xiǎn rán lín xuān shǔ yú hòu 。
显然林轩属于后。
Clearly, Lin Xuan belonged to the latter.
huáng yǐn zài què dìng lín xuān xiū wèi shēn bù kě cè yǐ hòu ， jiù míng zhì de duì tā biǎo shì huān yíng le 。
黄隐在确定林轩修为深不可测以后，就明智的对他表示欢迎了。
After determining that Lin Xuan's cultivation was beyond comprehension, Huang Yin wisely welcomed him with open arms.
yóu tā yǐn lù ， lín xuān hé nà qīng páo rú shēng yán zhe shí jiē zǒu rù dì dǐ shēn chù 。
由他引路，林轩和那青袍儒生沿着石阶走入地底深处。
Following Lin Xuan's lead, they descended into the depths of the cave along a stone staircase. A cavern greeted their eyes, incredibly spacious, reaching several dozen feet in height. Lin Xuan used his divine sense to scan it and felt slightly surprised; this Seven Extremes Heaven was truly on a grand scale!
yí gè dòng xué yìng rù le yǎn lián zhōng ， jí qí kuān guǎng ， gāo jiù yǒu qī bā zhàng ， lín xuān yòng shén shí sǎo le yī xià ， wēi wēi yǒu xiē jīng yà ， zhè qī jué tiān hái zhēn shì dà shǒu bǐ a ！
一个洞穴映入了眼帘中，极其宽广，高就有七八丈，林轩用神识扫了一下，微微有些惊讶，这七绝天还真是大手笔啊！
"Senior, this is where we are."
“ qián bèi ， jiù shì zhè lǐ 。”
“前辈，就是这里。”
Lin Xuan looked around and saw that hundreds of cultivators had gathered at the center of the cavern. It seemed that this trading fair was indeed quite large.
lín xuān fàng yǎn wàng qù ， zhǐ jiàn zài nà dòng xué zhōng yāng ， yǐ jīng jù jí le shù bǎi xiū shì ， kàn lái zhè jiāo yì huì ， zhēn hái shì guī mó pǒ dà de yàng zi 。
林轩放眼望去，只见在那洞穴中央，已经聚集了数百修士，看来这交易会，真还是规模颇大的样子。
"Senior, please feel free to browse. I must go and guide other fellow daoists; I'll take my leave now," Huang Yin maintained a respectful posture while speaking with Lin Xuan.
“ qián bèi ， nín qǐng zì biàn ， wǎn bèi hái yào qù jiē yǐn qí tā de dào yǒu ， xiān gào tuì le 。” huáng yǐn yǔ lín xuān shuō huà de shí hòu ， yì zhí bǎo chí zhe gōng jìng de zī shì 。
“前辈，您请自便，晚辈还要去接引其他的道友，先告退了。”黄隐与林轩说话的时候，一直保持着恭敬的姿势。
Lin Xuan showed no reluctance and waved his hand. Huang Yin disappeared like a released convict, vanishing without a trace.
lín xuān méi yǒu liú nàn zhī yì ， bǎi le bǎi shǒu ， huáng yǐn rú méng dà shè ， hěn kuài jiù xiāo shī dé wú yǐng wú zōng 。
林轩没有留难之意，摆了摆手，黄隐如蒙大赦，很快就消失得无影无踪。
Lin Xuan paid it no mind as he walked towards the crowd.
lín xuān bù yǐ wéi yì ， zì jǐ xiàng rén qún de fāng xiàng zǒu qù 。
林轩不以为意，自己向人群的方向走去。
There was a high platform built using the technique of turning mud into stone. Similarly, there were many seats below, though they seemed somewhat crude. Nobody cared about this.
zài nà lǐ ， yǒu yī zuò gāo tái ， shì yòng diǎn ní chéng shí de fǎ shù dā jiàn ér chéng de ， tóng yàng ， xià miàn yě yòng cǐ fǎ shù nòng le bù shǎo de zuò yǐ ， suī rán shāo wēi xiǎn de jiǎn lòu le xiē ， dàn méi yǒu rén huì zài yì 。
在那里，有一座高台，是用点泥成石的法术搭建而成的，同样，下面也用此法术弄了不少的座椅，虽然稍微显得简陋了些，但没有人会在意。
Lin Xuan's arrival drew many curious glances. Most of the hundreds present were still at the Foundation Establishment stage; only a few were Core Formation experts.
