Outside the Golden Cloud Pavilion, a streak of azure light flew over from afar and landed on a flight of stairs to the side of the palace, revealing the figure of a burly man with a curly beard. It was Han Li who had changed his appearance.
He looked at the majestic palace in front of him and strode toward the palace gate.
Many black-clothed attendants stood on both sides of the palace's entrance, greeting every cultivator that came in.
"Senior, are you here to participate in the auction?" A black-clothed attendant greeted Han Li with a smile as he walked over.
Han Li frowned and said with displeasure, "What else can I do if I'm not here to participate in the auction?"
The black-clothed attendant smiled apologetically and said, "Please don't take offense, Senior. This auction is a bit different from previous years, so I need to explain it to you."
"What do you mean?" Han Li asked.
The black-clothed attendant respectfully said, "The number of people participating in this auction is much higher than in previous years. In order to control the number of people and eliminate those who are only here to watch the excitement and have no interest in the auction, the auction has stipulated that those who participate must pay a sum of spirit stones as an admission fee.
However, Senior only needs to purchase any of the treasures in the auction and we will return the spirit stones to you later, "the black-clothed servant said in a respectful manner.
"Oh, there is such a rule? How many spirit stones?" Han Li asked in a somewhat unconcerned manner.
The black-clothed attendant was just about to speak.
"Impudent!
How can you speak to Senior like this? Leave! "A middle-aged man who looked like a steward quickly walked over and ordered the black-clothed attendant to leave.
Han Li looked at the middle-aged man and saw that he was a Body Integration cultivator.
"My subordinate is insensible, please don't blame him, Senior. These rules are for ordinary guests.
Great True Immortals like Senior can enter through a special VIP passage and naturally don't need to pay any spirit stones.
However, it is the same here. Please come in. "The middle-aged man respectfully said.
Han Li couldn't help but smile when he heard this.
It seemed that no matter where one's cultivation was, strength was respected. If one's cultivation was higher than others, the treatment they would receive would be greatly different.
With that thought, he nodded to the middle-aged man and stepped into the golden palace.
He didn't feel much from the outside, but once he entered the hall, he realized that the space inside was shockingly huge.
The palace was divided into three levels. The lowest level was an incomparably spacious hall. It was like a giant plaza, incomparably magnificent.
At the very front was a spacious auction stage, which was still empty at the moment.
Countless seats were placed around the hall in the shape of a staircase. At this moment, more than half of them were already occupied. It looked a little crowded and noisy.
"The lower levels are prepared for ordinary cultivators. Senior, please follow me. There are special VIP seats on the second floor," the middle-aged man said as he led Han Li to the second floor through a flight of stairs.
There were hundreds of seats scattered here. The seats were spacious and spacious, and there were some fruits and spirit tea placed on the side tea tables. The treatment was completely different from the treatment in the hall below.
At this moment, there were already many people sitting on these seats. They were all cultivators in the Realm of True Immortality. Han Li even vaguely saw some of the people he had met in the City Governor's Mansion that day.
Under the middle-aged man's invitation, Han Li also took a seat.
Looking from here, the view was very good. The auction stage below could be seen clearly. Compared to the cultivators in the hall below, he felt a sense of superiority.
Han Li nodded. Then, he looked up at the third floor and asked, "I wonder who the guests on the third floor are?"
The third floor was an independent room with restrictions. From the outside, it was impossible to see what was going on inside. The treatment was obviously better than the treatment on the second floor.
He was not unhappy that he was not invited to the third floor. He was just a little curious.
"The third floor is for the Island Masters," the middle-aged man said.
"Oh," Han Li said. He retracted his gaze and did not ask any more questions.
The middle-aged man was quite busy. He beckoned for a beautiful maidservant to serve him. Then, he excused himself and left.
Han Li did not care about this. He sat quietly and waited for the auction to begin.
Time passed bit by bit. Soon, the hall was filled up. There were almost no empty seats on the second floor.
More than two hours later.
Dang dang dang!
Three loud bell tolls sounded, echoing in the hall.
The noisy hall immediately quieted down. An old man with a white beard and a red face walked onto the auction stage. He seemed to be the auctioneer of this event.
"Master Wen!"
There was a buzz of discussion in the hall.
Han Li's expression changed slightly. Could this red-faced old man be Wen Hua?
It was rumored that he was one of the three Earth Grade alchemists of Blackwind Island. He was also the guest of Blackwind Island Master.
"Ha ha! Today is the grandest auction in the Blackwind Sea Region that happens once every hundred years. It is rare for everyone to attend. As the auctioneer of today's auction, I feel honored," the red-faced old man said loudly, his loud voice reverberating throughout the venue.
After the old man's voice sounded, the noisy discussion stopped abruptly. The hall became incomparably quiet.
"There are many familiar faces in the hall. Of course, there are some friends who are participating in the auction for the first time. Here, I will first talk about the rules of the event.
