Chapter 99: Golden Lotus Lamp

The moment Dong Yanwei's words fell, the Grand Hall fell silent for a beat.

Jiuyou rose swiftly to his feet and, before anyone else could react, spoke first.

"Five hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones."

His tone was unhurried, yet carried an unshakable certainty.

He was determined to have this Golden Lotus Lamp.

Spirit Stones on his person served no purpose other than trade anyway. After spending over four hundred on the Soul Netherstone, he still had eighteen hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones and twenty high-grade ones on hand. Even if someone bid beyond that amount, he had his ways.

Jiuyou calculated silently, but his gaze never left the Golden Lotus Lamp in Dong Yanwei's hand.

"Isn't that the senior who was at Mid-Nascent Soul peak earlier? Looks like he's set his sights on this treasure."

A cultivator below muttered in a voice filled with reverence.

"Aside from that big shot from Blood Abyss Sect, I doubt any other Nascent Soul senior would want to provoke this existence. Most likely no one will bid against him."

Someone nodded in agreement, a lingering fear in their eyes. The chill that Senior Ghost in that Private Box had released earlier, that suffocating cold that stole one's breath, still sent shivers down their spines just thinking about it.

"Can't say for sure. That senior is merely a rogue cultivator from a barren place like Southern Frost. Though his cultivation is high, his assets may not match the Supreme Elders of our Qian Prefecture sects. Besides, this is Precious Heaven Pavilion. Surely that senior wouldn't fall out with the entire trading world over a single ancient relic."

Off to one side, a cultivator in sect-standard robes muttered sourly. Judging by his demeanor, he was the sort of Privileged Young Heir who lorded it over others in daily life. But fearing Jiuyou's presence in the top-floor Private Box, he kept his voice extremely low, not daring to speak too openly.

...

"Six hundred."

"Seven hundred."

Bids rang out one after another.

Though some feared Jiuyou's cultivation, this was Precious Heaven Pavilion, the largest merchant consortium in all of Qian Prefecture.

Every Private Box was crafted from special materials, fitted with small concealment formations, and combined with each person's own hiding arts. As long as one didn't willingly reveal their identity, even a Late Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't hope to glimpse their true face.

With that thought, the old monsters had few worries. With a high-tier ancient relic before them, how could they possibly yield it to someone else? Naturally, some couldn't hold back.

"Eight hundred."

"One thousand."

"One thousand three hundred."

The bidding climbed steadily.

In just a few blinks of an eye, it had already soared to two thousand five hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones.

This price had far surpassed the previous item, the Purple Void Pill, drawing gasps of amazement from the cultivators below. At such a price, converted to ordinary Spirit Stones, it would amount to a full two hundred fifty thousand. But for Nascent Soul cultivators, it was still within affordable range.

The bidding continued.

The low-ranking cultivators below watched with exclamation after hushed exclamation.

After another stretch, the Golden Lotus Lamp's price was called to a full five thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones. Only then did the bidding finally slow. At such a price, it was no longer something ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators could bear.

The one who called this price was in the second Private Box to Jiuyou's left. If Jiuyou remembered correctly, he had earlier sensed two auras at Mid-Nascent Soul. Aside from Youluo True Lord of Blood Abyss Sect in the box across the way, the other was here.

Five thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones. As soon as this price was announced, no one responded for a long while.

The one in that bidding box was privately gloating when another voice rang out, ice-cold.

"Six thousand."

Jiuyou's gaze was indifferent. With his temperament, how could he possibly watch a top-tier ancient relic slip right through his fingers?

"Six thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones!"

A cultivator below cried out in shock, disbelief written all over their face.

The moment Jiuyou's voice fell, quite a stir broke out in the Grand Hall.

The Nascent Soul cultivators in the other Private Boxes were privately astonished as well. A full six thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones. Even without eating or drinking, they'd need at least a century of accumulation to save up that much. This rogue cultivator from a barren land actually had such wealth!

Though the old monsters were shocked, not a single one dared to scheme against Jiuyou.

After all, to survive in a place like Southern Frost and still possess this many Spirit Stones and such profound cultivation, even a fool could guess that Senior Ghost's methods were absolutely extraordinary.

His true strength was probably a cut above what they'd imagined, likely not far off from those Late Nascent Soul cultivators.

If anyone dared to make a move against him, it would be no different from seeking death.

For a moment, people began privately speculating about Jiuyou's identity. Some even connected the overnight annihilation of Crystal Spirit Sect's higher-ups in Yunmiao Mountain Range a few years back with this suddenly appearing powerhouse. But no one dared to dig deeper.

