jdhmnovel Chapter 991 Auction
Chapter 991 Auction
Purple Light Continent, Purple Extreme Palace.
The entire palace is carved from millennia-old amethyst, each crystal containing the essence of the Purple Immortal Power, refracting a deep purple halo under the light, as if locking in the brilliance of countless ancient stars.
Nine "Purple Star Lamps" hang from the ceiling, their flames like dancing stars, casting a soft glow that illuminates the hall. Yet, due to the refraction of the amethyst, they also shimmer with a deep purple halo, as if concealing ancient mysteries that invite exploration.
The floor of the hall was covered with a carpet woven from "Purple Cloud Velvet." The velvet was formed by the silk of Purple Mist Immortal Silkworms during a chaotic era. A faint purple mist flowed between the strands of silk. Stepping on it was silent, with only the pure immortal spiritual energy flowing into the body from the soles of the feet, like warm water washing over the limbs and bones, bringing peace to the mind and spirit. Even the pressure of a True Immortal was softened here.
The highest purple-gold throne is thousands of feet tall, and its body is carved with the phantom of the ancestor of the Purple Light Immortal Clan—holding purple lightning, stepping on thunderclouds, with hair hanging down like a purple waterfall, and looking down at all living beings with a majestic aura that suppresses all ages, as if a single glance could make heaven and earth submit.
The True Immortal Ziyun sat upright, his moon-white Daoist robe trimmed with purple gleaming softly under the amethyst lamplight, the "Purple Light Immortal Script" on the hem flowing slightly with his breath. The solemnity that had previously clung to his brows had faded considerably, but the occasional flashes of purple electricity between his long beard still betrayed his lingering vigilance, like a whirlpool hidden beneath a calm lake, ready to unleash a storm at any moment.
Below on both sides, there are eight slightly smaller purple-gold thrones, each spaced tens of thousands of miles apart. The people on the thrones are either dressed in purple-scaled armor or wearing flowing cloud-patterned Taoist robes. There are middle-aged men with resolute faces, old men with white hair and youthful faces, and women with pure and otherworldly beauty. Without exception, they all exude an extremely powerful aura—a True Immortal pressure that far exceeds that of Quasi-True Immortals by tens of thousands of times. It is like an invisible mountain pressing down on the hall, making the air seem to solidify. Only the flame of the Purple Star Lamp dances freely in this pressure.
True Immortal Ziyun held a purple jade slip between his fingers. As the runes flickered, he clearly explained the matter of the mysterious force wanting to auction off the Obsidian Territory. He scanned it three times, and the worry that had lingered between his brows for thirty million years finally dissipated considerably. Even the Purple Extreme Immortal Power around him softened a bit, no longer as tense as before.
“It seems I was overthinking things.” True Immortal Ziyun slowly put down the jade slip, his voice spreading throughout the hall through the sound transmission runes on the walls of the Purple Crystal Palace, carrying a hint of relief. “The mysterious force and the Obsidian Clan should only have a personal grudge, and they don’t intend to plot against my Southern Territory.”
On the left below, a middle-aged man dressed in purple scale armor, exuding the aura of a fourth-grade True Immortal, heard this and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he still maintained his respect and bowed slightly, saying, "Ancestor, is your question about the auction?"
True Immortal Ziyun nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below. The halo of the Purple Star Lamp swirled in his eyes: "Otherwise, we wouldn't have put the Obsidian Clan's territory up for auction." He lightly tapped the armrest with his fingertips, the purple-gold throne emitting a soft "thump-thump" sound, each sound seeming to strike the hearts of everyone present. "If you truly wanted to invade the Southern Region, with the strength to annihilate the Obsidian Clan, you could have simply annexed their territory directly. Why go through all this trouble?"
At the far right, a young girl dressed in a pink dress with her hair in two buns blinked. Her skin was as smooth as a peach blossom, and she exuded the aura of a first-grade True Immortal. Her voice was clear and melodious: "Does the Ancestor mean that the mysterious force only sought revenge against the Obsidian Clan, and now that the grudges are settled, they want to exchange the Obsidian Clan's territory for resources?"
"Mostly so."
The Purple Cloud Immortal gently stroked his long beard, and the purple electric arcs began to subside.
