Chapter 96: Soul Netherstone

A moment later.

A middle-aged man clad in a cloud-ink magical robe flashed onto the high platform with startling suddenness. So swift was his movement that not a single person present, from the Foundation-Establishing cultivators to the Early Nascent Soul ones seated in the front rows, managed to catch even a glimpse of how he had taken the stage.

Only Jiuyou, with his formidable Divine Sense enveloping the area, witnessed it with absolute clarity.

This man was clearly a cultivator who specialized in movement arts. However, in terms of pure speed, he was still more than a notch below Jiuyou.

The man on the stage was none other than Dong Yanwei, the very same person who had conversed with Jiuyou earlier.

At this moment, Dong Yanwei wore a genial expression, smiling as he cupped his hands and bowed in all directions. Of course, this courtesy was mainly for the benefit of the Nascent Soul cultivators in attendance.

For a dignified Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator to lower himself to such a degree, it was little wonder he had secured his position as branch master. And it was equally unsurprising that Precious Heaven Pavilion had become the premier merchant consortium in all of Dayong, for both bearing and shrewdness were indispensable.

Dong Yanwei swept his gaze across the hall, gave a light cough to confirm that all eyes were upon him, and only then spoke with a smile.

"I am deeply grateful that all of you have taken time from your busy schedules to grace Precious Heaven Pavilion with your presence at our humble auction."

His voice was unhurried, yet it reached every ear in the hall with perfect clarity.

"That our humble establishment has earned the recognition of fellow cultivators, even being hailed as the number one merchant consortium in all of Dayong, and indeed in all of Qian Prefecture, is a testament to our reputation. The goods we sell and auction have been witnessed by countless fellow daoists over the past several millennia.

As for today's offerings, whether it be the Dustfall Pills for Core Formation or the Soul Coagulation Pills for Nascent Soul formation, we have a complete array of elixirs.

In particular, pills of the caliber of the Soul Coagulation Pill are truly rare. Across our entire branch, a full century must pass before a single one is brought to auction. I imagine many of you have traveled from afar specifically for this item. This is also the time when Thousand Leaf City is at its most prosperous, once every hundred years."

He paused, letting his gaze drift across the entire hall.

"Furthermore, ancient relics, formation arrays, spiritual materials, spirit beasts... our consortium has everything one could desire. Whether you seek to cultivate personally or nurture the juniors of your sect, I am confident our humble establishment is your finest choice."

Every word from Dong Yanwei tugged at the heartstrings of those present, especially the cultivators who had been stuck at a bottleneck for years without making a breakthrough. Quite a few were stirred into restless longing, their eyes already gleaming with determination to claim what they sought.

"Soul Coagulation Pill?"

Jiuyou's brow furrowed slightly before relaxing, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes.

"There actually exists a pill that directly increases the probability of forming a Nascent Soul? Such a thing was unheard of in the Tianyuan Sea, and I never encountered it even on the Lingchuan continent after arriving there. This must be one of the reasons why cultivators of Qian Prefecture possess such profound foundations."

Just as he was pondering, a cultivator who could no longer contain himself spoke up urgently.

"Fellow Daoist Dong, stop keeping us in suspense! Please begin at once."

From one of the private boxes, an impatient Nascent Soul cultivator urged, his tone brimming with anticipation.

"Heh heh, since this fellow daoist has spoken first, this Dong shall waste no more words."

Dong Yanwei laughed heartily and swept his sleeve.

"I hereby declare the centennial auction of the Thousand Leaf City branch of Precious Heaven Pavilion... officially begun!"

The instant his words fell, from a side door at one end of the main hall, a beautiful female cultivator at the Foundation-Establishing stage emerged, walking gracefully with both hands supporting a jade platform carved from black stone. A piece of green brocade cloth lay draped over the platform, perfectly still.

Jiuyou sat leisurely in his top-floor private box, his gaze passing through the crystal screen before him to take in everything below.

He did not even wait for the cloth to be lifted. His formidable Divine Sense easily pierced through the green fabric that was supposed to block spiritual detection and probed within.

