I am in Yellow Maple Valley, and I have a demonic beast clone!

Chapter 159 Dragon Demon Core!

Inside box number "A73", Zhou Ding sat as still as a mountain.

He didn't look down at the auction hall below, which was gradually filling up with people and becoming bustling with noise, nor did he touch the spiritual tea and fruit snacks on the table.

His powerful divine sense, like an invisible tide, gently covered the entire auction area, especially the floors where the private rooms were located. He could clearly sense that as the auction approached, more and more cultivators were pouring in, including nearly a hundred Core Formation cultivators whose auras were scattered throughout the hall and the private rooms on each floor.

What truly made him wary were those several nascent infant cultivators whose auras were obscure, profound, and unfathomable like an abyss, yet carried an invisible majesty!

A rough sense revealed that there were as many as four or five people, each seated in a higher-level private room on the fourth or fifth floor. Their auras were distinct and did not interfere with each other, yet they subtly formed a kind of balance in their energy fields.

"It seems this auction has indeed attracted quite a few important figures," Zhou Ding thought to himself, slowly withdrawing most of his divine sense, leaving only a trace to maintain vigilance.

He didn't want to attract the attention of those fake baby monsters.

Time passed slowly, and the hour-long wait, amidst the anticipation and murmurs of countless cultivators, finally came to an end.

"when--!

'

A clear, melodious sound, as if it could cleanse the soul, suddenly rang out from the auction platform, instantly drowning out all the noise in the room!

The entire vast auction hall fell silent, tens of thousands of eyes turning in unison to the object enveloped in soft, spiritual light.

A high platform covered with a gorgeous velvet carpet.

The lighting was fine-tuned to focus on the center of the stage.

An elderly man, dressed in a dark blue robe embroidered with waves and coins, with white hair and beard, a gaunt face, and bright, sharp eyes, walked calmly up to the platform.

He didn't exude any oppressive spiritual pressure, but the composed demeanor cultivated from his long tenure in high positions and handling of countless treasures, along with the peak-stage mid-stage Core Formation power emanating from him, made everyone realize that this person was no ordinary individual. He was none other than the auctioneer for the Xuanhai Alliance's auction.

The old man's gaze slowly swept over the sea of ​​heads below, lingering briefly on the private rooms. A warm yet authoritative smile appeared on his face. He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, surveying the room, and his loud, clear voice resonated throughout every corner: "Welcome, fellow Daoists, to the annual grand auction of the Xuanhai Alliance's Tianxing City headquarters! I am Mo Yuan, the auctioneer for this event. Thanks to your patronage, this auction has gathered numerous rare treasures from within and outside the Chaotic Star Sea, and even from other distant seas. It will certainly not disappoint you. As usual, the highest bidder wins. Transactions can be conducted using spirit stones, or alternatively, with equivalent rare materials as payment. I hope you will seize this opportunity and obtain what you need!"

After a brief opening, Mo Yuan didn't waste any time on pleasantries and went straight to the point.

With a flick of his sleeve, a new item appeared in the jade plate presented by the maid beside him.

"Now, please present the first item of this auction!" Mo Yuan announced loudly, lifting the brocade on the jade plate.

A sheathed longsword, about three feet long and entirely crimson in color, with an ancient design, a phantom image of a fire phoenix swirling around its blade, and radiating a scorching and sharp aura, lay quietly in the dish.

"A superior-grade magic weapon, the Crimson Phoenix Blazing Sword!"

Mo Yuan's voice carried a perfectly measured hint of excitement: "This sword is primarily crafted from 'Fire-Refined Gold,' supplemented with various rare fire-attribute materials, and meticulously forged by a master craftsman over forty-nine days. On the day of its completion, a fiery phoenix appeared, imbuing it with immense spiritual power. Not only is it incomparably sharp, but it also possesses its own 'True Flame of Fire,' capable of burning away evil spirits, thus multiplying its power in combat. Starting bid: 30,000 low-grade spirit stones! Each bid must be at least 1,000 spirit stones!"

"Thirty-one thousand!"

