From the fake emperor to the concubine

“This is a ‘Soul-Devouring Bead’,” Sun He said. “The Soul-Devouring Bead was forged from the soul of a Mahayana stage expert. It can devour the soul of an enemy to enhance one’s own spiritual power. However, there is a certain risk in using it; one might be devoured by the remnant soul within the bead.”

"The soul of a Mahayana stage expert?" Zheng Yi's heart stirred.

He became interested in the Soul-Devouring Bead. Not because of its effects, but because he wanted to study how it was made.

"The starting bid is two million spirit stones, and each bid must be at least one hundred thousand spirit stones higher," Sun He said.

"Two million?" A chorus of exclamations erupted in the hall.

The price is too high; many people have been scared off.

But someone still made a bid.

“Two million one hundred thousand!” a hoarse voice rang out.

Zheng Yi looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the person making the bid was an old man dressed in a black robe, with a gaunt face, cold eyes, and a sinister aura emanating from his body.

“That’s Elder Li Youming of the Netherworld Sect.” Master Zhou’s voice trembled slightly. “The Netherworld Sect is one of the most mysterious sects in the Tianyuan Domain, specializing in cultivating sinister and evil techniques. It is said that they often capture cultivators to forge magical artifacts, and their methods are extremely cruel.”

“The Netherworld Sect?” Zheng Yi frowned.

He had no liking for such heretical sects. These people, in their pursuit of cultivation, did not hesitate to harm their own kind, making them no different from demons.

“Two million three hundred thousand!” another voice rang out.

The bidder was a middle-aged man in a gray robe. He had an ordinary appearance, but a profound aura, and was clearly a hidden master.

“That’s Poison Scorpion, the leader of the ‘Ten Thousand Poisons Sect,’” Master Zhou continued. “Like the Netherworld Sect, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect is a heretical sect. They specialize in the study of poisons, and it’s said that every disciple in the sect is poisonous; ordinary people dare not approach them.”

Zheng Yi nodded and memorized this information.

Both the Netherworld Sect and the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect are forces that need to be guarded against.

"Two and a half million!" Li Youming said coldly.

"Two million eight hundred thousand!" the scorpion retorted, not to be outdone.

The two traded back and forth, and the price quickly exceeded three million spirit stones.

The atmosphere in the hall became somewhat eerie, with many people whispering and seemingly discussing something.

“Three and a half million!” Li Youming’s voice carried a hint of anger.

“Three million six hundred thousand.” The scorpion remained calm.

Li Youming's face was gloomy, and a hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes.

“Three million seven hundred thousand!” he said through gritted teeth.

The scorpion remained silent for a moment, then shook its head and did not continue bidding.

"Three million seven hundred thousand spirit stones, first time... second time... third time... sold!" Sun He slammed down the gavel. "Congratulations to Elder Li of the Netherworld Sect!"

Li Youming snorted coldly, his gloomy gaze sweeping over the poisonous scorpion before he looked away, as if nothing had happened.

Zheng Yi witnessed this scene and made a plan in his mind.

The Netherworld Sect and the Myriad Poisons Sect seem to be mortal enemies. The power dynamics in this Tianyuan Domain are more complex than he imagined.

The auction continued, with one precious item after another being brought to the stage and then snapped up by buyers at high prices.

Zheng Yi observed quietly, gaining a deeper understanding of the major forces in Tianyuan Domain.

In addition to the Purple Cloud Gang, White Cloud Manor, Netherworld Sect, and Ten Thousand Poisons Sect mentioned earlier, he also noticed several other powerful forces.

One was the "Tianji Pavilion," which was said to be an organization that specialized in selling information and had spies throughout the entire Tianyuan Domain. The representative of the Tianji Pavilion was a veiled woman who remained silent throughout the auction, quietly observing its progress.

The other was the "Zhennan Prince's Mansion," the largest power in the southern part of Tianyuan Domain, which was said to have intricate connections with the royal family of Tianyuan Domain. The representative of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion was a young man dressed in a golden robe, with a noble demeanor and generous spending; he bought several of his favorite items at high prices.

Another one is "Medicine King Valley," the most famous alchemy sect in the Tianyuan Domain. The representative of Medicine King Valley is an old man with white hair and beard who is only interested in spiritual herbs and does not bid on any other items.

"Any one of these forces is far more powerful than the City Lord's Mansion of Qingyun City," Zheng Yi sighed inwardly.

Although Qingyun City is the largest city in this area, it is utterly insignificant in the face of these powerful forces. No wonder the annual auction attracts so many people; it turns out this is the stage for the major powers to vie for dominance.

"Please take a look at the thirty-fifth item," Sun He's voice rang out again.

This time, what was brought up was an old-fashioned book, its pages yellowed, clearly quite old.

