Chapter 1236: Myriad Treasures Tower (2)

“Fellow Daoist, you appear unfamiliar. May I ask which Star Domain you hail from?” The elder asked with a smile, revealing himself to be a genuine Dao Ancestor!

“Just a mere Loose Cultivator, not worth mentioning,” Xu Ran responded indifferently.

“Hehe, you are modest.” The elder did not press further and directly stated, “There are three qualifications to participate in this auction: First, possessing Dao Ancestor-level cultivation. Second, holding our Alliance of All Realms’ Purple Gold VIP Token. Third, asset verification, requiring proof of having no less than one million pieces of low-grade Dao Origin shards, or equivalent value.”

He looked at Xu Ran, evidently thinking Xu Ran could only meet the third condition.

However, Xu Ran merely extended a single finger.

Buzz!

An invisible, intangible but extremely sharp Sword Intent flashed from his fingertip, as if able to sever all causality in the world, overturning every existing law.

The elder Dao Ancestor’s smile instantly froze!

His pupils, at this moment, shrank to the size of a pinhole!

He clearly felt that just a moment ago, his causal connection with this world seemed to have been severed by an invisible sharp sword, leaving a barely perceptible crack! Although it was fleeting, that feeling made even this long-renowned Dao Ancestor shiver with unease!

What kind of Dao is this?! What sort of Sword Intent?!

This was definitely not something an ordinary Daoist Monarch could possess! It was even more mysterious and… terrifying than many Initial Tier Dao Ancestors he had encountered!

“Dao… Fellow Daoist…” The elder’s voice carried a hint of dryness and reverence for the first time, “You… have passed.”

He did not even mention asset verification anymore.

Someone possessing such terrifying Sword Intent had power that far surpassed just Dao Ancestor-level cultivation. Such a figure was itself the most weighty “entry ticket”!

The elder quickly stood up, personally retrieved a token surrounded by purple aura, and presented it with both hands: “This is the highest level certification for this auction, the ‘Purple Gold Celestial Character Order.’ Holding this token grants you entry to the independent suite at the top tier of the Treasure Pavilion and the privilege to bid on three items first. Please, Fellow Daoist, accept it as an offer of friendship from our Alliance of All Realms.”

Xu Ran accepted the token, his expression still calm. He knew that strength, in every place, was the best pass.

“Thank you.”

He nodded slightly and turned to leave.

It was not until Xu Ran’s figure completely disappeared from the main hall outside that the elder Dao Ancestor exhaled a long breath, sweat already seeping from his forehead.

“Who is this person… When did the Black Sand Region produce such an unfathomable Sword Cultivator? His Dao, unheard of and unseen, full of subversion and ominousness… It seems this auction will experience upheaval.”

…

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

The Broken Star City Grand Auction arrived as scheduled.

On this day, the entire Broken Star City was in an uproar. Countless powerful auras surged from all directions of the city, converging upon the Treasure Pavilion floating in the sky.

Guided by Tu Feng, Xu Ran held the Purple Gold Celestial Character Order and proceeded unobstructed to the top tier of the Treasure Pavilion.

This was an unbelievably lavish independent space. Through the enormous crystal window, one could overlook the entire auction venue. The venue was circular and immense, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of people, and was already fully occupied. The hall below seated at least Daoist Monarch-level powerhouses, and from the suites above could be faintly discerned various or covert or ostentatious Dao Ancestor-level auras.

“Senior, look, in the northwest corner pavilion is the ‘Mad Bone Dao Ancestor,’ known for refining demon and god skeletons. Facing him is the ‘Thousand Illusion Demon Lord,’ said to be a nine-tailed celestial fox adept in Illusion Skills, quite troublesome…” Tu Feng diligently introduced the various notable figures in the venue to Xu Ran.

Xu Ran listened quietly, his gaze indifferent.

Dong!

A sonorous bell resounded through the venue, announcing the official start of the auction.