Upon the jade platform rested twenty pills.

Each one was milky white, crystal clear and translucent, with faint spiritual light flowing across their surfaces. The medicinal fragrance was contained within, yet it was refreshing and invigorating to the senses.

Dustfall Pills, a full twenty of them.

However, pills of this nature were utterly useless to Jiuyou, so he naturally could not be bothered to spare them more than a glance. But the fact that Precious Heaven Pavilion could produce such a quantity of Dustfall Pills as mere opening items, and from just a single branch, spoke volumes about their extravagant wealth.

A moment later, the female cultivator lifted the green cloth, and an uproar swept through the hall below.

Bidding voices rose one after another, wave upon wave. The cheapest Dustfall Pill sold for fifty thousand Spirit Stones, while the most expensive one approached eight hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones. Within the span of a few incense sticks, all twenty Dustfall Pills had been snatched up.

With high-grade pills opening the show, everyone's anticipation for the subsequent items grew even greater.

Even the Nascent Soul cultivators were no exception. For them, what they desired most were naturally pills and spiritual herbs that could enhance their cultivation, or secret arts and ancient relics that could amplify their strength.

As for the lower-ranked cultivators, even if they lacked the means to participate in the later bidding, simply feasting their eyes and broadening their horizons made the trip worthwhile.

Pair after pair of fervent eyes fixed upon Dong Yanwei, eagerly awaiting the next item.

This was precisely the effect Precious Heaven Pavilion wanted.

Time flew by rapidly.

Item after item was brought onto the high platform. Heavenly treasures and earthly rarities, secret arts and spirit beasts... dozens passed in succession, dazzling countless cultivators and setting their hearts surging with emotion.

Unfortunately, none of them was what Jiuyou sought.

That said, he did gain a measure of Qian Prefecture's profound heritage. Quite a few spiritual plants and pills were things he had never even heard the names of. Jiuyou did make a few bids of his own, acquiring some spiritual herbs he had not yet collected, intending to cultivate them later if the need arose.

Another half hour passed.

Finally, the treasure brought out by the serving girl this time had its covering cloth replaced with a special black beast hide, enough to suppress all aura.

Jiuyou instinctively swept his Divine Sense across it. That piece of hide was as transparent as glass before his formidable spiritual perception, leaving nothing hidden.

Beneath the beast hide lay a special ore the size of a palm, pitch black throughout, yet faintly emanating wisps of dark, gloomy energy.

A flicker of dark light passed through Jiuyou's eyes as he mused inwardly.

"Could this be..."

"Soul Netherstone!"

Dong Yanwei whipped off the beast hide and announced with a clear voice.

"This type of ore is extremely rare, born only in places where Yin-sha energy gathers. I obtained this Soul Netherstone by chance over seventy years ago while venturing deep into the Cold Ruins. Whether used to refine magical treasures, or refined and fused into a treasure of the same attribute, it can greatly enhance the treasure's divine powers and durability. For the fellow daoists of the Demonic Path present here, this can truly be called a rare and precious treasure."

The moment his words fell, the entire hall erupted into commotion.

The cultivators who practiced demonic arts all had eyes gleaming like wolves spotting prey, their gazes nailed firmly to that Soul Netherstone.

Especially in the top-floor private boxes, several Nascent Soul cultivators could no longer restrain themselves. They rose to their feet and strode to the crystal screens, eyes burning with intensity.

Once they made their move, there would be nothing left for the lower-ranked cultivators.

Jiuyou's heart was equally stirred.

But at the same time, another question surged into his mind.

When he had looted that Ye-surnamed Nascent Soul cultivator's Storage Pouch, there had been no formidable demonic treasures or ancient relics inside. By all logic, he should first have his disciples search for Jinli Stones to strengthen his own Jinli Sword Formation. Why go after this Soul Netherstone instead, seeking the distant while neglecting the near? It probably was not for refining weapons, but for some other purpose.

Jiuyou gently shook his head, suppressing his curiosity.

In any case, a treasure like this, he absolutely would not let slip through his fingers.