“Oh, so there’s more to this story. Brother Yue, please enlighten us.” A demon enveloped in black mist spoke with a hint of realization.
This demon was also at the late-stage of Void Refinement and seemed to hold a higher status than Yuelian Tian. The other demons present immediately fell silent upon hearing his words.
The auction hall quickly returned to quiet.
“Since Brother Jinjiao has asked, I will naturally explain in detail without any concealment. The reason this Sacred Brick appeared in our city is twofold. First, the owner did not wish for it to cause too much commotion, which might bring unfavorable consequences. Second, this Sacred Brick is actually incomplete—the two cultivation techniques recorded within are missing crucial incantations, and they are not even the primary divine abilities of Lord Qiling. Otherwise, such a sacred artifact would never be auctioned by someone like me.” The elderly demon clasped his fists toward Jinjiao and spoke calmly.
“I see. Given Lord Qiling’s esteemed status, even if the techniques are incomplete, comprehending a fraction of their power would still far surpass others of the same rank. Its value indeed exceeds that of the Dark Blood Five-Colored Bell.” Jinjiao pondered for a moment, his doubts seemingly resolved.
Upon hearing this exchange, the other demons were not disappointed. Instead, their gazes toward the crystal brick grew even more fervent.
Though the techniques were incomplete, seemingly reducing its value by seventy to eighty percent, this only further confirmed its authenticity.
“However, Elder Yue, could you at least reveal the names of these two techniques? That way, we can determine if they suit us.” A sharp voice suddenly echoed through the hall, yet the speaker’s location remained untraceable, clearly concealed by some secret art.
“Apologies, but I cannot disclose that. The owner stipulated that the names of the techniques must not be revealed before the auction. Now, I’ve said all I can. Let the auction begin!” The elderly demon shook his head and decisively announced.
“Forty million—this Sacred Brick is mine.”
A thunderous voice boomed from one corner of the hall, belonging to a towering, green-faced demon with fangs, standing three zhang tall.
“Forty million for such a sacred artifact? Brother Shi, aren’t you being too greedy? I bid fifty million!” A horned demon with a thick beard sneered.
“Sixty million!” Jinjiao’s expression darkened as he immediately countered.
“Sixty-five million demon stones!”
“Sixty-eight million!”
……
Urgent bids soon erupted from various corners of the hall.
In no time, the wealthiest high-ranking demons had all entered the fray.
Han Li was somewhat intrigued by the techniques of a Mahayana-level existence. However, since they were left by a Demon Saint and were incomplete, he dismissed any further thoughts.
“Eighty million demon stones!”
A cold voice rang out, accompanied by a wave of frigid energy that swept through the hall like a gale.
Lower-ranked demons stiffened as if plunged into an icy wasteland, while Void Refinement cultivators shivered uncontrollably.
“It’s a Demon Venerable!”
The Void Refinement demons instantly recognized the aura, some even exclaiming aloud.
The other demons, startled, turned their gazes toward the source of the cold energy.
At the edge of the hall, near an entrance, stood a silver-eyed elder in gray robes, his nose hooked like an eagle’s beak, exuding a faint bloody aura.
“City Lord?”
“Senior Bing?”
……
The moment the demons recognized the elder, the auction hall erupted in shock. High-ranking demons who knew his identity were left dumbfounded.
“City Lord, why have you come here…?” Yuelian Tian, equally stunned, hurriedly bowed from a distance.
“What, am I not allowed to attend this auction?” The silver-eyed elder replied nonchalantly.
“Of course not! Your presence is an honor! I was merely surprised, as I hadn’t been informed beforehand.” Yuelian Tian quickly explained, his heart pounding.
“In that case, since my bid is the highest, does this Sacred Brick now belong to me?” The Blood Crow City Lord said indifferently.
“Naturally. Unless someone outbids you, the Sacred Brick is yours. Does anyone else wish to bid?” Yuelian Tian raised the crystal brick and loudly addressed the crowd.
