The Value of Demand
There was no guide, and no one blocked their path. While the name of the Yeongbu Merchant Guild carried weight everywhere, its influence on Seongam Island was far greater than in other places. Jekyeong was well aware of this fact, which was why he had made it a point to attend this particular auction.
"Right this way, please." Everything had been prepared flawlessly. They did not cross paths with anyone else, nor was there any waiting. Simply by following Yeon Jung-hyeok's lead, they soon arrived at a spacious VIP room.
"The auction will begin shortly. Please make yourself comfortable until then." Jekyeong sat in a plush chair and drank his spirit wine. He did not spare a single glance at the light refreshments prepared in the room.
It's no use. Jekyeong covertly extended his Divine Sense, but it could not escape the confines of the room even by an inch. The same was true for his Spiritual Awareness; here, he had to rely solely on his eyes and ears to grasp his surroundings. Having grown accustomed to perceiving the world through his Divine Sense and Spiritual Awareness, this restriction felt as uncomfortable as a healthy man suddenly struck blind.
As he tried to suppress this discomfort and looked around, his gaze was suddenly caught by the cup sitting before him. Reflected on its smooth surface was his own face—specifically, his eyes. Slit-like, vertical pupils stared back at him, brimming with a feral ferocity.
Damn it. Jekyeong closed his eyes in self-reproach. He had thought maintaining his human form was no longer a challenge, but the moment things became slightly inconvenient, his composure began to slip. He worried he might lose his temper during the auction.
What if that actually happens? It was no joke; it felt like a very real possibility. What if he was bidding fiercely for an item he wanted, only for some clueless rival to keep driving up the price? Just imagining it made his blood boil. Would he be able to maintain his human form in such a state?
Gulp, gulp. Jekyeong chugged his spirit wine endlessly and immediately picked up a second flask. Watching him from the side, the expressions of Yang Yo-hyeon and Yeon Jung-hyeok grew increasingly peculiar.
With his eyes closed, he continued to drink spirit wine to calm his mind, losing all track of time. What eventually roused Jekyeong from his deep contemplation was a clear, resonant voice echoing from below.
"I welcome all the distinguished guests who have gathered for the Yeongam Auction. I am Jwa Yu-min, and I will be your host and auctioneer today." Opening his eyes, he saw a beautiful middle-aged woman standing on the stage below, introducing herself with a picture-perfect smile. Deprived of his Divine Sense and Spiritual Awareness, he could not discern her cultivation realm, but her confident and poised demeanor suggested she was likely a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Well, it's finally starting. Looking around, he saw that the seats below were packed with cultivators. More than half were in the Qi Condensation stage, but there was also a significant number of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"Without further ado, let the auction begin." Jwa Yu-min's clear voice rang out, and the first item was brought onto the stage.
"First, we have Spirit Silk Sand, a highly versatile spiritual material. When incorporated during the Qi Condensation stage, it significantly enhances the durability of a dharma treasure and allows it to withstand much higher temperatures of earth fire. The starting bid is thirty low-grade spirit stones, with minimum increments of one low-grade spirit stone. Let the bidding begin!"
The moment she finished speaking, bids began to fly from all directions. The price, which quickly surpassed fifty, shot past one hundred in the blink of an eye and even neared two hundred. Jekyeong watched the spectacle with indifference. He had no interest in raw spiritual materials. He did not practice Qi Condensation techniques, nor did he have any use for dharma treasures, so even the finest spiritual material failed to catch his eye. He simply observed the gradually warming atmosphere of the auction hall with a calm detachment.
"Next, a mid-grade dharma treasure, the Soul-Suppressing Whip. We will begin at three mid-grade spirit stones."
"Spiritual material, Fresh Grace Tears. Starting at two mid-grade spirit stones."
The auction proceeded at a brisk pace. In no time, over a dozen items were sold. Half of them were geared toward Foundation Establishment cultivators, while the other half were for those in the Qi Condensation stage. Although Seongam Island was one of the major trading hubs in the outer regions of Yangseo Lake, Foundation Establishment cultivators were still relatively scarce. Furthermore, despite the wealth of the local cultivation factions, it was impossible to fill every single auction with items that would satisfy only Foundation Establishment cultivators. Thus, mixing in lower-tier goods was practically a standard custom.
"Next is the Auspicious Spirit Pill, an alchemical pill that every Foundation Establishment cultivator has likely heard of at least once. It has the effect of firmly consolidating the foundation of one's dharma power, making it highly beneficial for breaking through bottlenecks. We will start at ten mid-grade spirit stones."
