Volume One, Chapter 17: Starting Bid at Four Hundred Spirit Stones!

The auctioneer finished speaking and glanced around, waiting for someone to bid.

After all, she knew well enough that aside from its good quality, this tile didn’t seem to have any other use.

She actually had many tiles like this here.

After all, it was called a floor tile simply because it was a floor tile; there were so many that they hadn’t even managed to transport them all back.

As soon as the auctioneer’s words fell, the atmosphere in the room fell into silence.

Everyone exchanged glances.

“Brother Zhang, what do you think about these floor tiles? Want them or not?”

“I don’t want them. How about you?”

“If Brother Zhang doesn’t want them, then we won’t bid either.”

The speaker shook his head.

Just by looking at these tiles, there was no trace of spiritual energy. Even if they bought them back, were they really going to fight with them?

That would be far too embarrassing.

Seeing that no one was interested in the tiles, the auctioneer tried to salvage the situation. She said, “I understand everyone’s concerns. Although we haven’t figured out the use of these tiles yet, what if they are made from some exceptional material?”

“The price isn’t high anyway. Buying a few won’t be a loss. Besides, I’m here hoping everyone will support my business,” her voice carried a hint of charm.

Following her lead, a few people actually raised their paddles.

Qin Feng glanced briefly and let it go.

At that moment, the voice of the Empress of the Nine Nether echoed in his mind.

“This aura… something feels off. It’s somewhat familiar.”

“Should I bid on one then?”

Though Qin Feng had just thought this item wasn’t worth bidding on, since the Empress mentioned it, he thought he might as well try.

After all, even if it was useless, he wouldn’t lose much.

“No need,” her voice continued in his mind. “That thing is useless. It’s just some lowest-grade building material.”

“If you want such materials, once you reach the higher levels of the Great Wilderness Sword Tower, you can have as much as you want,” she said disdainfully.

Hearing this, Qin Feng lowered his hand that was about to rise.

The first item failed to fetch a high price, but the auctioneer did not lose heart. “Everyone, please take a look at our second item.”

“This is a torn map we found in the ruins. Judging from it, it should be a treasure map or a route to a secret realm somewhere.”

“However, due to its severe damage, our experts have not yet been able to restore it. Among those present, are there any fortunate ones interested in this torn map?”

Upon hearing this, many present felt disappointed.

“I say, Wanbao Auction House, you’re really joking with us this time. You’re actually selling a torn map?”

“You can’t even clearly explain its origin. Even if someone here manages to restore it, what if there’s nothing on it? Wouldn’t that be a huge loss for us?”

Seeing such a ragged map, some irritable cultivators immediately voiced their doubts.

In response, the manager of Wanbao Auction House stepped forward calmly.

“Regarding the ruins we encountered this time, I’m sure everyone has heard that it belongs to an ancient realm left by a Great Dao Realm master!”

“Though time has passed and the exact owner is unknown, the relics left behind are genuine.”

“If you don’t seize this opportunity today and let the chance of a Great Dao Realm master slip away now, you might regret it deeply in the future!”

The manager sighed at the end, seemingly lamenting their narrow vision.

Even with such a great chance before them, these people didn’t know how to fight for themselves!

As soon as the manager finished speaking, the atmosphere grew noticeably more excited.

After all these years of cultivation, what was their goal if not to one day achieve the Great Dao? Now with this opportunity before them, whether true or false, they were willing to take the risk!

Qin Feng shook his head slightly, watching these excited people. If they couldn’t even see through such simple sales talk, how could they hope to achieve the Great Dao?

But then he recalled the words the Empress of the Nine Nether had just told him and began communicating with her in his mind.

As one item after another was sold for varying prices, Qin Feng started to entertain the thought of leaving.

However, before departing, he had one last matter to attend to.

Just as Qin Feng was about to rise—

“Hum—”

His sword bone inside suddenly emitted a faint humming sound, as if alerting him to something.

Along with it, the sword seed within him began to stir restlessly.

Qin Feng froze in place instantly.

He instinctively looked around, his expression wary.

He wasn’t sure if anyone had noticed his reaction just now. If they had—

Qin Feng dared not imagine what would happen if these people set their sights on him.

In any case, his vigilance was now at its peak.

After observing for a moment and seeing that no one had noticed, he slowly relaxed and sat back down.

At the same time, his spiritual power sank deep into his body.

Seeing the divine and demonic sword bone still faintly glowing, as if trying to warn him, Qin Feng repeatedly soothed it until it finally calmed.

Only then did his gaze turn back to the stage.

What had caused his sword bone to tremble was likely this.

The auctioneer held up a rusted sword on a tray. The sword bore visible dark red deposits, like dried blood that had never been wiped off.

The blade was corroded but still retained traces of its former brilliance!

It was a sword with an ancient, rustic aura!

After displaying it, the auctioneer began to introduce it.

“Everyone, look at this sword. It was also found in the ruins. According to our experts’ appraisal, this sword was originally a mid-grade spiritual sword of the Earth tier!”

“Although it has now degraded to a mundane grade due to the passage of time, the materials used in forging the blade were anything but ordinary. Moreover, we detected that the sword once bore at least a dozen kinds of array markings.”

“It can be said to be a masterpiece among masterpieces!”

“For our current masters, forging such a sword would be extremely difficult. If you buy this sword and manage to repair it—”

“Even with cultivation at the Gathering Spirit Realm, you could potentially strike down opponents from the Four Phase Realm!”

“So, the starting bid for this sword is four hundred spirit stones!”

“Five hundred!”

The moment the auctioneer finished speaking, someone immediately shouted a bid.

They were all attracted by the claim that possessing this sword could allow a Gathering Spirit Realm cultivator to defeat those from the Four Phase Realm!

What did that mean? It meant that with this sword, they could fight beyond their level!

Even if they couldn’t reach the Four Phase Realm strike technique, at least the Gathering Spirit Realm strike could work, right?