lín xuān de dào lái ， yě ràng bù shǎo rén cè mù ， bì jìng zhè shù bǎi rén zhī zhōng ， dà bù fèn dōu hái shì zhù jī qī xiū zhēn ， níng dān qī de gāo shǒu zhǐ shì yī xiǎo cuō 。
林轩的到来，也让不少人侧目，毕竟这数百人之中，大部分都还是筑基期修真，凝丹期的高手只是一小撮。
Thus, after he was noticed, beautiful maids approached and led him to the front of the platform, where the best view could be had. There were only eight seats, none of which were crude imitations made by magic. Instead, they were carved from sandalwood, exquisitely crafted.
gù ér ， zài xiàn tā yǐ hòu ， lì kè jiù yǒu měi mào de shì nǚ yíng le shàng lái ， bìng zài zhōu wéi jìng wèi yǔ jí dù xiāng jiāo zhī de mù guāng zhōng ， bèi yǐn dào le gāo tái de zuì qián miàn 。 nà lǐ bù jǐn shì jiǎo zuì hǎo ， ér qiě liáo liáo qī bā zhāng zuò yǐ 。 yě bú shì yòng fǎ shù zhì zuò de cū liè huò ， ér shì yòng tán mù diāo kè ér chéng ， jīng měi wú bǐ 。
故而，在现他以后，立刻就有美貌的侍女迎了上来，并在周围敬畏与嫉妒相交织的目光中，被引到了高台的最前面。那里不仅视角最好，而且寥寥七八张座椅。也不是用法术制作的粗劣货，而是用檀木雕刻而成，精美无比。
Even a small tea table in front contained divine tea and a few fruits.
shèn zhì shēn qián dì xiǎo chá jī shàng ， hái fàng yǒu líng chá ， yǐ jí yī xiǎo pán guā guǒ 。
甚至身前地小茶几上，还放有灵茶，以及一小盘瓜果。
The treatment was clearly worlds apart from that given to the Foundation Establishment cultivators behind him.
zhè yàng de dài yù xiǎn rán yǔ hòu miàn zhù jī qī xiū shì de pàn ruò yún ní 。
这样的待遇显然与后面筑基期修士的判若云泥。
Lin Xuan sat down on the only empty chair. The other seven seats were occupied by six men and one woman. This ratio wasn't unusual; women cultivating daoism, aside from rare geniuses, faced much greater challenges than men. While it was common for them to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, successfully forming a core was incredibly rare.
lín xuān zài wéi yī yī zhāng hái kōng zhe de yǐ zi shàng zuò le xià qù ， qí yú de qī zhāng dōu yǒu rén le ， liù nán yī nǚ ， zhè ge bǐ lì dào yě bìng bù zú guài ， nǚ zǐ xiū xiān ， chú le shǎo shù tiān cái 。 jiù yì bān qíng kuàng ér yán ， yuǎn bǐ nán zi gèng jiā jiān nán ， zhù jī qī de dào hái cháng jiàn ， néng gòu níng dān chéng gōng de jiù zhēn de shì shǎo dào le jí diǎn 。
林轩在唯一一张还空着的椅子上坐了下去，其余的七张都有人了，六男一女，这个比例倒也并不足怪，女子修仙，除了少数天才。就一般情况而言，远比男子更加艰难，筑基期的倒还常见，能够凝丹成功的就真的是少到了极点。
They had seen Lin Xuan but knew nothing of each other. Their attitudes varied widely.
tā men yě kàn jiàn le lín xuān ， bǐ cǐ zì rán hù bù xiāng shí ， biǎo xiàn chū lái de tài dù gèng shì gè yì 。
他们也看见了林轩，彼此自然互不相识，表现出来的态度更是各异。
Some nodded with smiles, appearing friendly; others looked down their noses, rejecting everyone at a distance...