"This is a book called 'The Secret Records of Tianyuan,'" Sun He introduced. "This book records the rise and fall of various forces in the Tianyuan Domain, as well as some long-lost secrets. It is an invaluable book for anyone who wants to understand the Tianyuan Domain."

"The starting bid is 50,000 spirit stones, and each bid must be at least 5,000 spirit stones higher."

The price wasn't high, but there weren't many bidders. Most people weren't interested in history books; they came to the auction to buy elixirs and magical artifacts, not books.

“Fifty-five thousand.” A clear voice rang out.

Zheng Yi turned his head and saw that the one who made the bid was Bai Yutang, the young master of Baiyun Manor.

"Sixty thousand." The masked woman from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion spoke.

This was her first bid of the day, and it immediately attracted a lot of attention.

"Sixty-five thousand," Bai Yutang said calmly.

"Seventy thousand." The masked woman continued to raise the price.

The two went back and forth, and the price quickly rose to 150,000 spirit stones.

“155,000,” Bai Yutang said.

The masked woman remained silent for a moment, then finally shook her head.

"155,000 spirit stones, sold!" Sun He struck the gavel.

Bai Yutang's lips curled up slightly, revealing a smug smile.

Zheng Yi noticed that the masked woman from Tianji Pavilion seemed to have a complex look in her eyes when she looked at Bai Yutang.

"Interesting," Zheng Yi thought to himself.

Tianji Pavilion sells information, so they should theoretically be very interested in history books like this. But the masked woman gave up when the price reached 150,000. Was it because the price was too high? Or was there another reason?

Zheng Yi didn't dwell on it any longer, because the next item had already been brought to the stage.

It was a long, jet-black spear, its shaft covered with mysterious runes, radiating a chilling killing intent.

"This is a 'Demon-Slaying Spear'," Sun He explained. "Forged from extraterrestrial meteorite iron, it is incredibly hard and effective against demonic creatures. It is an excellent weapon for cultivators at the Integration Realm."

"The starting bid is 800,000 spirit stones, and each bid must be at least 50,000 spirit stones higher."

“Eight hundred and fifty thousand!” a voice immediately rang out.

Zheng Yi discovered that the person who made the bid was a middle-aged general in armor, exuding an aura of iron-bloodedness.

"That's Zhao Tieshan, the deputy general of the Zhenbei Army," Master Zhou said in a low voice.

"The Zhenbei Army?" Zheng Yi's eyes lit up. "Yes," said Master Zhou, "The Zhenbei Army is the strongest army in the Tianyuan Domain, stationed on the northern border to defend against the invasion of the demon race. Zhao Tieshan is the deputy general of the Zhenbei Army; he is very strong, and it is said that he has already reached the peak of the Integration Realm."

Zheng Yi nodded and kept this information in mind.

The Zhenbei Army is a righteous force, unlike those evil sects. If there's an opportunity in the future, we can try to establish a relationship with them.

"Nine hundred thousand!" Zhao Tianxiong of the Ziyun Gang made his bid.

"Ninety-five hundred thousand!" Zhao Tieshan raised the price without hesitation.

“One million!” Zhao Tianxiong said through gritted teeth.

Zhao Tieshan glanced at Zhao Tianxiong, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

“One million one hundred thousand,” he said calmly.

Zhao Tianxiong's face was gloomy, as if he was hesitating whether to raise the price further.

But in the end, he didn't say anything.

"One million one hundred thousand spirit stones, sold!" Sun He struck the gavel.

Zhao Tieshan nodded, his face expressionless.

Zhao Tianxiong glared at him fiercely, muttering something under his breath.

Zheng Yi witnessed this scene and secretly made a mental note of it.

It seems the Purple Cloud Gang and the Zhenbei Army have a grudge against each other. This Zhao Tianxiong seems to get along with no one.

The auction lasted until evening.

On the first day of the auction, more than fifty items were sold, with a total transaction amount exceeding thirty million spirit stones. This figure opened Zheng Yi's eyes; he realized that money could disappear so quickly in the world of cultivators.

"Today's auction items are all quite ordinary," said Mr. Zhou. "Tomorrow and the day after are the main events; that's when the real treasures will appear."

"What items will be auctioned tomorrow?" Zheng Yi asked.

"Tomorrow's main items are cultivation manuals and elixirs," said Master Zhou. "It's said there's a fragment of the 'Heavenly Origin Divine Skill,' a peerless cultivation technique passed down from ancient times, priceless indeed."

"Heavenly Origin Divine Skill?" Zheng Yi became interested.

“Yes,” said Master Zhou. “The Heavenly Origin Divine Art is one of the strongest cultivation techniques in the Heavenly Origin Domain. It is said that when cultivated to its peak, one can break through the void and ascend to the Immortal Realm. However, this technique has long been lost, leaving only some fragments scattered in various places. Every time a fragment appears, it sparks a fierce competition among major forces.”

