Wu Tao nodded in response and walked straight in.
As soon as he entered the passage, Wu Tao was surprised to find that it was much larger inside than outside, as if space had been distorted.
This was a place that could only be built with great divine powers related to space.
Upon entering, one could see a high platform, beneath which were countless seats.
These seats were densely packed and arranged in various places. Around these seats, faint golden runes flickered, each one present.
The purpose of these runes was to protect and monitor the auctioneers.
Wu Tao sat in his seat and curiously touched the runes with his finger. After feeling a rebound force, he marveled.
It seemed that the organizers of the auction were well aware of the principle of "possessing treasures invites trouble" and had put a lot of thought into it.
Wu Tao leaned back in his chair and rested his eyes for a while. Then, over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators entered. The seats were already about seven or eight tenths full.
When Wu Tao opened his eyes again, he exhaled lightly.
Everyone who could enter this auction was at least a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment stage or higher. Did this mean that this small auction had easily gathered nearly two to three hundred beings comparable to Foundation Establishment cultivators?
In other places, this was something one wouldn't even dare to imagine.
However, this was also because they were in Tongguan City. If it were other human cultivator cities, unless it was a border city or a main city, it would still be impossible to have such a grand occasion.
"Fellow Daoists, please be seated!" A long voice echoed through the place.
At this moment, crisp dinging sounds and deep drumming sounds echoed from all around, their sound waves reverberating in the air like a battle anthem.
A chaotic-colored bell and a bronze ding floated high in the sky, each standing on its own. Their expressions were stern and steady, their eyes as calm as the sea.
"The top battle-type magical treasures of Tongguan City, the Bell of Resonance and the Ding of Conquest!" The various alien races such as the Battle Clan and the Spirit Clan suddenly stood up, looking at the Bell of Resonance and the Ding of Conquest, exclaiming in unison.
Every time a great battle occurred in Tongguan City, there would be two magical treasures that would fly above the cultivator army and launch a battle anthem to boost morale.
...
These two magical treasures were a chaotic-colored bell and a bronze ding. The crisp dinging and deep drumming sounds shook the surrounding alien races.
The fact that Tongguan City had brought out the Bell of Resonance and the Ding of Conquest clearly meant that they had better war-related treasures.
"After the shock, the Battle Clan, the Spirit Clan, and other alien races all looked intently at the Bell of Resonance and the Ding of Conquest, clearly very interested in these battlefield weapons."
Boosting morale and strengthening battle formations were the greatest functions of the Bell of Resonance and the Ding of Conquest as top-tier battle-type magical treasures.
With the appearance of the Bell of Resonance and the Ding of Conquest, the seats below gradually quieted down.
However, at the same time, countless alien powerhouses stared intently at the Bell of Resonance and the Ding of Conquest in the sky. If this were not the interior of Tongguan City, powerhouses would have already made their move to seize them.
"Everyone who has come here will be warmly welcomed by the humans. However, if anyone dares to deliberately cause trouble and provoke the dignity of our human race."
...
"The human race will also descend with thunderous methods, showing no mercy!"
Bai Yuechu, the host of this auction with an early Nascent Soul cultivation, pointed his hand, unleashed his domain, and a powerful and terrifying aura spread throughout the venue.
A wisp of aura pressed down on the seats. Except for the cultivators of the same Nascent Soul stage, all the Foundation Establishment cultivators felt a slight pressure.
After cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage cultivated divine abilities, although they were said to be able to move mountains and shift seas and change the stars, very few could truly destroy a mountain silently.
This was a technique that Nascent Soul cultivators could possess after using their domains, changing heaven and earth.
Many alien powerhouses suddenly sobered up, and the greed in their eyes when looking at the Bell of Resonance and the Ding of Conquest vanished. Instead, a sense of reverence appeared in their gaze toward Bai Yuechu.
With this person guarding them, who could snatch the Bell of Resonance and the Ding of Conquest from the human giant city?
...
"Of course, friends, since you have traveled far, our human race will provide some top-tier treasures not found elsewhere for auction. We will certainly not let you return empty-handed."
"Next, please welcome the top appraisal master of the human race, Master Tian Tong." Bai Yuechu deliberately paused for a moment before continuing.
The lights on the roof suddenly dimmed, and then brightened again.
Everyone's gaze subconsciously turned towards the high platform.
On the high platform, which was over thirty feet wide, a blue spiritual light flashed, and an old man in a white robe appeared on stage.
