Black Flame Fusion Spirit Pill Shocks the Crowd, Qingci Takes Control
Mu Xueyi's lovely face turned icy cold, her voice like eternal frost: "Put away those wicked thoughts of yours. There's no way in hell I'd ever wear something so... so depraved! Give it up now! And besides, there won't be a next time between you and me."
Su Rui chuckled lowly, dark currents swirling in his eyes. Though he didn't argue back, that meaningful gaze of his only fueled Mu Xueyi's fury.
She fumed inwardly. This demonic auction was utterly depraved—either peddling female cultivators or hawking these lewd trinkets!
If not for the chance that today's lots included the Illusion Dream Crystal and Nether Soul Stone, she would've stormed out long ago.
Leaving Mu Xueyi's little tantrum aside for now, the camera pans back to the host.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we'll start with this black silk ensemble, complete with matching lingerie and these exquisitely crafted red-soled high heels! Starting bid: one thousand superior spirit stones!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than bids surged like a tidal wave.
"One thousand two hundred!"
"One thousand five hundred!"
"Two thousand!"
The male cultivators in the crowd were all flushed with excitement, eyes burning as they frantically raised their paddles.
The price rocketed to three thousand superior spirit stones, with the bidding still fierce.
But when it hit five thousand, the calls died off.
These were just frivolities, after all—not cultivation essentials. For us cultivators, training always comes first.
The host scanned the room, seeing no higher bids, and began the count: "Five thousand superior spirit stones, first call! Five thousand superior spirit stones, second call..."
Just as his hammer was about to fall, a magnetic voice rang out from Heaven Character Room Three: "One hundred thousand superior spirit stones—for all remaining styles. Laozi wants them all."
The entire auction hall plunged into dead silence.
One hundred thousand superior spirit stones? Just for these gaudy silk rags? This was extravagance on a whole new level!
Mu Xueyi furrowed her delicate brows and shot a cold glance at the man beside her. "I warn you—don't even dream of making me pay a single stone for you."
Su Rui patted his chest, putting on his most solemn face: "Wife, at this point, your husband won't hide it anymore. Truth is, laozi's a hidden tycoon with millions of superior spirit stones to his name. No more pretending—cards on the table."
Mu Xueyi rolled her eyes at him icily, too lazy to waste more breath.
She'd made up her mind: even if he begged on his knees later, she wouldn't shell out a single stone for such trash.
At that moment, someone in the crowd couldn't hold back and stood to protest: "Fellow Daoist, you can't just sweep up every lot! Leave some for the rest of us, won't you?"
"Exactly! That's too overbearing!"
Grumbles of discontent rose.
Su Rui, seeing this, spoke again: "Anyone with gripes can chat with laozi personally after the auction."
The spiritual pressure in his voice hit Nascent Soul late-stage levels!
That oppressive force crashed down like a real mountain, making souls tremble and spiritual energy stagnate.
The few who'd been griping moments ago shook in terror, faces drained of color. A late-stage Nascent Soul powerhouse—how had they dared complain? They prayed silently that this senior wouldn't settle scores later.
The host looked troubled. By the rules, he should stop such bullying, as it undermined the auction's fairness.
But this VIP from the Heaven Character room had bid far beyond the lots' worth, and his unfathomable strength... After weighing it, he decided to go with the flow.
What shocked him, though, was the bidder's obvious early Nascent Soul cultivation—yet that burst of aura rivaled late-stage. Talk about deep concealment!
Not just the host—all the Nascent Soul cultivators in attendance cast subtle glances toward Heaven Character Room Three, thoughts churning.
In Heaven Character Room One, Yan Qingci tilted her head slightly and asked the old woman beside her softly: "Granny Gray, do you know who's in Room Three?"
Gray Fiend's wrinkled face grew grave. She shook her head slowly. "Replying to the Saintess, this old servant doesn't know his origins. I only sensed an extraordinarily pure demonic qi—purer even than the Palace Lord's. His demonic art must be of the highest mastery."
A flicker of surprise crossed Yan Qingci's phoenix eyes. "A demonic art in this realm rivaling Mother's? Could Granny Gray be mistaken?"
Gray Fiend's tone was firm: "This old servant's Bone-Eroding Nether Soul Art is most sensitive to demonic qi—there's no mistake. When he warned them, that demonic qi flashed briefly but was impeccably pure, surpassing even the Palace Lord's."
Yan Qingci fell silent. If Granny Gray was so certain, it had to be true.
Still... for such trash, he'd thrown money around like dirt. Clearly another lecher obsessed with beauty. Any curiosity she'd felt evaporated.
On stage, with no further bids, the host declared: "Since this fellow Daoist bids one hundred thousand superior spirit stones with no challenges, all the stockings and heels go to him!"