Upon hearing this, the solemn expressions on the faces of the other True Immortal Ancestors in the hall largely dissipated. For thirty million years, they had walked on thin ice, their clan's defensive array constantly on alert, and their True Immortals daring not to venture out easily, fearing that the mysterious force's sword might suddenly turn against the Purple Light Immortal Clan. Now, their hearts finally settled, the taut immortal energy around them relaxed, the stagnant air in the hall finally showed signs of circulation, and even the flames of the Purple Star Lamp seemed to brighten slightly.
After a few moments, a third-rank True Immortal in the third position on the left hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Ancestor, I wonder if our clan should participate in this auction?"
His voice was deep and resonant, like a great bell, echoing throughout the Ziji Hall.
The moment the words were spoken, the hall fell silent. All eyes turned to True Immortal Ziyun, and even their breathing became lighter.
"That is certainly not an opportunity, and we must try our best to take over the Obsidian Clan's territory." Before True Immortal Ziyun could speak, True Immortal Zifeng, a fourth-rank True Immortal on the left, had already stood up. His purple-scaled armor gleamed coldly under the lamplight, and his tone was resolute and unquestionable. "With the destruction of the Obsidian Clan, the tripartite balance of power in the Southern Territory will be broken. If the Golden Origin Clan takes over the Obsidian Clan's territory, our clan will be in grave danger due to the shift in power between the two sides!"
He clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning purple, and his immortal power surged in ripples: "Two tigers cannot share one mountain. The Jin Yuan Clan's strength and foundation are already a level stronger than ours. If we allow them to annex the Obsidian Clan's territory, their strength will surely increase dramatically. At that time, they will definitely not let our clan go."
“What Zifeng says is very true.” True Immortal Ziyun nodded slowly, tapping his fingertips heavily on the armrest. The “thud” of the purple-gold throne carried immense power. “This time, we must do everything in our power to acquire as many continents as possible under the rule of the Obsidian Clan. The balance has been broken. In the future, our clan and the Golden Source Clan will inevitably have a war. If we lose the initiative now, we will be handing the hilt of the sword to the other side.”
His gaze swept across the hall, the glow of the Purple Star Lamp swirling in his eyes, a hint of fierceness creeping in: "Not only the Golden Origin Clan, but the other three realms' overlords must also be wary. With the Obsidian Clan destroyed, our Southern Realm's power has been greatly diminished, and those lurking wolves will likely not easily let go of this heaven-sent opportunity. Especially the Azure Sun Immortal Clan of the Eastern Realm, they have always coveted our Southern Realm's fertile land, and their presence at this auction will certainly be indispensable."
After a pause, True Immortal Ziyun turned his gaze and, like two bolts of purple lightning, landed on True Immortal Zifeng at the upper left, and continued, "Zifeng, you will be the one to lead the team to the Obsidian Continent for this auction."
As soon as he finished speaking, True Immortal Zifeng abruptly stood up. The clash of his purple-scaled armor produced a crisp, resounding clang that echoed clearly in the silent hall. He knelt on one knee, his right hand pressed against his left chest, his head slightly lowered, his voice carrying the weighty authority unique to a fourth-rank True Immortal: "Yes, Ancestor! Zifeng will not fail in his mission!"
......
Cangling Sea, eastern part.
The Azure Sun Continent, like a piece of jade enveloped in endless azure light, floats amidst surging seas of clouds. Dark azure currents flow across its surface—the unique "Azure Sun Purple Qi" of the Azure Sun Immortal Clan—forming a tangible protective shield. The interwoven "Azure Wood Runes" on this shield exude a rhythm of ceaseless life, yet also conceal a domineering power that devours life force. Any alien race that enters this land will be entangled by the purple qi; those with low cultivation will have their immortal power drained in an instant, becoming nourishment for the continent.
In the heart of the continent, the Qingyang Immortal Palace rises from the ground. The palace walls are constructed from a mixture of Qingtan wood, a rare and precious material of near-true immortal level, and "Soul-Condensing Jade." From afar, the entire palace resembles a towering ancient tree rooted in heaven and earth, its branches and leaves reaching an immeasurable height over countless eons. Countless illusory bluebirds flit among the trees, emitting clear and melodious cries, which, together with the azure purple aura flowing within the palace, create a vibrant yet deadly scene.
Inside the deepest part of the Immortal Palace, in the "Evergreen Hall," there are no magnificent golden decorations, only a nine-layered azure lotus floating in the hall. The lotus petals are layered upon layered, each radiating a warm azure light, flowing with the dual rules of "life and decay"—that is the "Reincarnation Azure Lotus," the treasure of the Qingyang Immortal Clan, which is said to have existed in the Cangling Sea for tens of thousands of cosmic eras, witnessing the rise and fall of countless races.
