SFS Chapter 12: All Parties Gather, Auction Begins
Chapter 12: All Parties Gather, Auction Begins
Upon hearing that the unfamiliar cultivators were from the "Seven Star Realm," Wang Tianlong was curious and was about to ask the well-informed Qingmu Shangren for more details about these outside cultivators when another commotion arose at the entrance of the main hall.
A dozen or so figures filed in, each with a different form. Some were exceptionally tall and robust, nearly ten feet in height; others were agile and moved silently; still others, though humanoid, retained distinct demonic features, such as a single horn on their forehead, scales covering their faces, or vertical slits in their pupils. They did not deliberately conceal their auras; powerful demonic energy, whether savage, ferocious, or profound, naturally emanated from them, rivaling the spiritual pressure of the numerous human Nascent Soul cultivators in the hall, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
"The demon race has arrived too." Wang Tianlong's gaze swept over them, and he understood. It was a demon cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage who had come.
The leader was a burly, dark-faced man nearly ten feet tall, with unusually long arms and bulging muscles that looked as if they were cast from metal. He exuded a wild and powerful aura, and his cultivation had clearly reached the peak of the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm. Wang Tianlong recognized this demon as the deputy valley master of the Ten Thousand Demon Valley within the Great Jin Dynasty. His true form was the patriarch of the Iron-Armed Ape clan—the Iron Ape King, with a body of bronze skin and iron bones, possessing immense strength, and renowned throughout the demon race of the Great Jin Dynasty.
Beside the Iron Ape King followed several other demon cultivators of equal power, some from the main branch of the Ten Thousand Demon Valley, and others from other regions: a man draped in a wolf-skin cloak with eyes as sharp as knives, was the Heavenly Wolf Demon King of the Mulan Grassland; a handsome young man with blue wings on his back and an elegant figure was the infamous Azure Feather Demon King of the Chaotic Star Sea; and an old man in a blue robe with a sinister face and subtle water vapor ripples around him was the Blue Flood Dragon King of the Five Dragon Sea. These were all powerful Nascent Soul stage demons who dominated their respective regions.
This auction is a top-tier trading event in the human realm, so it's not surprising that some rare spiritual items, or even rare and precious materials suitable for the demon race, would appear. Therefore, although humans and demons have a history of friction over the vast borders and resource competition, and their relationship isn't exactly harmonious, at their level, unless there's a fundamental conflict of interest, they rarely start a war easily, maintaining a delicate balance. It's perfectly normal for demon cultivators to attend the auction.
The human Nascent Soul cultivators inside the hall were initially only slightly surprised by the large number and powerful formation of the demon cultivators, glancing at them a few more times. However, they quickly withdrew their gazes and stopped paying too much attention. At their level, while racial prejudices hadn't completely disappeared, they valued practical benefits and opportunities for advancement in the Great Dao more. As long as these demon cultivators followed the rules, everyone would keep to themselves.
The group of demon cultivators seemed used to it, paying no attention to the gazes directed at them. Led by the Iron Ape King, they found a relatively concentrated area, took their seats, and chatted in hushed tones in their demon language, all while waiting for the auction to begin.
Wang Tianlong also withdrew his gaze, thinking to himself, "Iron-Armed Ape, Heavenly Wolf, Azure Feather Thunder Roc (close branch), Blue Flood Dragon... all of them are extraordinary bloodlines and powerful warriors. It seems that this auction will indeed feature some extraordinary items, even these old demons who usually dominate their own territory can't sit still."
He glanced at the still composed Master Qingmu beside him and said with a voice transmission, "This time it's quite lively. Not only have fellow Daoists from the outside world come, but even the demon race has made such a fuss."
Master Qingmu nodded slightly and replied telepathically, "The few prized items that Kunwu Mountain has brought out this time are said to be very beneficial to the demon race in tempering their bloodlines and breaking through bottlenecks. Naturally, they don't want to miss out. It seems that the bidding later will not be easy."
After the Iron Ape King and other demon cultivators took their seats, several more groups of Nascent Soul cultivators arrived at the entrance of the main hall.
