The auction for the seventh Divine Wanderer Pill began, and all cultivators became cautious, wary of being inadvertently dragged into a trap by Blood Slaughter.
“Five hundred divine stones,” Blade Prison Emperor declared.
Boundless called out, “Six hundred divine stones.”
…
With only four Divine Wanderer Pills remaining, the various factions no longer held back, eagerly joining the fray.
The Divine Wanderer Pill could enhance the cultivation of Great Sages in the Hundred Shackles Realm, greatly aiding the Heavenly Hunt Feast, making it worth securing one or two even at a higher cost.
Seeing their slow bidding, Blood Slaughter finally lost patience and shouted, “One thousand five hundred divine stones.”
At his voice, the faces of all participating cultivators darkened.
Killing was as commonplace for Hell Realm cultivators as daily meals. At this moment, several Great Sages in the Hundred Shackles Realm radiated murderous intent, seething with hatred for Blood Slaughter, wishing to grind him into the ground.
Despite the Divine Wanderer Pill’s price previously soaring to two thousand, three thousand, or even eleven thousand divine stones, its true value peaked at one thousand five hundred divine stones.
Blade Prison Emperor stood abruptly, glaring threateningly at Blood Slaughter, and bid, “One thousand six hundred divine stones.”
As the foremost powerhouse below the Thousand Questions Realm in the Undying Blood Clan, Blade Prison Emperor was someone Blood Slaughter deeply feared. He knew continuing to bid would surely offend him.
But Blood Slaughter was now caught in a bind.
If Blade Prison Emperor secured a Divine Wanderer Pill for one thousand six hundred divine stones, how could Blood Slaughter explain to Zhang Ruochen spending three thousand divine stones for one?
Compared to Blade Prison Emperor, Blood Slaughter feared Zhang Ruochen more.
“What a mess, this is big trouble. I knew I shouldn’t have bid for Zhang Ruochen. Offending Blade Prison Emperor, how will he let me off easily at the Heavenly Hunt Feast?”
Blood Slaughter’s throat tightened as he said, “Two thousand divine stones!”
He quickly added, “This is my final price. Whoever bids higher can take this Divine Wanderer Pill.”
“If the price per pill is raised above two thousand divine stones, Zhang Ruochen should have no complaints even if he knows the truth,” Blood Slaughter thought.
In the auction hall, all cultivators exchanged glances.
Had Blood Slaughter gone mad?
Deliberately pushing the price to two thousand divine stones, openly challenging Blade Prison Emperor?
No one believed Blood Slaughter’s words. Previously, Source Demon Godson had trusted him, boldly bidding “two thousand ten divine stones,” only to be humiliated.
Would Blade Prison Emperor repeat Source Demon Godson’s mistake?
“It’s said Blood Slaughter gained the Blood Flame War God Seal, and he’s gotten cocky.”
“Blade Prison Emperor is known for holding grudges. Blood Slaughter challenging him in front of so many cultivators, where’s the dignity of the Undying Blood Clan’s top powerhouse below Thousand Questions? He’ll definitely retaliate.”
…
Blade Prison Emperor’s face was iron-cold, his pupils blood-red, as he said, “Blood Slaughter, you shouldn’t have gone this far. At the Heavenly Hunt Feast, this emperor will settle this score with you slowly.”
Blade Prison Emperor sat back down, abandoning the bid for the Divine Wanderer Pill.
The seventh Divine Wanderer Pill was won by Blood Slaughter for two thousand divine stones.
Blood Slaughter felt no joy, his face mournful, increasingly convinced Zhang Ruochen had set him up by making him bid. The auction wasn’t over, and he’d already offended a host of cultivators.
Now, he could only grit his teeth and continue bidding.
The eighth Divine Wanderer Pill was also won by Blood Slaughter for two thousand divine stones.
For the ninth Divine Wanderer Pill, after Blood Slaughter bid two thousand divine stones, Boundless finally stepped in, bidding two thousand one hundred divine stones.
Blood Slaughter felt a wave of relief and said, “Congratulations, Great Sage Ten Thousand Hands, this Divine Wanderer Pill is yours.”
When Great Sage Qiluo announced, “Two thousand one hundred, sold,” Boundless was still dazed, unable to believe he’d actually won it.
Too unexpected!
How did this happen so suddenly?
Blood Slaughter’s unpredictable actions were utterly baffling.
“It’s confirmed, Blood Slaughter is a shill arranged by Star Sea World.”
“I think Star Sea World set Blood Slaughter’s base price at two thousand divine stones.”
“A Divine Wanderer Pill could have been bought for within one thousand five hundred divine stones, but Blood Slaughter forcibly raised it above two thousand. Shills deserve a bad end.”
