The auction continued with a tense and heated fervor.
As the previous item was claimed, the female auctioneer's voice rang out clearly and decisively, grabbing the attention of every soul in the grand hall.
"Next up: the Spirit Snake Sword, a mid-grade, Level 3 weapon! Crafted by the renowned Master Qing Hong, a Level 3 refiner of great distinction. The starting bid is three hundred thousand gold coins."
Before her voice even finished echoing, a chorus of bids erupted from all corners of the hall.
"Three hundred and fifty thousand!"
"Four hundred thousand!"
"Five hundred thousand!"
The excitement in the air was palpable, thickening like smoke.
In the Divine Profound Continent, treasures such as weapons, medicinal pills, and cultivation techniques were ranked by nine levels. Level 1 treasures were for those in the Qi Condensation Realm, while Level 9 treasures were reserved for the pinnacle of cultivation. A Level 3 weapon, like the Spirit Snake Sword, would naturally be highly sought after by cultivators in the Soul Condensation Realm, yet still not enough to draw the attention of those of even higher ranks.
Refiners and alchemists, however, held a unique prestige. Their skills could transform mere materials into treasures beyond imagination, and even Nascent Soul Realm cultivators treated them with reverence. Master Qing Hong, though a mere Level 3 refiner, commanded that respect, his name carrying weight even amongst the most powerful beings.
Despite the sword's impressive craftsmanship, it was nothing more than an ordinary trinket in the eyes of Xuan Yi, whose cultivation had long surpassed the ranks of even the most powerful Soul Condensation Realm cultivators. Only weapons of Level 4 or higher would be worth his attention.
The bidding continued unabated, each increase driving the price higher until, after a rapid flurry, the Spirit Snake Sword was sold for an astounding eight hundred and eighty thousand gold coins.
For context, a hundred gold coins could allow a modest family to live comfortably for a full year. The sum the sword had fetched was staggering — it would be enough to sustain an ordinary family for decades. Yet for those in the auction hall, it was merely the beginning of the evening's intense spectacle.
Xuan Yi remained composed and disinterested. He had no intention of leaving before the climax. In these kinds of auctions, it was always the final items that held the true value.
Sure enough, after a few more bids on less intriguing items, the female auctioneer's voice rose once more, this time with more energy, more allure.
"Next, we present the Spirit Fruit! A rare and extraordinary treasure that not only heals injuries to the spiritual sense but also enhances one's spiritual strength. A priceless boon for refiners and alchemists alike. The starting bid is one million gold coins. Let the bidding begin!"
The announcement sparked immediate excitement, the entire hall vibrating with anticipation.
While not every cultivator had suffered damage to their spiritual sense, the secondary effect of the Spirit Fruit — the enhancement of spiritual strength — was irresistible. Even those with no personal need for it recognized its value in the hands of refiners and alchemists, whose favor could buy far more than gold.
The buzz of hushed conversation filled the hall like a rising tide.
Not far from Xuan Yi, two young siblings stood, their eyes alight with hope. Behind them, an elderly figure with a powerful aura — a cultivator at the early sixth level of the Soul Condensation Realm — stood tall, watching intently. They were from the Li family of Vastsea City, a clan once unrivaled in the region.
The siblings, Li Hao and Li Fei, exchanged an excited glance when the Spirit Fruit was announced.
"Sis! It's the Spirit Fruit! We didn't come here for nothing. Father can be saved!" Li Hao whispered urgently, his fists clenched tightly with excitement.
"Yes, we can finally save him!" Li Fei's eyes were misted with tears of relief. "When Father recovers, the Li family will regain its former glory, and those who once looked down on us will learn to fear us again."
Behind them, the third elder of the Li family, an imposing figure whose aura radiated strength, allowed a rare smile to tug at his lips.
The Li family had once ruled over Vastsea City, but recent calamities had threatened to bring their house to ruin. Their patriarch, a powerful cultivator at the seventh level of the Soul Condensation Realm, had been ambushed by enemies during a trip. Although he had triumphed over his assailants, he had sustained grave injuries, particularly to his spiritual sense. His condition had grown worse by the day, and without a remedy, the patriarch's life was in jeopardy.
The Li family's very existence hinged on his recovery. Without him, their numerous enemies, once held at bay, would descend upon them like wolves.
In desperation, Li Fei and Li Hao had scoured the continent for a cure, and word of the Spirit Fruit's availability had reached them like a lifeline thrown from the heavens. They had arrived at the auction with over seven million gold coins in hand, determined to seize the fruit, no matter the cost.
Hope swelled within them as they raised their paddles, preparing to bid.
But just as Li Fei was about to place her bid, a hoarse, chilling voice rang out from the back of the hall, freezing her in her tracks.
"One point one million gold coins. I will take the Spirit Fruit."
The voice was sharp and grating, yet it carried an undeniable weight, accompanied by a spiritual pressure that descended on the room like a suffocating storm. It spread outward, crashing into the minds of those near it, drowning their senses in a wave of unrelenting force.
The air itself seemed to thicken, and breathing became a struggle for many. Those who had been preparing to bid found themselves paralyzed by fear, their hands trembling and their tongues silenced.
The pressure was not just a display of strength — it was a warning. A stark, unmistakable message that the one who had spoken would brook no opposition.
The auction house fell into an oppressive silence. No one dared to speak. No one dared to raise a hand.
In that instant, it was clear that to challenge this figure, to contest this bid, was to court death.
Li Fei and Li Hao's faces drained of color. Their hopes, once soaring, crumbled in an instant. The Spirit Fruit, their last hope, was slipping through their fingers.
In the midst of this tense standoff, Xuan Yi's sharp gaze settled upon the figure who had spoken. His expression was unreadable, but the faintest of smiles played upon his lips as he observed the drama unfolding.