"The main auction has ended."
Qin Bai Sheng's voice spread through the hall.
"Next, there will be a two-hour break. Everyone may move around freely. After two hours, the open transaction will begin."
After saying this, Qin Bai Sheng left the platform.
The hall did not become quiet.
Instead, the atmosphere changed.
The previous auction had been formal. Everyone bid through rules, waited for items, and competed under Qin Bai Sheng's control.
But now, the Gu Immortals began moving.
Some left single rooms.
Some entered the main hall.
Some sent private messages.
Some old enemies stared at each other from afar but did not act.
Some people who had just fought fiercely over an item now approached each other with smiles.
Gu Immortals were practical.
The auction had exposed many things.
Who had metal path Immortal Gu.
Who wanted food path inheritance.
Who had desolate beasts.
Who lacked defensive methods.
Who held rare immortal materials.
This break was not truly for rest.
It was for negotiation.
Qin Bai Sheng knew this well.
He had gained greatly from this auction. Immortal materials, metal path Immortal Gu, rare resources, contacts — the wealth he had obtained was enough to make even rank seven experts jealous.
But such gains also brought danger.
When this auction ended, Qin Bai Sheng already planned to disappear for a long time, digesting his gains and avoiding the storms that would follow.
Humans died for wealth.
Birds died for food.
Gu Immortals were no different.
Only the things that moved them were far above mortal wealth.
Inside one of the secret rooms, Fang Ming stood up.
His appearance was still that of the Eastern Sea food beast merchant.
Familiar Face covered him calmly. His aura, face, posture, and presence were all different from his true self. Unless someone used an extremely specialized method or knew exactly what to look for, he was not worried about being exposed.
The main auction had given him gains.
Force Field Defense Immortal Gu.
Eagle Eye Immortal Gu.
Blessing in Disguise Immortal Gu.
But the price had also been heavy.
Domineering Strength Immortal Gu was gone.
Strength Specter Immortal Gu was gone.
Twenty Ironclad totems had been spent.
Three desolate hounds had been gifted to Heavenly Lord Bai Zu.
Fang Ming did not regret the purchases.
But he had to admit one thing.
He had underestimated this auction.
Rank eight experts were not simply rich.
Their wealth was a mountain built over centuries.
If Fang Ming wanted to gain more from the remaining stage, he could not rely only on bidding.
He had to talk.
A moment later, Fang Ming left the secret room openly.
Some Gu Immortals glanced at him.
Most did not recognize him.
But a few remembered.
This was the mysterious bidder who had taken out Ironclad totems repeatedly and had even competed fiercely for luck path Immortal Gu.
A rank six?
Perhaps.
But no one looked down on him casually.
A Gu Immortal who could throw out twenty Ironclad totems, trade Immortal Gu, and gift desolate beasts during a rank eight-level competition was not ordinary.
Fang Ming walked through the hall and approached one person.
Heavenly Lord Bai Zu.
The rank eight expert sat calmly, his bearing deep and hard to measure. Even without releasing aura, he gave others a sense of pressure.
Fang Ming cupped his fists.
"Senior Bai Zu."
Heavenly Lord Bai Zu looked at him and smiled faintly.
"You are the one who won Blessing in Disguise."
"I was fortunate."
"Fortunate?" Heavenly Lord Bai Zu laughed softly. "Giving away three desolate hounds to make me stop competing is not something done by fortune."
Fang Ming smiled without embarrassment.
"Senior is an enslavement path expert. I was merely using something useful to exchange for a chance."
Heavenly Lord Bai Zu did not deny this.
Enslavement path Gu Immortals were different from many other paths.
With enough resources, even a rank six enslavement path Gu Immortal could become troublesome. If one had time, formations, beast groups, and proper management, their battle strength could rise quickly.
Fang Ming did not look poor.
Nor did he look weak.
"What do you want?" Heavenly Lord Bai Zu asked.
Fang Ming spoke directly.
"I wish to purchase eagle-raising methods. Especially methods to raise eagles toward mutated beast, beast emperor, and desolate beast level. If Senior has experience, records, or inheritance related to this, I am willing to pay."
Heavenly Lord Bai Zu looked at him for a moment.
Then he said, "There is an inheritance called Eagle Nest."
Fang Ming's gaze moved slightly.
Heavenly Lord Bai Zu continued, "Most people raise eagles in huge flocks. Thousands, tens of thousands, perhaps more. It looks grand, but it weakens the individual eagle. In a large flock, they rely on the group. Their danger is shared. Their instincts dull."
"Eagle Nest does the opposite."
"It splits the eagles into smaller nests. A few hundred in each nest. Not too few, not too many. Enough to compete, not enough to relax."
Fang Ming listened seriously.
Heavenly Lord Bai Zu's tone remained calm.