In the booth, Mu Xueyi eyed Su Rui coldly: "Your behavior's no different from those spoiled young masters who bully with their power. I remind you again—if you can't pay that hundred thousand, I won't bail you out."
Su Rui waved it off with a light laugh, utterly at ease: "Looks like my wife still doesn't buy that her husband's a millionaire."
Mu Xueyi snorted coldly and turned away, refusing to engage.
Just then, an attendant entered with several ornate brocade boxes containing the lewd outfits and heels.
Su Rui didn't even glance before tossing out a storage pouch.
The attendant caught it respectfully, scanned it with divine sense, and bowed: "One hundred thousand superior spirit stones received in full. Thank you for your generosity, senior."
With that, he bowed out.
As the door shut, Mu Xueyi snapped out of her shock.
This bastard... was actually that rich? Then his earlier poverty act, scamming her for stones—it was all just toying with her from start to finish!
Fresh anger flared, but she said nothing, merely huffing through her elegant nose in utmost disdain: "Hmph!"
Su Rui found it hilarious and teased: "Wife, you..."
Mu Xueyi cut him off coldly: "Don't talk to me. Annoying."
"Fine, fine, mum's the word."
The auction continued with some fine treasures, manuals, and forging materials that sparked bidding wars—but nothing Su Rui or Mu Xueyi wanted, so they just watched.
Until a fist-sized, crystal-clear stone flickering with strange lights was brought out.
"Next lot: the Illusion Dream Crystal!"
The host's voice boomed: "As everyone knows, the Illusion Dream Crystal is a heavenly treasure, exceedingly rare! It reveals truth from illusion and, with its unique dreamlike properties, greatly aids illusion arts and heart demon techniques. It even tempers divine sense and wards off heart demons to some degree! A supreme gem for piercing delusions and beholding one's true self on the path of cultivation! Starting bid: five thousand superior spirit stones!"
Mu Xueyi's expression shifted, determination flashing in her beautiful eyes.
This was one of the key items she'd come for. She bid immediately: "Ten thousand superior spirit stones!"
The crystal drew plenty of interest from those cultivating special arts or guarding against heart demons. Bids climbed fast, breaking fifty thousand, then a hundred thousand... Slowing only past one hundred fifty thousand.
"Two hundred thousand."
A sultry, bone-melting voice came from another Heaven Character booth—Hua Xiangrong, sect master of the Harmony Joy Sect.
Her enchanting eyes swirled with resolve.
This crystal would hugely benefit her sect's charm and illusion techniques, and help stabilize her rushed cultivation flaws. She wouldn't miss it.
Mu Xueyi frowned slightly and countered: "Two hundred twenty thousand!"
"Two hundred fifty thousand."
Hua Xiangrong's voice stayed leisurely, laced with mockery.
The price soared with their back-and-forth, soon topping three hundred thousand.
Mu Xueyi bit her lip, nails digging into her palm.
She'd brought about three hundred fifty thousand superior spirit stones, plus thirty thousand from the casino—three hundred eighty thousand total.
"Three hundred eighty thousand!"
She threw out nearly her entire fortune, her voice taut.
"Three hundred ninety thousand."
Hua Xiangrong followed without pause, casually, even chuckling softly—as if mocking Mu Xueyi's overreach.
Mu Xueyi clenched her fists, waves of helplessness and resentment crashing over her.
Short on funds, she had to yield, watching the crystal she'd craved slip away.
Then, the silent Su Rui spoke.
His voice, transmitted through the array, calm yet commanding, echoed clearly: "Five hundred thousand."
The bid hit like thunder, stunning the hall silent.
An eleven-thousand jump! What audacious wealth!
In her booth, Hua Xiangrong's eyes flashed surprise, then intrigued amusement. She stayed quiet.
Five hundred thousand for an Illusion Dream Crystal far exceeded its worth. She wanted it, but not enough to clash with this unknown, loaded Nascent Soul cultivator.
Just who were these two? Mysterious Nascent Souls—surely not from the righteous path?
Intrigue gleamed in Hua Xiangrong's eyes.
In Heaven Character Room Three, Mu Xueyi stared in shock: "Su Rui! What are you doing? We don't have that many spirit stones!"
Su Rui shook his head, his gaze uncharacteristically earnest: "Wife, you still doubt your husband's wealth. This thing's key to finding Li Chengxuan's killer. Laozi will get it for you no matter what—just sit tight."
"You..."
Mu Xueyi stared at his serious profile, words failing her. At last: "Do what you want!" She turned away, but a subtle ripple stirred in her heart, unnoticed even by herself.
