King of Ten Thousand Years

”Nine hundred!”

Luo Tian made his bid, suppressing the excitement in his heart.

There were only two ways to advance his Divine Vein.

One was a gradual enhancement along with his Cultivation.

The other was through external items, which were extremely difficult to come by.

Aside from the potent poison Liu Ziyan had once used on him, this was the first time Luo Tian had encountered a precious material that could enhance his Divine Vein Power.

The starting bid was six hundred.

When Luo Tian announced a price of nine hundred, some of the competitors hesitated slightly.

Although the Yin Crystal Stone was rare, the demand for it wasn’t very high. In the Azure Cloud Kingdom, those who practiced Dark Attribute Techniques were not in the majority.

”One thousand.”

A cool, deep voice called out.

The speaker was a man in a black robe with a mole on his brow. His eyes were chillingly dark, and he exuded an undeniable, domineering coldness that was enough to make an ordinary Spirit Sea Realm cultivator’s heart palpitate.

”Wang Tian!”

The talented students present, including the other bidders, couldn’t help but be startled.

Wang Tian, ranked second on the Human List, had actually joined the bidding.

Instantly, everyone who had been participating in the auction backed down.

One thousand Spiritual Essence Coins already exceeded the upper limit of this Yin Crystal Stone’s value.

Wang Tian’s reputation for being domineering was deeply ingrained in everyone’s minds.

Luo Tian’s brow furrowed slightly. He hadn’t expected Wang Tian to need this item as well.

”One thousand one hundred.”

Luo Tian didn’t back down. He was determined to obtain this Yin Crystal Stone.

”One thousand two hundred.”

Wang Tian raised the bid as well. The characteristics of his Cultivation Technique also created a high demand for Yin Crystal Stones.

”Thirteen hundred!” Luo Tian continued to raise the price.

Hm?

Wang Tian frowned, his chillingly dark eyes sweeping toward Luo Tian.

Luo Tian instantly felt a pressure like that of an abyssal, icy sea.

This Wang Tian’s strength was leagues beyond the Du Family’s Ancestor; he could probably kill the latter in an instant.

”Who is this kid? How dare he challenge Wang Tian?”

The students from the various Wu Mansions were all greatly surprised.

”It’s Luo Tian! Ranked thirtieth on the Human List and once considered a prominent figure.”

Soon, someone recognized Luo Tian.

”Fourteen hundred!”

Wang Tian’s voice turned frigid, a murderous aura faintly rising on his face, making people’s hearts tremble.

”Fifteen hundred.”

Luo Tian didn’t waver.

The Wu Mansion Grand Assembly was still five or six days away.

As long as he could get this Yin Crystal Stone, his strength would increase by another large margin.

”He’s really going head-to-head with Wang Tian!”

”This kid truly doesn’t know what fear is.”

In the auction hall, the members of the various factions all looked like they were settling in for a good show.

”Sixteen hundred!”

Wang Tian’s expression was grim.

”Seventeen hundred.”

The moment the previous bid was made, Luo Tian immediately raised the price, full of confidence.

Luo Tian had ample capital on hand. He had over a thousand Spiritual Essence Coins left over from the Beast Tide, and he had looted and sold items from the Du Family for over a thousand more.

The Monarch had rewarded him with a thousand, of which he had spent a few hundred, leaving him with two or three hundred.

In addition, he had consigned the Jade Spirit Pill to the auction house, which gave him a credit of one thousand.

In other words, Luo Tian currently had access to over three thousand Spiritual Essence Coins, far more than the net worth of a typical Spirit Sea Realm cultivator.

”Good! Very good!”

Wang Tian’s deep, cold gaze fixed on Luo Tian’s face for a second or two, as if committing him to memory.

In the end, he gave up the competition.

A price of seventeen hundred was almost double the market price for a Yin Crystal Stone.

Wang Tian still needed to save some Spiritual Essence Coins to compete for other items.

”Thank you for letting me win.”

Luo Tian said with a faint smile.

A beautiful female Steward quickly brought the Yin Crystal Stone over to complete the transaction.

Holding the Yin Crystal Stone in his hand,

the blue scales of the Nether Dragon Divine Vein inside Luo Tian’s body flickered and emitted a suction force.

SWISH!

Satisfied, Luo Tian stored the Yin Crystal Stone in his Space Ring.

”Seventeen hundred for a single Yin Crystal Stone. What a spendthrift!”

