Mortal Cultivator: Lin Tianzun

Chapter 97 Underground Auction (Part )

Just as Lin Fan safely placed the Nine Yang Yuan Shen Flower into his storage bag and was still immersed in the joy of finding a treasure, the auctioneer's penetrating voice rang out again: "Next up, we're auctioning the Qingmu Lingxi Fruit! This Qingmu Lingxi Fruit is a rare treasure in the world, and the starting price is one thousand low-level spirit stones!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Fan's nerves, which had been relaxing slightly, suddenly tensed, his heart trembling. He had never imagined that he would come across the key ingredients for refining ancient elixirs at this auction. This Qingmu Lingxi Fruit was the key ingredient in refining the Qingyuan Lingxi Pill. The Qingyuan Lingxi Pill not only significantly increased the purity of a cultivator's spiritual power, but also, with long-term consumption, enhanced his spiritual perception, greatly aiding his subsequent cultivation.

"I'll offer 1,300 low-level spirit stones!" A cultivator in the late Foundation Establishment stage was the first to bid. He was hunched over, his face filled with anxiety, his cloudy eyes fixed on the Qingmu Lingxi Fruit on the stage, as if it were his only hope for a breakthrough.

"One thousand five hundred low-level spirit stones!" a tall, young monk responded quickly. He wore a moon-white robe, an exquisite jade pendant dangling from his waist. His every move exuded a carefree air, but the tight grip he held on the bidding peg betrayed his inner nervousness.

"One thousand eight hundred low-level spirit stones!" The bids came one after another, and each bid seemed to declare to everyone his determination to get the Qingmu Lingxi Fruit.

"Two thousand low-level spirit stones!" a stern-faced female cultivator's clear voice echoed. She sat in the front row, her black dress framing her graceful figure, but her eyes were cold as ice as she scanned the surrounding competitors, like a lone, proud jackdaw.

Lin Fan sat in a corner, brow furrowed, fingers tapping lightly on the armrest, secretly estimating the price trend. Seeing the price soar, he knew he couldn't wait any longer. He took a deep breath and spoke decisively, "I'll offer 3,300 low-level spirit stones!" His voice was not loud, but it radiated an undeniable determination.

"I'll offer 3,500 low-level spirit stones!" A Jindan-stage cultivator slowly stood up. He was a burly figure, his face thick with flesh, and a scornful smile on his face, as if mocking everyone's financial resources. His eyes seemed to say that he was determined to obtain the Qingmu Lingxi Fruit.

Lin Fan's heart sank. He knew full well that this Jindan cultivator's strength and financial resources were not to be underestimated, but he truly didn't want to miss out on this Qingmu Lingxi Fruit. After a brief hesitation, he gritted his teeth and shouted, "If this fellow Daoist offers one more spirit stone, I won't take it! I'll give you 3,550 low-level spirit stones!" He stared intently at the Jindan cultivator, his eyes filled with determination.

Upon hearing this, the Jindan stage cultivator's face instantly turned ashen. He snorted coldly, sat back heavily in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest, looked displeased, and muttered softly, "Hmph, you're trying to snatch it from me, you're so cruel!" Upon seeing this, the auctioneer quickly scanned the entire room. Seeing that no one was bidding anymore, he raised the auction hammer high and shouted, "Three thousand five hundred and fifty low-level spirit stones for one time, three thousand five hundred and fifty low-level spirit stones for two times, and three thousand five hundred and fifty low-level spirit stones for three times! Deal!" As the hammer fell, Lin Fan's heart was finally relieved. He breathed a sigh of relief, a relieved smile on his face, and waited quietly for the waiter to bring the Qingmu Lingxi Fruit over.

A moment later, a tall and sturdy waiter, bearing a tray of Qingmu Lingxi Fruit, walked steadily toward Lin Fan. He bowed slightly and handed the tray to Lin Fan with both hands, his movements both respectful and professional. Lin Fan wasn't shy either. He raised his hand and patted his storage bag. Instantly, a flash of light appeared, and 3,550 low-level spirit stones neatly appeared in his hand. He deftly counted the stones one by one, confirming they were correct before handing them to the waiter.

The waiter took the spirit stones and carefully examined them, confirming their authenticity and quantity. Then, he handed the exquisite porcelain vase containing the Qingmu Lingxi fruit back to Lin Fan. Lin Fan accepted the vase, his eyes filled with cherishment, his movements as gentle as if he were holding a rare treasure. He carefully opened the jade box he had brought with him and gently placed the Qingmu Lingxi fruit inside. Then, he pulled a spirit-sealing talisman from his storage bag and deftly applied it to the jade box, ensuring that not a single trace of spiritual energy leaked out. Only then did he safely place the jade box back in his storage bag, patting it as if greeting his new treasure.

