The treasure auction began, presided over by a silver-robed elder, also the master of the Tianxin Pavilion in Jiangyuan City—Emperor Yan. With practiced ease, he described the first treasure of the event, detailing its many uses and announcing the starting bid. Soon, bids began pouring in one after another.
Dongbo Xueying sat in his private pavilion, sipping wine as he watched the fierce competition for each treasure.
“…Haha, I’ve said enough. If I go on, I fear many Divine Emperors will grow impatient. Let’s begin the bidding. But before we do, let me remind you—the ‘Black Gold Pearl’ has not appeared in the world for an exceedingly long time. If you miss this one, who knows how many ages will pass before another surfaces in the Divine Realm. It might never appear again.” The silver-robed elder smiled. “The starting bid is three hundred Meta Source Crystals, with each increment no less than one Meta Source Crystal. Let the bidding begin!”
Dongbo Xueying was startled.
This was the twelfth treasure of the auction and the one with the highest starting price. Though the opening treasures had been expensive, their final prices had barely surpassed one hundred Meta Source Crystals.
The entire hall fell silent.
After several breaths, a voice finally rang out: “Three hundred and one Meta Source Crystals.”
With that first bid, others quickly followed.
“Three hundred and five Meta Source Crystals.”
…
“Three hundred and thirty Meta Source Crystals.”
The bids came in rapid succession.
Dongbo Xueying marveled at the spectacle, though such treasures, which greatly aided the cultivation of Meta Source bloodlines, held little allure for him.
The ‘Black Gold Pearl’ eventually sold for three hundred and ninety Meta Source Crystals!
Though Dongbo Xueying clicked his tongue in admiration, he knew the true highlight of the auction was yet to come—the carcass of a low-level Meta Source lifeform! Just as the Undying Nether Emperor had once used such a carcass to forge the semi-Meta Source construct ‘Deathwalker’ during his own ascent, the Divine Realm, though lacking masters of puppetry like him, still placed immense value on these remains, driving their prices to absurd heights.
…
Treasure after treasure was sold.
“This is the nineteenth treasure of today’s auction,” the silver-robed elder announced, gesturing to three books floating beside him, each radiating unique energy fluctuations. “These are original copies of three early-stage Divine Emperor cultivation manuals: *Golden Flame Immortal Body*, *Shadowshot*, and *Void Insect Codex*. Among them, *Void Insect Codex* is a rare ascender’s Void Path manual. The other two are renowned Divine Emperor-level techniques—*Golden Flame Immortal Body* excels in survival, greatly increasing one’s chances in peril, while *Shadowshot* specializes in assassination.”
The elder swept his gaze across the hall. “Even if you don’t need them personally, you can purchase them to enrich your clan’s archives. Divine Emperor-level manuals bolster a faction’s foundation, nurturing more powerful experts. These three are being sold together. While other manuals may appear in the future, finding these exact three again will be difficult. The starting bid is eighty Meta Source Crystals, with increments no less than one. Let the bidding begin!”
Dongbo Xueying felt both tension and frustration.
He was annoyed that the three manuals were being sold as a set. Many mid-stage Divine Emperors might not need them for personal cultivation, but as additions to their faction’s collections, they were highly desirable—enough to draw bids from such figures.
The hall remained silent.
For such high starting prices, only Divine Emperor-level factions could afford to bid.
“Eighty-one Meta Source Crystals.” Dongbo Xueying made the first move, his heart pounding as he hoped no one else would counter.
“Eighty-five Meta Source Crystals.” A grating voice shattered his hopes. Dongbo Xueying frowned, his heart sinking. Trouble had arrived. Things rarely went perfectly as planned—he’d have to fight for it. The bundled sale had put him at a disadvantage.
“Eighty-six Meta Source Crystals.” A deep, resonant voice joined the fray.
Dongbo Xueying grew more anxious. At least three parties now sought the manuals.
This wasn’t surprising.
Even the mighty Wind Clan of Junshan City had only three Divine Emperor-level manuals in their collection after countless ages. Three such manuals would tempt any major faction.
“Ninety Meta Source Crystals.” The grating voice suddenly raised the stakes.
Silence fell.
Gritting his teeth, Dongbo Xueying declared, “One hundred Meta Source Crystals!” If he was going to bid, he’d make it count—hoping to deter others with a significant jump. Incremental increases might quietly surpass his limit.
This was his absolute maximum. The sale of his desolate beast carcasses had netted him ninety-six Meta Source Crystals and three thousand Thunder Stones. Over his twelve centuries of hunting in the Great Wilderness, he’d also scavenged treasures from fallen experts killed by the beasts, which he estimated were worth nearly five more Meta Source Crystals.
“One hundred should be enough. It has to be.” Dongbo Xueying prayed. He’d given everything. Now, fate would decide.
“One hundred and three Meta Source Crystals.” The deep voice crushed his hopes.
Dongbo Xueying’s face paled.
He’d lost.
Even his entire fortune wasn’t enough.
Time passed. No higher bids emerged.
“Any higher offers?” The silver-robed elder scanned the hall with a bright smile.
None came.
“If there are no further bids, these three Divine Emperor-level manuals will be sold.” The elder slowly raised his right hand, observing the crowd. Finally, he smiled and waved. “Very well! The auction for these manuals concludes. Let us proceed to the next treasure.”
As he gestured, attendants swiftly collected the three manuals and withdrew.
A new treasure—an exotic wine flask—floated into view as the elder began his introduction.
…
But Dongbo Xueying’s heart was heavy. He knew the world rarely bent to one’s will, yet the final price of one hundred and three Meta Source Crystals—just three beyond his reach—left him seething with frustration.
“Hum.” His expression solemn, Dongbo Xueying focused his senses.
As a supreme master of the Void Path, with most of his former prowess restored, he perceived the Divine Realm’s laws with unparalleled clarity, including the threads of karma. The loss of the *Void Insect Codex*, which he’d been determined to obtain, had forged a karmic link. Tracing it, he found it led to another pavilion in the auction hall—where the new owner resided.
In terms of strength, he was only a peak Divine Monarch. But his mastery of laws was so refined that his tracking abilities rivaled even late-stage Divine Emperors. Like the ‘Infinite City Lord’ of the Heart Realm Continent, whose tracking prowess surpassed even the Paramount Rulers of the Broken Tooth Mountain Range.
“Swish.” Dongbo Xueying rose and strode out of his pavilion.
“Divine Monarch, are you leaving the auction?” a green-robed attendant asked.
“Just stepping out for a moment,” he replied. “No need to accompany me.”
The attendant bowed and remained.
Exiting the pavilion, he walked down the corridor, passing other private rooms.
Though bids had been placed, Tianxin Pavilion’s methods ensured voices couldn’t be traced to specific pavilions.
But karma was beyond their control.
“Here.”
Stopping outside a pavilion, Dongbo Xueying politely sent a voice transmission inside: “I am Divine Monarch Qingyun. I wish to purchase the original *Void Insect Codex* for eighty Meta Source Crystals. Alternatively, I would pay any price for a single study session. Name your terms.”
His words were confined to the pavilion, unheard by others.
He waited.
Eighty Meta Source Crystals for the *Void Insect Codex*—a generous offer! Even if the owner wished to keep the original, a single study would suffice.
“Scram!” A furious, booming voice lashed out, followed by a rebuke: “Is this how Tianxin Pavilion ensures privacy? Get him away from me!”
…
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