79: Chapter 79 The Opportunity to Intercept the Chosen One

Right at this moment, the System's voice rang out in Chu Xiao's mind.

[Ding! Performing a deep scan on the target...]

[Scan complete!]

A virtual light screen that only Chu Xiao could see slowly unfolded before his eyes.

On it was a detailed list of the future script for Jiang Bai, this Child of Destiny.

[Name: Jiang Bai]

[Luck Rank: Gold (Child of Destiny)]

[Recent Opportunity 1: At the Tianbao Pavilion auction, purchase the Crimson Blood Dragon Crystal for 300,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Use it to upgrade his Lifebound Treasure, the Heavenly Snake Spear, transforming it from a High Grade Spiritual Artifact into a Top-grade Spiritual Artifact, greatly increasing its power.]

[Recent Opportunity 2: At the Tianbao Pavilion auction, pick up the tattered ancient map "azure dragon array-breaking map" for 100,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. From it, comprehend the immortal dao insights of an ancient spear dao powerhouse, causing his Spear Intent to transform.]

[Recent Opportunity 3: Encounter the Yao Family's young miss, Yao Qianxue, who is being forced into marriage by her Family. Play the hero saving the beauty and successfully capture her heart. Ultimately, with the help of Yao Qianxue's Innate Charm Bone, his cultivation will advance significantly, and he will add her to his harem.]

[Recent Opportunity 4: Under Master Dog's guidance, officially begin to Cultivate the Earth-Grade Top-grade Cultivation Technique "Burning Heaven Spear Art," causing his combat power to soar and starting his path of revenge.]

...

Looking at these clearly listed opportunities, Chu Xiao gave a light chuckle.

Picking up bargains, counter-killing, seizing treasures, saving the beauty...

This script was truly standard to the point of being a bit dull.

Thinking of this, Chu Xiao turned his gaze back onto Jiang Bai.

Soon, his eyes moved to the simple and ancient ring on Jiang Bai's right hand.

"Insight this item."

[Item: Ancient Remnant Soul Inhabited Ring]

[Soul: Wuxu Spirit Dog (Self-proclaimed Master Dog)]

[Status: Remnant Soul of an ancient powerhouse. In a weakened state, requires continuous absorption of heaven and earth spiritual items or plundering the host's Luck to recover.]

"Isn't this script too cliché?"

Chu Xiao gently set down his teacup, his heart no longer stirred in the slightest.

At that moment, a flash of light appeared on the central high platform of the hall downstairs.

A beautiful woman in palace attire with a graceful figure and gorgeous features.

Carrying a small golden hammer, she walked up gracefully.

She scanned the audience and laughed sweetly, "Thank you, Immortal Masters and Fellow Daoists, for gracing our Tianbao Pavilion with your presence. I won't say much more; this auction now begins!"

As her voice fell, several maidservants carrying trays covered with red cloth stepped onto the high platform one by one.

"The first item: three top-tier third-grade Medicinal Pills, Purple Cloud Golden Core! They can help Golden Core Late Stage Cultivators stabilize their cultivation and increase the chance of a Nascent Soul Breakthrough! The starting price is 50,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, with a minimum bid increment of 1,000!"

...

The auction officially began, and rare treasures were presented one after another.

This triggered wave after wave of bidding frenzies in the hall.

To show off in front of Yao Qianxue, Lin Ruyuan splurged 80,000 Spirit Stones.

He bought a Spiritual Plant that was quite beneficial to the Yao Family's Cultivation Technique, yet he didn't even get a single glance from Yao Qianxue.

It made his face turn livid with anger.

Chu Xiao remained seated and motionless; to him, these things were no different from Mortal toys.

Until the tenth item was presented.

"The following treasure will surely be of great interest to the Artifact Refining masters present!"

The beautiful auctioneer's voice suddenly rose a few notches as she abruptly pulled back the red cloth.

Revealing a fist-sized crystal, entirely blood-red with faint dragon-shaped patterns flowing on its surface.

A wave of scorching and pure blood Qi instantly filled the air.

"Crimson Blood Dragon Crystal! A legendary Artifact Refining treasure said to contain a trace of true dragon blood! No matter what Spiritual Artifact it is integrated into, it can cause its quality to leap! The starting price is 150,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"Master Dog! It's the Crimson Blood Dragon Crystal!"

In the corner, Jiang Bai's breathing instantly became rapid.

