Chapter 603: Super Auction Extravaganza
In the early morning, morning glow burst forth, bathing Xiba City in golden radiance. The dark city walls were edged with bands of gold, gaining a touch of sacredness.
Ye Fan arrived at a small eatery, ordered a bowl of tofu pudding and a basket of small buns, and sat down to eat while watching the pedestrians coming and going on the ancient street.
The rising sun had just appeared, its morning glow very soft, warming people as it fell upon them. There was no clamor, no battle cries, no dazzling magical artifacts, and no blood—only tranquility and simplicity.
In recent years, Ye Fan's pace of life had been extremely tight, constantly facing life and death. He had grown accustomed to scenes of sharp blades severing heads and blood staining the sky, wandering between survival and death. At this moment, he felt a profound peace.
To an ordinary person, this was merely a common morning. Perhaps some might even complain that the morning glow was a bit dazzling. But to Ye Fan, it was a form of enjoyment.
The brilliant morning glow, the warm rising sun, the clean porcelain bowl, the smooth tofu pudding, and the passersby—all felt simple, vivid, and natural to him.
"Cultivators are all a bunch of non-humans. They find it hard to appreciate the beauty of the mortal world. Too monotonous," Ye Fan sighed softly.
At this time of day, many cultivators would be breathing and meditating deep in mountain cliffs or before ancient caves, far removed from the mundane world. Even more were in secluded death-seclusion, never seeing the sun or moon for years on end.
Mortals envied the ability to fly and traverse the heavens, unaware that it required years of accumulation. One had to endure hardship in solitude, silently cultivating alone, with no guarantee of success.
Ye Fan planned to go into seclusion soon, intending to use that bottle of Dragon Marrow to break through to the fourth transformation of the Dragon Transformation Realm. These days, he was relaxing his mind, experiencing the mortal world, so that he could charge through the tribulation in one go.
Suddenly, the street began to tremble. The blue stone slabs on the ground vibrated lightly as over a dozen strange beasts charged in from the city gate. Each was incredibly majestic—some resembled Qilins, shimmering with purple light; others were like Dragon Steeds, their bodies ablaze with fire.
As they rushed past, the entire ancient street shook, rumbling loudly, before they entered the city's largest inn.
Not long after, more people arrived riding clouds, descending from the sky. And it wasn't just one or two groups—people kept coming, entering Xiba City.
This was one of the ten ancient cities of Central Province. Many powerful cultivators lived here in seclusion, and numerous practitioners frequented the area. The common folk were long accustomed to this and showed no panic.
"The bimonthly super auction is about to begin. This time it's being held at the Nine Li Divine Dynasty's Treasure Pavilion. Many people traveled through the night to get here."
"I wonder what divine treasures will appear. There will probably be quite a few Sect Lord-rank figures."
At a nearby table, someone murmured in discussion. Xiba City held a grand event every two months, hosted by various auction houses in rotation, often attracting Saint Lord-rank figures.
The tranquility of the morning was shattered as people kept flying in from the horizon and landing in the city. Some in the city speculated that this time, there would likely be extraordinary magical artifacts; otherwise, why would so many be drawn here?
The sound of hooves grew loud, accompanied by the roar of wind and thunder. Six or seven riders galloped in from the city gate, moving like streaks of light at incredible speed. Their mounts were all rare breeds—some had wings sprouting from their ribs, their bodies glowing; others were covered in dense scales with massive hooves.
All the strange beasts trod on empty air, half a foot off the ground, their hooves never touching the earth. Yet they produced sounds of wind and thunder, even louder than if they had stepped on blue stone slabs. Each was incomparably divine.
At the very front were a Golden Divine Hou and a purple Qilin beast. Golden divine fire and purple heavenly fire blazed fiercely, making the two riders appear majestic and awe-inspiring.
"These are the talents from the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion, joining in the excitement. They are the most outstanding heirs of the five domains. From now on, this city will see a lot of them."
The Extraordinary Scholars Mansion opened only once every ten thousand years. Its opening was destined to make this city even more prosperous. These people would never lack Source Stones, and most were future sect masters.
