"Greetings, I'll be your auctioneer for the evening! Please take care of me." A womanly voice filled with delicate charm resounded, the voice behind that was a woman filled with a seductive tone. She revealed herself atop the Heavenly Platform at center stage. Her hair was long and black, with jadelike perfect skin, clear black eyes, and a voluptuous body fitted into a tight dress accentuating her astonishing assets that would put even Li Qiyu to shame.
Her arrival caused all of the average men's internal fires to burn, their eyes revealing desire and lust, while those who were more experienced remained calm at her appearance.
She began by introducing the auction, explaining the various rules of the auction, and safeguards in place for the bids to reassure all individuals of their personal safety within the auction grounds. Not to mention, if they win a bid and require protection, they could pay a fee to be escorted by the Earthly Fortune Palace's experts or stay under their protection.
Despite her seductive tone that drew in the minds of the simple men, her professionalism was extraordinarily outstanding. One could tell she was a formidable woman, having the cultivation at the initial-Origin Core Realm yet with an age that was far less than Tao. By her lifeforce, Yan Zaizen calculated she was around three hundred years old.
It's likely her status was extraordinary within the Earthly Titan Palace also. The qualifications to host the Heavenly Auction, that was held once a century wasn't a simple feat to achieve. "That's Ming Qi. She's the great-granddaughter of Ming Yan, the Palace Master of the Earthly Titan Sect." Tao explained, his eyes radiant as he tried to discreetly scan her voluptuous body from head to toe. His posture, however, tried to remain scholarly.
Taking a look at this woman who's white peaks seemed like it would burst from her dress, Yan Zaizen couldn't help but flicker with a trace of lust. It truly wasn't his fault. This woman was talented by the entire country's standard, had a high status, and was exceptionally beautiful. She truly tailored all of his tastes. At least, by a superficial standard.
Bai Lufeng saw Yan Zaizen's gaze and couldn't help but inwardly chuckle. He slyly remarked with corrupt intentions, "Young Lord Zai, does she suit your taste? If so, you can…" His words were overly obvious, causing Tao to frown slightly. Personally, Bai Lufeng didn't believe in monogamy, he also didn't believe in having a harem, but he believed in the fleeting moments of life.
It'd be mistaken if one thought Bai Lufeng was always this way. He once had a wife, a son he raised personally and a very settled life. Unfortunately, as his cultivation progressed, his wife and child's didn't. They died a natural death.
In Grux, this was fairly common due to the difficulty in obtaining resources. Even Bai Lufeng only progressed to the Origin Core Realm due to sheer luck, his lifespan nearing its end at the time. His son or wife couldn't ascend to the Qi Unification Realm. Therefore, their lives didn't exceed five hundred years.
He outlived his grandchild, his great-grandchildren, and even further family lines. This was the cruelty in the cultivation world that silently sneaks up on you, no matter what you do, if you're talented, it's highly likely your loved ones will die a natural death before you, even if you could keep them safe, you can't keep them safe from time.
Many male cultivators who suffered similar things would continuously get wives and children to abate the loneliness that comes with exceptional talent and power. Some would only choose talented wives to ensure the maximum number of years with them. It's even worse for people at the True Essence Realm. The average lifespan of a peak-Essence Formation cultivator was five hundred years, Qi Unification Cultivator was fifteen hundred years, Origin Core was five thousand years, True Essence was twenty-five thousand years. However, for each step progressed into the True Essence Realm, one could receive an additional five thousand years.
This doesn't even consider the additional lifespan you'd receive from body cultivation, which may be lower in comparison, but it mattered. They live exceptionally long lives, typically filled with constant death of allies, loved ones, and enemies. It was depressing, but when one tastes long-life and power, how could they fall into depression easily? Who could reach such a level with weak will?!
This was also why Tao didn't say anything at Bai Lufeng's corrupting thoughts. It's not like Tao was a virgin. It's not like he didn't have women in his bed for one-night stands or enjoyed the occasional dual cultivation. He wasn't monogamous, most cultivators aren't, especially those with exceptional talent. However, he didn't know Yan Zaizen's preferences or desires towards women.
In truth, Tao had his suspicions about Yan Zaizen. Due to his childhood, it's unlikely he could trust a woman sincerely unless the feelings were true and proven. With his cultivation, talent and his dao, this was a difficult feat to achieve.
However, Yan Zaizen's thoughts were different. He may be a little slow, but he understood the basic concept of outliving your loved ones. He was well aware of the fact those he knew within his clan will likely die within the next thousand years. Even his grandfather will die in one or two hundred years if he can't develop his Origin Core. It was a sad reality, however…
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It was their reality.
"I'll see." Yan Zaizen couldn't help but feel temptation in his heart when he looked at this Ming Qi, even if what he felt was superficial, perhaps it was time to lose his virginity. Thankfully, he would never force himself upon a girl; he had his principles and dao. If he did so, his dao would shatter instantly. To force a woman to be with you displayed a lack of personal pride and self-confidence. How could his dao handle such actions?