"That's right! Kid, that's the one! Get it, and your weapon can transform into a Top-grade Spiritual Artifact! Hurry!"

Master Dog's voice was full of urgency.

"160,000!"

Jiang Bai almost roared out the price.

His shout immediately drew the attention of the entire room.

"Isn't that the poor kid who was stopped at the door earlier? He actually has that many Spirit Stones?"

"Hmph, just slapping his own face to look fat."

Lin Ruyuan originally had no interest in this item.

But when he heard Jiang Bai's bid and saw Yao Qianxue beside him seemingly glancing at the crystal a few more times, his brain, hollowed out by wine and women, suddenly had an idea.

A brilliant idea suddenly popped into his head.

"170,000!"

Lin Ruyuan's plump body leaned back in his chair as he squinted provocatively at Jiang Bai in the corner.

Jiang Bai's expression instantly darkened.

"180,000!"

He gritted his teeth and continued to raise the bid.

"200,000!"

Lin Ruyuan looked contemptuous, as if saying, "A poor ghost like you dares to compete with this young master?"

"210,000!"

"250,000!"

As the price soared, fine beads of sweat began to seep from Jiang Bai's forehead.

"Kid, don't be impulsive! This straw bag is clearly raising the price on purpose! There are more important things later!"

Master Dog hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

But at this moment, how could Jiang Bai listen?

He only felt that Lin Ruyuan's contemptuous gaze was so similar to that of Xu Liang, the enemy who killed his parents years ago!

"300,000!"

He bid once more.

This price made the entire room fall silent.

Lin Ruyuan was also stunned; he hadn't expected this poor ghost to be so stubborn.

Buying an Artifact Refining material for 300,000 had already far exceeded its actual value.

He gave a cold laugh and stopped bidding; anyway, his goal of annoying the guy had been achieved.

"300,000 once! 300,000 twice! 300,000 three times! Sold!"

As the auctioneer's hammer fell, Jiang Bai slumped in his chair, panting heavily.

Although he successfully bid for the Crimson Blood Dragon Crystal, his heart was filled with anger.

He was no longer able to participate in the next few items.

Until a special item was carefully brought up by a maidservant.

It was a painting, an ancient map that looked tattered and worn, its edges full of moth holes, and even the content on the scroll was blurred and unclear.

"Everyone, this item is a bit special."

The beautiful auctioneer's face also held a trace of helplessness. "This map is called the 'azure dragon array-breaking map,' and it was accidentally obtained by our Tianbao Pavilion from an ancient ruin."

"We invited several appraisal masters, but none could see its mystery. The only certainty is that the material of this map is extraordinary—impervious to water and fire, and resistant to Divine Thought. Perhaps... it is a playful creation of some Senior expert."

"The starting price is 1,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Is there any Fellow Daoist willing to gamble on this Opportunity?"

After her words, the entire hall was silent; one could hear a pin drop.

Everyone looked at the ancient map on the stage as if they were looking at a fool.

Spending 1,000 Spirit Stones to buy a scroll of scrap paper that no one knows the use of?

Unless their head was caught in a door.

However, in Jiang Bai's mind, Master Dog's voice rang out once more!

"It's it! That's the one! Kid, hurry! At all costs, you must bid for this map for this old man!"

"Master Dog, isn't this just a tattered painting?"

Jiang Bai was stunned.

"Tattered painting? You know jack shit!"

Master Dog's voice rang in his head: "How is this a tattered painting? This is a spear map! It's the 'True Explanation of the Spear Dao,' into which an ancient supreme powerhouse who attained the Dao through the spear integrated his life's insights into the spear dao!"

"Void Refining Realm?"

Jiang Bai's mind shook violently; that was a supreme Realm that only existed in legends, surpassing the Soul Transformation Realm!

"That's right!"

Master Dog's voice was full of fanaticism. "Obtain it, and your Spear Intent will undergo a qualitative transformation! Your 'Burning Heaven Spear Art' will also be able to truly display its power! Forget about killing a mere Xu Liang; in the future, it's not impossible to reach the pinnacle of this world! Hurry! This is your true Heaven-Defying Opportunity to change your fate!"

Boom!

Jiang Bai's brain went blank! He looked at the tattered ancient map, and his eyes instantly became incredibly hot!

He tremblingly raised his hand: "I... I bid 1,000 Spirit Stones!"

