"2,500 low-grade spirit stones, anyone want to bid higher?"
Yan Xi was surprised to hear Zhiran's voice from the first floor. Even Liang Feng seemed stunned as his gaze shifted to where Zhiran was.
'Mo Zhiran wants this sword too?'
Recognizing who the person was, Liang Feng couldn't help but clench his fist tightly.
"3,000 low-grade spirit stones."
Although it was childish, Liang Feng didn't know why he didn't want to lose this sword to Zhiran.
So he directly used everything he had and bid 3,000 stones.
"3,500 low-grade spirit stones."
Unfortunately for him, Zhiran didn't seem to care about his bid as he directly increased it to 3,500.
"3,500 low-grade spirit stones for the sword, anyone want to bid higher?"
Yan Xi asked while scanning the crowd and gazing toward the first floor. After seeing that this seemed to be the end, she smiled and said,
"3,500 low-grade spirit stones once, 3,500 low-grade spirit stones twice—sold. This long sword now belongs to the person in room number 2."
She said while giving the sword to the maid in front, who immediately walked gracefully toward the first floor, delivering the sword directly to Zhiran.
Poor Liang Feng could only look at it from afar, bitterly.
"It's a fine weapon. You'll be able to channel your sword intent more clearly with this one."
Xiao Lan looked at the sword in Zhiran's hand and commented lightly.
To be honest, she was a little jealous of him being able to buy an Xuan Rank Peak sword while still in the Qi Condensation realm.
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Even she had to think twice before spending so many spirit stones on a weapon.
"Yeah... it is indeed a good one."
Zhiran also nodded lightly, agreeing with her before looking at the auction below. He wanted to know what the last two items were.
"Now that one of the items has been sold, it is time for the second-last item of this auction."
Yan Xi had no interest in mincing her words; as soon as the previous bid ended, she began the next without pause.
"Swish!"
Suddenly, as she lifted her hand, a jade box appeared on the table before her.
The box was smooth and pale, its surface faintly glowing with runic patterns that shimmered like flowing water.
One look was enough for everyone to see that whatever was sealed inside was definitely a treasure.
Sure enough, the moment Yan Xi opened the lid of the box, a soft green light immediately spilled out, filling the hall with a gentle fragrance that could ease the heart and steady the breath.
"What is this?"
The crowd in front couldn't help but take a deep breath unconsciously, feeling their restless hearts calming down in an instant.
Just a mere fragrance could cause such a change in their bodies. It didn't take a genius to know that whatever was inside that jade box was definitely a treasure of high rank.
'So it is the Spirit-Nurturing Lotus? No wonder Tianyu offended that person for this.'
As soon as Yan Xi lifted the lid of the jade box, Zhiran caught sight of a flawless lotus nestled within.
Its petals were half-translucent, shimmering faintly under the hall's light, and faint wisps of spiritual mist coiled around it like living threads.
A gentle fragrance drifted out, cool and soothing, clearing the mind and steadying the breath. Even those seated far from the stage felt their spirit energy stir in response.
However, he could also feel that the lotus inside was somehow damaged, as if someone hadn't taken good care while plucking it.
Besides, since it was still in its young stage, its grade was only at the Xuan Rank Peak.
But still, it was a bona fide Spirit-Nurturing Lotus; a rare treasure capable of soothing the soul and even curing injuries related to it.
The most important thing was that it was the main ingredient used to make a Heart Cleansing Pill, a rare breakthrough elixir known to stabilize one's foundation and purify spiritual veins.
"As you can see, the second-last item for this auction, prepared by our Mystic Exchange Alliance, is the Spirit-Nurturing Lotus. I don't think I need to explain its use, right?"
Yan Xi smiled as she sensed the steady flow of divine sense sweeping over the lotus from the first floor.
As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she, of course, knew just how valuable this treasure was.
As long as someone used it to refine a Heart Cleansing Pill and took it before attempting a breakthrough, their chance of success would soar by a significant margin.
And this breakthrough was for the Foundation Establishment Realm, not Qi Condensation.
Of course, people were excited, not to mention its benefits to the soul of a cultivator.
"Okay, since you all are so excited, let's not waste time anymore."
Yan Xi felt the atmosphere was ripe, so she smiled and announced,
"Spirit-Nurturing Lotus. Although slightly damaged, it is still at the peak of the Xuan Grade. The starting price is twenty Middle-Grade Spirit Stones."
"Each raise must be no less than five Middle-Grade Spirit Stones. Low-grade Spirit Stones or equivalents will not be accepted. Let's begin."
Since the treasure was so precious, there were stricter conditions than for the items before.
This time, Yan Xi outright rejected low-grade Spirit Stones, immediately eliminating over ninety percent of the cultivators in the hall.
Not to mention, the starting price alone was so high that poor Zhiran couldn't even afford to make the opening offer.
"Twenty-five Middle-Grade Spirit Stones."
Despite the strict conditions, the contest for the lotus began the moment Yan Xi made her announcement.
The multiple first-floor rooms that had been silent before suddenly stirred with unrecognizable voices aiming to get the treasure.
"Thirty Middle-Grade Spirit Stones."
"Thirty-five Middle-Grade Spirit Stones."
"Forty Middle-Grade Spirit Stones."
...
"Fifty Middle-Grade Spirit Stones."
It seemed the Foundation cultivators on the first floor had come here just for this item.
The bidding was too fierce as before Zhiran could even blink, the bid had reached fifty Middle-Grade Spirit Stones, surpassing his bid for the sword before in a jiffy.
'Damn... how rich!'
Zhiran thought enviously as he listened to those cold voices raising the bid without pause. From their tone, it didn't seem like they cared about these few spirit stones.
Even Xiao Lan beside him was bidding fiercely right now, though he could already feel her anxiety.
"Sixty Middle-Grade Spirit Stones."
Xiao Lan increased the bid once more, intending to deter her opponents in this competition, only to be drowned out by others right after.
"Sixty-five Middle-Grade Spirit Stones."
"Seventy Middle-Grade Spirit Stones."
From the way things were unfolding, it seemed the price of the lotus would easily surpass one hundred Middle-Grade Spirit Stones.
One hundred Middle-Grade Spirit Stones; that was the equivalent of tens of thousands of low-grade Spirit Stones, all for a single lotus that might aid in breakthroughs.
For a moment, the crowd below buzzed with excitement, eager to see who would claim the treasure.
Even if they couldn't afford it themselves... they could still watch.
"Sigh... so expensive."
Xiao Lan finally decided to withdraw from the bidding after it crossed ninety Middle-Grade Spirit Stones.