Chapter 152 - Auction

‘These formations are so complicated. How many trials and errors were needed to for people to come up with something so intricate?’ Shu Yang thought to himself, using his Piercing Gaze to inspect the room he was in.

‘Or perhaps I’m just not very good at formations. I have been slacking in my studies over the past few years, especially compared to Tianyi.’

Then again, there were a lot more on Shu Yang’s plate than his daughter’s.

“Aren’t you going to bid on anything else?” Bian Fenglin asked from beside him, looking down at the auctioneer on the stage below.

“I already have what I came for; I’m not going to try to compete for anything else,” Shu Yang said, shaking his head.

It had been a little over 4 years since the incident involving Kong Hua and Hanzhu. Back then, just as Shu Yang had gotten ready to get to work at home, focusing on his cultivation and Shu Art Hall, he received a letter that pulled him right back to the Bian Immortal City.

It was a letter from Bian Fenglin, inviting him to come to the Sword Sect to attend his Golden Core Advancement Ceremony.

Shu Yang had been incredibly surprised by the invitation. He never thought he and Bian Fenglin would continue their acquaintance, especially not for something as important as a ceremony to celebrate his advancement.

He couldn’t possibly refuse, so he had traveled to the Sword Sect to attend, actually entering the main area of the sect, as the celebration took place on Rongyu Peak.

Shu Yang was a bit uncomfortable, though. He felt out of his depth and kept mostly to himself.

He figured Bian Fenglin had just invited him as a courtesy, and he would just show his face and then leave.

Surprisingly, Bian Fenglin actually took the time to talk with Shu Yang during the celebration, even introducing his family and friends to him.

Shu Yang wasn’t stupid. Bian Fenglin was friendly, sure, but his actions were very strange. The only thing that could explain it was that the fight with Kong Hua had somehow piqued the people of the Sword Sect’s curiosity.

Perhaps Hanzhu’s background was something even they feared, so his friendliness toward Shu Yang had made them want to understand him better.

And it didn’t take long before his suspicions were basically confirmed, as Bian Fenglin traveled to Jingli Immortal City a few months later, and asked about his relationship with Hanzhu at that time, apparently unable to hold himself back.

Shu Yang had been as honest as he could. Though obviously unable to tell him about his Bloodline Tree killing True Person Jiami.

After that, years passed without another word from Bian Fenglin. He did take a greater interest in Xinmo and the twins, though.

Xinmo wrote in his letters how Bian Fenglin had visited him several times, guiding him, and even allowing him to study a pretty advanced body cultivation technique.

Shu Yang was very happy to hear about that. Even if Bian Fenglin might have some ulterior motives, it wasn’t anything too bad. Shu Yang felt he knew Bian Fenglin’s character well enough not to worry that his curiosity would get out of hand, and he would do something that hurt him or his family.

He was still a bit uncomfortable, though. Bian Fenglin had become a Golden Core cultivator, and being in the presence of someone so incomprehensibly strong would put anyone on edge.

Still, he couldn’t afford to not maintain the relationship with him. He had always been Shu Yang’s greatest backer.

Luckily, he seemed to still lead a pretty busy life, and didn’t constantly visit Shu Yang to dig deeper into his secrets.

But then, just a few weeks ago, he had once again invited him over to join him at an auction that would take place in Bian Immortal City.

It was hosted by the Sword Sect and the Treasure Pavilion, and was by far the grandest auction in the province, taking place once every decade. Without Bian Fenglin, Shu Yang would have never been able to attend it.

Unfortunately, he was poor.

Well, he wasn’t that poor. Ever since buying the Illusive Sword of the Wind, his wealth had only increased, as the Shu Sword Hall kept receiving more and more students.

But it was nowhere near enough to afford the more valuable items put up for auction, not even close.

Fortunately, though, there were a few things he could afford, and Shu Yang had already won the bid.

His target was the coveted Foundation Pills, used by spiritual qi cultivators when advancing to the Foundation stage. They were basically a necessity when advancing, unless you were a truly rare genius.

Even if they were just a 2nd stage pill, they were really hard to get a hold of. Not even the Treasure Pavilion had it in stock. There were just too many cultivators at the peak of Qi Refining who vied for it.

But this prestigious auction obviously couldn’t do without them, and had put several batches up for auction.

Shu Yang managed to get a hold of three of them, at 28, 32, and 41 middle-grade spirit stones. The price was really inflated, but that was just the way auctions worked. Shu Yang was just glad he had managed to get a hold of them, not so concerned about the price.

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‘I’ll probably not need them for a long time. But it feels safe to have them in store once Tianyi is ready to advance.’

“Your Shu Sword Hall is doing pretty well, right? Along with what you got from the inheritance, you should be able to bid for a few more items. These opportunities don’t come often, you know,” Bian Fenglin said.

“Maybe if something interesting comes up,” Shu Yang said. But he felt that if something could make him want to bid, it would make others want to bid as well. He didn't think he could outspend these people.

“We have 2,300 middle-grade spirit stones! 2,400! Anyone else?” The auctioneer called out.

The auctioneer had just presented a painting that could apparently help you comprehend sword intent, painted by the former Peak Master of Ziyou Peak.

