Shortly after parting with Luo Yan, Zhang Ruochen spotted Xue Tu and the Moluo Six Great Saints from a distance, seemingly in a heated dispute.
Led by Moluo War Emperor, the six Great Saints, having taken some holy medicine, had regained their physical forms, no longer emaciated. Yet their auras remained weak.
“Over ninety percent of their holy blood was drained, yet they’ve recovered so quickly. Truly worthy of Great Saints,” Zhang Ruochen mused, his eyes flickering as he approached.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen, Xue Tu was elated, as if finding a backer, and hurried over, “Senior Brother, these Moluo Family Great Saints are unconvinced and looking for trouble with me. Good thing you’re here. Shall we teach them another lesson?”
Enemies meeting face-to-face sparked intense hostility.
The six Moluo Family Great Saints, furious, unleashed their holy might, surrounding Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen gazed at them calmly, “I advise you to restrain yourselves. Even at your peak, you weren’t my match, let alone now. Holy blood is hard to replenish. If I drain you again, you’ll struggle to recover your strength before the Hunting Feast.”
At these words, the six Great Saints trembled, halting in unison.
Moluo War Emperor gritted his teeth, stomping fiercely, “Zhang Ruochen, one day, I’ll devour you alive. Just you wait.”
After glaring at Zhang Ruochen for a moment, he waved his hand, “Let’s go.”
“Senior Brother’s deterrence is unmatched, scattering six Great Saints with a single sentence,” Xue Tu laughed.
Zhang Ruochen looked puzzled, “Why are you at the auction? Do you have a stash of holy stones or divine stones?”
Xue Tu’s expression shifted, “None, I can’t even produce one divine stone. I’m here to see what price my fief can fetch at auction.”
“I see. Come with me.”
Zhang Ruochen led Xue Tu to a VIP seat on the topmost tier of the ring-shaped world.
The seat, perched on a cliff, spanned about ten zhang, offering a view of the auction platform, a square white stone plaza with a hall, bustling with attendants, ten li away.
“I’ve purchased some items at the Star Sea World to study. If something rare appears at the auction, bid on it for me,” Zhang Ruochen said, taking out the Purple Gold Gourd and splitting off a mental projection clone.
Placing the gourd on the ground, the clone sat beside it to guard, while his true body turned into a light speck and entered the gourd.
The Purple Gold Gourd looked ordinary, and Xue Tu paid it little mind.
Inside the gourd, Zhang Ruochen took out the hundred-thousand-year Illuminating Divine Lotus.
The twelve-petal lotus, a zhang in diameter, radiated dazzling light, brimming with vitality, its glowing specks enveloping the surrounding space.
Sitting cross-legged on the lotus, Zhang Ruochen attempted again to condense the holy intent of the Fist Path.
…
The auction officially began as a Ghost Tribe Great Saint, dozens of zhang tall, stepped onto the floating platform.
“I am Qiluo, the seventh Merchant Emperor of the Star Sea World’s auctions. Welcome, honored guests, to our monthly auction.”
“All items today are top-tier treasures, with the lowest valued at one billion holy stones, or one divine stone.”
Qiluo briefly outlined the auction rules, then announced, “The auction begins. The first item: the second Yuan Monarch Holy Artifact, the Qi Xin Battle Axe.”
Xue Tu, seated on a white bone holy chair, had just sipped a blood-colored holy spring when he spat it out, “What? The Qi Xin Battle Axe is on the Star Sea World’s auction platform?”
Ruthless.
What must Moluo War Emperor feel, seeing his weapon sent to auction?
Grinning mischievously, Xue Tu searched for Moluo War Emperor.
No need to look.
Moluo War Emperor’s furious roar echoed through the auction venue, “Zhang Ruochen, I’ll never rest until you’re dead!”
Countless eyes turned to Moluo War Emperor’s VIP seat, some puzzled, some mocking, some sympathetic.
Amid the murmurs, those unaware learned of the Life-and-Death Platform events.
“Silence,” Qiluo Great Saint bellowed, releasing ghost aura.
The auction venue quieted.
Two Saint King-level Mighty Ghost Kings carried the Qi Xin Battle Axe to the platform’s center.
Qiluo Great Saint said, “The value of a second Yuan Monarch Holy Artifact needs no introduction. Notably, this Qi Xin Battle Axe was once wielded by the evil god Mo Yue, later passed to his son, Moluo War God.”
