hé bàng xiāng zhēng yú wēng dé lì ， liǎng gè lǎo guài wù hù bié miáo tou ， zuì hòu què wèi le lín xuān zuò le jià yī ， tā yǐ sān bǎi wǔ shí wàn jīng shí de jià gé ， jiāng guǐ dì nèi dān shōu rù náng zhōng 。
河蚌相争渔翁得利，两个老怪物互别苗头，最后却为了林轩做了嫁衣，他以三百五十万晶石的价格，将鬼帝内丹收入囊中。
In the age-old adage, when two river clams fight, a fisherman benefits. The two old monsters were vying for supremacy, but in the end, they ended up making Lin Xuan the beneficiary. He managed to secure the ghost emperor's inner core with a price of three million and five hundred thousand crystal stones.
kàn zhe cǐ bǎo ， lín xuān yǎn zhōng bù yóu de shǎn guò xīng fèn de guāng máng ， děng dào kòng xián yǐ hòu ， zì jǐ jiù kě yǐ liàn zhì bì yàn qí lín jiǎ le 。
看着此宝，林轩眼中不由得闪过兴奋的光芒，等到空闲以后，自己就可以炼制碧焰麒麟甲了。
Lin Xuan couldn't help but flash an excited look at this treasure as he examined it. Once he had some free time, he could refine the Azure Flame Qilin Armor.
shēn fèn suī rán bào lù ， bù guò jǐn shì xīn yuè xiàn le ér yǐ ， cǐ nǚ shén tōng bù cuò ， dàn xīn jī yǔ zì jǐ xiāng bǐ ， pāi mǎ bù jí ， lín xuān yǒu bǎ wò kě yǐ tuō shēn dì 。
身份虽然暴露，不过仅是新月现了而已，此女神通不错，但心机与自己相比，拍马不及，林轩有把握可以脱身地。
Although his identity was exposed, it wasn’t much; just the New Moon Manifestation. This goddess was quite impressive, but her cunning paled in comparison to his own. Lin Xuan was confident that he could extricate himself from this situation.
qí tā lǎo guài wù yě hěn xiàn mù ， bù guò suí zhe pāi mài huì de jìn xíng ， yòu chū xiàn le xǔ duō zhēn xī bǎo wù ， yú shì zhòng rén de zhù yì lì ， yě jiù cóng lín xuān shēn shàng nuó kāi le 。
其他老怪物也很羡慕，不过随着拍卖会的进行，又出现了许多珍稀宝物，于是众人的注意力，也就从林轩身上挪开了。
The other old monsters were envious as well, but as the auction progressed, many rare treasures emerged, diverting everyone's attention away from Lin Xuan.
hái bié shuō ， zhè yī cì mì shì jiāo yì ， bù jǐn gāo shǒu yún jí ， ér qiě pāi mài de dà bù fèn wù pǐn ， dōu kě yǐ shuō shì nì tiān zhī wù 。
还别说，这一次秘市交易，不仅高手云集，而且拍卖的大部分物品，都可以说是逆天之物。
Indeed, this secret market transaction not only attracted a gathering of high-ranking experts but also featured most of the items up for auction as extraordinary artifacts. While it couldn’t be said that such wonders didn't exist elsewhere, the sheer number of them gathered here was truly remarkable, especially considering how bidding on these items pushed the atmosphere to its peak.
shì 。 suī bù néng shuō qí tā dì fāng jiù yí dìng méi yǒu ， dàn zhè me duō huì jí zài yì qǐ ， yě kān chēng shèng yóu qí shì xiàn zài jìng jià de dōng xī ， gèng jiāng zhěng gè pāi mài huì de qì fēn ， tuī dào le dǐng fēng 。
事。虽不能说其他地方就一定没有，但这么多汇集在一起，也堪称盛尤其是现在竞价的东西，更将整个拍卖会的气氛，推到了顶峰。
A late-stage puppet! Puppetry is part of the hundred arts in cultivation, but it’s incredibly complex and even surpasses alchemy and crafting. According to Lin Xuan, only a few sects were proficient in this art, with the most famous being the Heavenly巧 Sect. While their abilities fell short when compared to the likes of the Soul Valley or Spirit Cultivation Sects, they still managed to rank among the Seven Great Sects through puppetry.
