Chapter 382: Hidden Cloud Region

Shopkeeper Lin didn't get angry. He knew that the cultivators from around here were quite short-fused, so he remained unruffled and proceeded to introduce the items that would be auctioned off.

The shopkeeper instructed someone to bring out the first item for auction: the healing item, Snake Spirit Fruit.

Shopkeeper Lin smiled faintly and began, "Everyone, I'm sure you have all heard of the Snake Spirit Fruit and even tasted it before, right? This is a peak-grade, yellow-rank spiritual fruit that can heal hundreds of types of injuries. It is extremely rare as it only grows in the death zones where Golden Core Realm Snake Demons fail their tribulations."

Many people showed an interest in the Snake Spirit Fruit. The breath of several young men and women became slightly hurried.

Shopkeeper Lin announced, "This Snake Spirit Fruit is of the peak grade, so the starting bid is one thousand low-grade spirit stones, with increments of no less than fifty low-grade spirit stones each time. Interested parties can start bidding,"

For Qi Refining Realm cultivators and Foundation Building Realm cultivators, a thousand low-grade spirit stones were a considerable amount. Unless they had a deep foundation, it would be a difficult amount to gather.

This amount of spirit spirits was enough to buy a mid-grade, yellow-rank, or it could even be used to buy more than ten Spirit Essence Pills. Naturally, spending a thousand spirit stones just to buy an item that was only used for healing didn't quite sit well with a lot of people.

There were many things in the cultivation world that were very useful but not in high demand, and the Snake Spirit Fruit happened to be one of them.

Shopkeeper Lin smiled and reminded, "When bidding, remember to use voice transmission. The highest bidder wins."

The young man's expression changed into one of shock. "I didn't know we could bid through voice transmission."

He quickly transmitted, "

One thousand and fifty low-grade spirit stones.

"

Shopkeeper Lin's voice sounded in the young man's mind. "

Young brother, someone has bid one thousand one hundred low-grade spirit stones.

"

The young man glanced around through the corner of his eye, feeling skeptical. While voice transmission could indeed help avoid trouble, it could also be used underhandedly by the auction's organizers. If they wanted to inflate the prices, they could very easily fabricate nonexistent competitors.

The young man clenched his teeth and began to bid.

I must obtain this Snake Spirit Fruit no matter what to heal Master's injuries!

Slowly, the time it took to steep a pot of tea passed.

Shopkeeper Lin chuckled lightly and said, "Everyone, the Snake Spirit Fruit has been sold off with a final price of one thousand three hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones."

"Is there really someone willing to spend so many spirit stones just to buy a Snake Spirit Fruit?"

The people whispered to each other, their gazes scanning around as they tried to guess who had such deep pockets.

Meanwhile, the young man was chatting casually with his junior brothers and sisters.

"I never expected a Snake Spirit Fruit to fetch such a high price. This is quite an eye-opening experience for you all, isn't it?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I wonder which senior has such deep pockets. I've never seen so many spirit stones in my life before."

Fang Chen couldn't help but feel amused. These youngsters probably couldn't imagine that Shopkeeper Lin and the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion as a whole were the sketchiest criminal organization around here.

The biggest advantage of bidding through voice transmission was that others couldn't know who the bidder was and that only Shopkeeper Lin and his group would be the ones to know. This was convenient for their schemes.

As for the next auction items, Fang Chen remained silent all the way. When it was near afternoon, it was finally time for the Demonic Suppression Wheel to appear.

The Demonic Suppression Wheel was arc-shaped. It was crafted from unknown black spiritual materials, with eight furious-looking Vajras carved on it, giving off a solemn and mysterious aura.

Shopkeeper Lin sighed and said, "Everyone, this Demonic Suppression Wheel has been with us in the shop for many years. Those who are well-informed know that although it has eighty Soul Imprints, its previous owner had sealed forty of them, so the item cannot be utilized to its full potential. However, it's still a peak-grade, yellow-rank treasure nonetheless. If someone can remove the seals placed on it, they will undoubtedly gain a powerful weapon!"

"The starting bid is five thousand low-grade spirit stones, with increments of no less than two hundred each time. Please begin."

The entire place fell silent.

The Qi Refining Realm and Foundation Building Realm cultivators assessed the Demonic Suppression Wheel and sensed the majestic aura brought forth from its Soul Imprints.