"Thirty-five thousand!"

"forty thousand!"

The sounds of bidding erupted from all corners of the hall, one after another.

A high-quality offensive magic weapon with its own supernatural powers is an immense temptation for any Core Formation cultivator.

Finally, after more than a dozen rounds of fierce bidding, the "Crimson Phoenix Blazing Sword" was won by a powerful early-stage Core Formation cultivator in the front row of the hall for 50,000 spirit stones, drawing envious sighs from the crowd.

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist!" Mo Yuan said with a beaming smile as he brought down the gavel. A successful start was undoubtedly a good omen.

The auction thus began, and the atmosphere quickly heated up.

The second item was a bottle of pills, each about the size of a longan, crystal clear and exuding a pure medicinal fragrance, containing three pills.

"One bottle of True Profound Pills, three pills!"

Mo Yuan explained, "This pill is made primarily from several thousand-year-old spiritual herbs. Its medicinal power is pure and gentle, and it has remarkable effects on cultivators in the early and middle stages of Core Formation, helping them to improve their cultivation and stabilize their realm. It is especially helpful in breaking through the bottleneck of the late Core Formation stage. The starting bid is 40,000 spirit stones!"

"True Profound Pill!" Many Core Formation cultivators below the stage had their eyes flashing with excitement.

Pills capable of aiding in the breakthrough to the late Core Formation stage are far more valuable than ordinary pills for enhancing cultivation. The bidding instantly intensified, with the price soaring until it was finally sold to a cultivator in a private room on the second floor for a high price of 80,000 spirit stones.

The third item was a talisman with an ancient and simple appearance, bright cinnabar runes, and a faint shimmering of gold and iron.

"Intermediate-level, mid-tier talisman: Golden Body Talisman!"

Mo Yuan held the talisman, activating a wisp of his magic power. A golden light flashed across the talisman's surface, vaguely forming a pale golden protective shield: "Once activated, this talisman will form a golden protective shield around the body," enough to withstand a full-force attack from a late-stage Core Formation cultivator for three breaths! It's an excellent item for saving your life in critical moments. Starting bid: 15,000 spirit stones!"

Items that can save lives are always the most sought-after, especially for cultivators with low cultivation levels who spend most of their time adventuring in the outside world.

There were many bidders, but in the end, a tense-looking early-stage Core Formation cultivator in the hall gritted his teeth and won the bid with 20,000 spirit stones.

His hands trembled slightly as he accepted the talisman, clearly indicating that it was a huge sum of money for him. However, the relief and determination in his eyes showed that he thought it was worth it.

The fourth item was a strange mineral the size of a washbasin, entirely dark blue, radiating a chilling aura, and seemingly containing snowflakes falling inside.

"A piece of millennia-old mystic ice essence!"

Mo Yuan said, "This item was born in the core of a ten-thousand-year-old glacier, containing pure ice-attribute spiritual power. It is a top-grade main ingredient for refining top-tier ice-attribute magic treasures, and can also serve as the core of an array to set up a powerful ice-attribute formation. The starting bid is 25,000 spirit stones!"

This item held immense appeal for cultivators practicing ice-attribute techniques. Ultimately, it was purchased by a mid-stage Core Formation female cultivator on the third floor with a cold voice for 30,000 spirit stones.

The fifth item was an ancient scroll, dark yellow in color, with slightly torn edges, made of some kind of animal hide.

"The first nine levels of the ancient sect's cultivation technique, 'The True Explanation of Xuanbing,' a fragment of its cultivation method!"

Mo Yuan's voice carried a hint of mystery: "Although this cultivation technique is incomplete, it directly points to the Nascent Soul path. The several ice-attribute divine abilities recorded within are quite powerful. It is of considerable value to fellow cultivators of ice-attribute techniques, or those who wish to learn from ancient techniques. Starting bid: eight thousand spirit stones!"

The inheritance of cultivation techniques, especially those from ancient sects, even if incomplete, is enough to tempt many independent cultivators who do not possess complete high-level cultivation techniques.