"Hahaha, congratulations to Daoist Ghost on winning the Golden Lotus Lamp! May your immortal path flourish long, and your great way have promise!"

When the time came, Dong Yanwei's voice rang out at the perfect moment, carrying goodwill. The price Jiuyou had given was half a notch higher than he'd expected.

He didn't pry into this or that. His identity was merely a branch Pavilion Master, a spirit merchant. Doing good business was enough. The rest had nothing to do with him, and there was no need to meddle.

This was one of the reasons he'd lived to this day, cultivated to Mid-Nascent Soul, and held such an exalted position.

A hint of satisfaction flickered in Jiuyou's eyes. A high-tier ancient relic, if placed in the Tianyuan Sea, would be priceless beyond measure. Its value simply couldn't be calculated in Spirit Stones.

A moment later, the auction was declared over.

The crowd filed out one after another, discussing today's sights at the auction, privately marveling. Especially that senior who'd appeared out of nowhere with formidable cultivation and deep pockets, he became the focal point of everyone's conversation.

Jiuyou didn't rush to leave. He sat quietly in his Private Box.

Before long, a soft knock came at the door.

"Daoist Gui You, Dong has come to complete the transaction."

The door opened. Dong Yanwei walked in alone, a smile on his face, no attendants behind him.

"Pavilion Master Dong came personally. I'm much obliged."

Jiuyou rose, his tone flat.

"It's only proper. For an ancient relic of the Golden Lotus Lamp's grade, I'd only trust my own hands."

As he spoke, Dong Yanwei produced the Golden Lotus Lamp from his Storage Pouch and held it in his palm. The small golden bowl's spiritual light was restrained within, its patterns clear, ancient and weighty. He didn't hand it over immediately, instead looking at Jiuyou.

"Six thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones. Have you prepared them, Daoist?"

Jiuyou wasted no words. He raised his hand and patted his Storage Pouch. A massive pile of Spirit Stones flew out, neatly stacked upon the table. The mid-grade Spirit Stones formed a small mountain, their spiritual light filling the room with radiance.

"Eighteen hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones."

He paused, then withdrew twenty Spirit Stones with even denser spiritual energy from his sleeve, setting them aside.

"Plus twenty high-grade Spirit Stones."

High-grade Spirit Stones! Twenty of them!

Dong Yanwei's gaze sharpened slightly. One high-grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for one hundred mid-grade ones, and even then it was hard to find buyers. Twenty high-grade Spirit Stones plus eighteen hundred mid-grade, that was a value of three thousand eight hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones. Still short of six thousand.

His expression didn't change. He continued smiling at Jiuyou.

Jiuyou didn't drag it out either. With a flip of his palm, two Jade Boxes materialized out of thin air, gently pushed across to the other man.

"Open them and take a look."

Dong Yanwei took the Jade Boxes with curiosity and lifted the lids.

A rich, concentrated medicinal fragrance rushed out. Inside the Jade Boxes lay two spirit herbs. Their spiritual energy was abundant, their vein patterns clear, and their age was a full four thousand years!

Dong Yanwei's pupils contracted slightly, astonishment showing on his face.

"Four-thousand-year spirit herbs?"

He examined them closely for a moment, took a deep breath, and closed the Jade Boxes.

"Daoist, this gesture of yours has truly surprised Dong."

Jiuyou said calmly, "These two spirit herbs to cover the remaining Spirit Stones. Is that enough?"

Dong Yanwei let out a wry chuckle.

"Enough. More than enough. In fact, Dong is the one taking advantage of your generosity."

Four-thousand-year spirit herbs were truly rare in this world. Even Precious Heaven Pavilion might not be able to produce more than a few. By value alone, these two herbs far exceeded the remaining Spirit Stones. Jiuyou was willing to offer them, clearly not wanting to leave any room for gossip, and too lazy to quibble over the small difference.

Dong Yanwei understood this well and said no more. He presented the Golden Lotus Lamp with both hands.

"The Golden Lotus Lamp is yours, Daoist."

Jiuyou took the golden lamp, extended his Divine Sense into it, and felt the Prohibition Mark runes circulating within the ancient relic. He nodded with satisfaction and casually tucked it into his Storage Pouch.

"Pleasure doing business."

Dong Yanwei put away the Spirit Stones and spirit herbs. His gaze lingered on Jiuyou's face for a moment, as if he wanted to say something. In the end, he said nothing, cupped his fists in farewell, and took his leave.

Jiuyou watched him go, his expression cold, his thoughts unknowable...

Soul Netherstone, Golden Lotus Lamp, both in hand. The purpose of this trip was complete.

He pushed open the door of his Private Box, silently merged into the departing crowd, and vanished in the blink of an eye.