Inside the chamber, the Pavilion Master of Yuqi Pavilion stood nearby and chuckled, “Elder Dongbo desires this unique copy of the supreme technique? For such a rare and coveted manual, practitioners who truly seek it might bid exorbitantly. Yet, those who have no need for it wouldn’t even consider placing an offer. It seems there won’t be many bidders this time, so I doubt the price will soar too high.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded.
He prided himself on his exceptional talent in the Void Path. Having perused countless tomes in the Wanxiang Hall of the Taixu Heaven Palace, he knew that those who achieved the highest echelons of cultivation were exceedingly rare. Among them, only two were Ultimate Existences, and including the fallen progenitor of the Rule-Oriented Mysteries lineage, ‘Ancestor Cang,’ there were merely three! Even Chaos Realm experts were few in number. Thus, truly profound scriptures were scarce, and those related to the Void Path were even rarer, especially in terms of offensive methods.
Only *The Dark World* offered Dongbo Xueying a glimmer of hope.
Without a cosmic-level supreme technique, his progress in the Void Path had already outpaced that of the Wave Path and the Slaughter Path. If he could obtain a suitable manual to study, his advancement might accelerate even further!
The Void Path…
This was the Truth Intent he had grasped during his Transcendent days, the first Dao he had ever forged. Faced with a fitting supreme technique, he couldn’t afford to let it slip away.
“I hope there are no competitors,” Dongbo Xueying silently wished, eager to save even a single Origin World Stone if possible.
“One hundred and fifty-two Origin World Stones,” a cold, sharp voice called out from another direction on the high platform.
Dongbo Xueying frowned.
So, there *was* a rival.
“One hundred and fifty-three Origin World Stones,” Dongbo Xueying declared clearly.
“Two hundred Origin World Stones,” the icy voice countered without hesitation.
Dongbo Xueying’s heart sank. This was bad. Based on his observations of previous auctions, bids usually increased incrementally. Only those who were truly determined and sought to intimidate their opponents would raise the price so drastically.
“Two hundred and one Origin World Stones,” Dongbo Xueying pressed on.
“Two hundred and fifty Origin World Stones,” the same cold voice replied.
“Brother Quan Miao, you’re truly determined. Two hundred and fifty-one,” an aged voice interjected.
Dongbo Xueying’s heart skipped a beat.
Quan Miao?
This was a reclusive Chaos Realm titan, known as ‘Ancestor Quan Miao,’ who indeed specialized in illusions.
“Why would a Chaos Realm titan covet the original copy of this technique? It was created by a Unity Realm expert—surely beneath Ancestor Quan Miao’s level,” Dongbo Xueying mused, puzzled. For the ancestor, mastering this technique wouldn’t enhance his strength, as its pinnacle only allowed one to clear the sixth level of the Star Tower. At most, it might offer him some inspiration to devise new techniques.
But such epiphanies were rare and difficult to achieve.
“Three hundred Origin World Stones,” the cold voice persisted.
“Three hundred and one Origin World Stones,” Dongbo Xueying replied calmly.
“Who is this friend so intent on opposing me?” the cold voice demanded. “Three hundred and fifty Origin World Stones.”
Dongbo Xueying grew slightly anxious. He wasn’t afraid of Ancestor Quan Miao—after all, as a member of the Taixu Heaven Palace, why should he fear a lone Chaos Realm expert?
Yet…
His treasures were limited. The Pavilion Master of Yuqi Pavilion had already appraised his sellable assets at 385 Origin World Stones. Now that Ancestor Quan Miao had bid 350, what if the price exceeded his limit?
“Pavilion Master Yuqi, I have a request,” Dongbo Xueying turned to the Pavilion Master beside him. “Could you contact Ancestor Quan Miao? I’m willing to pay 150 Origin World Stones to study *The Dark World* once. Afterward, the original would remain his, and I’d cease competing.”
“Impossible.”
The Pavilion Master shook his head firmly. “The rules of the Sevenstar Sea Pavilion dictate that the highest bidder wins. Negotiations like this are strictly forbidden. If you were to openly discuss terms with Ancestor Quan Miao by the window, the pavilion would silence your voice.”
Dongbo Xueying frowned.
So be it.
The Sevenstar Sea Pavilion was solely focused on maximizing profits.
After Ancestor Quan Miao’s bid of 350, the elderly voice ceased competing, having merely intended to provoke the ancestor and unwilling to risk being stuck with the purchase.
“Three hundred and fifty-one Origin World Stones,” Dongbo Xueying continued.
Ancestor Quan Miao fell silent for a moment.
The purple-robed woman overseeing the auction spoke up, “Three hundred and fifty-one Origin World Stones. If no higher bids are placed, this supreme technique will go to—”
“Four hundred Origin World Stones,” Ancestor Quan Miao declared once more.
Dongbo Xueying’s expression darkened.
Four hundred…
What now?
“Elder Dongbo, you can’t bid further,” the Pavilion Master reminded him. “Your limit is 385 Origin World Stones unless you produce more treasures.”
Dongbo Xueying clenched his jaw. Though he possessed other valuables, most were unsellable. His weapons and the ‘Fuling Heartfruit’ were exceptions—yet the latter wasn’t entirely off-limits. After all, as his strength grew, obtaining superior cultivation aids would become easier.
Moreover, once he acquired the manual, he could always resell it later.
“Can I owe some Origin World Stones?” Dongbo Xueying asked, hoping his status as an inner hall elder of the Taixu Heaven Palace might grant him credit.
The Pavilion Master could see the elder’s desperation but shook his head. “Rules cannot be bent. Unless Elder Dongbo offers collateral, we cannot lend you Origin World Stones. Any pledged items would be held temporarily.”
Dongbo Xueying quickly proposed, “I have two million merit points. Can they serve as collateral?”
“Merit points from the Taixu Heaven Palace are acceptable,” the Pavilion Master conceded, knowing they could be exchanged for treasures within the palace. “However, two million merit points can secure a loan of up to 160 Origin World Stones.”
“Agreed,” Dongbo Xueying nodded.
“Confirmed. Elder Dongbo indeed possesses two million merit points. You may resume bidding,” the Pavilion Master announced.
“Four hundred and one Origin World Stones,” Dongbo Xueying stated coolly.
…
Now it was Ancestor Quan Miao’s turn to seethe. The ancestor sat with a darkened expression, lifting a wine cup from the table before him and taking a slow sip. “Who dares oppose me? Every time I bid, they raise it by one. I’ve long sought *The Dark World*—it might aid my cultivation. But now, a rival emerges.”
At this price, he hesitated.
Chaos Realm titans didn’t possess endless Origin World Stones, and this was merely a Unity Realm’s creation—its value to him was limited, offering only a potential new direction. It might ultimately prove useless.
“Five hundred Origin World Stones,” Ancestor Quan Miao declared icily, his voice piercing through the windows and echoing in the distant Sevenstar Sea Pavilion of Tianshui City.
“That’s enough.”
Ancestor Quan Miao had made his decision. “This is my final offer for *The Dark World*. If outbid, so be it. At this price, the other party must be feeling the pinch.”
He waited.
For the counteroffer.
“Five hundred and one Origin World Stones,” the same calm voice replied.
As if no matter how high he bid, the voice would always add one more.
Ancestor Quan Miao snorted in anger, crushing the wine cup in his hand to dust. As the purple-robed woman repeatedly prompted with no further bids, she finally announced, “*The Dark World* is sold for five hundred and one Origin World Stones. Now, let us proceed to the next treasure…”
Turning to the branch Pavilion Master beside him, Ancestor Quan Miao commanded, “Since the auction for *The Dark World* has concluded, have the Sevenstar Sea Pavilion contact its new owner. Inform them I’m willing to pay 150 Origin World Stones to study it once—the original will remain theirs.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage