Seeing that the atmosphere was sufficiently charged, Wei Shiqin crisply announced, "This Dark Flood Dragon Spear has a starting bid of one thousand Spirit Stones, with each subsequent bid increasing by no less than one hundred Spirit Stones."
As soon as she finished speaking, a cultivator in the late Qi Condensation stage below the stage urgently called out, "One thousand two hundred Spirit Stones!"
Someone immediately countered, "One thousand three hundred Spirit Stones."
"One thousand five hundred Spirit Stones."
In a short period, the price of this Magic Tool was already soaring towards two thousand Spirit Stones.
"You think you can buy treasures of this caliber with these Spirit Stones? I bid three thousand Spirit Stones!"
Another Qi Refining ninth-layer cultivator, with a flushed face and a large belly, shouted, significantly driving up the price.
With this bid, the number of people participating in the auction immediately dwindled.
Only three or four people remained in the bidding war.
The price had already reached three thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.
"Four thousand Spirit Stones!"
At this moment, a clear, cold female voice came from a private room on the second floor.
Upon this bid, the venue fell silent.
The stout cultivator with the flushed face's eyes bulged, and his mouth opened, but he ultimately did not speak.
None of the others bid further.
Wei Shiqin smiled broadly; this price had already exceeded her expectations.
It was a good start to the auction.
The auction continued.
The subsequent auction items were more interesting.
The auction items were all pills that advanced cultivation.
There were Essence Replenishing Pills, Three Yuan Pills, and a first-tier high-grade Yellow Dragon Pill.
Furthermore, the quantities were not small, with at least several bottles of each.
These pills were not awarded to the highest bidder. Instead, Wei Shiqin set a fixed price.
This price was slightly lower than the market price by ten to twenty percent.
Those interested in purchasing could register, and then a winner would be drawn by bamboo slips.
The person whose name was drawn could then purchase the pills.
This method naturally ignited the enthusiasm of many Qi Refining cultivators.
Pills that advanced cultivation were already quite scarce, and sometimes they couldn't be bought even with Spirit Stones.
This time, not only were the quantities substantial, but the prices were also considerably lower.
It was equivalent to making a profit just by buying them; even if they didn't use them themselves, they could be resold.
Thus, many cultivators eagerly registered to bid, while other low-level cultivators with shallow pockets could only watch with envy.
In the second-floor private room.
Ning Shaohong smiled and glanced at Ning Fa.
Ning Fa understood her meaning, as many of the Essence Replenishing Pills and Three Yuan Pills among the many pills Wei Shiqin presented were refined by him.
Before long, all these pills were sold out.
The atmosphere in the venue became extremely heated.
Next, Wei Shiqin brought out special auction items.
Amidst a flash of colorful mist, three wolf-like beasts appeared on the stage.
They were about ten feet long, with black fur, bared fangs, and red light emanating from their eyes.
A fierce aura emanated from them.
However, their gazes appeared stiff, and they lacked the aura of flesh and blood.
There was a stir below the stage, and those with extensive knowledge recognized their origin.
"Three first-tier high-grade Puppet Beasts, each with a combat strength equivalent to an ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, and they are exceptionally skilled at surprise attacks, possessing good resistance to first-tier Five Elements Spells."
"The starting bid is one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones, with each subsequent bid increasing by no less than one hundred Spirit Stones," Wei Shiqin introduced with a beaming smile.
The venue was initially stunned before erupting into excitement.
For ordinary cultivators, these three Puppet Beasts were even more practical than the initial top-grade Magic Artifact, the Dark Flood Dragon Spear.
After all, although top-grade Magic Artifacts were powerful, they also had very high requirements for spiritual power and divine sense.
Even ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cultivators would find it difficult to fully activate them.
These three first-tier, high-grade Puppet Beasts were different. As long as Spirit Stones were embedded into them, they could act without consuming one's own magical power.
At most, only a bit of divine sense would be consumed to gain guards at the late Qi Condensation stage.
Thus, numerous cultivators participated in the bidding, and most of them were the leaders of various minor powers around Thousand Wave Lake.
For these minor powers, which didn't even have Foundation Establishment cultivators, every additional late Qi Condensation stage combatant meant they had more say in their respective factions.
In the end, these three Puppet Beasts were sold for four thousand six hundred Spirit Stones.
Ning Fa's heart stirred.
This was the first time he had seen a Puppet Beast.
Among the myriad arts of cultivation, puppetry was actually one of them, though it was quite niche.
Related puppetry inheritances were extremely difficult to find in the market; they seemed to be passed down within sects.
At this moment, Wei Shiqin's lips curved into a mysterious smile. She lifted one hand.
A white ancient scroll appeared in her hand, shimmering with a faint white auspicious light.
She chuckled, "This auction item is rather special. It's called the [Moon Gazing Art], a Mysterious Grade Low-tier cultivation technique. The reason it's special is that it's an extremely rare Soul Cultivation Technique. After cultivating it, one can strengthen their soul and improve their divine sense intensity."
With a "boom," the venue erupted into the greatest clamor since the auction began.
"How is this possible! A Soul Cultivation Technique appearing at such a small auction!"
From a private room not far from Ning Fa, an incredulous exclamation rang out.
Judging by the voice, it was the very arrogant Zhao family Foundation Establishment Cultivator that Ning Fa had seen at the entrance of the auction venue.
At this moment, judging by his voice, he was clearly extremely shocked.
Ning Shaohong also suddenly stood up, her eyes filled with pleasant surprise.
Ning Fa also looked at the white ancient scroll in Wei Shiqin's palm with a look of curiosity.
This was because soul-related spiritual items were extremely rare in the cultivation world, whether they were related cultivation techniques, treasures, or heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
They were basically only occasionally seen at large auctions in high-tier immortal cities, and they were always the final highlight items.
Those who could participate in the bidding were basically Golden Core cultivators.
Now, for such a Soul Cultivation Technique to appear at Tongbao Pavilion's auction, which was not of a very high grade, how could it not shock people?
At this moment, Wei Shiqin chuckled, "Everyone, please don't get too excited. This Moon Gazing Art is not a complete technique; it only has the first layer and can only be cultivated by Qi Condensation cultivators. The benefits for Foundation Establishment cultivators are not significant. Otherwise, if it were the complete technique, our business would have at least auctioned it at the Black Marsh Immortal City auction."
As soon as she spoke, much of the enthusiasm in the previously clamoring venue was dampened.
The voice of the Zhao family cultivator came, filled with regret, "No wonder. So it's only the first layer of the technique. You made me happy for nothing. And it's still just Mysterious Grade Low-tier. Forget it, forget it."
The surprise in Ning Shaohong's eyes also receded considerably.
At this moment, Wei Shiqin continued, "Our pavilion can guarantee with its reputation that this technique has absolutely not been sold to anyone else. I have lifted the restrictions on the general introduction of this technique. Everyone can use their divine sense to investigate it. There are still quite a few limitations to cultivating this technique."
"The starting bid for this cultivation technique is two thousand Spirit Stones, and each bid increment cannot be less than one hundred Spirit Stones."
The venue immediately fell silent, and many interested cultivators began to probe the white ancient scroll with their divine sense.
However, after examining it, disappointment flashed in the eyes of many cultivators.