Chapter 81: The Auction (Part Five)

Dao Sansheng shook his head, speaking as he did so.
“I have no fondness for such things—unlike the amusements you young lords from the great clans enjoy.”

Zichen Yu was momentarily at a loss, rendered speechless by the retort.

“Two million supreme spirit stones.”

A man clad in black and wearing a mask rose from the hall. With a casual gesture, he removed the mask, revealing his true face.

It was the Bat Master. He had actually emerged from his retreat deep in the mountains.

A collective gasp swept through the hall.

It was truly the Bat Master—an old monster who had secluded himself in the wilderness, untouched by worldly affairs. His Nascent Soul cultivation had been perfected for nearly a century; it seemed he was prepared to ascend.

In the private box of the Purple Cloud Sect on the third floor, a middle-aged man muttered to himself.

“Two million supreme spirit stones—do I hear a higher bid? Two million supreme spirit stones. If there are no higher bids, when the countdown ends, the item will be sold.”

Lin Na continued to follow the auction’s rules, her voice steady.

The Bat Master stood atop his seat, cupping his hands around his mouth and shouting loudly, “I, the Bat Master, am about to ascend. This treasure is essential to me, and I must win it. If anyone dares compete, do not blame me for what comes next—this is a matter of life and death for me!”

Finishing his declaration, the Bat Master swept his gaze around, especially toward the private boxes above where the latest bids had come from.

Suddenly, a figure soared out from somewhere, hovering in the center of the auction hall. He wore a black robe and a mask, his hands hidden inside his sleeves, looking down upon the Bat Master from midair.

“Do not think that, just because you are at the Nascent Soul stage, you can do as you please. Our Purple Gold Chamber will not show mercy. If you dare speak so again, we will strike you down on the spot.”

As he finished, he released the full force of his perfected Nascent Soul aura. The pressure swept the hall, making those of weaker cultivation uneasy—some even collapsed to the floor.

“Two million supreme spirit stones, once. Two million supreme spirit stones, twice. Two million supreme spirit stones, thrice... two million supreme spirit stones, ten times.”

“Sold!”

Lin Na raised her wooden gavel and struck it heavily on the table, the booming sound echoing clearly to every attendee.

Though the black-robed Nascent Soul cultivator had intervened, no one dared challenge the Bat Master further. Once the sale was concluded, the black-robed man vanished once more.

“Congratulations to this esteemed cultivator for successfully winning the Thunderwing Tribe maiden. We will now proceed to the next item.”

A young girl approached with a tray. Lin Na unveiled its contents—a garment that shimmered with silvery light. She picked it up and shook it out.

A piece of soft armor appeared before everyone. Lin Na infused it with spiritual energy, causing a thin silver membrane to glow on its surface, and as the energy filled it, the armor grew in size.

“This is a magical artifact discovered in the ruins of an ancient site. It was just a step away from becoming an ancient treasure. Alas, it remains an artifact, but a defensive one at that—capable of withstanding a blow from a Nascent Soul cultivator.”

As she spoke, Lin Na gathered spiritual energy and struck the floating armor. Ripples spread across its surface before gradually fading.

“This piece is called the Frost Silver Armor. The starting bid is fifty thousand supreme spirit stones, with increments of no less than one thousand. The bidding begins now.”

No sooner had Lin Na finished speaking than the Bat Master bid from the hall.

“Fifty-one thousand supreme spirit stones.”

That forceful voice again. Another bid came from a private box on the third floor.

“Fifty-five thousand supreme spirit stones.”

“Bat Master, don’t think we all fear you. You already won the Thunderwing maiden; don’t try to compete with our Purple Cloud Sect for this soft armor artifact,” the middle-aged man spoke up.

Hardly had his words faded when an old man’s voice rang from a second-floor box.

“If you don’t take it, then I, Elder Baixuefeng, certainly will. We find this armor quite to our liking as well.”

With the bids rising ever higher, the soft armor was finally sold for one hundred thousand supreme spirit stones.

“Congratulations to Elder Baixuefeng in the second-floor box for winning the Frost Silver Armor. We will deliver it to you shortly. The next item up for auction is the Spirit-Gathering Pill...”

“Congratulations to the Flower Rain Sword Pavilion in the third-floor box for winning the treasure. We will deliver it as soon as possible.”

One treasure after another was auctioned off, most of them suited for those in the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages. Dao Sansheng watched for a long time without participating, while Zichen Yu made several attempts but failed to secure anything.

At that moment, someone entered from outside—it was Fox Charm. She stood before the crowd, offered a slight bow, and announced directly, “Young Master Zichen Yu, someone wishes to see you. A man named Tu Tianxiong says he has brought you two gifts.”

The name Tu Tianxiong was all too familiar to Zichen Yu. But with Dao Sansheng present—and his own fate in Dao Sansheng’s hands, who was also Tu Tianxiong’s fellow disciple—he dared not make decisions alone and turned to Dao Sansheng for guidance.

Dao Sansheng, seeing Zichen Yu’s questioning gaze, nodded in assent.

“It has been quite some time since I returned to our sect or saw my senior brother. Let him in—perhaps he’s brought a fine gift for Young Master Zi.”

With Dao Sansheng’s approval, Zichen Yu nodded to Fox Charm, who took her leave.

Soon, Tu Tianxiong entered, followed by two others—both of whom Dao Sansheng recognized. One was Dao Dadan, who had grown up with him, and the other was his senior sister from Icefire Peak, whom he had met a few times. Why were they following Tu Tianxiong?

The two followed behind Tu Tianxiong in a daze, silent as puppets, standing quietly with vacant eyes.

Upon entering, Tu Tianxiong bowed low to Zichen Yu, failing to recognize Dao Sansheng and the other three, who were still leaning over the box’s edge, watching the stage below.

“These two are gifts for you. One is the junior sister you asked me to bring, and the other is someone I found en route—he kept seeking for Junior Brother Dao Sansheng, saying they had grown up together, as close as brothers. I know, Young Master, you wish to see Dao Sansheng dead.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than sweat broke out on Zichen Yu’s forehead.

Fool! He wanted Dao Sansheng dead, but he could hardly make such intentions blatant in Dao Sansheng’s presence—especially with his fate under the man’s control. At that thought—

A crisp slap rang out as Zichen Yu struck Tu Tianxiong across the face. Before Tu Tianxiong could react, another slap landed, forceful and without hesitation.

Tu Tianxiong pressed a burning hand to his cheek, the sting searing to his very soul, humiliated beyond measure. He had come bearing gifts, only to be beaten without reason.

Turning his head, he finally saw the four figures leaning at the box’s edge. Dao Sansheng looked back with a smile—a smile that seemed to say Tu Tianxiong was nothing but a fool, full of scorn and ridicule.