86: Chapter 86 The Grand Finale

The inner hall of the auction house was much larger than it appeared from the outside; it was clearly laid out with a spatial Formation.

The hall was fan-shaped, with rows of seats extending backward from the auction stage, enough to accommodate thousands of people.

On both sides, there were private rooms on the second floor, shielded by Spirit light curtains, making it impossible to see the situation inside.

Lu Jinghan sat down in a position near the corner, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings without changing expression.

Behind the auction stage, a list of today's auction items scrolled across a huge Spirit light curtain.

Heaven And Earth Treasures, incomplete Cultivation Techniques, and ancient Magical Artifacts were all on display, drawing endless discussions in the hall.

"I heard that the finale item this time is an Earth Rank Advanced Magical Artifact?"

"That's nothing? I heard there is also an ancient Medicinal Pill, the medicinal power of which hasn't dissipated yet; taking it can allow one to directly achieve a Breakthrough in a major Realm!"

"Your information is outdated. I heard the real finale item is a token of unknown origin, said to be the key to opening a certain Secret Realm."

...

The inner hall was crowded with people, and the noise was like boiling water.

Lu Jinghan leaned back in the chair in the corner, his posture appearing casual, but his gaze swept slowly and imperceptibly through the crowd.

Qin Muchuan sat on his right side, curiously looking around, occasionally leaning over to whisper a few words into Su Fuguang's ear, while Su Fuguang only nodded or shook his head slightly, his expression calm.

The seats in the hall were quickly filled, and the Spirit light curtains of the private rooms on the second floor lit up one after another, with auras of varying strength appearing within; they were likely prominent figures from Xihai City and the surrounding cities.

"Senior Brother." Qin Muchuan lowered his voice, "Do you think there will be any good things at this auction?"

Lu Jinghan withdrew his gaze and said indifferently, "Just watch."

Just then, the side door at the back of the hall opened, and a group of people filed out.

The person in the lead wore a brocade robe, with white hair and beard, a ruddy complexion, and was surrounded by a faint Spirit light.

His steps were steady, he had a smile on his face, and his gaze swept across the hall before he nodded slightly and walked straight to the auction stage.

"Everyone, thank you for waiting."

The old man stood still behind the auction stage; his voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone present.

"I am Ximen He, the president of the West Sea Auction House, and I will personally host this auction today."

As his voice fell, a low murmur arose in the hall.

"President Ximen is coming out personally? It seems there really are good things in this auction."

"That's for sure, I heard that the items this time are all top-grade, things you can't even see in ordinary times."

Ximen He raised his hand, and the discussions gradually subsided.

His gaze swept across the whole venue, and the smile on his lips deepened a little.

"The rules are the same as in previous years: the highest bidder wins, settled with Spirit Stones. If Spirit Stones are insufficient, one can also exchange with treasures of equal value."

He paused.

"Now, the auction begins."

Behind him, an attendant walked onto the stage holding a jade plate with both hands, covered with red silk, making it impossible to see what was inside.

Ximen He lifted the red silk, and a jade-green Medicinal Pill lay quietly in the center of the jade plate, the scent of the pill quiet and refreshing, soothing the heart.

"The first auction item, a Profound Rank Advanced Medicinal Pill—Peiyuan Pill."

Ximen He's voice echoed in the hall.

"This pill consolidates the foundation and cultivates the Qi, increases the success rate by 30%, and has no side effects. The starting price is 100,000 Spirit Stones."

As soon as his voice fell, bidding sounds rose one after another in the hall.

"105,000!"

"110,000!"

"130,000!"

Qin Muchuan looked at the Medicinal Pill on the stage and curled his lips: "Profound Rank Advanced, is it worth fighting over like this?"

Su Fuguang glanced at him: "It's nothing to you and me, but for these people present, it is a rare treasure."

The Peiyuan Pill was finally auctioned off by a buyer in a private room on the second floor for a price of 330,000.

Ximen He smiled and raised his hand to signal the next auction item.

The following auction items were mostly Profound Rank Intermediate or Advanced Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, or Incomplete Manuals of Cultivation Techniques; although they were not top-tier, they still triggered a round of competition in the hall.

Lu Jinghan never made a bid; his Storage Pouch was piled with these ordinary goods, and he really couldn't muster any interest.

Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang also didn't take a fancy to any of the auction items; the items given to them by their Revered Master Jiang Changge were at least Heaven Rank.

The auction went on for about an hour, when Ximen He suddenly raised his voice: "Everyone, the next auction item is a bit special."

Behind him, an attendant brought up a long jade box, the box body was pitch black, and it was engraved with Seal runes.

Ximen He opened the jade box and took out a long sword.

The sword body was about three feet long, dark red all over, with blood light faintly circulating on the sword ridge, emitting a sharp and fiery aura.

"Earth Rank Low-level Magical Artifact—Chixiao Sword."

Ximen He's voice echoed in the hall.

"This sword was forged with ten-thousand-year volcanic black iron as the base, supplemented by various rare Spirit materials, and forged by an Earth Rank Artifact Refiner after thirteen years of painstaking effort."

"On the day the sword was completed, it attracted heavenly fire to descend, and it was quenched for ten days to achieve this sharpness."

A collective gasp sounded in the hall; an Earth Rank Intermediate Magical Artifact was a rare treasure to see in Xihai City.

"Starting price, two million Spirit Stones."

As his voice fell, the hall was quiet for a moment.

"2,100,000!" A low voice came from a private room on the second floor.

"2,200,000!" Another private room followed closely.

"2,250,000!"

The sounds of bidding rose one after another, and the price climbed all the way up.

Lu Jinghan looked at that Chixiao Sword, his expression calm.

Earth Rank Intermediate might be a supreme treasure for ordinary Cultivators, but for him, it really counted for nothing.

The Jinghan Sword given to him by his Revered Master, although Sealed, was also a Heaven Rank Advanced precious sword.

In the end, the Chixiao Sword was auctioned off by a buyer in the central private room on the second floor for a price of 5,380,000 Spirit Stones.

Ximen He's smile deepened a little, and he raised his hand to signal the next auction item.

The auction continued, the grade of the auction items became higher and higher, and the competition became more and more intense.

Lu Jinghan never made a move, just sitting there quietly, as if all this had nothing to do with him.

"Everyone."

Ximen He's voice suddenly became solemn.

"Next is the finale item of the day."

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly tightened.

Ximen He took a small jade box from the attendant's hand; the jade box was cyan-white all over, its surface engraved with fine runes, with Spirit light faintly circulating.

He held the box with both hands and carefully placed it on the auction stage, his movements so solemn, as if he were holding some rare treasure.

"This item is a token."

Ximen He opened the jade box, and a dark golden token lay quietly inside, the size of a palm, with a large ancient Seal character engraved on the front—Heaven.