The person who suddenly appeared at the auction scene was a stranger.
No one had seen him before, but whether in cultivation or aura, the man inspired some wariness.
In one go, he raised the price from thirteen million to twenty million.
This time, both Feng Qingyan and Feng Ming Wan Chong hesitated.
It was not that they lacked more lower-grade spirit stones, but any further increase would not be worth it.
Any thing had its value. Once exceeded, even gaining it would be pointless.
“I forfeit!”
Feng Qingyan sighed and yielded first: “Yanran, it is not that I will not aid you. It is simply that if we keep contending, your uncle too will find his purse emptied.”
He possessed a total of just over twenty million lower-grade spirit stones now. From the stranger’s manner, he would surely raise further if pressed. There was truly no need.
With Feng Qingyan forfeiting, Feng Ming Wan Chong lost all interest in continuing the fight.
“I forfeit too.”
As for that Sun Shang, a glint of murderous intent flickered in his eyes. After a long while, he shook his head gently: “I forfeit as well.”
He had lower-grade spirit stones left, but he did not wish to spend them.
So long as this stranger did not leave the imperial city, he had ways to seize the items from the fellow’s hands!
“This gentleman bids twenty million lower-grade spirit stones. Does anyone else wish to raise?”
Yun Ya smiled at the assembled guests and asked.
After a moment, no one responded.
Yun Ya felt it was about right. By her reckoning, though these Heavenly Spirit Divine Pills were fine, they were worth at most ten million lower-grade spirit stones. To have someone buy them for twenty million was a windfall. She believed that ghost-masked man would be most pleased.
“Very well. With no further raises, these one hundred Heavenly Spirit Divine Pills belong to this esteemed guest. Please proceed to the VIP lounge shortly for the transaction.”
Yun Ya smiled, thus sealing the deal.
“No need. Here are the spirit stones. Count them, and give me the goods!”
The man seemed in haste to leave. He tossed a storage ring to Yun Ya.
Yun Ya checked the lower-grade spirit stones in the storage ring. She transferred them smoothly to her own. Then she handed the gourd of pills to the man.
“Transaction complete. Farewell!”
The stranger turned and departed without the slightest delay.
“Go follow him. Do not raise the alarm yet!”
Sun Shang muttered to the Fiery Blaze Heavenly Venerable beside him.
“Understood.”
The Fiery Blaze Heavenly Venerable turned and left too.
Seeing this, Ling Xiao could not help shaking his head with a sigh. This Fiery Blaze Heavenly Venerable was in for a hard knock this time.
The newcomer appeared to have only seven-star Heavenly Human Realm cultivation. Yet through the analysis of his Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul, Ling Xiao reckoned it false.
The man’s true cultivation was likely Cave Heaven Realm, or possibly stronger.
If Sun Shang chased personally, it might work. Sending the Fiery Blaze Heavenly Venerable to tail him was asking for trouble.
But who on earth was this person?
Why did he seem somewhat familiar?
Ling Xiao shook his head. In the end, he could not guess the man’s identity.
“Esteemed guests, pray do not hurry away. There is yet one more item, finer even than these Heavenly Spirit Divine Pills, to be auctioned here. Those who missed out on fine goods, take note.”
Yun Ya had completed Ling Xiao’s auction but showed no haste to leave. After all, only the final lot remained, and it was something she valued too. She was determined to drive a higher price.
With that, she unveiled the last red cloth.
Beneath it lay a treasured sword!
The scabbard, forged of cold iron, even emitted wisps of heat.
“This is a longsword of immortal-grade treasured artefact level. It measures three feet in length. The blade is of ‘yang’ attribute, exceedingly rare. The reason for the cold iron scabbard is that it grows too scorching to control its temperature. Merely placing it on a table would burn straight through.”
As she spoke, Yun Ya drew the treasured sword from its sheath. In that instant, the auction hall, once filled with cool breezes, felt as if scorched by the sun. Many broke into instant sweats, drenched head to toe.
“Quick, put the sword away, Boss Yun Ya! I cannot take it. Too hot!”
“Yes, yes. It is killing me with heat!”
Yun Ya smiled faintly and sheathed the longsword once more.
Even holding it long herself, she could not endure. It felt as if the moisture in her body was being drawn out. Most uncomfortable indeed.
“This is absolutely no ordinary immortal-grade treasured artefact!”
Ling Xiao had an intuition that this sword outshone any immortal-grade treasured sword of his.
Yet strangely, it lacked the feel of a divine-grade treasured artefact.
What exactly was this?
Truly just an ordinary sword?
No. Even without refining the Heavenly Spirit Divine Pills, I must obtain this thing!
Ling Xiao always trusted his intuitions. If he believed this sword could aid him, he would spare no effort to claim it.
Obtaining this sword, however, would likely prove no easy task.
So many had come to the auction hall today. Especially those from the Divine Phoenix Academy and Clear Void Academy. They had surely come for this treasured sword.
“Its name is ‘Golden Crow Sword’. The inscription carved on the hilt resembles strikingly the ancient divine bird Golden Crow. Legends hold the Golden Crow as the sun bird. It suits this sword perfectly.”
Yun Ya continued her introduction: “Before the auction, I must remind you all of one thing. This sword chooses its master. Ordinary folk cannot wield it!”
Her words were in truth a most basic goad.
Yet the simpler the ploy, the easier its success.
Especially with so many present today, those fond of face would surely vie fiercely for this Golden Crow Sword.
“Oh, right. One more thing I nearly forgot. This Golden Crow Sword has been appraised by a master of armaments. It is one of the rarest in the Profound Realm: a weapon that can evolve on its own.”
“Self-evolve?”
“Yes, though for this Golden Crow Sword to evolve is most difficult. It requires devouring the Twelve Sacred Flames to become the most complete Golden Crow Divine Sword!
Of course, devouring ordinary flames inferior to the Twelve Sacred Flames can evolve it too, but it cannot become the Golden Crow Divine Sword. The effect would naturally be lesser.”
Yun Ya said with a smile: “I had meant to keep this thing originally. Sadly, I hold no confidence in gathering the Twelve Sacred Flames. Thus I can only offer it for auction. I wonder if any of you possess such ability?”
“Boss Yun Ya, spare further words. What is the starting bid?”
From below the stage, someone was already eager to try.
A treasured sword that could evolve meant one could use it indefinitely once obtained. To miss such a thing would truly bring regret.
As for whether the Twelve Sacred Flames could be obtained, these folk gave it no further thought.
Special flames could aid evolution too. Compared to the Twelve Sacred Flames, special flames in the Profound Realm were rather plentiful.
Yun Ya smiled: “The starting bid for the Golden Crow Sword is likewise one million lower-grade spirit stones!”
This starting bid matched that of the Heavenly Spirit Divine Pills before.
But a starting bid was merely that. The true price of a thing lay in its final sale.
