"Five million!"
"Five and a half million!"
"Six million!"
The moment the Golden Spirit Orchid appeared upon the stage—
the entire auction hall changed.
The calm atmosphere that had existed until now completely vanished.
True greed had awakened.
True desire had awakened.
The fragrance of the orchid spread through the enormous hall like an invisible tide.
Many cultivators felt their spiritual energy becoming more active.
Some even discovered that minor bottlenecks within their cultivation had loosened slightly.
Merely from its scent.
The value of such a treasure was obvious.
Yun Ruoshi stood calmly upon the stage.
A beautiful smile rested upon her face.
Yet inwardly—
even she was shocked.
Although she had already seen the appraisal report—
witnessing the crowd's reaction with her own eyes was an entirely different experience.
This flower—
was worth far more than the official estimate.
Much more.
"Six million!"
An elder from a large clan stood up abruptly.
His eyes had turned red.
"This old man bids six million!"
Before his voice had even fully faded—
another voice exploded from across the hall.
"Seven million!"
A middle-aged merchant immediately rose to his feet.
The elder's face darkened.
"Eight million!"
The merchant laughed.
"Nine million!"
The crowd was stunned.
The bid had already climbed several times beyond the starting price.
Yet—
there were no signs of anyone stopping.
Within the second seating section—
Han Qing Li looked at the stage.
Then at Lin Shuan.
Then back at the stage.
"...You picked that flower casually."
Lin Shuan blinked.
"Should I have picked it seriously?"
Han Qing Li became speechless.
Beside her—
Yan Feng Luo nearly choked.
"Casually?"
"That thing is already worth an entire city!"
Lei Hao Tian nodded solemnly.
"I am beginning to suspect your understanding of wealth is fundamentally broken."
Lin Shuan rubbed his chin.
After all—
the Primordial Garden had been filled with treasures like these.
Naturally—
his perspective was different.
Very different.
At that moment—
the bidding rose again.
"Ten million!"
The voice came from a medium-sized sect.
The entire hall trembled.
Many smaller clans immediately withdrew.
Ten million gold coins.
Such wealth could support an entire clan for decades.
The competition had officially entered another level.
Yet—
the truly powerful factions remained silent.
Watching.
Calculating.
Waiting.
Like hunters observing prey.
Above—
Jin Yu Chen slowly closed his jade fan.
His eyes remained fixed upon the orchid.
"Interesting."
The old steward beside him asked softly,
"Young Master, shall we participate?"
Jin Yu Chen smiled.
"Naturally."
"A treasure capable of assisting Form Shaper cultivators is worth far more than ten million."
The steward nodded respectfully.
Elsewhere—
within Sword River Sect's area—
Jian Xue Ning sat quietly.
The golden flower reflected within her sword-like eyes.
The elder beside her spoke softly.
"It would suit you."
Jian Xue Ning nodded.
"We bid."
Not far away—
Mo Xiao Lan had also become serious.
Even the Xuan Yun Sect Leader showed interest.
Treasures of this quality were rare even for them.
Especially one of nearly perfect quality.
Finally—
the first major faction moved.
A calm voice echoed throughout the hall.
"Twelve million."
Silence.
Everyone turned.
The voice had come from Golden Jade Pavilion.
Jin Yu Chen sat calmly while waving his fan.
The hall instantly quieted.
The first giant had entered the battlefield.
However—
another voice immediately followed.
"Thirteen million."
A wave of icy spiritual energy spread lightly.
Xuan Yun Sect.
Mo Xiao Lan's group had entered the competition.
The crowd erupted into discussion.
Two major powers had already joined.
The true battle had begun.
Jin Yu Chen smiled.
"Fourteen million."
The Xuan Yun Sect elder answered calmly.
"Fifteen million."
The atmosphere became increasingly heated.
Every new bid struck people's hearts like a hammer.
Then—
another voice echoed.
Cold.
Sharp.
Like a sword leaving its sheath.
"Seventeen million."
Everyone froze.
Sword River Sect.
Jian Xue Ning had finally spoken.
Her expression remained calm.
As though seventeen million meant nothing.
Jin Yu Chen laughed.
"What an aggressive woman."
The atmosphere tightened.
Three major factions.
One treasure.
The competition was becoming dangerous.
Even Yun Ruoshi's heartbeat quickened.
These were the moments every auctioneer dreamed about.
Meanwhile—
LinJian Sect remained silent.
The mysterious elder merely watched.
The flower.
Lin Shuan.
Everyone.
A strange light flickered within his eyes.
Suddenly—
he smiled.
Then raised one finger.
"Twenty million."
BOOM!
The entire hall exploded.
Twenty million!
Many people nearly stood from their seats.
Even Yun Ruoshi's expression changed.
The price had crossed another boundary.
Within the second section—
Yan Feng Luo stared blankly into space.
"Twenty million..."
Han Xue Long swallowed.
"How many gold coins even is that?"
Nobody answered.
Because nobody knew.
The number had already surpassed imagination.
Only Lin Shuan remained calm.
Though—
even he felt somewhat surprised.
One flower.
Twenty million?
That exceeded his expectations.
Inside the Dragon Pendant—
Tian Wuchen burst into laughter.
"Brat."
"You're about to become extremely rich."
Lin Shuan smiled.
That certainly wasn't a bad thing.
Not at all.
On the stage—
the numbers continued climbing.
Many spectators had forgotten how to breathe.
For ordinary people—
this was no longer an auction.
It was war.
A war of wealth.
A war beyond their comprehension.
The battle continued.
"Twenty-two million."
Golden Jade Pavilion.
"Twenty-four million."
Sword River Sect.
"Twenty-five million."
Then—
something unexpected happened.
Jin Yu Chen slowly closed his fan.
His eyes narrowed.
He was no longer looking at the flower.
He was looking at Lin Shuan.
Very carefully.
Because he had just received information.
The owner of the orchid—
was the masked youth sitting within the second section.
The same youth who had arrived on foot.
The same youth he had mistaken for a poor cultivator.
For the first time—
Jin Yu Chen's smile disappeared.
"A cultivator possessing treasures of this level..."
"Interesting."
"Very interesting."
At that moment—
Yun Ruoshi's voice echoed.
"Twenty-five million."
"First call."
The hall became tense.
"Twenty-five million."
"Second call."
Just as everyone thought Sword River Sect would win—
a calm voice descended from above.
Not from the ordinary seats.
Not from the great factions.
But from the highest private platform.
The mysterious black-robed figure.
The person whose identity nobody knew.
At last—
he spoke.
"Twenty-seven million."
Absolute silence.
Even breathing seemed to stop.
Twenty-seven million.
The number struck everyone's minds like lightning.
The black-robed figure remained seated calmly.
Like darkness itself.
Like a shadow.
No aura.
No emotion.
Yet—
his pressure seemed to cover the entire hall.
Twenty-seven million.
The moment the number appeared—
many competitors immediately withdrew.
Even Golden Jade Pavilion.
Even Sword River Sect.
Even Xuan Yun Sect.
Yun Ruoshi lifted her hammer.
"Twenty-seven million."
"First call."
No response.
"Twenty-seven million."
"Second call."
She inhaled deeply.
"Third call."
BANG!
The golden hammer struck the stage.
"The Golden Spirit Orchid has been sold!"
The mysterious elder-like black-robed cultivator had become its owner.
His identity remained hidden.
Even Yun Ruoshi subconsciously assumed he was an old wandering expert.
The first war of wealth had ended.
And its victor—
was the mysterious black-robed figure.
However—
everyone knew this was far from over.
The greatest treasures had yet to appear.
The excitement had barely settled when another assistant pushed a crystal platform onto the stage.
Golden light illuminated the hall once more.
Yun Ruoshi smiled.
A dazzling smile.
Because she knew something the audience did not.
The Golden Spirit Orchid—
had only been the beginning.
And the next treasure...
belonged to the same mysterious merchant.
Inside the hall—
countless gazes slowly shifted toward Lin Shuan's direction.
The storm of gold—
had only just begun.
The crystal platform stopped at the center of the stage.
A transparent crystal box rested upon it.
Inside—
lay a single violet leaf.
The leaf appeared ordinary at first glance.
Yet strange patterns resembling stars shimmered across its surface.
The moment the box opened—
a rich spiritual fragrance spread throughout the hall.
Many cultivators immediately felt their souls become clearer.
Their minds became calmer.
Their thoughts became sharper.
Even some elders widened their eyes.
Yun Ruoshi's smile deepened.
"Purple Heaven Leaf."
The hall instantly stirred.
"One of the legendary soul-nourishing herbs."
"Estimated age—"
She paused dramatically.
Then announced:
"Two thousand three hundred years."
BOOM!
The atmosphere exploded again.
Even the black-robed figure slightly shifted.
For the first time—
a trace of interest seemed to emerge from his motionless posture.
"Purple Heaven Leaf?"
An elder from a large clan stood abruptly.
"Impossible!"
Yun Ruoshi smiled.
"The appraisal has already been confirmed by Elder Wu himself."
No one doubted further.
Elder Wu's reputation was unquestionable.
Meanwhile—
within LinJian Sect.
The mysterious elder slowly closed his eyes.
Two thousand three hundred years.
Such a treasure was already capable of affecting Form Shaper cultivators.
Even Immortal Seed experts would not ignore it.
His gaze drifted once more toward Lin Shuan.
Who exactly was this youth?
Where had he found these treasures?
The questions multiplied.
"Starting bid."
Yun Ruoshi raised one finger.
"Fifteen million gold coins."
The hall erupted immediately.
"Sixteen million!"
"Seventeen million!"
"Eighteen million!"
"Nineteen million!"
The pace was completely different now.
Nobody wasted time.
The small clans had already been pushed out of the battlefield.
This was no longer their arena.
Only powerful sects.
Great clans.
And wealthy merchants remained.
The battle intensified.
Jin Yu Chen smiled once more.
"Twenty-two million."
Sword River Sect immediately responded.
"Twenty-four million."
Xuan Yun Sect joined.
"Twenty-five million."
LinJian Sect entered.
The crowd became increasingly excited.
This was what they had come to see.
The collision of giants.
The clash of fortunes.
The battle of wealth.
And yet—
above everyone—
the mysterious black-robed figure remained silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
Like a hunter observing prey.
As though he knew—
the greatest treasure of the night had not yet appeared.
And somewhere within the hall—
Protector Yi's unseen plan continued moving forward.
One piece after another had already gathered on the board.
Heroes.
Geniuses.
Sect leaders.
Merchants.
Future allies.
Future enemies.
None of them yet realized—
that this auction was far more than a gathering of wealth.
It was the beginning of countless destinies colliding.