Chapter 044: Soul Crystal and the Eight Desolates Steps!

  "Esteemed guests, a minor incident occurred earlier, but everything is now under control. Mei Ji, please proceed with the auction as planned." Suddenly, a voice that could melt bones echoed softly through the hall.

  "Yes, sir," Mei Ji responded promptly, nodding in acknowledgment.

  Her gaze swept across the audience as she continued with the auction. The atmosphere, which had been somewhat dampened by the earlier events, gradually regained its fervor as prices soared.

  "Those old geezers," Yang Tian muttered under his breath, a cold sweat trickling down his back. He dared not let his guard down, sensing that several powerful spiritual senses were still locked onto him.

  "Good thing I’m wearing this black robe," Yang Tian thought, noticing the sweat in his palms. He exhaled slowly, reclining in his chair and fixing his eyes on the screen in front of him. Though the spiritual senses were formidable, no one would dare act openly within the Myriad Phenomena Auction House.

  In a secluded room within the auction house, three elderly men, each seemingly on the brink of death, conversed quietly. Their cloudy eyes, however, were fixed on a particular spot.

  "Old Li, that boy is quite peculiar. He managed to completely shield that demonic aura earlier. Even with our combined insight, we couldn’t figure out how he did it. Strange, isn’t it?"

  "That boy must possess some extraordinary treasure. Otherwise, with his level of cultivation, it would be impossible for him to block such a powerful demonic aura," Old Li nodded, a faint trace of surprise in his eyes.

  "Let’s not overthink this. He’s from the Qingyang Empire. It’s best not to provoke him," the third elder, who had remained silent until now, spoke up. His white hair and lifeless eyes gave him the appearance of a corpse.

  "Haha, Brother Zhou, you jest. We’re just old bones now. We wouldn’t stoop to coveting a junior’s possessions. We’re merely chatting," the other two quickly waved their hands, though a glint of something unspoken flickered in their eyes.

  By now, the auction had been ongoing for an entire day, yet the atmosphere remained electric. As the event progressed, the items on offer grew increasingly rare and valuable. High-grade pill formulas, spiritual herbs, and other treasures made their appearances, leaving many in awe.

  "Esteemed guests, we are now entering the final phase of today’s auction," Mei Ji announced, clapping her hands lightly. Behind her, several men of unfathomable strength stepped forward, escorting an elderly man who carried a jade box.

  "Tsk, tsk, with such tight security, this must be something extraordinary," the crowd murmured, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. After witnessing so many rare items today, they had plenty to boast about.

  Ignoring the chatter, Mei Ji opened the jade box, revealing a small, thumb-sized black stone. Its surface was covered in intricate patterns, and it emitted a faint, eerie glow. A strange, soul-stirring sensation emanated from it, giving the stone an otherworldly aura.

  "Is that… a soul stone?" Yang Tian whispered to himself, his eyes narrowing. Soul stones were incredibly rare, containing soul energy that could strengthen one’s spiritual power. They were highly sought after in the cultivation world.

  "Probably not. Soul stones, while rare, are still somewhat accessible to ancient families. Using one as a centerpiece for an auction would be overkill."

  As Yang Tian pondered, the crowd below erupted into murmurs. While soul stones were valuable, they weren’t extraordinary enough to warrant such attention. This black stone seemed to be something far more unusual.

  "Mei Ji, stop teasing us old folks. Tell us what this is," an elderly man with considerable influence in Martial City spoke up, his voice carrying a hint of impatience. The crowd quickly echoed his sentiment.

  "This… is a Soul Crystal!" Mei Ji announced, her voice trembling slightly despite her calm demeanor.

  The hall fell into stunned silence. Eyes widened, and greed flickered in the gazes of many. A few even leaned forward, their eyes red with desire, as if ready to pounce.

  "Humph!" A cold snort, laced with warning, reverberated through the hall, causing everyone’s ears to ring.

  The crowd quickly snapped out of their daze. Those who had been on the verge of acting out now sat back, their faces flushed with embarrassment and fear. They knew that any rash move would have resulted in instant death.

  "A Soul Crystal? I thought they were extinct!" Yang Tian licked his dry lips, his eyes burning with desire. Soul Crystals were one of the five legendary stones of the cultivation world. They were said to be born from soul stone veins, though the chances were astronomically low. Even in ancient times, they were exceedingly rare.

  The primary function of a Soul Crystal was to open a soul space. When a cultivator’s soul first formed, it was incredibly fragile and vulnerable to attacks. If the soul was destroyed, the cultivator would perish. However, by opening a soul space, one could not only accelerate the growth of their soul power but also significantly enhance its defensive capabilities.

  As one’s cultivation deepened, the soul space could even evolve into a self-contained realm, making Soul Crystals one of the most coveted treasures in the world.

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  "This Soul Crystal was entrusted to our auction house by a powerful expert. The crystal will go to anyone who can provide the materials specified by the expert. If no one can meet the requirements, it will be auctioned off for high-grade blood stones."

  "High-grade blood stones?!" The crowd gasped. High-grade blood stones were far more valuable than mid-grade ones. Even ancient families would hesitate to part with such wealth.

  "The required materials are as follows: three grains of Nine Heavens Star Sand, five drops of Spring of Life water, one stalk of Nine-Leaf Divine Chain, one piece of Cloud Star Mother Essence, or a soul-protecting artifact. Any one of these items will secure the Soul Crystal."

  As Mei Ji listed the requirements, even she felt a dryness in her throat. In her decades of managing the Myriad Phenomena Auction House, she had never heard of, let alone seen, such items. Soul-protecting artifacts, in particular, were so rare that even ancient families might only possess a handful.

