The auction was held at Tianyuan Shop, located in the busiest area of the Inner City, and occupied a vast space.

Now, Tianyuan Shop had grown even larger. The two adjacent shops had vanished without a trace, and its signboard had been changed to Tianyuan Auction House.

Loose Cultivators gradually flocked to the Tianyuan Auction House, forming a long queue outside.

"An entrance fee of ten Spirit Stones. Once you enter the Tianyuan Auction House, it is non-refundable."

The ten Spirit Stone threshold effectively reduced the number of weaker Loose Cultivators just joining the crowd, thus saving space for the auction. This was a screening process.

Cultivators with ample wealth wouldn't bat an eye at the ten Spirit Stone threshold. Those Loose Cultivators who were just there to watch the fun had to consider carefully, prepared for their ten Spirit Stones to go down the drain.

People kept leaving; the entrance fee of ten Spirit Stones deterred many Loose Cultivators.

The long line gradually shortened. Jia Ren paid the ten Spirit Stones and received token number eight hundred seventy-five.

The exterior of the auction house looked ordinary, but it was a different world inside. Passing through the Guardian Formation of the Tianyuan Auction House gave a sense of sudden openness and clarity.

The interior must have been laid out with some kind of Restrictive Formation, making the space seem more than twice as large.

The auction house was divided into three levels. The bottom level was bustling with Loose Cultivators, who were the most numerous, making up seventy percent of the total attendees. Most Loose Cultivators were in disguise or used Magic Artifacts to cover their faces, looking visibly anxious.

The second floor was occupied by people of similar appearance who acted in groups, seemingly family cultivators, accounting for twenty-five percent of the attendees.

The third floor was specially reserved for Sect Disciples, mostly those wearing Five Elements Sect robes, along with other cultivators from unknown sects.

Those on the second and third levels looked down from above, representing the carnivore class.

The small Tianyuan Auction House was divided into three classes, with a clear hierarchy.

Jia Ren's gaze paused briefly on a dark-faced man on the third floor before quickly moving away.

Yang Bingzhi, standing on the third floor, seemed to sense something and glanced back, but found nothing.

All cultivators turned their eyes toward the distant stage. The auctioneer, at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement, pointed at the tray held by a female cultivator. On it lay a Spirit Beast egg the size of a bowl, and he enthusiastically promoted it.

"The fifth auction item is called the Gale Hawk, a rather rare First Order, Superior-Grade flying Magical Beast. Its adult combat power is comparable to a Late Stage Qi Cultivator, and its speed is not inferior to sword flying."

"The key point is that the Magical Beast can fly for a long time without worrying about Mana consumption. It's definitely the best spirit pet for combat and long-distance travel. The starting bid is five hundred Spirit Stones."

Jia Ren had arrived a bit late; the auction had already begun.

A Magical Beast egg that, in adulthood, would be comparable to a Late Stage Qi Cultivator and capable of flight.

This was a rare item, and a considerable number of cultivators were interested.

"Seven hundred Spirit Stones!"

"Eight hundred Spirit Stones!"

The auction price soared, quickly surpassing one thousand Spirit Stones.

Jia Ren was tempted to participate but ultimately gave up.

I don't possess beast-taming methods, and it's not appropriate for me to reveal my wealth too early, lest I become a target. What I need to focus on are the Four Arts of Cultivation and the Foundation Establishment Pill.

I don't plan to participate in the latter, but it won't hurt to understand the price, to prepare for the second Foundation Establishment Pill ten years from now.

"Sold for one thousand one hundred Spirit Stones."

The auction proceeded rapidly; items were sold off like water flowing swiftly away.

"The twentieth auction item: a Top-grade Offensive Magical Instrument, the Severing Shadow Sword. It comes with a shadow slash and swiftness inscriptions, capable of creating two phantom sword lights that also possess significant lethal power."

A Top-grade Magical Instrument?

Jia Ren couldn't help but look towards the stage at a long sword glowing with an eerie light, an ethereal shadow flickering around it, glinting coldly.

This was a rather rare Top-grade Magical Instrument.

In the Great Wilderness Market, several large shops still sold High-Grade Magical Artifacts, while Top-grade Magical Instruments were relatively rare and expensive. Few Qi Refining Cultivators had the financial means to purchase them.