A graceful palace-adorned beauty stepped onto the central auction stage. She smiled charmingly, her voice carrying a peculiar magic power, instantly stirring the entire venue’s atmosphere.

“Welcome, Fellow Daoists, to the once-in-a-decade Broken Star Festival…”

The opening items were rare divine materials or exceptional Daoist Monarch Magical Artifacts, triggering fierce bidding from the crowd below, rapidly heating the atmosphere.

Xu Ran remained silent, patiently waiting.

Until the auction reached its midpoint, a special item was brought forward.

It was a piece of blood and flesh sealed by layer upon layer of prohibitions!

The piece of flesh was roughly head-sized, dark gold, covered with mysterious patterns. Despite being a dead thing, it still faintly throbbed, each pulse seemingly containing a cosmos’s birth and death, exuding an ancient and vast terrifying aura.

“Please, everyone look!” The palace-adorned beauty’s voice grew excited, “This, brought back by our Alliance of All Realms exploration team from the edge of a forbidden land called the ‘Buried God Star Abyss,’ after numerous perils! According to joint appraisals by multiple master appraisers, this is very likely a fragment of an… Immortal-level existence’s… remains!”

Boom!

The venue exploded instantly!

Immortal!

That was a legendary realm beyond Dao Ancestors! It was the ultimate goal that all strong figures sought throughout their lives amidst the myriad domains ruins!

Though just a fragment, the Dao and Law contained within were priceless treasures to Dao Ancestor-level powerhouses! If they could comprehend even a fraction, it held the potential to glimpse the path to Immortality!

“Starting price, three million low-grade Dao Origin shards! Increment no less than ten thousand each time!”

“Five million!”

As soon as the beauty spoke, a domineering voice from a luxurious suite instantly elevated the price to a breathtaking height.

“It’s the Young Master, Xue Wuya, of the Blood Prison Star Sea!” someone exclaimed.

Xu Ran glanced toward the voice and saw a young man clad in a blood-red robe standing before the suite window. Handsome yet with a bizarre fiendish aura, he had eyes scornful as if looking down upon everyone. Behind him stood two elders respectfully, both with deep seas of Dao Ancestor-level aura.

“Blood Prison’s Master even dares to let his son take such risks?”

“Hmph, who dares to move against him? His father is the Master of Blood Prison!”

The venue buzzed with discussions, many initially eager-to-bid Dao Ancestors now held back.

The name Master of Blood Prison, in the Black Sand Region, was an insurmountable Great Mountain.

“Six million!”

Just then, a calm voice broke the oppression Xue Wuya had established.

The crowd looked toward the sound, discovering it came from an unlit top-rated private room on the top floor.

Xue Wuya frowned, a trace of displeased cold light flashing in his eyes: “Oh? Someone dares compete with me? Name yourself!”

Xu Ran ignored him, merely stating indifferently to the void: “Seven million.”

“You courting death!” Xue Wuya was furious, roving unchallenged in the Black Sand Region, never ignored like this!

“Young Master, please calm down; in this auction, it’s the higher bid that wins.” The palace-adorned beauty spoke appropriately, neither servile nor arrogant. The Alliance of All Realms’ background was equally deep beyond measure, unfearing the Master of Blood Prison.

“Good! Very good!” Xue Wuya laughed in anger, “I want to see just how wealthy you are! Ten million!”

He directly quoted a sky-high price, confident it was enough to deter any rival.

However—

“Eleven million.” Xu Ran’s voice remained composed, as if not announcing a terrifying number enough to buy multiple star systems but rather casually buying vegetables at a street booth.

Xue Wuya’s face sank completely.

Beside him, an elder whispered, “Young Master, we brought a ceiling of fifteen million shards this time, needing reserves for bidding on the Ancient Navigation Map…”

Xue Wuya glared at Xu Ran’s suite, his eyes brimming with murderous intent. But ultimately, he suppressed his fury, snorted coldly, and sat back down.