Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 32: Auction

Just a few days later, the Yuanming Sect officially announced the news of the auction, which was to begin ten days later at the Yunqing Marketplace, with the three Foundation Establishment Pills naturally being the highlight of their advertisement!

However, Li Zhirui noticed that in the Yuanming Sectʼs announcement, the Foundation Establishment Pills were not the finale of the spiritual objects, as there were several other items to be auctioned off after them.

”Is the Yuanming Sect planning to put up third-tier spiritual objects for auction?” Li Zhirui, originally not too interested in the auction, suddenly felt a bit of curiosity.

But that was all, as Li Zhirui currently only had three to four thousand Spirit Stones on hand, which was considered a sizable fortune among Qi Cultivation cultivators, but it was nothing at all in an auction.

So Li Zhirui quickly put the matter aside and continued with his life of alchemy and cultivation.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the day of the auction arrived. Early in the morning, Li Zhirui, following his two elders, boarded a Spirit Boat to the Yunqing Marketplace.

After paying an entrance fee of thirty Spirit Stones, the three were led to a private room on the second floor.

The area of the private room wasnʼt large, but it was certainly much better than the crowded main hall on the first floor. They were given such treatment entirely because of the face of Li Shilian and Li Shiren, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

”The auction hasnʼt even started yet, and the Yuanming Sect has already earned several thousand Spirit Stones,” Li Shiren said, clicking his tongue.

The entrance fee was ten Spirit Stones, and the first floor could seat at least several hundred cultivators. There were also several dozen rooms on the second floor, and if one wasnʼt a Foundation Establishment cultivator but wished to go up to the second floor, they could buy the qualification for a hundred Spirit Stones.

Moreover, there was also the third floor which was free for Golden Core cultivators. It was said that low-level cultivators had to spend a thousand Spirit Stones to get up there.

”Ren, if you practice diligently and break through to the Golden Core, our clan could also host an auction and then earn entrance fees,” Li Zhirui said with a smile.

Itʼs not that an auction could only be held by Golden Core forces, but rather because Foundation Establishment forces couldnʼt produce anything very impressive, lacking enough attraction. If there werenʼt many cultivators willing to participate, the auction simply couldnʼt be held.

”Instead of waiting for me to break through, you might as well hope for the Clan Leader to advance to Core Formation soon,” Li Shiren said, suddenly feeling sentimental, adding, ”Itʼs just that because of too many trivial matters, the Clan Leader has no time for cultivation.”

A complex light flashed in Li Shilianʼs eyes. Then, pretending to be casual, he swept a glance at Li Zhirui, who had sunk into deep thought. He suddenly wanted to hear Li Zhiruiʼs opinion on this matter.

”Ren, why donʼt you persuade the Clan Leader to step down and focus on cultivation, then you could take over as Clan Leader?”

Li Shiren was startled by these words and hurriedly said, ”Itʼs not that I donʼt want to share the burden with the Clan Leader, itʼs just that Iʼm not suitable to be the Clan Leader!”

”Although youʼre careless and not the sharpest, arenʼt there so many Elders? You could delegate specific affairs to them, and if thereʼs something youʼre undecided on, you could discuss and decide together with the Elders,” Li Zhirui said.

Li Zhirui genuinely felt that the distribution of power in the family was unreasonable!

Even though the clan had established several Elders, due to Li Shiqingʼs personal prestige and powerful strength, no matter the issue, the final decision-maker was always Li Shiqing.

As a result, Li Shiqing was extremely busy every day, to the point where he had absolutely no time for cultivation.

However, Li Zhirui found it difficult to voice these thoughts directly, as it would give the impression that he was dissatisfied with Li Shiqing.

Li Zhirui was actually using Li Shirenʼs words to tentatively express his own thoughts obliquely, but he wasnʼt speaking to Li Shiren, he was testing Li Shilian.

”Letʼs leave this matter be from now on, and not speak of it again!” Li Shilian gave Li Zhirui a glare. This brat actually wanted to use him as a pawn, yet he couldnʼt deny that what Li Zhirui said was true.