"The inheritance teaches how to train them, how to keep them wild yet obedient, how to disguise feeding as hunts, and how to create danger without losing control completely. Eagles need pressure. If they are fed too gently, they become flying chickens."
"Danger awakens potential."
"Bloodline, instinct, ferocity, endurance — all of them are forced out through survival."
Fang Ming's eyes narrowed slightly.
This method was completely different from his current eagle-raising system.
His eagle formation focused on improvement, bloodline enhancement, controlled growth, and stable reproduction.
Eagle Nest was brutal.
It treated eagles like blades thrown into storms. Those that broke were trash. Those that survived became sharper.
Heavenly Lord Bai Zu added, "The goal is not only desolate beast eagles. That is too rare. The inheritance is more practical than that. It focuses on producing mutated eagles in large numbers. A mutated eagle of the same level is far stronger than an ordinary one."
"If ten thousand eagles die and one desolate beast eagle is born, that is still profit."
Fang Ming's interest rose sharply.
This inheritance could complement his own system.
His eagle formation created foundation.
Eagle Nest could create pressure.
One was nurturing.
One was selection.
If combined properly, the result might be better than either alone.
"I wish to buy this inheritance," Fang Ming said.
Heavenly Lord Bai Zu smiled.
"An Immortal Gu."
Fang Ming's expression did not change.
But inwardly, he immediately rejected it.
An Immortal Gu for an eagle-raising inheritance?
What a joke.
Fang Ming said, "Senior Bai Zu, I can provide food beast supplies. Three hundred immortal essence stones worth. Suitable for feeding large numbers of beasts."
Heavenly Lord Bai Zu shook his head.
"I have my own channels."
"Then perhaps more supplies over time?"
"No need."
Heavenly Lord Bai Zu looked at Fang Ming with a faint smile.
"Other than Immortal Gu, you have nothing I need enough to exchange for Eagle Nest."
The negotiation ended there.
Fang Ming cupped his fists politely.
"Then I will think about what else I can offer. I hope Senior will give me another chance later."
Heavenly Lord Bai Zu nodded.
Fang Ming turned and left.
His face remained calm.
Inwardly, he cursed.
Old fox.
He was certain Heavenly Lord Bai Zu had mentioned Eagle Nest only to irritate him.
Perhaps the rank eight expert still remembered losing Blessing in Disguise and wanted to make him uncomfortable.
An Immortal Gu for Eagle Nest?
Heavenly Lord Bai Zu did not even specialize in eagles.
His true specialty was not eagle raising.
It was clones.
Bai Zu clones.
Fang Ming had some understanding of this. Heavenly Lord Bai Zu's clones were far more sophisticated than ordinary phantom methods. They could think independently through will infusion, use different mortal killer moves, and act flexibly across battlefields. Some specialized clones could even use immortal killer moves.
Compared to them, Fang Yuan's Myriad Self was large in number but crude.
Fang Ming's Myriad Clones were a step higher: disguised, battle-capable, and able to unleash prepared killer moves through totems.
But Bai Zu clones were still more mature in certain aspects.
They did not need totems to use mortal killer moves.
They could act with more independent judgment.
Their weakness was probably close combat. Fang Ming's clones were strength path at their core, especially when combined with Strength Specter and Steel Physique effects.
But Heavenly Lord Bai Zu's clone system was still terrifying.
That was his real depth.
Not eagles.
Fang Ming had never heard of Heavenly Lord Bai Zu owning an immemorial eagle. He knew of immemorial beasts under Bai Zu, but they were not eagle-type. Eagle Nest might be useful, but it was not worth an Immortal Gu.
Fang Ming left that matter behind.
His next target was much more suitable.
Domination Immortal Chu Du.
Chu Du sat in the hall with a calm expression. He had lost many bids during the auction, but no one dared to underestimate him.
He was still Chu Du.
A rank seven expert standing at the peak of strength path.
Fang Ming approached and cupped his fists.
"Domination Immortal."
Chu Du looked at him.
"You are the one who offered Tyrannical Strength Gu."
"Yes."
Chu Du's gaze sharpened slightly.
"You ignored my message."
"I had to focus on Reverse Misfortune."
"You failed."
Fang Ming did not deny it.
"The seller wanted metal path Gu. My offer did not suit him."
Chu Du nodded.
That was the nature of Immortal Gu trade.
"What do you want from me now?" Chu Du asked.
Fang Ming's answer was direct.
"Your domination strength method."
The air between them became still.
Chu Du did not immediately refuse.
Fang Ming continued, "Modern strength path is difficult. Many ancient strength path materials are extinct or rare. Many strength path Gu Immortals do not possess proper strength path Immortal Gu. Your method solves part of this problem."
Chu Du's eyes showed interest.
Fang Ming spoke slowly.
"You strengthen the body itself. You refine the body with strength dao marks until it resembles a desolate beast, or even an ancient desolate beast, in strength and durability. At high levels, the body itself becomes like a constant killer move without needing activation."
This was why Chu Du was terrifying.
Other strength path Gu Immortals had to activate Gu.
Chu Du's body was already a weapon.
His flesh, bones, muscles, and skin were refined by strength dao marks accumulated over years. The domination strength style gave modern strength path Gu Immortals a road even when Immortal Gu were lacking.
Fang Ming valued this deeply.
He had a ten extreme physique.
His utilization of strength dao marks was greater than ordinary strength path Gu Immortals.
His aperture time flow was fast.
His calamities and tribulations came frequently.
Even before passing his first tribulation, his strength dao mark foundation already exceeded many rank six Gu Immortals who had passed heavenly tribulations.
Now he had Blessing in Disguise.
In the future, his dao mark growth could become even more terrifying.
If he did not obtain a method to fully use those dao marks, it would be wasteful.
Chu Du looked at him.
"You want my method. What can you pay?"
Fang Ming smiled faintly.
"Resources."
Chu Du's expression did not change.
"I just passed a tribulation. Resources are indeed useful."
That was true.
Chu Du had strong battle strength, but the auction had shown his current weakness. He was recovering, and his liquid resources were not abundant.
Unfortunately, Fang Ming was also low on immediately usable resources after the auction.
He did not pretend otherwise.
"I cannot pay enough at once to satisfy you," Fang Ming said. "So I propose a long-term trade."
Chu Du waited.
Fang Ming said, "Five Ironclad one-time-use defensive killer move totems every month."
Chu Du's eyes lit up.
Fang Ming added, "Not free. Cost price. Fifty immortal essence stones each."
Chu Du leaned forward slightly.
Ironclad totems.
He knew their value.
Their public resale price could reach around eighty immortal essence stones, sometimes higher depending on urgency. More importantly, they were hard to buy in quantity.
Chu Du had raised many strength path Gu Immortals.
Some had become immortals under his help and treated him as godfather. His group was small, but extremely united.
The weakness was obvious.
Many of them lacked Immortal Gu.
They relied on domination strength methods and mortal killer moves. Against ordinary enemies, that was acceptable. Against true Gu Immortals, their survival was weak.
But if each of them had Ironclad totems?
Their weakness would be reduced greatly.
A one-time-use immortal defensive killer move could save a life at a critical moment.
It could let them survive battlefield pressure.
It could let them contribute instead of collapsing instantly.
"Five every month?" Chu Du asked.
"As long as the seller continues production," Fang Ming said.
Chu Du's gaze moved.
Fang Ming continued calmly, "If the seller faces danger, prepares for tribulation, changes production, or pauses temporarily, I cannot create them from nothing. But as long as Ironclad totems are produced, I can provide five to you each month at fifty immortal essence stones each."
Chu Du stared at Fang Ming for a few breaths.
Then he laughed.
"Good."
This was a deal he could not refuse.
For others, five per month might be too costly.
For Chu Du, it was affordable.
He was not poor. He had simply been recovering from tribulation and had not prepared enough for this auction. As a peak rank seven expert, he could capture desolate beasts in the northern plains, sell resources, and gather wealth through his own channels.
Five totems a month was not a burden.
The stable channel mattered more.
"I agree," Chu Du said.
The two completed the agreement quickly.
Chu Du passed the domination strength method to Fang Ming through information path Gu.
Fang Ming received it and only glanced briefly before storing it.
Good.
Very good.
This was not an Immortal Gu.
It was not immediately flashy.
But it could turn his future dao mark growth into passive combat strength.
For Fang Ming, that was foundation.
Chu Du also looked satisfied.
He had gained a stable source of Ironclad totems at cost price.
Both sides had obtained what they wanted.
Two hours passed quickly.
Qin Bai Sheng returned to the platform.
"The break has ended. The open transaction begins now."
The rules were simple.
Each participant could take a turn to sell one item. Compared to the main auction, the open transaction had a lower threshold and more freedom.
Immortal materials, resources, Gu recipes, Immortal Gu, captives, inheritance clues, special goods — all could appear.
The first few trades were ordinary but practical.
One Gu Immortal sold broken wave flowers in exchange for prosperity soil.
Broken wave flowers were rare because they bloomed during the instant waves formed and vanished. Prosperity soil was useful for immortal aperture development, helping many types of flowers and plants grow.
The trade was quickly completed.
Later, a previously unsold Immortal Gu appeared again. The seller had lowered the requirement, but still demanded another Immortal Gu. No one was willing, and the trade failed once more.
The open transaction continued.
When a certain secret room's turn arrived, Qin Bai Sheng displayed a sleeping Gu Immortal inside a cloud coffin.
The hall stirred.