yǒu de wēi xiào zhe diǎn tóu 。 mào sì yǒu hǎo ， yǒu dì bí kǒng cháo tiān ， yī fù jù rén yú qiān lǐ zhī wài ……
有的微笑着点头。貌似友好，有地鼻孔朝天，一副拒人于千里之外……
Others were openly hostile, showing no attempt to hide it.
yě yǒu de mǎn hán dí yì ， shèn zhì méi yǒu sī háo yǎn shì 。
也有的满含敌意，甚至没有丝毫掩饰。
And some simply didn't care…
yě yǒu de gēn běn jiù bù zài hū ……
也有的根本就不在乎……
Lin Xuan remained calm as the half-hour passed.
lín xuān bù dòng shēng sè ， hěn kuài bàn gè xiǎo shí jiù guò qù le 。
林轩不动声色，很快半个小时就过去了。
Suddenly, a flash of white light appeared and an elderly scholar leaped onto the platform. He raised his hand and bowed towards the crowd: "Welcome all to my Seven Extremes Heaven's auction. I am Li Hai Peng. The invited daoists have already arrived in great numbers; those who are late can wait no longer. If there is no objection, let us begin the auction."
tū rán ， bái guāng yī shǎn ， yí gè zhōng nián rú shēng yuè shàng shàng le gāo tái ， tā tái qǐ shǒu lái ， chōng sì zhōu bào le bào quán ：“ huān yíng gè wèi lái cān jiā wǒ qī jué tiān de pāi mài huì ， zài xià liè hǎi péng 。 xiàn zài shòu yāo de tóng dào yǐ jīng lái le shí zhī **， shèng xià de huò xǔ lín shí yǒu shì ， wǒ men jiù bù děng tā men le ， gè wèi rú wú yì yì ， pāi mài huì xiàn zài kāi shǐ 。”
突然，白光一闪，一个中年儒生跃上上了高台，他抬起手来，冲四周抱了抱拳：“欢迎各位来参加我七绝天的拍卖会，在下列海鹏。现在受邀的同道已经来了十之**，剩下的或许临时有事，我们就不等他们了，各位如无异意，拍卖会现在开始。”
The cultivators below had been waiting impatiently and naturally showed no opposition, cheering loudly. Li Hai Peng nodded to a female cultivator beside him.
xià miàn dì xiū shì zǎo yǐ děng dé bù nài fán ， zì rán méi yǒu rén chí fǎn duì yì jiàn ， lián shēng hè cǎi 。 liè hǎi péng chōng páng biān de yī míng nǚ xiū diǎn le diǎn tóu 。
下面地修士早已等得不耐烦，自然没有人持反对意见，连声喝彩。列海鹏冲旁边的一名女修点了点头。
She was tall and beautiful, though only at the Flexible Spirit stage, she attracted many gazes due to her appearance.
nà míng nǚ xiū shēn cái gāo tiǎo ， róng yán xiù měi ， suī rán jǐn jǐn zhǐ yǒu líng dòng qī de xiū wèi ， què xī yǐn le bù shǎo rén de yǎn qiú 。
那名女修身材高挑，容颜秀美，虽然仅仅只有灵动期的修为，却吸引了不少人的眼球。
But observant individuals focused on what she held in her hands—a tray covered with a red cloth.
bù guò yǒu xīn rén què jiāng mù guāng luò zài le tā suǒ pěng zhe de tuō pán shàng ， tuō pán shàng gài zhe yī fāng hóng bù 。
不过有心人却将目光落在了她所捧着的托盘上，托盘上盖着一方红布。
Lin Xuan remained silent as he used his divine sense to scan it, feeling slightly surprised; he couldn't discern what was beneath. The red cloth seemed no ordinary item.
lín xuān bù dòng shēng sè 。 yòng shén shí yī sǎo 。 xīn zhōng àn àn jīng yà ， jū rán wú fǎ tàn zhī suǒ gài de shì shén me dōng xī 。 kàn lái ， zhè hóng bù yě bú shì píng cháng zhī wù 。
林轩不动声色。用神识一扫。心中暗暗惊讶，居然无法探知所盖的是什么东西。看来，这红布也不是平常之物。
Amidst the murmurs of surprise from around him, many cultivators shared Lin Xuan's curiosity and met with similar disappointments.
