The ancient stone hall stood majestically, exuding an air of ageless time. At the entrance stood two gray-robed elders, their expressions sharp and piercing, scanning every passerby. Their powerful Dou Qi surged forth, causing even the likes of Skyfire Venerable to fear their intimidation.
These were two six-star Dou Zun!
Chen Guan, observing them, couldn't help but recall the joke about "Dou Zun guarding the gate," a commonplace occurrence here.
However, he also understood that these two weren't true gatekeepers; rather, they served as a barrier between the three sects. Only on occasions like this would they personally oversee the area; otherwise, they remained supreme Dou Zun masters.
Without further ado, Chen Guan withdrew four invitations from his ring and handed them over. These invitations, issued by the three major sects, served as entry to the "Ancient Treasure Pavilion." Without these invitations, even if one stumbled upon this spatial town unexpectedly, they would only wander the periphery, unable to enter its true core.
The invitations from the three major sects weren't exactly precious, but they weren't accessible to everyone. Only trusted powerful individuals and forces could obtain them. Given Xuan Kongzi's status, it was no problem for Chen Guan to obtain a few.
The two elders took the invitations, their spiritual energy radiating outward, as if verifying their authenticity. They quickly bowed slightly, indicating that they were permitted entry.
In fact, once the invitations were verified, anyone entering could receive a special black robe for free—after all, wealth shouldn't be revealed.
Within Space Town, they were protected by three sects, and leaving would mean they would lose their protective amulet. Failing to conceal their identities would easily draw attention.
Chen Guan and his three companions had already donned the same black robes as the Soul Palace, so the two elders didn't offer them.
"Let's go," Chen Guan smiled, then led the way into the attic, which brimmed with an ancient atmosphere. Xiao Yixian and the other two followed closely behind.
Stepping into this ancient attic, Chen Guan felt as if he had returned to the northwest, entering the Miter Auction House for the first time. The interior wasn't particularly large, and it had been ages since he'd attended such a confined auction. Of course
, the space was similar, yet the quality of the venue was vastly different.
Even the scattered chairs and the auction table, paved with bluestone, evoked a sense of tranquility, clearly constructed from extraordinary materials.
The ancient hall was already occupied by quite a few people, some in groups of three or four, others alone. All clad in black robes, shielding themselves from detection and making identification difficult.
Chen Guan glanced around, unsure where Yao Chen, who had entered earlier, was currently seated.
He didn't want to use his mental power to detect him. Adhering to the rules of the three major sects was one reason, but primarily, he didn't want to confront Yao Chen directly, lest an awkward argument ensued.
Therefore, Chen Guan led Xiao Yixian and the other two to the center seats in the first row of the hall, conspicuously ignoring the scrutiny and speculation of the crowd around him.
In the corner of the third-to-last row, Yao Chen, wrapped in a black robe, shook his head slightly.
"It shouldn't be Chen Guan. That guy isn't that high-profile."
Shaking off his doubts, Yao Chen closed his eyes to rest.
He was a regular at the Interspatial Trade Fair, having attended numerous times before. He knew it often offered rare finds that were hard to find outside. Therefore, unless he was tied up, he never missed a single one.
The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. It wasn't that no one was talking, but those who spoke consciously used sound barriers or telepathically transmitted their messages, refusing to be overheard.
This was also for safety reasons. While Zhongzhou was home to many hidden talents, the upper echelons of society were still relatively small. If their identities were exposed, it would easily lead to trouble.
"If you see anything you need, just let me know. We've come all this way, so we can't go home empty-handed," Chen Guan said with a smile.
Even with his own people, he wasn't stingy.
Little Medical Immortal, Qing Lin, and Skyfire Venerable nodded in response without pretense.
Firstly, they knew that with Chen Guan's current level of alchemy,
they also knew that only when their own strength improved could they better help Chen Guan.
Ultimately, they were all one, and if they prospered together, they all prospered and suffered together.
"Dong!"
As they chatted, a melodious and clear bell suddenly rang out in the quiet ancient hall. Then, in the center of the hall, an old man with white hair and beard, seemingly on the verge of death, slowly appeared in everyone's sight through the distorted space.
Almost as powerful as the teacher...
As Chen Guan sized up the old man on the stage, his brows raised slightly.
The old man already had the strange aura of a semi-saint, almost as powerful as Xuan Kongzi.
Yet, such a powerful being was unknown to the outside world, which showed just how deep the waters of Zhongzhou were.
"Haha, it's another Space Trade Fair. How are you, old friends? We've got quite a few new friends this time. Let me introduce myself briefly. I'm the owner of Treasure Appraisal Mountain. Some of you respect me and call me Old Man Baoshan. I don't have many other skills, but I do have some experience in treasure appraisal. I guarantee that every treasure that leaves here is genuine."
"Okay, enough rambling. Everyone's been waiting impatiently. So, let's begin this Space Trade Fair..."
