Chapter 88 - 87: Cyan Cold Nether Water, Foundation Establishment Pill
Chapter 88: Chapter 87: Cyan Cold Nether Water, Foundation Establishment Pill
With a single bid, he raised the price by fifty-five Spirit Stones, completely shattering the previous rhythm of slow, five- and ten-Spirit Stone increments. It was a move that showed unquestionable determination.
On the stage, Liu Qingyi was momentarily stunned. An unusual glint flashed in her beautiful eyes before she announced in a clear voice, "The cultivator at Seat 12, Row 7, Zone C, bids three hundred fifty Spirit Stones! Any higher?"
The private box on the right, from which the most intense bidding had come, fell silent for a moment. Then, a voice laced with clear displeasure rang out, "Three hundred fifty-five!"
"Three hundred seventy!" Without a moment’s hesitation, Lu Zhao called out the new price the instant the other bidder finished speaking. His voice remained calm, yet it carried an unyielding, decisive edge.
This price far exceeded the conventional value of a bottle of Tier One High-Grade Nourishing Spirit Pills. A cold snort came from the box on the right, but it was followed by silence. The owner of the hoarse voice from the left-side box also went quiet.
Liu Qingyi waited a moment. Seeing no further bids, she decisively brought down the gavel. "Three hundred seventy Spirit Stones! Congratulations to this cultivator on winning this bottle of Nourishing Spirit Pills!"
A weight was lifted from Lu Zhao’s heart, but his expression remained impassive. He simply gave a slight nod.
After winning the Nourishing Spirit Pills, Lu Zhao felt even more composed. He waited patiently, and after another half an hour, the second item he had come for finally appeared.
This time, an attendant brought out a half-foot-tall Jade Jar. The jar was translucent, faintly revealing a dark, profound liquid inside that seemed to absorb all light. The moment the Jade Jar appeared, the ambient temperature seemed to drop.
"The next item for auction," Liu Qingyi’s voice grew solemn, "is the Cyan Cold Nether Water. This is a Tier One High-Grade spiritual water, gathered from the depths of the Ten Thousand Feet Cold Pool and tempered for a thousand years by the Earth Vein’s Yin Cold Qi. It is an exceptional Supporting Spiritual Material for refining Water and Ice Attribute Tier One High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, capable of significantly enhancing an artifact’s power. Furthermore, it is an indispensable medium for concocting certain High-Tier Cold Attribute Pills. This is a generous portion of Spirit Water. The starting bid is one hundred thirty Spirit Stones!"
’Cyan Cold Nether Water!’ A sharp glint flashed in Lu Zhao’s eyes. ’This is the key to upgrading my Hundred Waters Magic Disc! If I can upgrade the Magic Disc to Tier One High-Grade, the boost it’ll give my Water and Ice Techniques will be substantial.’
"One hundred fifty Spirit Stones!" Lu Zhao was the first to speak, immediately calling out a high price to intimidate potential competitors.
As expected, the room fell silent for a moment. While the Spirit Water was excellent, its applications were relatively niche, unlike the widespread demand for the Nourishing Spirit Pills.
"One hundred sixty." A deep voice called out from a corner of the hall.
"One hundred eighty!" Lu Zhao countered without hesitation, raising the bid by another twenty Spirit Stones and projecting an air of absolute determination.
This price clearly gave the other bidder pause. Though the Cyan Cold Nether Water was valuable, one hundred eighty Spirit Stones was a bit steep. After a moment of silence, no one else bid.
"One hundred eighty Spirit Stones! Sold!" Liu Qingyi’s gavel fell, and the precious Spirit Water was now Lu Zhao’s.
His objectives accomplished, Lu Zhao finally relaxed. For him, the rest of the auction was an educational experience. One treasure after another was presented as prices steadily climbed. Two hours later, after the last Tier One High-Grade Refining Material was sold, Liu Qingyi cleared her throat, her voice taking on an uncharacteristically solemn tone.
"Fellow cultivators, we will now begin the finale of today’s auction. The items to be presented are all Tier Two Spiritual Objects!"
The atmosphere in the hall instantly grew heavy.
