Martial Saint with Passives

Chapter 497: Chapter 245: Assessment Results Out, Jiang Che’s Strength Exposed, and Elder Xuan Cheng’s Investigation

"Senior Brother Jiang might be quiet, but he doesn’t seem like a cruel person. We all joined at the same time, so he should be willing to help, right?"

"Don’t be so naive!"

But a more rational person poured cold water on their hopes. "That’s Myriad Phenomena Source Qi! It’s incredibly precious! I hear the stuff is extremely rare—once you use it, it’s gone! Senior Brother Jiang can probably only spare enough to cleanse one or two people at most!"

"What? Only one or two slots?!"

The atmosphere among the crowd instantly grew tense and anxious.

There were too many people and not enough to go around.

Everyone began to eye each other with suspicion and hostility.

...

Inside the room.

Bao Da asked, "Brother Jiang, what should we do? Just say the word, and I’ll send them all packing!"

Jiang Che shook his head. "I still have enough Myriad Phenomena Source Qi to cleanse one more person. It would be a waste to just keep it for myself."

"However... I can’t just give this slot away for free!"

"Go outside and do something for me."

Bao Da immediately straightened up. "Alright, Brother Jiang, just give me the order! I’d go through hell and high water for you!"

Jiang Che smiled. "Hell and high water? It’s not that serious."

"Go out and tell them there’s only one slot."

"To be fair, I won’t show favoritism to anyone."

"We’ll... hold an auction."

"Highest bidder wins!"

Bao Da’s eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

"Since everyone wants it, let them compete for it! Whoever has the money gets the prize, and no one can complain! Plus, we can make a fortune!"

"Brother Jiang, you’re a genius!"

Fired up, Bao Da immediately turned and left the room.

...

CREAK—

The door opened once more.

The once-noisy courtyard fell silent in an instant. Dozens of pairs of eyes were fixed on Bao Da as he emerged.

"Brother Bao, what’s the news? What did Senior Brother Jiang say?" someone asked impatiently.

Bao Da cleared his throat, put on a solemn expression, and announced in a loud voice:

"Everyone! Brother Jiang has said that his Myriad Phenomena Source Qi is nearly depleted. Now... there is only enough for one last person!"

"What?! Only enough for one person?!"

The crowd instantly erupted in an uproar, with cries of despair rising from all around.

Lin Xiao’s and Su Xiaoxiao’s faces turned deathly pale in an instant. ’Only enough for one? Does that mean we’ll have to fight for it?’

Bao Da raised a hand to quiet the crowd.

"Brother Jiang is a man of integrity. He doesn’t wish to favor one person over another and damage the goodwill between everyone."

"Therefore, Brother Jiang has decided..."

Bao Da took a deep breath and declared:

"This final slot will be sold in a public auction!"

"No matter who you are or where you’re from, as long as you can pay the price, the slot is yours!"

"Points, Elixir Pills, Weapons, Heavenly and Earthly Treasures—all can be used as payment!"

"The auction starts now! The starting bid... is one thousand points!"

The announcement hit them like a bomb.

The entire scene erupted into a frenzy.

"An auction?! Yes! That’s a great idea! It’s fair!"

The Noble Family Members from wealthy backgrounds were instantly overjoyed.

For them, any problem that could be solved with money wasn’t a problem at all!

But Lin Xiao and Su Xiaoxiao swayed on their feet, nearly collapsing.

"An... an auction?"

Su Xiaoxiao said despairingly.

In order to advance their Cultivation, they had already spent every last point they had, even selling off their personal jewelry.

Now completely broke, what could they possibly use to compete?

"It’s over... it’s all over..." Lin Xiao muttered.

This was reality.

Without power and without wealth, they couldn’t even grasp this final opportunity to change their fate.

Meanwhile, the fierce bidding had already begun!

"I bid fifteen hundred!"

"Two thousand! I’ll bid two thousand!"

"Twenty-five hundred! I have a family heirloom Jade that’s worth five hundred points!"

The price skyrocketed, quickly surpassing the three thousand point mark.

After all, this wasn’t just a cleansing. It was a chance to stay in the Inner Sect, a chance to change their destiny!

Faced with such an opportunity, any price was worth paying!

"Five thousand!"

A voice ground out, instantly raising the bid to a new high.

Everyone gasped. They turned to see a disciple from one of the wealthier continents, his eyes bloodshot. He was clearly putting everything on the line.

"Six thousand!"

Yet, before he could even catch his breath, another voice outbid him.

In the end.

After a brutal bidding war.

The single slot was won by a disciple from a merchant Noble Family in the Western Regions.

"Eight thousand! I bid eight thousand points!"

The disciple’s voice was hoarse as he roared out the number.

His strength may have been average, but he was rich!

For this selection, he had brought a large quantity of precious local goods, Elixir Pills, and Gemstones from his family in the Western Regions.

He had sold all of it in the Spirit Mist Valley, amassing a huge sum of points in the process.

Now, he was betting it all right here!

"Eight thousand points... any higher bids?" Even Bao Da was startled by the number and hurriedly asked.

The crowd exchanged glances.

Eight thousand points. That was almost the price of a manual for a High Tier Ultimate Technique!

Who could possibly top that?

"Alright! Sold!"

Bao Da declared, sealing the deal.

An ecstatic expression spread across the face of the disciple from the Western Regions.

’Eight thousand points to secure a position as an Inner Sect Disciple. Worth it! Totally worth it!’

’As long as I can stay in the Inner Sect, I’ll have plenty of chances to earn it all back!’

Amidst the envious and resentful stares of the crowd, the disciple was led into the room by Bao Da.

Not long after.

The door opened once more.

The disciple emerged, his face glowing with vitality and his steps light.

Although his Realm hadn’t broken through, the aura around him now flowed smoothly, the previous feeling of stagnation completely gone.

Clearly, the cleansing had been a success!

"Thank you, Senior Brother Jiang! Thank you for giving me this new lease on life!" The disciple bowed deeply toward the room before leaving, overjoyed.

Immediately after, Bao Da came out and cupped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute to the lingering crowd.

"Everyone, you can all disperse now."

"Brother Jiang’s Myriad Phenomena Source Qi is completely depleted. There’s truly not a single drop left!"

Hearing this, the last shred of hope for those who were still fantasizing was shattered.

The crowd stared at the closed door, their eyes filled with bitterness and regret. But in the end, they could only shake their heads helplessly and disperse in small groups.

Soon, only Lin Xiao and Su Xiaoxiao remained in the courtyard.

The two of them stood there blankly, staring at the familiar wooden door, a complex mix of emotions churning within them.

And yet...

They had been so close to this opportunity.

Separated only by a door, and by a past neighborly friendship.

But now, it felt as if an impassable chasm lay between them.

"Let’s go..."

Lin Xiao’s voice was hoarse as she tugged at the crestfallen Su Xiaoxiao.

"Time to go report to the Outer Sect."

The two turned, their figures looking bleak and desolate as they walked out of the courtyard, one step at a time.

This time, they were filled with true regret.

’If they hadn’t been so snobbish and distanced themselves from Jiang Che, if they had treated him with genuine kindness like Bao Da had...’

’...perhaps today’s outcome would have been completely different, wouldn’t it?’

But alas, there was no medicine for regret in this world.

...