Mirror God Fruit Tree saplings.
Chen Sanshi could not help but focus even more intently.
He remembered Sima Yao mentioning that this thing required 500 to 600 years before it could bear fruit, and each time it would produce only a single fruit.
It was extremely troublesome to cultivate, and at present the court did not even possess a spiritual field.
But it had to be attempted eventually.
Although there was no spiritual field, there were spirit pearls. Combined with certain special spiritual plants, it might not be impossible to create a patch of spiritual farmland.
Needing 500 to 600 years could only be regarded as a long-term investment.
Besides, Chen Sanshi had no intention of paying anyway. Naturally, he would secure it first.
In total, 4 or 5 people bid on the Mirror god Fruit Tree saplings. However, because of the harsh cultivation requirements, none were willing to offer too high a price. In the end, they were sold for 2,000 spirit stones.
The auction continued in an orderly fashion.
Nearly every item was priced far below the market circulation value. More than half of the cultivators present purchased items they desired.
Directly opposite Chen Sanshi's private room was a box of even higher specification.
Inside, a sinister-looking noble young master reclined against a chair made of deer antlers, gently fanning himself with an ink-painted folding fan. Beside him sat 2 Foundation Establishment cultivators.
One wore a purple Daoist robe—it was the alchemist Changsun Miao.
The other wore a black bamboo conical hat and rhythmically tapped his slender, pale fingers against the tabletop
"Young City Lord," the black-hatted cultivator spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse. "Is everything arranged properly?"
"Fellow Daoist Qiu Yan may rest assured."
Young City Lord Jiang Li raised his eyebrows lightly and said in a low tone, "Most of those invited today are stuck at bottlenecks, with no hope of breaking through. Upon seeing your sect's technique and regaining hope, how could they possibly not be tempted?
"Once they take the technique back and begin cultivating, it will not take long before the entirety of Northern Yang Dao becomes loyal believers of the Seven Kill Sect."
"Within 5 years, the objective must be achieved," Qiu Yan reminded him. "After 5 years, when the seal is broken, many Golden Core cultivators will likely arrive here. By then, the matter certainly cannot be concealed."
"That is only natural."
Jiang Li said confidently, "Your sect may rest easy. At present, the attention of those major sects is focused on the ancestral vein. They will not take notice of us."
"The ancestral vein?"
Qiu Yan let out a cold laugh. "Let them fight over it. As long as we obtain what lies within Dusk Valley, sooner or later it will all be ours."
"Indeed."
Changsun Miao took over the conversation. "The item is in the hands of the Bai family. It is truly a waste of a heavenly treasure. In the hands of any major sect, it could potentially produce a mighty figure capable of ascending to the upper realm."
"The time is about right."
Jiang Li rose to his feet. "It is time to move to the main matter."
The auction entered an intermission.
Having already gained considerable benefits, the cultivators waited in eager anticipation.
Before arriving, they had already heard that the second half of this auction was the true highlight.
There were also cultivators who knew more of the inside story and had deliberately calculated the time to attend only the latter half.
"Your Majesty."
His personal eunuch, Dongfang Jingxing, with the assistance of the Zhuxian Sect, had also entered the private room and transmitted his voice privately. "There has been an incident. Our recent redeployment of personnel to Heavenly Water Isle was leaked by a traitor. The traitor has already been executed, but I fear Northern Yang Dao may now be on guard."
"Mm, I understand."
Chen Sanshi neither showed anger nor reacted excessively.
When two armies confront one another, spies always move first. Mutual infiltration was perfectly normal.
Since the founding of the Great Han, Eastern Divine Continent had suddenly become calm. But that did not mean enemies no longer existed. It was merely that the various sects no longer dared to confront openly; their covert actions had never ceased.
Moreover, this time a considerable number of people had been transferred via teleportation array. Drawing attention was only natural. It would simply allow them to raise the banner of the court openly.
"But Your Majesty,"
Dongfang Jingxing said respectfully, "this servant fears that if something happens here, it may draw the Golden Core cultivators from the main peak of Daze."
"Little Zhuzi considers all angles on his first visit to Heavenly Water Isle. You show the bearing of a great general."
The Emperor of Tianwu offered a word of praise before saying unhurriedly, "This matter is simple. Immediately inform Qi Cheng to split off a portion of the forces from the canyon. You understand my meaning?"
"Your Majesty is wise. This servant will go at once."
Dongfang Jingxing withdrew.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao?"
Shangguan Siheng sensed something amiss. "Has something happened outside?"
"It is nothing serious."
Chen Sanshi said lightly, "The cultivators of Heavenly Water are accustomed to solving problems with brute force. A small stratagem will suffice. Fellow Daoist and I need only proceed according to the original plan."