His voice broke the silence in the hall.

And it also drew a wave of mocking laughter.

"Haha, is that kid crazy? He spent all his money on a rock, and now he won't even let a tattered painting go?"

"Driven mad by poverty, he's truly driven mad by poverty!"

Lin Ruyuan laughed even harder, pointing at Jiang Bai and saying to his lackeys, "See that? That's what a brainless poor ghost looks like! This young master is in a good mood today, so I'll play with him!"

He lazily raised his hand: "This young master bids 10,000 Spirit Stones!"

Whoosh!

The entire hall erupted in an uproar!

Everyone looked at Lin Ruyuan as if he were a madman.

Jiang Bai's face instantly turned the color of pig liver; he stood up abruptly and stared fixedly at Lin Ruyuan. "You!"

"What? Not satisfied?"

Lin Ruyuan crossed his legs, his face full of mockery. "In an auction house, the highest bidder wins. If you have no money, then shut up for this young master!"

"You...!"

Jiang Bai trembled with rage but was helpless; his Spirit Stones were almost entirely exhausted on that Crimson Blood Dragon Crystal.

"10,000 Spirit Stones once, is there any higher price?"

A flash of joy also crossed the auctioneer's eyes; she hadn't expected this scrap to sell for such a price.

"10,000 Spirit Stones twice..."

Just as Jiang Bai was burning with anxiety and felt like spitting blood.

Falling into despair.

On the second floor, from within that 'Heaven' Rank Private Room which had remained silent until now.

A voice slowly drifted out!

"One hundred thousand."

These words were light, as if devoid of any earthly trace.

At this moment, time seemed to have been paused.

The hall that was filled with laughter and mockery just a second ago.

Instantly became so quiet a pin drop could be heard.

In the VIP seats opposite the high platform, the gloating smile on Lin Ruyuan's plump face instantly froze.

He seemed to have been hit by a freezing technique, remaining motionless.

His mouth hung open, his eyes bulging wide, and a layer of fine cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

It was... it was that person!

It was that peerless Prodigy who had destroyed the Half-step Nascent Soul Xing Lie with a single punch!

Why would he... why would he take an interest in such a tattered scroll?

A chill rushed from Lin Ruyuan's tailbone straight to the crown of his head.

He had no doubt that if he had said one more word of nonsense just now.

Or dared to mock that poor ghost in the corner for even half a sentence more.

His end would likely be even more miserable than Xing Lie's on the Fighting Arena.

He scrambled to his feet from the chair and bowed deeply toward the second-floor private room.

His face was covered in a fawning smile.

The sudden change in his attitude left his lackeys standing by in a daze.

[part:deepseek-chat]

Immortal... Immortal Master Chu possesses a Wisdom Eye that sees all! A divine object such as this is naturally only fit for a personage of your stature! This lowly one... this lowly one was blind and failed to recognize Mount Tai! I have offended you earlier, I beseech you, Immortal Master, to forgive my crime!

Not a trace of his previous arrogance and domineering remained in his voice.

In the corner, Jiang Bai's entire body had frozen in place.

It was him again!

Why was it him again?!

That youth in white, that Chu Xiao who was revered by the crowd, personally welcomed by a Nascent Soul powerhouse, and loved wholeheartedly by a peerless Fairy!

Why... why did he have to compete with him?

He had already lost everything, like a rat hiding in a dark corner, only hoping to obtain this sole Opportunity that could defy the heavens and change his fate!

But why did he have to cruelly crush even this meager, humble hope?

An indescribable sense of humiliation instantly surged into his heart.

"Kid! Calm down! You absolutely must calm down!"

In his mind, Master Dog's voice carried an unprecedented gravity: "Don't be impulsive! This person is unfathomably deep; even I cannot see through him in the slightest! The aura on him is more terrifying than any Prodigy I've ever seen at my peak!"

"We cannot afford to offend him! Absolutely cannot!"

Master Dog was genuinely afraid.

It could feel the gaze coming from that private room.

Under that line of sight, even its remnant Soul, residing within the ring, felt waves of bone-chilling cold.

"Cannot afford to offend him?"

Jiang Bai roared wildly in his heart, his eyes bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead: "Then what am I supposed to do?! Watch helplessly as my only hope is snatched away by him? This is my only hope for revenge!"

He could lose the Crimson Blood Dragon Crystal, but he absolutely could not lose this 'True Treatise on the Spear Dao'!