With Hua Xiangrong out, Su Rui secured the Illusion Dream Crystal for five hundred thousand.
When the attendant delivered it and Su Rui paid without blinking, Mu Xueyi was convinced: during his outings, he'd done something huge she didn't know about.
Otherwise, his insane wealth and that purple-gold token made no sense.
The auction pressed on with more treasures that tempted even Nascent Soul elders, but neither Su Rui nor Mu Xueyi bid again.
As excitement built toward the finale—the Nine Nether Profound Fiend Iron—the host smiled mysteriously and had an unlisted item brought out.
A plain white jade vial sat in a purple sandalwood tray's center.
"Fellow Daoists, hold steady. Before the grand finale, our pavilion adds a special lot."
Before he finished, the host uncorked the spirit-wax-sealed vial.
In an instant, pure demonic qi blended with a bizarre, scorching flame aura billowed out like a tangible fog, enveloping the entire hall!
Every demonic cultivator, high or low, felt their demonic essence resonate wildly—a primal hunger!
"This pill is called the Black Flame Fusion Spirit Pill!"
The host's voice soared with barely contained thrill: "Verified by our chief appraiser, Granny Wen herself, its demonic qi is impeccably pure, fused with a unique flame source that perfectly merges with demonic essence! Incredibly effective for refining mana, stabilizing realms, and boosting cultivation—far surpassing the famed Profound Demon Condensation Pill! Ten pills in the vial, auctioned together. Starting bid: five hundred thousand superior spirit stones!"
The crowd erupted!
Nascent Soul demonic titans' eyes blazed especially hot.
They could sense the pills' power would hugely benefit their level!
"Six hundred thousand!"
Blood Fiend Sect's grand elder called first, voice raspy with greed.
Sect troubles demanded he boost his strength fast.
"One million."
Hua Xiangrong’s seductive allure voice followed, eyes swirling. The pure power could solidify her realm and push toward late-stage.
"One million five hundred thousand!"
Ten Thousand Souls Ridge's young master sounded icy. The pills tempted him too, despite knowing he couldn't outbid Nascent Soul monsters.
Like a runaway horse, bids surged as more Nascent Soul demons joined, topping four million with no sign of slowing.
In Heaven Character Room One, Gray Fiend's murky eyes gleamed. Inhaling the pill scent, she urged Yan Qingci gravely: "Saintess, we must take these! The demonic qi is abnormally pure, with that unseen flame source. For your Nascent Soul breakthrough, immense aid—and even for the Palace Lord's realm, potential insights!"
A rare gravity touched Yan Qingci's proud face. She nodded slightly, her cold voice booming via the array: "Five million."
The hall went deathly quiet. No more bids.
Not just the price—but the bidder: Yan Qingci, Eternal Night Palace Saintess, Yan Mingli's daughter.
With Deity Transformation experts lying low, half-god peak Yan Mingli was the apex predator. No one wanted Eternal Night Palace's wrath—especially not hers—for a vial of pills.
Yan Qingci surveyed the silent crowd, a smug, entitled smile curving her lips.
This was Eternal Night Palace's rightful might. They might not claim top demon sect, but who else dared that throne?
Even through the crystal walls, Mu Xueyi felt alarmed by the vial's pure demonic qi.
Such domineering purity was a once-in-a-millennium boon for demonic cultivators.
She glanced sidelong at the relaxed Su Rui. "The qi is so pure—it should hugely benefit your demonic art. Why not bid? Even if you lack five million stones, your inaction's odd."
Su Rui grinned oddly: "If you knew who refined these, you wouldn't ask."
Mu Xueyi paused, then her peach-blossom eyes widened.
Clues connected in a flash: his wealth, the mysterious purple-gold token, this bombshell pill... She gasped, almost blurting: "You... refined these? Sold them to the Treasure Pavilion for the token?"
"Told you my wife's sharp as ice and snow." Su Rui nodded, praise unfeigned.
Confirmed, Mu Xueyi was stunned.
She stared at the vial, this treasure that made the Saintess splurge millions and demons brawl—a pill from him. Emotions churned.
"Five million for a bottle—laozi's out 1.5 million superior spirit stones!"
Su Rui rubbed his chin, muttering without real regret. Instead, cold laughter filled him since Yan Qingci got it.
If even Yan Mingli took one, heh heh heh—his dilemma of controlling her and claiming her holy phoenix? Opportunity delivered!
Yet Su Rui underestimated Yan Mingli. He didn't know these pills would key her Deity Transformation breakthrough, bringing him big trouble and a humiliating loss before her.
Still, he'd turn it around eventually. Then Yan Mingli would pay.
As he said, in man-woman battles, a woman's defeat meant total surrender—open for the taking!
Even for an empress atop the clouds.