16: Chapter 16: The Battle of Heritage at the Auction

Seven days later, as dawn just began to break, sparse figures already appeared on the streets of Black Stone City.

On the third floor of Yingke Tower, Lin Yue changed into a plain long robe, tucked the supply token close to his body, and checked the Spirit Stones in his Storage Pouch once more—

Besides the remaining 2,400 Low-Grade Spirit Stones from the spirit iron ore trade, he had specifically asked Lin Hu to exchange another 3,000 for emergencies.

“Clan Chief, everything is ready.”

Lin Hu was dressed in short-sleeved martial attire, carrying a bulging pack filled with spare Talismans and Medicinal Pills.

“Word from outside says the Iron Fist Gang and Green Robe Hall had another fight in the Black Wind Forest last night. I heard both sides invited helpers at the Middle Foundation Establishment Stage.”

Lin Yue tightened the collar of his robe:

“Ignore them. We are going to the auction. Remember, speak less, observe more.”

The two walked out of the inn and merged into the flow of people heading toward the Black Stone Chamber of Commerce.

The closer they got to the Chamber of Commerce tower, the more Cultivators there were, talking in low voices in groups of twos and threes.

Many wore Magical Artifacts at their waists, their auras steady and profound; clearly, they were all here for the auction.

At the entrance of the Chamber of Commerce, there were twice as many guards as usual. Cultivators at the Peak of Late Stage Qi Refining stood at the front, their gazes scanning those entering like a sieve.

After Lin Yue presented his invitation, the guards verified it and stepped aside to let them pass:

“Auction hall on the fifth floor. Entry by invitation only.”

Stepping into the tower, a denser wave of Spiritual Qi hit them, mixed with the scents of various spiritual materials.

The auction hall on the fifth floor was more spacious than imagined, with dozens of rows of pearwood chairs arranged neatly.

At the front was a ten-foot-tall white jade display stage. Behind the stage hung a scroll depicting spiritual mountains and great rivers, exuding an air of grandeur.

By now, nearly a hundred people were seated in the hall. Spiritual power fluctuations leaked faintly during their conversations.

Foundation Establishment Cultivators actually accounted for thirty percent of the crowd, a much higher density than what was seen in the market.

Lin Yue chose a seat toward the back and scanned the room calmly.

A few rows on the left were occupied by richly dressed Cultivators, the jade pendants at their waists glowing with spiritual light; they were likely the scions of Black Stone City's noble families.

The right side mostly consisted of people dressed as Loose Cultivators, their eyes wary and their hands resting on their weapons.

The first few rows of seats were empty, with the Chamber of Commerce emblem carved into the backrests, clearly reserved for important figures.

“Clan Chief, look over there.”

Lin Hu nudged him with his elbow, gesturing toward the right corner.

Three Green Robe Hall Cultivators were sitting there, led by a one-eyed man.

With a hideous scar across his Face, he was scanning the room with his remaining eye.

His gaze lingered on Lin Yue for a moment, filled with a hint of scrutiny.

Lin Yue nodded slightly and withdrew his gaze—it seemed the conflict between these two Gangs couldn't even avoid the auction.

As the hour of Chen arrived, a commotion broke out at the entrance of the auction hall, and everyone looked over.

Steward Liu was seen accompanying an elderly man in brocade robes. The old man had white hair and a thin, refined Face.

However, his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, and the Spiritual Qi around him was elusive yet present; he was actually at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

“It’s the Great Deacon of the Chamber of Commerce, Elder Wang.”

People nearby whispered, “I heard his Alchemy skills are superb. Even the City Lord's Mansion has to give him some Face.”

Elder Wang walked to the main seat behind the display stage and sat down. Steward Liu stood by his side, cleared his throat, and said:

“Fellow Daoists, thank you for waiting.”

“Today's auction will be hosted by Elder Wang. The rules remain unchanged—”

“The highest bidder wins. Those who win but do not pay will be dealt with according to the Chamber of Commerce's rules.”

He paused and gestured with his hand, “Now, let the auction begin.”

A maid in a red dress walked onto the stage carrying a tray covered with a red cloth.

When uncovered, it revealed three Jade Slips, their spiritual light gentle and warm.

Elder Wang picked one up, his voice calm yet penetrating:

“The first item: three Grade Two Cultivation Technique Jade Slips, suitable for Cultivators with Metal, Wood, and Water Spiritual Roots respectively. They contain complete Mind-Cultivation Techniques from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment.”

“Starting price: three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.”

There was immediate movement below the stage.

Although Grade Two techniques weren't top-tier, they were rare Foundations for small to medium-sized families.

