A second life, An Eternal journey to Immortality

After everyone had settled into their seats, the auction hall gradually regained its calm.

Step.

Step.

Step.

The crisp sound of footsteps echoed through the hall.

A faint, sweet fragrance drifted in with it.

All eyes turned toward the stage at the front of the auction hall, and the appearance of a graceful figure instantly stirred an uproar.

A young woman stepped onto the stage, wearing a solemn white cheongsam adorned with intricate golden patterns. The dress was cut high at the thighs, revealing her slender jade-like legs. Her delicate arms and graceful swan-like neck added to her ethereal beauty.

But what truly captivated everyone were her eyes—deep and alluring, carrying a subtle hint of autumn's charm. With just a glance, she displayed what it meant to be a truly stunning woman.

Gulp.

In an instant, countless lower-realm cultivators were left dumbfounded, their gazes fixed upon her.

Even the usually composed Young Master of the Zhang family struggled to peel his eyes away from her figure.

At another table, Xu Wenhao frowned slightly, cursing inwardly.

"Damn it... So young, yet she's mastered charm to this degree? This Treasure Pavilion is no simple place."

Liu Ying was also entranced. Her red eyes reflected the girl's elegance as she thought to herself,

"What a breathtaking beauty..."

Finally, as the commotion in the auction hall settled, the woman on stage gently raised her hand. Her smile was calm, yet enchanting.

The young woman's enchanting gaze swept across the crowd as the auction hall finally quieted down. Her red lips curved into a gentle smile, revealing just the right hint of charm—neither overly seductive nor distant, but perfectly balanced to hold the attention of every cultivator present.

"Fellow Daoists , we thank you for your patience. Without further delay, let us begin with the first item of today's auction."

Her slender jade fingers lightly brushed over the silk-draped tray beside her. With a delicate motion, she lifted the cover, revealing a small jade box. As soon as the lid was opened, a faint purple radiance surged out, accompanied by a subtle yet pure medicinal fragrance that filled the hall.

Gasps of surprise spread through the room.

"This is a Violet Core Fruit!" Her voice rang out, smooth yet firm, carrying a trace of excitement that stirred the hearts of everyone present. "A rare treasure from the depths of the Yunchuan Mountains. Its effects are well-known—enhancing one's spiritual power and purifying Qi. For those at the critical stage of building their foundation, this fruit may very well determine your future prospects. It is no exaggeration to say that it could lay the groundwork for a more stable and formidable path in cultivation."

Her words lit a fire in the hearts of many.

A young cultivator in the back couldn't hold back his whisper, "Violet Core Fruit... That's a legendary aid for early-stage cultivators!"

"Such a thing rarely appears in a place like this. Who brought this out?" another voice murmured, eyes burning with desire.

The girl's smile deepened as she let their excitement build before adding, "The starting price is one thousand spirit stones, with increments no less than one hundred spirit stones."

The atmosphere instantly tensed. The number was not small—especially for lower-level cultivators—but the value of the Violet Core Fruit was undeniable. For those still tempering their foundations, this fruit could push their progress forward by leaps and bounds.

"One thousand spirit stones!" A middle-aged man with a resolute face raised his hand without hesitation.

"One thousand two hundred!" A younger cultivator, dressed in the robes of a minor family , called out, his voice trembling slightly—both from excitement and the knowledge that he was pushing his limits financially.

"One thousand four hundred!" The Young Master of the Zhang family leaned back, his tone casual but filled with confidence. His eyes, however, gleamed with determination. For someone of his background, securing such a resource was simply another step toward cementing his superiority among his peers.

The bidding quickly escalated.

"One thousand six hundred!"

"One thousand eight hundred!"

The voices grew sharper, more urgent. Each bid was like flint striking steel, igniting sparks of rivalry across the hall.

At a corner table, Xu Wenhao narrowed his eyes. He tapped his fingers lightly on the wooden surface, weighing the fruit's value against his current resources. He did not bid—but his gaze grew colder, memorizing the faces of those who did. Competing for such an item here was one thing; securing it outside the auction house was another matter entirely.

Liu Ying, watching from her seat, found her heart racing—not from desire for the fruit, but from the tension in the room. This was her first real experience witnessing how cultivators, often composed and aloof, could reveal such raw ambition when presented with a chance to strengthen their path.

