The auction hall had only just recovered from the frenzy surrounding the Rank Four Sea Jade fragment when an unusual silence descended once more.
Even the cultivators seated in the ordinary section sensed that the atmosphere had changed. The previous finale item had been extraordinary, yet Luo Qing neither announced the end of the auction nor stepped away from the platform.
Instead, she waited.
Her composed smile remained unchanged as her gaze slowly swept across the countless cultivators gathered inside the Thousand Isle Auction House. The pause seemed deliberate, allowing anticipation to ferment until even the faintest whisper disappeared.
Only after confirming that every pair of eyes had settled upon her did she speak.
"Our fifth and final major finale item..."
"...is something our Thousand Isle Auction House has never handled before."
Those words alone caused many expressions to change.
Even within the VIP rooms, several Purple Palace cultivators unconsciously straightened.
An item the auction house itself had never handled?
What treasure could possibly deserve such an introduction?
Behind Luo Qing, a formation lit up softly as an exquisitely crafted jade platform slowly rose from beneath the stage. Resting upon it was a crystal jade box no larger than two palms, its surface covered with numerous restriction runes that isolated every trace of medicinal fragrance from escaping.
Although no aura leaked outward, the caution surrounding the box only made everyone more curious.
Luo Qing gently rested one hand upon the lid.
"Our appraisers spent seven days verifying this item."
"They consulted three Purple Palace alchemists."
"They consulted a Golden Core senior."
"They even referenced several ancient records before unanimously confirming its identity."
The crowd became increasingly restless.
Foundation Establishment cultivators exchanged confused looks.
Most of them had never witnessed such an elaborate appraisal process.
Meanwhile, inside the VIP rooms, several older Purple Palace cultivators frowned slightly.
Ancient records?
Golden Core verification?
Could it be...
A medicinal pill from antiquity?
The thought had only just surfaced when Luo Qing slowly opened the jade box.
The moment the lid lifted, an indescribably pure medicinal fragrance spread throughout the auction hall.
It wasn't overwhelming.
Nor was it forceful.
Instead, it carried a refreshing purity that seemed capable of washing away fatigue accumulated over decades of cultivation.
Many cultivators instinctively inhaled.
Some even felt their circulating Spiritual Qi become noticeably smoother.
Inside the jade box rested a single pill no larger than a thumb.
Its surface shimmered with a faint seven-coloured brilliance while delicate pill patterns intertwined across it like natural heavenly inscriptions. Every breath seemed to cause those patterns to shift slightly, giving the illusion that the pill itself possessed life.
Silence.
Complete silence.
No one spoke.
No one even dared breathe loudly.
Luo Qing allowed everyone to admire it for several breaths before announcing calmly,
"This pill..."
"...is called the Heaven Mending Pill."
The name echoed throughout the auction hall.
Confusion immediately appeared on countless faces.
"Heaven Mending Pill?"
"I've never heard of it."
"Is it some ancient medicinal pill?"
"Why would the auction house make such a grand announcement?"
The ordinary cultivators were bewildered.
Even many Foundation Establishment cultivators searched their memories in vain.
However...
Several older Purple Palace cultivators suddenly stood up inside their VIP rooms.
One elder's pupils contracted violently.
Another's breathing became noticeably heavier.
A third gripped the armrest beneath him so tightly that cracks quietly spread across the spirit wood.
They knew.
Or rather...
They had once seen the name recorded inside ancient jade slips.
Luo Qing observed every reaction before continuing.
"According to our appraisal, the Heaven Mending Pill possesses the ability..."
"...to improve a cultivator's Spiritual Root aptitude."
The words landed like thunder.
Boom!
The entire auction hall erupted.
"What?"
"Impossible!"
"Improve Spiritual Roots?"
"Such a thing actually exists?"
Countless cultivators surged to their feet.
The ordinary section instantly descended into chaos as voices overlapped one another.
Some thought they had misheard.
Others stared fixedly at the pill as though trying to determine whether it was an illusion.
Inside the VIP rooms, several Purple Palace cultivators released faint fluctuations of Spiritual Qi before immediately restraining themselves.
Their eyes, however...
Never left the jade box.
Luo Qing raised one hand, allowing the formation beneath the stage to emit a gentle ripple that quieted the hall once more.
"Our appraisers have confirmed that the pill permanently enhances Spiritual Root quality."
"It is not a temporary effect."
"It is not an illusion."
"It is a true transformation."
The hall fell silent again.
This time...
The silence carried shock rather than anticipation.
For Foundation Establishment cultivators, such a pill could determine whether future generations inherited mediocre or exceptional talent.
For Purple Palace cultivators...
Its significance was immeasurably greater.
Everyone understood one truth.
A cultivator's Spiritual Root quality influenced cultivation speed from the very beginning.
Although Golden Core cultivators primarily relied upon comprehension, every step leading toward Golden Core formation still depended upon one's accumulated foundation.
Improving Spiritual Roots before attempting Golden Core could very well influence the quality of one's Golden Core.
No one dared underestimate such an opportunity.
Luo Qing slowly closed the jade box once more.
"The Heaven Mending Pill..."
"...will begin with a starting bid of one hundred thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones."
Almost before her final word faded—
A powerful voice burst from one of the VIP rooms.
"One hundred and fifty thousand!"
Immediately afterwards—
"Two hundred thousand!"
"Two hundred and thirty thousand!"
"Two hundred and eighty thousand!"
The auction had only just begun...
