Chapter 1 The First Auction Item
The first auction item fetched a high price of five million eight hundred thousand, making some cultivators with insufficient spirit crystals feel uneasy.
This auction meeting seemed to be exceptionally competitive.
"Next, we have the second auction item." The woman in red waved her hand, and ten treasure bottles appeared on the auction stage.
"Earth Heart Saliva, ten portions in total, with each treasure bottle containing one portion of Earth Heart Saliva. The ten bottles of Earth Heart Saliva will be auctioned separately, with a starting bid of one million spirit crystals per portion."
"I presume there's no need for me to introduce its efficacy, as you all are well aware of the benefits of Earth Heart Saliva, right?"
"Since that's the case, let's begin."
"One million and five thousand!" A Golden Core stage cultivator shouted. He had sold some spirit treasures to prepare over a million spirit crystals, all for Earth Heart Saliva. One portion of Earth Heart Saliva would be enough to help him cultivate to the peak of the Golden Core stage.
After he bid, no one else followed, and the Golden Core stage cultivator finally auctioned it off for one million and five thousand.
Although Earth Heart Saliva is precious, it has little effect on cultivators above the Golden Core stage. Furthermore, ten portions were being auctioned this time, and the starting bid of one million was already considered relatively high, making it difficult to fetch a higher price.
The remaining nine portions of Earth Heart Saliva were all sold at prices close to the starting bid. During this time, Zhang Fan also bid and acquired one portion.
Even after purchasing a portion of Earth Heart Saliva, there were many treasures that appealed to him, but he did not bid for them.
After all, he did not have an abundance of spirit crystals.
After dozens of treasures were auctioned, the item Zhang Fan had been anticipating finally arrived…
"The next item up for auction is something I'm sure everyone has been eagerly awaiting. Hong Yi will not waste any more time." The woman in red waved her long sleeves, and a black withered branch, resembling ancient wood, appeared on the auction stage. Its presence immediately captured everyone's attention.
Although it was just a withered branch resembling rotten wood, it seemed to possess a unique magic that made souls tremble.
"This is a piece of withered wood from the Du'e Tree. The starting bid is eight million spirit crystals." The woman in red's voice was crisp and clear, resonating throughout the hall.
This starting bid was far below market price, but for a moment, no one bid.
The withered wood of the Du'e Tree was indeed extremely precious, but its price made most of those present unable to afford it.
"Ten million!"
A young man sitting in the front row bid, exuding considerable confidence. With his first bid, he increased the price by two million.
"This is Li Ruhuan, the young master of the Li family in Wuning City. He has overcome his third Nascent Soul tribulation before the age of a hundred and is quite renowned in Wuning City."
"Looking at his demeanor, he might become a strong contender against fellow Daoist Haotian." Shangguan Jing said with a smile, seeing Zhang Fan cast a glance at the man.
Zhang Fan remained noncommittal and said nothing.
"Eleven million!"
Another voice rang out, increasing the bid by one million.
"Patriarch Wang, if you're interested, why are you being so stingy with your bids?" The young master of the Li family looked at the person who bid and saw that it was the old fellow Wang Juetian. He couldn't help but mockingly say, "Fifteen million!"
"Hmph!"
Being mocked by a junior, Wang Juetian's old face appeared displeased. However, the Li family's strength was no weaker than their Wang family, perhaps even stronger. He was helpless.
"Sixteen million!"
Wang Juetian increased the bid by another million.
As the young master of the Li family and Wang Juetian clashed, the other cultivators were happy to watch the show and did not intervene.
"I must have this withered wood of the Du'e Tree. Eighteen million."
The young master of the Li family seemed to be full of confidence. Each of his bids was no less than two million, and he even issued a provocative threat to Wang Juetian.
At this price, Wang Juetian could only shake his head in resignation and give up.
Seeing that Wang Juetian had no further bids, a triumphant smile appeared on Li Ruhuan's lips. However, a cold voice suddenly fell, causing his face to stiffen slightly.
"Twenty million!"
Zhang Fan followed the sound and saw a short, middle-aged man.
Li Ruhuan also looked at the short, middle-aged man and frowned slightly. He had never seen this man before and suspected he might be a cultivator from another city.
The reason Li Ruhuan had been so confident earlier was that he knew Wang Juetian's limit was eighteen million spirit crystals. Beyond that, he would definitely not follow.
Therefore, he had not prepared much spirit crystal for this bid. When the short man bid twenty million spirit crystals, this amount was nearing his limit.
Just as Li Ruhuan hesitated, a voice completely shattered his resolve to continue bidding.
"Twenty-one million!"
Seeing that the time was almost right, Zhang Fan finally spoke.
As soon as he spoke, all eyes in the hall were drawn to him. Wang Juetian lowered his gaze towards Zhang Fan, clearly recognizing him as the perpetrator who had crippled his son.
"Twenty-two million!"
The short man also glanced at Zhang Fan and increased the bid by one million.
"Twenty-five million!"
Zhang Fan didn't even lift his eyelids, directly increasing the bid by three million, astonishing all the cultivators present.
Such generosity was likely unmatched by few in Wuning City.
Faced with such an astronomical price, the short man's eyes flickered several times before he finally fell silent.
However, Zhang Fan's face was deeply etched into his mind, and a killing intent gradually rose within him.
In the end, Zhang Fan acquired the withered wood of the Du'e Tree for the sky-high price of twenty-five million. The price of a single withered branch was comparable to a low-grade heavenly artifact.
Luo Xiaoxiao, standing beside him, stared at her master with wide eyes. She had never imagined her master to be so wealthy.
Although she had taken Zhang Fan as her master, she knew nothing about his strength or background.
When the gavel fell, Zhang Fan also breathed a sigh of relief. The final main material for refining the Blood Refinement Divine Weapon had finally been gathered.
"Fellow Daoist Haotian is as generous as ever!" Shangguan Jing also exclaimed. The Black Sand Cave Heaven's bounty of fifty million spirit crystals to assassinate Zhang Fan truly underestimated him.
After all, the value of the treasures Zhang Fan possessed now far exceeded fifty million.
Zhang Fan was not interested in the subsequent treasures being auctioned. After the auction ended, a server approached Zhang Fan and led him and Luo Xiaoxiao into a luxuriously decorated private room.
"Sir, this is the withered wood of the Du'e Tree and one portion of Earth Heart Saliva that you have purchased." The woman in red personally attended to Zhang Fan, placing a jade bottle and the withered Du'e Tree branch on the table.
"A total of twenty-six million one hundred thousand spirit crystals, correct?" Zhang Fan looked at the woman in red and asked.
"Sir, the price for the withered wood of the Du'e Tree you purchased far exceeded the previous auction prices. This portion of Earth Heart Saliva is a gift for you." The woman in red said with a smile.
Zhang Fan nodded and did not refuse. He tossed a storage bag to the woman in red, then waved his hand and collected the withered Du'e Tree branch and the portion of Earth Heart Saliva on the table.
"Sir, you don't seem like a cultivator from Wuning City?" After checking that the spirit crystal count was correct, a smile appeared on the woman in red's alluring face as she looked at Zhang Fan and asked.
Zhang Fan looked at the woman in red, did not answer her question, and said, "I have some matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."
With that, he left the Moxiang Tower with Luo Xiaoxiao.
Watching Zhang Fan's receding back, the woman in red's lips curved slightly, and her eyes gradually deepened, her thoughts unknown.
...