Finally, the bidding slowed.

"three thousand three hundred spirit stones!" The Zhang family's Young Master raised his hand again, his tone impatience. It was clear he intended to secure the fruit, no matter the cost.

Silence followed.

The girl on the stage paused gracefully, allowing a few breaths to pass before her gentle voice sealed the deal. "three thousand three hundred spirit stones, going once... twice... Sold!"

With a light tap of her jade-like hand on the wooden podium, the first item was claimed.

The Zhang family's Young Master leaned back, satisfied, while others sighed in either disappointment or quiet relief. The tension momentarily eased, but the lingering excitement remained—this was only the beginning.

The girl smiled once more, her captivating presence holding everyone's attention as she prepared to unveil the next treasure.

The auction was far from over.

After the excitement from the first auction item settled, the young woman on stage maintained her charming composure.

"Next, we present the Clear Heart Lotus. "

With a gentle lift of her hand, she unveiled a crystalline jade box. A soft, calming fragrance drifted into the hall, soothing the minds of those present. Within the box lay a snow-white lotus, its petals faintly glowing with spiritual light.

"This rare herb stabilizes the mental state, dispelling inner demons and preventing deviation during breakthroughs. A life-saving treasure when facing bottlenecks."

Her words carried weight, and many experienced cultivators nodded in recognition. This was not an item for early-stage practitioners but a precious safeguard for those approaching major realms.

"Starting price: One thousand five hundred spirit stones."

The bidding began more cautiously but climbed steadily. Those with ambitions to push beyond their current realm understood its value.

"Two thousand!"

"Two thousand four hundred!"

"Two thousand eight hundred!"

Finally—

"four thousand spirit stones!"

The voice was resolute, belonging to an elder in gray robes. His firm gaze warned others to back down.

The girl smiled faintly. "four thousand spirit stones, sold!"

With a soft tap, the Clear Heart Lotus was claimed. The atmosphere grew heavier—this was not merely wealth on display but a battlefield of future cultivation paths.

The elegant auctioneer raised her hand again, revealing a small jade tray. On it lay a single stalk of grass, its nine tiny leaves glowing faintly with spiritual energy, exuding an aura of purity.

"This is the Nine Aperture Spirit Grass, capable of enhancing one's spiritual root potential and stabilizing the foundation during a breakthrough. Whether refined into pills or consumed directly, its value is undeniable."

As her voice fell, a subtle wave rippled through the crowd.

"Hiss… Nine Aperture Spirit Grass?" A middle-aged cultivator in the back gasped softly.

"Heaven's luck… Someone's going to rewrite their path today," another murmured.

An older rogue cultivator clenched his fists under the table, his face dark with emotion. His potential had been exhausted for years—this was his last chance.

"Starting price: Three thousand spirit stones."

"Three thousand five hundred!"

"Four thousand!"

The bidding escalated rapidly, voices growing tense. The older rogue cultivator's face grew pale, sweat beading on his forehead, but he gritted his teeth.

"Five thousand!"

The air grew stifling. Others began hesitating—the price was no longer small change.

"Six thousand!"

"Seven thousand!"

The rogue cultivator's eyes reddened. If he missed this, his path would end here.

"eight thousand five hundred!"

Silence.

The girl smiled gracefully. "eight thousand five hundred spirit stones—sold."

The rogue cultivator's body slumped back in his seat, breathing heavily, but his eyes were filled with desperate hope. For him, this was a bet on the future—perhaps his final one.

One after another, five other treasures were swiftly auctioned off—each drawing excited bids but none catching Liu Ying's attention. Finally, the item she had been waiting for appeared.

The auctioneer unveiled a porcelain bottle, her voice gentle yet firm.

"This is the Nine-Yang Detoxification Pill, capable of purging potent poisons and cleansing the meridians. A life-saving treasure. Starting price: Two thousand spirit stones ."

Liu Ying's eyes sharpened. This was it. Her heart raced.

"Two thousand five hundred," a voice rang out—it was Zhang Qian, the young master of the Zhang family.

Liu Ying raised her hand without hesitation. "Three thousand."

Zhang Qian glanced her way briefly but remained composed.