Upon seeing this person appear, many human cultivators stirred, and some even exclaimed in surprise, calling out the old man's name.
"Master Tian Tong of the Tian Tong Clan!"
"How could he be here! Could the auction items this time really be very high-level..."
...
A burst of whispers came from the human cultivators.
Wu Tao's heart stirred upon hearing the commotion, and he curiously looked over.
The old man had only a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, but his hair was white. However, he had an extra eye on his forehead, which shone brightly, making him look extraordinary.
Listening to the discussions of others, this person, who was revered as a master by everyone, should have great knowledge of many treasures, or rather, possess astonishing attainments.
...
At this moment, the old man in the white robe coughed, and spoke unhurriedly, "It seems there's no need for me to introduce myself further. Most of the human Daoists here recognize me. Even if some of the alien friends don't know me, they should have heard of my reputation."
...
"In fact, I shouldn't have appeared in Tongguan City. However, for this auction, there are several items that I personally appraised. To avoid damaging my reputation, I came here. I trust you all won't have any objections!"
"Master Tian Tong is joking. With you, a treasure appraisal master, personally presiding over this auction, we could not ask for more!"
As soon as this treasure appraisal master from the Tian Tong Clan appeared, many human Foundation Establishment cultivators nodded in a friendly manner.
One must know that the status of an appraiser was relatively high. Although not as sought after as alchemists, artifact refiners, or divine ability users, it was still a very promising profession.
They would be respected wherever they went, especially a top-tier appraiser, whose status was even more noble.
After all, even top powerhouses found it difficult to identify many complex treasures, which required specialized appraisers.
The treasure appraisal master waved his hand, and the area below immediately became calm, silent, and utterly still.
Seeing this, the treasure appraisal master nodded in satisfaction and then said, "Today's auction meeting will be explained by this old man. All treasure appraisals will be from this old man's hands. Next, let us invite the first treasure!"
When it came to appraising treasures, the eyes of this treasure appraisal master from the Tian Tong Clan shone with spiritual light.
Clearly, he was full of interest in appraising various kinds of treasures, with their diverse uses and immense complexity. It was more accurate to say it was his hobby rather than his job.
...
A beautiful human woman dressed in red slowly walked out from backstage, holding a treasure covered with a black cloth in her hands. Even divine sense could not penetrate it.
A faint smile played on the woman's lips as she stood quietly a step in front of the treasure appraisal master from the Tian Tong Clan.
This treasure appraisal master from the Tian Tong Clan reached out and removed the black cloth, revealing a black greatsword to the gaze of the many cultivators comparable to Foundation Establishment experts.
The greatsword was like a ferocious tiger, and its blade shimmered with a cold light, seeming to possess the power to kill thousands of enemies with a single strike.
The sword was eight inches long and three inches thick, forged entirely from blood radiance stone.
The treasure appraisal master from the Tian Tong Clan held the greatsword and swung it through the air. The greatsword silently and effortlessly cut through space.
This made many of the experts in the venue's eyes light up.
"This greatsword is called the Tiger Soul Black Saber, forged by a grandmaster artifact refiner. Its power, as you all just witnessed, makes it a genuine top-grade offensive magical treasure..."
"In some aspects, this saber even surpasses some top-tier magical treasures. It is an extremely rare treasure..."
"Now, let the bidding begin! The starting bid for the first treasure is ten thousand spirit stones, with each bid not less than one thousand spirit stones!"
The treasure appraisal master from the Tian Tong Clan first glanced at Bai Yuechu, who was still standing calmly at the side, holding down the fort. Seeing him nod almost imperceptibly, he then spoke loudly to the many cultivators comparable to Foundation Establishment below.
The starting bid was ten thousand spirit stones, with each bid not less than one thousand spirit stones. Good heavens, so?
The many cultivators comparable to Foundation Establishment couldn't help but gasp. This was roughly equivalent to half the fortune of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
This also caused many cultivators comparable to Foundation Establishment to frown. This was the first treasure, and it was already so valuable. What about the ones that followed?
Of course, a considerable number of cultivators comparable to Foundation Establishment looked eager to try.
After all, a handy magical treasure in the Foundation Establishment stage could at least increase a Foundation Establishment cultivator's strength by ten percent, and some heaven-defying treasures could even allow them to challenge opponents of higher levels.
A top-grade offensive magical treasure like the Tiger Soul Black Saber was extremely rare.
Bai Yuechu, standing on the high platform, couldn't help but smile. This Tiger Soul Black Saber was merely a failed product from someone, not worth mentioning.
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