yuán yīng hòu qī kuǐ lěi ! zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī ， kuǐ lěi shù yě shǔ yú xiū xiān bǎi yì ， rán ér què fán fù yǐ jí ， shèn zhì guò le liàn dān yǔ zhì qì ， jù lín xuān suǒ zhī ， jīng shàn cǐ dào de yě bù guò liáo liáo shù gè mén pài ér yǐ 「 qí zhōng zuì yǒu míng de ， fēi tiān qiǎo mén mò shǔ ， gāi pài xiū shì de shén tōng ， bǐ qǐ shén me lì hún gǔ ， yù líng zōng dōu yào shāo xùn yī chóu ， dàn tōng guò kuǐ lěi shù de bǔ chōng ， què yī jiù jī shēn qī dà zōng mén zhī zhōng 。
元婴后期傀儡!众所周知，傀儡术也属于修仙百艺，然而却繁复以极，甚至过了炼丹与制器，据林轩所知，精擅此道的也不过寥寥数个门派而已「其中最有名的，非天巧门莫属，该派修士的神通，比起什么厉魂谷，御灵宗都要稍逊一筹，但通过傀儡术的补充，却依旧跻身七大宗门之中。
Take that Mr. Black Pine for instance; he was also at late-stage Immortal Core, but his magical treasures and artifacts were clearly inferior to those of the Soul Valley Elder.
bǐ rú shuō gāng gāng nà wèi mò xuě sōng ， yǔ gōng sūn lǎo mó yī yàng ， tóng shì yuán yīng hòu qī ， dàn qí shén tōng bǎo wù yǔ nà wèi lì hún gǔ dà zhǎng lǎo xiāng bǐ ， míng xiǎn dōu yào xùn sè yī xiē 。
比如说刚刚那位墨雪松，与公孙老魔一样，同是元婴后期，但其神通宝物与那位厉魂谷大长老相比，明显都要逊色一些。
However, in a real confrontation, it wasn’t certain who would emerge victorious because of the late-stage puppets aiding him. The combined strength might match that of Mr. Black Pine, making them evenly matched.
kě zhēn dǎ qǐ lái ， què bù yí dìng shū ， yīn wèi hái yǒu liàn zhì de yuán yīng kuǐ lěi cóng páng bāng zhù ， dié jiā hòu de shí lì dào yě bù jù gōng sūn lǎo mó ， yīng gāi shì zài bó zhòng zhī jiān de 。
可真打起来，却不一定输，因为还有炼制的元婴傀儡从旁帮助，叠加后的实力倒也不惧公孙老魔，应该是在伯仲之间的。
The puppetry artistry of the Heavenly巧 Sect was evident, but even they had only managed to create mid-stage late Immortal Core puppets.
yāo qiǎo mén de kuǐ lěi shù kě jiàn yī bān ， rán ér jí biàn shì zhè ge mén pài ， yě zhǐ tīng shuō liàn zhì guò yuán yīng zhōng qī dǐng fēng de kuǐ lěi 。
夭巧门的傀儡术可见一斑，然而即便是这个门派，也只听说炼制过元婴中期顶峰的傀儡。
Late-stage puppets required not just advanced materials but also a high level of refining techniques. The Heavenly巧 Sect attempted this but failed every time.
hòu qī kuǐ lěi bù guǎn shì cái liào ， hái shì duì liàn zhì jì shù de yāo qiú ， dōu bù kě tóng rì ér yǐ ， tiān qiǎo mén céng zuò guò cháng shì ， dàn dōu yǐ shī bài jié jú 。
后期傀儡不管是材料，还是对炼制技术的要求，都不可同日而已，天巧门曾做过尝试，但都以失败结局。
Such grade puppets were only mentioned in ancient texts and rumored to have been created by great cultivators from the distant past.
zhè zhǒng děng jí de kuǐ lěi ， zhǐ zài diǎn jí zhōng yǒu jì zǎi ， jù shuō shàng gǔ de shí hòu ， dào yǒu dà xiū shì kě yǐ zhì zuò chū lái 。
这种等级的傀儡，只在典籍中有记载，据说上古的时候，倒有大修士可以制作出来。
But before his eyes stood a brand new puppet, suggesting that someone might have reached the pinnacle of puppetry mastery.
