..."
Wu Tao hesitated for a moment, clearly swayed by Mi Qirui's words.
Meanwhile, Ito Ryuu, Tuoba Ye, and Yao Chen, who had yet to speak, wore expressions of slight dejection.
It was clear they were not in a good mood.
...
"Alas..."
With a soft sigh, Wu Tao spoke in a low voice.
"Fellow Daoist Yi, Fellow Daoist Tuoba, Fellow Daoist Yao, what treasures do you have for exchange? Bring them out for me to see."
"After I've seen the treasures you three have brought, I will make my decision."
"While Fellow Daoist Mi's two treasures are extraordinary, they are ultimately imitations. It's difficult for me to decide immediately!"
...
"Haha, Fellow Daoist Wu is right. After seeing them all, it will be perfect..."
"After seeing them all, we can decide faster?"
...
"Fellow Daoist Yi, Fellow Daoist Tuoba, why don't you also bring out the treasures you have for Fellow Daoist Wu to see, so that he can quickly make up his mind!"
...
Seeing Wu Tao's indecision, Mi Qirui's confidence soared. He knew he had a seventy percent chance of success.
From Wu Tao's attitude, Mi Qirui sensed hesitation. Clearly, Wu Tao was quite satisfied with his two treasures.
At the very least, compared to other treasures, his were superior in Wu Tao's mind!
Mi Qirui's mind raced, feeling a sense of ease!
Ito Ryuu, Tuoba Ye, and Yao Chen, seated not far from Mi Qirui, were not as comfortable.
At this moment, the three who had yet to make their offers had lost their initial confidence.
...
From Wu Tao's reaction, Ito Ryuu, Tuoba Ye, and Yao Chen believed that the low-grade spiritual treasure, the Heavenly Fiend Ring, would likely fall into Mi Qirui's hands if nothing unexpected happened.
Inevitably, Ito Ryuu, Tuoba Ye, and Yao Chen began to ponder various ideas, thinking about how to snatch the spiritual treasure from Mi Qirui.
Not just the three of them, but several others, such as Xiao Xiaohong, Lu Xun, and Kuerle, were also calculating in their minds.
They naturally could not just stand by and watch others take the low-grade spiritual treasure, the Heavenly Fiend Ring, from under their noses!
Forcible seizure was sometimes a choice.
After all, this was not the Mi family's territory. Outside of Chu Domain, could the host even guarantee their safety?
Moreover, they were all top powers of equal standing. Who was afraid of retaliation?
...
Under Mi Qirui's triumphant gaze, and with Wu Tao watching expectantly, it was Yao Chen who first regained his composure.
With a gentle pat on his spiritual beast pouch, a treasure appeared on the auction stage.
The next moment, everyone's brows furrowed sharply. Clearly, Yao Chen's treasure surpassed everyone's imagination.
It wasn't that the treasure was particularly precious, but rather that it was exceptionally rare.
What Yao Chen presented was the heart of a Purple Mansion realm Kylin.
The heart of a Purple Mansion realm Kylin was also a supreme treasure in the cultivation world, possessing all sorts of indescribable beneficial effects.
However, Wu Tao's eyes showed little joy upon seeing the Purple Mansion realm Kylin's heart; he was clearly not interested in it.
As expected, Wu Tao shook his head, and under Yao Chen's disappointed gaze, he announced that he had no fate with the low-grade spiritual treasure, the Heavenly Fiend Ring.
...
Next was Tuoba Ye's turn.
Tuoba Ye also flicked his wrist, sending the Chaos Primordial Embryo Stone onto the auction floor.
Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Tuoba Ye explained.
Legend had it that when the ancestor of the giants in the ancient era fought with a powerful enemy, his blood spilled onto the earth. A portion of this blood fused with the chaotic qi, forming what was called the Chaos Primordial Embryo Stone.
And the one he presented was a Chaos Primordial Embryo Stone.
...
Thinking of the origin of this Chaos Primordial Embryo Stone, Tuoba Ye couldn't help but sigh.
Thinking further of the enhancement to his life-bound magic treasure if he integrated this Chaos Primordial Embryo Stone, Tuoba Ye felt even more regret.
But upon considering the unique nature of spiritual treasures, and the current lack of any such treasures in their Tuoba family, he no longer hesitated.
...
If it weren't for the fact that this was a spiritual treasure, he would never have taken out this Chaos Primordial Embryo Stone for exchange.
Seeing Wu Tao's face showing a mixture of pleasant surprise and joy, Tuoba Ye felt a slight elation in his heart.
He thought to himself, "I never expected to be so lucky, like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse. It happened just right."
"Judging by this, I might have a chance!"
...