Hearing “evil god Mo Yue,” Moluo War God nearly lost control, tempted to storm the platform.
His own humiliation was one thing, but mentioning his father’s name brought shame to Mo Yue as well.
Prajna, Wujiang, Great Senluo Emperor, Divine Son Yuan Mo, and others gathered at the same VIP seat, many smiling.
Wujiang said, “I’m starting to think being universally despised like Zhang Ruochen isn’t all bad. At least, opponents keep delivering treasures. His wealth is the result of thriving through battle.”
“Being universally despised often leads to a miserable death. Zhang Ruochen’s survival thus far is a miracle,” Great Senluo Emperor said.
Divine Son Yuan Mo added, “Zhang Ruochen’s move is foolish. For a small gain, he’s thoroughly offended the Moluo Family.”
Prajna listened quietly, then said, “The gods need a cultivator like Zhang Ruochen to temper the Hell Realm’s Great Saints. Isn’t this unfolding as the gods envisioned?”
Wujiang replied, “Whether Zhang Ruochen qualifies as the gods’ blade depends on surviving past the Hunting Feast. Right now, he’s not even a blade.”
On the platform, Qiluo Great Saint announced, “The Qi Xin Battle Axe, base price 80 divine stones. Minimum bid increment, one divine stone.”
“Bidding begins.”
“Eighty divine stones,” Moluo War Emperor called first.
“Eighty-five divine stones.”
…
“Ninety divine stones.”
“One hundred divine stones.”
…
In moments, the Qi Xin Battle Axe’s price soared past 100 divine stones.
Clearly, not all cultivators respected the Moluo Family, with many Great Saints eager to acquire a second Yuan Monarch Holy Artifact to boost their strength.
Xue Tu, enjoying the chaos, occasionally bid, pushing the price higher.
Ultimately, Moluo War Emperor bought back the Qi Xin Battle Axe for 162 divine stones.
“Seizing weapons is so profitable. One Qi Xin Battle Axe is worth more than all my fiefs combined,” Xue Tu thought.
Next, the Moluo Family’s other seven Monarch Holy Artifacts, all first Yuan, were auctioned, fetching a total of 240 divine stones.
Qiluo Great Saint returned to the platform’s center, followed by ten white-robed attendants, each holding a bronze cauldron.
“Next, we auction ten cauldrons of Divine Wander Pills, each containing 100 pills.”
“Divine Wander Pills are half-King-grade, helping Hundred Shackles Realm Great Saints break their shackles. One pill can aid in breaking at least one shackle.”
The auction venue erupted.
With the Hunting Feast nearing, all participants strove to enhance their cultivation.
Hundred Shackles Realm Great Saints were the backbone of the Hunting Feast, where a slight edge could make a significant difference.
The Divine Wander Pills’ importance was extraordinary.
Emperor Blade Hell declared, “No matter what, I must secure one cauldron for the Qi Tian Tribe. It will greatly boost our overall strength.”
“With over a month until the Hunting Feast, a cauldron of Divine Wander Pills could enhance the strength of Huang Tian Tribe’s Hundred Shackles Realm Great Saints,” Empress Feng thought, her roots lying with the Huang Tian Tribe.
Meanwhile, the Upper Three Tribes’ cultivators strategized.
Prajna said, “The Divine Wander Pills are crucial for the upcoming Hunting Feast. The Star Sea World timed this auction perfectly.”
“Though only half-King-grade, they’ll likely fetch far more than King-grade Saint Pills due to fierce competition.”
“The Lower and Middle Three Tribes will compete fiercely, with Empress Feng and Pink Skeleton leading. We must secure at least four cauldrons to gain an advantage.”
Divine Son Yuan Mo, brimming with confidence, said, “Prajna, rest assured, no matter the price, I’ll secure one cauldron.”
Wujiang, arms crossed, smiled faintly, “My senior brother gifted me a divine stone mine, yielding at least ten divine stones annually. Divine stones are just numbers to me. If possible, I’d take half the Divine Wander Pills for Prajna—no, for Your Highness Divine Maiden.”
The Upper Three Tribes’ cultivators laughed, exuding confidence.
Wealth breeds boldness.
Wujiang’s status was lofty, his master the Dark Temple’s oldest god, with several divine senior brothers whose casual gifts could make top Great Saints envious.
The Hell Realm’s ten tribes all geared up, determined to claim the Divine Wander Pills.
Zhang Ruochen’s mental projection clone opened its eyes, saying to Xue Tu, “Bid on the Divine Wander Pills.”
