Chapter 1298: The Price Surpasses Ten Thousand

Whether it was the Taiyi Immortal Sect behind Yan Tong, or the Enlightenment God Palace behind Li Shanzi, a starting price of six thousand immortal crystals was already within their expectations, and they had long been prepared. But when Jidu Kongyuan further demanded one tael of immortal marrow, both had been caught off guard.

Yan Tong scoffed, "Both immortal crystals and immortal marrow? Daoist Ji, aren't you afraid of biting off more than you can chew?"

Jidu Kongyuan forced a strained smile. It wasn't what he wished either, but what could he do? This wasn't his decision to make.

Li Shanzi glanced toward Immortal Longfu. Before he could speak, Immortal Longfu had already given a faint smile and responded, "Since it is the real Golden Ancient Immortal Body, six thousand immortal crystals and one tael of immortal marrow as a starting price is fully reasonable. In any case, it will go to the highest bidder today. Let's not let this hurt our friendship."

He immediately followed with his first bid. "I offer six thousand five hundred immortal crystals and one tael of immortal marrow."

The crowd was shaken. Only now did they personally grasp just how terrifyingly deep the foundation of the Ten Directions Immortal Sect truly was.

Six thousand immortal crystals, offered just like that! Such a sum, in the right hands, could entirely nurture multiple fifth-transformation immortals—perhaps even one or two sixth-transformation immortals.

Amidst the onlookers, Xu Guangyuan couldn't help transmitting a voice message to Xu Dongjiang. "Dongjiang, did you see that? This is the number one sect of Nanqing Constellation—the Ten Directions Immortal Sect. Our Guangyuan Hall could never hope to match it, even if we endured for ten thousand more years."

Xu Dongjiang muttered in response, "I know...."

He had always thought that Guangyuan Hall was already impressive, controlling several spirit mountains and owning over a hundred shops in Qingyuan Market, with businesses all over neighboring markets.

There were easily over ten thousand cultivators working for Guangyuan Hall in Qingyuan Market. Despite that, Guangyuan Hall's profits over several years amounted to only a single immortal crystal.

It would take Guangyuan Hall twenty thousand years to accumulate six thousand immortal crystals. In reality, though, they couldn't even save that much. After all, without spending these immortal crystals, their ancestor couldn't advance. If their ancestor passed away, they wouldn't be able to nurture any more Loose Immortals.

The truth was that Guangyuan Hall could never amass such a fortune. Even if they sold the entire sect, it might only fetch two or three hundred immortal crystals at most.

Xu Guangyuan wasn't the only person to wallow in self-doubt after Immortal Longfu placed his bid. Every merchant in the crowd—especially the second and third transformation cultivators—understood perfectly well what it meant to take out such a sum.

Only a few cultivators in the midst of tribulation who did not care about karma were merely mildly shocked. Their minds drifted into fantasies about what they would do with so many immortal crystals, without thinking deeper about what the display truly signified.

"Wait, immortal marrow?" Xu Guangyuan suddenly exclaimed, his eyes darting across the crowd as he trembled slightly.

He vaguely remembered that among the spirit herbs the Cangyun Sect had asked him to find, one of them was precisely immortal marrow. But despite long inquiries and even pressing the matter to a senior fourth-transformation immortal, he discovered that no one even knew what immortal marrow was.

Fang Chen noticed how both Li Shanzi and Yan Tong had reacted with subtle unease the moment the immortal marrow was mentioned. His mind swiftly concluded that this material must be extraordinary.

So the immortal marrow that's required for the Third Stage Profound Yang Body is not so simple....

Its value was beyond doubt. Otherwise, cultivators with such extraordinary backgrounds would never falter.

But that was fine. At least now he knew that the immortal marrow did exist within Nanqing Constellation, which meant he'd someday have the chance to purchase it.

Once he gathered all the required herbs—and combined them with the two peak-grade spirit stones, the Great Yin Divine Lightning and the Primordial Origin Qi—both his avatars, Fang Tianzun and Fang Xuanyang, would experience a terrifying leap in power.

Their cultivation might leap directly from the Tribulation Realm straight into the Ascension Realm, or even achieve Loose Immortality.

Yan Tong glanced at Immortal Longfu and let out a laugh. "I came in a hurry today and didn't bring enough immortal marrow. I wonder if it's possible to substitute with immortal crystals instead?"