Fang Chen placed his bid with a voice transmission.

The Demonic Suppression Wheel's price had already reached six thousand eight hundred low-grade spirit stones in a blink of an eye.

Fang Chen frowned slightly.

Shopkeeper Lin is probably manipulating the price.

Normally, a peak-grade, yellow-rank treasure with eighty Soul Imprints would sell for around eight to nine thousand spirit stones. However, this treasure had forty of its Soul Imprints sealed, so even if someone bought it, they'd only have gotten themselves a treasure that was on par with a high-grade, yellow-rank treasure. How could the bidding skyrocket to six thousand eight hundred in such a short time?

Fang Chen increased his bid.

Seven thousand. Shopkeeper Lin, if the bidder offers a price higher than this, then you can directly let them have the Demonic Suppression Wheel.

As expected, Shopkeeper Lin announced that the Demonic Suppression Wheel had been sold off with the final bid at seven thousand low-grade spirit stones.

The gaze of a Golden Core Realm cultivator turned dark as he scanned around. "Which fellow Daoist is so generous? They're spending seven thousand low-grade spirit stones to buy a half-damaged treasure?"

Another Golden Core Realm cultivator chuckled. "It's not really half-damaged. At least, there are still forty Soul Imprints that are usable. There are definitely ways to unseal the remaining forty Soul Imprints."

"Everyone, the auction ends here. There will be attendants to take you to separate rooms shortly. Please be patient and wait." Shopkeeper Lin smiled and continued, "Next comes the transaction phase, but each person needs to go to a separate room. This is to ensure that the buyers' identities remain confidential."

Fang Chen went to the quiet room where Shopkeeper Lin personally conducted the transaction. Fang Chen paid seven thousand low-grade spirit stones and received the Demonic Suppression Wheel. After making a quick calculation, he still had less than a thousand he could give Mirror of the Universe

Shopkeeper Lin earnestly advised, "Be careful, Daoist. The Demon Cloud Empire is not peaceful; there might be those who secretly covet what you have."

"Nobody knows that I bought the Demonic Suppression Wheel. How could anyone covet it? If anyone comes after me coveting it, wouldn't be you fellas from the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion?" replied Fang Chen.

Shopkeeper Lin's smile remained unchanged, even becoming more amiable. "Daoist, you're quite the joker. Our pavilion's business spans the entire Hidden Cloud Region. We wouldn't ruin our reputation for such trivial gains. Anyway, please be cautious. We hope you remain safe and return in the future."

Fang Chen nodded lightly. "Understood. Since there's nothing else, I’ll take my leave now."

Shopkeeper Lin nodded with a smile. "In that case, I won't see you off to avoid unnecessary attention."

As Shopkeeper Lin watched Fang Chen leave, a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.

Turning around, Shopkeeper Lin walked toward the depths of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

***

Fang Chen's thoughts stirred.

Hidden Cloud Region….

"Little Zhou, what does he mean by 'Hidden Cloud Region'?" Fang Chen asked Mirror of the Universe.

"Hidden Cloud Region refers to the territory of the Azure Cloud Empire and the Hidden Immortal Empire. It includes 37 fifth-tier empires, 193 sixth-tier empires, 571 seventh-tier empires, nine 928 eighth-tier empires, and 3506 ninth-tier empires," explained Mirror of the Universe.

Fang Chen was taken aback as a tinge of shock appeared in his eyes.

The Hidden Immortal Empire should be a four-tier empire like the Azure Cloud Empire. How vast would the combined territory of the two fourth-tier empires be? It's likely that Grand Xia was just a drop in the ocean within these territories. And that was just the Hidden Cloud Region. What about the third-tier empires, second-tier empires, and even first-tier empires? How vast were the territories they governed?

"Little Zhou, does the Grand Wei Empire belong to the Azure Cloud Empire or the Hidden Immortal Empire?"

"The Hidden Immortal Empire."

"I think the goal of those cultivators from Spirit Blood Sect is not only to instigate war between Grand Qian and Grand Wei, but also to incite conflict between the Azure Point Empire and Hidden Cloud Empire. If these two empires really go to war, the thousands of empires under them will likely be involved. The everyday casualties would probably number in the millions...."