"This is Loner Hong Yu," Qin Bai Sheng announced. "Rank six fire path Gu Immortal."
The discussions rose immediately.
Selling Gu Immortals like slaves was rare.
Fire path Gu Immortals were especially interested. If they swallowed Loner Hong Yu's blessed land, they could skip tribulations and gain cultivation foundation directly. Even Gu Immortals of other paths could kill him and occupy the ownerless blessed land as a resource territory.
The seller's request list was broad.
Immortal materials.
Killer moves.
Gu recipes.
Desolate beast corpses.
Inheritance clues.
Lifespan Gu.
Anything useful could be considered.
Fang Ming watched quietly.
This was Fang Yuan's method.
Practical.
Ruthless.
Broad.
He did not need to interfere.
In the end, Five Elements Grandmaster bought Loner Hong Yu. Since he cultivated metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, a fire path blessed land was useful to him.
More captives appeared later.
Old Ancestor Xue Hu sold some.
Heavenly Lord Bai Zu sold some.
The Eastern Sea rank eight Gu Immortal even sold immortal zombie bodies, causing displeasure from Zombie Alliance members.
Because others were also selling captives, Fang Yuan's actions no longer stood out as much.
The open transaction gradually became quieter.
Many Gu Immortals had already completed their goals. Some began leaving. Others watched from the side, waiting for something truly valuable.
Then, near the end, Qin Bai Sheng's expression changed.
He had received a major request.
His voice became louder.
"Next, the seller offers the complete Gu recipe of the Immortal Gu House Red Fiend Divine Boat, as well as the method to use it. The seller requests anything that assists wood path cultivation."
The hall froze.
Then it exploded.
"Red Fiend Divine Boat?"
"An Immortal Gu House recipe?"
"They are selling it now?"
"Those who left early will regret this to death!"
Inside the hall, Zombie Alliance's representatives had ugly expressions.
Yin Liu Gong and Dragon Commander Ye Cha were furious.
Zombie Alliance had tried to suppress this seller.
They had tried to buy the recipe privately.
But the lone cultivator had hidden well, negotiated greedily, and finally exposed the recipe publicly when talks failed.
Now Zombie Alliance could no longer quietly swallow it.
They had to compete openly.
"I offer six thousand immortal essence stones and one thousand five hundred kilograms of red refinement metal!"
"I have immortal farmer soil!"
"I offer jade fallen grass!"
"My Yuan tribe offers a wood path Immortal Gu and three hundred true martial carps!"
Voices rose everywhere.
The open transaction, which had almost quieted down, suddenly became more intense than many rounds of the main auction.
Fang Ming's eyes sharpened.
Red Fiend Divine Boat.
A complete Immortal Gu House recipe and usage method.
For others, this was valuable.
For Fang Ming, it was even more tempting.
He was now refinement path grandmaster.
Formation path grandmaster.
He had factory formations, aperture systems, eagle formations, dream formations, and long-term sect development plans.
Even if he could not build Red Fiend Divine Boat soon, the recipe itself was priceless reference.
An Immortal Gu House was not merely a structure.
It was the fusion of Gu, formation, resource logic, dao mark balance, movement, defense, offense, and control.
Studying it could improve his entire foundation.
Fang Ming prepared to bid.
But before he acted, the price had already soared.
Zombie Alliance entered.
Yao Huang spoke.
Yuan tribe and Meng tribe joined.
Heavenly Lord Bai Zu also entered the fight.
The competition quickly rose beyond ordinary calculation.
Fang Ming's fingers paused.
He wanted it.
But wanting was not enough.
The forces fighting for Red Fiend Divine Boat were too many, and many of them had political reasons to obtain it. Zombie Alliance especially could not easily retreat.
If he bid too fiercely, he might expose wealth again and still fail.
This was not worth reckless action.
Then Heavenly Lord Bai Zu's voice sounded.
"I offer a wisdom path Immortal Gu, Unravel Mystery. It can deduce traces of inheritances. I will also add three vats of lingzhi liquid."
At that moment, two people reacted almost at the same time.
In one secret room, Fang Yuan's eyes burst with light.
Unravel Mystery Immortal Gu.
This was exactly the kind of Gu that could help him.
In another place, Fang Ming's gaze also became sharp.
Unravel Mystery.
A wisdom path Immortal Gu that could deduce inheritance traces.
Dream realms.
Hidden inheritances.
Ancient arrangements.
Broken blessed lands.
Unknown opportunities.
For Fang Ming, this Gu was not merely interesting.
It was useful.
Very useful.
The hall remained chaotic.
The Red Fiend Divine Boat recipe was still being fought over.
But Fang Ming's attention had already shifted slightly.
Among the storm of bids, Unravel Mystery Immortal Gu had appeared.
And the moment it did, more than one person understood its true value.