Chapter 721: Dharma Body Evolution, Vital Spirit Holy Fruit
The auction house gradually filled with attendees, yet despite the large crowd, it felt neither cramped nor chaotic—clearly designed with flawless precision.
At the same time, Mo Yu entered his private box and took a seat.
The chair was carved from fine jade, cushioned with soft furs that subtly infused the body with faint spiritual energy. Evidently, neither the jade nor the furs were ordinary materials.
The grandeur of this auction house far surpassed anything Mo Yu had witnessed in the Dou Qi Continent.
As time passed, the atmosphere in the venue reached a fever pitch. Finally, a pillar of light erupted from the center of the auction house, accompanied by the faint tolling of bells echoing through the air.
Countless eyes turned toward it.
Within the pillar, a white-robed elder materialized. His hair and beard were pure white, his expression stern and humorless, exuding an air of utmost seriousness.
Typically, such a demeanor ill-suited an auctioneer, yet upon his appearance, the murmurs in the hall quieted somewhat. Soon after, voices of admiration rose.
"This auction is being hosted by Master Mo Qing—its caliber must be exceptional."
"Indeed, Master Mo Qing is Shang City's chief auctioneer. He can discern the authenticity of any treasure at a glance. He doesn't preside over ordinary auctions."
"Looks like I came to the right place."
"..."
Mo Yu overheard the whispers below and glanced at the white-robed elder. He hadn't expected the man to command such renown.
"A Third-Grade Sovereign—decent strength." Mo Yu observed the elder impassively.
Shangzhi Continent was merely an ordinary land, excelling only in commerce. Strictly speaking, it fell short of even the Ten-Thousand Armament Continent. For an auctioneer, reaching Third-Grade Sovereign marked both high status and considerable power.
Amid the field of hushed discussions, the white-robed elder named Mo Qing surveyed the surroundings. His gaze lingered briefly on the upper boxes, including Mo Yu's, before he cupped his hands. "This old man greets you all. Today's auction shall now commence.
As many know my rules, auctions I host feature only ten items—but their quality will surely satisfy everyone."
The elder's words carried a hint of arrogance, yet no one objected. Clearly, his reputation and idiosyncrasies were well-established.
"Interesting."
Mo Yu smiled. This was his first encounter with an auctioneer of such distinctive character. Even Ya Fei, hailed as the Golden Empress of the Dou Qi Continent, paled in comparison.
Only ten items? They must have been meticulously selected, each of extraordinary value.
Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, the white-robed elder grasped his hand, summoning a globe of light.
Within it floated a small boat, radiating endless brilliance and faintly emitting spatial fluctuations.
"This is a Spatial Boat, a mid-grade divine artifact. It possesses no offensive capabilities, but at its peak speed, even an Eighth-Grade Sovereign would struggle to catch it." Master Mo Qing smiled faintly.
"Starting bid: thirty thousand Supreme Spirit Liquids."
The hall erupted in murmurs.
A speed-type divine artifact, mid-grade and non-combative—yet its velocity, surpassing even an Eighth-Grade Sovereign, stunned many.
With such an item, escaping pursuit or assassination became effortless.
Though lacking attack power, its speed more than compensated.
Mo Yu's brows lifted. He knew the Great Thousand World's artifacts divided into spirit artifacts, divine artifacts, and holy objects. A mid-grade divine artifact was already quite rare.
Yet for an Earth Supreme like him, it seemed somewhat inadequate, so he had no intention of bidding.
"Thirty-one thousand!"
"Thirty-three thousand!"
"Thirty-five thousand!"
"..."
In under a minute, the Spatial Boat's price surged from thirty thousand to forty thousand Supreme Spirit Liquids, after which bids tapered off.
After all, forty thousand was no trifling sum. Even an Eighth-Grade Sovereign would need nearly two months of nonstop refining to produce that much.
Not everyone could amass wealth overnight like Mo Yu, carrying a fortune of one hundred million Supreme Spirit Liquids.
Ultimately, the Spatial Boat sold for forty-five thousand Supreme Spirit Liquids to a gaunt middle-aged man.
Mo Yu let out a soft sound of surprise. Though he vaguely understood the vastness of one hundred million Supreme Spirit Liquids, acquiring it so easily had dulled its impact on him.
Seeing a mid-grade divine artifact fetch only forty to fifty thousand now made him realize the immense purchasing power at his disposal. He couldn't help but thank the Wind Emperor for urging him to extort the Blood God Clan.
"Hehe, in that case, the combined wealth of everyone in this auction probably doesn't match mine." Mo Yu chuckled, rubbing his chin.
"Haha, that one hundred million is likely decades of the Blood God Clan's savings—now all yours. It's more than enough to found a mid-sized force from scratch," the Wind Emperor laughed.
Mo Yu nodded with a light smile. Arriving in the Great Thousand World from the Dou Qi Continent penniless, he hadn't expected to strike it rich so swiftly.
Venturing here had indeed been the right choice—new challenges and adventures reignited the hot-blooded thrill of his youth, thirty years prior, when he roamed the continents as a boy.
"The second auction item..."
As bidding concluded, the white-robed elder summoned another globe of light. Within flowed a silvery liquid, like molten thunder slurry, arcs of electricity dancing as it moved. A violent thunderous aura spread, filling the hall with crackling currents.
"This is Heavenly Thunder Jade Marrow, condensed from the deepest depths of the Nine Heavens Thunder Pool. It takes ten thousand years for thunder jade to form this marrow. Among the ninety-nine ranks of Supreme Dharma Bodies, several powerful ones require this for advancement."
