167: Danxia landform auction: the first signs of change.

Over the next two days, the atmosphere in Tianshu City visibly grew more fervent. Cultivators from all corners of the Cultivation World poured in continuously. Major inns in the city were fully booked, and the rent for Earth Fire Chambers and Cultivation Retreats also soared. News regarding various rare Pill Formulas, Spirit Medicines, and even lectures by Alchemy Great Masters circulated endlessly, making it hard to discern truth from falsehood.

Lin Xuan and the others kept a low profile. This was partly to allow Gongsun Yu to recover in peace, and partly to avoid being targeted prematurely by Heavenly Frost City's spies. Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan went out several more times to gather information, but the news they brought back remained vague. The Medicine King Sect and Daoist Master Miao Dan were tight-lipped, and the people from Heavenly Frost City seemed to have completely merged into the city's shadows, making their specific movements impossible to track.

However, one piece of news caught Lin Xuan's attention: Tonight, led by Danxia Pavilion and jointly organized with several major Tianshu City merchant associations, a large-scale auction would be held at the “Vast Image Tower” in the city center. It was rumored to be the most important warm-up event before the Myriad Elixirs Grand Gathering officially began, and many rare treasures would be unveiled there.

“An auction?” Lin Xuan pondered. Such occasions are often places where intelligence converges and treasures gather; perhaps they could gain something. “We can go take a look.”

As evening approached, the lanterns were lit. The area in front of the Vast Image Tower was already bustling with traffic and glittering lights. After presenting the token given by Old Man Danxia, the five of them were respectfully led to a Private Room on the second floor. In front of the Private Room was a one-way crystal glass window, allowing a clear view of the crowded Auction Hall below while blocking external scrutiny, ensuring excellent privacy.

The Auction Hall was packed, filled with complex yet powerful auras. Golden Core Cultivators were everywhere, and one could even sense several obscure Nascent Soul auras concealed within.

The auction quickly began. Presiding over the auction was a Female Cultivator who was still charming and articulate. Treasures were presented onto the stage one after another, triggering waves of bidding fervor. Fifth-tier “Dragon Blood Pills,” incomplete ancient Pill Formulas, and the rare Sixth Grade Spiritual Plant “Nine-Leaf Ganoderma”... each item drew competitive bids from the Cultivators below, creating an intense atmosphere.

Lin Xuan sat steadily in the Private Room, not making a move easily. Although these treasures were good, they were not essential for him. He focused more on observing the crowd below, especially several private boxes whose occupants had profound auras and were subtly deferred to by the others.

Su Wanqing sat to his left, her cold eyes sweeping the hall below. Occasionally, when Lin Xuan glanced over, she would slightly turn her head, and a trace of imperceptible tenderness would flash in her icy eyes. Qu Feiyan sat to his right, leaning lazily against a cushion, twirling a strand of dark hair between her fingers. Her flirtatious gaze caught the surreptitious glances of several Male Cultivators below, and a faint smirk played on her lips. Gongsun Yu, whose injuries had not fully healed, sat quietly in a slightly rear position, curiously watching the lively scene below, though her gaze mostly remained fixed on Lin Xuan's back. Yun Shang was somewhat nervous; this was her first time participating in such a high-level auction.

“The next auction item,” the Female Cultivator auctioneer's voice rose slightly, carrying a hint of excitement, “is a set of Spirit Medicine from the depths of the Southern Border's Ten Thousand Monster Mountain Range! There are three plants in total, perfectly preserved, and all are over three thousand years old!”

A maidservant presented a jade platter holding three Spirit Medicines of different shapes, all radiating potent Spiritual Qi. One was entirely crimson, its leaves flickering like flames; one was coiled like a snake, emitting a chilling Yin Qi; and the last one displayed seven colors, its petals resembling glass.

When he saw that seven-colored Spirit Medicine, Lin Xuan's pupils contracted slightly! The System delivered a prompt:

[Detected Seventh Grade auxiliary medicine 'Seven-Colored Glazed Lotus' (petals). It matches the record in the Pill Formula for the nirvana phoenix blood pill and can serve as an excellent auxiliary ingredient for stabilizing medicinal properties!]

Although it wasn't a main ingredient, a Seventh Grade auxiliary medicine was equally rare! Especially since it would greatly benefit the refinement of the nirvana phoenix blood pill!

“The three Spirit Medicines will be auctioned together, starting bid: one thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones!” the Female Cultivator auctioneer announced.

As soon as the price was announced, gasps echoed below. One thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones was enough to bankrupt many small and medium-sized Sects.

