The decaying figure wrapped in a peculiar black robe quickly calmed his surprise, speaking in a hoarse, aged voice, “Old zombie, you needn’t concern yourself with how I obtained this information. Since it’s an auction, are you afraid of one more bidder? Or do you doubt your ability to oppose me, worried I might use my influence to seize the pills unjustly?”
He intentionally emphasized the phrases “doubt your ability,” “use my influence,” and “seize the pills unjustly,” intending to provoke Yan Wuwo, who was famously proud and domineering.
Yan Wuwo snorted, “Old corpse, don’t think you’re superior just because you rank two places higher on the Earth List and fifth on the Black List. In actual combat, you might not be my match. Go ahead and enter. If you cause trouble, you’ll taste my skills!”
The Black List was compiled by orthodox sects and clans to rank heretical and demonic cultivators, listing only one hundred individuals, excluding Law-body cultivators, as a warning to their disciples—if they lacked sufficient strength, they should flee immediately upon encountering any listed name.
Yan Wuwo was neither purely orthodox nor entirely heretical, and the “Zombie Fist” sect was not a den of corruption, hence it was not included on the Black List.
“Heh.” Seeing that his provocation had succeeded, the decaying figure said nothing further. Landing on the ship’s bow, he noticed a broad gray robe and a wooden mask hanging on the deck—both items slightly capable of blocking spiritual detection. Combined with his own secret techniques, they would completely conceal his aura, preventing others from identifying him.
This made the decaying figure, who had worried about being targeted by the orthodox factions upon revealing his identity, secretly praise the auction host’s thorough preparations, suspecting a powerful force stood behind him.
Watching him step into the lower level of the ship, Yan Wuwo moved his lips silently, his voice condensing into a thin thread, as if emerging from the underworld, drilling directly into Meng Qi’s ear:
“He is Luo Jiao’s ‘Ritual Divine Envoy.’ Since you won’t let me stop him, I’ll go along with it.”
Hiding in a cabin, Meng Qi was slightly taken aback. It was indeed the Ritual Divine Envoy, the first of Luo Jiao’s Twelve Divine Envoys, an Outer Scenery Peak expert who had lived 226 years, ranked 26th on the Earth List and fifth on the Black List—a true immortal.
“No problem. The Ritual Divine Envoy’s lifespan is nearly exhausted. His desire for new life-extending pills surpasses others; he might go to any lengths to obtain them.” Meng Qi quickly composed himself, replying with a smile to Yan Wuwo.
Exactly the kind of sucker you’d expect!
…
As soon as the Ritual Divine Envoy entered the lower level of the ship, he sensed powerful yet indistinct auras pressing down, subtly distorting the surrounding space and expelling the damp, briny scent of the sea.
Quite a few old fellows have arrived… he mused, glancing around. He felt no sympathy or sorrow for his fellow longevous cultivators, only hostility—these were all competitors for the life-extending pills!
He knew that all the present experts combined could easily eliminate Yan Wuwo and seize the pills, but with the life-extending pills not yet appearing and the possibility of obtaining them through exchange, who would willingly provoke a notoriously vengeful and protective figure?
Moreover, the auction host had managed to invite a top-thirty Earth List expert—perhaps even someone from the Heaven List!
It was necessary to observe carefully; one couldn’t act rashly.
The arrival of the Ritual Divine Envoy further stiffened the atmosphere inside the cabin. As cultivators whose very breath could influence laws and shake the heavens, their presence darkened the cabin like ink, with swirling vortices hidden in the shadows and flashes of annihilating lightning barely restrained, as if heralding the apocalypse.
Zhang Duan, the Zhang Clan’s ancestor, quietly inhaled, suppressing his agitation, waiting for the auction to begin.
The more experts present, the less he suspected a trap, and the more convinced he became that the life-extending pills were real, his anticipation growing increasingly anxious.
Creak—the sound of a door sliding open suddenly echoed, followed by a loud thud as the large door leading into the cabin’s depths was shut tightly. The “Flying Sky Yaksha” then appeared atop a raised platform at the far end of the cabin.
Although for them, this ship, protected only by minor arrays, could not withstand a single strike, the psychological effect of the sealed door and enclosed chamber added a sense of gravity and oppression.
Just then, they saw the sealed door at the far end of the cabin open, revealing a figure similarly clad in a gray robe and wearing a wooden mask.
Here he comes!
Almost every expert simultaneously thought the same word.
They fixed their gaze on this mysterious auction host, waiting for him to speak.
Meng Qi approached Yan Wuwo, glancing at the gathered experts. His greatest concern was Zhang Duan, the Zhang Clan’s ancestor, and Ruan San Ye, the third master of the Ruan Clan, the latter being somewhat unexpected.
Meng Qi had anticipated that the Ruan Clan might have successfully refined the “Dongji Changsheng Pill,” and that the elder Ruan would not attend, but he had not expected Ruan San Ye, who had supposedly suffered a cultivation mishap and been paralyzed for years, to appear instead.
