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Several days later.
Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao agreed to attend the large auction held once every few years in Huanglong Immortal City.
Lan Chang'an had attended an auction of this scale before, back when he was still in the Qi-Refining stage.
At the auction, the auction floor had been filled with late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and Fake-Dan Immortals. He watched the whole time, not daring to participate in the bidding.
"The highest cultivator at the large auctions of Huanglong Immortal City is generally a Fake-Dan Immortal, at most an early-stage Core Formation cultivator joining in for fun."
Lan Chang'an was well aware of this and was certain that he would be safe as long as he didn't recklessly deploy his spiritual sense. Ordinary Core Formation cultivators wouldn't notice anything unusual about him.
The auction was held in the central hall of the inner city.
"Senior, please move to the Black-Level VIP pavilion."
After Lan Chang'an showed the Huanglong Pavilion VIP token, a tall female cultivator respectfully led the way.
The organizer of the auction was Huanglong Mountain.
The Black-level VIP pavilion was like a half-suspended pavilion, accommodating five or six people with maids serving them throughout.
Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao sat side by side, dressed in white clothes and skirts, with excellent image and temperament.
To those unaware, they might think the two were a couple.
"Senior Sister Zhao."
"Fairy Zhao."
Passing Foundation Establishment cultivators from the sect greeted Zhao Siyao.
"Fairy Jade Moon?"
Lan Chang'an's senses were sharp. Even without releasing his spiritual sense, he vaguely heard some discussions.
Zhao Siyao was quite famous, not only in Jin Yun Valley but also well-known in the middle-tier circle of Liang Kingdom sects.
"Fellow Daoist Lan, if you are worried about causing trouble, Siyao can find another place to sit." Zhao Siyao pursed her lips, moved her skirt, and made a gesture to get up and leave.
"No need, our decades of friendship can withstand investigation."
Lan Chang'an waved his hand, seeing through her teasing joke. She didn't truly intend to leave.
Only because they had known each other for so long, the elegant and cool "Fairy Jade Moon" would never make such jokes in front of outsiders.
Decades ago, when Lan Chang'an changed the way he addressed her in the Immortal Gathering Building, she was initially upset.
After establishing his Foundation, Lan Chang'an's ability to protect himself greatly increased. He no longer had thread as cautiously as when he was in the second layer of Qi-Refining.
People who were able to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment Realm were not brainless. Just seeing them sitting together wouldn't attract the enmity of her pursuers.
...
Cultivators from all sides arrived at the Huanglong auction.
Late-stage Foundation Establishment and Fake-Dan Immortals' powerful auras appeared in the upper stands and private rooms.
"The people from Huanglong Mountain are here!"
There was a low exclamation in the hall, and many cultivators stood in awe.
A strong Fake-Dan aura descended on the scene.
It came from a burly man in a purple robe with a bald head, like a giant beast, bringing pressure to the entire hall.
Ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators felt as if struck by lightning when they met his gaze.
"He Yuanwu, the fourth disciple of Huanglong Zhenren, has a Fake-Dan cultivation. It's said he also practices body refinement."
Information about this person surfaced in Lan Chang'an's mind.
Among the disciples of Huanglong Zhenren, two had Fake-Dan cultivation, and He Yuanwu was one of them.
The rest were mostly mid to late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Beside He Yuanwu was a stunning woman in a moon-white dress with long light purple hair, exuding a unique and independent temperament.
She was Fu Xuemei, the final disciple of Huanglong Immortal.
He Yuanwu, Fu Xuemei, and three others went to the topmost Heaven-level private room.
At the auction, Lan Chang'an saw some familiar cultivators, such as Zhou Qingxuan, Alchemist Hua, and Artifact Refiner Gu Lai.
The Foundation Establishment ancestor of the Huang Family, Huang Tankong.
Lin Ye, the alchemist from Little Pill Peak of Wuqi Mountain, was also present.
This did not include some mysterious people hiding their identities.
Lan Chang'an had become acquainted with many cultivators during his time in the Huanglong Immortal City, so it would have been impossible for him to greet each one individually, mostly nodding in acknowledgment.
...
"This is the Huanglong auction. Welcome Fellow Daoists from all over Liang Kingdom."
A silver-haired old man in the Foundation Establishment Realm spoke on the auction stage, his deep voice echoing throughout the hall.
After announcing the rules, the auction officially began.
"The first auction item is Bottleneck-Breaking Pill for late-stage Qi-Refining. The role of breakthrough pills needs no further elaboration..."
A tall palace-dressed female cultivator brought up the tray.
Bottleneck-Breaking Pill, back in the Mu Family, Lan Chang'an and Li Erqing had a hard time queuing for it. Here at the Huanglong Auction, it was merely an opening item.
The second auction item was a top superior-grade defensive magical weapon.
The third item was a top superior-grade first-rank flying boat.
The fourth auction item was a second-rank spirit ore.
...
Before the auction, Lan Chang'an made extensive purchases and had a clear target today.
He wouldn't bid easily for other auction items. Bidding too much could expose his wealth.
Towards the end of the first half of the auction, two extremely high quality magical weapons, also known as supreme-grade weapons, appeared.
