Chapter 95: The Auction

Two years passed in the blink of an eye.

Between the mountains of Thousand Leaf City.

On this day, several low-ranking cultivators flew past at low altitude on their artifacts. As they passed a certain mountain peak, all of them couldn't help but shiver, the spiritual energy within their bodies seeming to freeze solid.

"So cold... I feel like the spiritual energy in my body has frozen over, what's going on?" One cultivator spoke with trembling voice.

"This place is where Thousand Leaf City rents out cultivation caves. A mighty figure is likely in seclusion here. Let's hurry and leave for the auction at Precious Heaven Pavilion. We must not provoke this senior."

The leader spoke quickly, then took the lead and sped off into the distance.

The remaining cultivators exchanged frightened glances and hastily followed.

Deep within the mountain peak, Jiuyou slowly opened his eyes. A sharp glint flashed within them as he let out a turbid breath.

Half a year ago, he had already fully refined the obstruction force. Now his cultivation had reached the peak of Mid-Nascent Soul, only a single step away from the late stage.

As for why he came out of seclusion today, he naturally had other important matters to attend to.

From the memories of those two Golden Core cultivators, he learned that the two men were precisely the disciples of that surnamed Ye Nascent Soul cultivator he had slain during the great battle at Azure Immortal Valley. With their master dead, they lost their backing within the sect and were exiled to Thousand Leaf City.

That surnamed Ye Nascent Soul cultivator had once used a teleportation array to travel between Qian Prefecture and Lingchuan. On his final return, he had specifically instructed that surnamed You Golden Core cultivator to search for a type of yin-cold mineral ore called "Soul Netherstone."

Jiuyou had also wondered why that surnamed Ye Nascent Soul cultivator sought Soul Netherstone rather than Jinli Stone. But on second thought, since the man had placed this item's priority above Jinli Stone, there must surely be some greater purpose for it.

Unfortunately, those two Golden Core disciples didn't know the purpose behind their master's search for this stone either, only treating it as a rare refining material.

As for today's important matter, it was to attend the auction at Precious Heaven Pavilion.

With a flicker, Jiuyou vanished from the cultivation cave.

In the blink of an eye, he had arrived at the southern part of the city.

The southern district was now several times more bustling than when Jiuyou had first arrived. Above his head, merchant ships from various shops shuttled back and forth, strands of multicolored spiritual light interweaving into a dazzling sea of radiance. Countless cultivators flew past at low altitude on their flight artifacts, so densely packed that the sight was truly spectacular.

The city's patrol guards had also increased severalfold. From time to time, a squad of cultivators would fly past, expressions solemn.

Clearly, everyone, regardless of who they were, attached tremendous importance to this upcoming grand auction.

Jiuyou soon arrived before a magnificent pavilion located in the southern part of the city.

The pavilion occupied an extremely vast area. Gazing upward, it stood at least a hundred zhang tall. Patrol guards surrounded the area in continuous waves, solemn and imposing, with security tightly woven.

A golden light barrier enveloped the main entrance of the grand hall. Several Golden Core cultivators sat in strict readiness on both sides of the entrance. A few side doors also flanked the main entrance, meant for low-ranking cultivators without invitation jade slips, who could only enter through those.

Jiuyou merely swept a brief glance over the scene before walking toward the main entrance.

The Golden Core cultivator leading the group at the main entrance saw someone approaching and quickly stepped forward to greet him.

He instinctively swept his Divine Sense over Jiuyou, and his expression immediately changed. Though he couldn't discern Jiuyou's exact cultivation level, it was enough for him to know that this senior was a Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Esteemed senior, welcome to the Precious Heaven Pavilion auction."

Jiuyou gave a slight nod and casually tossed his invitation jade slip over.

The Golden Core cultivator received it with both hands, hurriedly inspected it, then promptly directed his subordinates to clear the way, terrified of showing even the slightest disrespect.

The moment he stepped into the pavilion, someone came forward to receive him, respectfully escorting Jiuyou to the VIP seats on the top floor.

As for those Golden Core cultivators holding VIP jade slips, they didn't even have the qualifications to ascend to the top floor. Only Nascent Soul cultivators enjoyed that privilege.

The top floor was a spacious hall. Further within lay row after row of private boxes.

Some boxes had their doors open with their isolation prohibition marks not activated, clearly vacant. Others had their doors tightly shut with isolation formations fully deployed, indicating Nascent Soul cultivators had already taken their seats within.

