Tianyou City.
One of the two grand passes controlled by the demonic sects, it was not far from Yinshan Pass and shared a somewhat similar landscape. The difference was that Tianyou City's fortress was built on an island in a marsh, rather than atop ancient trees.
Countless cultivators gathered in Tianyou City. Especially under the current circumstances, when many dared not leave the pass, there was naturally no shortage of auctions of all sizes.
In the southeastern corner of Tianyou City, inside a massive courtyard, the front gates stood wide open. Two masked figures guarded either side of the entrance, and every now and then, black-robed figures walked into the compound.
Strangely, they did not enter the rooms in the back, but instead made their way toward an octagonal pavilion in the middle of the courtyard.
The moment they stepped into the pavilion, their figures vanished without a trace.
Only those with profound cultivation could catch the thread-like slivers of silver light flashing in the pavilion at that instant—the fluctuation of a restriction—revealing that the pavilion held a world of its own within.
As night deepened, fewer and fewer people entered the compound.
Just as the two guards were preparing to shut the gates, a figure hurried toward the courtyard with swift steps.
The newcomer wore a face-concealing black robe—a magic tool capable of blocking spiritual sense. To the naked eye, one could not tell whether the figure was male or female, nor could one sense their cultivation.
The two guards exchanged a glance. One of them stepped forward, raising a hand to bar the way. "Fellow Daoist, please halt!"
The newcomer stopped, looked left and right, and asked in a puzzled voice, "Isn't the auction today?"
The guard cleared his throat and explained, "The auction is indeed today... but for your information, Fellow Daoist, our master has ordered that all guests attending the auction must have their qualifications verified. Might you possess a token?"
"A token?"
The newcomer said displeasedly, "I have long heard of the auctions hosted by Mister Kan and held him in high esteem, but I have never heard that one needs a token to enter! Do you mean to say every single person who entered before me had one? Are you deliberately making things difficult for this old man?"
The guard waved his hands, hastily explaining:
"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare...
"Fellow Daoist, do not misunderstand. We only asked because our master did indeed issue tokens, and everyone who received one is our honored guest...
"Naturally, one can still attend without a token. However, as our master's reputation has spread far and wide, more and more fellow Daoists have come to attend the auctions.
"Our master is flattered, but unfortunately, due to space limitations, we cannot accommodate everyone. This auction in particular is of great importance, featuring rare and precious treasures that have drawn many elusive seniors.
"Helpless, our master had no choice but to set a rule: anyone wishing to attend must either present one thousand low-grade spirit stones or have broken through to the tenth layer of the Qi Refinement stage.
"Rest assured, the treasures at the auction will certainly not disappoint you. We ask for your understanding."
Hearing the explanation, the newcomer's tone softened. Giving a low "Mhm," the figure released their cultivation aura and asked softly, "Will this suffice?"
"Late Foundation Establishment!"
The guards' expressions shifted slightly. Both bowed in respect, their voices turning utterly deferential. "Senior's arrival brings immense honor to our humble establishment! You automatically qualify as a VIP guest. Please allow me to escort you to a private VIP room. Should Senior have any other needs, our establishment will do everything to accommodate you."
"No need!"
The newcomer waved a hand. "This old man is accustomed to sitting in the main hall to enjoy the bustle. Hiding away in a private room is no fun at all. Just lead me directly to the hall. I heard the auction starts at midnight, and the hour is almost upon us. Don't delay my important business."
"This..."
The guards looked at each other, at a loss for words. One of them had no choice but to take the lead, guiding the newcomer into the pavilion.
Stepping into the pavilion, the scenery before them shifted abruptly, and they appeared inside an exquisitely decorated grand hall.
The hall was divided into three tiers. The ground floor was lined with rows of seats, currently bustling with noise. Most of the seats were occupied by cultivators whose cultivation was at least at the tenth layer of the Qi Refinement stage.
The second and third tiers were extremely quiet, made up of individual private boxes. In front of each box hung a veil of gray mist. Looking up from the hall, one could only see a hazy blur, unable to discern who sat inside.
This mist was one effect of the hall's spirit formation.
Furthermore, along the surrounding walls of the hall, sharp golden beams of divine light flickered with a chilling, killing aura, constantly keeping the auction attendees on their guard.
The guard was about to lead the newcomer toward the front seats, but the newcomer merely swept a gaze across the room, waved the guard away, and sat down directly in an inconspicuous corner at the very back.
"You may leave. Tell your Mister Kan that there is no need to give this old man special treatment. As long as the auction satisfies me, I will naturally return in the future, without needing any token."
Helpless, the guard could only chalk it up to an eccentricity of this senior and withdrew on his own.
Little did he know, the spot this person had chosen afforded an unobstructed view of the entire auction.
He sat there quietly without interacting with anyone, exuding an aura that warned strangers to keep their distance. Silently, his gaze swept across the cultivators in the hall one by one, as though searching for something.
In the end, he leaned back against the chair, closing his eyes to rest his spirit, waiting patiently for the auction to begin.
The hour of midnight arrived.
The auction began.
Mister Kan was a refined, scholarly middle-aged man. With just a few words, he made people feel as comfortable as if bathed in a spring breeze, making one realize why he held such a reputation in Tianyou City.
Mister Kan conducted matters with seasoned skill. In a mere few words, he finished going over the preliminaries and declared the auction open.
Immediately after, precious treasures were auctioned off one after another like flowing water.
Under Mister Kan's subtle guidance, the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly fervent. Bids rose one after another, and items fetched high prices in succession.
Strangely, from the moment the auction began, the person sitting in the corner remained leaning back against his chair as if sound asleep; none of the treasures could pique his interest in the slightest.
Keeping an eye on the entire room, Mister Kan's gaze brushed over this person intentionally or otherwise, a flicker of doubt passing deep within his eyes.
He had already received word from his subordinates and knew of the person's late Foundation Establishment cultivation.
In the world of immortal cultivation, late Foundation Establishment was already among the ranks of experts. Befriending a late Foundation Establishment expert brought considerable benefits to the auction house, and Mister Kan naturally did not want to miss the opportunity.
He was adept at catering to people's desires. In an auction especially, no matter how shrewd or calculating a person was, it was hard to hide their interest when encountering something they truly wanted.
Yet this person had not moved an inch, remaining completely impervious.
Could it be that these treasures are too mundane, and this person hails from an extraordinary background, looking down on all of them?
Mister Kan's hands did not falter, and he continued conducting the auction methodically. As these thoughts turned in his mind, he could not help but sneer inwardly.
If it were in the past, he would have been at his wit's end dealing with someone like this.
But this time was different. Among the upcoming auction items, there were indeed several treasures worthy of being called genuine rarities—items he had accumulated over many years, hoping to make a stunning impression!
I'd like to see just how long you can keep this up!
Mister Kan withdrew his gaze, paying the person no more attention. Just then, a precious crown sold for a high price, and raising his voice, he seized the momentum to push the atmosphere in the hall to yet another climax.
Chapter 414