"Our first finale item: five Fire Cloud Pills!" With a wave of her fair hand, Liu Qingyi produced a crimson Jade Bottle on the stage, its surface shimmering with faint, flowing patterns of fire. "This is a Tier Two Lower Grade Spirit Pill, specially refined to increase the Magical Power of Fire Element, Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators. A set of five. The starting bid is one thousand Spirit Stones!"
Liu Qingyi hadn’t even finished speaking when a gruff voice called out.
"One thousand two hundred Spirit Stones!"
"I’m taking these pills, no matter what!"
"One thousand three hundred Spirit Stones!"
"Old Ghost Wang, an auction is for the highest bidder!" an elderly voice called out from another private box.
"You..." The owner of the gruff voice seemed about to say something, but apparently thought better of it and fell silent.
In the end, the pills were sold to the owner of the elderly voice for one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.
Immediately after the Pills were sold, the Autumn Water Sword made its debut. It was a Flying Sword, cyan-blue from hilt to tip, as if forged from the very essence of autumn water. Spirit Light flowed across its blade, emitting powerful fluctuations of Water Attribute Spiritual Power. A Tier Two Lower Grade Magical Artifact! The starting bid was a staggering two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones! It was ultimately won by a female cultivator with a cool, detached voice for three thousand Spirit Stones.
Lu Zhao gazed at the Autumn Water Sword hovering in the air, feeling the immense Spiritual Pressure it emanated. A wave of complex emotions washed over him. ’The nearly four thousand Spirit Stones I scraped and saved might only be enough to buy a single Magical Artifact like this in the eyes of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. The gap between Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation is as wide as the heavens.’
Several more Tier Two Pills and Spiritual Materials were subsequently auctioned off, with prices ranging from two thousand to eight thousand Spirit Stones. One particular item made Lu Zhao’s breath catch in his throat: a Cultivation Technique Jade Scroll!
"An incomplete Middle-Grade Cultivation Technique—the Thousand Waters Spirit Transformation Skill!" Liu Qingyi’s voice was laced with temptation. "Although this technique only contains the Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment Chapters, it is a genuine Middle-Grade Water Attribute Technique. The Spiritual Power it cultivates is pure and abundant, and the power of its Divine Abilities is incomparable to that of an ordinary Lower Grade Cultivation Technique. It is fit to serve as the treasured heirloom of a Foundation Establishment Clan! Starting bid, three thousand Spirit Stones!"
’A Cultivation Technique! And a Middle-Grade Water Attribute one at that!’ Lu Zhao’s heart began to pound. His Little Spirit Rain Technique only had a Qi Cultivation Chapter; to reach Foundation Establishment, obtaining a new cultivation technique was a hurdle he couldn’t avoid.
The Thousand Waters Spirit Transformation Skill was practically tailor-made for him! However, a cruel dose of reality quickly brought him back to earth. The price soared, finally settling at the hopeless sum of seven thousand Spirit Stones! Lu Zhao could only watch as it was snatched up by someone in a private box on the second floor, a mix of complex emotions churning within him.
When the twelfth finale item was solemnly brought on stage, the atmosphere in the auction house reached its absolute peak. Without any need for an introduction from Liu Qingyi, all eyes were locked on the jade box, which was protected by layer upon layer of Restrictions.
"The final item of the finale, and the true grand prize of this auction—a single Foundation Establishment Pill!" Liu Qingyi’s voice held an almost sacred gravity. "This humble one need not elaborate on this Pill’s effects. The foundation of the Great Dao, the very line between mortal and immortal—it all lies within this Pill! The starting bid is ten thousand Spirit Stones!"
BOOM! The entire auction hall erupted into an uproar. The astronomical starting price of ten thousand Spirit Stones instantly ignited a fire in everyone’s hearts. A torrent of bids crashed down one after another like a tidal wave, and the price climbed at an astonishing rate.
"Eleven thousand!"
"Eleven thousand five hundred!"
"Twelve thousand!"
"Thirteen thousand!"
The bidding war was waged primarily between several of the private boxes. But surprisingly, a middle-aged man in the front row of the main hall, dressed in black and possessing a profound aura, also joined in. He bid with considerable force, pushing the price all the way to fourteen thousand Spirit Stones.
However, once the price surpassed fourteen thousand five hundred, the man in black fell silent. In the end, this Pill, a symbol of hope for reaching Foundation Establishment, was claimed by a private box on the third floor for the terrifying price of fifteen thousand Spirit Stones!