Chapter 84 - 83: Mountain Furred Beast

Chapter 84: Chapter 83: Mountain Furred Beast

They arrived on the third floor, which was a spacious, circular hall with an open mezzanine. Contrary to what one might expect, there were no rows of seats, and most of the Cultivators present were standing.

Only the private rooms on the mezzanine had seats. There were twelve such rooms in total, all reserved for the Immortal Race Descendants of Top-Level Immortal Races and for Foundation Establishment Ancestors.

Yu Daniu was not yet an Elder and couldn’t represent the Yun Family, so he was not qualified to enter a private room.

The three of them stood among the crowd in the circular hall. Fortunately, it was spacious enough that even with over a hundred Cultivators, it didn’t feel crowded.

"Dad, Grandpa and my grand-uncle have arrived," Yun Xiaoniu said softly.

At the entrance to the third floor stood Yun Bufan, dressed in green robes and wearing a Cloud Crown. With his restrained aura, he looked like a young master from a noble family, as handsome as jade, walking at the very front.

Following behind him were Yu Daniu’s father-in-law, Yun Xiaoqian, and the Steward, Yun San.

They headed straight for another passageway that led up to the private rooms on the mezzanine.

A short while later, another Foundation Establishment Ancestor arrived, followed by two promising young cultivators in the Late-Stage of Qi Refining.

"Brother Jianghe, do you see that senior?" Yu Daniu asked. "He’s a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Lu Family, a Top-Level Immortal Race in our Eastern Territory."

"The Puppet Immortal Race, the Lu Family?"

"Yes, that’s them."

Chen Jianghe couldn’t help but recall what was written in the Yun Family Magazine. ’The Lu Family is a Top-Level Immortal Race in the Eastern Domain of Celestial South. Rumor has it that, like the Beast Taming Immortal Race Zhou Family, they too have a Great Core Formation Power overseeing them. Furthermore, the Lu Family is renowned throughout the Celestial South Domain for their Puppetry Technique, which is why they are called the Puppet Immortal Race.’

Yu Daniu then pointed to the private rooms on the mezzanine, identifiable by their lit Glazed Lamps, and began introducing the families within them to Chen Jianghe one by one.

To Chen Jianghe’s surprise, there were even Foundation Establishment Immortal Races from the Western Border of the Celestial South Domain.

The Western Border and the Eastern Territory are separated by the Celestial South Sect. To reach Jingyue Lake from there, one would have to travel at least fifty thousand li.

’It seems the allure of a Third-Grade Lower-Class Bloodline Young Beast is truly potent. This is especially true for the Foundation Establishment Immortal Races. They don’t lack the resources to raise a Spirit Beast, but they do lack young beasts with a Third-Grade Bloodline. If they win the auction for it, it’s almost equivalent to their family gaining another Foundation Establishment Ancestor.’

"Daniu, why didn’t the Yun Family just buy the Third-Grade Lower-Class Bloodline Young Beast in secret?" Chen Jianghe asked in a low voice.

Yu Daniu gave a wry smile and gestured with his chin toward the private room belonging to the Puppet Immortal Race Lu Family.

Chen Jianghe understood at once. ’The Yun Family has been attracting too much attention lately. Not only did Yun Bufan successfully break through to Foundation Establishment, but they also acquired a Tier Two Spirit Beast. That means the family now has three members at the Foundation Establishment level. To maintain their supremacy in the Eastern Territory, the Lu Family would never let the Yun Family keep growing at this pace. They might not be here to bid on the Third-Grade Lower-Class Bloodline Young Beast themselves, but they will definitely prevent the Yun Family from getting it. So, if the Yun Family wants another Foundation Establishment Ancestor, they can’t do it openly. Their only option is to secretly purchase Foundation Establishment Pills. Or they could raise a Second-Grade High-Class Bloodline Spirit Beast, but how could they possibly be lucky enough to obtain another Tier Two Spirit Core? Even if they did, a Second-Grade High-Class Bloodline Spirit Beast only has a thirty percent chance of advancing to Tier Two.’

DONG!

With the toll of a gong, the entrance to the third floor closed.

A dark-gold platform slowly rose from the center of the circular hall, and from its surface, a crystal column ascended.

An elderly man in magnificent robes walked onto the platform with a gentle smile. His gaze swept lightly over the crowd, and he gave a slight bow.

"Welcome, fellow cultivators, to the Hundred Treasures Tower auction. My surname is Chen, and I am the Steward of the Hundred Treasures Tower here in Jingyue Marketplace. I must ask that all of you abide by the Hundred Treasures Tower’s auction regulations for the duration of the event."

"I now declare that this year’s New Year’s Eve auction has officially begun."

"There will be a total of twelve rare items in this auction. And now, for our first item."

As Steward Chen of the Hundred Treasures Tower finished speaking, a beautiful Female Cultivator in revealing attire walked onto the stage. She held a golden platter, on which an object was covered by a red silk cloth.

She placed the golden platter atop the crystal column, retreated to one side, and smiled at the crowd.

Seeing that all eyes were fixed on the crystal column, Steward Chen announced loudly, "Our first rare item is a Hundred-Year Ice Soul, about the size of a fist. It can be used for Artifact Refining or to aid in Body Refining. The starting price is four hundred Spirit Stones, with a minimum bid increment of ten Spirit Stones."

As he finished speaking, the alluring Female Cultivator lifted the red silk cloth. A fist-sized, jade-like white object was revealed, emitting a cold white light that caused the temperature in the entire Auction Site to drop.

"Four hundred twenty Spirit Stones."

"Four hundred fifty Spirit Stones."

"..."

"Five hundred ten Spirit Stones."

"..."

Chen Jianghe watched the bidders. They were all well-dressed cultivators at the Late-Stage of Qi Refining, with special emblems embroidered on their clothes. They were clearly descendants of various clans.

A few Loose Cultivators also called out bids, but their voices were quickly drowned out by others.

’It’s a Hundred-Year Ice Soul?’ Chen Jianghe knew of this particular Treasure of Heaven and Earth; it was an indispensable aid for the Body Refining Technique known as the Cold Pond Body Tempering Technique. ’It can also be used in the Refining of Flying Swords, imbuing them with an elemental attribute and granting them special Attack Power.’

Just then, a voice rang out from the Yun Family’s private room on the mezzanine.

"Six hundred thirty Spirit Stones."

Hearing this voice, a flicker of excitement appeared in Yun Xiaoniu’s eyes. He turned to Yu Daniu and said, "Dad, that’s Grandpa! He’s bidding on the Hundred-Year Ice Soul for you."

Yu Daniu nodded.

After breaking through to the Seventh-Layer of Qi Refining, he had switched his cultivation to the Nascent Essence True Water Scripture and was also practicing the Cold Pond Body Tempering Technique, which happened to require a Hundred-Year Ice Soul.

He didn’t need that much, though—a thumb-sized piece would be sufficient.

Chen Jianghe felt a pang of envy. ’When Yu Daniu broke through to the Late-Stage of Qi Refining, his family provided him with a new primary Cultivation Technique and a Body Refining Technique. Meanwhile, I have to save up Spirit Stones to buy them for myself.’