A middle-aged Cultivator wearing Family livery immediately raised his sign: “Three hundred and fifty.”

“Four hundred,” another Loose Cultivator followed closely.

Lin Yue was in no hurry to make a move.

While these three techniques were good, they didn't perfectly match the Spiritual Root attributes of the Lin Family disciples. He needed more universal basic techniques.

Ultimately, these three Jade Slips were bought by a small Family for five hundred and eighty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

The next few items were mostly High Grade Spiritual Plants and Low Grade Magical Artifacts. Lin Yue remained still throughout.

He only silently observed the bidding situation, noting the forces that spent generously—

Among them, the scions of several noble families were the most prominent, spending thousands of Low-Grade Spirit Stones at every turn, clearly possessing deep pockets.

“The seventh item,”

Elder Wang picked up a black Jade Slip, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, “The General Outline of Basic Artifact Refining.”

“A Grade Two High Grade Jade Slip. It records the complete process from Ore purification to the sharpening of Magical Artifacts, and includes forging diagrams for ten types of Low Grade Magical Artifacts.”

“Starting price: six hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.”

Lin Hu snapped his head up, heat flashing in his eyes.

The Lin Family Guard Team's Magical Artifacts had always relied on external purchases. If they could master the art of forging, it would undoubtedly boost their strength significantly.

Lin Yue's fingertips twitched. Under the table, he lightly patted the back of Lin Hu's hand, signaling him to stay calm.

“Six hundred and fifty.”

A Cultivator dressed as a blacksmith raised his sign.

“Seven hundred.”

“Eight hundred.”

The price climbed all the way to nine hundred. Seeing that it was about to be sold, Lin Yue finally raised his sign: “One thousand.”

The hall went slightly quiet. Many people looked toward this young Cultivator who had been silent until now.

The blacksmith-dressed Cultivator hesitated for a moment and finally lowered his hand—

One thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones was already his limit.

“One thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, sold.”

Elder Wang gestured for the maid to deliver the Jade Slip to Lin Yue.

“Fellow Daoist Lin has quite the eye. This Jade Slip is a manuscript from a Great Master of Artifact Refining from years ago; it is much more detailed than the versions on the market.”

Lin Yue took the Jade Slip and swept his spiritual power through it. As expected, it contained many details not found in commercially available slips—

For instance, the purification temperatures for companion spirit iron ore and the Fusion ratios for different Ores.

There were even several annotations pointing directly to flaws that easily occur during forging.

He felt a slight joy in his heart; these thousand Spirit Stones were well spent.

Among the subsequent items, Lin Yue also purchased a copy of the 'Encyclopedia of a Hundred Herbs'.

It recorded the characteristics and cultivation methods of hundreds of Spiritual Plants in the Black Wind Forest and surrounding areas, which happened to complement the spiritual seeds he had traded from the Chamber of Commerce. It cost him eight hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

“The fifteenth item,”

Elder Wang's voice became a bit more solemn.

“The 'Green Vein Pill Scripture', a Grade Three Low Grade Jade Slip. It contains a total of twenty Pill Formulas from Grade One to Grade Three, including the 'solidifying origin pill' and 'heart-clearing pill' commonly used by Foundation Establishment Cultivators, along with annotations on Alchemy techniques.”

“Starting price: one thousand five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.”

The crowd below the stage immediately erupted into a fervor.

A Grade Three Pill Scripture was extremely rare even in Black Stone City, enough to support a Family's entire medicinal system.

“One thousand six!”

“One thousand eight!”

“Two thousand!”

The bidding instantly reached a fever pitch. Several noble scions raised their signs frequently, and the price quickly broke two thousand five hundred.

Lin Yue looked at the Jade Slip on the stage, a look of determination flashing in his eyes—

Medicinal Pills were the key to increasing the Family's strength. This Pill Scripture had to be obtained.

“Three thousand.”

He raised his sign and spoke in a deep voice.

The hall was in an uproar.

Three thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones was enough to buy a High Grade Low Grade Magical Artifact. To use it for a Pill Scripture seemed somewhat wasteful to many.

The noble scions looked at each other. The youth in brocade robes at their head snorted and raised his sign: “Three thousand one hundred.”

“Three thousand five hundred.”

Lin Yue did not hesitate.

The brocade-robed youth's Face darkened. He wanted to raise his sign again but was held back by the old man beside him.

The old man shook his head and whispered, “Young Lord, there's no need to pick a fight over a basic Pill Scripture. There are better things later.”

The youth sullenly lowered his hand.

“Three thousand five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, sold.”