His voice echoed through the hall, but the auction fell into dead silence.
The high-ranking demons who had been fiercely competing moments earlier now stared at the brick with burning eyes, yet none dared utter another word.
This was hardly surprising.
Not only was Bing Qianren the ruler of this land, but his terrifying mid-stage Demon Venerable cultivation alone was enough to intimidate them all.
Who would dare challenge him recklessly?
The elderly demon took a deep breath and was about to announce the final winner when an unfamiliar voice suddenly cut in:
“Ninety million demon stones.”
“What? Someone dares to compete with the City Lord?”
“Who is this fool? Does he have a death wish?”
The unexpected bid sent waves of shock through the crowd.
Many demons frantically scanned the hall, trying to locate the audacious bidder.
Yet the voice seemed to drift aimlessly, its origin impossible to pinpoint.
The Blood Crow City Lord narrowed his eyes and calmly countered, “Ninety-five million.”
“Ninety-nine million.”
The same voice replied without hesitation.
The City Lord’s bloody aura churned, his expression darkening.
Witnessing this, the entire auction hall trembled in fear, not daring to breathe too loudly.
“Since this fellow Daoist is so determined, I shall not stand in his way.”
To everyone’s astonishment, the Blood Crow City Lord suddenly withdrew from the bidding. Without hesitation, he turned and exited through the door behind him.
“Any other bids? No? Then this crystal brick belongs to this fellow Daoist!” Yuelian Tian, though equally shocked, remembered his duty. After three calls with no further bids, he announced the winner.
A few demons hesitated, their expressions flickering, but ultimately refrained from bidding again. After all, this was something the City Lord had desired—who knew what calamity might befall the winner?
Despite this, the demons present couldn’t help but scrutinize the hall, eager to see who had dared defy a Demon Venerable.
Soon, a figure rose from a corner and strode confidently toward the stone platform.
Han Li’s eyes gleamed as he took in the demon’s appearance—a plain-looking middle-aged man in a light blue robe, with early-stage Void Refinement cultivation, utterly unremarkable.
Yet Han Li frowned slightly.
“Eh? Isn’t that Yang Lao’er? Has he lost his mind, competing with the City Lord for a sacred artifact?”
Others recognized the middle-aged demon and exclaimed in shock.
Most seemed to know him.
“Fellow Daoist, may I ask who this Yang Lao’er is? His cultivation isn’t particularly high, yet so many recognize him.” Han Li turned to a burly demon seated nearby, whose face was adorned with faint green scales and who had also shown surprise earlier.
“Ah, you must be an outsider. Yang Lao’er is a somewhat renowned artifact refiner in this city. Many have sought his services to repair damaged demon artifacts or commission low-grade ones. He’s lived here for over a century and has always been low-key. Why would he suddenly challenge the City Lord for a sacred artifact? Has his cultivation driven him mad? But even so, how could he afford such an astronomical sum?”
The demon, noticing Han Li’s late-stage Void Refinement aura, answered politely but with equal bewilderment.
“I see. Thank you for the explanation.” Han Li nodded, his eyes glinting strangely, before turning his gaze back to “Yang Lao’er,” who had now reached the platform.
The demon expressionlessly handed a storage pouch to Yuelian Tian for inspection, then took the crystal brick and stored it away with a flash of black light.
Throughout this, the elderly demon eyed “Yang Lao’er” with clear astonishment.
Even more surprising, after securing the brick, “Yang Lao’er” didn’t leave but calmly returned to his seat, as if intending to stay for the final auction item.
This bizarre behavior unsettled the other demons, many of whom abandoned any ulterior motives they might have harbored.
Regaining his composure, Yuelian Tian finally began the auction for the last treasure.
With a wave, the demoness who had been standing empty-handed approached the platform.
She flicked her wrist, sending a jade-green ring spinning into the air. A white light unfurled, revealing a massive object over ten zhang long on the platform.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage