jdhmnovel Chapter 1013 Sky-High Auction
Chapter 1013 Sky-High Auction
Time flies, and 280 billion years have quietly passed in the silent flow of the universe. Only a hundred years remain before the start of the Cosmic Auction. The air in Star Sea Immortal City is already filled with a tense atmosphere, and even the sea breeze seems to carry invisible pressure, causing cultivators flying at low altitudes to subconsciously restrain their aura, for fear of provoking the hidden sharpness.
One after another, venerable immortals, some alone, some surrounded by celestial guards, steadily entered the third floor of the Star Sea Trading Company, stepping into the venue of the previous Cosmic Auction House. That ancient gate seemed to connect two worlds: outside was the bustling immortal city, and inside was a secret realm about to unleash a storm.
The entire auction house was shrouded in ninety-nine layers of True Immortal restrictions. The patterns of the restrictions intertwined like a net, flowing with a faint seven-colored glow, making it one of the most heavily defended areas of the Star Sea Trading Company. Even a sixth-grade True Immortal who dared to cause trouble within the auction house would suffer the backlash of the restrictions and end up with nothing but regret, gaining nothing at all.
The dome is inlaid with billions of chaotic star stones, simulating the vast ocean of space. As the stars shift and change, one can almost glimpse the vicissitudes of time.
The complex comprises four VIP rooms: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow, each with a strict hierarchy. The Heaven VIP room is the fewest, with only 108 rooms. Those who can enter must be at least a Fifth-Rank True Immortal. Each room is equipped with an array to prevent divine detection, ensuring absolute privacy. The Earth VIP room is next, with 800 rooms. Only Third-Rank True Immortals can enter. While not as luxurious as the Heaven rooms, they are still simple and elegant. The Profound VIP room is next, with 3,000 rooms. Only True Immortals can enter. These rooms are simple and spacious, and filled with abundant spiritual energy. Finally, the Yellow VIP room is the most numerous, with 100,000 rooms. There are no cultivation requirements; as long as you have sufficient wealth, even a Void Immortal can enter. However, the space is relatively small, and the noise level is the highest.
......
The VIP room number 36 was quiet and still.
Yu Yuan, dressed in a red robe, sat upright on a purple wood chair. The gold patterns embroidered on his robe shimmered under the light of the wall lamp, like leaping flames, creating a strange contrast with his aloof and cold aura, as if ice and fire were fused together.
As the master of the Vermilion Bird Immortal Decree, Xinghai Trading Company had originally arranged for him to stay in the No. 1 VIP room, but he politely declined.
He only wanted to quietly harvest a batch of true immortal medicines and take a look at the treasures up for auction next to see what suitable rare and precious materials he could bid for and bring some back for his main body. He had no intention of acting in a high-profile manner and attracting the attention of other forces.
This Cosmic Auction has attracted the attention of more than a dozen cosmic seas. Who knows if an eighth-grade True Immortal might suddenly have a brain fart and participate?
Within the Crimson Sea, the existence of an Eighth-Rank True Immortal is a legend, but this does not mean that the existence of an Eighth-Rank True Immortal is also a legend in other universes' seas.
He picked up the "Myriad Spirits Immortal Brew" from the jade table in front of him and took a sip. The rich aroma of the wine, carrying the sweetness of a hundred kinds of spiritual essences, exploded on his tongue, sliding down his throat and transforming into a warm current that nourished his soul. Yu Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly and thought to himself: As expected of a top-grade immortal brew that could cost a ninth-rank celestial immortal their entire fortune with just one pot, it is indeed extraordinary. The aftertaste is long and lingering. After the auction, I can take some with me.
......
Time slipped by quietly as Yu Yuan leisurely savored the immortal brew. The "Myriad Spirits Immortal Brew" in the jade pot gradually dwindled to almost nothing. The light from the Star Sea Immortal City outside the window grew increasingly rapid, and the light from the ninety-nine layers of True Immortal restrictions surrounding the auction house swirled more and more intensely. Even the air seemed to be compressed into a tangible substance, pressing heavily on everyone's hearts.
Finally, the last fragment of time fell into the void, and the hundred-year period had arrived.
"Om..."
The billions of chaotic star stones on the auction house's dome suddenly lit up, and the simulated cosmic sea surged violently, with countless ancient stars seemingly being born and dying within it as the stars shifted and changed. At the same time, the ninety-nine layers of True Immortal restrictions hummed, emitting a heart-palpitating pressure that enveloped the entire auction house completely, preventing even the slightest noise from escaping.
All eyes, regardless of whether they came from the Heaven, Earth, Black, or Yellow VIP rooms, were focused on the white jade platform suspended in mid-air in the center of the auction hall.
at this time......
A flash of light appeared on the high platform, and a figure materialized out of thin air.
It was an old man dressed in a dark blue robe, with white hair and beard, but a ruddy complexion like that of an infant. His eyes flashed with a sharp light as they opened and closed. As soon as he appeared, a powerful aura of a fifth-grade True Immortal spread out like a tide. Although not ostentatious, it carried the composure and majesty of someone who had long held a high position, instantly suppressing all the whispers in the room.
The old man's gaze slowly swept across the entire venue, his voice carrying clearly and loudly through the barriers: "I am Mo Chen, and I am honored to be the host of this Universe Auction."
A simple sentence made the atmosphere in the room even more solemn—Mo Chen's name was well-known in the auction world of Chi Li Hai. He was the chief auctioneer of Xing Hai Trading Company. He was only invited to participate in the Ten-Era Auction, which was held once every ten cosmic epochs. Now, the fact that the chief auctioneer was personally presiding over a Cosmic Auction showed how much Xing Hai Trading Company valued this auction.
Then, Mo Chen raised his hand to signal, and the curtain behind the platform slowly rose, revealing the first item to be auctioned—a crystal-clear "Ice Soul Immortal Orchid," with drops of Ice Soul Immortal Dew condensed on its petals, emitting a refreshing chill. It was clearly a rare true immortal medicine.
"Enough with the small talk," Mo Chen smiled slightly and pointed to the Ice Soul Immortal Orchid, "The first item up for auction, the second-grade true immortal medicine Ice Soul Immortal Orchid, starting bid: 10,000 low-grade immortal crystals!"
Immortal Crystals are an upgrade of Immortal Stones. Like Immortal Stones, they are also divided into four grades: Extreme, Upper, Middle, and Lower. They are the common currency among True Immortals and above.
"Each bid must be at least one hundred low-grade immortal crystals. The auction will now begin."
As soon as the words were spoken, people in the yellow and black VIP rooms began bidding. Streams of spiritual light transformed into price numbers, which jumped rapidly on the light screen next to the platform.
......
Inside VIP Room No. 36 (Tianzi).
Yu Yuan calmly summoned a maid and had her bring another pot of "Myriad Spirits Immortal Brew." He quietly watched the numbers on the screen rise, showing no intention of bidding.
Nowadays, first-grade and second-grade true immortal medicines are no longer worthy of my attention. Unless I devour thousands or tens of thousands of them at once, it will be difficult to achieve much improvement.
......
A century passed quietly as treasures were passed. From the "Mysterious Yellow Stone Marrow" that could temper immortal bones, to the "Boundary Suppressing Banner" that could amplify the pressure of a true immortal, and then to the "Nine-Bend Reincarnation Grass" that could even tempt a fifth-grade true immortal, the quality of the auction items rose layer by layer, and the bidding became increasingly fierce. All 800 VIPs in the Earth-level section had already entered the venue, and even in the 108 Heaven-level VIP rooms, people were constantly making bids.
During this period, Yu Yuan also made several moves and acquired over a hundred Rank 3 or higher True Immortal Herbs.
Although immortal crystals can also enhance the Primordial Boundless True Immortal Body, true immortal medicine is more cost-effective.
"Three hundred and eighty billion low-grade immortal crystals for the third time! Congratulations to VIP number eight for successfully bidding on the sixth-grade true immortal artifact—the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Mirror..." As Mo Chen's golden hammer slammed down, the highlight of this year's Cosmic Auction finally arrived. "Ladies and gentlemen, next up is the grand finale of this auction..."
Before the words were even finished, the chaotic starstones on the auction house's dome suddenly dimmed, and billions of star crystals went out simultaneously. Only a dazzling pillar of light shone in the center of the high platform, outlining the shadows behind the curtain with a mysterious and solemn aura. The ninety-nine layers of True Immortal restrictions hummed at the same time, emitting a pressure ten times stronger than before. Even the air seemed to solidify into amber, causing the fifth and sixth-rank True Immortals in the Heavenly VIP room to subconsciously straighten their backs.