"Very well."
Shangguan Siheng asked no further.
With three strikes of a bronze gong, the second half of the auction was officially declared open.
Under the gaze of all present, Young City Lord Jiang Li of Ronghua City ascended the platform. Closing his folding fan, he cupped his hands and smiled.
"I greet all fellow Daoists and seniors. The next portion of the auction will be personally presided over by me. The items to be auctioned will be of great benefit to all of you.
"Without further ado, let us proceed directly to the main event.
"The first item is a second-tier upper-grade flying sword!"
As he spoke, the female cultivator at his side cast a spell. Spiritual light flashed from her storage bracelet, and a 3-foot-long sword abruptly appeared.
The flying sword hovered in midair with a buzzing hum. Along the sharp edge of its blade coiled blood Foul qi, and in the center of the sword's body ran a vein-like streak resembling a pulsing blood vessel.
"This is the Blood-Drinking Sword."
Young City Lord Jiang Li introduced it, "Forged by Blood Refining Valley in Chaotic Desolation Yong Continent. It is especially suited for martial cultivators. During battle, it can draw the enemy's blood to replenish one's own qi and blood as well as True Force, allowing one to fight without exhaustion.
"Even if wielded by a spell cultivator, the power of the flying sword's killing technique will continuously increase according to the amount of blood it consumes. The price is only 2,000 spirit stones."
A wave of murmurs immediately swept through the hall.
"This is a demonic weapon."
"I've heard that to maintain it over time, it must be constantly fed with fresh blood."
"Yes. Isn't this kind of magic artifact explicitly prohibited under the laws of Heavenly Water Isle?"
Seeing the crowd hesitate, Jiang Li seemed to have anticipated it. The corners of his lips curled upward.
"Fellow Daoists, are you being a bit too pedantic?
"People may be divided into righteous and evil, but how can magic artifacts be so?
"If one uses an orthodox artifact forged by a prestigious sect to slaughter, does that not also become an act of evil?
"If one wields a demonic cultivator's artifact to slay demons and exterminate evil, is that not upholding the will of Heaven?
"In the end, it depends on how the person uses it. Is that not so?"
Many cultivators suddenly understood why this auction had been deliberately held in the mortal world.
After a brief hesitation, someone quickly placed an anonymous bid.
In the end, the Blood-Drinking Sword was sold for 3,000 spirit stones.
Immediately afterward, Jiang Li produced a second magic artifact. "The Myriad Souls Banner—surely everyone is familiar with it…"
The Myriad Souls Banner was also sold for 2,000 spirit stones.
Over the next dozen or so items, nearly all were various objects from the demonic path.
"Heh, these things are meant to beguile the human heart."
Shangguan Siheng commented, "Take the Myriad Souls Banner for example. Once obtained, very few can resist the urge to kill and refine souls. The Young City Lord is deliberately auctioning such items—his intentions are questionable. And I fear the true highlight has yet to begin."
Everything so far was merely groundwork—using relatively minor demonic artifacts to make cultivators more receptive to crooked paths.
During this time, Dongfang Jingxing also returned to the private room.
"Your Majesty, all has been arranged."
"Mm. Then remain by my side."
Chen Sanshi instructed.
At the same moment, Jiang Li's voice suddenly rose.
"Next comes the grand finale of this auction—and an opportunity belonging to all of you."
The crowd, having long been whetted with anticipation, held their breath.
"Buzz!"
Two jade slips appeared in Jiang Li's palm.
"Here are 2 sets of techniques. One is the dual cultivation siphoning art, and the other is the blood refining method. Both can be cultivated up to the Golden Core realm. And they require no spirit stones—free for all of you!"
The dual cultivation siphoning art and the blood refining method.
Both were authentic demonic path techniques. Simply put, they required continuous killing—using the lives of other living beings as fuel to strengthen oneself.
On Heavenly Water Isle, any cultivator daring to practice such techniques would be deemed a demonic cultivator, hunted and killed by all.
The moment these 2 techniques were revealed, the entire venue erupted.
"Young City Lord Jiang, this is going too far."
"Even if you dare to give them, we would not dare to cultivate them!"
"Isn't this sheer madness?"
An elderly elder of the Zhu family pushed open the window of his private room and spoke out.
"Young Master Jiang, you had better put those things away quickly. If the Demon-Suppressing Division learns of this and reports it to the upper sects, it will cause a great disaster."
"Elder Zhu, if I recall correctly, if you fail to reach Foundation Establishment within 8 years, your lifespan will likely be exhausted, will it not?"
Jiang Li transmitted his voice with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
"This blood refining method happens to resolve your bottleneck. As long as you are willing to cultivate it, within at most 5 years you can reach Qi Refining perfection. With your standing in the Zhu family, obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill should not be difficult, should it?