The bidding price is based on the best grade spirit stones. If you don't have enough spirit stones, you can use Immortal Origin Stones to exchange according to the standard of 1: 100. Or you can use items as collateral. As for the value of the collateral, it will be judged by these three. "Wen Hua paused and continued.
He had only just said that when three cultivators, their clothes fluttering in the wind, stepped onto the auction platform. One of them was a white-browed old man in grey robes, the other was a muscular man in blue robes and the last one was a middle-aged woman with a graceful bearing. Surprisingly, all three of them were at the True Immortal stage.
The three of them came to a long table beside the auction and sat down at the same time.
"I think many people know these three. As elders of the Changxing Chamber of Commerce, the Mysterious Moon Chamber of Commerce, and the Taibai Chamber of Commerce, they are experienced and knowledgeable. There will be no bias in the evaluation. You can rest assured.
As for safety, fighting is strictly prohibited in Blackwind City. Once discovered, you will be severely punished!
Well, I won't waste any more of your time. The auction will begin now! "Wen Hua simply introduced a few words, then waved his hand and announced.
A black-robed man walked over with a huge white box in his hands. After opening it, there was a red crystal inside. It was about the size of a human head, and there were some flame-shaped patterns on its surface. Even though he was several hundred feet away, he could still feel the astonishing waves of fire spiritual energy coming from it.
"This is an entire high-grade Firemark Brilliant Jade, and it's a superb spirit material to refine top-grade Spirit Treasures. The starting price is 20 top-grade spirit stones, and every increment must be no less than a top-grade spirit stone!" Wen Hua spoke with a loud voice.
"20 best grade spirit stones!"
"21!"
"25!"
… …
There was a buzzing sound in the hall below. Many people's eyes immediately lit up, and someone immediately made a bid.
Han Li sat on a chair and looked at everything below with a calm expression.
Although this piece of Brilliant Fire Mark Jade was a good thing, it was not enough to enter his eyes.
The price of the Brilliant Fire Mark Jade soared, and soon it rose to a high price of 50 best grade spirit stones. Finally, no one continued to bid.
"Sold!" Wen Hua announced the result with a smile on his face.
The first auction item being sold at such a high price was somewhat beyond his expectations, and it was a good sign.
Not long after, the second auction item was also brought up. It was a 30,000-year-old spirit herb, and it was also sold at a high price.
Time passed slowly, and one auction item after another was brought up.
They were all kinds of materials, pills, and some spirit treasures. Although they were quite precious, they were obviously prepared for the Body Integration and Mahayana cultivators below.
Han Li looked a little dispirited, and the Perfected Immortal cultivators on the second floor rarely made a bid.
It did not take long for four to six hours to go by and the value of the auction items gradually rose. Some extraordinary treasures began appearing. There was no lack of high-grade spiritual treasures, spiritual treasures and medicinal pills for overcoming tribulations. There were also some medicinal pills for levelling up. Due to that, the True Immortals on the second floor grew impatient and they began bidding for the items.
Not long after, another auction item was brought up. It was a large piece of dark red jade, and one could vaguely see blood-red patterns on the crystal. They vaguely formed the image of a fire phoenix, and it emitted strong fluctuations of the Law of Fire.
"The next treasure is this Phoenix Blood Flame Jade Crystal. It was formed from the blood essence of a late Perfected Immortal fire phoenix after its death. It contains a trace of the Law of Fire, and it is the best main material to refine postnatal immortal weapons!
The starting price is 200 best grade spirit stones, and each increment must be no less than 10 best grade spirit stones. "
Wen Hua's gaze first slowly swept the surroundings, and he introduced in an unhurried manner after he saw the gazes of everyone had converged onto the jade rock.
Han Li's heart stirred slightly upon seeing this. This Phoenix Blood Flame Jade Crystal was imbued with extraordinary power of laws, and even he was struck by the urge to purchase it. However, he didn't have many spirit stones on him, so he refrained from doing so after a brief moment of contemplation.
"210!"
"240 best grade spirit stones!"
"I bid 280!"
"300!"
There were many people who valued this Phoenix Blood Flame Jade Crystal, but most of them were Perfected Immortal cultivators on the second floor. Those on the first floor were envious, but they could not bear such a price.
The price of the Phoenix Blood Flame Jade Crystal quickly rose to 450, and it was called by a bald man in a red robe on the second floor.
As soon as this price came out, the second floor became much quieter, and some people who were eager to have a try also stopped bidding.
When the bald man saw this, a trace of joy appeared on his face.
"500!"
At this moment, a voice came from a private room on the third floor, and it was rather fleeting. It seemed to be a woman's voice, and she immediately increased the price by 50 best grade spirit stones.
The red-robed Loose Immortal was startled, and a trace of anger flashed in his eyes. But after a while, the expression on his face changed, and he slowly put down his hand, and did not continue to increase the price.
"500 best grade spirit stones, sold!" Wen Hua announced the result with a happy expression.
The Phoenix Blood Flame Jade Crystal was quickly taken down, and it was sent to the private room on the third floor.