The auction continued, with a dazzling array of items being presented one after another. The auctioneer's passionate calls and the clamor of bidding filled the entire auction hall. However, after Lin Fan had purchased the Qingmu Lingxi Fruit, he sat quietly in a corner and didn't bid again. None of the subsequent items piqued his interest. He simply watched the excitement on the stage, occasionally squinting, perhaps mentally contemplating how to use these two precious spiritual herbs to refine elixirs and break through the bottleneck in his cultivation.

Time flies, and the short three days passed in a flash, and the auction came to an end in the blink of an eye.

"Alright, distinguished guests!" the auctioneer's voice was high and passionate, filled with the excitement of unveiling a big surprise. "Now, we will welcome the last batch of items of this auction! The first one is the magic weapon - the Crescent Moon Wheel!"

As his words fell, the entire audience fell silent, their gaze fixed on the podium. Two waiters, carrying a tray covered in black velvet, steadily walked up to the stage and carefully placed it on the auction table. The auctioneer reached out and slowly peeled back the black velvet. A flash of cold light revealed a silver crescent wheel emitting a cold luster. The crescent wheel's edge was incredibly sharp, swirling with mysterious runes and faintly pulsing with spiritual energy, as if revealing its extraordinary origins.

"This magical weapon, the Crescent Wheel, is incredibly powerful, capable of both offense and defense. The starting price is five thousand low-level spirit stones!" The auctioneer's voice was exceptionally loud in the silent hall, striking everyone's eardrums like a huge bell.

"I offer six thousand low-level spirit stones!" A burly man in the Jindan stage stood up suddenly, his face flushed, and he shouted at the top of his voice, his strong arms raised high. The bidding card in his hand made people dizzy, and his voice was like rolling thunder, making the ears of the people around him buzz.

"Six thousand five hundred low-level spirit stones!" A tall and slender cultivator across the table was not willing to be outdone and quickly raised the price. He stared at the crescent wheel on the stage with sharp eyes, as if declaring to everyone his determination to win it. That gaze seemed to be able to take the crescent wheel directly into his pocket.

"Seven thousand low-level spirit stones!" Bids were heard one after another, and everyone was chasing each other, refusing to give in. The price soared all the way, as if it was being pushed up by an invisible big hand.

"I offer eight thousand low-level spirit stones!" Another Jindan stage cultivator joined the battle. He had a stern face and a calm expression. He seemed to not care about these spirit stones at all. His every move showed the demeanor of a strong man.

As competition intensified, the price skyrocketed. Finally, after a fierce battle, a purple-robed Jindan-stage cultivator successfully won the prize for the magical artifact, bidding for 12,600 low-level spirit stones. The moment the auctioneer struck the hammer, the audience erupted in gasps and applause. The cultivator breathed a sigh of relief, a satisfied smile on his face. He steadily walked onto the stage and took the Crescent Wheel, imbued with immense power, his eyes filled with cherishment, as if he were holding the object of his lifelong pursuit. "Everyone, please be patient!" the auctioneer said, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. He raised his hands in the air, signaling silence. "The next lot is a truly hefty one!" He deliberately drew out his words, keeping the audience's curiosity piqued. Only then did he suddenly raise his voice. "Next item: a high-level demonic physical training manual—'Vajra True Demon Body.' Starting price: 10,000 low-level spirit stones!"

These words were like a bombshell, instantly setting the hall ablaze. The crowd, who had initially clung to a hint of fatigue, now widened their eyes, and whispers rose incessantly. "Demonic cultivation techniques? Physical training, too!" "This is incredibly rare!" A chorus of exclamations and discussions mingled, instantly igniting the atmosphere, more heated than any previous auction. It felt as if the entire hall was ablaze with enthusiasm, a wave of heat.

"However, before the auction begins, allow me to explain it in more detail." The auctioneer raised his hand to suppress the noise, and the noise gradually died down. "This technique is extremely difficult to practice. Let me be clear: its previous owner was a powerful being in the Nascent Soul stage, and even then, he couldn't master it. Therefore, he reluctantly gave it up and auctioned it off." He scanned the audience, not missing a single expression on anyone's face. His eyes seemed to see through everyone's thoughts. "Now, the auction officially begins!"