kě yǎn qián zhè zūn kuǐ lěi ， míng xiǎn zhǎn xīn zhī wù ， nán dào rú jīn ， yǐ yǒu rén jiāng kuǐ lěi shù liàn zhì dà zōng shī zhī jìng ？
可眼前这尊傀儡，明显崭新之物，难道如今，已有人将傀儡术炼制大宗师之境？
The most shocked was undoubtedly the sect leader of the Heavenly巧 Sect. He knew firsthand how difficult it was to create late-stage puppets and immediately asked, "May I ask, Master White, where did you obtain this puppet?"
zuì chī jīng dí dàng rán shì tiān qiǎo mén zōng zhǔ ， tā zuì qīng chǔ zhì zuò hòu qī kuǐ lěi nà shì zěn yàng de nán dù ， dāng jí biàn kāi kǒu le ：“ gǎn wèn bái dào yǒu ， cǐ kuǐ lěi shì nǎ ér lái de ？”
最吃惊的当然是天巧门宗主，他最清楚制作后期傀儡那是怎样的难度，当即便开口了：“敢问白道友，此傀儡是哪儿来的？”
"Master Black Pine's question is indeed challenging," replied Bai Xue slowly, her face showing no signs of fear. As a special agent, she wasn't afraid of offending the sect leader.
“ mò zōng zhǔ zhè jù huà ， kě wéi nán xiǎo nǚ zǐ ， yǐ gé xià de shēn fèn yīng gāi qīng chǔ ， tiān yún jiāo yì huì de pāi mài zhī zhōng ， duì yú mài zhǔ de shēn fèn shì yī xiàng bǎo mì de 。” bái xuě huǎn huǎn de kāi kǒu ， liǎn shàng bìng méi yǒu lù chū wèi jù zhī sè ， tā shēn wèi tè shū ， dào yě bù pà dé zuì zhè wèi tiān qiǎo mén zhī zhǔ 。
“墨宗主这句话，可为难小女子，以阁下的身份应该清楚，天云交易会的拍卖之中，对于卖主的身份是一像保密的。”白雪缓缓的开口，脸上并没有露出畏惧之色，她身为特殊，倒也不怕得罪这位天巧门之主。
"Yes, it was my oversight." Mr. Black Pine, a true genius, though furious in his heart, showed no outward sign. As the sect leader, he knew that the convention allowed high-stage experts to secretly participate, and rules could not be broken. So, he reluctantly sat down.
“ ń ， shì zài xià mào shī le 。” mò xuě sōng bù kuì wèi yí dài xiāo xióng ， suī rán xīn zhōng dà nù ， dàn liǎn shàng què sī háo yì sè méi yǒu ， zuò wèi tiān qiǎo mén zōng zhǔ ， tā dāng rán míng bái dà huì shì yǒu lí hé qī lǎo guài àn zhōng zuò kuì de ， guī jǔ bù róng pò huài ， suǒ yǐ zhǐ hǎo xìng xìng de zuò le xià lái 。
“嗯，是在下冒失了。”墨雪松不愧为一代枭雄，虽然心中大怒，但脸上却丝毫异色没有，做为天巧门宗主，他当然明白大会是有离合期老怪暗中坐馈的，规矩不容破坏，所以只好悻悻的坐了下来。
"Master, do you plan to bid on this puppet?" Lin Xuan shook his head. Late-stage puppets were tempting, but they were merely a bonus for him. He needed his funds where it mattered more; Xia Gucao's whereabouts had been lost, and he didn’t want to draw too much attention.
“ shào yé ， nǐ shuō zhè kuǐ lěi huì bú huì yǔ shàng cì zài xuě míng shān shēng de yí mù yǒu guān ？” lín xuān méi yǒu kāi kǒu ， dàn nǎo hǎi zhōng què zài bù tíng sī suǒ ， yuán yīng hòu qī ， zì rán ràng tā lián xiǎng dào shàng cì qín yán yù xiǎn zhī shì ， huò xǔ zhēn yǒu guān xì ， bù guò lín xuān yě méi yǒu jīng lì zhuī chá xià qù ， tā běn shēn de shì qíng tài duō ， hé kuàng qín yán yě méi yǒu shòu shāng ， jiù suàn yào zhuī chá yuán tóu ， zhè ge rèn wù yě yīng gāi shì tiān yá hǎi gé 。
“少爷，你说这傀儡会不会与上次在雪暝山生的一幕有关？”林轩没有开口，但脑海中却在不停思索，元婴后期，自然让他联想到上次秦妍遇险之事，或许真有关系，不过林轩也没有精力追查下去，他本身的事情太多，何况秦妍也没有受伤，就算要追查源头，这个任务也应该是天涯海阁。
As he thought this, the bidding began. The late-stage puppet was the most rare item so far, and the bidding scene was intense.