"We'll be auctioning our first item of the day, I'm sure many of you have heard of its name, but I'll explain!" Ming Qi announced. From her spatial ring, a translucent bottle filled with a single blue pill was placed carefully upon the display platform.
Immediately, thousands of qi-senses and spiritual senses reached outwards to scan the contents of the bottle, and when they did, many people couldn't help but gasp in excitement.
"Our first auction is a mid-grade grand-tier Origin Consolidating Pill!" Her words caused all those who were unfamiliar with the pill to gasp in awe. Immediately, a loud clamoring occurred as many people verbally discussed this pill with fervent desire. In alchemy, pills were regarded by three grades in each tier: low, mid, and high. Typically, pills of the grand-tier suitable for Origin Core Cultivators would be low-grade, but the Origin Consolidating Pill was exceptional in its effect.
"As many of you know, the Origin Consolidating Pill can guarantee the breakthrough at the half-step Origin Core cultivation! If one takes it while in the peak-Qi Unification Realm, they have an 80% chance of ascending to the next realm without any complications! If you take other precautions, that percentage can be further increased!"
"We'll be starting the bid at 4,000,000 drops of low-grade liquid essence! Each bid must be increased by 100,000 drops!" She stated, her eyes lighting up as she readied them all with expectations.
"Unfortunate...that's mine." Yan Zaizen commented, his eyes filled with traces of disappointment. In stories, the first item to be auctioned is highly desired. He truly believed he could bid and win it. Unfortunately, this was an item he put up for auction. The Heavenly Auction would receive 5%seller'ss fee, but the rest will belong to him.
4,000,000 drops of liquid essence was an exceptionally high-price to many of the individuals here, but the pill was well worth it. It was essentially three thousand years of life, exceptional prowess, and status advancement. The market price would probably be around 600,000 drops of liquid essence, but who would casually sell this valuable pill that could change one's destiny?
As for those bidding, who knows if they'll ever be able to gain access to this pill again?
"4,100,000!"
"4,500,000!"
"5,200,000!"
"6,400,000!"
"8,200,000!"
"10,120,000!"
"Sold! 12.3 Million!" Ming Qi announced with excitement. This was double its market price. The only reason why more people didn't bid on it was likely due to them saving for greater items or lack of funds.
"Up next, a Crimson Flare Sunflower! An excellent material in alchemy for fire-attributed pills or elixirs! The price will start at 90,000 drops!"
Yan Zaizen felt a little frustrated this was also one of his. It was sold by Tao earlier, he only submitted incredibly rare materials, but this one was sold casually. They must've obtained it and decided to sell it in the auction. He just wanted to bid.
"The third item, a Blue Sea Jade!" Also his.
"The four item, a low-grade grand-tier elixir, the Origin Excavation Elixir!" Also his.
"The fifth item!" Also his.
"The tenth item!" Also his!
"The thirtieth item!!" ALSO HIS!!
Every last item that showed up was something he sold, did the Heavenly Auction even have their own item?! "Did you sell them everything?!" Yan Zaizen inquired with a hint of anger, his eyes bearing down on Tao with grievance. His dream of heroically and dominatingly buying up every item was a pipe dream at this point. What was the meaning of buying up his own shit?
Tao couldn't help but feel awkward. He didn't sell the exceptionally rare items that would cause war within a country, but they truly had a lot of irrelevant materials or useless armaments on hand, he sold them all at an above average selling price, but it was still a huge load. Was it...possible...that the Earthly Fortune Palace discarded all their ordinary wares and sold only the things he brought them? At first, he thought this wasn't the case, but by the hundredth item, there was literally no item presented that didn't originally belong to them.
Yan Zaizen, at this point, had fire in his eyes. This entire auction that he was excited about was a total wash! Even if he earned a ton of wealth, amounting to several hundred million total from this endeavor, he truly felt dissatisfied.
"We'll be auctioning the final three items!" Ming Qi said, her eyes vibrant with excitement at the sheer competition that ensued. Many forces bid triple to even quadruple the market price for some items due to heated contests.
"Finally!" Yan Zaizen remarked, his eyes filled with desire. The Heretical Lightning Skyship should be amongst these items, so he'll buy it with zero hesitations.
"This next item, I must apologize, there were previously no information released pertaining to it, but I'm sure all of you are prepared! However, many of you will know its name…" Ming Qi announced ambiguously, whetting the crowd's appetites and intensifying their curiosity.
Yan Zaizen's eyes lit up, for this item to not be released prior likely meant a fight would likely ensue because of it! In that case, it had to be exceptionally rare and valuable. He had to win it no matter what!
However, Tao's gaze was odd. Bai Lufeng felt this entire auction should be called the Yan Zaizen Heavenly Auction instead. They both guessed what the next item was.
"I reveal," Ming Qi slowly motioned drawing everyone's rapt attention, "A True Essence Sublimation Pill!!!" She announced with excitement that was so prevalent the entire crowd heard her tone heighten.
"..." The crowd went silent.
"WHAT?! GOD DAMMIT!!" At this point, Yan Zaizen was ready to flip tables in frustration. His voice was so loud that the entire box intensely vibrated.