Master Deng couldn’t help but shake his head.

”This next auction item is called the ’Jade Spirit Pill.’ It can improve a Martial Artist’s root constitution. Its quality is close to Two-star Middle Grade, and it is also of great benefit to those in the Spirit Sea Realm.”

The purple-robed elder said with a smile.

The Jade Spirit Pill!

It could improve a Martial Artist’s root constitution!

A wave of excitement immediately swept through the venue.

Heavenly and Earthly Treasures that could improve one’s root constitution existed, but they were exceptionally rare. Moreover, this was a finished Pill, so its effects would be immediate.

”The starting bid is eight hundred, with each increment no less than fifty.”

The purple-robed elder announced.

”Eight hundred and fifty!”

”Nine hundred!”

”One thousand!”

...

This Jade Spirit Pill was, of course, the one Luo Tian had consigned to the auction.

Although the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion had refined several Jade Spirit Pills, it was nowhere near enough to go around.

The Holy Mansion’s high-level members, and even the Royal Family, had many with powerful backgrounds who had divided the pills among themselves at high prices.

Therefore, this was the only Jade Spirit Pill that had made its way to the public, and it was the one of the highest quality.

Luo Tian planned to take a Jade Spirit Pill after reaching the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening. Taking an Elixir Pill of that level would already be a grade-skip, subjecting his body to intense Medicinal Power, so there was no need to keep the highest Tier one for himself.

”Twelve hundred!”

A sharp glint flashed in Wang Tian’s eyes as he also joined the bidding.

He came from a small Martial Arts family, and his aptitude and root constitution weren’t considered very good. It was only due to a fortuitous encounter after falling off a cliff that he became an Overlord Level figure on the Human List.

If he could obtain this Pill, it would compensate for the shortcomings in his natural talent.

”Twelve hundred and fifty!”

”Thirteen hundred!”

Representatives from the major factions, including the Royal Family, joined the bidding war.

”Fifteen hundred!”

Wang Tian’s gaze was sharp.

When this price was called, the hall fell silent. Many participants retreated.

Although the Jade Spirit Pill’s effect of improving one’s root constitution was rare, it wasn’t entirely without substitutes.

Furthermore, this Pill had its limitations.

The effects of the Jade Spirit Pill were most noticeable when taken by someone under the age of twenty. For older individuals, their root constitution was mostly set in stone.

With fifteen hundred Spiritual Essence Coins, one could buy a fair number of One-star and Two-star Spirit Pills to raise their Cultivation level.

Moreover, Wang Tian was still fuming after Luo Tian had snatched the Yin Crystal Stone from him.

None of the major factions wanted to offend Wang Tian, the second-ranked expert on the Human List. His potential was too terrifying.

”Sixteen hundred.”

A calm voice spoke up—it was Luo Tian.

”You again!”

The mole on Wang Tian’s brow twitched. His face contorted with rage, and a fierce killing intent shone in his eyes.

In the auction hall, the members of the various factions exchanged glances.

”This Luo Tian truly doesn’t know when to quit!”

The Seventh Prince and Liu Ziyan looked at each other, their faces filled with schadenfreude.

Wang Tian was no ordinary prodigy.

His rise was forged through slaughter, iron, and blood. His hands were stained with many lives.

It could be said that among the top ten on the Human List, he was the one with the most vicious aura.

”Seventeen hundred!”

Wang Tian reined in his rage and killing intent, making an aggressive bid.

”Eighteen hundred,” Luo Tian said.

He wanted to drive the price of the Jade Spirit Pill even higher.

Just now, during the bidding for the Yin Crystal Stone, Wang Tian had forced him to pay nearly double its value.

’I’ve already offended Wang Tian, so what’s one more time?’

Luo Tian calculated that Wang Tian’s need for the Jade Spirit Pill was desperate, which was why he was getting involved.

”Two thousand!”

Wang Tian’s voice was frigid as he called out a shockingly high price.

”The Pill is yours, Your Excellency.”

Luo Tian waved his hand lightly, ignoring Wang Tian’s terrifying, murderous glare.

Two thousand Spiritual Essence Coins had already exceeded his expectations.

Wang Tian won the Jade Spirit Pill. His face was expressionless, but he secretly harbored a deep grudge against Luo Tian.

At this price, it was no longer just about his own needs; it had become a matter of face.

If he, the second-ranked expert on the Human List, had an auction item snatched away by Luo Tian twice in a row, his reputation would be greatly damaged.