Jidu Kongyuan smiled awkwardly and said, "These are the rules for today's auction. The owner of the Golden Ancient Immortal Body has required that payment must be made in both immortal crystals and immortal marrow. Just as how immortal crystals cannot replace immortal marrow, immortal marrow too cannot replace immortal crystals."

Li Shanzi couldn't suppress a laugh, clasping his hands. "What an amazing auction rule."

Then, he turned to Immortal Longfu and criticized, "For the Ten Directions Immortal Sect to do this, isn't it lacking in fairness? You said the highest price would take it, yet now you add the condition of immortal marrow. Is this proper?"

As expected, this confirmed to the crowd that the Golden Ancient Immortal Body came from the Ten Directions Immortal Sect.

Everyone's expressions grew complicated. Even the stupidest among them could guess that the sect had not brought the Golden Ancient Immortal Body here out of their own free will. They must have been pressured, and what was before them now was the result of mutual compromise.

Immortal Longfu said monotonously, "In truth, the Golden Ancient Immortal Body was obtained by the Ten Directions Immortal Sect from within a primordial forbidden zone. However, word was leaked in advance to the Enlightenment God Palace by someone in Nanqing Constellation. Thus, our ancestor personally negotiated with the seniors of the Enlightenment God Palace.

"In the end, it was agreed that the item would go to the highest bidder. This is a condition accepted by both parties. As for immortal marrow being an additional stipulation, adding conditions is the right of any seller. Such is the way throughout the Nine Mortal Realms. It is not a breaking of rules."

Then, he smiled faintly toward Yan Tong and Li Shanzi. "Since both of you are backed by the Taiyi Immortal Sect and the Enlightenment God Palace, it should be easy to produce the immortal marrow. This proves we are not maliciously making things difficult within the rules."

"But you did not announce this condition beforehand," countered Li Shanzi coldly.

Immortal Longfu replied scornfully, "Do I have to? Since you came to bid on the Golden Ancient Immortal Body, you should have been well-prepared. Even if your seniors did not prompt you, shouldn't you have thought of it yourselves? Why should I have to remind you?"

Both Li Shanzi and Yan Tong paled. It seemed their elders had warned them before they came out, but they were blinded by arrogance, thinking they were already thoroughly prepared. They couldn't have imagined that the owner would ask for the rare immortal marrow.

"Very well then," Yan Tong said suddenly. "The Taiyi Immortal Sect bids seven thousand immortal crystals, plus one tael and two qian of immortal marrow."

A look of surprise flickered in Immortal Longfu's eyes.

Seeing that look, Yan Tong grinned. He clasped his hands and said, "I almost forgot. I did bring a little immortal marrow before leaving."

Li Shanzi followed with his own bid. "Seven thousand and two hundred immortal crystals, plus one tael and three qian of immortal marrow."

Immortal Longfu was stunned for several breaths before chuckling. "So, you two did come prepared. Then I shall offer seven thousand and five hundred immortal crystals, plus one tael and five qian of immortal marrow."

Fang Chen glanced at the group. Even he could not tell in whose hands the Golden Ancient Immortal Body would fall in the end. Evidently, each of these factions had come thoroughly prepared.

After several rounds of bidding, the Golden Ancient Immortal Body's price was pushed all the way up to ten thousand immortal crystals and three taels of immortal marrow.

By this point, the contest remained strictly among the three powers—the Ten Directions Immortal Sect, Taiyi Immortal Sect, and Enlightenment God Palace.

The rest of the sixth-transformation immortals could only stand aside and spectate. Just like Fang Chen, they were reduced to mere bystanders.

Just as Immortal Longfu called out ten thousand immortal crystals and three taels of immortal marrow, a sixth-transformation immortal cultivator who had kept an exceptionally low profile until now suddenly spoke.

"Eleven thousand immortal crystals, plus three taels and one qian of immortal marrow."

Instantly, all eyes turned toward that mysterious cultivator. Shocks rippled through the crowd—some curious, some astonished, and even some faintly gleeful.

Many cultivators secretly hoped the Golden Ancient Immortal Body would not fall into the hands of one of the three great powers. After all, the Ten Directions Immortal Sect, Taiyi Immortal Sect, and Enlightenment God Palace were already far too mighty; why should they fight for more?