“ shào yé ， nà nǐ zhǔn bèi jìng pāi me ？” lín xuān yáo le yáo tóu ， yuán yīng hòu qī ， suī rán yǒu diǎn xīn dòng ， dàn duì zì jǐ lái shuō ， bù guò shì néng qǐ jǐn shàng tiān huā de zuò yòng ， qián yào yòng zài xū yào de dì fāng ， xià gū cǎo zōng jì liǎo wú ， lín xuān bù xiǎng jì xù tài guò yǐn rén zhù yì le 。
“少爷，那你准备竞拍么？”林轩摇了摇头，元婴后期，虽然有点心动，但对自己来说，不过是能起锦上添花的作用，钱要用在需要的地方，夏孤草踪迹了无，林轩不想继续太过引人注意了。
The human and demon races, major factions, all participated in the competition. In the end, Mr. Black Pine secured it for nine million eight hundred thousand crystal stones. He intended to take it back for research.
tā xīn zhōng rú cǐ xiǎng zhe ， ér jìng jià yǐ jīng kāi shǐ ， yuán yīng hòu qī kuǐ lěi ， shì dào mù qián wéi zhǐ chū xiàn de zuì wèi zhēn xī zhī wù ， jiào jià de chǎng miàn zì rán shì huǒ bào dào le jí chù 。
他心中如此想着，而竞价已经开始，元婴后期傀儡，是到目前为止出现的最为珍稀之物，叫价的场面自然是火爆到了极处。
Surprisingly, Elder Public孙 didn’t challenge him; last time they had personal grievances, but this puppet’s value to his sect was clear. If he tried to sabotage it, it might lead to a conflict between the two major sects.
rén yāo liǎng zú ， gè dà shì lì ， jī hū dōu cān yù le zhēng duó 。 zuì hòu yǐ jiǔ bǎi bā shí wàn de tiān jià ， bèi mò xuě sōng lǎn rù shǒu ， cǐ wù tā shì zhì zài bì děi ， ná huí qù yán jiū yī xià yě shì hǎo de 。
人妖两族，各大势力，几乎都参与了争夺。最后以九百八十万的天价，被墨雪松揽入手，此物他是志在必得，拿回去研究一下也是好的。
The transactions continued, and more valuable items emerged. Compared to the late-stage puppets, the jade pendants were less impressive, so the bidding scene cooled down.
chū hū yì liào de ， gōng sūn lǎo mó méi yǒu yǔ duì fāng bié miáo tou ， shàng huí shì sī rén ēn yuàn 「 ér zhè dōng xī duì tiān qiǎo mén de jià zhí ， tā xīn zhōng yǒu shù ， zì jǐ rú guǒ xù yì pò huài ， kǒng pà jiù huì yǐn qǐ liǎng dà zōng mén jiān de chōng tū lái 。
出乎意料的，公孙老魔没有与对方别苗头，上回是私人恩怨「而这东西对天巧门的价值，他心中有数，自己如果蓄意破坏，恐怕就会引起两大宗门间的冲突来。
Time passed unnoticed, and several hours had gone by. Seeing that only a few items remained in the auction, Lin Xuan grew anxious despite his composure.
suí hòu jiāo yì jì xù ， yòu chū xiàn le bù shǎo hǎo dōng xī ， chāi yǔ yuán yīng hòu qī kuǐ lěi xiāng bǐ ， zé míng xiǎn bù jí ， yīn cǐ chǎng miàn xiāng duì de lěng dàn le xià qù 。
随后交易继续，又出现了不少好东西，钗与元婴后期傀儡相比，则明显不及，因此场面相对的冷淡了下去。
Without Xia Gucao, securing the ghost emperor's inner core was still a significant gain. But as the saying went, priorities were crucial; compared to the Azure Flame Qilin Armor, turning-stage pills were more urgent.