"Om..."
The curtain slowly melted away within the pillar of light, revealing an ancient jade platform. Upon the platform, a crimson token floated silently, its entire body seemingly burning with an inextinguishable flame. The patterns of the Vermilion Bird's wings unfurled in the flowing light, each feather appearing to flutter, carrying an aura capable of scorching the heavens and boiling the seas. A faint golden light emanated from the patterns, intertwining with the pillar of light, transforming in mid-air into a phantom image of a Vermilion Bird spreading its wings, emitting a clear cry that could shatter gold and split stone, causing the very souls of all the cultivators present to tremble.
"The Vermilion Bird Immortal Decree!"
A gasp rang out from one of the VIP rooms, instantly igniting the entire arena. Even those forces that already knew the news could not hide their excitement. The auras surged in the Xuan and Di VIP rooms, while several powerful divine senses from the Tian area broke through the air, locking onto the token with undisguised fervor.
Soon, Mo Chen's voice rang out again, but it seemed to carry immense power: "The last key left behind by the Four Symbols True Immortals to open their immortal tomb—the Vermilion Bird Immortal Token! I need not say more about this item; its value is enough to drive all the True Immortals in the Crimson Sea and the surrounding cosmic seas mad!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping towards the VIP room, and said, word by word, "Due to the special requirements of the Immortal Token Master, this auction is only open to bids for True Immortal Herbs. The starting price is one Grade 7 True Immortal Herb, and each bid must be at least one Grade 6 True Immortal Herb..."
An eerie silence fell over the entire venue, even the whispers in the yellow-marked areas vanished.
Although they already knew that the Vermilion Bird Immortal Token was priceless, the starting price of this seventh-grade true immortal herb still shocked all the immortals.
It should be understood that even if all the resources of a sixth-grade True Immortal power with a slightly weaker foundation were combined, they might not be able to match a single seventh-grade True Immortal herb.
With such a starting bid, not to mention the VIP rooms in the lower-tier category, many VIP rooms in the upper-tier category were directly shut out.
After a moment, a flash of light appeared in the VIP room number eight, and the numbers on the screen suddenly jumped: "One Grade 7 True Immortal Herb + One Grade 6 True Immortal Herb".
Immediately following, the VIP room number nine in the Heavenly Palace offered: "One Grade Seven True Immortal Herb + Two Grade Six True Immortal Herbs".
"One Grade 7 True Immortal Herb + Three Grade 6 True Immortal Herbs!"
The light from number eighteen pierced the void, carrying the powerful aura of a sixth-grade True Immortal.
......
Soon, the price skyrocketed like a rocket, more than doubling in less than an hour, rivaling the price of three grade seven true immortal herbs, and it continued to climb.
......
Inside the quiet room of Jiuling Manor.
Looking through Yu Yuan's eyes at the ever-increasing price, Su Mo's smile grew even wider. At this rate of bidding, obtaining more than eight Grade 7 True Immortal Herbs was not out of the question.
......
after one day.
Under Su Mo's increasingly ardent gaze, the bidding price successfully exceeded that of eight Grade 7 True Immortal Herbs. However, at this point, it was almost at its limit, and only five bidders were still bidding. Each bid lasted for more than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.
"It should be no more than ten Grade 7 True Immortal Herbs."
......
Another day passed.
As Su Mo had expected, the final transaction price was set at nine Grade 7 True Immortal Herbs, twelve Grade 6 True Immortal Herbs, and two hundred and thirty-five Grade 5 True Immortal Herbs.
"Congratulations to VIP number three in the Heavenly Ranking for successfully bidding on the Vermilion Bird Immortal Token..."
......
An hour later.
After deducting commissions, Yu Yuan left Xinghai Trading Company with nine Grade 7 True Immortal Medicines, six Grade 6 True Immortal Medicines, twenty-five Grade 5 True Immortal Medicines, and over a hundred Grade 3 and above True Immortal Medicines that he had won in the auction. He was escorted by the steward Mo Feng.
......
"I never expected that even with my caution, I would still be targeted."
......