# Chapter 604: Nine Heavens Azure Sky Bell King
A king-grade weapon consumes an incalculable amount of heavenly treasures and earthly rarities, exhausting all the resources of even a great sect to forge. Only Holy Lands, Divine Dynasties, and the most top-tier major powers could possess such a thing.
One could imagine—the weapon that the Peerless Divine King Jiang Taixu had refined throughout his entire life—how many people could obtain and wield it?
Anyone who held it in their hands could sweep through an entire group of their peers, unstoppable, with no equal!
The bell body was no larger than a baby's fist, emerald green and dripping with luster, crystal clear and translucent. One glance revealed it to be a treasure, and one couldn't help but want to hold it and play with it.
"Azure Sky Bell..."
In the Nine Li Heavenly Pavilion, the old man hosting the auction had barely uttered the name before the crowd in the hall erupted, even before he announced the starting bid.
"It's actually that legendary Bell King!"
The entire hall was filled with noise. Many people were shaken, all discussing it, and quite a few pushed forward to get a closer look.
Just because of the three words "Azure Sky Bell," the auction hall fell into chaos. The crowd was excited, and many important figures stepped out of their private rooms, activating their divine eyes to observe.
The Azure Sky Bell had once shaken the world. It was a mysterious and powerful weapon. When its bell rang, heaven and earth fell silent, heroes fell, and all things shattered.
Twenty thousand years ago, the Central Province produced an Azure Sky King, just like the current Divine King Jiang Taixu of the Eastern Wasteland—an invincible king. The weapon he had refined throughout his life was, as one could imagine, incredibly precious!
"Azure Sky" was the first layer of heaven in Daoist tradition, where azure clouds filled the void, called the "Azure Sky." To dare to claim kingship with such a name naturally meant there was something unique about it.
The Azure Sky Bell, known as the Bell King, was as famous as the Nine Divine Weapons refined throughout the life of the Feather Transformation King fifteen thousand years ago. It was recorded in many ancient texts of the Central Province.
"The Azure Sky King and the Feather Transformation King were powerful king physiques of the Central Province. The weapons they left behind are rare in the world and possess immeasurable value!"
"This Azure Sky Bell King—I'm afraid few can afford it. Who knows how many precious materials were consumed back then, ultimately forged from Nine Heavens Azure Sky Divine Jade."
"The most critical thing is its power. If held by a Saint Lord-rank figure, in an age without ancient sages, in a time without great accomplished kings, it could dominate the world."
Everyone pondered, all moved, knowing it would be a sky-high price. Unless the ancient divine dynasties or Holy Lands made a move, no one could afford it—it was too precious.
"Starting bid: seventy thousand catties of pure Source!"
When the crowd had calmed down a bit, the old auctioneer loudly announced the starting price. At these words, there was a brief stillness, then an uproar.
"How is this possible? Only seventy thousand catties of pure Source?!"
Almost no one could believe it. This was the legendary Azure Sky Bell, a treasure refined with the life's effort of an invincible king. How could it be so cheap?
"It must be fake! This definitely isn't the real Azure Sky Bell!"
"Is this an imitation, not the Bell King recorded in the ancient texts?"
Many questioned, refusing to believe that a divine bell's starting price could be so low. They suspected fraud—that it wasn't a genuine treasure.
"Everyone, please calm down." In the Nine Li Treasure Pavilion, the old auctioneer gently tapped the bell body, producing a clear, crisp bell tone that cleansed the soul.
"It is that Bell King, but a stain has appeared..."
The baby-fist-sized Azure Sky Bell was turned over, and people discovered a bloodstain on the inner wall, like a blotch, dull and lusterless.
"What happened?"
"Not long ago, someone discovered the Azure Sky King's remains in a dangerous region, lying in a blood cave..."
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood what had happened. Ancestral roots could produce dragon marrow, but they could also generate filth. Even a battle treasure, soaked for a long time, could be dissolved.
After being soaked for twenty thousand years in a source of earthly blood filth, it was already a miracle that the Azure Sky Bell hadn't been completely destroyed.
"What a pity. A divine object has been ruined like this. Who would have thought the Azure Sky King would find his final rest in a blood cave."
"This is truly an incalculable loss. The legendary Azure Sky Bell has been worn away like this."
People shook their heads, their enthusiasm suddenly cooling.
"Everyone, this is no ordinary weapon. It was forged from Nine Heavens Azure Sky Divine Jade. You must know that this is a divine material that can be used to forge sage weapons—even ancient sages couldn't find it. If one could obtain supreme earthly milk or top-grade dragon marrow, they could completely wash away the bloodstain and restore the Azure Sky Bell. Moreover, if nurtured continuously, it would become immune to all evil and never be worn away for eternity."
Many were tempted again, their minds becoming active, but still quite a few shook their heads.
"Forget it. The cost is too great. Earthly milk and dragon marrow are already priceless, and they need to be the top grade. Who can afford that?"
"Eighty thousand catties of pure Source!"
"Eighty-five thousand catties of pure Source!"
...
Although many said the cost was too great, they still made bids during the auction, and fiercely at that.
"One hundred twenty thousand catties of pure Source!" Ye Fan also spoke up. He felt the Azure Sky Bell was extraordinary and that the stain could probably be removed. After all, it was forged from Nine Heavens Azure Sky Divine Jade. With proper nurturing, it could not only be restored but should also be able to continuously grow.
He suddenly raised the price by several tens of thousands of catties of pure Source, immediately drawing sidelong glances. Many hesitated, unsure whether to continue bidding.
"One hundred fifty thousand catties of pure Source." Another voice came, very calm and composed. It was Jin Chixiao of the Golden Clan, who possessed the blood of an ancient king.
"One hundred fifty-five thousand catties of pure Source." Another person spoke up.
"One hundred eighty thousand catties of pure Source." Ye Fan continued to raise the bid.
"Two hundred thousand catties of pure Source." Jin Chixiao's expression didn't change, looking as if he was determined to have it.
"Are they crazy? The Azure Sky Bell already has a stain, and they're still fighting over it like this? They really have too much Source and are throwing their weight around!" The crowd was shocked.
One hundred eighty thousand catties of pure Source was Ye Fan's limit, but seeing that Jin Chixiao was competing, he felt it necessary to stir things up a bit. He wasn't deliberately trying to cheat the man, but since dragon marrow would be auctioned later, he thought it would be good to make him spend more, so he wouldn't compete with him then.
"Two hundred ten thousand catties of pure Source." Ye Fan's tone was uncertain, as if he had gritted his teeth to say this price.
"Two hundred thirty thousand catties of pure Source." Jin Chixiao was very aggressive, adding twenty thousand catties of Source in one go.
"Two hundred... forty thousand catties of pure Source." Ye Fan seemed even more hesitant, pausing a bit when quoting the price.
"Two hundred sixty thousand catties of pure Source!" Jin Chixiao was very straightforward.
"Brother Jin, that's too much. The Azure Sky Bell has a serious stain, no longer possessing the divine beauty of its prime. Its power is less than one-tenth of its original. One hundred eighty thousand catties of Source is the limit."
Beside him, the man in purple robes advised. Several other disciples of the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion also thought it wasn't worth it and tried to dissuade him.
"I'm determined to have it. Our Golden Clan has divine earthly milk, which can completely wash away the stain and restore this Bell King." Jin Chixiao transmitted secretly.
"What?" The few were shocked, extremely envious. If it could be restored, spending any amount of Source would be worth it—to recreate the style of an invincible king.
In the end, the people in the hall were numb. Ye Fan increased the price bit by bit, stubbornly pushing the Azure Sky Bell to a sky-high price of three hundred thousand catties of Source. He didn't dare add more, afraid of scaring the other party away.
"Eh, something's not right. He's determined to get it. He can still bid." Ye Fan observed with his Source Heaven Divine Sense, felt a stir, and sensed the other party's emotional fluctuation.
"Three hundred ten thousand catties of pure Source!"
"Three hundred twenty thousand catties of pure Source!"
Ye Fan slowly simmered the pot, pushing the price to three hundred fifty thousand catties of pure Source, then stopped paying attention.
In the end, even Jin Chixiao was frantic. He didn't have that much Source on him. After communicating with the person in charge of the Nine Li Heavenly Pavilion and receiving permission to pay later, he pushed the price to three hundred seventy thousand catties of Source in one go, becoming the final winner.
"This bastard!" Jin Chixiao gritted his teeth. The cost was too great. He stared at Ye Fan's private room, his heart filled with endless killing intent, then let out a cold laugh.
The auction hall was in an uproar. It was truly a sky-high price, extremely crazy, making everyone feel unreal.
Then, another treasure was auctioned: a scroll of notes from the ancient Twin Kings, recording part of their enlightenment process. Although it was only a fragment, it had immeasurable value.
Ye Fan thought about it and joined in again. This time, he faithfully played the role of a "shill" once more. Every time he bid, he hesitated, but he kept pushing the price up.
"Damn shill, your acting is terrible!"
"Too despicable! Your price-hiking is too obvious!"
In the end, this fragmentary enlightenment scroll was also pushed to a sky-high price, incurring the wrath of heaven and man.
"Next time, play by yourself!"
"Death to the evil shill!"
Many cursed, furious beyond measure.
Ye Fan was naturally doing it on purpose. He wanted to see the shill role through to the end, to make these people understand his function, paving the way for bidding on the dragon marrow.
Then, sure enough, he didn't change his bad habits. He "shilled" for two more treasures, pushing them to sky-high prices.
"The final treasure: a bottle of Purple Dragon Marrow, twelve drops in total. Starting bid: one hundred twenty thousand catties of pure Source, but bidding must be done with equivalent Divine Source."
The hall was in an uproar again. Finally, the grand finale dragon marrow was presented. This was a peerless divine object, not only extending lifespan but also assisting in enlightenment.
A transparent jade bottle showed everything inside clearly. There were twelve drops of dragon marrow, radiating divine splendor, filling the hall with a purple glow and an intoxicating fragrance.
Each drop was the size of a thumb, mutually incompatible, crystal clear and translucent, flashing with purple light, like purple qi coming from the east. The hall was filled with a hazy atmosphere, the fragrance penetrating straight into people's souls.
Twelve drops, each with a minimum price of ten thousand catties of Source—a truly terrifying sky-high price. Even the most wealthy felt the pain.
"Only twelve drops, and the starting bid is one hundred twenty thousand catties of Source? Why not just rob us?!" Many cried out that it was expensive. Most importantly, it had to be traded with Divine Source, blocking too many people.
"One hundred thirty thousand catties of Source." At this moment, Ye Fan spoke up, his tone still uncertain.
The hall instantly fell silent, then erupted in curses.
"Damn shill, acting again!"
"Too wicked! You guys play by yourselves. None of us are bidding anymore!"
...
"One hundred thirty thousand catties of Source, first call. One hundred thirty thousand catties of Source, second call..."
"Bang"
The wooden hammer fell. Everyone was too busy cursing to compete. Ye Fan won the dragon marrow with one hundred thirty thousand catties of Source.
The hall was dead silent, then filled with curses. People believed he was a shill who just hadn't managed to cheat anyone this time.
"Damn shill, you're too greedy. If you don't want to auction, fine, but why do this?"
Nearby, the person in charge of this auction house was in tears, speechless and choked up. A moment ago, he had been "respecting" Ye Fan immensely. Now he wanted to slap him to death with a shoe sole.
Damn it! This was a bottle of dragon marrow, rare in the world. It was supposed to be the grand finale, sure to fetch a terrifying sky-high price. But this shill, who had looked quite pleasing before, had pinned it to the floor price!