Shu Yang couldn’t understand how something like that was being put up for auction, but he doubted the Auction House would dare lie about something like that.

“Is Ziyou Peak short on spirit stones or something?” Shu Yang asked.

“No. It’s just that everyone is expected to contribute something for this auction,” Bian Fenglin answered. “The painting might seem valuable, and it is. But not for the people of Ziyou Peak; they have access to much greater objects imbued with intent to help them comprehend it.”

“I see,” Shu Yang said.

‘I wonder how you go about doing something like that. It would be great if I could paint something to help my descendants comprehend my fist and sword intent without me having to be there teaching them.’

Shu Yang had been spending a lot of time teaching his grandkids over the years, mainly focusing on his fist intent.

He didn’t have very high hopes, though, as so far, Tianhu was the only one in his family to ever comprehend an intent. At least if you didn't count the twins.

But unexpectedly, a certain someone actually managed to comprehend fist intent about a year ago.

It was, surprisingly enough, Xinzi, Tianxu’s eldest daughter. She was only 10 years old at the time, and Shu Yang would never have guessed that the little girl would be the first one since Tianhu to comprehend an intent.

But it was very happy news, and Xinzi had become a bit of a star both within the family and inside the Shu Sword Hall.

Shu Yang had also been filled with new energy afterward, determined to keep punching his grandchildren until they either gave up, or comprehended fist intent.

“Next up,” The auctioneer said, looking out over the audience with a smirk as a long wooden box was carried out onto the stage. He opened the box, showing what looked like an ordinary sword to everyone.

‘What is it?’

Shu Yang, just like the other cultivators there, extended his divine sense to examine the sword. But while he had gotten pretty good at using his divine sense over the past few years, he still lacked a lot of experience, and couldn’t tell what was special about the sword.

“A natal sword,” Bian Fenglin said in a low voice, seemingly taken by surprise as well.

“What is a natal sword?” Shu Yang asked.

“A very special sword,” Bian Fenglin said solemnly. “It has a wisp of spirituality, allowing it to grow in strength along with its wielder. This one seems to have belonged to a Golden Core cultivator, probably long dead. I can’t recognize the metal as anything special, yet it gives off the feeling of a 3rd stage metal. It has probably grown along with its previous wielder from just an ordinary piece of iron.”

Shu Yang raised his eyebrows in surprise. He felt quite tempted himself.

But of course, he knew he could never afford it.

“Is it much more valuable than other 3rd stage weapons?” Shu Yang asked.

“Of course,” Bian Fenglin answered, “It can still grow stronger, after all. And besides, through nurturing the sword over many years, the connection between sword and swordsman will reach the peak, and the power you can display can transcend common sense.”

“You’re looking at it as if you want to buy it,” Shu Yang said, watching as Bian Fenglin stared intently at the sword.

“I think I just might give it a shot,” Bian Fenglin said with a laugh.

‘It must be nice to be wealthy.’

The bidding started, and one Golden Core True Person after another shouted out their bids. Bian Fenglin stood calmly, watching.

Soon, the price reached over 100 high-grade spirit stones, and Bian Fenglin sighed.

“It seems I’m not fated with this sword.”

Shu Yang nodded. The price was indeed a bit ridiculous.

Eventually, the one who won the bid seemed to be a Golden Core cultivator from the Edge Stepping Sect, a sect to the east of the Silver Feather Sect.

‘I’d probably not even be able to keep it even if I managed to win the bid.’

There were just too many Golden Core cultivators vying for it. Shu Yang didn’t think they would be very happy seeing a Foundation cultivator taking their prize.

‘It would have been a nice gift. Maybe I should look into buying some swords for the kids.’

“How are Xinmo and the twins, by the way? Do you know?” Shu Yang asked. Tianhu and Xiaoshi received letters from Xinmo from time to time, but Bian Fenglin should have the most up-to-date information.

“Right. I almost forgot. Xinmo has headed to the Heaven-Reaching Forest. Did you know?” Bian Fenglin asked.

“What? No? When did he leave? Why is he going there?” Shu Yang asked.

“Just a week ago, I think. He took on a sect mission to…what was it? I forget. Probably hunting some robber cultivators,” Bian Fenglin said.

“Hunting cultivators?” Shu Yang asked, mouth open, “Why would he do something so dangerous?”

“I could remember it wrong,” Bian Fenglin said with a casual smile, “Don’t worry. The missions aren’t given with the intent to kill our disciples; it’s to temper them. Xinmo should be fine. He probably felt he couldn’t get much out of staying within the sect, and needed to get some real-life experience. It’s very normal.”

Shu Yang frowned. He could understand, but he still felt it was unnecessary. Xinmo had all the resources he could need, and now, he even had Bian Fenglin to help guide him.

‘I’ll use my Bloodline Ability to check on him once I leave the city.’

‘Hopefully, he didn’t send a letter home about his intentions. Tianhu can’t afford to be distracted right now.’

Tianhu had now basically gotten his Bloodline Ability developed, and his cultivation had long been at the peak of the Master stage.

Before Shu Yang left for the auction this time, Tianhu had told him he wanted to advance when he returned back home.

Soon, Shu Yang would have his first Foundation cultivator descendant.