Jiuyou roughly scanned the area with his Divine Sense and was about to pick an empty box when his Divine Sense suddenly trembled. He felt a faint, elusive Divine Sense probing him.

Jiuyou glanced sideways and locked eyes with a middle-aged man with a black beard.

The aura emanating from that man was slightly weaker than his own, but he was still a formidable Mid-Nascent Soul expert.

Seeing Jiuyou look over, the middle-aged man smiled warmly. When he got a clear look at Jiuyou's youthful face, he couldn't help but feel a hint of surprise. Truly rare were those who could cultivate to such a realm while maintaining such a young appearance.

However, on second thought, this seemingly youthful man in blue robes had most likely taken appearance-preserving pills or similar elixirs in his youth. That made perfect sense.

The middle-aged man stepped forward and cupped his fists in greeting, smiling. "This one is Dong Yanwei, humbly serving as the branch master of Precious Heaven Pavilion's Thousand Leaf City establishment. Greetings to this fellow Daoist. May I ask how you are called?"

Jiuyou's eyes shifted slightly, and he chuckled, returning a slight bow. "This one is Gui You. Greetings to Pavilion Master Dong. May I ask what business the pavilion master has with me?"

"Hehe, you flatter me, fellow Daoist. I have no particular business, it's just that those of us in this line of work most enjoy making friends. I see that you are unfamiliar to me, and yet so young with such a cultivation realm. I imagine you must be an elder of some great sect from one of the other two nations?"

As Dong Yanwei spoke, his gaze circled over Jiuyou's face, his smile warm and enthusiastic.

Jiuyou's expression remained unchanged as he said calmly, "Pavilion Master Dong has keen eyesight. This one is merely a rogue cultivator from a border region, blessed with a bit of fortune, hardly worth mentioning. Nothing compared to Precious Heaven Pavilion's grand enterprise and vast wealth."

"A rogue cultivator?" A flash of surprise passed through Dong Yanwei's eyes, before his smile returned.

"Friend Gui You is too modest. Any rogue cultivator capable of reaching Mid-Nascent Soul is undoubtedly someone with extraordinary determination and remarkable fortune. I admire that."

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Dong Yanwei tactfully stopped asking questions, cupped his fists in farewell, and took his leave. Before departing, he specifically instructed the attendants to serve Jiuyou well and not be negligent.

Jiuyou watched his retreating back, then turned expressionlessly and walked into an empty private box.

He closed the door, activated the isolation prohibition, and instantly all sound from the outside world vanished.

The box was small, but its furnishings were quite refined. The tables and chairs were made of premium spirit wood, emitting a faint woody fragrance. Spirit tea and spirit fruits were laid out on the table, brimming with spiritual energy, clearly prepared for honored guests to enjoy.

On the wall directly facing the door was embedded a transparent crystal screen about a zhang wide. Through the crystal screen, one could clearly see the enormous auction hall below.

The hall was circular, with a high platform at its center, surrounded by rings of tiered seating that could accommodate several thousand people.

At this moment, the area below was already packed with people, a dense sea of black heads, numbering at least two to three thousand cultivators. Foundation-establishing and Golden Core cultivators each made up the bulk, with the occasional Early Nascent Soul cultivator seated in the front rows.

Jiuyou sat down in his chair, closed his eyes to rest, and calmly waited for the auction to begin.

Time passed bit by bit.

More and more cultivators filed into the hall. Though Jiuyou's eyes were closed, his Divine Sense remained spread over the entire venue, sensing every aura that entered.

He noticed that aside from himself, at least a dozen or so Nascent Soul cultivators had arrived at the top-floor private boxes. Among them, two auras were particularly deep and profound, vaguely reaching Mid-Nascent Soul, nearly matching his own.

"This Precious Heaven Pavilion has quite the pulling power."

Jiuyou mused inwardly. An auction that could draw so many Nascent Soul cultivators spoke volumes about the depth of this merchant consortium's foundation.

However, his purpose here was clear: Jinli Stone, or Soul Netherstone. If he could secure either one, the trip would be worthwhile.

If neither was available...

Then he would simply have to set his sights on the great sect cultivators attending the auction.

Jiuyou opened his eyes, his gaze passing through the crystal screen to land on the high platform below, his expression calm.

The auction was about to begin.