"Oh, let me remind you—after cultivating this technique, one is no longer constrained by age. Even if you are already 86 this year, your qi and blood can be restored to its peak state."
Upon hearing this, Elder Zhu's pupils flickered.
"A technique in this world that can break the limitations imposed by aging?"
"The world is vast. Wonders abound."
Jiang Li turned his gaze to another person and transmitted his voice again.
"In recent years, the status of your fourth branch within the Xu family has been declining. If you do not produce a few late-stage Qi Refining cultivators soon, I fear you will no longer receive resource allocations.
"This dual cultivation siphoning art leaves very little trace. Even if you cultivate it, your clansmen will not detect it.
"Fellow Daoist Li, your grandson—
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, you and your Dao companion—"
He continued transmitting his voice privately, always striking directly at the sore spot of each person present.
"So this is preaching on behalf of the demonic sect?"
Shangguan Siheng finally grasped the other party's intention. However, the cultivators were not so easily persuaded to begin cultivating demonic arts. They all understood one truth—there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
If the techniques were being given away for free, who would dare accept them lightly?
Jiang Li saw through their hesitation and spoke bluntly, "You misunderstand. The ultimate purpose of my hosting this auction is, naturally, to earn spirit stones.
"I also know that all of you are upright at heart. The reason you are unwilling to cultivate these techniques is simply because you do not wish to harm the innocent.
"But I will say it again—whether technique or artifact, there is no inherent distinction between righteous and evil. It depends on how the owner uses it.
"Therefore, I have already prepared everything for you."
He clapped his hands lightly.
Before long, a group of people were escorted onto the platform from behind the stage. Among them were young women and boys and girls.
"These people have all voluntarily sold themselves!"
Jiang Li declared loudly. "Whoever is willing to purchase them will receive a legitimate contract of sale. Thus, it does not count as slaughtering the innocent, nor will the Demon-Suppressing Division or the upper sects come investigating you!
"Moreover, I will continue to provide fuel for you in the future!
"Among these people, there are quite a few who possess spiritual roots. If used for cultivation, your progress will advance by leaps and bounds!
"They can even help you raise your upper limit!
"How you choose is up to you to consider carefully.
"Next, I will briefly state the prices.
"A boy with mixed spiritual roots—per person—
"A young girl with inferior three spiritual roots—the price—"
The cultivators began whispering among themselves.
After all this, it turned out to be the sale of cultivation furnaces.
And the prices of these cultivation furnaces were not cheap. If supplied continuously, it would indeed be a lucrative business.
Most crucially, even if the Demon-Suppressing Division investigated, it would have nothing to do with them. They would not have to bear any risk.
Very soon, anonymous bids began to appear.
And the number of these "cultivation furnaces" reached more than 1,000!
Even more had not been brought to Luoxia Manor. They were represented only by serial numbers and corresponding aptitudes. After the buyer completed the purchase, someone would deliver them to their door.
"Outrageous!"
Shangguan Siheng suppressed his emotions. "The missing boys and girls of recent times were indeed all the doing of the City Lord of Ronghua City. They are colluding with the Seven Kill Sect and even attempting to spread their doctrine in this manner!"
Once one began cultivating demonic arts, one would become addicted to the sensation of breaking through bottlenecks and advancing rapidly. There would be no turning back.
Over time, they would naturally become disciples of the demonic path.
In the past, demonic sects had guarded their inheritances with extreme jealousy. Yet this time, they had gone so far as to bring out techniques reaching the Golden Core realm. It seemed they were determined to demonize all of Northern Yang Dao.
At the corner of Dongfang Jingxing's eyes, a trace of viciousness gradually surfaced. As he looked at the boys and girls on the platform, it was as though he saw his former self.
In order to appear inconspicuous, Chen Sanshi consecutively purchased many young girls with spiritual roots.
Before long, the auction concluded.
The final sale of "cultivation furnaces" likely earned several times more spirit stones than all the previous magic artifacts combined.
"Very well."
Jiang Li concluded, "In the coming years, there will likely be many more auctions like this one. Fellow Daoists are welcome to attend often.
"Those who have purchased desired items, please do not leave in haste. Proceed to the Qingfeng Tower next door to wait."
Auctions of this sort were conducted anonymously. The items won were not delivered on the spot but distributed collectively after the event concluded.
After all, no one wished outsiders to know they were cultivating demonic arts. This mechanism served as a fig leaf—they could claim they had merely purchased the earlier orthodox artifacts.
At this moment, all items from the entire auction had already been gathered within Qingfeng Tower, awaiting collection by their respective buyers.