The Ink Fragrance Tower in Wuning City was hosting a grand auction today. Most of the influential families in Wuning City had representatives attending, and even powerful cultivators from other cities in the Eastern View Domain had rushed over.
The Ink Fragrance Tower was similar to the Immortal Treasure Pavilion, but its business scope was broader. They sold all sorts of items, from magical artifacts and elixirs to rare crafting materials and spiritual herbs, with varying quality.
Therefore, every so often, the Ink Fragrance Tower would select some of the rarer treasures among the items they acquired and put them up for sale through auction.
The Ink Fragrance Tower was located by a bustling street in the eastern district of Wuning City. When Zhang Fan arrived at its entrance with Luo Xiaoxiao, a large crowd of cultivators had already gathered.
The Ink Fragrance Tower did not set any entry requirements for its auctions. Cultivators of any identity or realm could participate, but a ten thousand spirit crystal entrance fee was required, allowing a maximum of two attendants.
The ten thousand spirit crystal entrance fee could be used to offset any purchases made within the venue. If no purchases were made, the fee would not be refunded.
Although there were no prerequisites for entry, this high entrance fee effectively barred most cultivators. After all, the net worth of most Golden Core realm cultivators did not exceed several hundred thousand spirit crystals.
Therefore, cultivators willing to pay the ten thousand spirit crystal entrance fee must have at least a million spirit crystals in their possession and a determined mindset to acquire their desired items.
After all, if no purchases were made throughout the entire auction, the ten thousand spirit crystals would be a complete waste.
Zhang Fan's appearance immediately drew the attention of many cultivators present. After all, the incident that occurred in Wuning City more than ten days ago had already spread throughout the city.
After crippling the second young master of the Wang family, the Wang family head had not sought revenge and had instead chosen to endure. This led many to speculate whether the young man possessed an extraordinary background, making even Wang Juetian, a peak Nascent Soul cultivator of the Third Tribulation, wary and hesitant to act against him.
After paying the ten thousand spirit crystal entrance fee, Zhang Fan entered the auction hall with Luo Xiaoxiao. Guided by an attendant, Zhang Fan took a seat in a slightly rear position.
Inside the hall, many cultivators noticed Zhang Fan and Luo Xiaoxiao and began to whisper amongst themselves. Zhang Fan heard them clearly but paid them no mind.
Luo Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, appeared somewhat uneasy. From her perspective as a young girl who had yet to cultivate, the auras emanating from everyone around her felt incredibly powerful, filling her with apprehension.
"Master, why are they all looking at us?" Luo Xiaoxiao asked timidly, sitting beside Zhang Fan.
"Don't worry about it. When your cultivation becomes strong enough, they won't even have the courage to look directly at you, let alone discuss you," Zhang Fan said with a smile.
"Fellow Daoist Haotian, you have indeed come." A clear voice rang out, and Shangguan Jing, dressed in a long dress with cloud patterns, gracefully walked over. Despite wearing a feminine dress, she could not conceal her graceful figure and valiant spirit.
Her arrival attracted the attention of many cultivators present. However, it was clear that many knew Shangguan Jing's identity and dared not approach to disturb her.
"Fellow Daoist Haotian, your style of doing things is as high-profile as ever," Shangguan Jing said with a light laugh as she took the seat next to Zhang Fan.
Luo Xiaoxiao's large, clear eyes widened with confusion. She couldn't understand why this elder sister called her master "Fellow Daoist Haotian" when her master's name was Zhang Fan.
"Your Immortal Treasure Pavilion is doing well; you've kept your word," Zhang Fan replied with a smile.
From Shangguan Jing's words, Zhang Fan knew that the Immortal Treasure Pavilion had seen through his identity, which was within his expectations.
After all, when he brought out the Star Gate Luo Yun Spear and the Mountain River Seal for sale, he had been prepared. However, he also believed that the bounty offered by the Black Sand Cave Heaven was not enough for the Immortal Treasure Pavilion to betray the reputation they had accumulated over many years.
The fact that no assassins had appeared in recent days was sufficient proof of this.
Shangguan Jing did not dwell on this matter and instead turned her gaze to Luo Xiaoxiao. "Fellow Daoist Haotian, have you taken this little girl as a disciple? She is truly fortunate."