This was his sole reliance for seeking revenge against that lofty Divine Sword Sect Elder, Xu Liang!

Immense fury and unwillingness nearly overwhelmed his reason.

He stared in the direction of the second floor and bid again: "I offer... one hundred and ten thousand... plus one thousand!"

This bid also shattered the deathly silence in the arena.

After a brief stillness.

Came an even more intense wave of ridicule.

"Pfft... did I hear that right? One hundred and ten thousand plus one thousand? Is this guy crazy?"

"Does he think this is a vegetable market buying cabbage? Haggling over loose change? Daring to bid like this before Immortal Master Chu Xiao? He must have a death wish!"

"An ignorant fool who doesn't know his place! He's simply insulting Immortal Master Chu!"

Seeing that Chu Xiao didn't seem to blame him, Lin Ruyuan's courage grew again. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow and pointed at Jiang Bai, mocking: "Hahaha! Did you hear that? One thousand Spirit Stones! You pauper, that's all you can afford! Are you trying to fend off a beggar? Hurry up and get out of here! Don't embarrass yourself any further!"

Each sarcastic remark, each burst of laughter, felt like sharp knives stabbing into Jiang Bai's heart.

His entire body trembled violently.

Not from fear, but from fury and humiliation.

He clenched his fists so tightly.

His fingernails dug into his palms, drawing blood, yet he remained completely unaware.

Inside the private room on the second floor, Xu Linger looked at Jiang Bai, who was being mocked at will by the crowd below like a clown. Her delicate brows slightly furrowed, and a trace of pity flashed in her eyes.

But when she turned her head and saw the calm, indifferent profile of Chu Xiao beside her.

That trace of pity instantly transformed into a natural feeling of adoration.

In her view, how could someone like Junior Brother Chu allow others to covet something he had set his eyes on?

That young man, overestimating his own strength, trying to stop a chariot with his arm like a mantis, deserved the ridicule.

In another VIP room, Yao Qianxue looked through the crystal before her at Jiang Bai, who still stood tall amidst the crowd's mockery, his eyes burning with an unyielding flame.

A strange glint flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Although this person was pathetic and laughable.

That indomitable spirit on him, refusing to yield even unto death, reminded her of her own situation.

However, when her gaze inadvertently met Jiang Bai's venomous stare from the corner below.

The slight favorable impression that had just risen in her heart instantly vanished without a trace.

Because she discovered that the young man's gaze towards her was filled with possessiveness.

As if looking at an item that already belonged to him.

This made her feel a wave of disgust and aversion.

Her gaze involuntarily turned once more towards that Tianzi private room.

Compared to that aggressive young man, Chu Xiao's aloof indifference, regarding all things as nothingness.

Instead made her feel more at ease.

And it stirred a deeper desire to conquer within her heart.

Amidst the clamor filling the arena, that indifferent voice rang out once more from the second floor.

"One hundred and fifty thousand."

Three lightly spoken words, yet they descended like a massive mountain!

The hall, which had just been incredibly noisy, fell silent again.

If one hundred thousand Spirit Stones could still be understood as Chu Xiao's whim,

Buying a trinket on a whim.

Then one hundred and fifty thousand was enough to show his determination to obtain this painting!

Jiang Bai's body swayed violently, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

One hundred and fifty thousand...

"Kid! Give up! We can't fight him! As long as the green hills remain, we won't lack for firewood! Let's forget about this Opportunity... we don't want it anymore!" Master Dog's voice was filled with anxiety and helplessness.

"No!"

Jiang Bai's eyes were blood-red, a low growl escaping his throat.

He suddenly raised his head, staring fixedly in Lin Ruyuan's direction, his voice hoarse: "Lin Ruyuan! Lend me two hundred thousand Spirit Stones! I, Jiang Bai, swear to the Heavenly Dao that within ten years, I will repay it tenfold!"

He actually wanted to borrow money in public!

The entire arena erupted in an uproar!

Everyone looked at him with eyes as if he were an idiot.

Lin Ruyuan, as if hearing the funniest joke in the world, laughed exaggeratedly: "Hahahaha! Borrow money? What do you think you are, to be worthy of borrowing from this young master? Tenfold in ten years? Does this young master lack your paltry Spirit Stones? I think you've truly gone mad from poverty!"

"You...!"