As Old Man Baoshan finished speaking, many powerful figures straightened their seats slightly, their faces lit with anticipation.
"Now, let's begin the auction of the first item of this Space Trade Fair: the Sky Demon Phoenix Wings. Its owner wishes to exchange them for an eighth-grade elixir that has endured four-colored pill thunder..."
Old Man Baoshan flicked the air in front of him, and a pair of azure-white bone wings appeared before everyone's eyes. A faint sound of wind and thunder emanated from within the ancient wings.
Chen Guan had also once possessed the corpse of a Sky Demon Phoenix, and now, seeing it again, he could confirm its authenticity.
However, he had no intention of bidding. This item had long been obsolete, useless to him, and no one around him was suitable.
Even more satisfying to Chen Guan was that this spatial trade fair had indeed not been affected by his butterfly effect. He remembered that in the original trajectory, the first item to be auctioned was also this item.
Unsurprisingly, there were almost no bidders for the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Wing. After all, 99% of those who could come here were Dou Zun masters. While the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Wing could be refined into a flying fighting skill, it would be of little use to them.
It was only when the sale was about to be declared unsold that an unknown expert finally bought it at the reserve price.
"They're all shrewd people, there won't be any suckers."
Skyfire Zun couldn't help but chuckle at the helpless expression on the face of Elder Baoshan on the stage.
While the items being auctioned were of high quality, the participants were also quite distinguished. Without rare and exceptional items, the usual frenzy of competition was unlikely.
"The second lot is the Diamond Glazed Body, a low-level Heavenly Rank fighting technique. This technique was created by the Glazed Saint a thousand years ago. If cultivated to its peak, the body becomes like diamond, indestructible. A fist can shatter the sky, and a kick can split the earth. It's a powerful fighting technique that combines both offense and defense..."
The first lot didn't fetch a high price, but Old Man Baoshan wasn't discouraged. He smiled faintly, and another object flashed before him: a pale golden scroll. He then began to ramble on, galvanizing the powerful below.
However, no matter how eloquently a dying man spoke, it couldn't add much value to the item.
In this regard, Yafei from Miter Auction House couldn't help but mention it.
A captivating and alluring woman can sometimes be quite useful!
The Vajra Glazed Body, ranked at the Heavenly Rank!
In the northwest, it would be enough to cause a bloodbath.
Unfortunately, it's rather unremarkable here.
Fighting skills, after all, are not as valuable as cultivation techniques!
However, compared to the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Wings, this fighting skill has attracted slightly more interest.
Chen Guan still had no intention of bidding; the item wouldn't be of much use to him.
So, he decided to just watch from the sidelines.
Finally, Chen Guan fixed his gaze on a figure in the corner of the third-to-last row.
The Vajra Glazed Body was photographed by this person. Chen Guan followed the crowd, using his mental power to probe the area along with many other experts, and indeed, he sensed that familiar aura.
Yao Chen!
Fate, indescribably wonderful!
"It must have been taken for Xiao Yan. What a good teacher! Xiao Yan returned to Zhongzhou last month, so I'm a bit surprised he didn't come with us this time."
He sighed inwardly, but Chen Guan didn't care.
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"The third lot..."
"The fourth lot..."
...
"The twentieth lot, the Heavenly Nether Poison Codex. This is a remarkable tome. It's neither a fighting technique nor a cultivation method. It was created thousands of years ago by the Heavenly Nether Poison Sage. This Poison Sage, with his lifelong passion for poison, left behind this tome of recipes for numerous rare poisons. Several of these poisons are capable of killing Dou Zun, and even a Semi-Sage wouldn't dare take them lightly."
"The owner of this tome hopes to exchange it for accurate information about the Netherworld Poison Fire, a Nine-Turn Delusion-Breaking Pill, or something of comparable value."
Listening to the introduction, Chen Guan and the others looked at the Little Medical Immortal in tacit understanding.
The owner of this Heavenly Nether Poison Codex was likely a poison cultivator, perhaps even at the Nine-Turn Dou Zun level. The
Nine-Turn Delusion-Breaking Pill was an eighth-grade elixir that proved highly effective at this level. It could allow those with even slightly deficient character to enter a special 'Ice Heart' state, accelerating the condensation and compression of Dou Qi, with effects lasting for about a month.
Not many people demand this kind of elixir. After all, those who reach this level of cultivation, while not all, are at least 99% possess strong resolve. Only a very small minority with specialized cultivation skills may lack this.
Poison cultivators are one possibility.
They cultivate too quickly in the early stages, naturally lagging behind more diligent practitioners in other areas.
The Little Medical Immortal nodded gently, indicating that the Heavenly Nether Poison Codex did have some effect on her.
Chen Guan understood what to do, but held his tongue. He waited until the item was about to be sold before he began bidding, tossing out two jade bottles.