They were mostly used by Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

The Severing Shadow Sword was likely targeted at families or Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

"Starting bid is one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones."

"Two thousand Spirit Stones!"

No bids came from the Loose Cultivators on the first floor. Even if they had some spare wealth, they still hoped to compete for the Foundation Establishment Pill. How could external objects be more important than one's own strength?

Comparatively, family and Sect cultivators had more financial resources.

The Top-grade Magical Instrument caused quite a stir. Family cultivators on the second floor competed fiercely, eventually selling it for the high price of three thousand six hundred Spirit Stones.

This also brought the auction's atmosphere to its peak, and the following few items also ushered in a bidding climax.

Jia Ren was not influenced by the mood and kept his eyes closed, waiting.

"The Jade Yang Pill, which helps break through the Late Stage Qi-Refining bottleneck. Starting bid is five hundred Spirit Stones."

Jia Ren glanced up. Previously, he would have been interested in the Jade Yang Pill, but now that his strength had reached the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, it was useless to him.

He watched coldly as the Jade Yang Pill was auctioned. Normally, the price of a Jade Yang Pill might reach seven hundred Spirit Stones, but this time it soared past nine hundred.

The competition was fierce, and the auction price rose accordingly.

Jia Ren observed a few Loose Cultivators bidding in the hall, noting that several among them consistently bid on Elixir-type items but never actually bought them.

Driving up prices? Could they be shills?

For the auction house to stir up the atmosphere and achieve higher prices, it wasn't incomprehensible to hire shills to build excitement.

Making money isn't shameful, after all.

"Next is the fortieth auction item. This item is quite special, and I believe many fellow cultivators will be interested."

The maid opened the red tray, revealing a delicate Jade Pendant that emitted a faint, eerie glow.

What kind of Magic Artifact?

Every tenth auction item is bound to be a treasure. Could this be the second Top-grade Magical Instrument? Or an even rarer Supreme-Grade Defense Artifact?

Not many cultivators could participate in bidding for such an item.

"This object is a special High-Grade Magic Artifact, the Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant, crafted primarily from Evil-Repelling Precious Jade."

"Its effect is similar to that of an Evil Warding Talisman, but twice as potent. It can repel and defend against relatively weaker Bizarre Demons."

"Unlike the consumable Evil Warding Talisman, the Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant can be used for a long time, even serving as an heirloom. Such Magic Artifacts are quite rare. Interested fellow Daoists should not miss out. The starting bid is one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones."

The atmosphere at the auction stalled for a moment as countless eager eyes fixed on the Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant on the display stage.

The Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant was a High-Grade Magic Artifact. Its effect might be singular, but its high practicality couldn't be denied.

Evil Warding Talismans sold for ten Spirit Stones each; wasn't the very reason for buying them to protect cultivators from the harm of Bizarre Demons?

The effect of the Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant was even better than that of an Evil Warding Talisman, and most crucially, it could be used repeatedly. This was definitely a treasure that made all cultivators' hearts flutter.

Jia Ren's previously casual gaze suddenly brightened. He stood up straight, fixating intently on the Jade Pendant on the display stand.

There's only one thought in my mind: I must get this item!

Ever since he had read the Qingxi Chronicle of Natural History and learned of the terror of Bizarre Demons, he had tried every means to learn how to make Evil Warding Talismans, all to ensure his safety when facing them.

"Two thousand Spirit Stones!"

Up on the second floor, Patriarch Ming called out excitedly.

Family territories were often far from the Sects, monopolizing the resources of an entire area. If they were unlucky enough to encounter passing Bizarre Demons, they either had to flee en masse or find a way to drive them off.

The most common among Evil-warding Treasures was the Evil Warding Talisman. Unfortunately, it could only protect oneself and did not pose a great threat to Bizarre Demons.

Many small families had met their demise at the hands of Bizarre Demons.

In certain situations, this pendant was even more valuable in the eyes of family cultivators than an inheritance of the Four Arts of Cultivation.

The price of two thousand Spirit Stones did not scare everyone away; cultivators from other families immediately followed suit.

"Two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!"

"Three thousand Spirit Stones!"

The Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant had already reached three thousand Spirit Stones, but the price showed no sign of stopping. It continued to rise steadily, quickly breaking through the four-thousand barrier.

Jia Ren knew it was time to make his move.

"Four thousand Spirit Stones!"