sì zhōu gèng shì jīng yí zhī shēng sì qǐ 。 xiǎn rán ， hěn duō xiū shì yě dōu huái zhe yǔ lín xuān yī yàng de xīn sī ， ér qiě wú yī lì wài de quán dōu pèng bì 。
四周更是惊咦之声四起。显然，很多修士也都怀着与林轩一样的心思，而且无一例外的全都碰壁。
Li Hai Peng's face showed a hint of satisfaction: "Fellow daoists, we will now auction our first item—a top-grade spiritual artifact."
liè hǎi péng de liǎn shàng liú lù chū yī sī dé yì ；“ gè wèi dào yǒu ， xiàn zài bǐ huì jiāng pāi mài dì yī yàng wù pǐn ： jí pǐn líng qì 。”
列海鹏的脸上流露出一丝得意；“各位道友，现在鄙会将拍卖第一样物品：极品灵器。”
Top-grade spiritual artifact?
jí pǐn líng qì ？
极品灵器？
The Core Formation cultivators present didn't show much interest. The remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators mostly shrugged it off; after all, while rare, top-grade spiritual artifacts weren't particularly remarkable and often appeared in large markets. With enough crystal stones, acquisition wasn't a difficult task.
tīng le liè hǎi péng de yán yǔ ， qián miàn jǐ wèi níng dān qī xiū shì zàn qiě bù shuō ， zì rán wú rén huì lù chū guān zhù zhī sè ， biàn shì shèng xià dì zhù jī qī xiū shì ， dà bù fèn rén yě dōu yǒu xiē bù yǐ wéi rán le 。
听了列海鹏的言语，前面几位凝丹期修士暂且不说，自然无人会露出关注之色，便是剩下地筑基期修士，大部分人也都有些不以为然了。
Perhaps this was just an appetizer. As the crowd's attention shifted, Li Hai Peng noticed their reaction with no surprise or disappointment, appearing confident.
bì jìng jí pǐn líng qì suī rán zhēn xī ， dàn yě bú shì rú hé de liǎo bù qǐ ， shí cháng yě huì chū xiàn zài yì qǐ dà de fāng shì ， zhǐ yào yǒu zú gòu de jīng shí ， shōu gòu bìng bú shì shén me wéi nán zhī shì 。
毕竟极品灵器虽然珍稀，但也不是如何的了不起，时常也会出现在一起大的坊市，只要有足够的晶石，收购并不是什么为难之事。
He reached out to lift the red cloth from the tray, revealing a small blue sword: "Fellow daoists, hear me out; this Blue Ice Sword is extraordinary. It was crafted by ancient cultivators and has endured for millions of years."
huò xǔ zhè zhǐ shì kāi wèi de xiǎo cài ， zhòng rén jiāng mù guāng shōu le huí lái ， liè hǎi péng kàn qīng chǔ le zhòng rén de fǎn yìng ， liǎn shàng háo wú yì wài de biǎo qíng ， yě méi yǒu gǎn dào shī wàng ， yī fù xiōng yǒu chéng zhú dì mú yàng 。
或许这只是开胃的小菜，众人将目光收了回来，列海鹏看清楚了众人的反应，脸上毫无意外的表情，也没有感到失望，一副胸有成竹地模样。
Ancient spiritual artifact?
tā shēn chū shǒu lái ， jiāng tuō pán shàng miàn de hóng bù jiē kāi ， shàng miàn fàng zhe yī bǐng lán sè de xiǎo jiàn “ zhū wèi dào yǒu qiě tīng wǒ jiǎng ， zhè bǐng lán bīng jiàn fēi bǐ xún cháng ， nǎi shì yuǎn gǔ shí qī de xiū shì liàn zhì ， lì jīng bǎi wàn nián liú chuán xià lái 。”
他伸出手来，将托盘上面的红布揭开，上面放着一柄蓝色的小剑“诸位道友且听我讲，这柄蓝冰剑非比寻常，乃是远古时期的修士炼制，历经百万年流传下来。”
The crowd took interest as many Foundation Establishment cultivators leaned in.
gǔ líng qì ？
古灵器？
"Furthermore, its creator likely had already achieved Core Formation. According to my speculation, the senior who created it must have had leftover materials from forging a soul weapon, thus crafting this blue light spiritual artifact. The proportion of copper and jade mother in the sword is at least fifty percent."
zhòng rén zhè cái lái le yī xiē xìng qù ， bù shǎo zhù jī qī xiū shì yǐ jīng cè ěr qīng tīng le qǐ lái 。
众人这才来了一些兴趣，不少筑基期修士已经侧耳倾听了起来。
After Lin Xuan's assessment, the remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators were visibly impressed; even though the Blue Ice Sword remained within the realm of spiritual artifacts, its added magical materials significantly increased its hardness, sharpness, and power.