Hearing that even Nascent Soul Stage masters hadn't mastered this technique, everyone's enthusiasm instantly cooled, as if a damp squib had been poured on them. Many people's eyes flickered with hesitation and retreat. After all, Nascent Soul Stage masters were at the pinnacle of the cultivation world. If they couldn't master it, their hopes of success were even slimmer. It was like searching for a glimmer of light in the darkness, only to find it was just out of reach.

However, the path to immortality is inherently filled with unknowns and challenges, and some people always cling to the hope that if they can achieve it, they'll soar to the heavens. Just then, a cultivator in the late Foundation Establishment stage broke the silence. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Ten thousand low-level spirit stones!" Though his voice was low, it echoed clearly in the now-deserted hall, like a meteor streaking across the silent night sky.

Immediately afterwards, a Jindan stage cultivator snorted coldly, with a trace of disdain in his eyes, as if he looked down on the bid of the foundation-building cultivator. He raised the price without hesitation: "Eleven thousand low-level spirit stones!" The tone seemed to say that this mere price was not worth mentioning at all.

"Twelve thousand low-level spirit stones!" Another Jindan stage cultivator was not to be outdone and joined the bidding, his voice revealing a spirit of not admitting defeat.

Lin Fan sat in a corner, quietly observing the situation. He knew full well that physical training techniques were extremely rare in the world of immortal cultivation. Even though they were difficult to cultivate, once mastered, one's physical strength would far surpass that of an ordinary person, and the benefits were self-evident. After a moment's deliberation, he decided to join in. He immediately announced, "Thirteen thousand low-level spirit stones!" His voice was firm and powerful, drawing the attention of many around him. His eyes were filled with determination to obtain this technique, and he paid no heed to the gazes of the crowd, as if the world was left with only him and the technique.

As Lin Fan called out "13,000 low-level spirit stones," the bidding war intensified once again. The other cultivators, either inspired by Lin Fan's determination or truly determined to acquire this technique, all raised their bids, unwilling to be outdone.

"Thirteen thousand five hundred low-level spirit stones!" A cultivator in the middle stage of the Jindan realm shouted loudly with a flushed face, his eyes showing a fierceness, as if he wanted to pour all his strength into this bid.

"Fourteen thousand low-level spirit stones!" Another thin Jindan stage cultivator quickly followed. He stared at the jade slip on the stage that symbolized the martial arts technique, as if it was his biggest goal in this life, with burning desire in his eyes.

The price continued to climb amidst the fierce competition, and each bid heightened the tension, as if the air were ignited and filled with the thick smell of gunpowder. Lin Fan frowned, his eyes fixed on the bidders, his palms already drenched with sweat. But his conviction was unwavering. This technique was too important to him; he had to obtain it no matter what. His resolve was as strong as steel, unshakable.

"Eighteen thousand low-level spirit stones!" "Eighteen thousand five hundred low-level spirit stones!" The bidding sounds came one after another, never stopping, and each sound seemed to be beating the drum of fate.

"Nineteen thousand low-level spirit stones!" At this time, there were only a few competitors left on the field, and every time they raised the price, they were extremely cautious, as if they were playing a life-and-death game.

"Nineteen thousand five hundred low-level spirit stones!" A stern-faced cultivator in the late Jindan stage gritted his teeth and shouted out the price. His eyes showed both a desire for the technique and a hint of hesitation. Obviously, this price was close to his psychological limit, and he was struggling to weigh the pros and cons.

Lin Fan took a deep breath, weighed his options for a moment, then abruptly stood up and shouted, "Twenty thousand and fifty low-level spirit stones!" His voice echoed throughout the hall, and the entire place fell silent. Everyone's eyes turned to Lin Fan, some in surprise, as if they had witnessed an incredible act; others with resentment, as if they were unwilling to lose this technique.

The auctioneer quickly scanned the hall and saw that no one bid. He raised the hammer high and shouted, "Twenty thousand and fifty low-level spirit stones at a time!" There was a brief silence, and no one answered. The whole hall seemed to be frozen.

"Twenty thousand and fifty low-level spirit stones twice!" Still no one broke the silence, and time seemed to stop at this moment.

"Twenty thousand and fifty low-level spirit stones for three times! Deal!" With the hammer's resounding thud, Lin Fan finally secured the "Vajra True Demonic Art." He breathed a sigh of relief and slowly sat down, a pleased smile on his face. His eyes gleamed with excitement and anticipation, as if he had seen his future self become even more powerful.

(End of this chapter)