Among the previous generation of the Ruan Clan, although Ruan Yushu’s father was the eldest son and current clan head under the elder Ruan, the most promising and favored was Ruan Chengde, the son of the elder Ruan’s elder brother. However, at the peak of his youth, just after entering the Earth List, he had suddenly suffered a cultivation mishap, a tragedy mourned by many.
Ruan San Ye’s recovery was a significant boon for the Ruan Clan… thanks to the food-loving brat, Meng Qi was genuinely pleased. After a quiet breath, he altered his accent: “Your presence graces us all…”
After brief greetings, he cut straight to the point: “The pills to be auctioned today include the ‘Dongji Changsheng Pill,’ capable of extending life by sixty years… the ‘Shengsheng Zaohua Pill,’ extending life by thirty years, applicable only to Wood-element cultivators… the ‘Ziwu Jin Kui Powder,’ extending life by ten years…”
Announcing all the pills upfront? Zhang Duan, who had attended similar auctions before, found this unprecedented. Typically, auctions would indeed list the items to be sold, allowing participants to prioritize, but they would never immediately reveal detailed strengths and weaknesses of each item—shouldn’t that be revealed during the auction itself?
As Meng Qi elaborated, the gathered experts gradually gained a clear understanding of the items—what was precious, what was ordinary.
As they pondered, Meng Qi suddenly spoke: “The first item to be auctioned is the ‘Dongji Changsheng Pill,’ two in total.”
Dongji Changsheng Pill? Starting with the best? Zhang Duan was shocked, completely unprepared.
Who would start an auction with the most valuable pill?
The other experts reacted similarly, increasingly sensing the auction’s mystery and strangeness.
Actually, Meng Qi hadn’t thought much—he simply held the most straightforward view. The other pills belonged to the old ghost Yun He; his profit margin was limited. The Dongji Changsheng Pill, however, was his own item; whatever profit it fetched would be his alone.
Therefore, he couldn’t allow other pills to deplete the gathered experts’ treasures, leaving insufficient resources for the final competition!
This auction was no ordinary one. The pills provided by Yun He had long been lost; most Outer Scenery experts could use them, so they wouldn’t hold back their treasures.
Moreover, with the later pills as backup, these Outer Scenery experts wouldn’t immediately clash over the Dongji Changsheng Pill. After the Changsheng Pill auction, any losses would be “unavoidable circumstances,” which Master Yun He would surely understand!
“The first item to be auctioned is the ‘Dongji Changsheng Pill,’ two in total.”
After repeating this sentence, the gathered experts finally snapped back to attention, holding their breath as the atmosphere thickened.
Zhang Duan touched his ring-shaped storage artifact, inside which were rare treasures he had painstakingly gathered, far rarer than usual.
“Hope it’s enough…” he silently prayed to the Ancestral Sage Zhenwu.
“The first ‘Dongji Changsheng Pill’ is being auctioned on commission. The seller has specified that it will be exchanged for any twelve of the following fifteen treasures: Loulan Stone, Shenchong Grass…” Meng Qi said unhurriedly.
This sentence struck Zhang Duan like lightning, leaving him slightly stunned; the treasures he had brought perfectly met the requirements.
Recalling the invitation’s contents, he feared others might also have gathered the required items and hurriedly declared, “I offer the Loulan Stone… these thirteen treasures!”
He reserved a few treasures for potential further bidding.
Silence enveloped the cabin, broken only by faint breathing sounds.
No one raised the bid? Zhang Duan could hardly believe it himself.
“No further bids. This cultivator obtains the pill,” Meng Qi said, revealing no emotion.
Dazed, Zhang Duan retrieved the thirteen treasures and flew to the raised wooden platform, receiving the pill the size of a longan, green and glistening. A surge of infinite power suddenly welled within him.
Watching the treasures, the Ritual Divine Envoy suddenly spoke in a gloomy tone, “You actually have them all?”
These were all rare and precious treasures. Without deliberate collection and preparation, who would gather them so completely?
This looked suspiciously like cheating!
Hearing this, Zhang Duan, with decades of martial world experience, suddenly realized—the others’ invitations likely lacked the final details!
He cast a deep glance at Meng Qi, suddenly lifting his mask, swallowing the pill after a quick inspection, indifferent to revealing his identity or the slight reduction in effectiveness from immediate consumption.
This place was dangerous; better to eliminate others’ desires as soon as possible!
Moreover, once this news spread, everyone would know he could live another sixty years, reducing conflicts with the Yao Clan, preferable to hiding until the conflict became irreparable.
“It’s Old Ghost Zhang…” someone whispered, recognizing Zhang Duan’s identity.
At this moment, Meng Qi held up the second Dongji Changsheng Pill:
“This pill goes to the highest bidder.”
No additional conditions.
The Ritual Divine Envoy immediately declared, “Wutu Essence… fourteen rare treasures, plus a superior-grade weapon, the Sword of Reflected Shadow.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a deep, hoarse voice followed, “Fifteen similar treasures, plus an ultimate-grade weapon, the Falling Moon Staff!”
An ultimate-grade weapon?
Even Ruan San Ye couldn’t help but turn toward the speaker.
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