Chapter 292: Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram
"This auction is truly grand. The Sect Master of Cloud Terrace Sect and the Palace Master of Supreme Purity Palace have both personally graced us with their presence."
"Naturally. I hear that this auction not only features spatial treasures but also some special items."
...
Murmurs of discussion filled the auction hall.
Suddenly, a light-attribute spirit crystal the size of a washbasin materialized in the center of the auction hall, slowly rising to hover twenty zhang high, radiating an incomparably brilliant light.
Like a bright moon, it illuminated the entire auction hall.
A woman with a voluptuous figure, dressed in a white see-through outfit, flew down from midair. Her bare, snow-white jade feet landed lightly on the center of the auction stage. Her long white hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
"Junior Brother Zhang, do you know who she is?"
Chang Qiqi stared at the enchanting woman on the auction stage, his eyes wide like brass bells, speaking with great excitement.
Zhang Ruochen also looked at the woman, his eyes brightening slightly. No wonder Chang Qiqi was so excited. That white-haired woman was indeed exceptionally beautiful and quite sexy. Her long, snow-white legs exposed beneath her skirt were especially alluring.
At the very least, many martial artists in the auction hall had their eyes fixed on her, as if they wanted to devour her.
"Truly a rare beauty."
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "The Martial Market Bank knows how to do business. Having such a beauty host the auction will make many young martial artists lose their heads and recklessly bid high prices."
"Don't underestimate her."
Chang Qiqi glanced in the direction of Si Xingkong and chuckled. "Her name is Bai Xuling, one of the Ten Great Beauties of Demon Ridge. She is a martial arts myth at the initial stage of the Heavenly Extreme Realm and a major figure in the Martial Market Bank. Most importantly, she is Senior Brother's confidante."
"Oh!"
Zhang Ruochen showed a hint of a smile, his gaze shifting to Si Xingkong.
Sure enough, Si Xingkong rarely showed a bit of embarrassment. "Don't listen to his nonsense. Miss Bai and I only completed a mission together once. It's not what he says."
The group teased Si Xingkong and Bai Xuling for a while longer. Finally, Si Xingkong ignored them and continued drinking his wine, though his gaze would occasionally drift toward Bai Xuling, a faint smile on his face.
Standing on the auction stage, Bai Xuling announced some auction rules and some warm-up remarks. Then she said, "Now, let us present today's first auction item—the 'Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram,' personally painted by a master of the Painting Sect."
"The 'Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram' uses the blood of Cloud Flood Dragons as ink, condensing the power of the Painting Dao. By infusing true qi into the diagram, one can summon seven Cloud Flood Dragons simultaneously to aid in battle."
"The starting bid for the 'Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram' is five thousand spirit crystals. Each bid must increase by at least one hundred spirit crystals. Bidding begins."
"Five thousand spirit crystals!"
"Five thousand five hundred spirit crystals!"
...
As soon as Bai Xuling finished speaking, bids rang out one after another.
Huang Yanchen's expression shifted slightly. "Cloud Flood Dragons are fourth-rank lower barbarian beasts, with strength comparable to a martial artist at the middle stage of the Heavenly Extreme Realm. Summoning seven at once could even contend with a martial artist at the late stage of the Heavenly Extreme Realm. However, the power of a battle diagram is greatest only on its first use. On the second use, its effectiveness greatly diminishes."
The power unleashed by the "Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram" was considerable, enough to kill a martial artist at the initial stage of the Heavenly Extreme Realm and even threaten the life of one at the middle stage.
Zhang Ruochen naturally understood what Huang Yanchen meant by saying this. She wanted to bid for the diagram, as they were about to head to the underwater Dragon Palace.
If she could acquire a "Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram," she would be better prepared to handle any danger.
"I'll bid for you."
Zhang Ruochen raised his crystal plaque, holding it up in the air. The plaque displayed his bid: "Seven thousand six hundred spirit crystals."
Soon, someone else bid: "Seven thousand seven hundred spirit crystals."
"Seven thousand nine hundred spirit crystals."
Zhang Ruochen raised his plaque again, showing: "Nine thousand spirit crystals!"
Huang Yanchen sat beside Zhang Ruochen, glancing at him. Though her face remained cold, she felt a secret joy.
Although she could also mobilize a large number of spirit crystals and bid for the "Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram" herself, she preferred seeing Zhang Ruochen bid for her. It was a strangely delightful feeling.
Yan Yunhuan showed a hint of disdain. "Just a mere fourth-rank lower barbarian beast battle diagram. Our Yan Clan could produce as many as we want."
Yan Yunhuan had other battle diagram treasures on her, so she never considered bidding for the "Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram."
In just a short while, the price of the "Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram" had risen to over ten thousand spirit crystals, equivalent to ten million silver coins.
Of course, as the price climbed, the number of bidders dwindled.
The "Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram" was indeed powerful, but it mainly attracted younger martial artists.
Some older experts, whose own strength already surpassed the late stage of the Heavenly Extreme Realm, saw no need to spend heavily on a battle diagram.
Others, whose cultivation hadn't reached the late stage of the Heavenly Extreme Realm, were reluctant to spend such a high price on a battle diagram. For them, bidding on elixirs to enhance their cultivation was more practical.
