Chapter 80: The Auction at Shanggu City
Under the arrangement of Master Liu, Li Guanxuan and Qin Ji Yue stayed near the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Phenomena.
During this time, Li Guanxuan had little else to occupy him. Aside from daily cultivation and refining celestial energy, he would visit the Pavilion to instruct the first-tier talisman masters.
Since Qin Ji Yue acquired a mid-tier wind jade bracelet, she often spent her idle hours at the Pavilion, accompanying Master Liu, currying favor and displaying filial devotion, all in hopes that her master would look after her husband.
On the eve of the auction.
Today, a ninth-level Qi Refining sword cultivator, in his prime, was shamelessly locked in battle with the White-Haired Witch.
The White-Haired Witch moved with grace and poise, her figure like peaks gathered, water vapor condensing around her. She snorted disdainfully and pressed her advantage, unleashing her martial prowess with the technique “Raging Waves.”
The sword cultivator exclaimed at her strength, marveling at her terrifying power. He raised his hands to block the incoming peaks, his spiritual sense flickering as his sword shot from its sheath, employing the sword technique “Rainbow Piercing the Sun.”
“H-husband... Today, my master... told me...” Stammering, the White-Haired Witch, a formidable D-rank expert, bit her lip as if wounded, “Let me finish first~”
Seeing she might have serious news, the sword cultivator ceased his techniques, becoming, for the moment, a caged bird.
“Alright, speak,” he said.
The White-Haired Witch exhaled, sweat glistening, her breath steadying as she began, “Today, Master told me that the evil cultivator Fang Xingzhi has already slain a Foundation Establishment elder of the Yujia Beast Taming family—a bit of revenge for you.”
“Where did he kill him?” Li Guanxuan asked, astonished.
“Outside Huajing Celestial City,” Qin Ji Yue replied airily.
“He really has no fear of death?”
Li Guanxuan was genuinely surprised. The Yujia Beast Tamers were, after all, the rulers of Huajing Celestial City, vassals of the Hua family. For Fang Xingzhi, an evil cultivator, to kill an elder of a vassal house was audacious—even if the Hua family didn’t send someone after him, he would surely land on their blacklist.
From then on, any Foundation Establishment cultivator from Huajing Celestial City who encountered Fang Xingzhi would not hesitate to kill him and bring his head to the Hua family for a reward.
Even Master Liu had said, if the Yujia family were not vassals of the Hua family, she would have long since killed the Yujia patriarch and the infamous Yu Shaoneng, avenging her beloved disciple.
But whatever the case, Fang Xingzhi was a man one could trust in times of trouble—when needed, he would truly step up.
“He is, after all, an evil cultivator—it’s understandable. Evil cultivators are even more bloodthirsty and violent than demonic cultivators. When the killing intent strikes, they dig a pit and bury their victims on the spot.”
Qin Ji Yue recovered, teasing, “There’s more good news—do you want to hear it, husband?”
As she spoke, she blew softly into Li Guanxuan’s ear.
Li Guanxuan raised his brows. Though momentarily caged, he was not without temper...
He rattled the cage a few times, causing it to shake.
“Stop, stop... husband, please, I was wrong.”
The White-Haired Witch, seeing both whip and sword techniques approaching, paled and pleaded for mercy.
“What’s the good news? Speak,” the sword cultivator demanded, hands raised in pride, occasionally employing a grappling technique that left crimson traces.
“Yu Shaoneng has arrived in Shanggu City.”
The White-Haired Witch, her eyes half-closed and breath fragrant, continued, “Master said, if you wish to kill him, she can help set up the trap. The Yujia family will never find out.”
Qin Ji Yue knew Li Guanxuan well. Ever since she’d learned from her sister Wen Rongxin about the couple Chen Yinshan and Zhao Guili, she understood that as long as Yu Shaoneng lived, her husband would one day personally take his life.
“What is Yu Shaoneng’s current cultivation?” Li Guanxuan asked, eyes narrowing.
His hatred of the Yujia Beast Tamers stemmed entirely from Yu Shaoneng. His aim in targeting the Yujia family was to strip away Yu Shaoneng’s support, making it easier to kill him.
“Peak Qi Refining,” Qin Ji Yue replied. “Master specifically provided five Foundation Establishment pills to support the city lord’s auction—originally to smooth relations, since opening a shop on someone’s turf requires goodwill...
But unexpectedly, after hearing that the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Phenomena was offering five Foundation Establishment pills with a thirty-percent success rate, Yu Shaoneng rushed to Shanggu City, hoping his family’s patriarch would buy one for him.”
