A single Nirvana Pill, starting at four hundred million—that alone was enough to bankrupt an ordinary Golden Core expert. Even Golden Core elders of Yuhuamen such as Jialan, Wan Luo, Ling Xiao, and Yaoguang couldn't afford it. And everyone knew the truth—four hundred million was merely the opening. By the end, the price could easily double.
But a pill capable of breaking through a cultivation bottleneck… that was priceless.
Four hundred million… no small sum.
Good thing I had Prince Yi sell off everything we took from the Divine Clan. Otherwise, I wouldn't even qualify to bid. Fang Han thought. Xuanhuang City truly lives up to its name as the First City of the World. And Nine-Cauldron Pavilion… one of the Three Great Chambers of Commerce indeed. Their opening item alone is at this level.
"I have six hundred million in crystal cards," he calculated silently.
"But is that enough to secure the Nirvana Pill…?"
He didn't bid immediately. Instead, he leaned toward Prince Yi.
"Your Highness—can you call someone from Nine-Cauldron Pavilion over? I want to sell something."
"Short on funds already?" Prince Yi frowned. "I didn't expect the base price to be so absurdly high either. Even for me, four hundred million is a heavy burden. What are you planning to sell? You know you can settle after the auction, right?"
"You already know what I have," Fang Han said. "A good item we just acquired—the Azure Ram Patriarch's Golden Core."
"What? You'd sell that?" Prince Yi's expression changed drastically. "Selling a Golden Core directly—this I've never seen! Some lucky cultivators do find the intact cores of fallen ancient experts in ruins, but they always refine them for themselves. It saves centuries of cultivation! If you're selling it… why not sell it to me? I'll pay handsomely. Don't give it to Nine-Cauldron Pavilion."
Prince Yi, at the Heaven–Human Realm, could refine a Golden Core.
"Oh? How much would you offer?"
Truthfully, Azure Ram's core—with its thirteen mediocre Divine Abilities—was worthless to Fang Han, who already held two powerful cores from Taiyi Sect's young giants. Better to sell it. He suspected he might even be the first person in history to openly sell a Golden Core.
Prince Yi gritted his teeth.
"How about this: whatever the Nirvana Pill sells for, I'll make up the difference."
He sighed. "I had preparations for Exquisite Immortal Venerable's birthday—gifts for her disciples. I'll just… reduce the number of recipients."
"Deal."
Fang Han tossed the Golden Core to him without hesitation.
Prince Yi received it with barely hidden joy. Refining this would drastically increase his strength. What was useless to Fang Han was a treasure beyond measure to others. Nirvana Pills could be bought—Golden Cores containing Divine Abilities could not.
Just then—
"Four hundred fifty million!"
The bidding outside had already reached the fifth round. The price had risen by another fifty million in mere minutes—borderline madness.
"Five hundred million," Fang Han signaled calmly.
The moment Prince Yi called the number, the entire hall stiffened. Waves of powerful divine sense swept toward their private room. Fortunately, the VIP suite blocked spiritual probes. But the downside: Fang Han couldn't see who was bidding against him.
"Five hundred ten million!"
A voice rang from another VIP chamber—identity unknown.
"Five hundred fifty million," Fang Han instructed.
In another suite, a prince in golden robes slammed the table, barely containing his anger. A Golden Core expert—one of the top ten imperial princes.
"Master Hua, I was planning to win this Nirvana Pill for you. I didn't expect someone would dare raise the bid by fifty million at once. I want to see which fool thinks he can fight me!"
The man beside him in simple blue garments was none other than Hua Tiandu.
"This Nirvana Pill is miraculous. With it, you could break through to the Longevity Realm," said a Taoist cultivator smiling beside Hua Tiandu—Taiyi Sect's ancient young giant, Wang Tianyi.
Hua Tiandu shook his head calmly.
"I don't need it. Three years or five—I'll reach the Longevity Realm regardless. But since I obtained the pill, I thought to gift it to Sister Yan as an engagement present."
"Oh? Senior Brother Tiandu is truly considerate," Wang Tianyi laughed. "If the other female disciples of Taiyi Sect heard this, they would be green with envy. Yan Shuiyi is already one of the greatest talents among our sect's disciples—she reached Divine Ability Tenth Level, Fate-Reversal, long ago. Even across the Ten Immortal Sects, few can match her. Now that Elder Taihuang has ordered her engagement to you… Once you both enter the Longevity Realm, marriage will follow. A Nirvana Pill from you—it's a token of pure devotion."
Hua Tiandu's voice was leveled, his ambition blazing beneath the surface.
"At the Immortal Gathering, perhaps both of us will enter the Longevity Realm together."
Wang Tianyi nodded, then warned, "But Senior Brother, the one you should watch is Fang Han. His growth has been terrifying. He killed two of our Taiyi Sect disciples. Elder Taihuang wanted to eliminate him, but was stopped by an ancient Demon Sovereign sealed in the Five-Element Earth. He's clearly a pawn of that Demon Sovereign."
"No matter." Hua Tiandu waved a hand dismissively. "Let him jump around a while longer. Once I enter the Longevity Realm, I'll crush him with a flick. For now, too many elders still have expectations for him. Killing him prematurely would cause friction—especially with our sovereign, Feng Baiyu. Once I break through, I'll have the authority."
Wang Tianyi agreed. "Of course. Once you reach the Longevity Realm, your status will be unmatched. And with your Panwu Titan Body—once you break through, you can quickly cultivate the second stage of the Undying Body."
Hua Tiandu's tone surged with unstoppable confidence.
"That technique embodies the pinnacle of power—strength of mind, strength of body, strength of will, strength of essence… all rising. I have waited at Fate-Reversal for years, accumulating endlessly. When I reach the critical point, my breakthrough will be meteoric—unmatched and unstoppable."
Just then—
"Report! The one who raised by fifty million earlier… seems to be Prince Yi."
"Prince Yi?" Hua Tiandu's prince-companion snorted. "That waste? How could he have that much money? Five hundred million… hmm… He's been preparing birthday gifts for Exquisite Immortal Venerable, so his finances should be tight."
"But what does he want the pill for? To break through from Heaven–Human to Unity? Wasteful—and uncertain!"
Prices continued rising as they spoke.
"Six hundred million!"
Fang Han called out firmly.
At this point, only a few were still bidding.
"Six hundred ten million," Hua Tiandu's prince called out.
"Six hundred twenty million," said Prince Yi.
"Prince Feng, raise it to seven hundred million," Hua Tiandu said calmly. "I support your ascension—I won't let you pay."
Seven crystal cards floated over—seven hundred million.
Prince Feng—Feng Qinwang, the eldest prince—exhaled slowly. Seven hundred million he could pay, but it would cripple his resources.
"Seven hundred million!" he called out.
Fang Han turned to Prince Yi.
"How much more can you provide?"
"Two hundred million at most," Prince Yi lied smoothly—he had five hundred million but kept some in reserve.
"Good. Bid eight hundred million."
"Eight hundred million!"
The number stunned the hall. Even Wang Tianyi and Zhou Chu nearly leapt to their feet. They were young giants, but taking out eight hundred million in one breath? Impossible. That was already touching the realm of Longevity experts.
Prince Feng stared at Hua Tiandu, face pale.
"Master Hua…"
Hua Tiandu closed his eyes briefly, then spoke:
"Nine hundred million."