Xue Tu asked, “They’re a prime target for all factions, sure to fetch a sky-high price. Can we outbid them?”
“Divine stones aren’t an issue. Bid as you please,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xue Tu’s expression turned wary, “Senior Brother, you’re not trying to scam me, are you? I can’t afford even one Divine Wander Pill, let alone a cauldron. If I bid and you don’t pay, what if the Star Sea World detains me?”
Zhang Ruochen, exasperated, said, “Don’t worry, I won’t scam you. This amount of divine stones is nothing to me.”
“Wait, I need to record your words as evidence.”
Xue Tu produced a scroll, saying to Zhang Ruochen, “Senior Brother, I must be cautious. Please repeat to the scroll: bidding for the Divine Wander Pills is Zhang Ruochen’s decision, not Xue Tu’s.”
Focused on condensing holy intent, Zhang Ruochen, too lazy to argue, complied briefly.
Xue Tu asked, “How many cauldrons do you want?”
“As many as possible,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xue Tu carefully stored the scroll, glancing at Zhang Ruochen’s clone, which had closed its eyes again.
“Zhang Ruochen, you told me to bid freely and take as many as possible. I won’t hold back!”
Xue Tu, brimming with enthusiasm, rolled up his sleeves, ready for action.
No pressure, since he wasn’t paying. Ideally, he’d buy all ten cauldrons at a high price, landing them in Zhang Ruochen’s hands, giving him a taste of his own medicine.
Xue Tu nearly laughed aloud at the thought.
“First cauldron of Divine Wander Pills, 100 pills, base price 100 divine stones.”
“Minimum bid increment, ten divine stones.”
“Bidding begins.”
…
“Three hundred divine stones.”
Emperor Blade Hell bid first, tripling the price to assert dominance and signal his determination.
Many bidders, especially from the Lower Three Tribes, backed off, giving him leeway.
But the Middle and Upper Three Tribes’ cultivators were unfazed.
Divine Son Yuan Mo called, “Three hundred fifty divine stones.”
“Four hundred divine stones.”
“Four hundred twenty divine stones.”
…
In the fierce competition, the first cauldron’s price soon surpassed 500 divine stones, each pill rivaling an ordinary King-grade Saint Pill.
“Six hundred divine stones.”
“Six hundred thirty divine stones.”
“Seven hundred divine stones.”
…
The bidders represented not themselves but their factions, driving the price skyward.
Only after exceeding 1,000 divine stones did the bidding slow.
After all, 1,000 divine stones per cauldron made the Divine Wander Pills twice the price of ordinary King-grade Saint Pills. Even wealthy factions didn’t want to be fleeced by the Star Sea World.
The Divine Wander Pills were ideal for Hundred Shackles Realm Great Saints but not the only option.
Prajna, hands behind her back, her eyes deep, said, “The Divine Wander Pills’ price will peak at three times that of King-grade Saint Pills, deterring most bidders.”
Hearing this, Divine Son Yuan Mo shouted, “I bid 1,500 divine stones.”
The auction venue fell silent.
All eyes turned to Divine Son Yuan Mo.
“Spending 1,500 divine stones on one cauldron? The Yuan Tian God Temple is truly wealthy.”
“Too high. The Divine Wander Pills aren’t worth that. The Yuan Tian God Temple’s taking a huge loss, needing to divert wealth to cover it.”
Emperor Blade Hell frowned tightly; Divine Son Yuan Mo’s bid far exceeded his budget.
Empress Feng shook her head, “It’s just the first cauldron, no need to keep fighting. 1,500 divine stones could bankrupt a Hundred Shackles Realm Great Perfection Great Saint. They’ll struggle to compete further.”
As Emperor Blade Hell hesitated, a bold voice rang out.
“I bid 2,000 divine stones.”
Prajna, Divine Son Yuan Mo, and the Upper Three Tribes’ cultivators, thinking they had it secured, were stunned by this interloper.
Seeing all eyes on him, Xue Tu laughed, “Two thousand divine stones! Any higher bids? Come on, bid quickly! Divine Wander Pills, half-King-grade Saint Pills, can help Hundred Shackles Realm Great Saints break through fastest. Hurry, raise the price!”
Divine Son Yuan Mo’s face flushed with rage, teeth gritted, itching to slap Xue Tu away.
You’ve bid 2,000 divine stones and still urge others to raise it? Are you a Star Sea World shill or deliberately sabotaging?
