285: Auction Storm

Qin Feng signaled to Ji Ruxue, who nodded and quietly left the private room. A moment later, she returned with a consignment receipt in hand—the Thousand-Year Azure Yuan Fruit had been appraised and registered by the auction house and would appear as an item later on.

The auction continued, with various treasures appearing one after another, leaving everyone dazzled.

"The thirty-eighth item, a Profound Rank High Grade Medicinal Pill, the 'barrier breaking pill.' It can increase the success rate of a Martial Master Peak breaking through to Grand Martial Master by thirty percent! The starting price is eighty thousand gold coins!"

"One hundred thousand!"

"One hundred and twenty thousand!"

"One hundred and fifty thousand!"

The barrier breaking pill finally sold for one hundred and eighty thousand gold coins. Qin Feng shook his head inwardly; Xiaochun could refine this pill for a cost of no more than twenty or thirty thousand. The auction house's profit was truly staggering.

The next few items included the rare Artifact Refining material "Star Iron," a "Spirit Gathering Formation Plate" to assist in Cultivation, and several mysterious rank, extreme grade Cultivation Techniques. The prices fluctuated around two to three hundred thousand gold coins, with most bidders being Loose Cultivators and representatives of small families in the hall.

Qin Feng noticed that the big figures in the second-floor private rooms rarely made a move, clearly waiting for the true highlights.

"The forty-fifth item, an Earth Rank Low Grade longsword, the 'Autumn Water Sword.' Forged from Cold Pool Profound Iron, the blade is light and incredibly sharp. The starting price is three hundred thousand gold coins!"

As soon as this sword appeared, the bidding became noticeably more intense.

Earth Rank weapons were rare in the Northern Border. Although it was only Low Grade, it was sufficient for many Martial King experts to use until they reached the Martial Emperor Realm.

"Three hundred and fifty thousand!"

"Four hundred thousand!"

"Four hundred and fifty thousand!"

The price climbed steadily, finally selling for five hundred and eighty thousand gold coins.

Qin Feng sighed inwardly. Back at Medicine King Valley, Master Ouyang Zhi had mentioned that the material cost for an Earth Rank Low Grade weapon was about one hundred thousand gold coins. With a Great Master's forging fee of two hundred thousand, the total cost was three hundred thousand, and the selling price was usually between five hundred and eight hundred thousand.

Yet here, an ordinary Earth Rank Low Grade sword fetched five hundred and eighty thousand.

"If Master Ouyang were to forge it personally, enchanting it with runes and engraving a Formation, the price would at least double," Tao Yuanyi said in a low voice. "The auction house takes a twenty percent cut, so the seller actually only gets about four hundred and sixty thousand."

Qin Feng nodded. Indeed, considering the auction house's operating costs and risks, this price was somewhat reasonable.

But he thought of his own gains from Medicine King Valley—the reforging of the ink plum sword, the repair of his armor, and various Medicinal Pills and Cultivation Techniques... if calculated at market prices, it would likely amount to millions of gold coins.

"We really got a huge bargain," Qin Feng remarked. "With the status of the Valley Master's Personal Disciple and the rewards for completing missions, we obtained so many resources almost at cost price."

Xiaochun said softly, "Master said that Medicine King Valley is never stingy when it comes to nurturing Disciples. As long as a Disciple is loyal and hardworking, the valley's resources are theirs for the taking. This is also why Medicine King Valley has been able to maintain its Legacy for a thousand years."

Xia Ya scratched her head. "No wonder so many people want to join Medicine King Valley. This treatment is even better than those major Sects."

During their conversation, the auction had reached the sixtieth item.

"The next item is a temporary addition of rare quality—" Qian Wansan's voice held a hint of excitement, "the Thousand-Year Azure Yuan Fruit!"

A maid brought out a jade box. When the lid was opened, a cyan-gold fruit lay quietly on the velvet. Mysterious patterns were faintly visible on the fruit's surface, and the Spiritual Qi fluctuations it emitted refreshed the spirits of the Martial Artists in the front rows.