Tuoba Ye's thoughts were correct. Wu Tao was indeed very interested in this Chaos Primordial Embryo Stone.
This immediately made Mi Qirui, who had been confidently at ease, somewhat restless.
...
On the other side!
After calming himself slightly, Ito Ryuu, the final participant, waved his hand, throwing out several treasures onto the auction stage.
...
"The treasures Fellow Daoist Yi presented are quite interesting?"
"What are these? Could you explain them to me?"
After a brief sensing, Wu Tao's normally calm eyes suddenly changed. For some reason, his heart suddenly felt a tremor!
This feeling, he seemed to have sensed it on another item before.
...
"The three treasures I've presented have extraordinary origins, but compared to the treasures of the previous fellow Daoists, they are slightly inferior."
"The first treasure is called the Veins of the Dao. It is an origin close to the laws that is born within giant spiritual veins!"
"The second treasure is called Immortal Jade Marrow. This is a top-grade immortal-grade spiritual liquid, also extremely precious."
"As for the third treasure, although its appearance is not impressive, it is a broken map that legend says can lead to the Heavenly Cloud Continent."
Looking at the treasures presented by the others, Ito Ryuu clearly lacked confidence. He first self-mocked, then began to introduce them to Wu Tao.
These three treasures were indeed extraordinary.
However, in the eyes of the crowd, the first two treasures were more precious.
As for the broken map that could lead to clues about the Heavenly Cloud Continent, if it were complete, it would indeed be more valuable.
But what use could a broken map be?
Yet Wu Tao's gaze was not on the Veins of the Dao or the Immortal Jade Marrow, but remained fixed on the broken map, as if it attracted him more than the other two.
Wu Tao's expression remained outwardly calm, but inwardly, he was trembling with ecstasy.
If his senses were correct, the broken map presented by Ito Ryuu and the broken map he obtained from Chu Kuangtian's corpse seemed to be part of the same map.
Regarding the Heavenly Cloud Continent, Wu Tao actually knew very little.
However, despite not fully understanding the specifics of the Heavenly Cloud Continent...
Wu Tao knew that with the other half of the map in his possession, exchanging the low-grade spiritual treasure, the Heavenly Fiend Ring, for Ito Ryuu's broken map would be an absolute bargain, even a massive profit.
Because, if he could find another cultivation world and establish a stable passage to travel back and forth, its value to him, as the lord of a major power, would be immeasurable.
Simply the exchange of various resources between two cultivation worlds could allow his power to achieve another leap forward.
"With the establishment of the Eight Great Fiefdoms, the central axis of the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty, along with the Four Royal Family Clans and the Eight Great Fiefdoms, a tripartite situation will be formed."
"At that time, the situation will stabilize, but there will be no more war profits to be reaped!"
"Finding a new cultivation world, and being able to establish stable channels, would change the current situation and prevent it from becoming a stalemate in the future."
Thinking of this, Wu Tao's eyes flashed with brilliance, and his heart leaped.
"In this way, I will definitely profit, and profit immensely."
...
With Ito Ryuu's final offering, all eyes turned to Wu Tao and the low-grade spiritual treasure, the Heavenly Fiend Ring, in his hand.
At this moment, everyone in the auction hall understood.
It was time to reveal the answer. The ownership of the low-grade spiritual treasure, the Heavenly Fiend Ring, was about to be determined.
For a moment, whether it was those with no hope of obtaining the Heavenly Fiend Ring like Kuerle and Xiao Xiaohong...
Or those who were nervously hopeful like Mi Qirui, Tuoba Ye, and Ito Ryuu, all their gazes were fixed on Wu Tao!
With a shift in his thoughts, Wu Tao, facing the somewhat anxious gazes of Mi Qirui, Tuoba Ye, and Ito Ryuu, let out a breath.
He said, "Fellow Daoist Yi, to be honest, the three treasures you presented are actually slightly inferior to the treasures offered by the other fellow Daoists..."
"However, I am very satisfied with these three treasures. Thus, we have a deal!"
Under Ito Ryuu's disbelieving gaze, Wu Tao directly tossed the low-grade spiritual treasure, the Heavenly Fiend Ring, towards the position of the No. 1 private box.
Swallowing his saliva, and looking at the Heavenly Fiend Ring in his hand, Ito Ryuu felt as if he were dreaming.
After all, after seeing the treasures presented by Mi Qirui, Tuoba Ye, and others, Ito Ryuu himself had lost confidence.
Seeing Ito Ryuu grasp the low-grade spiritual treasure, the Heavenly Fiend Ring, Wu Tao cupped his fists with a serious expression and said, "This auction is now concluded. Thank you all for your support."