As the auction continued, the bidding war gradually shifted away from the bustling ground floor.
Now, it came primarily from the private rooms on the first and second floors where the wealthiest and most influential cultivators were seated.
Some cultivators had already left, either because they had acquired what they needed or because the remaining items were beyond their means.
Others, however, remained not to bid, but to broaden their horizons or to simply enjoy the dramatic scenes that occasionally unfolded.
"Three thousand spirit stones going once!"
"Going twice!"
"Thrice!"
"Sold!"
The old auctioneer's voice echoed through the grand hall. He gestured, and the accompanying maid handed the item to its new owner. With practiced ease, the old man pulled another item from his storage bag and held it aloft.
This time, it was a small, elegant jade bottle that gleamed under the soft glow of the spirit lamps.
The old man announced, "This is Soaring Cloud Dew (飞云露). A rare Foundation Establishment spiritual item produced exclusively by the Cloud Sword Sect."
He paused briefly and uncorked the jade bottle.
A sweet, ethereal fragrance light yet invigorating swept through the entire auction hall like a gentle breeze brushing across a mountain peak. Murmurs of appreciation stirred among the attendees. The auctioneer promptly sealed the bottle again and continued.
"This spiritual item is specifically used during the liquidation phase of breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm. It not only nourishes the spirit energy but also shortens the time required to condense liquid spirit essence. It can increase the chance of a successful breakthrough by approximately ten percent."
Among the crowd, Lan Rui furrowed his brow in confusion. He turned to Wei Xin beside him.
"Sis Wei, what is this 'liquidation' process?"
Wei Xin pondered for a moment, then explained patiently, "To break through into the Foundation Establishment Realm or any major realm for that matter is not as simple as just accumulating enough spiritual energy. There are several vital steps involved."
She took a calm sip of her tea before continuing.
"For Foundation Establishment, there are three steps. The first is to open all 108 meridians in the body. This step is usually completed by the time one reaches the 9th layer of Qi Refining Realm, and is considered the simplest of the three."
Lan Rui nodded slowly, trying to visualize the process.
"The second step," Wei Xin continued, "is the most time consuming. One must refine the gaseous spirit energy within their dantian and convert it into liquid form. The required number of drops depends on the cultivation method one practices, but most techniques demand at least twelve drops."
"This is what's called the liquidation phase. It can take hours or even days, depending on one's foundation, mental focus, and spiritual support. That's where spiritual items like Soaring Cloud Dew come into play. They not only help speed up the process, but also replenish and stabilize the spirit energy during transformation."
Lan Rui listened with growing awe.
"The final step is the most difficult, tempering the divine sense. This is where most loose cultivators fail. As the divine sense expands rapidly during breakthrough, one must endure intense spiritual pressure. Without sufficient mental strength, the cultivator either fails… or suffers permanent damage."
She paused, her tone darkening slightly.
"Spiritual items that assist in this final phase are the rarest and most sought after in the market. While they don't surpass Foundation Establishment Pills in price, their base price can easily match it which around ten thousand spirit stones."
Lan Rui sat back in his seat, visibly shaken by the complexity of the process. No wonder ninety percent of cultivators never moved beyond Qi Refining. It wasn't merely about talent or resources but knowledge, precision, and incredible endurance.
As his thoughts swirled with plans for his own future path, the old man's raspy voice cut through the air once more.
"The starting price for Soaring Cloud Dew is one thousand spirit stones. Minimum increments of one hundred. Let the bidding begin!"
This time, a few hopeful cultivators on the ground floor tried their luck.
"One thousand!"
"One thousand two hundred!"
"One thousand five hundred!"
"One thousand seven hundred!"
As the price reached two thousand, the pace slowed. But as always, the lull was a sign of a coming storm. As expected, voices from the private rooms reignited the bidding.
"Two thousand one hundred!" came a calm voice from the first floor.
"Two thousand five hundred!" another followed quickly.
It remained relatively civil until a clear voice rang out from the second floor.
"Three thousand!" said Wu Sheng, his tone light, but it carried clearly across the entire auction hall.
The crowd stirred. Many assumed the bidding would end here. But clearly, someone had no intention of letting Wu Sheng take the item so easily.
"Three thousand five hundred!" Mu Renlong countered, voice sharp and filled with challenge.
Wu Sheng's lips curled into a faint sneer. "Four thousand."
As predicted, Mu Renlong didn't back down. "Four thousand five hundred!"
Wu Sheng was about to bid again but an exasperated voice interrupted him.
"That's why I advised you previously, Chief Wu," said Qing Nu, her tone firm. "Don't escalate prices just because it involves the Mu family."
Wu Sheng sighed inwardly. 'Who's in charge again' he thought, mildly amused but also slightly irked.
Still, he ignored her chartering and continued his bid.
"Five Thousand!" he repeated.
Mu Renlong smirked, ready to raise the price again, when a new voice cut in.
"Six thousand!"
The entire hall quieted. Wu Sheng and Mu Renlong both turned toward the private room the voice had come from. Recognition flashed in their eyes.
'That voice… Old Li?'
Mu Renlong's face turned ashen. He hadn't expected Li Zhenghai to show interest in this item.
Realizing this, he immediately backed off, unwilling to provoke the old fox further. As for Wu Sheng, his desire for the item was genuine, but he knew it would be unwise to cross Li Zhenghai in a bidding war. The man's wealth was near bottomless.
The room fell into silence.
"Six thousand going once…" the old man called.
"Going twice…"
"Thrice…!"
"Sold!"
The auction moved on.
A few minutes later, a maid arrived at the second-floor private room. She knocked respectfully and entered, carrying a silver tray. Atop it rested the jade bottle filled with the translucent Soaring Cloud Dew.
Inside the private room sat three men. The maid approached the one in white robes, his features youthful despite the wisdom in his eyes.
"Senior, this is the item," she said, bowing slightly.
Li Zhenghai accepted the jade bottle, scanning it with his divine sense without uncorking it. After a few moments, he nodded.
He raised his hand, and a neat pile of spirit stones materialized on the table. The maid quickly counted them, bowed again, and excused herself.
"Thank you for your purchase, Senior."
Once she had left, Li Zhenghai idly twirled the jade bottle before handing it to the man beside him.
"Tianshi," he said, "take this. Use it when you undergo your breakthrough."
Li Tianshi, Patriarch of the Li Family.
He accepted the bottle with a deep bow. "Thank you, Ancestor, for bestowing this treasure."
Li Zhenghai chuckled. "No need for such formality in private, it feels strange."
A warm smile bloomed across Tianshi's face, the ice of his usual composure thawing. "Alright, Grandfather."
He turned toward the third man in the room, his nephew.
"Bairan, don't worry about the Foundation Establishment Pill. We'll search for another in the external markets."
Li Bairan, the First Young Master of the Li Family.
Li Bairan shook his head earnestly. "No need. Even if our family acquires another, it should go to Eleventh Uncle. His foundation is the most solid, and his odds of success are the highest. I still need time to stabilize my current realm."
Though his words were sincere, both Li Zhenghai and Li Tianshi caught the flicker of longing in his eyes. They sighed inwardly but said nothing, shifting their attention to the next item displayed on stage.
The auction continued.
.....