After a brief silence, the bidding began.

“One thousand one hundred!”

“One thousand three hundred!”

“One thousand five hundred!”

The price climbed quickly, but the increments gradually shrank, clearly indicating that one thousand five hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones was approaching many people's psychological limits.

“Two thousand.” A flat voice came from another Private Room on the second floor, immediately raising the bid by five hundred.

There was a commotion in the hall as everyone speculated which major power had made the move.

Lin Xuan's eyes flickered. The voice sounded somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall who it belonged to immediately. He hesitated no longer and announced his bid: “Two thousand five hundred.”

He directly added another five hundred!

This time, even the Private Room that had bid two thousand fell silent for a moment.

The Female Cultivator auctioneer's smile grew wider: “The esteemed guest in Private Room A-3 has bid two thousand five hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones! Are there any higher bids?”

After waiting a moment, no one responded.

“Two thousand five hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones, going once!”

“Going twice!”

...Just as the Female Cultivator auctioneer was about to strike the gavel, the voice from the Private Room that had initially bid two thousand sounded again, carrying a trace of subtle coldness: “Three thousand.”

It was raised directly to three thousand!

Lin Xuan frowned slightly. The opponent's posture didn't seem like normal bidding; it felt like deliberate provocation.

“Three thousand five hundred.” He raised the price again, his tone still calm.

“Four thousand.” The opponent was unhesitating, as if High-Grade Spirit Stones were merely numbers.

At this, even the Auction Hall fell silent. Everyone sensed the extraordinary tension. Bidding this high for a set of Spirit Medicine, which was precious but not irreplaceable, clearly exceeded the item's intrinsic value.

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan also looked toward Lin Xuan, their eyes questioning.

Lin Xuan's gaze turned slightly cold. He didn't care about Spirit Stones; the wealth returned by the System far exceeded what ordinary people could imagine. But he hated being treated like a fool. Moreover, he vaguely felt that the opponent might be targeting him.

He remained silent for a moment. When the Female Cultivator auctioneer inquired again, he slowly spoke: “Five thousand.”

Whoa—!

The entire hall erupted in an uproar! Five thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones! This was enough to purchase a decent Sixth-tier Magic Treasure!

That Private Room fell into a long silence. Finally, there was no further bid.

“Five thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones! Sold! Congratulations to the esteemed guest in Private Room A-3!” The Female Cultivator auctioneer struck the gavel, her voice brimming with excitement.

Soon, the maidservant delivered the set of Spirit Medicine to Lin Xuan's Private Room. While paying the Spirit Stones, Lin Xuan asked casually, “Do you know which party was bidding against us just now?”

The maidservant hesitated, then whispered, “Replying to the esteemed guest, it was... Private Room C-7. We are not at liberty to disclose their specific identity, only that they are a newly registered guest today, seemingly from the Northern Region.”

Northern Region? Heavenly Frost City?

A cold light flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes. It was them, as expected! Had Ling Tianyu still been unable to resist jumping out? Using this method to provoke and test him?

He put away the Spirit Medicine, his expression normal, but his heart was already vigilant. The auction was not yet over, and the true grand finale items had not been presented. Heavenly Frost City choosing to cause trouble at this moment was probably not just about raising the price.

The auction continued, and several more eye-catching treasures appeared, but Lin Xuan did not bid again. He was waiting, and observing.

Finally, when the grand finale item was brought out, the atmosphere of the entire auction hall reached its climax!

It was a jade box sealed within ten-thousand-year profound ice. When the jade box opened a crack, an intensely scorching aura, carrying majestic dignity and seeming capable of bringing all things to life and Nirvana, immediately permeated the air! Simultaneously, a subtle, clear Phoenix Cry echoed in everyone's mind!

The Female Cultivator auctioneer's voice was filled with unparalleled excitement: “Everyone! This is the final, grand finale item of this auction! It also comes from the depths of the Ten Thousand Monster Mountain Range and is suspected to be related to the Ancient Divine Beast Phoenix—it is a root segment suspected to be from a phoenix blood vine!”

phoenix blood vine!

Lin Xuan abruptly sat upright, his gaze sharp as a sword, fixed tightly on the jade box!

Su Wanqing, Qu Feiyan, and even Gongsun Yu instantly tensed up!

One of the main ingredients they had been desperately searching for had appeared right here!

However, almost simultaneously, intense aura fluctuations erupted from several Private Boxes, including Private Room C-7, which had just competed with Lin Xuan!

The real struggle was just beginning! And the venomous snake in the shadows was finally ready to bare its fangs!