The Auction
Amid applause, the once-a-year auction finally began. The auctioneer standing in the center announced,
"To start with the order: We'll proceed from items of lower value, inserting higher-value ones intermittently. The most valuable item will come at the very end, so please stay until the conclusion."
Attendants carried jade boxes to the central platform and placed them on a long table. The auctioneer opened the leftmost one and displayed it closely.
"Now, let the auction commence. The first item is century-old Earth Gold Grass. Bids in lower-grade spirit stones, please. Starting at 30 lower-grade spirit stones."
"40."
A cultivator beside him kicked it off with 40.
"45."
A female cultivator from the opposite side jumped in at 45.
"50!"
The one who'd bid 40 raised it to 50.
"50 it is. Any further bids? No more? Then counting down: 3, 2, 1—sold!"
Early in the auction, with materials geared toward Qi Refining cultivators, the bidding wasn't fierce. Everyone was saving spirit stones for the pricier items later.
An attendant took the jade box with the Earth Gold Grass from the auctioneer and delivered it to the winning bidder.
The auctioneer drew a white longsword from a wooden stand and shouted,
"Next, the second item: the mid-grade magic tool, White Bone Sword! Forged from the bones of Gaun Mountains' demon beasts by a Dancheol Fortress Qi Refining artisan—its performance is unparalleled. Starting bid: 50 lower-grade spirit stones."
I had the superior-grade magic tool Flame Pearl, so I had no need for another sword. Besides, I had no spirit stones anyway. When will the Bloodlight Stone I'm selling come up?
"60!"
"70 from me."
"Trying to snag a mid-grade tool for 70? 80!"
Even for a mid-grade magic tool, Qi Refining cultivators quickly drove up the price in competition.
"90."
Then a Core Formation cultivator from the second floor bid leisurely at 90.
"90 now. Anyone else? This is a mid-grade tool crafted by a Dancheol Fortress artisan—far superior to those from ordinary Qi Refiners."
The auctioneer swung the White Bone Sword in his hand. Each swing released a sinister aura that filled the hall.
"100!"
Another Core Formation cultivator from upstairs jumped in at 100. In the end, the sword climbed to 150, snagged by a Core Formation bidder. An attendant delivered it upstairs.
The auctioneer cleared his throat.
"Third item: talismans. Three sheets of mid-grade Earth Accumulation Talismans—earth-attribute defensive talismans usable until their spirit energy depletes. They'll save your life in a pinch."
Earth Accumulation Talismans— like the low-grade defensive ones I'd used before. There were mid-grade versions too, huh.
The auctioneer pulled three from a jade box and showed them off. Their abundant spirit energy suggested they'd never been used, not even once since crafting.
"These three mid-grade Earth Accumulation Talismans as a lot. Starting at 50 lower-grade spirit stones!"
"55."
"65."
A nearby cultivator called out.
"80!"
"80 now!"
Bids rose from all around. Talismans weren't permanent, being consumables, but ones this rich in energy could be used multiple times. Plus, they amplified effects with minimal mana—carrying them boosted survival odds in the cultivation world, if you had the stones.
Core Formation cultivators from upstairs joined in again, pushing the price higher.
"100."
"110."
"Paying 110 for consumable talismans? I'm out."
The 100 bidder shook his head and bowed out.
"110! No more? Counting down: 3, 2, 1—sold!"
Spirit herbs, magic tools, talismans, demon beast materials, and more sold off. Pricier ones mostly went to Core Formation cultivators: azure jade stone for crafting tools, a Yin Soul Basin to gather vengeful spirits, a wolf puppet at Core Formation initial performance, the mid-grade magic tool Wind Cloud Sword, info on ancient ruins, and so on.
Half a shichen after the start, the Bloodlight Stone finally appeared. Coming later in the lineup meant a hefty payout.
The auctioneer lifted a palm-sized blood-red stone from its jade box.
"This is naturally formed Bloodlight Stone. Demonic path cultivators know its rarity without me saying. Refine it into a tool, or—risky as it is—absorb it via demonic arts. Starting at 150 lower-grade spirit stones!"
150 minimum to start! With competition, it could hit 250 easy.
"160."
"170."
Qi Refining folks on the first floor stayed out; only upstairs Core Formation bidders joined.
A burly man in black robes stood arrogantly from the second floor.
"180. Useful for a demonic cultivator like me—step aside, others."
His threatening tone silenced the hall. Then the female cultivator who'd caught me ogling her figure—and thrust out her chest—stepped up.
"190. Black Dark Sect, I presume? I need this Bloodlight Stone too."
"200. Blood Shadow Sect girl, then? Wouldn't a lady yield?"
She replied icily,
"210."
"220."
"240."
The two demonic cultivators battled fiercely, surpassing my 250 estimate to end at 290, won by the Blood Shadow Sect woman.
As the auction dragged on, cash-strapped Qi Refiners dropped out, leaving only Core Formation bidders. The Qi Refiners, stone-less but curious, stuck around to broaden their horizons. Same as me.
I got a close look at spirit herbs I'd only read about and learned names and effects of unknown pills.
"Next: a pill for Core Formation cultivators. Moth Essence Pill—made from insect demon beasts. Boosts cultivation and aids thread arts. Starting at 180 lower-grade spirit stones!"
"190."
"210!"
"220."
"220 now. Anyone higher?"
"230."
The end loomed, so folks conserved stones for the finale. Still, as a Core Formation pill, the Moth Essence Pill fetched 400.
"Thank you all for participating. At last—the finale: a cultivation art, Ice Heaven Art. The complete version details up to Spirit Severing realm, but the end is missing—goes to Nascent Soul late-stage. Still, everyone knows it's the mighty art of the exterminated North Wind Palace."
A Core Formation cultivator upstairs asked,
"You might've peeked at it already, auctioneer?"
The auctioneer replied gravely,
"I swear on my heart demon I haven't seen the Ice Heaven Art."
Swearing on one's heart demon risked cultivation regression if broken—nobody did it lightly. Some believed such oaths; others didn't. But with his vow, upstairs Core Formations finally eyed the jade slip.
"Ice Heaven Art starts at 300 lower-grade spirit stones."
"350."
"400."
Prices soared as Core Formations clashed.
"450."
"500."
"520."
A slender female cultivator who'd never bid spoke in an icy voice,
"1000."
The hall, hot with desire for the art, chilled instantly.
"1000 lower-grade stones? Auctioneer, verify she even has them!"
The massive bid deterred others from the Ice Heaven Art.
"Of course she does. Who'd joke at a Dancheol Fortress auction?"
The protester sat down.
"1000 it is. Ice Heaven Art with paths to Nascent Soul late-stage. Higher bids?"
1000 at once—none felt confident topping it.
"1100."
One Core Formation tried.
"1500."
The woman countered at 1500, crushing challengers' will.
"1500! No more? Counting down."
With time passing and no higher bids, the Ice Heaven Art went to the slender woman.
Who is she? Dropping 1500 stones casually on Core Formation cultivation... Not a lone wanderer—definitely backers.
Auction over, everyone rose and filed out of Hwapyeong Pavilion. I returned my mask to the auctioneer, collected 280 lower-grade spirit stones from the Bloodlight Stone sale—290 minus 10 commission.
With time before my formation magic tool finished, I headed to the inn for cultivation. En route, the Ice Heaven Art buyer sped past. Trailing her discreetly: several cultivators. Probably after the art.
Once outside Black Iron City, she'd face attacks from those eyeing the Ice Heaven Art.
This is the true cultivation world.