“ ér qiě de zhì zào yīng gāi yǐ jīng níng dān chéng gōng ， jù liè mǒu tuī cè ， nà wèi qián bèi yīng gāi shì liàn zhì běn mìng fǎ bǎo yǐ hòu ， shōu jí dì cái liào yǒu suǒ shèng yú ， yú shì zhè cái liàn zhì le lán guāng jiàn líng qì ， lǐ miàn tóng jīng ， yù mǔ dì bǐ lì bù shǎo yú zhěng bǐng jiàn de bǎi fēn zhī wǔ shí 。
“而且的制造应该已经凝丹成功，据列某推测，那位前辈应该是炼制本命法宝以后，收集地材料有所剩余，于是这才炼制了蓝光剑灵器，里面铜精，玉母地比例不少于整柄剑的百分之五十。
"Start bidding!"
zhè yī cì ， chú le lín xuān děng qī bā míng níng dān qī xiū zhēn ， shèng xià dì zhù jī qī xiū shì yě dōu liǎn lù dòng róng zhī sè ， bì jìng ， cǐ jiàn suī rán bù tuō líng qì de fàn chóu ， dàn zài jiā rù le fǎ bǎo cái liào yǐ hòu ， bù lùn shì yìng dù ， fēng lì ， hái shì wēi lì dōu yuǎn fēi yì bān dì líng qì kě bǐ 。
这一次，除了林轩等七八名凝丹期修真，剩下地筑基期修士也都脸露动容之色，毕竟，此剑虽然不脱灵器的范畴，但在加入了法宝材料以后，不论是硬度，锋利，还是威力都远非一般地灵器可比。
Li Hai Peng was pleased with the progress. He pointed at the flying sword on the tray, which immediately floated up.
“ qǐ ！”
“起！”
Then he clapped his hands together, igniting a ball of white-hot flames between them.
liè hǎi péng duì shì qíng de jìn zhǎn shí fēn mǎn yì ， chōng zhe tuō pán shàng de fēi jiàn yì diǎn zhǐ ， nà lán guāng jiàn lì kè piāo fú le qǐ lái 。
列海鹏对事情的进展十分满意，冲着托盘上的飞剑一点指，那蓝光剑立刻漂浮了起来。
Primordial true fire!
rán hòu tā shuāng shǒu yī hé ， zài fēn kāi shí ， liǎng zhǎng jiān dùn shí rán qǐ le yī tuán zhì bái sè de huǒ yàn 。
然后他双手一合，再分开时，两掌间顿时燃起了一团炙白色的火焰。
With Li Hai Peng already at the peak of Core Formation cultivation, this primordial true fire had reached its pinnacle.
xiān tiān zhēn huǒ ！
先天真火！
A gentle push enveloped the Blue Ice Sword in the flames. In the next moment, something miraculous happened; the sword's cold light flashed, not only undamaged but freezing the white flames.
zhè liè hǎi péng yǐ jīng shì níng dān qī dà yuán mǎn de xiū wèi ， zhè xiān tiān zhī huǒ zì rán yǐ jīng dào le lú huǒ chún qīng de dì bù 。
这列海鹏已经是凝丹期大圆满的修为，这先天之火自然已经到了炉火纯青的地步。
"Hmm?"
qīng qīng yī tuī ， nà huǒ yàn dùn shí jiāng lán bīng jiàn bāo guǒ ， rán ér xià yī kè ， qí miào de shì qíng shēng le ， nà lán bīng jiàn hán máng yī shǎn ， bù jǐn háo wú sǔn ， fǎn ér jiāng nà tuán bái sè de huǒ yàn dòng jié le qǐ lái 。
轻轻一推，那火焰顿时将蓝冰剑包裹，然而下一刻，奇妙的事情生了，那蓝冰剑寒芒一闪，不仅毫无损，反而将那团白色的火焰冻结了起来。
Even the stout cultivator sitting beside Lin Xuan was visibly impressed. Freezing primordial true fire with a weapon was normal for a soul weapon, but a spiritual artifact?
“ yí ？”
“咦？”
There must be some trickery involved.
zhè yī cì lián zuò zài lín xuān shēn biān de ， nà wèi shēn cái ǎi pàng de xiū shì dōu liǎn xiàn dòng róng zhī sè ， bīng fēng xiān tiān zhēn huǒ ， fǎ bǎo yǒu zhè yàng de néng lì dǎo shì shí fēn zhèng cháng ， líng qì ？
这一次连坐在林轩身边的，那位身材矮胖的修士都脸现动容之色，冰封先天真火，法宝有这样的能力倒是十分正常，灵器？
"This Blue Ice Sword is priced at two thousand crystal stones; each bid must increase by fifty," Li Hai Peng barely finished speaking when the cultivators below began their intense bidding war.
guǒ rán yǒu xiē guǐ mén dào le 。
果然有些鬼门道了。
"Two thousand."
“ zhè lán bīng jiàn kāi jià liǎng qiān jīng shí ， měi cì jìng jià bù dé shǎo yú wǔ shí 。”
“这蓝冰剑开价两千晶石，每次竞价不得少于五十。”
"Two thousand and fifty."
liè hǎi péng jī hū shì huà yīn gāng luò ， xià miàn de xiū shì jiù kāi shǐ le huǒ bào yì cháng de zhēng duó 。
列海鹏几乎是话音刚落，下面的修士就开始了火爆异常的争夺。
"Two thousand one."
“ liǎng qiān 。”
“两千。”
"Two thousand one hundred and five."
“ liǎng qiān líng wǔ shí 。”
“两千零五十。”
The price skyrocketed amidst the rising voices, finally reaching a sky-high three thousand five hundred crystal stones, won by a young man in his Foundation Establishment中期 stage.
“ liǎng qiān yī 。”
“两千一。”
Though his cultivation was only average here, he displayed great wealth. It seemed that behind him was a powerful figure.
“ liǎng qiān yì bǎi wǔ 。”
“两千一百五。”
After the first item's auction concluded, everyone's interest was fully piqued. According to tradition, the later items were more valuable; this appetizer had been impressive, so what could be expected from the rest?
Clearly, Lin Xuan belonged to the latter.
After determining that Lin Xuan's cultivation was beyond comprehension, Huang Yin wisely welcomed him with open arms.
Following Lin Xuan's lead, they descended into the depths of the cave along a stone staircase. A cavern greeted their eyes, incredibly spacious, reaching several dozen feet in height. Lin Xuan used his divine sense to scan it and felt slightly surprised; this Seven Extremes Heaven was truly on a grand scale!
"Senior, this is where we are."
Lin Xuan looked around and saw that hundreds of cultivators had gathered at the center of the cavern. It seemed that this trading fair was indeed quite large.
"Senior, please feel free to browse. I must go and guide other fellow daoists; I'll take my leave now," Huang Yin maintained a respectful posture while speaking with Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan showed no reluctance and waved his hand. Huang Yin disappeared like a released convict, vanishing without a trace.
Lin Xuan paid it no mind as he walked towards the crowd.
There was a high platform built using the technique of turning mud into stone. Similarly, there were many seats below, though they seemed somewhat crude. Nobody cared about this.
Lin Xuan's arrival drew many curious glances. Most of the hundreds present were still at the Foundation Establishment stage; only a few were Core Formation experts.
Thus, after he was noticed, beautiful maids approached and led him to the front of the platform, where the best view could be had. There were only eight seats, none of which were crude imitations made by magic. Instead, they were carved from sandalwood, exquisitely crafted.
Even a small tea table in front contained divine tea and a few fruits.
The treatment was clearly worlds apart from that given to the Foundation Establishment cultivators behind him.