Zheng Yi nodded, filled with anticipation for tomorrow's auction.

The group left Tianbao Pavilion and returned to Wangyue Inn.

That evening, Master Zhou hosted a banquet for Zheng Yi to thank him for his protection that day.

"Young Master Zhang, you've had a long day," said Master Zhou, raising his cup. "Please drink this cup to the brim."

"You're too kind, Mr. Zhou." Zheng Yi picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"Young Master Zhang, what do you think of today's auction?" Master Zhou asked.

"This is truly eye-opening," Zheng Yi said. "I come from an outer region and am not very familiar with the situation in the Tianyuan Domain. Seeing so many powerful forces today has been very rewarding."

"Haha, Young Master Zhang is too modest," Master Zhou laughed. "With Young Master Zhang's strength, you're quite a force to be reckoned with in the Tianyuan Domain. Those forces may seem powerful, but they don't actually have many truly skilled experts."

"Oh?" Zheng Yi became interested. "Mr. Zhou, could you please introduce him to me?"

“Of course,” said Master Zhou. “The power in the Tianyuan Domain can be roughly divided into several levels.”

"At the very top are the three holy lands and the nine great families. These are behemoths with thousands of years of history, possessing profound foundations and countless experts. It is said that each holy land and family has a Mahayana stage expert in charge, and there may even be ancient monsters in the late Mahayana stage."

"Secondly, there are some mid-level forces, such as Baiyun Manor, Medicine King Valley, and Tianji Pavilion. Although these forces cannot compare to the three holy lands and the nine great families, they also have experts at the peak of the Integration Realm or even the Great Ascension Realm, and their strength should not be underestimated."

"Secondly, there are some smaller forces, such as the Purple Cloud Gang, the Netherworld Sect, and the Myriad Poisons Sect. The strongest members of these forces are mostly in the mid-to-late stages of the Integration Realm, and while they have some influence in their local areas, they can only be considered third-rate forces within the entire Tianyuan Domain."

"Finally, there are some independent cultivators and small sects. These people have no foundation and can only survive in the cracks."

Zheng Yi listened attentively and memorized the information.

"What about the Zhenbei Army?" he asked.

"The Zhenbei Army is a special entity," Master Zhou said. "They are the imperial army, not belonging to any faction, but their strength is formidable. It is said that there are several generals in the Zhenbei Army at the Mahayana stage, and the strongest of them, the Zhenbei Grand General, is even a peak Mahayana stage expert."

"Peak of the Mahayana stage?" Zheng Yi was shocked.

That's a realm only one step away from ascending to the Immortal Realm, a top-tier existence in the entire Tianyuan Domain.

“Yes,” Master Zhou nodded. “The General Who Guards the North is named Lin Tianxing, and he is one of the strongest people in the Tianyuan Domain. With him in charge, the invasion of the Demon Race can be kept at bay beyond the northern border.”

Zheng Yi secretly memorized the name.

Lin Tianxing, General Zhenbei, peak of the Mahayana stage.

If Su Wanqing's cousin, Lin Zhengyang, is a general in the Zhenbei Army, then he should have some connection with this Zhenbei General. Perhaps he can make connections with the Zhenbei Army through Su Wanqing in the future.

The two chatted for a while longer, and Zheng Yi gained a deeper understanding of the situation in Tianyuan Domain.

As night deepened, Master Zhou went to rest, while Zheng Yi meditated in his room.

As he reflected on what he had seen and heard at the auction that day, some ideas gradually formed in his mind.

The forces in Tianyuan Domain are complex and intertwined, but it is precisely because of this that there are more opportunities. As long as he is careful and adept at exploiting the conflicts between the various forces, he can definitely carve out a place for himself here.

But before that, he needs more resources and connections.

"I must do this escort mission well," Zheng Yi secretly resolved.

The auction continued the following day.

As Mr. Zhou said, today's auction items are more valuable than yesterday's, attracting more buyers.

The first item up for auction was a bottle of "Breakthrough Pills," which were said to help cultivators at the peak of the Integration Realm break through to the Mahayana Realm. The moment this bottle of pills was brought to the stage, it caused a sensation throughout the hall.

"The starting bid is five million spirit stones, and each bid must be at least five hundred thousand spirit stones higher," Sun He said.

"Five and a half million!" a voice immediately rang out.

"Six million!" another voice followed closely behind.

"Seven million!"

The bidding was extremely fierce, and the price quickly exceeded ten million spirit stones.

Zheng Yi watched quietly from the side, secretly marveling at his performance.

A single bottle of pills costs over ten million spirit stones; these people are truly wealthy.

Ultimately, the bottle of Breakthrough Pills was auctioned off to a representative of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion for 15 million spirit stones. (End of Chapter)