Firmament Sword

THUD!

At the edge of the auction stage, the legs of the Baihua Auction House’s Chief Shopkeeper went weak, and he plopped right onto the floor. He nearly spat out a mouthful of blood in sheer shock.

If he had known this would be the outcome, he would never have decided to waive the commission on this transaction, not even if he were beaten to death.

This was an amount of wealth that could drive a person mad, and as the platform hosting the transaction, the Baihua Auction House... hadn’t gained a single tangible benefit from it!

It was a grand feast, and they, the hosting platform, got nothing... This was absurd!

When the auction house’s owner found out about this, he might not kill him outright, but his career as Chief Shopkeeper would be over.

And so, as the Chief Shopkeeper of the Baihua Auction House, his biggest regret... was selling them out. In order to curry favor with Piaomiao Palace and Celestial Brilliance, he had revealed that the owner of the Nether Flower Seed was in Celestial Room No. 6. And he had given them the information for free.

’If only I’d known,’ he thought. ’Why did I ever do that?’

Throughout the auction house, everyone was nearly numb. They had been shocked to their limits, almost to the point of forgetting what it even felt like to be shocked.

The entire auction hall was deathly silent!

Inside Celestial Room No. 6, Monkey was so excited he could barely control himself. He almost revealed his true monkey form.

Xu Luo’s expression, however, gradually grew solemn.

A single Nether Flower Seed... had caused such a commotion and driven people into a frenzy.

The prices being offered were completely beyond his expectations. He had never imagined a situation like this would unfold.

This stirred a faint sense of unease deep within Xu Luo.

’The Saint Emperor’s Treasure Vault... does it really belong to the Infinite Saint Emperor?’

Yes, that was what truly worried Xu Luo.

Just imagine, a single Nether Flower Seed could fetch a price that would drive even a Supreme Great Sect into a frenzy.

Thirty million Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones, a Medicine King at the Peak of the Saint Realm that could save your life at a critical moment... Even a supreme expert would be tempted by that, wouldn’t they?

But the Infinite Saint Emperor in the Vast Mountains... was only at the Great Saint Realm!

’Can it really possess treasures like these so easily?’

’Or is it that the Infinite Saint Emperor, as an emperor-level master at the Great Saint Realm, doesn’t know the value of these treasures?’

Xu Luo thought to himself, resolving to leave Baihua City as soon as the dust settled. He absolutely could not let anyone tail him and Monkey.

He would also have to tell Monkey to be extra careful.

This whole affair had caused too much of a sensation. There were too many people in Baihua City with ulterior motives. If they were targeted, the consequences would be endless.

Who wouldn’t be green with envy over such a fortune? It was too hot to handle.

Suddenly, a woman’s voice, tinged with admiration, drifted from the private box of Celestial Thirteen. ”I’ve long heard that the Lady of Piaomiao Palace is obsessed with flowers, and seeing this today, I can say her reputation is well-deserved. To pay such a steep price for a single seed... this little sister concedes. I hope that once the Lady cultivates the Netherworld Flower, she might offer me a discount.”

”Little Sister... this item...”

”Forget it. If it were anyone else, I’d put up a fight. But since it’s Sister Xie, I’ll pass.”

The two hushed voices were transmitted from the sound system of the Celestial Thirteen box, which hadn’t been switched off yet.

The private boxes could block not only sight and Divine Sense, but also sound. When the occupants wished to speak, they could press a switch to transmit their voices outside. Pressing it again would block the sound once more.

In the Piaomiao Palace box, Xie Yudie smiled faintly and said, ”I’m not sure which sisters are in the other room, but if I am fortunate enough to acquire the seed, I would be happy to give you some of the flowers for free once they are cultivated.”

”Then this little sister thanks you!” a cheerful voice replied from Celestial Thirteen. ”I will come and see you later, Sister.”

After that, the Maid from outside Celestial Thirteen went down to retrieve the Purple Crystal Card from Lu Ping. He, in turn, breathed a sigh of relief, as if he’d just gotten rid of a hot potato.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Ping announced, ”The distinguished guest from Piaomiao Palace has bid thirty million Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones, plus a five-million-year-old Transformation Medicine King, for a total valuation of sixty million Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones! Is there any higher bid? If not...”

Just then, a calm voice came from the Celestial Brilliance box. ”Although I and the senior sister in the next room both hail from Celestial Brilliance, she is currently representing Piaomiao Palace. I, however, am representing Celestial Brilliance. Therefore... I must still make a bid.”

The calm voice continued, ”Celestial Brilliance bids fifty million Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones, and... a spot as an Inner Sect Disciple. Moreover, this Inner Sect Disciple will be taken as an Elder’s Direct Disciple.”

Even though the crowd had been shocked into a state of numbness, this announcement still caused a massive uproar.

”An Inner Disciple of Heavenly Brilliance... My god, that’s... that’s too outrageous, isn’t it?”

”Everyone knows how incredibly difficult it is to get into Celestial Brilliance these days. Even if you’re lucky enough to enter, you have to start as a Servant unless you’re a true, peerless prodigy.”

”It takes many years of cultivation to reach a certain realm, and there are age limits... just to become a Heavenly Brilliance Outer Disciple. If you’re too old, even if your cultivation is sufficient, you’ll be stuck as a Celestial Brilliance Servant for life.”