“Who knows how much benefit Star Sea World gave Blood Slaughter.”
“No matter how much he gained, what’s the use? Blood Slaughter has offended everyone this time, he’ll have a tough road ahead.”
…
The Upper Three Clans secured one Divine Wanderer Pill, putting pressure on the representatives of the Lower and Middle Three Clans.
For the final pill, no matter the cost, they had to compete.
Thus, during the bidding for the tenth Divine Wanderer Pill, despite Blood Slaughter not bidding, they still pushed the price to two thousand eight hundred divine stones, won by Ghost Lord’s Seventh Son, Xi.
The auction continued.
With numerous cultivators attending and a plethora of treasures, various rarities emerged endlessly, and even after a full day, it hadn’t concluded.
The weakest present were Sages, none feeling fatigued. Instead, as the treasures grew more valuable, all cultivators were in a state of extreme excitement.
On the first day of the auction, the highlight was the Nether Sun Divine Wheel.
A Seven-Yuan Monarch Sacred Artifact, once used by a Nether Clan deity, imbued with immense divine power. Its appearance caused a sensation, with various factions fiercely competing.
Twelve Supreme Realm Great Sages, six Demigods, and even two elders suspected to be deities joined the bidding.
Originally there for the Epoch-Level Lotus of Divine Reflection and divine corpses, they first vied for the Nether Sun Divine Wheel.
Even Qing Sheng Great Sage, the acting head of the Blood Absolute Clan, made a bid, but as the price exceeded two hundred thousand divine stones, he had to give up.
“A vessel that can withstand seven Monarch Heavenly Tribulations without breaking must be forged from one of the universe’s top ten materials, refined seven times by the power of heaven and earth, almost certainly destined to become a Supreme Sacred Artifact.”
“If I could win it and have a master artificer refine it further, it wouldn’t take long to transform into a Supreme Sacred Artifact. Then, wielding one, my combat power would surge significantly. What a pity.”
Qing Sheng Great Sage’s gaze was fixed on the Nether Sun Divine Wheel on the auction stage, his heart aching with regret.
Having cultivated for over ten thousand years, Qing Sheng Great Sage’s accumulated divine stone wealth was still less than two hundred thousand.
“It seems raising the issue of clan leader benefits must be proposed to the War God, no more delays,” Qing Sheng thought.
Blood Chen said, “A treasure like the Nether Sun Divine Wheel could be a clan’s foundational asset. Who would be so careless as to auction it?”
Qing Sheng Great Sage shot a stern glance, cautiously saying, “Blood Chen, watch your words. The one auctioning the Nether Sun Divine Wheel is likely a supreme deity, only a deity would have such boldness.”
“If I’m not mistaken, this deity is probably raising divine stones to purchase a divine corpse.”
As major figures pushed the Nether Sun Divine Wheel to astronomical prices, Blood Slaughter was in a daze.
“Already two hundred fifty thousand divine stones… No wonder Zhang Ruochen told me to bid freely, as much as I could. Damn it, if I’d known, back at the Merit Battlefield in Kunlun Realm, I should’ve targeted those Heavenly Court god sons and daughters instead of clashing with Zhang Ruochen. If I’d robbed Mo Sheng, wouldn’t the Nether Sun Divine Wheel be mine? These divine stones too.”
Blood Slaughter slapped his face, filled with regret, wishing he could redo it all.
If he could, he’d never go to Sword Tomb or Blood God Sect, focusing solely on robbing Heavenly Court’s god sons, daughters, and leaders.
No.
Just rob Mo Sheng alone.
Seizing the Nether Sun Divine Wheel, what need for other treasures?
“What are you thinking?”
Zhang Ruochen’s voice suddenly sounded behind Blood Slaughter.
Blood Slaughter stood abruptly, boasting, “Senior Brother, you’re finally here. I’ve perfectly completed the task, spending only sixteen thousand divine stones to win seven Divine Wanderer Pills. Compare that to War Emperor Mo Luo, who spent eleven thousand divine stones for just one.”
Zhang Ruochen, unconcerned about the price, murmured, “Seven pills, a bit much. But since they’re ideal for Great Sages in the Hundred Shackles Realm, a few extra don’t matter.”
Blood Slaughter observed Zhang Ruochen closely, surprised, saying, “Senior Brother, you seem… different somehow!”
“Do I?”
Zhang Ruochen raised his right hand, fingers curling into a fist without much force.
Yet, nine layers of ripples emanated from his fist, spreading outward. Each ripple hitting Blood Slaughter made his immortal body tremble.
By the ninth ripple, Blood Slaughter staggered back a step.
Though secretly shocked, Blood Slaughter didn’t think it remarkable. But as he opened his mouth to speak, a sharp pain surged through his organs and marrow, forcing him to kneel on one knee.