“Are you sure? Won’t this provoke the Hua family’s displeasure? They have a Golden Core master in residence...” Li Guanxuan asked again.
He didn’t want these events to attract attention from a Golden Core cultivator—it would place him in greater danger.
Qin Ji Yue cleared her throat and pinched her voice, imitating Liu Xiaoxian’s tone, “Peak Qi Refining—if he dies, who will care?”
Hearing this, Li Guanxuan’s eyes flashed with emotion. His heart brimmed with gratitude for Master Liu, who not only acted generously but helped him with many matters, now even willing to plot against the Yujia and Hua families just so her disciple could personally kill a mere Qi Refining cultivator.
“I owe Master Liu far too much...” Li Guanxuan sighed.
“So, what do you say? Should Master help set the trap? I’ll have to give her an answer tomorrow.”
“We’ll consider carefully and decide later.”
...
The next day.
Li Guanxuan entered the auction hall as a talisman master from the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Phenomena, with neither disguise nor concealment.
Previously, when he went to register for a jade entry token, two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators had checked and recorded his identity with magical devices—any disguise was useless.
Moreover, Master Liu had told him that the lord of Shanggu City wished to befriend him...
This confirmed to Li Guanxuan that the city lord was indeed drawing him out.
The interior of the auction hall was grand and spacious, exuding opulence. The floor was covered with meditation mats that blocked spiritual sense, and each VIP box only allowed silhouettes to be seen—true appearances were hidden.
Soon, an elderly figure appeared on the auction stage, smiling benignly, exuding a comforting aura, as if this kind of old man could never deceive anyone.
In VIP box No. 3, Master Liu introduced the guests to the Pavilion’s alchemists, talisman masters, and puppet masters: “This is the city lord’s advisor, named Ge Wen, late Foundation Establishment. His wisdom, strategy, and methods are exceptional.”
Li Guanxuan understood—the master was speaking for his benefit, warning him to keep interactions with this person to a minimum.
Ge Wen wore scholar’s robes, every strand of white hair tucked under a cap. He bowed to the crowd and smiled, “I am Ge Wen, advisor to the city lord, and will be hosting this auction today. If there is any inadequacy in hospitality, I ask for your understanding.
You have all heard that this auction centers on 'Foundation Establishment,' so no items below Foundation Establishment will appear.”
He then explained the auction rules. If anyone disrupted proceedings or deliberately drove up prices, the city would immediately intervene. In severe cases, execution on the spot.
“I tend to ramble—thank you for your patience. Let us begin. The first item is from the mysterious alchemist of the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Phenomena...”
He paused, glancing at VIP box No. 3, bowing and smiling amicably: “A Foundation Establishment pill with a thirty-percent success rate.”
Hearing this, the cultivators in the hall were invigorated. Many at the peak of Qi Refining had eyes gleaming, staring at the small bottle on stage, eager to snatch it.
“The effect of the Foundation Establishment pill needs no words from me. Besides this one, there are four more. Starting price: seven thousand low-grade spirit stones, with increments no less than a hundred.”
No sooner had Ge Wen finished than cultivators raised bids:
“Seven thousand one hundred!”
“Seven thousand five hundred!”
“Eight thousand!”
...
The bidding was fierce; nearly every peak Qi Refining cultivator fell into a frenzy over the thirty-percent Foundation Establishment pill.
Meanwhile, in VIP box No. 3, the alchemists, talisman masters, and puppet masters exchanged glances, their thoughts landing on the four top-tier alchemists, quietly speculating who might be the mysterious alchemist Ge Wen spoke of.
“Is it Master Cai? Unlikely... If he could make thirty-percent Foundation Establishment pills, he’d be shouting it from the rooftops; he wouldn’t be so discreet.”
“There’s a rumor the mysterious alchemist is a top-tier second-level—after all, third-level alchemists rarely have the time for this.”
“There are only four top-tier second-level alchemists present. Who could it be?”
...
Master Liu read their thoughts and laughed inwardly. Who would guess that the creator of the thirty-percent Foundation Establishment pill was a disciple on the verge of advancing to mid-tier second-level—a disciple who was her one and only.
Master Liu glanced secretly at Li Guanxuan, who was also acting, socializing with the alchemists as if networking.
Hmph, this boy is clever, but at least he’s filial... Master Liu mused.
In the end, the pills sold for just over twelve thousand spirit stones each. The second and third also fetched similar prices. The fourth soared to thirteen thousand.
Clearly, many cultivators had been waiting for later pills, not realizing others were doing the same.