”A lucky one might become an Outer Sect Steward after many years, and that’s already considered a remarkable position!”

”Inner Sect Disciples are all peerless geniuses! A spot for one is priceless! I can’t believe Celestial Brilliance would actually make such an offer!”

Those in the crowd familiar with Celestial Brilliance spoke with looks of utter shock.

”Tens of millions of Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones are an unimaginable fortune, but they still have a tangible value.”

”The status of an Inner Disciple of Heavenly Brilliance, however, is priceless!”

”Any Inner Sect Disciple, should they ever leave Celestial Brilliance to establish their own sect, could build it into a medium-sized power at the very least!”

”Countless disciples would flock to join, drawn by their name!”

”But most Heavenly Brilliance Disciples would never leave the sect in their entire lives!”

”This is the source of Celestial Brilliance’s confidence, its allure, and the fundamental reason for its immense power!”

In the Piaomiao Palace box, Xie Yudie was silent for a long moment. Finally, a bitter smile touched her lips as she said softly, ”Since my own sect... has made their intentions clear, as a disciple of Celestial Brilliance, I must withdraw.”

A wave of sighs swept through the auction hall. Everyone knew that the Lady of Piaomiao Palace, Xie Yudie, was obsessed with flowers. Only her own sect, Celestial Brilliance, could possibly make her back down.

Xie Yurou, standing beside her, was indignant. She activated the communication switch and said coldly, ”To the senior brother next door, a spot for an Inner Disciple of Heavenly Brilliance is no small matter. It seems... you don’t have the authority to make such a decision, do you?”

Her words made many people snap to their senses.

”That’s right... an Advanced Disciple of Celestial Brilliance has a respected status, but he’s still just an Inner Sect Disciple. How could he possibly have the right to make a decision like that?”

”Exactly! Someone who could make that call would have to be an Inner Sect Elder of Celestial Brilliance, at the very least!”

”And an Elder with Real Power at that!”

The Celestial Brilliance box went silent for a moment. Then, an aged voice spoke.

”I am Yuwen Ji, an Elder of Celestial Brilliance and head of the Celestial Brilliance Medicine Garden. I was overjoyed to hear of the Nether Flower Seed’s appearance and have entrusted Wanghai, an Inner Disciple of Heavenly Brilliance, to complete this transaction. The Celestial Brilliance Medicine Garden can offer fifty million Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones, as well as a position as an Inner Sect Disciple within the Celestial Brilliance Medicine Garden.”

”Of course, this Inner Sect Disciple must be exceptionally talented. At a minimum... they must have entered the Saint Realm before the age of fifty. Otherwise, people might say my Celestial Brilliance Medicine Garden is being unfair.”

The moment he finished speaking, the entire venue fell silent.

Then, a faint sigh from Xie Yudie drifted from the Piaomiao Palace box. ”That’s Teacher Yuwen’s voice. I haven’t seen him in many years, but I still recognize it. There’s nothing to question.”

Along with her words, Xie Yurou’s faint, disgruntled muttering could also be heard before the sound system for the Piaomiao Palace box was switched off.

Since the facts were now indisputable—the true bidder was the Celestial Brilliance Medicine Garden—all doubts vanished.

However, many more people were marveling to themselves. ’As expected of a Supreme Great Sect. Not only is their communication incredibly fast, but more importantly, they can make such a decisive commitment on the spot.’

The sheer confidence of a Supreme Great Sect was, once again, astounding!

On the auction stage, Lu Ping’s voice had grown hoarse. Normally, he could host an auction twice as long without such an issue.

But today’s events were just too stimulating. The soul-shaking excitement made it difficult for him to control his emotions.

His voice was no longer clear as he announced, ”Celestial Brilliance bids... fifty million Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones and one spot as an Inner Sect Disciple! However, to truly join the Celestial Brilliance Medicine Garden and become the Direct Disciple of its Elder, Yuwen Ji, there is a condition: the candidate must have reached the Saint Realm before the age of fifty!”

”Heh, then again, anyone who can reach that cultivation level by that age is surely a peerless prodigy! But this is a promise, so... on behalf of the owner of the Nether Flower Seed, I will ask Celestial Brilliance: does this promise have an expiration date?”

This question wasn’t offensive and was something everyone was curious about, so Lu Ping felt he could ask it boldly.

The Celestial Brilliance box replied immediately: ”There is no time limit!”

Everyone could finally rest easy. A Supreme Great Sect was truly a Supreme Great Sect. Their magnanimity and confidence were truly impressive!

Then again, from another perspective, anyone who could reach the Saint Realm before the age of fifty could probably earn a spot as an Inner Sect Disciple through the normal channels at Celestial Brilliance with enough effort.

The truly tempting part was the status of an Elder’s Direct Disciple!

Especially in the Celestial Brilliance Medicine Garden, the most resource-rich department of the sect!

That was the truly valuable part of the offer!

Inside the Celestial Brilliance box, the young Advanced Disciple, Wanghai, had a cold smirk on his face. A chilling light flashed in his eyes as he muttered faintly, ”I’d like to see just who... will end up joining the Celestial Brilliance Medicine Garden and compete with me for attack Talismans, disrupting my plans... Hmph!”