Elder Wang handed the Pill Scripture to Lin Yue, a hint of admiration in his eyes, “Fellow Daoist Lin, to have such insight at such a young age is rare.”

Lin Yue took the Pill Scripture, his heart relaxing slightly.

The Pill Formulas in this scripture happened to match the Spiritual Plants produced by his plane.

Once the Family's own Alchemists were trained, the pills needed for the Lin Family Cultivators' Breakthroughs would finally no longer depend on external purchases.

The auction reached its climax as the final grand items began to appear.

One of them caught Lin Yue's attention—a scroll titled 'Diagrams for Simple Defensive Formation Plates'.

It recorded three types of defensive Formations suitable for Family bases, ranging from warning Formations to clan-protecting Formations. The starting price was two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

“Two thousand two hundred.”

“Two thousand five hundred.”

Most of the bidders were Cultivators from small to medium families. By the time Lin Yue joined the fray, the price was already at three thousand.

He directly increased it to four thousand, scaring off all competitors. After obtaining the diagrams, he quickly scanned them.

He found that one called the 'Spirit-Gathering Defensive Formation' could perfectly integrate with the spiritual land in Sunset Town. It could both gather Spiritual Qi and resist outside enemies; it was exactly what he needed.

By this point, Lin Yue had spent nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones, and his Storage Pouch was noticeably emptier.

But he didn't feel the sting—Cultivation Techniques, Artifact Refining, Alchemy, and Formations; these were exactly the Foundations the Lin Family lacked. With these, the Family's development could truly get on the right track.

When the final item appeared, the atmosphere in the hall reached its Peak.

Elder Wang uncovered the red cloth. On the tray sat a fist-sized crystal.

Inside was sealed a wisp of golden flame, its spiritual fluctuations hot and pure.

“This is 'Earth Fire Crystal',”

Elder Wang's voice carried a hint of excitement, “Collected from deep beneath the Black Wind Forest, it contains a trace of Earth Fire Origin.”

“It can be used to refine Middle Grade Magical Artifacts or purify High Grade spiritual Ores. Starting price: five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.”

The hall instantly exploded, and even the figures in the first few empty seats began to stir.

The brocade-robed youth stood up abruptly and raised his sign: “Six thousand!”

“Seven thousand!”

A black-robed Loose Cultivator refused to be outdone.

“Eight thousand!”

“Ten thousand!”

The price soared, quickly breaking ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, far exceeding Lin Yue's budget.

Lin Yue looked at the Earth Fire Crystal. Though he felt some regret, he didn't act impulsively—

While such a resource was good, it was too luxurious for the current Lin Family. It was better to use the Spirit Stones where they were more urgently needed.

Ultimately, the Earth Fire Crystal was bought by the brocade-robed youth for thirteen thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

He tilted his chin up proudly, his gaze sweeping the hall with an air of showing off.

By the time the auction ended, it was already afternoon.

Lin Yue took the purchased Jade Slips and diagrams and left the Chamber of Commerce with Lin Hu.

Just as they stepped out of the tower, they saw Steward Liu waiting at the door with a jade box in his hand.

“Fellow Daoist Lin, quite a harvest you had.”

Steward Liu smiled and handed over the jade box, “This is a small gift from the Chamber of Commerce, as a token of thanks for your support today.”

Lin Yue opened the jade box. Inside were three 'heart-clearing pills'.

These were precisely the Grade Three pills recorded in the 'Green Vein Pill Scripture', capable of stabilizing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator's spiritual fluctuations.

He cupped his hands and said, “Thank you, Steward Liu. This gift is too precious.”

“It’s just a small token.”

Steward Liu lowered his voice, “The Jade Slips you purchased are all good things for solidifying one's Foundation. It seems you intend to manage your Family well, Fellow Daoist?”

Lin Yue remained non-committal: “I just want my clansmen to live a bit better.”

“Rare indeed.”

Steward Liu nodded, “Black Stone City hasn't been peaceful lately. If you have any needs, Fellow Daoist, you can contact me with that token at any time.”

“Thank you.”

After leaving the Chamber of Commerce, Lin Hu couldn't help but ask, “Clan Chief, we spent so many Spirit Stones, will it be...”

“It’s worth it.”

Lin Yue interrupted him, weighing the Jade Slips in his hand, “These things can save the Lin Family ten years of detours.”

“Think about it. Once the clan can refine its own Magical Artifacts and pills, and set up defensive Formations, Sunset Town will truly be as solid as a fortress.”

Lin Hu suddenly understood, his eyes filling with excitement: “The Clan Chief is right! When that time comes, we won't even be afraid if the Iron Fist Gang or Green Robe Hall comes knocking!”