The auction continued in full swing.

After that, Luo Tian did not participate in any more bidding, though the Eldest Princess made a few bids occasionally.

「Two hours later.」

The auction entered its final, most anticipated phase.

”I believe many people will be interested in this next item.”

The purple-robed elder was all smiles.

”That’s right! It is the Spring and Autumn Insect! It has the mysterious and miraculous effect of reversing aging and restoring youthful vigor.”

The Spring and Autumn Insect!

It was the grand finale item of this auction.

The Eldest Princess’s entire purpose for this trip was the Spring and Autumn Insect.

To be precise, it was because the current Monarch’s health was poor and deteriorating by the day.

It wasn’t just the Monarch.

Many leaders of the super-factions were old and frail, and they coveted this item just as much.

BUZZ!

On the enormous array screen, the image of a lifeless insect resembling a withered, yellow grass root appeared.

”So that’s the Spring and Autumn Insect?”

Everyone in the auction hall clicked their tongues in amazement.

The Spring and Autumn Insect was said to contain the mysteries of the four seasons’ cycle.

In spring, it was a vibrant green flying insect; when autumn came, it would transform into a withered yellow grass root.

A cycle of endless life.

”Of course, the Spring and Autumn Insect is extremely similar in appearance to a type of Yellow Luo Insect Grass. It’s nearly impossible to tell them apart by sight. It is said that only one true Spring and Autumn Insect is born for every ten stalks of Yellow Luo Insect Grass.”

The purple-robed elder emphasized.

Purchasing a Spring and Autumn Insect required both luck and a discerning eye.

”Three masters, I’ll be relying on you this time.”

The Eldest Princess said solemnly.

On the auction stage, the ”Spring and Autumn Insect” was placed under a transparent cover.

Those in the VIP booths had the privilege of observing it up close.

”In all my life, I have never seen a real Spring and Autumn Insect.”

Master Mi, not one to be modest, was the first to go up for a look. As the number one Physician in the Azure Cloud Kingdom, he had the confidence to do so.

Luo Tian also went forward for a look before returning to the VIP booth.

”Alright! The viewing period is over. Let the auction begin!”

The purple-robed elder announced.

”The starting bid is two thousand Spiritual Essence Coins, with increments no less than one hundred. The Ziwei Commerce Association is not responsible for the authenticity of the Spring and Autumn Insect.”

”Twenty-one hundred!”

”Twenty-two hundred!”

The representatives of the major factions began to call out their bids.

The Eldest Princess’s phoenix eyes shifted, turning to look at Luo Tian, Master Deng, and Master Mi.

”When it comes to the path of medicine and pharmacology, we must rely on Master Mi.”

Master Deng said cautiously.

Authenticating the Spring and Autumn Insect was a major challenge.

He had made a mistake once before when appraising the painting of a Celestial Level Martial Artist, so he didn’t dare to speak rashly this time.

”Based on my judgment, the color and texture of this Spring and Autumn Insect are incredibly lifelike. There’s a faint aura of rebirth, of spring following autumn. I am seventy percent certain that it is real.”

Master Mi said confidently.

Upon hearing this, joy appeared on the Eldest Princess’s face, and her beautiful eyes turned to Luo Tian.

”Real.”

Luo Tian was concise.

Master Deng, who was standing beside them, couldn’t help but scoff.

’Luo Tian is just echoing Master Mi’s conclusion without any basis. It’s completely unsubstantiated!’

After all, Master Mi was the number one Physician in the Azure Cloud Kingdom. If he was seventy percent certain, it couldn’t possibly be fake.

”Young man, if you have no basis for your analysis, don’t jump to conclusions.”

Master Mi was slightly displeased, a look of disappointment on his face.

No matter how knowledgeable Luo Tian was, at his age, it would be extremely difficult to have even seen a Yellow Luo Insect Grass, let alone a Spring and Autumn Insect.

”However, I feel there’s a problem with this Spring and Autumn Insect. It would be best not to buy it.”

Luo Tian’s tone suddenly shifted.

”If it’s real, then why can’t we buy it? Kid, your opinion is so inconsistent. It’s hard to believe you.”

Master Deng shook his head with a mocking smile.

”Master Luo, even if there were only a twenty or thirty percent chance, I would still make a bid, let alone when it’s real.”

The Eldest Princess gave an apologetic smile.

”Twenty-six hundred!” She immediately called out a price.