The unveiling of the Golden Crow technique had ignited the crowd's anticipation, each bidder hoping for even greater treasures to emerge.
"An ancient sacred artifact, the Dragon-Binding Rope. Though damaged, if restored, it could reclaim its divine might from antiquity," the alluring fox-woman announced, presenting a black, sinewy chain.
"That treasure! In ancient times, it was said to bind gods, its power boundless!" someone exclaimed.
"Such a pity," a marquis sighed. "It's cracked, its runes faded, its strength diminished. Trapping a Venerable would be a stretch."
Restoration was unlikely. Gathering the materials was daunting enough, but the ancient forging techniques were long lost.
Still, the artifact remained a rare gem, valuable to marquises. If one could glean the ancient gods' forging methods, it would be a monumental opportunity.
The bidding was fierce, rivaling the first item, with prices soaring to the point of using original treasure bones as currency—a staggering spectacle!
Lin Fan watched, unfazed, his interest lukewarm.
My pockets are stuffed with artifacts, many superior to this. Why fight for a broken relic and toil to fix it?
The Lower Realm's inhabitants, in his view, were shortsighted, confined to this impoverished world. In the Upper Realm, transactions started with Divine Flame-grade artifacts—anything less was embarrassing.
Of course, the Lower Realm's "poverty" was relative. Unbeknownst to its people, it harbored powerful artifacts, techniques, even immortal corpses and ancient monsters. A tiny region, yet brimming with secrets and titans—remnants of Immortal Kings and Imperishable Kings lingered here.
"Hahaha, it's mine!"
A clear, triumphant voice rang out as the Ninth Princess of Stone Country claimed the rope with a heap of rune bones.
She shot a provocative glare at Lin Fan's VIP booth, her expression candid and playful.
Lin Fan ignored her. Just an immature kid. We're worlds apart. We'll likely never cross paths again.
"I think the Ninth Princess suits you," Yue Chan said suddenly. "You two seem a perfect match. Why not marry her someday?"
"What's this, wife? Can't wait to pick a concubine for your husband?" Lin Fan teased, raising a brow.
Yue Chan rolled her eyes. That's not what I meant.
Next, another treasure appeared—a black-gold war blade, its dark sheen menacing, radiating an aura that dazed the mind, conjuring visions of torrential blood and carnage.
Clearly, this weapon was formidable, steeped in the blood of countless beings, its nascent spirituality preserving fragments of its violent past.
"This is the Black Gold Ancient Blade, once wielded by a marquis. Please place your bids," the fox-woman said, her enticing figure swaying.
Stone Country's marquises vied fiercely, enamored with the blade—a peerless tool for conquest. Its price skyrocketed to heavenly-tier levels.
The younger generation could only sigh. They lacked the resources to compete with marquises, and respect for their elders held them back.
Soon, a marquis surnamed Shi claimed the blade, concluding its auction.
But the event was far from over, with more items presented in succession.
The treasures were diverse—rare herbs, talismans, ancient relics—but none stirred Lin Fan.
Until one item appeared, catching his eye. He leaned forward, studying it closely: an incomplete beast hide, roughly a third of its original size.
"Why would your auction house save this for last?" someone questioned, puzzled.
The hide was ancient, tattered, its runes faded and illegible. What qualified it as a finale?
"Ladies and gentlemen, this hide likely originates from a primordial heavenly-tier beast," the fox-woman explained. "Though incomplete and devoid of runes or artifact properties, it's tougher than any treasure. We've tried divine flames and artifact bombardments—it remains unscathed."
She raised the hide high, sending it to the VIP booths for inspection.
Lin Fan examined it, secretly using a treasure mirror. He confirmed its extraordinary nature, sensing a great secret within. A partial illustration was hidden inside, mentioning the word "seed."
If his hunch was correct, this "seed" could be a Dao Seed. Its grade was unclear, but it wouldn't be mediocre.
He returned the hide to the auction staff, who continued circulating it among the other VIPs.
"What do you think?" Yue Chan asked, noting Lin Fan's expression. It must be special.
"There's likely a great opportunity hidden in it. I'm determined to have it," Lin Fan said firmly, then added, "Help me keep an eye out for the rest of this hide in the Lower Realm."
Yue Chan nodded. His serious demeanor told her this was no jest.
For someone who barely cared about a heavenly-tier technique to be so fixated on a tattered hide, its potential must be staggering—even for an Upper Realm prodigy.
"I bid one thousand essence jades!"
"One thousand one hundred!"
Bidding began, less frenzied than before but still drawing interest due to the hide's material.
For younger bidders, it was a rare item overlooked by marquises. Too small for a defensive artifact, it was suited for collection or study.
"I bid ten thousand essence jades!" Lin Fan shouted, too impatient for incremental raises.
"Hiss! What kid throws out ten thousand essence jades for a nameless, tattered rag? Not even good for wiping your mouth!" someone gasped, stunned by the extravagance.
Essence jades, imbued with heaven and earth's essence, were a cultivator's currency, valuable for cultivation. A thousand was a fortune for most, making Lin Fan's bid jaw-dropping.
Yet, even at such a price, he faced competition.
"I bid eleven thousand essence jades," called the Ninth Princess from her booth, sticking out her tongue at Lin Fan.
"Fifty thousand essence jades!" Lin Fan countered, undeterred.
"Fifty-one thousand!" The princess raised, winking mischievously, clearly intent on thwarting him.
"Damn it, you little brat, you're picking a fight with me, huh?" Lin Fan muttered, exasperated.
He'd tried to ignore her, but every time he bid, she topped him by a thousand jades. She's just here to mess with me!
"So what? Heh heh heh… You're the real kid here," the princess taunted, arms crossed, her demeanor haughty and willful.
The crowd was dumbfounded. A prestigious auction had devolved into a childish spat.
One was the pampered, headstrong Ninth Princess of Stone Country. The other, though unknown, was clearly no ordinary child—his attire and lavish spending hinted at a major faction's backing.
"Young Sir, shall I warn her?" Granny Cherish-Flowers asked.
"No need," Lin Fan said, puffing up like a seasoned elder. "That stinky girl wants to outbid me? She's far from my match. Even the Stone Emperor himself wouldn't dare. My word!"
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