Jiang Bai was so angry that a surge of blood rushed to his throat, but he forcibly swallowed it down.

He knew he had become a complete and utter laughingstock.

But he couldn't give up!

He turned his head, his gaze sweeping across the arena, finally landing on the beautiful female auctioneer on the high platform: "Senior! Could you make an exception for a moment, allow me some time to gather the Spirit Stones..."

Before he could finish, that voice from the second floor interrupted him once more.

Still so indifferent, so unquestionable.

"Three hundred thousand."

Boom!!!

Jiang Bai's mind went completely blank.

Three hundred thousand...

This number completely shattered his fantasies, his struggles.

Earlier, for that piece of Crimson Blood Dragon Crystal, he had exhausted his entire fortune, barely scraping together three hundred thousand.

And now, the other party, just to buy a tattered painting he considered a plaything,

Casually called out this price.

The gap between them was like an insurmountable chasm, making him feel a deep sense of powerlessness and despair.

...

Inside the private room on the second floor, a slight smile touched the corner of Chu Xiao's mouth.

His Luck Eye clearly saw that above the head of the young man downstairs, the originally brilliant, dazzling golden halo of Luck was, at this moment, visibly dimming at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Even strands of black mist began to drift out from it.

The Luck of a Son of Heavens Destiny was not invincible.

When his state of mind was broken, his beliefs destroyed, his Luck would naturally decline along with it.

It seemed the timing was about right.

Chu Xiao picked up his teacup, preparing to bring this farce to an end.

Downstairs, the auctioneer had recovered from her shock. Looking at the tattered painting, her face blossomed into a smile, her voice trembling slightly with excitement: "Th... three hundred thousand! Is there... is there a higher bid?"

She asked symbolically, but her gaze was full of reverence as she looked towards the second floor.

The entire hall was silent as a grave.

Everyone knew this auction was over.

Jiang Bai stood there, despondent, like a statue that had lost its Soul, his eyes vacant. Only endless, venomous resentment still burned wildly in the depths of his pupils.

"Three hundred thousand, going once!"

"Three hundred thousand, going twice!"

Just as the small golden hammer in the auctioneer's hand was about to fall.

That indifferent voice, for the last time, resounded throughout the arena.

"Five hundred thousand."

The entire arena turned to stone.

Everyone's minds seemed to stop functioning at that moment.

Five hundred thousand... Low-Grade Spirit Stones?

Just to buy a tattered, ancient scroll whose use was unknown to anyone?

What kind of move was this? What kind of boldness was this?

Madness!

This Immortal Master Chu Xiao was absolutely mad!

Or perhaps, in the eyes of an existence like his, five hundred thousand Spirit Stones held no more difference than fifty copper coins in the eyes of a Mortal!

Jiang Bai's legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the floor.

His face no longer held anger or resentment, only numbness and... fear.

From beginning to end, he had merely been a jumping clown.

The Opportunity he cherished, for which he had fought desperately, was nothing more than a toy the other could casually purchase in his eyes.

His so-called Heaven-Defying fate change, his so-called grand revenge plan.

Before absolute strength, was a complete and utter joke.

"F... five hundred thousand, going once! Five hundred thousand, going twice! Five hundred thousand, going three times!"

*Clang!!!*

The crisp sound of the falling hammer, like a final judgment, shattered all of Jiang Bai's dignity and hope.

"Sold! Congratulations to the esteemed guest in the Tianzi private room for winning this 'Canglong Breaks the Formation Diagram'!"

The auctioneer's voice echoed in the deathly silent hall.

And at the very moment the hammer fell, the System's notification sound exploded in Chu Xiao's mind.

[Ding! Successfully intercepted Son of Heavens Destiny Jiang Bai's Opportunity: Ancient Void Refining Spear Dao Comprehension Diagram!]

[Ding! Detected host's interception action has caused a devastating blow to the Son of Heavens Destiny's Dao Heart, his Luck has dropped significantly!]

[Ding! Triggered Ten-Thousandfold Opportunity Critical Hit!]

[Congratulations, host has obtained Returning Void Realm Cultivation Compendium·Fragment!]

Inside the private room, a ripple stirred in Chu Xiao's eyes.

Returning Void Realm!

That was a Realm that transcended Void Refining, truly touching upon the Laws of Heaven and Earth!

Even as a fragment, its value far surpassed that of a mere scroll of Void Refining Spear Dao comprehension.