Some cultivators from the southern regions, dressed in relatively simple and ancient styles, entered in groups, their auras either sharp or ethereal; others were ascetic practitioners who had come from the distant Tiansha Continent, still carrying a faint scent of sand and scorching heat, and found a quiet corner to sit down alone; there were even two cultivators from the far west, almost from the legendary far western sea, whose cultivation methods and spiritual energy attributes were significantly different from those of the others present, attracting many curious glances.
After about half a day, no one appeared at the palace gate anymore. At this time, nearly fifty Nascent Soul cultivators had gathered inside the hall! This accounted for almost a quarter of the total number of known Nascent Soul cultivators in the human realm, a spectacle rarely seen in a thousand years. Some of them closed their eyes to rest, while others chatted quietly with acquaintances. Although there was no noise in the entire hall, it possessed a majestic aura that was as solid as a mountain and held back its power.
Just then, an elderly man, dressed in a dark purple brocade robe embroidered with dragon patterns, with a robust build, ruddy complexion, and an imposing presence, strode confidently onto the circular jade platform in the center of the hall.
He stood still, his gaze sharp as lightning, slowly sweeping across the entire area. Every cultivator whose gaze fell upon him, regardless of race, could feel a scorching and heavy spiritual pressure, clearly indicating profound cultivation. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and surveyed the crowd, his voice booming like a bell, clearly reaching the ears of every cultivator:
"Welcome, fellow Daoists, for traveling thousands of miles to the capital of the Great Jin Dynasty to participate in this grand Nascent Soul auction! I am Ziyang. I'm sure many of you recognize my old face, don't you?"
A few good-natured chuckles and nods rang out from below the stage. Wang Tianlong naturally recognized this person as Master Ziyang, one of the pillars of the Great Jin Dynasty's royal family, possessing profound cultivation at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm. However, what made him famous throughout the cultivation world was not merely his royal status and cultivation, but also his status as one of the top-tier weapon-refining masters recognized by the mortal realm! Legend has it that the Great Jin Dynasty's national treasure, the infinitely powerful Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasure "Five Dragon Seal," was crafted by him. This alone was enough to grant him extremely high prestige and status within the entire Nascent Soul circle of the mortal realm.
His ability, reputation, and professionalism are enough to convince everyone that he is the one to preside over this top-notch auction.
Seeing the atmosphere lighten, Master Ziyang stopped with pleasantries, straightened his expression, and got straight to the point: "Thanks to the trust of the elders of Kunwu Mountain and the various sects, I will preside over this auction. The rules are the same as before: the highest bidder wins. You may use spirit stones, or rare materials or treasures of equal value as payment. The valuation will be jointly assessed by me and several fellow Daoists from the Kunwu Alliance. If there are any private transactions, they can be negotiated after the auction."
"Alright, enough of the pleasantries. I'm sure you fellow cultivators have been waiting for quite some time." Master Ziyang flicked his sleeves and announced loudly, "I hereby declare the Nascent Soul Auction open! Please bring out the first item!"
As he finished speaking, a Nascent Soul cultivator of similar extraordinary bearing, holding a jade plate covered with a red cloth, respectfully stepped forward to the stage. All eyes instantly focused on the jade plate.
As Master Ziyang finished speaking, the hall fell silent. All the Nascent Soul cultivators, regardless of race, focused their gazes intently on the jade plate covered by the red cloth. An invisible pressure and anticipation filled the air.
Without further ado, Master Ziyang extended his slightly rough but remarkably steady hand and gently lifted the red silk covering the jade plate.
In an instant, an indescribable, rich fruity fragrance, a blend of pure spiritual energy and fervent life force, permeated the entire hall. On a jade plate lay a fist-sized, blood-red fruit with faint golden flame patterns flowing across its surface. The fruit was crystal clear, seemingly formed from the purest fire elemental essence, with magma flowing slowly within it. The spiritual pressure it emitted was warm yet domineering, causing the magical power within many of the fire-attribute cultivators present to subtly stir.
The first item up for auction is a "Ten Thousand Year Vermilion Fruit".