At this point, only four people were still bidding, almost all younger martial artists. Besides Zhang Ruochen, the other three were young experts among the Ten Talents of Demon Ridge.
"Fifteen thousand spirit crystals! If anyone bids higher, I'll stop."
Zeng Qingyu of Supreme Purity Palace raised his crystal plaque, showing his final price.
Zeng Qingyu ranked eighth among the Ten Talents of Demon Ridge and was a triple-extraordinary genius. For him, fifteen thousand spirit crystals was already a high price.
Any higher, and it would exceed what he could afford.
The other two bidders also showed hesitation. After all, the "Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram" was only most effective on its first use. On the second use, its value to them was greatly diminished.
When Zeng Qingyu called out the high price of fifteen thousand spirit crystals, they had already decided to give up.
Spending such a huge amount of spirit crystals on a battle diagram was worse than buying a spiritual medicine to break through to the Heavenly Extreme Realm.
Once they broke through to the Heavenly Extreme Realm, their own strength would reach a new level.
For geniuses at the level of the Ten Talents of Demon Ridge, breaking through to the Heavenly Extreme Realm would at least give them the strength to contend with martial artists at the late stage of the Heavenly Extreme Realm.
Zhang Ruochen raised his crystal plaque again, showing the price: "Sixteen thousand spirit crystals."
Seeing this price, Zeng Qingyu glanced in Zhang Ruochen's direction, seemingly recognizing his identity, and nodded slightly at him.
Earlier, Zeng Qingyu had stated that if anyone raised the bid, he would no longer compete for the "Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram."
In this situation, Zhang Ruochen could have added just a hundred spirit crystals and easily secured the diagram. But he added a thousand spirit crystals at once, giving Zeng Qingyu face and showing respect.
Thus, Zeng Qingyu nodded back in a friendly manner as a gesture of thanks.
Not everyone on the auction floor had to be an enemy.
"Sixteen thousand spirit crystals, going once!"
"Sixteen thousand spirit crystals, going twice!"
"Sixteen thousand..."
Just as Bai Xuling was about to call out the third time, Yan Yunhuan gave a signal to Qiu Lin, who was sitting beside him. Qiu Lin smiled and nodded, then immediately raised his crystal plaque: "Seventeen thousand spirit crystals."
Qiu Lin's bid naturally angered Huang Yanchen.
Clenching her fists, Huang Yanchen stood up abruptly and shouted angrily, "Qiu Lin, what are you doing? The 'Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram' was clearly about to be won by Zhang Ruochen. Why are you causing trouble?"
Qiu Lin smiled faintly. "Junior Sister Huang, that's not quite right. The 'Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram' hasn't been finalized yet. Has Junior Brother Zhang really won it?"
"You..."
Huang Yanchen gritted her silver teeth. "Why didn't you bid earlier? You only deliberately bid when Zhang Ruochen was about to win. I think you're just trying to drive up the price!"
"Junior Sister Huang, that's even more incorrect. On the auction floor, anyone can bid. Why can Zhang Ruochen bid, but I cannot?" Qiu Lin said.
Chang Qiqi snorted coldly. "I think Junior Sister Huang is right. Some people, having lost to Junior Brother Zhang, harbor resentment and deliberately jump in to raise the price."
Qiu Lin said coldly, "Chang Qiqi, don't speak carelessly, or you might bite your tongue."
Chang Qiqi found Qiu Lin very irritating. Rolling up his sleeves, he was about to rush forward and fight him.
Zhang Ruochen pulled Chang Qiqi back. "Senior Brother Qiu is right. He can indeed bid. In that case, let's compete fairly."
"Junior Brother Zhang is indeed a disciple of Pavilion Master Lei, much more reasonable than some people." Qiu Lin smiled.
Zhang Ruochen raised his plaque again, directly increasing the price to twenty thousand spirit crystals.
Zhang Ruochen said, "If Senior Brother Qiu bids higher, the 'Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram' is yours."
Qiu Lin frowned. Twenty thousand spirit crystals was nearly all his assets. Spending all his wealth on a battle diagram seemed somewhat unworthy.
He looked at Yan Yunhuan, asking if he should raise the bid further.
Yan Yunhuan shook his head at him. Making Zhang Ruochen spend an extra four thousand spirit crystals was enough to achieve his goal. There was no need to actually win the diagram.
Qiu Lin understood. "Since Junior Brother Zhang truly wants the 'Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram,' I'll let you have it."
"Twenty thousand spirit crystals, going once!"
"Twenty thousand spirit crystals, going twice!"
"Twenty thousand spirit crystals, going three times! Sold! The 'Cloud Flood Dragon Diagram' is won by guest number seven hundred and forty-three. Please proceed backstage after the auction to complete the transaction."
Bai Xuling said, "Next, we will bid on the second item: a three-hundred-year-old White Ginseng Fruit."
"The White Ginseng Fruit's greatest effect is enhancing a martial artist's cultivation. A Mysterious Extreme Realm martial artist who consumes it can advance two minor realms. An Earth Extreme Realm martial artist who consumes it can advance one minor realm."