The fifth pill finally set a new high, selling for fifteen thousand.
Afterward came a top-tier second-level magical artifact—a Sword-in-the-Umbrella, starting at six thousand.
“Six thousand one hundred!”
Li Guanxuan bid first.
Master Liu was momentarily surprised—what did Li Guanxuan want with this artifact? Then she remembered: Qin Ji Yue was adept with such artifacts. Li Guanxuan must be buying it for his wife.
“Six thousand three hundred!”
“Six thousand four...”
...
“Seven thousand!”
Li Guanxuan gave no chance for others to bid, raising the price straight to seven thousand.
The Pavilion’s alchemists, talisman masters, and puppet masters looked at him in shock.
This Li Talisman Master... was he at odds with spirit stones?
Master Liu paid it no mind. Her precious disciple was renowned for doting on his wife; even if he overpaid by a thousand or two, he wouldn’t blink. After all, his storage bag held a thousand mid-grade spirit stones.
“Seven thousand one hundred!”
“Eight thousand!”
Li Guanxuan wouldn’t back down.
“Are you an artifact cultivator, friend? If so, I’ll withdraw.”
A voice from VIP box No. 5 inquired.
“Yes, I am,” Li Guanxuan replied.
“Eight thousand five hundred,” came the reply. “You’re not being honest—what artifact cultivator would the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Phenomena employ, given their business acumen?”
“Nine thousand,” Li Guanxuan said. “Since you know the Pavilion excels at commerce, you should know their guest cultivators lack nothing in spirit stones.”
He winked at the Pavilion’s cultivators and whispered, “This is my last spirit stone. If he raises the price again, I hope you’ll lend me some—can’t let him win in momentum.”
The crowd laughed—so Li Talisman Master was putting on airs.
Master Liu snorted inwardly. The boy wanted the Sword-in-the-Umbrella but didn’t want to attract too much attention, so he made such a statement.
“Nine thousand five.”
“One thousand.”
But as Li Guanxuan bid ten thousand, the VIP box No. 5 laughed, “Enough. I don’t fancy this artifact—let you have it.”
Li Guanxuan was stunned—was this person simply mocking him?
He didn’t get angry and instead asked Master Liu, “Manager Liu, is this person deliberately disrupting and driving up the price?”
Master Liu was furious, slapping the chair arm, “First he says he'll let you have it, then he raises the price by two thousand and claims not to like it—are you playing games? Ge Wen, what’s the meaning of this? Explain yourself!”
“Please calm down, Manager Liu...” Ge Wen bowed hurriedly, his muddy eyes flashing with sharpness as he looked toward VIP box No. 5, speaking coldly, “Do you disregard the rules of Shanggu City? This is your warning—offend again and you’re expelled.”
“Apologies, apologies—just didn’t like the high price, nothing more. My fault, all my fault, I didn’t explain myself... Please forgive me, friend.”
The apology from VIP box No. 5 was anything but sincere.
Ge Wen snorted and said, “Top-tier second-level artifact, Sword-in-the-Umbrella, price reset to eight thousand. Box No. 3 bids; Box No. 5 cannot participate.”
With this, those who hadn’t bid before kept silent.
In the end, Li Guanxuan secured the Sword-in-the-Umbrella for eight thousand.
“The third item—a top-tier second-level spirit beast...”
The auction continued, but these items no longer held much appeal for Li Guanxuan.
Soon, a female cultivator delivered the Sword-in-the-Umbrella to VIP box No. 3.
Li Guanxuan verified it, then paid eighty mid-grade spirit stones.
As for conversion, Shanggu City would handle it.
After a series of techniques, talisman slips, and three- or four-hundred-year-old spiritual herbs, the auction finally reached the late second-level demon core.
“This is the demon core of a late second-level Azure Lightning Leopard, with balanced attributes. Starting price: fifteen hundred spirit stones, increments no less than fifty.”
Ge Wen finished, his gaze brushing over VIP box No. 3.
Through his research on the Pavilion’s Foundation Establishment pills, he discovered the mysterious alchemist had remarkable skill. Thirty percent was certainly not their limit—given high-quality materials, they could even produce pills with a thirty-five percent success rate!
This was why Ge Wen had advised the city lord to acquire several late second-level demon cores...
After all, of everyone's identity, the city lord understood best. If the Pavilion’s alchemist bid on these items, it might help reveal the mysterious alchemist.
“One thousand six hundred.”
A voice sounded from VIP box No. 3!
Ge Wen perked up, then his expression grew strange.
It was him?
(End of the chapter)