Several Foundation Establishment cultivators who had maintained a relaxed posture until now sat up straight. Active bids immediately followed in rapid succession. The price, starting at ten mid-grade spirit stones, doubled in the blink of an eye and showed no signs of slowing down.
The obsession of human cultivators with alchemical pills and miraculous medicines is truly relentless. Watching the sparks fly in the bidding war, Jekyeong frowned slightly. He knew the Auspicious Spirit Pill was a fine item, but he wondered if it was truly worth paying such an exorbitant price.
"Is the Auspicious Spirit Pill really that precious?" Jekyeong couldn't help but ask as he watched the price climb to forty mid-grade spirit stones.
"There is certainly a bit of overheating," Yeon Jung-hyeok replied with a hearty chuckle. "Most of those people down there have no idea what items will appear later. Naturally, they try to secure what they need the moment it shows up. If they let it pass because they think it's too expensive, and nothing they want appears afterward, their trip will have been in vain."
Although Jwa Yu-min addressed everyone in the auction hall as "distinguished guests," the truly esteemed guests were not huddled together down below. Those common buyers had no way of knowing what items would be featured in this auction, let alone when they would appear.
"However, the Auspicious Spirit Pill is indeed a rare treasure. Most cultivators are solely focused on accumulating dharma power, only realizing the importance of a solid foundation once they hit a bottleneck. When that time comes, an alchemical pill like the Auspicious Spirit Pill becomes even more desperately sought after than a typical Realm-Breaking Pill."
"Indeed. In the end, the value of an item is determined by demand. To a cultivator stuck at a bottleneck, the price is of no concern." Hearing the explanations of Yeon Jung-hyeok and Yang Yo-hyeon, Jekyeong finally understood.
"Fifty-one mid-grade spirit stones! Fifty-one mid-grade spirit stones. Are there any other bids? Fifty-one mid-grade spirit stones... Sold!"
The Auspicious Spirit Pill was only the beginning. A succession of items capable of making any Foundation Establishment cultivator's eyes gleam were brought onto the stage. Among them were a few things that even made Jekyeong's mouth water, tempting him despite his predetermined budget.
"Next, we have a juvenile Split-Wing Fish. Once fully grown, it is highly suitable as a mount, and should a bloodline reversion occur, it even has the potential to become a Great Yao."
A large water tank was brought onto the stage. Inside was a small, six-winged ray. Looking utterly terrified, it rolled its eyes anxiously.
"Daoist Jwa! Isn't that a bit much? A bloodline reversion? Are you saying a one-in-a-thousand chance is still a chance?"
"Precisely. Who is to say that one of our distinguished guests today won't be that one in ten thousand?" Although mocking voices erupted from the crowd, Jwa Yu-min simply brushed them off with a playful smile.
"Let's not drag this out and get straight to it. A juvenile Split-Wing Fish. Starting at three mid-grade spirit stones."
Despite the skepticism voiced before the bidding began, the juvenile Split-Wing Fish proved to be remarkably popular. It wasn't because anyone actually expected a ridiculous bloodline reversion, but because the Split-Wing Fish itself was one of the finest mounts available in Yangseo Lake. It boasted an underwater speed that rivaled almost any aquatic beast, could take flight for short periods in an emergency, and possessed a long lifespan. Naturally, anyone who could afford one wanted to get their hands on it.
"Twenty-two mid-grade spirit stones!" As the bids climbed rapidly, Yeon Jung-hyeok and Yang Yo-hyeon covertly observed Jekyeong's reaction. They worried that seeing a fellow beast auctioned off might make him uncomfortable. However, Jekyeong's expression remained perfectly serene. It wasn't a mask, either; he genuinely felt not a single ripple of agitation.
The creature trapped down there was indeed a Yao beast, a fellow member of the beast race. But whether they shared a race or not, it was ultimately a stranger. Sympathy? Displeasure? What use were such things? If anything, his eyes gleamed as he watched the Split-Wing Fish command such a high price. He made a mental note to search his own waters for any Split-Wing Fish if the opportunity arose. To think a seemingly ordinary aquatic beast could fetch such a sum!
I should find out if there are other beasts that sell for high prices besides the Split-Wing Fish. Jekyeong quietly licked his lips as he watched the juvenile fish get sold for forty-one mid-grade spirit stones.
