C12 An Auction

Time flew by, and before Han Fei knew it, a month had passed. His mastery of the Shadowstrike had reached the seventh form. With the time he had left, Han Fei decided not to pursue further cultivation. Both technique and vital energy were crucial in cultivation, and his current focus was breaking through his remaining barriers.

I've already opened six meridians. Now, the task at hand is to open the last three celestial meridians. The process is incredibly challenging; without substantial physical strength, I'd likely pass out. Although my body has undergone significant changes, it still falls short. I need Pulse Essence Powder.

Pulse Essence Powder is a powdered substance used to train martial artists. Unlike other medicinal pills, such as Body Refining Pills, it doesn't produce side effects on the body. However, it does put the user's willpower to the test.

Unfortunately, there's no spare money at home to purchase such a medicine. It looks like I'll have to sell something.

The following day, Han Fei made his way to the underground marketplace, cloaked in a black robe to avoid recognition. The market was bustling with vendors of all sizes, each hawking their wares. Upon entering, Han Fei was bombarded with a cacophony of sales pitches.

"Profound-grade sword technique, Sky Profound Sword, now for only ten gold coins! Don't miss out as you pass by."

"Mountain Stealing Technique, a high-grade Profound-level fist technique, now just fifteen gold coins!"

Despite the vendors' cries, Han Fei remained unmoved. Profound Level techniques? The Cloudmist Order had but a few, and these market offerings were nothing but scams targeting the newly awakened.

Acquiring a genuine Profound Level martial skill typically required tens of millions of gold coins and was considered priceless. Such items, when available, incited fierce competition among buyers.

Han Fei made a beeline for the largest auction house; that was his intended destination. Upon entering, he spotted an unexpected figure—the Chief Elder, accompanied by his son. Han Fei pondered briefly; the Chief Elder oversaw the Spiritual Medicine Pavilion and likely wasn't there to purchase spiritual medicine. He must be after a cultivation technique, just as Han Fei was there to auction one off.

A striking female martial artist approached Han Fei. Typically, those who gained entry to the auction house were either exceptionally strong martial artists or representatives from prominent families. The sight of Han Fei, clad in a black robe, didn't seem to surprise her.

In the auction house, privacy was paramount to prevent incidents of murder and theft.

"I'd like to auction a spear technique," Han Fei stated calmly.

"Certainly, please follow me," responded the female martial artist with courtesy.

Once inside a small cabin, she set paper and pen before Han Fei, expecting him to sketch the technique's form to help identify the type of cultivation technique it was.

Han Fei extended his hand gracefully, casually sketching the shape on the paper. The female martial artist glanced at it and immediately knew she was out of her depth. Her expertise only extended to Yellow Grade techniques, and this was clearly beyond that level.

"I'm sorry, I can't recognize this technique. Please wait a moment while I call our chief appraiser to evaluate it," she apologized.

Han Fei gave a slight nod, signaling his consent. The technique he intended to auction was the Soul Spear Technique, a middle-tier Profound Grade technique with formidable power. It was a spear technique characterized by extreme Yang and force, leaving no room for retreat once executed, yet its destructive capability rivaled that of some upper-tier Profound Grade techniques.

After a short wait, an elderly man with a lively spirit entered the room. Dressed in a green robe, he exuded an air of distinction. After examining the drawing, he confirmed it was a Profound Grade technique and inquired, "May I know the name of this technique?"

Han Fei answered deliberately, "It's called the Silver Soul Spear Technique, conceived by a mighty warrior during a battle with a giant dragon. It's a middle-tier Profound Grade martial technique, yet its power is on par with some upper-tier Profound Grade techniques."

A middle-tier Profound Grade martial technique was a rarity in the auction house. Its emergence was sure to capture the interest of numerous formidable figures.

"Alright, the starting bid for this cultivation technique is five hundred thousand gold coins, and we'll split the proceeds with an eighty-twenty split," the elder in the green robe stated. His curiosity about Han Fei's identity was piqued. Anyone capable of producing such a technique was surely no ordinary individual. At that moment, Han Fei was channeling the Emperor's Codex, rendering his cultivation level undetectable to others. Yet, as the elder spoke, Han Fei keenly sensed the man attempting to gauge his own level of cultivation. "That's hardly appropriate," Han Fei's voice emerged from beneath the black robe, tinged with a hint of irritation.

Upon hearing this, the elder in green realized he had overstepped. Probing someone's cultivation level was akin to an invasion of privacy.

He shuddered and quickly apologized, "My deepest apologies. Out of curiosity, I attempted to ascertain your level of cultivation and overstepped. Please forgive my indiscretion." The elder was puzzled; normally, with his Vital Spirit Stage cultivation, he wouldn't be able to sense another's cultivation level unless they were weaker than him. Yet this man in the black robe had detected his probe.

Could it be that his power surpassed my own? The thought prompted the elder to seek Han Fei's favor. "I represent the Blue Seas Auction House and would like to extend an invitation for you to become our appraiser. You'll also have access to any of the auction house's tools, such as a pill furnace," the elder offered, knowing that those at the Vital Spirit Stage often crafted pills to enhance their abilities. The offer was too tempting to refuse.

"Furthermore, if you wish to purchase any item, you only need to pay ten percent above the asking price." "Oh, that does sound advantageous," Han Fei remarked. He was in need of many resources, and such a connection could save him a considerable amount. "I accept your offer," he declared.

"Just one more thing—when the auction begins, I'd like to participate in the bidding as well," Han Fei added another condition.

"Of course, that's possible," the elder agreed without surprise. Some auctioneers bid on their own items to fetch higher prices, so the concept was familiar to him.

The auction was about to commence. Han Fei found an inconspicuous corner to settle into, observing that the venue was packed to capacity—a clear sign of the auction house's thriving business.

A young woman graced the stage, clad in a qipao that accentuated her allure. She occasionally swayed her enticing waist, prompting some of the warriors in the audience to gulp in admiration.

"Our first item up for bid is a weapon known as the Clear Dragon Blade," she announced. "Certified by our appraiser as a high-grade Yellow Rank treasure, it boasts incredible sharpness and is imbued with the wind attribute—a perfect match for warriors attuned to that element. And it can be yours for a mere 50,000 gold coins."

Her voice was refreshing, with an undertone of allure that captivated the crowd. A high-grade Yellow Rank weapon was bound to pique interest, Han Fei mused, casting a glance at the Chief Elder and his esteemed son seated prominently above.

Predictably, the bids began to climb. "Eighty thousand gold coins," declared a man marked by a scar. "Ninety thousand," countered another, rising to his feet.

"One hundred thousand," the scarred man bid, wincing at the thought of his dwindling savings. "One hundred and ten thousand," proclaimed a man in a white robe, unable to hide his smug pride. A wealthy scion from Du Fei, he was set on claiming the weapon.

As the auction proceeded and bids filled the air, Han Fei remained detached. To an emperor like him, these earthly treasures were of little consequence.

The climax arrived with the offering of a cultivation technique. "Our final item is a cultivation manual of middle-grade Profound level," the woman in the qipao declared, sending a palpable wave of excitement through the crowd.