shí jiān màn màn liú shì ， bù zhī bù jué yǐ guò qù le shù gè shí chén zhī jiǔ ， yǎn kàn pāi mài huì shèng yú de dōng xī yǐ jīng bù duō ， jí biàn yǐ lín xuān de chéng fǔ ， xīn zhōng yě yǒu diǎn zháo jí le 。
时间慢慢流逝，不知不觉已过去了数个时辰之久，眼看拍卖会剩余的东西已经不多，即便以林轩的城府，心中也有点着急了。
Though he thought this, Lin Xuan didn’t show it on his face, instead focusing intently on the auction stage.
nán dào méi yǒu xià gū cǎo ， suī rán ná dào guǐ dì nèi dān yě shì yī dà shōu huò ， dàn sú huà shuō ， shì yǒu qīng zhòng dù jí ， yǔ bì yàn qí lín jiǎ xiāng bǐ ， xiǎn rán zhuǎn yīng dān yào gèng wéi pò qiè yī xiē 。
难道没有夏孤草，虽然拿到鬼帝内丹也是一大收获，但俗话说，事有轻重渡急，与碧焰麒麟甲相比，显然转婴丹要更为迫切一些。
Only three trays remained, and another red cloth was lifted. A clear, emerald green plant appeared before him.
xīn zhōng dí gū ， dàn biǎo miàn shàng ， lín xuān zì rán bú huì biǎo xiàn chū lái ， zhǐ shì jǐn jǐn de dīng zhe qián miàn de pāi mài tái 。
心中嘀咕，但表面上，林轩自然不会表现出来，只是紧紧的盯着前面的拍卖台。
Unremarkable at first glance, it looked like an ordinary wild grass by the roadside. But Lin Xuan’s eyes gleamed with recognition as he released his divine sense. Yes, this was exactly what he needed; finally, he had found it.
yǐ shì zuì hòu yī duì shì nǚ ， jǐn shèng xià sān kuài tuō pán ， yòu yī zhāng hóng bù bèi xiān kāi 。 yī qīng cuì bì lǜ de zhí wù chū xiàn zài yǎn qián 。
已是最后一队侍女，仅剩下三块托盘，又一张红布被掀开。一清翠碧绿的植物出现在眼前。
"Xia Gucao, can be used to refine medicinal pills. This treasure doesn’t require crystal stones but can be exchanged for rare materials," Bai Xue's voice wasn't loud, but she used a very peculiar technique, making the words clear in everyone’s ears.
háo bù qǐ yǎn ， kàn shàng qù jiù fǎng fú lù biān yī bù qǐ yǎn de yě cǎo shì de ， lín xuān yǎn zhōng què yǒu jīng máng shǎn guò ， jiāng shén shí fàng chū ， méi cuò ， zhèng shì zì jǐ suǒ yào zhī wù ， zhōng yú děng dào le 。
毫不起眼，看上去就仿佛路边一不起眼的野草似的，林轩眼中却有精芒闪过，将神识放出，没错，正是自己所要之物，终于等到了。
Before her words were finished, a chorus of disapproval erupted.
“ xià gū cǎo ， kě yǐ yòng lái liàn zhì dān yào ， cǐ bǎo bú yào jīng shí ， huàn qǔ zhēn xī cái kē 。” bái xuě de shēng yīn bù dà ， què yòng le shí fēn guǐ yì de gōng fǎ ， qīng shēn bo de chuán rù měi yī rén de ěr lǐ 。
“夏孤草，可以用来炼制丹药，此宝不要晶石，换取珍稀材科。”白雪的声音不大，却用了十分诡异的功法，清砷卜的传入每一人的耳里。
"Master White, your description was too brief!"
huà gāng gāng shuō r wán ， jiù yíng lái le xū shēng yī piàn 。
话刚刚说r完，就迎来了嘘声一片。
"Yes, you only mentioned that it could be used to refine pills. But what kind of pill? What are its properties? At least tell us something more."
“ bái dào yǒu ，$$; jiè shào dé yě tài jiǎn dān le ba !”
“白道友，$$;介绍得也太简单了吧!”
"And exchanging for rare materials is too trivial. You didn’t specify what we should bring. How can we know if this Xia Gucao isn't worthless?"