“Senior Brother, what did you do to me?” Blood Slaughter groaned in pain.
Zhang Ruochen unclenched his fist, saying, “I just condensed the Sacred Intent of Fist, and with you nearby, I couldn’t resist testing its power. I didn’t use much force, you’re okay, right?”
Blood Slaughter wanted to feign severe injury, spit blood, and collapse, hoping to extort some divine stones from Zhang Ruochen, or at least reclaim his fief.
But after a thought, he gave up.
Zhang Ruochen wasn’t so easily fooled.
If exposed, Blood Slaughter might lie on the ground, only for Zhang Ruochen to kick him twice more.
“Senior Brother, I’m fine.”
Blood Slaughter stood slowly, smiling broadly, admiringly saying, “Senior Brother, you’re truly a prodigy. In just one day, you condensed a Sacred Intent.”
“Not one day, nine days. The Purple Gold Gourd is a time-space treasure with a nine-to-one time flow,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Last time, Zhang Ruochen spent three months trying to condense the Sacred Intent of Fist, only to fail.
This time, with the Lotus of Divine Reflection’s aid, he succeeded in just nine days.
The Lotus of Divine Reflection’s effect was evident.
The condensed Sacred Intent, named Nine Shock Sacred Intent, was a fifth-grade Sacred Intent.
When integrated into fist techniques, it unleashed nine layers of shock waves, penetrating armor or divine patterns, directly striking the enemy’s organs, marrow, soul, and qi sea.
In the earlier test, Zhang Ruochen only lightly clenched his fist.
If he struck with full force, even with Blood Slaughter’s divine patterns and Monarch Sacred Artifact armor, his organs would be shattered into mush, his soul and qi sea broken.
Such was the terrifying power of Sacred Intent.
Sacred Intents ranged from ninth to first grade, ninth being the lowest, first the highest.
Condensing a fifth-grade Sacred Intent was a dream for countless Immortal Realm Great Sages, signifying potential to become a deity, earning the title “True God Seed.”
For instance, War Emperor Mo Luo earned his title by condensing a fifth-grade Sacred Intent.
But Zhang Ruochen wasn’t content with just a fifth-grade Sacred Intent.
Per Moon God’s words, to become a deity, one must aim to master Mysteries.
A Sacred Intent above third grade was needed to transform into Mysteries upon godhood.
A fifth-grade Sacred Intent only indicated potential for godhood.
A third-grade Sacred Intent signified the chance to become a powerhouse among deities.
Becoming an ordinary deity wasn’t Zhang Ruochen’s goal.
“Condensing Sacred Intent is too hard. I’ve tried my utmost and only managed a fifth-grade Fist Sacred Intent. How can I condense a higher-grade one?”
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze turned to the auction stage; the Epoch-Level Lotus of Divine Reflection was something he must compete for.
The bidding for the Nether Sun Divine Wheel concluded, won by a Nether Clan Demigod for three hundred thousand divine stones.
Zhang Ruochen’s face finally showed a smile, “Looks like I won’t need to worry about divine stones anymore.”
The first day of the auction ended, entering a brief rest period, with the main event to follow.
The second day’s auction began with the Epoch-Level Lotus of Divine Reflection.
This Lotus, three zhang in diameter, shone brilliantly, illuminating the three-tiered ring world. The moment its light touched, all cultivators felt on the verge of enlightenment, an extraordinary sensation.
Compared to the ten-thousand-year Lotus of Divine Reflection Zhang Ruochen bought, this one was dozens of times larger.
Great Sage Qiluo introduced, “Per Star Sea World’s assessment, this Lotus of Divine Reflection, grown for about one hundred eighty thousand years, has developed a faint trace of spiritual intelligence. Using it, whether cultivating Sacred Intent or comprehending Mysteries, yields twice the result with half the effort.”
“As you know, Lotuses of Divine Reflection float in the cosmos, extremely fragile, easily destroyed by any mishap. Those surviving an Epoch Tribulation are exceedingly rare, hence the vast price difference.”
“Epoch-Level Lotus of Divine Reflection, starting bid twenty thousand divine stones, each increment no less than one thousand.”
“Begin bidding.”
It had been over ten thousand years since an Epoch-Level Lotus of Divine Reflection appeared in Hell Realm. Hearing Great Sage Qiluo’s price, many interested cultivators cursed.
Too exorbitant!
A ten-thousand-year Lotus of Divine Reflection cost only one or two hundred divine stones.
The Epoch-Level one was a hundred times more.
This effectively excluded Immortal and Hundred Shackles Realm Great Sages from bidding. Clearly, Star Sea World targeted Demigods, even deities, with this price.