After a fierce struggle, it was purchased by a rogue cultivator in the early stage of Core Formation, whose aura was gloomy, for 15,000 spirit stones.

The auction proceeded with great enthusiasm. Mo Yuan, the experienced auctioneer, controlled the pace perfectly, presenting one rare and precious item after another to the auction stage, constantly igniting the atmosphere in the room.

Elixirs, magical artifacts, materials, cultivation techniques, talismans, array plates, materials from demonic beasts, and even some ancient artifacts and fragments of maps with special effects—the variety is dazzling and overwhelming.

The sounds of bidding, exclamations, the fall of the gavel, and congratulations rose and fell, weaving together a symphony of wealth and desire. The monks in the hall sometimes held their breath in concentration, sometimes shouted excitedly, the atmosphere reaching its peak.

Even Zhou Ding, with his vast wealth and high standards, was slightly moved by the annual grand auction meticulously prepared by the Xuanhai Alliance.

Many of the items in the auction were indeed of excellent quality and would be worth buying even under normal circumstances.

However, his main purpose for this trip was not these "ordinary" treasures.

However, after about half an hour of the auction and more than twenty treasures had been sold, the appearance of two items still prompted Zhou Ding to make a move.

One of them was a fist-sized, silvery-white piece of "Star Pattern Silver Essence" with natural starlight shimmering on its surface. This item is an important auxiliary material needed to refine the "Eight Gates Golden Light Mirror," which can enhance the spirituality and sturdiness of the magic weapon and is quite rare.

Zhou Ding won the bid for it with a price of 43,000 spirit stones.

Another item was a small bottle of "Gengjin Dust," a top-grade spiritual item used to temper metal-attribute magical artifacts and enhance their sharpness. It was also helpful in refining the "Eight Gates Golden Light Mirror."

Zhou Ding then spent another 38,000 spirit stones to acquire it.

Both transactions were made at reasonable prices and did not attract much attention.

Zhou Ding was happy to have some peace and quiet and continued to observe the situation.

After another top-grade material was sold at a high price, Mo Yuan paused slightly, cleared his throat, and a more solemn and mysterious smile appeared on his face. He gestured to the maids below the stage.

This time, the two maids worked together to carefully lift up a brocade box about a foot square, made entirely of "Spirit-Sealing Sandalwood" and covered with several high-grade spirit-sealing talismans.

The brocade box itself was quite valuable, so it was clear that what it contained was extraordinary.

The entire room was instantly drawn to the brocade box. Many cultivators instinctively sat up straight, and even the aura in the private rooms seemed to solidify a bit.

Mo Yuan's expression was solemn. He stepped forward personally and, using a specific technique, slowly peeled off the sealing talisman on the brocade box. Then, he gently opened the lid.

There was no dazzling light reaching the sky, nor any astonishing phenomenon.

Inside the box, lying quietly on a soft velvet cushion, lies a demon core, roughly the size of a goose egg, with a deep dark blue color, its surface covered with fine and mysterious dragon scale-like patterns, and a viscous, liquid storm-like energy slowly flowing inside, exuding an ancient, majestic, domineering, yet slightly chilling aura.

The moment the demon core appeared, an indescribable pressure originating from the depths of one's bloodline, mixed with a vast and pure demonic power, spread out like a sleeping beast awakening! Some low-level cultivators who were closer to the auction stage even felt their breath catch in their throats and their blood and qi fluctuate slightly.

One demon core from a Level 7 demonic beast—the Netherworld Poisonous Dragon!

Mo Yuan's voice, filled with barely suppressed excitement, clearly reached everyone's ears: "After joint appraisal by the three chief appraisers of our Xuanhai Alliance, this pill is well preserved, full of spiritual power, and contains the dragon bloodline origin, immense demonic power, and the innate Netherworld Poisonous Flood Dragon's power!"

Whether used to refine top-grade elixirs for detoxification, dispelling evil spirits, or enhancing the physical body and soul, or as an aid in the cultivation of certain special techniques and supernatural powers, or even to nurture spirit pets with dragon bloodlines, they all have incredible effects!