"Appraised by our house's appraisers, this fruit is indeed over a thousand years old, of excellent quality, and full of medicinal power," Qian Wanguan announced loudly. "The Thousand-Year Azure Yuan Fruit has the effect of nourishing Meridians and assisting in Breakthroughs, making it especially suitable for wood and water element Martial Artists. The starting price is two hundred thousand gold coins!"

"Two hundred and fifty thousand!"

"Three hundred thousand!"

"Three hundred and fifty thousand!"

Bids came one after another, and the price quickly surpassed five hundred thousand.

Qin Feng was somewhat surprised. He had estimated that this fruit would sell for three or four hundred thousand at most; he hadn't expected it to be so sought after.

"Six hundred thousand!" a voice called out from a private room on the second floor.

"Six hundred and fifty thousand!" another room followed suit.

"Seven hundred thousand!" a masked old man in the hall gritted his teeth and bid.

Once the price broke seven hundred thousand, only three private rooms remained in the competition.

"Seven hundred and fifty thousand."

"Eight hundred thousand."

When the price hit eight hundred thousand, the entire venue fell silent.

Qian Wansan began the countdown: "Eight hundred thousand going once... eight hundred thousand going twice... eight hundred thousand going three times! Sold!"

The gavel fell, sealing the deal.

The Thousand-Year Azure Yuan Fruit sold for the astronomical price of eight hundred thousand gold coins.

"This..." Xiaochun was in disbelief. She whispered to Qin Feng, "I actually only took six days to ripen it..."

Qin Feng smiled and said, "Rarity increases value. A Thousand-Year quality Azure Yuan Fruit is rare to begin with, and with the atmosphere of the auction house, it's normal for it to fetch a high price. After the auction house's commission, we'll get six hundred and forty thousand. Not bad."

Only then did Xiaochun feel relieved.

Over the next few items, Qin Feng had Tao Yuanyi gradually sell off several Materials and Medicinal Pills that the team didn't need, bringing in another three hundred thousand gold coins.

Combined with the six hundred and forty thousand from the Azure Yuan Fruit, their available funds had increased by nearly a million.

"Our total funds are now approximately eight million," Qin Feng calculated. "It should be enough to bid for the sword technique fragment."

But he did not let down his guard. The City Lord's Mansion, the Hehuan Sect, and other unknown forces... the competition for this sword technique fragment would definitely not be easy.

The auction continued, and the atmosphere grew more and more heated.

As Earth Rank Medium Grade and High Grade weapons appeared one after another, the bidding reached a fever pitch.

An Earth Rank Medium Grade battle axe sold for 1.2 million, a set of Earth Rank Medium Grade soft armor sold for 1.5 million, and an Earth Rank High Grade long spear even fetched an astronomical price of 2.8 million!

Qin Feng clicked his tongue in amazement.

At Medicine King Valley, Master Ouyang would charge about five to eight hundred thousand for an Earth Rank Medium Grade item, but here it had doubled. Earth Rank High Grade was even more ridiculous; the internal price at Medicine King Valley was only a little over a million, but here it was nearly three million.

"It's really a massive discount for us," Xia Ya muttered. "If we're ever short on money in the future, we should just have Senior Brother Tao forge a few weapons to sell."

Tao Yuanyi smiled bitterly. "It's not that easy. Forging Earth Rank weapons requires rare Materials, and the success rate isn't high. Being able to win the competition this time was also a case of performing beyond my usual level."

Cold Peach Blossom added, "Moreover, the auction house takes a high commission, so the actual profit isn't that exaggerated. The ones who truly make money are the large merchant associations with stable channels; they can get Materials at low prices and mass-produce."

Qin Feng nodded. In any industry, those who control the source and the channels are the winners.

Time passed, and after the seventieth item was sold, Qian Wansan cleared his throat, his expression becoming solemn.