"Two eighth-grade elixirs baptized by four-colored elixir thunder."
Thanks to the Heavenly Nether Poison Codex's uniqueness, demand for it was so low that no one raised the price.
Elder Baoshan called out three times, but remained silent.
"Please wait, my friend."
Elder Baoshan closed his eyes, as if communicating with the owner of the Heavenly Nether Poison Codex.
After a short while, he opened them again.
"Deal!"
With that, the Heavenly Nether Poison Codex floated towards Chen Guan.
Chen Guan didn't take over, instead letting Little Medical Immortal inspect the goods. She was an expert in this area.
"No problem, there are indeed several extremely powerful poisons." Little Medical Immortal's face lit up with delight, indicating that the items were worth the money.
Chen Guan nodded slightly, saying that was fine.
The trade fair continued.
As Jianbaoshan brought out each extremely rare item, each successfully traded, the atmosphere within the hall grew increasingly heated. Many beneath their cloaks stared intently at Elder Baoshan in the center of the hall, eager to find something even more valuable.
During this time, Chen Guan also made a move, trading three eighth-grade elixirs for a soft sword for Qinglin.
This software was truly remarkable. Even with Elder Baoshan's demonstrated prowess, it couldn't even be damaged. Furthermore, the software could be either long or short, transforming into a whip to bind an enemy or shrinking into a dagger to be used at will.
Chen Guan knew a great deal about materials unknown to others, but he still didn't know what precious material the software was made of.
Qinglin wasn't skilled with weapons, but with this short sword, he had more tools to deal with his enemies.
Not a bad deal.
The night passed quietly, and the trade fair gradually drew to a close. However, the fragment of the map that Chen Guan had been so eager for still hadn't appeared, a source of anxiety.
"Now, let's begin the auction of the second and final item of this fair."
Having finally completed the sale of an item at a high price, Elder Baoshan, his face flushed, raised his head, gazed at the hall, smiled, and with a clenched hand, a piece of ancient, yellowed parchment appeared in his hand.
The moment the parchment appeared, Chen Guan's anxiety finally settled.
Fortunately, nothing unexpected had happened!
Chen Guan was all too familiar with this fragment of the map; he had been preparing for it since childhood.
Like Chen Guan, there were also discerning experts in the hall who suddenly straightened up, examined it closely, and shook their heads.
Even the greatest secret, it was still incomplete, only a quarter of it. For a continent as vast as Dou Qi, gathering it all was more than a matter of luck.
It was difficult, too difficult!
This was the sentiment shared by most, their enthusiasm instantly waning.
Of course, if the price was low, they'd be willing to give it a try, but several people within the hall were clearly determined to obtain it, making a bargain extremely unlikely.
"As you can see, this is a fragmented map. It doesn't possess any special energy. However, after careful study, we've concluded that it's related to the legendary Pure Lotus Demonic Fire!"
"Pure Lotus Demonic Fire?!"
Someone within the hall exclaimed in surprise, their gaze blazing as they watched the ancient parchment held in Elder Baoshan's hands.
The Pure Lotus Demonic Fire ranked third on the Strange Fire List!
On the entire list, only the Void Devouring Flame and the unnamed Strange Fire ranked first could surpass it.
This legendary fire, known only in legends, was, quite literally, seen by no one present.
This included Chen Guan.
The wisp of Void Devouring Flame he had once stripped from Elder Mu Gu was still nothing compared to the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire.
Everyone present knew that this top-three exotic fire was a true threat. Anyone who could master it would have the potential to truly dominate the Dou Qi Continent, and few could truly rival it!
This was because it embodied an ultimate destructive force!
Unfortunately, this was only a fragment.
With this thought, the fiery gazes of many pragmatic warriors gradually calmed.
As always, it's too difficult!
Elder Baoshan observed the reactions of the warriors below, shaking his head inwardly.
If it weren't a fragment, you wouldn't even have the chance to see it!
"Haha, everyone should have a rough idea. This fragmented map could be worthless, or it could be worth more than all the previous auction items combined. If you're interested and trust your luck, you can give it a try. Perhaps in ten or a hundred years, another earth-shattering powerhouse will emerge from the Central Plains."
"The owner of the fragmented map wishes to trade it for some elixirs. The elixirs must be of a quality above six-colored elixir. As usual, the highest bidder wins. Everyone, please."
Elder Baoshan smiled faintly, scanning the room.
A few breaths passed, and still no one bid.
Some had given up, while others were considering the highest price they would accept.
Elder Baoshan wasn't in a hurry. He was certain this incomplete map wouldn't go unsold, knowing someone had arrived today. Thinking this, he glanced at Yao Chen at the back of the hall.
"An eighth-grade elixir with seven-colored elixir thunder."
As expected, Yao Chen couldn't help but speak first.
But that bid...
pure wishful thinking!