"I took her in because we had a connection. Fellow Daoist Shangguan, as an elder, will you not prepare a meeting gift for my disciple on our first encounter?" Zhang Fan said playfully.
Shangguan Jing couldn't help but smile. She hadn't expected Zhang Fan to be so familiar. "I was in a hurry to leave and truly didn't prepare anything."
"However, I see that this little girl has not yet cultivated any techniques. Perhaps I have a treasure that might suit her."
Shangguan Jing took out a crystal-clear spiritual fruit from her storage artifact. "This Wash Marrow Verdant Fruit will serve as a meeting gift."
"Fellow Daoist Shangguan, you are too kind to offer such a precious gift. I will shamelessly accept it on behalf of Xiaoxiao," Zhang Fan said, his actions keeping pace with his words.
"Thank you, big sister." Luo Xiaoxiao watched dumbfounded, not quite understanding the situation, but she knew she should thank someone for a gift, so she said crisply.
Before Luo Xiaoxiao embarked on her cultivation journey, Zhang Fan had planned to buy her some spiritual fruits for cleansing her marrow and refining some elixirs for her.
The Wash Marrow Verdant Fruit gifted by Shangguan Jing was excellent, worth over a million spirit crystals on its own, making it exceptionally valuable.
The two chatted for a while longer until a woman in red walked onto the auction stage, and the hall gradually quieted down, as everyone knew the auction was about to begin.
"I believe many of you present are not attending our Ink Fragrance Tower's treasure auction for the first time, but there are a few rules that Hongyi will remind everyone of."
"First, regarding the auctioned treasures, we hope everyone will bid within their means."
"Second, for treasures of any price, the minimum increment for each bid shall not be less than ten thousand spirit crystals."
"Third, if a bid is made three times with no further response, the gavel will fall, signifying the end of the auction."
"Alright, Hongyi has finished explaining the rules. Let us now formally begin the auction."
The woman in red, Hongyi, gently gestured, and a pair of massive hammer-shaped spiritual artifacts appeared on the auction stage. She introduced them: "This spiritual artifact is called the Spiritual Peak Hammers. They are a pair of intermediate-grade spiritual artifacts, and among intermediate-grade spiritual artifacts, they are top-tier. When used together, the twin hammers can unleash the power of a high-grade spiritual artifact. The starting bid is three million spirit crystals."
"This pair of hammers suits me perfectly. Three and a half million spirit crystals!" a boisterous voice called out from below the stage. Everyone looked towards the voice and saw a burly man clad in animal hides.
"Four and a half million!" As soon as the beast-hide clad man finished speaking, another voice, unwilling to be outdone, responded, increasing the bid by a million.
"I am a hammer user, and this pair of hammers should be mine. Five million!" the beast-hide clad man glared at the other bidder and said in a low voice.
"Ridiculous, why don't you just ask the Ink Fragrance Tower to give them to you! Five and a half million!" another cultivator taunted fearlessly.
"Although the quality of this pair of hammers is good, they are still only intermediate-grade spiritual artifacts. It is not easy to unleash the power of a high-grade spiritual artifact with dual hammers. I estimate that six million spirit crystals is the absolute limit; any more would be a loss," Shangguan Jing said softly.
Zhang Fan nodded. The price of a top-tier intermediate-grade spiritual artifact was only around two million. This pair of large hammers, originating from the same source, would be most suitable for a cultivator who wields twin hammers, but the price would not be excessively high.
The woman in red on stage watched this scene with a smile. Such situations were common at auctions, and they did not object. In fact, they welcomed it, as it led to higher prices for the auctioned items.
The beast-hide clad man hesitated slightly. He thought that he had already cultivated a Nascent Soul, yet he still lacked a proper magical artifact. High-grade spiritual artifacts were beyond his reach, so this pair of hammers was something he absolutely could not miss. Gritting his teeth, he bid, "Five and eight million!"
"If you bid again, I'll take care of you!" the beast-hide clad man added, still glaring at the other bidder.
The other bidder smiled and said nothing upon hearing this.
The hall fell silent. Clearly, this price was approaching the limit. No one was foolish.
"Five and eight million, first call..."
"Five and eight million, third call..."
With a clang, the gavel fell, and the first item was successfully auctioned.
ps: There was a typo in the previous text; Luo Xiaoxiao should be written as Luo Xiaoxiao. I hope this does not affect the readers' enjoyment.