Sheepskin

The auction had begun at the Hai hour and was now past the middle of the Chou hour. With the soul-attracting grass in hand, Qin Sang had no more worries and joined the bidding with ease. He ended up exhausting most of his spirit stones, securing several kinds of spirit wood and a top-grade magic tool called the Yellow Sand Banner before the auction drew toward its close. Money spent could always be earned back. Using spirit stones to bolster his strength was the proper path—hoarding them would hardly make them multiply on their own. This magic tool required no lengthy preparation. Once spurred by spiritual power, it conjured a murky yellow Domain of Wild Sand. Within the area enveloped by this domain, sand and stones flew wildly, swirling clouds of dust rose on all sides, and the tempest shifted unpredictably. If an opponent fell into the yellow sand and their spiritual sense was tainted by it, they would feel dizzy and sluggish, able to faintly sense only a small area immediately around them, as if trapped in an illusion formation. Its flaw was that once deployed, the banner could not be moved, or else the Domain of Wild Sand would collapse on its own. Moreover, the tool itself possessed no lethal offensive might. Qin Sang had spent three thousand spirit stones to win this magic tool with a clear purpose in mind. His current combat strategy was tailored around the tools at his disposal. Among his offensive trump cards, both the silver knife talisman treasure and the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner required a certain amount of time to prepare. Therefore, when encountering an enemy, seizing the initiative was ideal. If he found no chance for an ambush or was ambushed himself, and his baleful corpse and ebony sword could not resolve the opponent, he could only rely on the Nine Dragons Heavenly Chariot Talisman to disengage, pull away by a safe distance, ready his treasures, and look for an opportunity to strike back. Yet if an opponent was exceptionally well prepared and left him no opening to flee, Qin Sang would be caught in a tight spot. The Yellow Sand Banner served as the perfect supplement. Qin Sang did not need it to kill enemies; it only had to make them wary and deter them from mounting a full-scale assault while he hid within the yellow sand, buying precious time to prepare his talisman treasure or ghost banner. Apart from that, most of the spirit wood Qin Sang had acquired was traded from other cultivators who, running short of spirit stones during the bidding, sold their materials on the spot. Combined with the Falling Phoenix Vine and the Water-Skimming Wood, the ebony sword would absorb these spirit woods. Though its strength still would not suffice to support a third killing talisman, at least he would not have to worry about his cultivation being held back by the ebony sword anytime soon. Qin Sang was already very satisfied with these gains. As the items put up for auction grew increasingly precious and far beyond his means, he settled down to simply enjoy the spectacle. Once the auction ended and he attended the secret market, he would leave Yinshan Pass. Priceless treasures appeared in succession, bringing one climax after another. The emotions of the cultivators had been thoroughly stoked. As the auction neared its conclusion and the treasures became rarer, the contention grew fiercely intense, with the feverish atmosphere threatening to blow the roof off the hall. Among the lots was an actual live egg of a soaring cloud eagle! The soaring cloud eagle was a formidable flying demon beast that possessed the strength of the Demon Spirit stage upon reaching maturity, with a certain chance of breaking through even further. Demon beast eggs were exceedingly rare and precious. Raising a soaring cloud eagle from infancy would yield a fiercely loyal spirit beast. Unlike an adult soaring cloud eagle subdued by force, it was very unlikely to ever turn against its master. The soaring cloud eagle was blazingly swift, coming and going like the wind. Its physique was robust, and its talons were extraordinarily sharp, rivaling magic tools. Whether serving as an ally in battle or as a mount, it was a truly prized spirit beast. Among Old Man Dique's relics, the insights left behind by that Core Formation cultivator from the Yuling Sect contained the rearing methods for a soaring cloud eagle. If raised properly, there was a fair chance it could break through to the late Demon Spirit stage, equivalent to the combat strength of a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. Seeing the soaring cloud eagle egg, Qin Sang was naturally tempted. But after placing two bids, he was deterred by the fierce competition. Unless he brought out the Blood-Dripping Ghost Mushroom, his remaining spirit stones would never be enough. Without hesitation, Qin Sang chose not to do so. For one thing, a soaring cloud eagle had a very long growth cycle, and raising it was exceedingly troublesome. It would surely affect his own cultivation, and he lacked the leisure to dedicate himself to tending a spirit beast. Even if he truly waited until the soaring cloud eagle matured, Qin Sang might have already formed his Core by then, rendering the combat strength of a mere Foundation Establishment stage beast rather trivial. For another, Qin Sang could refine baleful corpses to serve as his helpers, so his need for a spirit beast was hardly pressing. Still, a wisp of regret lingered in his heart. Such was the dream of immortal elegance. His wish of sword flight had already been fulfilled. Yet roaming leisurely, riding a crane down south to Jiangnan—when would that dream ever come true? Following the soaring cloud eagle egg, precious pills, three talisman treasures, and two sets of restriction implements appeared in succession, pushing the excitement to its zenith. Finally, a set of seven-times-seven, forty-nine mother-and-child formation flags capable of serving as a sect-protecting grand formation was auctioned off as the grand finale. The Daoist priest claimed it for an astonishing price. After that, no young woman emerged from the darkness. Just as everyone thought the auction was about to end, still longing for more, Gao Yi smiled and spoke in a clear voice, "Many thanks to all fellow Daoists for your enthusiastic support. For this auction to conclude so smoothly means I have not failed the city lord's heavy trust. In addition, there is one more matter that requires everyone to linger for a brief moment. Please remain calm. Originally, the Gold-Water Formation was slated as the final lot. However, a senior at the Core Formation stage heard of our auction and, on a whim, decided to offer a treasure to join in the fun. Whether you can seize the chance to take this treasure will depend entirely on your own capabilities!" Amid countless surprised gazes, Gao Yi turned toward the darkness, cupped his hands, and said respectfully, "Senior, please entrust the treasure to this junior." As soon as Gao Yi's words fell, a buzz of discussion rippled across the hall, leaving everyone deeply astonished. Rumor had it that after the trade fair on Stone Island concluded, Yinshan Pass hosted an auction exclusively for Core Formation cultivators. It was renowned throughout the Lesser Cold Domain, brimming with countless wondrous treasures and the subject of many legends. Why would this Core Formation cultivator skip that auction and come here to join in the fray? It had to be admitted that even at the False Core stage, the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment, the chasm separating one from the Core Formation stage remained insurmountable. A figure as strong as Gao Yi could only refer to himself as a junior. Barring special circumstances, disparity in strength directly dictated wealth. Even for an exceptional treasure, it was difficult to fetch a price that would satisfy a Core Formation cultivator here. Yet after their bewilderment, excitement surged even higher through the crowd! A treasure coming from the hands of a Core Formation cultivator and handled so solemnly by Gao Yi was bound to be extraordinary. Gao Yi bowed and waited quietly. A moment later, a ripple disturbed the darkness, and a wooden box drifted out slowly. Gao Yi received the wooden box with utmost care. Glancing around beneath countless expectant eyes, he gently opened the box and tilted it slightly, displaying the treasure inside for everyone to see. To everyone's surprise, what lay inside was neither a formidable magic tool or talisman treasure, nor a rare and wondrous elixir. There was only a single, plain object that looked utterly unremarkable. A piece of sheepskin! No treasure light radiated from the sheepskin, nor was there any writing upon it. It looked completely ordinary. Qin Sang had originally watched with the detachment of an idle spectator, but the sight of this sheepskin caused his heart to thump violently. Behind his mask, his pupils contracted slightly, and he straightened up instinctively. This piece of sheepskin looked remarkably similar to the one he had stripped from the corpse of the black-robed fiend on the banks of the Chenshui River!