Ye Fan squinted his eyes. He spotted an old acquaintance. The rider of the Golden Divine Hou wore golden battle armor, his build robust and powerful, his tiger-like eyes gleaming, his black hair flowing loose.
Jin Chixiao—the heir of the Golden Family from the Northern Domain, with the blood of an ancient king flowing in his veins.
Ye Fan hadn't expected to see this person here. The last time, at the Fire Demon Ridge—the site of a Sacred Spirit's fall in the Eastern Wasteland—thirteen Saint Son-level figures had surrounded him, and this man was among them.
"I triggered a heavenly tribulation and killed a bunch of people back then. The Great Yan Holy Son escaped at the time, but I took him out later. I didn't expect this one to be another fish that slipped through the net."
Having participated in the plot to kill him, Ye Fan naturally held no goodwill toward this man. If not for being in Xiba City, he would have struck at him.
The six or seven strange beasts came to a halt. Everyone dismounted and walked straight to the small eatery, clearly intending to have breakfast here.
"Ding."
A silver ingot landed on Ye Fan's table, making a crisp sound. It spun a few times before settling.
"Hey, take our mounts to the inn up ahead."
The speaker walked in alongside Jin Chixiao. He wore a purple robe and only gave Ye Fan a cold, dismissive glance without looking further, finding a seat for himself.
"Hey, I'm talking to you. Did you hear me?" Another person beside him showed surprise when Ye Fan didn't move. An ordinary person, yet unmoved by silver?
"Not enough? It's just a few steps for you." Jin Chixiao glanced over and tossed a gold leaf toward Ye Fan's face.
"Ding."
Ye Fan extended two fingers, caught the gold leaf, and casually tossed it onto the table. His eyes emitted two beams of clear light as he looked at the group, speaking slowly: "You want to order me around, throwing a gold leaf at my face?"
The group was startled and immediately realized this was no ordinary mortal. No commoner would dare speak to them like this.
"If you don't want the gold leaf, we'll find someone else to lead the horses," one of them mocked. The others said nothing more, afraid of stirring up trouble.
Ye Fan flicked his fingers, sending several gold leaves flying to land before Jin Chixiao and the speaker. "A tip for you. Keep quiet and don't make a racket."
"You..." Several of them grew angry and shot to their feet.
Jin Chixiao's expression shifted. "Forget it. Let's eat first. We'll rest a bit and then head to the Nine Li Divine Dynasty's Treasure Pavilion."
"This friend, our apologies. Since you're unwilling, we were rude just now," the purple-robed man also spoke, clearly not wanting to cause trouble.
"Since you've said that, I'll let it go." Ye Fan stood up and left.
"You..." One of them was reluctant but didn't press the issue.
Nine Li was one of the four Immortal Divine Dynasties of Central Province, with an ancient heritage and a vast influence. In every ancient city, they had weapon halls and auction houses.
At this moment, before the Treasure Pavilion, the crowd was packed shoulder to shoulder, a sea of people. Many had come to attend this super auction extravaganza.
The Nine Li Heavenly Pavilion was incredibly grand, covering a vast area, like a city within a city.
Upon entering, there was a light gate. Every time someone passed through, it would flash, revealing their cultivation level. Someone would then guide them based on the light's intensity.
Ye Fan tried to conceal his strength, but the light still flickered a few times. A young woman came out and led him to a suspended pavilion. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that this area was for cultivators in the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm.
Eventually, he requested a private room. Sitting in the suspended hall, he overlooked the auction hall below, seeing everything clearly without obstruction.
"I hope there's some peerless Dragon Marrow. If so, I can immediately break through," Ye Fan mused as he sat in the pavilion, watching the auction hall. The transactions had already begun.
"A six-thousand-year spiritual medicine. Starting bid: ten thousand jin of Source Stones."
"Eleven thousand jin."
"Twelve thousand jin."
...
In the end, the spiritual medicine sold for twenty thousand jin of Source Stones, marking the first transaction at the Nine Li Heavenly Pavilion.
The auction hall was moderately active, but everything proceeded in an orderly fashion. No particularly rare treasures had appeared yet.