“ jiù shì ， zhǐ shuō kě yǐ yòng lái liàn dān ， kě jiū jìng shì shén me dān ， zhè xià gū cǎo xìng zhì rú hé ， zhì shǎo yě gāi shuō shuō 。”
“就是，只说可以用来炼丹，可究竟是什么丹，这夏孤草性质如何，至少也该说说。”
"Exactly! Who knows if this Xia Gucao is trash, and the people auctioning it might be fraudsters," some even used mocking tones.
“ hái yǒu huàn qǔ zhēn xī cái liào ， zhè wèi miǎn yě tài ér xì le ， xiǎng huàn shén me yě bù shuō ， nǐ ràng wǒ men zěn me jiāng dōng xī ná chū 。”
“还有换取珍稀材料，这未免也太儿戏了，想换什么也不说，你让我们怎么将东西拿出。”
"I'm sorry, fellow cultivators, the description of Xia Gucao is limited to what I’ve said. Its properties and what kind of pills can be refined are unclear," as the auctioneer for the secret market transaction, Bai Xue was accustomed to various situations. Facing the crowd's agitation, she remained calm.
“ jiù shì ， tiān zhī dào zhè xià gū cǎo shì bú shì lā jī ， nà tuō nǐ men pāi mài de rén ， huò xǔ shì piàn zi 。” gèng yǒu rén yòng shàng le jī fěng de yǔ qì 。
“就是，天知道这夏孤草是不是垃圾，那托你们拍卖的人，或许是骗子。”更有人用上了讥讽的语气。
However, once explained, the disapproval grew louder. Accusations of fraud filled the air, with many old monsters openly cursing the person auctioning Xia Gucao.
“ bù hǎo yì sī ， zhū wèi dào yǒu ， zhè xià gū cǎo de jiè shào zhǐ yǒu nà me duō ， qí xìng zhì rú hé ， kě yǐ liàn shén me dān yào ， qiè shēn yě bù qīng chǔ 。” zuò wèi mì shì jiāo yì de pāi mài shī ， bái xuě zì rán shì jiàn guò gè zhǒng gè yàng de chǎng miàn ， miàn duì zhòng rén de gǔ zào ， tā bù huāng bù máng de kāi kǒu 。
“不好意思，诸位道友，这夏孤草的介绍只有那么多，其性质如何，可以炼什么丹药，妾身也不清楚。”做为秘市交易的拍卖师，白雪自然是见过各种各样的场面，面对众人的鼓噪，他不慌不忙的开口。
"Fellow cultivators, I advise you to be more cautious in your words. As they say,祸from the mouth comes out. Although I don’t know what Xia Gucao is, the seller isn't a fraud. With his permission, I can reveal his identity; this senior is the Pavilion Tower. I believe both human and demon races should have heard of this senior's reputation," he said.
In the age-old adage, when two river clams fight, a fisherman benefits. The two old monsters were vying for supremacy, but in the end, they ended up making Lin Xuan the beneficiary. He managed to secure the ghost emperor's inner core with a price of three million and five hundred thousand crystal stones.
Lin Xuan couldn't help but flash an excited look at this treasure as he examined it. Once he had some free time, he could refine the Azure Flame Qilin Armor.
Although his identity was exposed, it wasn’t much; just the New Moon Manifestation. This goddess was quite impressive, but her cunning paled in comparison to his own. Lin Xuan was confident that he could extricate himself from this situation.
The other old monsters were envious as well, but as the auction progressed, many rare treasures emerged, diverting everyone's attention away from Lin Xuan.
Indeed, this secret market transaction not only attracted a gathering of high-ranking experts but also featured most of the items up for auction as extraordinary artifacts. While it couldn’t be said that such wonders didn't exist elsewhere, the sheer number of them gathered here was truly remarkable, especially considering how bidding on these items pushed the atmosphere to its peak.
A late-stage puppet! Puppetry is part of the hundred arts in cultivation, but it’s incredibly complex and even surpasses alchemy and crafting. According to Lin Xuan, only a few sects were proficient in this art, with the most famous being the Heavenly巧 Sect. While their abilities fell short when compared to the likes of the Soul Valley or Spirit Cultivation Sects, they still managed to rank among the Seven Great Sects through puppetry.
Take that Mr. Black Pine for instance; he was also at late-stage Immortal Core, but his magical treasures and artifacts were clearly inferior to those of the Soul Valley Elder.
