Unsold

The mysterious Golden Core cultivator paused briefly, his voice taking on an enticing tone as he continued. "Ziwei Palace is the most enigmatic celestial abode deep within the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, a sacred ground that even Nascent Soul grandmasters cannot afford to miss. "To obtain a single Ziwei Secret Talisman, countless Core Formation cultivators have racked their brains. One can easily imagine how precious the treasures within must be. "If any of you intend to enter Ziwei Palace to seek fortunes, now is your best opportunity. Once you miss this talisman of mine, finding another won't be nearly so easy. "Bear in mind that your cultivation has not yet reached Core Formation. Even if you come from prominent sects, your Nascent Soul Patriarchs cannot shelter you and bring you inside Ziwei Palace. Only by securing a Ziwei Secret Talisman can entry be guaranteed without mishap. "When Ziwei Palace last appeared, this seat was merely a minor Qi Refinement lackey, yet the turmoil stirred by those secret talismans remains vivid in my memory even today!" As he said this, the mysterious Golden Core cultivator's voice was tinged with nostalgia and emotion. Silence fell over the hall. No one suspected the mysterious Golden Core cultivator of lying. After all, this auction was organized by Yinshan Pass and held before a broad public audience. Yinshan Pass would never risk its own reputation to collaborate with a Core Formation cultivator in a falsehood. The real issue was that simply from this senior's description, the object was bound to be extraordinarily precious, and no one knew what price he intended to demand. Moreover, if they paid a staggering price just for something akin to an admission ticket, could they truly obtain even better treasures inside? It likely wasn't that simple. If Ziwei Palace were truly such a treasure land, why had this mysterious Golden Core cultivator put the talisman up for auction at all? What Qin Sang was thinking about, however, was his own piece of 'sheepskin.' If it truly was a Ziwei Secret Talisman as well, it was no wonder that no matter how he had tested it before, it had never shown the slightest reaction. Just as the mysterious Golden Core senior had said, only when omens of the spirit tide appeared and Ziwei Palace was poised to open would the secret talismans emerge to answer the call, touching off the struggle for entry qualifications. He had never imagined that the 'sheepskin' held such secrets. It had languished in a corner of his mustard seed bag all this time, and he hadn't tested it again since arriving at the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. A murmur of hushed whispers rippled through the hall. The Daoist who had won the Gold-Water Formation inquired cautiously, "From what this junior understands, those who have ventured into Ziwei Palace over the ages have always been Nascent Soul Patriarchs and Core Formation seniors. Even so, many seniors have perished inside. Clearly, Ziwei Palace must be fraught with countless perils. Even if Foundation Establishment cultivators like us managed to enter, we would likely face death nine times out of ten. Who among us would dare covet the treasures inside?" The Daoist's words voiced the doubts shared by everyone present. Ziwei Palace was definitely an exceptionally hazardous place where even Nascent Soul and Core Formation cultivators could not guarantee absolute safety. For Foundation Establishment cultivators like them, going inside was practically courting death. For a moment, everyone's enthusiasm waned drastically. The mysterious Golden Core cultivator proved patient and unbothered, letting out a soft chuckle. "Among those who entered Ziwei Palace in the past, Foundation Establishment cultivators were indeed few, but not entirely absent. "Having cultivated to your current stage, can it be you don't understand that fortune favors the bold? To wish for smooth sailing while expecting your cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds—where in this world can one find such good fortune? "Within Ziwei Palace lie numerous supreme treasures capable of defying the heavens to change one's fate and transforming one's mortal frame. Thousands of years ago, a cultivator at the False Core stage emerged from Ziwei Palace and achieved Nascent Soul formation in less than a century. "Furthermore, when your cultivation encounters bottlenecks, the wondrous elixirs and barrier-breaking secret arts you cannot find no matter how far you search can only be discovered within Ziwei Palace. "Whether to live a mediocre life or gamble it all on a desperate bid, you may weigh the choice for yourselves." A hush fell over the hall once more as the cultivators sat lost in thought. The mysterious Golden Core cultivator said no more. Having received his cue, Gao Yi announced loudly, "One Ziwei Secret Talisman! The senior has set the reserve price: a single magic treasure! Damaged condition is acceptable, with no restriction on type!" *Hiss...* The crowd drew in a collective sharp breath. Everyone had anticipated a steep price, but no one had expected him to ask for a magic treasure! A few people had initially been swayed by the mysterious Golden Core cultivator's words and harbored thoughts of taking a chance, but they were immediately scared off by this price. Even among Core Formation cultivators, not everyone possessed a magic treasure, especially those who had only recently broken through and were mostly running ragged trying to forge their first life magic treasure. Let alone Foundation Establishment cultivators. Besides, with an ethereal, uncertain opportunity on one hand and an incomparably precious magic treasure on the other, everyone could clearly tell which weighed heavier. Even if someone possessed a magic treasure, they wouldn't trade it away! Even a damaged magic treasure was far easier to repair than refining a new one from scratch. Once someone formed a core, they would soon have a magic treasure ready for use—a temptation far greater than Ziwei Palace. Unless one's path forward was utterly hopeless, driving them to stake everything on a single throw of the dice, no one would choose to make such a trade. Qin Sang relaxed and leaned back against his chair. He possessed the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner and the Primordial Concentric Rings, which counted as two magic treasures, but neither could be exposed to the light of day, nor was there any need to trade them away. In fact, even if his 'sheepskin' was genuine, he would have to wait until he returned to his sect and thoroughly investigated Ziwei Palace before making any decisions. The mysterious Golden Core cultivator had spoken evasively and left many truths unsaid. Ziwei Palace was definitely not simple. If the rewards and risks were disproportionate, there was no reason to risk his life. If a Ziwei Secret Talisman was truly worth a magic treasure, then perhaps... Stroking his chin, Qin Sang's thoughts drifted far away as he stopped paying attention to the auction. This talisman would almost certainly go unsold; he wondered if any fool would step up. Sure enough, exactly as Qin Sang anticipated, Gao Yi called out like a street vendor for a while, but not a single person placed a bid. In the end, he had no choice but to declare the item unsold. "It seems this seat will have to stay in Yinshan Pass for a few more days," the mysterious Golden Core cultivator said with a chuckle as he retrieved the Ziwei Secret Talisman, his tone completely free of disappointment over the failed sale. Qin Sang immediately realized the truth. The senior likely never expected anyone to buy the talisman here in the first place. He had presented it merely to spread the word and draw capable figures to the city. His true objective was the upcoming auction for Core Formation cultivators! Of course, if someone had actually bought it, trading one secret talisman for a magic treasure would have been pure profit anyway. *What an old fox.* Qin Sang cursed under his breath. Hearing Gao Yi declare the auction over, he stood up at once, squeezed into the crowd, and made his way toward the darkness. All along the way, Qin Sang's ears buzzed with voice transmissions. Many cultivators reached out in hopes that he would part with a stalk of soul-attracting grass, offering generous prices, but Qin Sang turned them all down. Once enveloped in the darkness, Qin Sang promptly switched into fresh robes and a different mask, completely altering his appearance. After carefully checking to ensure that no one had left any tracking marks on him, he stepped out. Emerging from the shadows, Qin Sang found that nearly everyone else had done the same, each looking completely unrecognizable. Some chose to leave Stone Island immediately, while the majority planned to linger for a few more days. As the crowd dispersed into the streets, Qin Sang walked inconspicuously along the roads. Having detected no pursuers, he found another opportunity to switch into yet another new disguise.