"Shill!"
The crowd in the auction hall cursed.
The auction house person in charge wanted to cry but had no tears, wanting to strangle Ye Fan.
Originally estimated, the transaction price would conservatively be at least four hundred thousand catties of Source or more, because this wasn't low-grade dragon marrow. One hundred something thousand catties of Source definitely couldn't buy it. Its value was incalculable.
Amid the angry curses of many, the auction house person in charge beat his chest and stamped his feet, almost choking to death from holding in his breath.
When everyone in the hall had dispersed and it was empty, Ye Fan paid with Divine Source in the VIP private room and tucked the bottle of Purple Dragon Marrow into his bosom.
"Pleasant cooperation. I'll come to patronize you often in the future."
"Aren't you ashamed? That wasn't ordinary dragon marrow. You pinned it to the floor at one hundred thirty thousand catties of Source?" The auction house person in charge was furious.
"Otherwise, why would I say we cooperated pleasantly? With the previous treasures, I pushed them to such high prices for you. You didn't lose out. Consider the last item my commission."
"We are honest with both young and old. We never hire shills. That ruins our reputation." The auction house person in charge was indignant.
"It's just one bottle, not a cauldron."
"Do you know what kind of dragon marrow that was? It was dug from the ancestral root of the Purple Dragon. Do you know how many people died for these twelve drops of divine liquid? That was a peerless dangerous region, guarded by terrifying creatures. Our experts suffered heavy casualties!"
Ye Fan's heart stirred. "Where was it dug up? There are ancient creatures guarding the underground dragon vein? Maybe we can cooperate. Tell me about it."
"Tell you what? It has nothing to do with you. Hurry up and leave. I don't want to see you anymore!"
"Old sir, don't get angry. It doesn't cost anything to talk. I'm very knowledgeable about mountains, rivers, and geography. I might be able to help you greatly."
"Just leave!"
In the end, Ye Fan was chased out by a group of old men. Several old auctioneers glared at him with beards bristling, listing him as the most unwelcome guest.
"Old sirs, you'll invite me later. In all the world, only I can help the major powers behind you." Ye Fan dawdled.
"Go, go, go. Don't let us see you again."
"Princess Yueling of the Nine Li Divine Dynasty has gone to invite experts. You little swindler, leave quickly!"
Ye Fan was surprised. Princess Yueling of the Nine Li Divine Dynasty was the second most beautiful woman in the Central Province, stunning the world, with a great reputation. Almost no one among the younger generation didn't know of her.
"I wonder what experts she'll invite?" He rubbed his nose. This was the first time he had been chased out so disgracefully. He turned and left.
Soon after, Ye Fan left Xiba City, preparing to find a place to go into seclusion and undergo tribulation.
"Damn Yin Yang Sect. If you dare appear before my eyes again, I'll go to your lair to undergo tribulation and blow up your ancestral graves!"
Ye Fan traveled far from Xiba City, heading into a mountain range. He wanted to choose an uninhabited area to sit in seclusion.
"You've finally come. We've been waiting for you for a long time." A voice came, carefree, as if everything was under control.
"Have you brought us our Purple Dragon Marrow?" Another person mocked, laughing heartily.
Around him, seven figures appeared. It was Jin Chixiao and his group, appearing on all sides, surrounding him from afar.
"I think you've come to deliver the Azure Sky Bell to me. I've been thinking about that Bell King. You're very enthusiastic." Ye Fan said.
Jin Chixiao smiled, slowly shaking his finger. "You don't have much of a chance."
Silently, an old man appeared on each of the four sides, sealing off the sky, trapping Ye Fan in the center.
"What a pity. You only managed to bid on one bottle of dragon marrow. If you had also won the Twin Kings' notes, that would have been two shocking gifts."
"One should be content. The grand finale dragon marrow is a priceless divine object. We should be satisfied."