However, in a real confrontation, it wasn’t certain who would emerge victorious because of the late-stage puppets aiding him. The combined strength might match that of Mr. Black Pine, making them evenly matched.
The puppetry artistry of the Heavenly巧 Sect was evident, but even they had only managed to create mid-stage late Immortal Core puppets.
Late-stage puppets required not just advanced materials but also a high level of refining techniques. The Heavenly巧 Sect attempted this but failed every time.
Such grade puppets were only mentioned in ancient texts and rumored to have been created by great cultivators from the distant past.
But before his eyes stood a brand new puppet, suggesting that someone might have reached the pinnacle of puppetry mastery.
The most shocked was undoubtedly the sect leader of the Heavenly巧 Sect. He knew firsthand how difficult it was to create late-stage puppets and immediately asked, "May I ask, Master White, where did you obtain this puppet?"
"Master Black Pine's question is indeed challenging," replied Bai Xue slowly, her face showing no signs of fear. As a special agent, she wasn't afraid of offending the sect leader.
"Yes, it was my oversight." Mr. Black Pine, a true genius, though furious in his heart, showed no outward sign. As the sect leader, he knew that the convention allowed high-stage experts to secretly participate, and rules could not be broken. So, he reluctantly sat down.
"Master, do you plan to bid on this puppet?" Lin Xuan shook his head. Late-stage puppets were tempting, but they were merely a bonus for him. He needed his funds where it mattered more; Xia Gucao's whereabouts had been lost, and he didn’t want to draw too much attention.
As he thought this, the bidding began. The late-stage puppet was the most rare item so far, and the bidding scene was intense.
The human and demon races, major factions, all participated in the competition. In the end, Mr. Black Pine secured it for nine million eight hundred thousand crystal stones. He intended to take it back for research.
Surprisingly, Elder Public孙 didn’t challenge him; last time they had personal grievances, but this puppet’s value to his sect was clear. If he tried to sabotage it, it might lead to a conflict between the two major sects.
The transactions continued, and more valuable items emerged. Compared to the late-stage puppets, the jade pendants were less impressive, so the bidding scene cooled down.
Time passed unnoticed, and several hours had gone by. Seeing that only a few items remained in the auction, Lin Xuan grew anxious despite his composure.
Without Xia Gucao, securing the ghost emperor's inner core was still a significant gain. But as the saying went, priorities were crucial; compared to the Azure Flame Qilin Armor, turning-stage pills were more urgent.
Though he thought this, Lin Xuan didn’t show it on his face, instead focusing intently on the auction stage.
Only three trays remained, and another red cloth was lifted. A clear, emerald green plant appeared before him.
Unremarkable at first glance, it looked like an ordinary wild grass by the roadside. But Lin Xuan’s eyes gleamed with recognition as he released his divine sense. Yes, this was exactly what he needed; finally, he had found it.
"Xia Gucao, can be used to refine medicinal pills. This treasure doesn’t require crystal stones but can be exchanged for rare materials," Bai Xue's voice wasn't loud, but she used a very peculiar technique, making the words clear in everyone’s ears.
Before her words were finished, a chorus of disapproval erupted.
"Master White, your description was too brief!"
"Yes, you only mentioned that it could be used to refine pills. But what kind of pill? What are its properties? At least tell us something more."
"And exchanging for rare materials is too trivial. You didn’t specify what we should bring. How can we know if this Xia Gucao isn't worthless?"
"Exactly! Who knows if this Xia Gucao is trash, and the people auctioning it might be fraudsters," some even used mocking tones.
"I'm sorry, fellow cultivators, the description of Xia Gucao is limited to what I’ve said. Its properties and what kind of pills can be refined are unclear," as the auctioneer for the secret market transaction, Bai Xue was accustomed to various situations. Facing the crowd's agitation, she remained calm.
However, once explained, the disapproval grew louder. Accusations of fraud filled the air, with many old monsters openly cursing the person auctioning Xia Gucao.
"Fellow cultivators, I advise you to be more cautious in your words. As they say,祸from the mouth comes out. Although I don’t know what Xia Gucao is, the seller isn't a fraud. With his permission, I can reveal his identity; this senior is the Pavilion Tower. I believe both human and demon races should have heard of this senior's reputation," he said.