Many Foundation Establishment cultivators bid one after another, making the atmosphere lively.
"Do you need me to lend you a thousand spirit stones?"
Lan Chang'an noticed Zhao Siyao's interest but her tight budget.
This time, Zhao Siyao only participated in the bidding for pills and refining materials, none of which were very expensive.
Although Zhao Siyao was a disciple of a Fake-Dan Immortal, she didn't receive substantial support from her sect.
She had no special cultivation skills, and most of her spirit stones were used for her own cultivation.
"Forget it, If I borrow your spirit stones, I won't be able to repay you anytime soon." Zhao Siyao glanced at him, her eyes clear and bright, shaking her head with a smile.
Lan Chang'an didn't force it. He and Zhao Siyao had a good enough relationship, but any further, and it would become inappropriate.
Zhao Siyao could afford a supreme-grade magical weapon but mainly wanted to save spirit stones to upgrade her current Iron Trellis Umbrella to a supreme-grade magical weapon by adding materials and refining it a step further.
...
In the second half of the auction, Lan Chang'an long-anticipated target finally appeared.
"The next auction item is the rare second-rank top superior-grade spiritual wood 'Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo.' This wood contains spirituality and is an excellent material for making magical weapons, especially those pertaining to the Sound Dao." The silver-haired old man introduced.
The palace-dressed female cultivator, wearing white silk gloves, presented a dark green spirit bamboo with golden threads.
"Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo!"
Lan Chang'an's eyes brightened, concealing his inner joy.
The skin of Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo is an excellent second-rank talisman paper material. But few people used it this way because it wasn't cost-effective.
Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo, as bamboo, was only about the size of a fist, and its skin couldn't produce much talisman paper. Its best use was to make musical magical weapons.
"Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo, starting price seven hundred spirit stones, with each increment no less than ten spirit stones."
"Seven hundred and fifty spirit stones."
A clear female voice came from the right side of the Earth-Level stand.
The speaker was a serene Foundation Establishment female cultivator in a Liuxian dress. Beside the female cultivator were beautiful female cultivators, their faces painted with vibrant makeup.
Cultivators from Xuan Yin Pavilion?
Lan Chang'an recognized their origin and didn't immediately participate.
"Eight hundred and twenty... eight hundred and fifty..."
The participants were sparse.
Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo was not considered a popular auction item, just rare.
"One thousand spirit stones!"
The Xuan Yin Pavilion female cultivator in the Liuxian dress gritted her teeth.
One thousand spirit stones wasn't a large amount for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but it was quite extravagant to buy a piece of bamboo.
"Fellow Daoists, why not give face to Xuan Yin Pavilion's 'Fairy Wei,' a thousand spirit stones have already exceeded the market price."
In the VIP stand adjacent to the Xuan Yin Pavilion's female cultivator, a short-haired young man in a black cloak spoke with a smile.
The Xuan Yin Pavilion female cultivator snorted softly, clearly displeased, but she said nothing.
"One thousand spirit stones, any higher bids?"
The silver-haired old man held the auction hammer, surveying the surroundings. No one else spoke.
Perhaps because the price was high, or to save face for the two sect Foundation Establishment cultivators, no one chose to continue the bidding war.
"One thousand one hundred spirit stones."
A gentle and calm voice sounded.
Zhao Siyao showed a surprised look at Lan Chang'an.
Previously, Lan Chang'an hadn't made any bids, making it unclear whether he would compete for the Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo.
The Xuan Yin Pavilion female cultivator glanced at Lan Chang'an and sighed.
"Fellow Daoist Lan is new to Foundation Establishment as an old man, why would you compete with a female cultivator for the Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo?" The short-haired young man in the black cloak looked displeased, his eyes flashing.
"This person is a direct disciple of Flame Departing Palace, try to avoid conflict." Zhao Siyao transmitted.
Flame Departing Palace was a Nascent Soul level cultivation force, supreme in Liang Kingdom's cultivation world.
"May I ask if there are any rules giving female cultivators priority at this auction?" Lan Chang'an countered politely.
The short-haired cultivator's face stilled.
Prior to this, Lan Chang'an had been unaware of this individual's identity. However, the Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo was an essential component for his treasure talisman project, so he would contend for it against anyone who wasn't a Fake-Dan Immortal.
"Fellow Daoist Wu, this concerns you not! Even if you were to win the Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo, I would not claim it," the Xuan Yin Pavilion cultivator said coldly.
The short-haired cultivator in the black cloak smiled helplessly and cupped his fist respectfully toward Lan Chang'an. "Fellow Daoist Lan, my apologies for my rudeness earlier."
"It's no matter."
Lan Chang'an sighed in relief. Without this person interfering, he could smoothly acquire the Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo.
He hadn't dared to compete for Foundation Establishment Pills at auction in the past precisely because of this reason. A tiny stalk of bamboo had nearly caused an unexpected quarrel with disciples of the Flame Departing palace, let alone the vital Foundation Establishment Pills, which were a strategic resource.
Lan Chang'an realized that his reputation as an ancient foundation establishment cultivator afforded him a certain degree of protection, especially in public settings.
Lan Chang'an went backstage at the auction, paid the spirit stones, and took possession of the top superior-grade Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo.
(End of chapter)