Lin Xuan sat down on the only empty chair. The other seven seats were occupied by six men and one woman. This ratio wasn't unusual; women cultivating daoism, aside from rare geniuses, faced much greater challenges than men. While it was common for them to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, successfully forming a core was incredibly rare.
They had seen Lin Xuan but knew nothing of each other. Their attitudes varied widely.
Some nodded with smiles, appearing friendly; others looked down their noses, rejecting everyone at a distance...
Others were openly hostile, showing no attempt to hide it.
And some simply didn't care…
Lin Xuan remained calm as the half-hour passed.
Suddenly, a flash of white light appeared and an elderly scholar leaped onto the platform. He raised his hand and bowed towards the crowd: "Welcome all to my Seven Extremes Heaven's auction. I am Li Hai Peng. The invited daoists have already arrived in great numbers; those who are late can wait no longer. If there is no objection, let us begin the auction."
The cultivators below had been waiting impatiently and naturally showed no opposition, cheering loudly. Li Hai Peng nodded to a female cultivator beside him.
She was tall and beautiful, though only at the Flexible Spirit stage, she attracted many gazes due to her appearance.
But observant individuals focused on what she held in her hands—a tray covered with a red cloth.
Lin Xuan remained silent as he used his divine sense to scan it, feeling slightly surprised; he couldn't discern what was beneath. The red cloth seemed no ordinary item.
Amidst the murmurs of surprise from around him, many cultivators shared Lin Xuan's curiosity and met with similar disappointments.
Li Hai Peng's face showed a hint of satisfaction: "Fellow daoists, we will now auction our first item—a top-grade spiritual artifact."
Top-grade spiritual artifact?
The Core Formation cultivators present didn't show much interest. The remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators mostly shrugged it off; after all, while rare, top-grade spiritual artifacts weren't particularly remarkable and often appeared in large markets. With enough crystal stones, acquisition wasn't a difficult task.
Perhaps this was just an appetizer. As the crowd's attention shifted, Li Hai Peng noticed their reaction with no surprise or disappointment, appearing confident.
He reached out to lift the red cloth from the tray, revealing a small blue sword: "Fellow daoists, hear me out; this Blue Ice Sword is extraordinary. It was crafted by ancient cultivators and has endured for millions of years."
Ancient spiritual artifact?
The crowd took interest as many Foundation Establishment cultivators leaned in.
"Furthermore, its creator likely had already achieved Core Formation. According to my speculation, the senior who created it must have had leftover materials from forging a soul weapon, thus crafting this blue light spiritual artifact. The proportion of copper and jade mother in the sword is at least fifty percent."
After Lin Xuan's assessment, the remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators were visibly impressed; even though the Blue Ice Sword remained within the realm of spiritual artifacts, its added magical materials significantly increased its hardness, sharpness, and power.
"Start bidding!"
Li Hai Peng was pleased with the progress. He pointed at the flying sword on the tray, which immediately floated up.
Then he clapped his hands together, igniting a ball of white-hot flames between them.
Primordial true fire!
With Li Hai Peng already at the peak of Core Formation cultivation, this primordial true fire had reached its pinnacle.
A gentle push enveloped the Blue Ice Sword in the flames. In the next moment, something miraculous happened; the sword's cold light flashed, not only undamaged but freezing the white flames.
"Hmm?"
Even the stout cultivator sitting beside Lin Xuan was visibly impressed. Freezing primordial true fire with a weapon was normal for a soul weapon, but a spiritual artifact?
There must be some trickery involved.
"This Blue Ice Sword is priced at two thousand crystal stones; each bid must increase by fifty," Li Hai Peng barely finished speaking when the cultivators below began their intense bidding war.
"Two thousand."
"Two thousand and fifty."
"Two thousand one."
"Two thousand one hundred and five."
The price skyrocketed amidst the rising voices, finally reaching a sky-high three thousand five hundred crystal stones, won by a young man in his Foundation Establishment中期 stage.
Though his cultivation was only average here, he displayed great wealth. It seemed that behind him was a powerful figure.
After the first item's auction concluded, everyone's interest was fully piqued. According to tradition, the later items were more valuable; this appetizer had been impressive, so what could be expected from the rest?