"A Li Fire Sword. Starting bid: one hundred thousand jin of Source Stones."
Finally, a stir arose in the hall below. Many were attracted and immediately began bidding.
The sword was crimson like blood, emitting misty clouds and smoke. Waves of Li Fire surged, unbearably hot. This was an ancient sword interwoven with laws, a Saint Lord-rank weapon.
"One hundred fifty thousand jin!"
"One hundred eighty thousand jin!"
"Two hundred thousand jin!"
...
In the end, the Li Fire Sword sold for a shockingly high price, falling into the hands of a young man. Many were surprised—he was a disciple of the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion.
Afterward, the atmosphere in the auction hall grew increasingly heated. One treasure after another appeared, drawing gasps of amazement, and the transaction prices became more and more astonishing.
When a piece of iron as white as jade, flawless like mutton fat, was placed on a jade plate and brought into the hall, the auction reached a climax.
"A piece of Mutton Fat Jade Divine Iron. Starting bid: five hundred thousand jin of pure Source Stones."
"Boom!" The hall erupted. Many stood up, craning their necks to see.
It was a piece of divine iron the size of a human head, as white as snow, without a single flaw. It had none of the characteristics of metal, resembling a piece of mutton fat jade.
But everyone knew this was a rare treasure. Even a Saint Lord refining his own weapon would only need to add a tiny bit of this material. It was extremely precious.
It was said that such rare materials could be used to forge King-rank weapons, needed by various King Bodies after reaching great accomplishment. It was exceedingly rare.
"Six hundred thousand jin!"
"Seven hundred thousand jin!"
"Eight hundred thousand jin!"
Many were excited, raising the bid by one hundred thousand jin at a time, all eager to obtain it.
Ye Fan was astonished. There were so many people with Source Stones. Even as the heir of the Origin Heavenly Master, he wouldn't casually throw around hundreds of thousands of jin of Source Stones without a second thought.
"One million five hundred thousand jin." Suddenly, a young man spoke calmly.
All sound in the hall vanished. This person had jumped from one million jin to one million five hundred thousand jin, showing his determination to win.
"Who is he? Although this item is rare, refining a weapon with it is risky. It could easily be ruined and become worthless. He's bold to bid like that."
"Xu Zixuan, the Feather Transformation King of the younger generation in Central Province. This physique hasn't appeared in fifteen thousand years."
"If not for the Central Emperor being so astonishing, his fame as a top young expert of Central Province would have spread across the world long ago."
In the end, the Feather Transformation King secured the Mutton Fat Jade Divine Iron for one million seven hundred thousand jin of pure Source Stones. An old man beside him paid on his behalf.
Clearly, he had a powerful background, supported by an ancient family. Otherwise, he couldn't have produced so many Source Stones on his own.
"Next auction item: a King-rank weapon!"
"Whoa!"
This time, an uproar erupted. Everyone stood up. The auction of such an item caught everyone off guard.
Holding a King-rank weapon allowed one to dominate the world, able to stand alone against a group of cultivators of the same level. Its power was unparalleled!
Ye Fan was also shaken. He had once wielded the Nine Divine Weapons and had truly felt their terrifying might—unyielding and unstoppable.
He still carried a black war chariot about an inch long on him, a King-rank weapon chariot, equally terrifying. When Wang Chong had wielded it, Ye Fan had only suppressed it with the Nine Divine Weapons.
This was a small bell, no larger than a baby's fist. Its body was emerald green, a divine jade bell, like green agate.
A King-rank weapon appeared crystal clear and warm, but it possessed incomparably terrifying power, gripping the hearts of everyone present.
"I must get this weapon!" Jin Chixiao spoke, golden light flickering in his eyes.
Even in Central Province, at such a super auction, it was almost unheard of to see a King-rank divine weapon up for auction. They were too rare. Anyone who obtained one would nurture it themselves, merging it with their flesh and blood, rather than selling it.
"Truly a treasure. It'll probably go for a sky-high price. I still want to buy Dragon Marrow, but I doubt I can afford this treasure," Ye Fan sighed in his suspended pavilion.