The Azure Feather True Immortal, clad in a dark cyan robe, sat atop the Azure Lotus. His robe was embroidered with countless intertwined vines in gold thread, with a few withered leaves faintly visible among the tendrils, subtly reflecting the life and death of the "Azure Sun Law." His skin possessed an almost jade-like dark cyan hue, his wrinkles seemingly holding the weight of countless ages. When his eyes were slightly closed, his long, cyan eyelashes drooped, casting a faint shadow on the lotus petals. His aura was immense, as vast as an abyss, far surpassing that of the Black Profound True Immortal, a mid-stage fifth-rank True Immortal of yesteryear.
"Auctioning the Obsidian Clan's territory... Good!" True Immortal Qingyu slowly opened his eyes, his pupils swirling with azure light, reflecting countless phantoms of the flourishing and withering of plants. From sprouting to flourishing, and then to decaying, it was only a moment, yet it seemed as if ten thousand years had passed. "This is the best time for our clan to take over the Southern Territory!"
"Azure Sword!"
The voice was not loud, but it carried a soul-piercing majesty that made the entire Changqing Palace tremble. The phantom bluebirds outside the palace fell silent and landed on the eaves of the palace like guards waiting for orders.
"Whoosh..."
A streak of azure light flashed like lightning, piercing the azure light within the hall and landing precisely a hundred feet in front of True Immortal Qingyu. As the light dissipated, it revealed a middle-aged man clad in azure divine armor. The armor was carved with a soaring azure phoenix, and azure True Immortal power flowed between the armor plates, causing it to resonate with a "humming" sound with every breath. His skin was also azure, but possessed a metallic hardness that True Immortal Qingyu lacked. He exuded the aura of a perfected fourth-grade True Immortal, just one step away from reaching the fifth grade. He was none other than True Immortal Qingjian, the second strongest member of the Qingyang Immortal Clan after their ancestor, True Immortal Qingyu.
"Qingjian greets the Ancestor. May I ask what orders the Ancestor has summoned Qingjian for?" Qingjian True Immortal knelt on one knee, his right fist pressed against the ground. The divine armor collided with the sandalwood floor, producing a dull thud. His posture was respectful yet sharp.
Qingyu Zhenxian's gaze fell on him, the light of the Reincarnation Green Lotus flickering in his eyes: "Qingjian, you will represent my clan to go to the Obsidian Continent to participate in the auction and try to take over the Obsidian Clan's territory."
He paused, then pointed his finger south outside the hall, towards the Southern Territory. "With the Obsidian Clan destroyed, the Southern Territory is now a powerful force. As long as we take over its territory, our clan can establish a foothold in the Southern Territory. In the future, we can annex the Purple Light and Golden Origin Clans and unify the Southern Territory in no time."
The last eight words struck Qingjian Zhenxian's heart like a heavy hammer. He suddenly looked up, a burning fighting spirit flashing in his eyes. The Azure Phoenix on his Azure Armor seemed to come alive, letting out a clear cry: "Yes, Ancestor! Qingjian will do everything in his power to take back the Obsidian Clan's territory for our clan!"
"Go, you are permitted to mobilize the resources of my clan's eighth level." True Immortal Qingyu slowly raised his hand, and the third petal of the Reincarnation Green Lotus gently unfolded. A token with a pure green body floated out from it. The token was carved with a green phoenix about to take flight, and two "Green Sun Pearls" were inlaid in the phoenix's eyes, flowing with a gentle green light. "With this token, no one in the clan will dare to disobey."
"Ancestor, Qingjian takes his leave!"
The Azure Sword Immortal accepted the token with both hands, bowed solemnly, turned around and transformed into a streak of azure light, rushing out of the Evergreen Palace. The cries of the Azure Phoenix on the divine armor echoed with the blue birds outside the palace, like a battle song that resounded throughout the Azure Sun Immortal Palace.
.....
Time flows silently for millions of years, like an undercurrent deep within the Azure Spirit Sea.
News of the auction spread like wildfire throughout the Cangling Sea, reaching all the major True Immortal forces in the four directions of the Cangling Sea. This caused many of the True Immortal Ancestors, who usually lived in seclusion, to leave their respective dojos and ancestral lands and converge on the Obsidian Continent.
......