"Everyone, next will be the finale of this auction."

The entire hall fell silent instantly as everyone held their breath.

"The first finale item—an Earth Rank extreme grade weapon, the Frost Blade!"

The red silk was pulled back, revealing an ice-blue short blade on the display stand, radiating a chilling aura. The blade was one foot three inches long, as thin as a cicada's wing, with faint ice crystal patterns flowing across it. Even from a distance, one could feel that bone-chilling cold.

"This blade was forged from Thousand-Year Profound Ice Iron by a Northern Border Forging Grandmaster. It carries a 'Freezing' effect; upon hitting an enemy, it can freeze the flow of their True Essence, and it has a strong restraining effect on fire-based techniques," Qian Wanguan introduced in detail. "Appraised by our house, it is indeed Earth Rank extreme grade, with power comparable to some ordinary Heaven Rank Low Grade weapons!"

He paused and then announced loudly, "Starting price—eight hundred thousand gold coins!"

"One million!" A private room on the second floor immediately raised the price by two hundred thousand.

"One million two hundred thousand!" another room followed.

"One million five hundred thousand!" a masked Martial Emperor in the hall bid in a deep voice.

The price skyrocketed at an alarming rate, surpassing two million in the blink of an eye.

Qin Feng looked at the Frost Blade; it was indeed a good weapon, but its attributes didn't match the team. Xia Ya used a shield, Ji Ruxue used daggers, he used a sword, Xiaochun disliked fighting, and Tao Yuanyi and Cold Peach Blossom also used swords and short weapons; no one was suited for this ice-attribute short blade.

Finally, after dozens of rounds of intense bidding, the Frost Blade was taken by a private room on the second floor that hadn't bid until then, for the astronomical price of 3.6 million gold coins.

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

3.6 million! This price was enough to buy a small city!

"Next is the second finale item of this auction—" Qian Wansan's voice rose, "the first volume of the Heaven Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique, the 'Mystic Ice True Manual'!"

An ice-blue Jade Slip was brought onto the stage. Snowflake patterns flowed on its surface, and the chill it emitted was even more intense than that of the Frost Blade.

"This technique is extremely Yin and cold; when practiced to Major Achievement, it can turn water into ice and freeze everything for a thousand miles! Although it is only the first volume, it is sufficient to Cultivate to the Martial Emperor Realm!" Qian Wanguan said excitedly. "Starting price, one million gold coins!"

"One million five hundred thousand!"

"Two million!"

"Two million five hundred thousand!"

The price soared in increments of five hundred thousand per round, with all the bidders being from the second-floor private rooms.

Qin Feng noticed that the private room where Yan Lie was located bid most frequently, clearly determined to obtain this technique. Additionally, several other rooms were competing fiercely.

Ultimately, after over twenty rounds of bidding, the 'Mystic Ice True Manual' was won by Yan Lie for the astronomical price of four million gold coins.

"The Eldest Young Master's financial resources are indeed profound," Tao Yuanyi remarked.

Qin Feng, however, frowned slightly. Yan Lie had spent four million on the technique, so he likely wouldn't interfere in the upcoming competition for the sword technique fragment. That was good news.

But the bad news was—seeing the final price of the Heaven Rank technique, other forces' expectations for the sword technique fragment would also rise.

Qian Wanguan took a deep breath and produced a simple, ancient bronze box from his robes.

The entire hall fell silent instantly, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Everyone knew that the true highlight was about to arrive.

The box was opened, revealing a dark-gold animal skin scroll lying inside. Countless minute sword patterns flowed across the surface of the scroll, and even from afar, one could feel that sharp, peerless Sword Intent!

"The final finale item—" Qian Wansan's voice trembled, "the Heaven Rank sword technique fragment, the first three forms of 'Sword Sweeping the Eight Desolations'!"

He paused and said, word by word, "Starting price, two million gold coins!"

The hall was deathly silent for a moment before erupting into the most intense bidding frenzy of the day!