As soon as the bid was called, all the other bidders were stunned, turning their gazes towards the first floor in unison.

The price of the Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant was rising too quickly, leaving Loose Cultivators with no choice but to watch helplessly as the price soared beyond their reach.

The main battlefield was among the family cultivators. No one expected a dark horse to emerge from the Loose Cultivators, shouting an astronomical price of four thousand Spirit Stones.

A shill? Or a Loose Cultivator with considerable wealth? Did they give up on the Foundation Establishment Pill and change their target?

"Four thousand one hundred Spirit Stones!"

Many families had come for the Foundation Establishment Pills, but the Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant made them hesitate, wondering whether to change their plans.

If they got involved in bidding for the pendant, they would have no chance of snatching a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Thinking of the cultivators in their family stuck at Qi Refining Completion, and sensing the gazes of their clansmen behind them, they could only sigh deeply and give up.

The Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant could fend off Bizarre Demons. However, a Foundation Establishment Pill offered a significant chance for the family to produce a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. With such strength, would they still fear being unable to seize resources?

Strength is the ultimate principle!

"Four thousand two hundred Spirit Stones!"

"Four thousand three hundred Spirit Stones! Fellow Daoist, if you can't afford to pay the Spirit Stones, do you know what your fate will be?"

Patriarch Wu on the second floor was anxious. His family resided near a region where Bizarre Demons roamed. Although not very powerful, they were immensely troublesome. Evil Warding Talismans were useless for driving them away, leaving the family at a loss and contemplating relocation.

With a treasure that could solve their problem right before his eyes, he could not afford to miss it.

It would be perfect if he could persuade the other party to back down.

"No need for you to worry, fellow Daoist. Four thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!"

Now that his wealth was exposed, Jia Ren ignored the malevolent gazes from the crowd and coolly placed his bid.

Patriarch Wu did not give up; the price continued to rise and soon reached five thousand four hundred Spirit Stones.

"Fellow Daoist, would you be willing to do me a favor and give up the Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant? The Wu Family would be deeply grateful." The Wu Family still aimed to bid for Foundation Establishment Pills and did not want to spend too many Spirit Stones on the pendant.

"Five thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!"

Jia Ren knew the deal was secure and decisively bid an additional one hundred Spirit Stones.

"Five thousand five hundred Spirit Stones, going twice! Are there any other Daoists wishing to bid?" The auctioneer slowly surveyed each of the major families on the second floor, hoping to achieve an even higher price.

Time moved painfully slowly until, at last, the third call was heard.

"Sold for five thousand five hundred Spirit Stones."

Jia Ren promptly went backstage to pay the Spirit Stones.

Unable to pay the Spirit Stones?

If one couldn't, the item would be passed to the second-highest bidder, and those who made a mockery of the Tianyuan Auction House would pay a heavy price.

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on winning the Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant. Please proceed here to pay the Spirit Stones."

"A total of five thousand five hundred Spirit Stones."

Several pairs of eyes stared over, scrutinizing Jia Ren with interest.

"Here are the Spirit Stones."

Lacking enough common Spirit Stones, he inevitably had to bring out dozens of Medium-grade Spirit Stones, causing the onlookers' eyes to gleam with surprise.

It was rare for a Loose Cultivator to produce five thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.

"Fellow Daoist, you really are lucky! You still have Medium-grade Spirit Stones in your possession?"

Jia Ren paid the Spirit Stones and acquired the Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant.

It felt cool to the touch. The front depicted a Phoenix with wings spread, as if about to take flight, but he couldn't sense anything particularly mystical about the item itself.

However, the gazes from afar, sharp as thorns in his back, were unsettling.

I had initially intended to bid on any cultivation skills that might appear at the auction, but now that my wealth has been revealed, it wouldn't be wise to stay any longer.

Five thousand five hundred Spirit Stones is already conspicuous enough; daring to bid on the Hundred Cultivation Arts on top of that would be simply courting death.

I'm not short on Spirit Stones, and I have Talismans and the newly acquired Hundred Poisons Scripture for improvement. The need for cultivation skills isn't that pressing right now.

Besides, with Yang Bingzhi here, if any of the Hundred Cultivation Arts do appear, he would bid on my behalf.

Instead of returning to the auction hall, Jia Ren swiftly left the Tianyuan Auction House through the entrance.

If I don't run now, when will I?

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.