Its value needs no further explanation.

Starting bid: 50,000 low-grade spirit stones!

Each bid increase must be at least five thousand spirit stones!

"A level seven dragon demon core!"

"The Netherworld Poisonous Flood Dragon! That's a rare species of flood dragon containing the bloodline of a true dragon!"

"My God, such a treasure has appeared!"

The audience erupted in chaos!

Exclamations, gasps of surprise, and excited chatter swept through the hall like a tsunami!

Countless fervent, greedy, and determined gazes were fixed on that dark cyan demon core!

Level 7 demonic beasts are already rare, but the demonic core of a level 7 demonic beast with the bloodline of a dragon is far more valuable than those of other beasts of the same level! Whether for alchemy, weapon crafting, cultivation, or raising spirit pets, it is an extremely rare and precious treasure!

Many Core Formation cultivators had red eyes and their breathing became heavy.

Inside the private room, Zhou Ding's eyes, which had been calm as still water, suddenly lit up when he heard the words "Netherworld Poisonous Flood Dragon" and "Flood Dragon Bloodline"!

Deep within his pupils, a flicker of barely suppressed excitement and delight flashed!

A dragon demon core! And a level seven dragon demon core containing the power of Netherworld Poison!

For Xiao Jin, this was simply a super supplement tailor-made for him!

Xiao Jin himself possesses a mysterious primordial bloodline, a powerful physique, and unparalleled defense.

If one could obtain this dragon demon core and absorb its pure dragon bloodline essence and immense demonic power, it would not only greatly enhance one's demonic cultivation and solidify one's foundation, but also potentially stimulate further awakening or mutation of one's bloodline.

This will be a comprehensive and qualitative leap in enhancing its strength!

"This item—we must get it!"

Zhou Ding made a decision in an instant.

For Xiao Jin's future, this demon core is worth his all-out effort.

"Fifty-five thousand!" The moment the thought crossed his mind, someone in the audience shouted out the price.

He was a burly man in black robes, at the mid-stage of Core Formation, with a face full of scars and a fierce glint in his eyes.

"Sixty thousand!" On the other side of the hall, a cultivator in the early stage of Core Formation with a yin-like aura immediately followed.

"Seventy thousand!" came an old voice from a private room on the second floor, raising the price by ten thousand.

"Eighty thousand!" came a hoarse female voice from another private room, equally defiant.

The bidding was fierce from the very beginning! Almost all the bidders were Core Formation cultivators from the private rooms, and their cultivation levels were generally quite high.

Clearly, this dragon demon core has sparked fierce competition among those with real power and genuine need. The price skyrocketed, breaking the 100,000 spirit stones mark in just over ten breaths!

"110,000!" The aged voice rang out again, carrying a hint of determination.

"One hundred and fifty thousand!" the hoarse female voice pressed on relentlessly.

"120,000!" The old voice seemed a little angry, and he raised the price by another 5,000.

At this price, many bidders began to hesitate and back down.

Twelve thousand spirit stones is a huge sum of money, even for a Core Formation cultivator.

Moreover, this is far from over.

The hoarse female voice fell silent for a moment, seemingly engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

In the end, she did not make another bid.

Mo Yuan surveyed the entire room and announced loudly, "120,000 spirit stones! The fellow Daoist in Box 19, Number C, has bid 120,000! Is there any fellow Daoist who can bid higher? A level seven dragon demon core is a rare find!"

The auction hall fell silent for a moment. Many cultivators were weighing their own wallets, while others watched to see if any stronger competitors would emerge.

Just as Mo Yuan was about to begin the countdown, a bid of 130,000 spirit stones was placed in VIP room number 73.

A calm, steady voice, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, resonated clearly throughout the auction hall through the sound transmission device in the VIP box.

The sound wasn't loud, but it instantly attracted everyone's attention, including the subtle divine senses of the few fake infant monsters.

It is the Zhou Ding.

He immediately raised the price by 10,000, pushing it to 130,000, demonstrating his determination to win and breaking the brief silence.

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