Yet the bidding had already become incomparably fiercer than anything witnessed earlier that day.
The moment the opening bid was surpassed, the pace of the auction became almost frightening.
The ordinary cultivators sitting below could no longer follow the numbers being called. They watched in stunned silence as the figures rose by tens of thousands of mid-grade Spirit Stones as though they were nothing more than loose change.
"Three hundred thousand."
"Three hundred and fifty thousand."
"Four hundred thousand."
The voices no longer came from the ordinary seats.
Every bid originated from the VIP section.
Inside one of the third-floor rooms, an elderly Purple Palace cultivator slowly exhaled.
"So the records were true..."
He stared fixedly at the jade box containing the Heaven Mending Pill, his usually calm eyes burning with desire.
His Spiritual Roots had only been of average quality. Although he had relied upon perseverance, opportunities and decades of bitter cultivation to reach the Purple Palace Realm, every step afterward became increasingly difficult.
He had once believed his path would end there.
Now...
A single pill had appeared before him.
Perhaps...
Just perhaps...
He could improve his Spiritual Roots enough to influence the quality of his future Golden Core.
Even if the improvement were only slight...
It would still be worth every Spirit Stone he possessed.
Without hesitation, he raised his bid once more.
"Four hundred and thirty thousand."
Before Luo Qing could repeat the number, another voice interrupted.
"Four hundred and eighty thousand."
A soft chuckle echoed from another room.
"Fellow Daoist, are you trying to buy the Heaven Mending Pill with such little sincerity?"
"I bid five hundred thousand."
The auction hall erupted.
Many Foundation Establishment cultivators drew sharp breaths.
Half a million...
That amount alone was enough to establish a medium-sized cultivation clan.
Yet these Purple Palace experts continued bidding without the slightest hesitation.
One Foundation Establishment cultivator swallowed hard before murmuring,
"If I possessed half that wealth, I could cultivate without worrying about resources for the rest of my life."
His companion shook his head.
"You underestimate this pill."
"Resources can always be earned again."
"But if this pill truly allows one to improve their Spiritual Roots before forming a Golden Core..."
He lowered his voice instinctively.
"...its value far exceeds a Rank Four Beast Core."
Several nearby cultivators turned toward him.
"How so?"
The man quietly explained,
"A Rank Four Beast Core can indeed help a Peak Purple Palace cultivator forcefully condense a False Core."
"However..."
"A False Core remains a dead end."
"It grants eight hundred years of lifespan."
"It grants Golden Core combat power."
"But its owner will forever remain trapped at the Early Golden Core Realm."
"Such a cultivator cannot continue advancing."
Several listeners nodded.
This was common knowledge.
The man continued,
"Improving one's Spiritual Roots is different."
"If one's foundation becomes stronger before Golden Core formation, the Condensation of Gold during the breakthrough naturally becomes greater."
"Even if one fails to achieve a True Core..."
"...obtaining a Void Core would still be vastly superior to a False Core."
"At least a Void Core possesses life."
"It grants a thousand-year lifespan and allows its owner to continue cultivating."
His words caused many cultivators to sigh inwardly.
No wonder the Purple Palace experts had gone mad.
This wasn't merely a medicinal pill.
It was another possibility.
Another future.
Another path.
Meanwhile, inside the highest VIP rooms, the competition became increasingly intense.
"Five hundred and fifty thousand."
"Six hundred thousand."
"Six hundred and thirty thousand."
The numbers continued climbing with almost no pause between bids.
Luo Qing's expression remained calm despite the astonishing prices.
This was precisely what the auction house had predicted.
An item capable of influencing Golden Core quality would never lack buyers.
As the bidding reached seven hundred thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones, the atmosphere finally began changing.
One after another...
The VIP rooms fell silent.
Not because they had lost interest.
But because they had reached their limits.
Even Purple Palace cultivators possessed only so much wealth.
Countless years of accumulation could disappear within a single auction.
Eventually...
Only four voices remained.
Each new bid carried obvious hesitation.
"Eight hundred thousand."
"Eight hundred and thirty thousand."
"Eight hundred and fifty thousand."
The auction hall had become completely silent once again.
Every cultivator stared toward the VIP section.
No one dared speak.
No one wished to miss the final outcome.
After several breaths of silence, another bid finally emerged.
"Nine hundred thousand."
The entire hall seemed to freeze.
An elderly Purple Palace cultivator slowly leaned back inside his room before laughing bitterly.
"I concede."
"My clan cannot continue."
Another quietly sighed.
"It seems fate is not with me."
One by one...
The remaining competitors withdrew.
Only two bidders remained.
The final exchange was astonishingly brief.
"Nine hundred and twenty thousand."
A pause.
Then...
"Nine hundred and fifty thousand."
Silence followed.
Ten breaths passed.
Twenty breaths.
No further voice sounded.
Even the final competitor could only close his eyes helplessly.
Luo Qing slowly looked around the hall before raising her jade hammer.
"Nine hundred and fifty thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones."
"First call."
No response.
"Second call."
Still silence.
Her smile deepened.
"Third call."
Bang!
The jade hammer struck the platform.
"The Heaven Mending Pill..."
"...has been sold."
The winner...
Was the Purple Palace representative of the Jiuding Merchant Alliance.
Although many cultivators had expected one of the great sects to claim the pill, the result still shocked countless people.
Nine hundred and fifty thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones.
From this day onward...
The Heaven Mending Pill would become a legend throughout the Southern Archipelagos.