"Three thousand five hundred."

Liu Ying bit her lip, her heart pounding. "Four thousand."

Several cultivators shook their heads, unwilling to compete at such a price for a detoxification pill.

Zhang Qian tapped the table lightly, then raised his voice lazily.

"Four thousand two hundred."

Liu Ying clenched her fists. This was her limit—almost everything she had.

"Four thousand five hundred!" Her voice was clear and resolute.

Zhang Qian turned fully this time, his gaze resting on her. He studied her delicate features, noticing the earnestness in her eyes. After a brief pause, he let out a soft sigh and smiled faintly.

"since this young fairy needs it more. Please, go ahead."

Liu Ying quickly cupped her hands.

"Thank you, Young Master Zhang."

The gavel fell. "Deal—Four thousand five hundred spirit stones!"

Relief washed over Liu Ying's face.

As Zhang Qian leaned back in his seat, his old servant beside him leaned closer and whispered,

"Young master, shall we… take action outside and snatch it back?"

Zhang Qian's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone cold.

"Why create enemies needlessly? Do you take me for a fool? I only bid casually—she needed it more. Consider it a small favor."

The servant quickly nodded.

"Young master is wise."

Zhang Qian smiled smugly.

"Of course."

The bell rang, signaling the start of the auction, and the crowd fell into an anticipatory silence.

As the auction neared its end, the atmosphere in the hall grew tense. The final batch of items was about to be revealed—the true highlight of the day.

The auctioneer's voice took on a solemn tone.

"Everyone, the final treasures of this auction—the Foundation Establishment Pills"

Clamor erupted instantly.

"Hiss… Foundation Establishment Pills!"

"Five of them at once… the Treasure Pavilion is truly wealthy!"

"This is a chance to step into Foundation Establishment… who wouldn't want it?"

The eyes of every cultivator burned with desire. For many, this was their only chance to break through the Qi Training stage and step into a higher realm. The casual cultivators, in particular, were practically trembling.

The auctioneer's voice rang out:

"Each pill will be auctioned separately. Starting price—Ten thousand spirit stones!"

The first pill drew heated competition.

"Twelve thousand!"

"Thirteen thousand!"

"Fourteen thousand!"

The bids rose rapidly until a clear and elegant voice called out:

"Fifteen thousand."

All eyes turned—Lin Yuxin, the young lady of the Lin family. Her presence alone carried weight, and seeing her determination, many chose to withdraw.

The gavel fell.

"Fifteen thousand spirit stones—sold to Young Lady Lin!"

The second pill brought even more tension.

"Thirteen thousand!"

"Fourteen thousand five hundred!"

"Fifteen thousand five hundred!"

"Sixteen thousand!"—Xu Wenhao's firm voice ended the bidding.

The third pill began, and Zhang Qian joined the fray.

"Fourteen thousand!"

"Fourteen thousand five hundred!"

"Fifteen thousand!"

"Fifteen thousand five hundred!"

Seeing Zhang Qian's casual yet confident demeanor, others hesitated. The gavel fell once more.

"Fifteen thousand five hundred—sold to Young Master Zhang!"

But it was the fourth and fifth pills that saw the fiercest battles.

"Fifteen thousand!"

"Sixteen thousand!"

"Seventeen thousand!"

An old casual cultivator, his face lined with age and desperation, gritted his teeth and called out:

"Eighteen thousand!"

Silence fell. This was a life's savings for him—his one chance to break free from mediocrity. No one dared push him further. He won.

The fifth and final pill pushed tensions to their peak.

"Nineteen thousand!"

"Nineteen thousand five hundred!"

"Twenty thousand!"

Another old casual cultivator, his hair graying and his breath slightly ragged, clenched his fist as he shouted the final bid. His eyes were bloodshot—this was his last hope to change his fate.

The hammer struck.

"Twenty thousand spirit stones—sold!"

The auction concluded, but the hearts of many were still racing. Some left with fortune, others with regret—but all knew today's event would be remembered for a long time.

As the Foundation Establishment Pills were auctioned, Liu Ying's eyes widened. Prices skyrocketed—15,000, then 16,000, and finally 20,000 spirit stones. She gasped quietly, thinking, "If Brother Jiang and I become alchemists... we'd be rich!"