Even after the Split-Wing Fish, other Yao beasts were occasionally brought up and auctioned off at high prices. Jekyeong memorized every single one of them. The moment he returned to Heukgyo Island, he intended to have Hyeongu check if such aquatic beasts inhabited their waters. If they could find even one or two species, it would be a massive boon to his future spirit stone earnings.
Lost in these pleasant calculations, Jekyeong's eyes suddenly narrowed. Jwa Yu-min was introducing another item, and it was one of the key lots he had set his sights on.
"Next is the Precious Rippling Jade Liquid. It is highly effective in boosting a Foundation Establishment cultivator's dharma power. While its effects are most pronounced during the early stage, even mid-stage cultivators can derive some benefit from it. Furthermore, unlike other alchemical pills or spiritual items, this liquid possesses an exceptionally mild nature. There is no need to worry about building up resistance or accumulating toxins; one simply needs to consume it. It is truly the ultimate cultivation resource for early to mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators."
Jwa Yu-min's voice, which hadn't bothered him before, now sounded incredibly grating. With every flowery word she added, the price of the item would only climb higher. If he could, he wanted nothing more than to gag her flapping mouth right then and there.
Gulp, gulp. Emptying another flask to soothe his nerves, Jekyeong quietly observed the bidding that had just begun. Thanks to the generous amount of spirit wine he had consumed, he had regained his cool. The Precious Rippling Jade Liquid was something he had set his eyes on early on, so he fully intended to bid, but if the price soared too high, he was prepared to let it go without hesitation. After all, his spirit stones were limited, and there were several other items he had targeted later in the auction; he had to allocate his funds wisely.
"Twenty mid-grade spirit stones!" "Twenty-four mid-grade spirit stones!" The price climbed relentlessly. Foundation Establishment cultivators starved for progress had begun to open their purses in earnest. Although Jwa Yu-min's lengthy explanation carried a touch of exaggeration, it was entirely accurate on the whole. The Precious Rippling Jade Liquid could enhance a cultivator's dharma power without any side effects or risks, and even mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators could benefit from it. Such a safe and versatile cultivation resource was rare; it was a prime example of an item people failed to buy not because they lacked spirit stones, but because the item itself was so scarce.
"Forty mid-grade spirit stones!" Jekyeong, who had been quietly observing the flow, made his first bid. When he raised the price by five stones at once from the previous bid of thirty-five, a brief silence fell over the hall. But it was short-lived. Those who refused to give up on the Precious Rippling Jade Liquid gritted their teeth and continued the bidding war.
"Forty-one mid-grade spirit stones!" "Forty-two mid-grade spirit stones!" Although several people showed their determination to secure the liquid, the price did not jump as sharply as before. It was only natural. Forty mid-grade spirit stones was already a hefty sum, and they all knew there was still a long way to go in the auction.
Of course, the Precious Rippling Jade Liquid was a rare cultivation resource. Had they encountered an opportunity to obtain it on the outside, they would have fought tooth and nail for it. But inside an auction hall, the dynamics were different. With rare treasures seldom seen in the outside world appearing one after another, even a highly coveted resource was subjected to a cold, rational evaluation of its true worth.
The efficacy of the Precious Rippling Jade Liquid was exactly as Jwa Yu-min had described. Its mild nature meant any early to mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator could benefit from it. Viewed in isolation, it was undoubtedly a top-tier cultivation resource. But how did it compare when placed alongside other resources of the same grade? Most cultivators preferred rapid progress and dramatic results. Spiritual resources were no exception; cultivators tended to favor items with greater potency, even if they came with certain flaws or burdens. Alchemy itself was born of this very principle—combining various herbs into pills to minimize burdens and maximize efficacy.
In that sense, the Precious Rippling Jade Liquid was somewhat less appealing than other cultivation resources of the same grade. Because its properties as a single spiritual item were already complete, it could not be used as an ingredient for alchemy; it had to be consumed exactly as it was. While cultivators with tight purses might not have a choice, wouldn't wealthy cultivators who could afford same-grade resources prefer to obtain other materials and refine them into pills for consumption?
Many of the Foundation Establishment cultivators participating in the auction fell into the latter category. Their pockets were not bottomless, but they weren't shallow either, and forty mid-grade spirit stones was not an unbearable burden. However, they refrained from bidding aggressively, keeping the upcoming items in mind. They were merely testing the waters, trying to see if they could snag the Precious Rippling Jade Liquid at a bargain.
"Fifty mid-grade spirit stones!"