”Yes,” Li Zhirui chuckled, well aware that Li Shilian understood the deeper meaning in his words, and seeing his reaction, Li Zhirui thought he would probably find an opportunity to discuss it with Li Shiqing.

If Li Zhirui hadnʼt been familiar with these two Elders and known they wouldnʼt get angry over it, he would never have spoken out like that.

”Knock, knock—”

Just at this moment, the sound of knocking arose.

”Senior fellows, these are some of the items that will be auctioned today.” A female cultivator with a graceful and dignified appearance pushed open the door and entered, her voice also extremely soothing to hear.

She placed the Jade Slip on the coffee table and then poured a cup of fragrant Spirit Tea for each of the three before slightly bending her body to greet them and said, ”If the senior fellows have any commands, you may ring the bell to summon me.” With that, she turned and left.

”The first auction item is a second-order Magic Artifact?” Li Shilianʼs eyebrows slightly raised, showing interest as he said, ”A Gathering Spirit Jade Pendant, it can gather the nearby Spiritual Energy, essentially like carrying a Spirit Gathering Array with you.”

He then looked at the other auction items and commented, ”It seems the Yuanming Sect has put a lot of effort into this auction.”

”Uncle Shilian, do you think itʼs possible that real Golden Core cultivators will attend?”

Although it wasnʼt directly stated in the Jade Slip, it was mentioned that there were several third-order Spiritual Objects; if there were no Golden Core cultivators, why would the Yuanming Sect offer items that are expensive and unusable to lower-level cultivators?

”Whether or not there are Golden Core cultivators, it has nothing to do with us.”

”Thud, thud, thud—”

On the auction stage below, a female cultivator with a voluptuous figure and seductive appearance appeared out of nowhere. She wore a purple dress that perfectly outlined her curvaceous body.

With every move she made, allure blossomed, ensnaring some cultivators whose mental fortitude was not particularly strong.

”Young lady Ziyan greets all fellow Daoists!” Her voice, soft and entangling, scratched at everyoneʼs chest.

But on the second floor, Li Zhirui unconsciously furrowed his brow and asked softly, ”Has that woman learned a Bewitching Technique?”

Bewitching Techniques are not for seducing the opposite sex but for bewildering enemies, lowering their guard, and even bewitching them into puppets for oneʼs own bidding.

Nowadays, itʼs rare to see cultivators who practice proper Bewitching Techniques. Most are evil cultivators who practice life-draining arts, using Bewitching Techniques to lure the opposite sex as targets for their practices.

As a result, the reputation of Bewitching Techniques has become rather unsavory.

”Hmm, no wonder the Yuanming Sect chose her to host the auction.” By using a Bewitching Technique to stir the cultivatorsʼ emotions, they incite more people to bid, aiming to increase the prices of the auction items.

”Itʼs an honor to be the auctioneer of this auction, thanks to the affection of all fellow Daoists. I, your humble servant, will host the forthcoming auction, and I hope everyone will acquire the Spiritual Objects they desire.”

Having said this, she reached out to pull the red silk on the table, revealing the true appearance of the Gathering Spirit Jade Pendant.

The Jade Pendant was shaped like the Yin-Yang fish, very attractive in design, but the cultivators on the first floor didnʼt know its function since they didnʼt have a list and needed Ziyan to introduce it.

”This is a second-order Gathering Spirit Jade Pendant. Its function is to gather Spiritual Energy and speed up cultivation, but its use doesnʼt end there. In combat, possessing a Gathering Spirit Jade Pendant can also increase Mana recovery speed, enhancing oneʼs chances of victory.”

After Ziyanʼs introduction, many cultivators had already begun to entertain the thought of acquiring this item.

”The importance of this treasure is surely clear to all fellow Daoists, so your humble servant wonʼt say more. The starting bid for the second-order lower-grade Twin Fish Gathering Spirit Pendant is three thousand Spirit Stones, with each subsequent bid not less than one hundred Spirit Stones.”

With a strike of the gavel, it meant that everyone could now begin to bid and compete.