"Starting bid: thirty thousand Supreme Spirit Liquids."
Eyes locked onto it. The Heavenly Thunder Jade Marrow was no ordinary treasure, though its uses were niche—valuable mainly to those cultivating specific Supreme Dharma Bodies.
Mo Yu's silver eyes flickered, however. His Heavenly Tyrant Body didn't rank among the ninety-nine Supreme Dharma Bodies, yet its power rivaled those in the top twenty.
As for whether the Heavenly Tyrant Body could be strengthened or evolved, this was his first cultivation of it, with no predecessors to reference. He wasn't certain, but deep down, he sensed it hadn't reached its ultimate form.
Gazing at the Heavenly Thunder Jade Marrow, an idea stirred in Mo Yu.
Though a single drop might not transform the Heavenly Tyrant Body dramatically, it could test his hypothesis: whether external aids could further reinforce or upgrade it.
"Thirty-two thousand!"
"Thirty-five thousand!"
"..."
While Mo Yu pondered, the Heavenly Thunder Jade Marrow's specialized use didn't deter bidders; as a rare heavenly treasure, interest was high. In less than a minute, the price climbed to around forty-three thousand Supreme Spirit Liquids.
Mo Yu's hand rested on the jade armrest, surveying the room without immediate bidding. With his wealth, he could end it with a single offer—no need for back-and-forth.
Bids continued sporadically for several minutes, stalling at fifty-seven thousand Supreme Spirit Liquids.
The white-robed elder watched as the bidding ceased, pausing briefly before raising his hand to declare the winner—when a calm voice rang out.
"Seventy thousand." Mo Yu spoke flatly, jumping the bid by thirteen thousand drops.
Gazes turned toward him in surprise. Such a bold increment bespoke immense wealth.
But upon seeing the bid from an upper box, they fell silent. Access to those required thousands of Supreme Spirit Liquids just for the ticket—occupants were no doubt affluent.
Just as Mo Yu thought he'd secured it decisively, a nauseating laugh echoed, followed by, "One hundred thousand!"
The hall buzzed. For a niche item like the Heavenly Thunder Jade Marrow to reach one hundred thousand—and in a single leap of thirty thousand?
Even the white-robed elder paused, glancing between Mo Yu's box and the bidder's. His aged eyes flickered with understanding.
"Mo Yu, that's the Desire King bidding."
The Wind Emperor recognized the voice and said gravely, "He must have sensed your killing intent earlier, noted your box, and is now targeting you deliberately."
Mo Yu's expression darkened. He hadn't expected the seemingly lecherous, inept Desire King to be so perceptive. Truly, no Earth Supreme was easily trifled with.
"Hmph, a mere ordinary Lower Earth Supreme dares compete with me? Let's see who outlasts whom!" Mo Yu snorted coldly, then called, "One hundred fifty thousand!"
He carried one hundred million Supreme Spirit Liquids—not ordinary extravagance. He wondered what the man could muster against him.
Though Mo Yu remained composed, the bid of one hundred fifty thousand drew sharp intakes from the crowd below. Such a sum would bankrupt many.
"Oh? Impressive fortune—fifty thousand for a mere drop of Heavenly Thunder Jade Marrow. Might I know which friend this is?" The nauseating voice returned.
"No comment." Mo Yu replied indifferently.
The voice fell silent, its owner seemingly lost in thought.
Seeing no further bids, the white-robed elder's eyes flashed with disappointment, but recalling the windfall of one hundred fifty thousand, he smiled faintly.
With a wave of his sleeve, a bell tolled through the hall, signaling the Heavenly Thunder Jade Marrow's successful sale.
The auction proceeded.
Subsequent items included divine artifacts and divine techniques, each exceptional and sparking fierce competition. The atmosphere grew ever more heated.
Yet the "Vital Spirit Holy Fruit" and "Undying Corpse Saliva" Mo Yu anticipated had yet to appear.
This furrowed his brows. Had his intelligence been wrong?
Time ticked by in Mo Yu's anticipation. After the sixth item sold, his closed eyes suddenly opened.
For on the platform, a blinding radiance bloomed in the white-robed elder's hand. The glow pulsed with vital life force, enveloping the entire auction house.
A peculiar fluctuation spread.
The venue quieted momentarily, eyes fixed on the light's core. There, a verdant fruit radiated dense vitality, endless luminescence pouring forth.
Mo Yu's gaze shifted to the fruit, a curve touching his lips. At the same time, he sensed the Wind Emperor's surging excitement. The "Vital Spirit Holy Fruit" had finally emerged.
As Mo Yu watched, stirrings came from nearby boxes—gazes drawn inexorably.
"This is the 'Vital Spirit Holy Fruit.' Surely many have heard of it. It brims with rich vitality; as long as death hasn't occurred on the spot, even the gravely wounded can recover and reclaim their peak—a true lifesaving divine object."
"Its rarity needs no explanation from this old man. For this 'Vital Spirit Holy Fruit,' the starting bid is one hundred thousand Supreme Spirit Liquids!"
The elder's words instantly ignited vibrations throughout the hall. The steep price deterred many, yet covetous eyes lingered. Such a lifesaving treasure was exceedingly rare.
Even Earth Supremes felt its allure.
"One hundred five thousand Supreme Spirit Liquids."
Mo Yu's lips curved in disdain at the bid.
This was merely the starting price; securing it would demand brutal contention, with no telling where it might end.
But regardless, with Mo Yu's wealth and the Wind Emperor's favor, he would not let this Vital Spirit Holy Fruit fall to another.
(END CHAPTER)
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