  Yang Tian couldn’t help but inhale sharply. Among the listed items, he had only heard of the Spring of Life water, which was said to be able to revive someone on the brink of death and grant them an additional thousand years of life.

  "Girl, are you playing games with us? These items are even rarer than the Soul Crystal itself. Who in their right mind would trade them?" a voice from one of the Celestial Rank rooms challenged.

  "I wouldn’t dare, esteemed guest. These are the requirements set by the consignor. I am merely conveying the message," Mei Ji replied, her face paling slightly as she bowed toward the Celestial Rank Room No. 3.

  "Ke ke, Old Wang, are you just trying to flirt with the girl? Stop wasting our time," a mocking voice came from a neighboring room.

  "Old Wang?!" The crowd’s expressions changed. Wang Mo, the Grand Elder of the Hehuan Sect, was a notorious figure. Known for his terrifying strength and his practice of absorbing yin energy to supplement his yang, he was a feared and reviled figure in the cultivation world.

  Mei Ji’s body trembled slightly, fearing that the old lecher might abduct her on the spot to use as a cultivation cauldron.

  "Haha, Old Huangquan, since when do you care about how I conduct myself? If you’re so confident, why don’t you produce one of those items yourself?" Wang Mo laughed heartily, clearly enjoying the fear he instilled in the crowd.

  "Why are you two bickering here?" A calm voice interrupted, silencing both men instantly.

  Hearing this voice, Mei Ji let out a sigh of relief, a bead of sweat rolling down her forehead.

  "Since none of the esteemed guests possess the required items, we will proceed with the auction. The starting bid is twenty thousand high-grade blood stones, with each increment no less than one thousand."

  Twenty thousand high-grade blood stones was a staggering sum, even for ancient families. The cost of nurturing a young prodigy was immense.

  "Twenty-one thousand," a voice from one of the Celestial Rank rooms broke the silence after a long pause.

  "Twenty-two thousand," another bid followed, and soon, the ancient powerhouses joined the fray. The price skyrocketed, and the auction reached a fever pitch.

  The bids quickly doubled, and the initial fervor began to wane. Only a few top-tier factions remained in the competition. The sums being thrown around were enough to make the average cultivator’s head spin.

  The prestige of these top-tier factions only grew in the eyes of the audience. The wealth on display was enough to create an army of powerful cultivators, yet these factions were willing to spend it all to nurture their young talents.

  "And this isn’t even the final item. I wonder what the last treasure will be," Yang Tian murmured, marveling at the spectacle.

  The bidding war continued for half an hour, with no faction willing to back down. Finally, the Soul Crystal was sold to the ancient Li family for sixty thousand high-grade blood stones. The hall fell silent once more.

  In his private room, Li Hongtao watched Mei Ji finalize the deal with barely contained excitement. As the youngest member of his family, he stood to gain the most from the Soul Crystal. By integrating it with his soul while it was still forming, he could maximize its benefits, significantly boosting his status within the family.

  "The auction has now been ongoing for an entire day. We will now proceed with the final item," Mei Ji announced, clapping her hands. The atmosphere, which had momentarily calmed, once again reached a fever pitch, surpassing even the earlier excitement.

  On the stage, an elderly man with an expressionless face walked forward. He appeared ordinary, with no discernible aura, yet he carried a jade box with utmost care.

  Mei Ji quickly stepped forward to greet him, her face adorned with a charming smile. Before she could speak, the old man waved her off and handed her the jade box.

  As Mei Ji opened the box, all eyes were drawn to its contents. Inside lay a purple jade slip, its surface shimmering with a faint, ethereal light. The air around it rippled slightly, as if disturbed by an invisible force.

  "Such powerful energy. Could this be a martial technique?" Yang Tian clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. The ability to influence the surrounding space suggested that whatever was inscribed within was extraordinary.

  "This is a Star-Rank mid-grade movement technique: the Eight Desolates Steps! When mastered, it allows the user to traverse space and create seven avatars, each as powerful as the original. Its effectiveness rivals that of a Star-Rank high-grade technique!"

  "A Star-Rank high-grade movement technique!" The crowd erupted in excitement. Star-Rank techniques were exceedingly rare, even among ancient families. Movement techniques, in particular, were highly prized for their ability to enhance survival. The ability to create seven avatars was an unparalleled defensive asset.

  While Heaven-Rank techniques were the pinnacle of martial arts, they were almost mythical in their rarity. Even the most powerful factions in the Eastern Continent might not possess a single one.

  The Eight Desolates Steps, with its ability to rival a Star-Rank high-grade technique, was a treasure beyond compare. In a world where cultivators valued their lives above all else, such a technique was worth its weight in gold.

  The crowd’s eyes burned with desire as they stared at the jade slip. Even the doors of some second-floor private rooms opened, their occupants clearly intrigued. Compared to the Soul Crystal, this movement technique was far more appealing, as it could be passed down through generations.

  "Esteemed guests, rest assured that the Eight Desolates Steps was created by an ancient powerhouse who dedicated his life to its development," Mei Ji explained, her gaze sweeping across the hall. "This technique has no reserve price. Let the bidding begin!"

  The top factions immediately began competing, and within moments, the price soared into the millions of blood stones, continuing to rise at an alarming rate. Yang Tian couldn’t help but wonder what rank his own Battle Heaven Art belonged to.

  "Finally, those old geezers have withdrawn their spiritual senses," Yang Tian sighed in relief as the feeling of being watched disappeared. Without hesitation, he stepped onto the teleportation array behind him and vanished.

  The array led to a private passageway, illuminated by embedded night pearls. The corridor, about five zhang wide, was part of the Myriad Phenomena Auction House’s security measures. At the end of the passage was an elegantly decorated room, where Yang Tian’s journey would continue.