The First Immortal of Destiny

"1,800 Spirit Stones!"

Shen Mo didn't back down. He took a deep breath and directly raised the price by another 600 Spirit Stones.

"1,800 Spirit Stones?"

"Is he a fool? Who raises the price like that?"

Shen Mo's bidding method attracted sideways glances from many, and a flurry of discussion erupted.

Although Divine Iron was rare, the price Shen Mo offered clearly exceeded its inherent value.

He ignored the opinions of others, his eyes fixed on the black-robed cultivator in front of him, watching to see if he would raise his placard to bid once more.

Shen Mo was determined to acquire this Divine Iron, but he was not particularly affluent. He only had a total of 1,800 Spirit Stones.

The reason he bet everything now was that he had discerned his opponent wasn't buying to speculate. Like him, the opponent most likely had a genuine need for the Divine Iron. Shen Mo hoped to overwhelm his opponent with this display of resolve.

Otherwise, if they had continued slowly raising the price, the other party would undoubtedly follow to the end, as long as they had enough Spirit Stones.

Conversely, by raising the price so high all at once, even if the other party had ample Spirit Stones, they would likely reconsider if it was worth it and whether Shen Mo would bid even higher.

As expected, when Shen Mo pushed all his 1,800 Spirit Stones onto the table, the black-robed cultivator competing with him stopped his actions and did not continue.

However, his gaze quickly locked onto Shen Mo's position.

He's noticed me!

Shen Mo felt the malevolence in the other's gaze and tensed up. But he wasn't overly afraid. This was because they were still in the auction venue, and according to the rules, no fighting was allowed. He doubted the man had the audacity to openly rob him of his winnings; Shen Mo expected he wouldn't dare break the rules here.

What truly needed his caution was the period after he acquired the Divine Iron and left the Market.

The bidding for the Divine Iron concluded.

For Shen Mo, having obtained what he desired, the auction was already over.

But for the other cultivators present, this Divine Iron was merely an ordinary item, not particularly noteworthy.

Soon, the next auction item was presented.

After Shen Mo won the bid for the Divine Iron, he sat for a moment before leaving his seat to go backstage and pay the Spirit Stones.

"The item won by this guest is Divine Iron, ten catties."

"The bidding price is 1,800 Lower Grade Spirit Stones."

"Please come here to pay."

Backstage, a manager in charge of receiving payments spoke.

"Here is the full amount of Spirit Stones. Please take them."

Shen Mo handed over the Spirit Stones he had already prepared.

After the manager verified the amount, he handed the Divine Iron to Shen Mo.

Finally, I have the materials needed to forge The Big Dipper Array!

A surge of joy rose in Shen Mo's heart as he stored the Divine Iron in his Universe Bag.

With the item secured, Shen Mo did not linger. He left the backstage area, did not return to the auction hall, and instead departed the auction venue directly, heading back to his sect.

WHOOSH!

With a wave of his hand, his Dragon Sparrow Sword transformed into a streak of light, carrying him swiftly over the sea of clouds towards the Riverside Sect.

Meanwhile, Shen Mo's spiritual sense scanned his surroundings.

Soon, he sensed someone chasing him.

It wasn't just one person; Shen Mo sensed two auras. Both were extremely strong, their cultivation realms at least at Layer IV of the Qi Gathering Realm.

So, they refuse to give up!

He had guessed earlier that the other party wouldn't let him take the Divine Iron away so easily. Having failed at the auction, murder and robbery outside the venue was their next option. Such scenarios were not uncommon in the cultivation world.

Shen Mo sensed the two auras drawing closer and knew he couldn't return to the sect easily.

A fight is unavoidable!

Just as this thought arose, two streaks of light sped towards him from behind. Despite starting later, they arrived first, their artifact controlling speed far surpassing that of ordinary Qi Gathering Realm cultivators. Clearly, they had practiced some special artifact controlling method.

"Stop!"

The two streaks of light shot across Shen Mo's path, blocking him completely.

"I wonder why you two fellow daoists have chased after me? What is the matter?"

Shen Mo halted abruptly, choosing a desolate forest in the wilderness to land. The two black-robed cultivators chasing him also landed there.

Their cold gazes, like sharp blades, fixed on Shen Mo.

"Hand over the Divine Iron, and we'll let you leave," one of them said, staring coldly.

"This item is urgently needed by me, and I purchased it at a high price at the auction."

Though blocked by the two, Shen Mo's tone remained calm. He heavily emphasized the words "purchased at a high price," a subtle warning.

"Humph!"

The two black-robed cultivators seemed to understand Shen Mo's implication. They sneered and retorted, "So what if you bought it? Do you think the Market will protect you indefinitely?"

"Once you leave the Market, no one will shield you!"

"Hand over the Divine Iron, and you can leave alive. If you refuse, we'll have to kill you and then find a way to open your Universe Bag."

If not for the trouble of opening a Universe Bag, they wouldn't have wasted so many words on Shen Mo and would have attacked directly.

"The Above Cloud Sect is a renowned immortal sect in the Red Flame Country. Since you are both disciples of this sect, if word of you committing robbery and murder were to spread, I'm afraid it would tarnish the Above Cloud Sect's reputation. You would also face punishment according to sect rules upon your return," Shen Mo suddenly said, looking at the two black-robed cultivators.

"You!"

The two black-robed cultivators were both shocked and enraged that their identities had been exposed.

"What disciples of the Above Cloud Sect? Are you talking nonsense?"

"Heh, then consider my words nonsense."

Shen Mo merely smiled faintly at their agitated expressions.

He could discern their identities not because they had made any slip-ups, but because... the movement technique they used when landing was extremely familiar to him!

Thunderclap Rapid Step!

This was the lightness magic skill Shen Mo had acquired in the Market by trading a Lightness Talisman with a deserter disciple of the Above Cloud Sect who was fleeing in disgrace.

Thanks to the unyielding efforts of Destiny's [Martial Performance], he had cultivated it to the highest level. Every detail of this footwork was as familiar to him as his own treasured possessions. Naturally, he recognized at a glance that their movement technique was derived from Thunderclap Rapid Step.

"Fellow daoists, you still have time to retreat. I will not report this matter to your sect," Shen Mo warned again.

"Enough! Since our identities have been revealed, you cannot leave here alive today!" His warning was clearly ignored.

"Jiang Wu, let's team up and kill him quickly!" the black-robed cultivator on the right hissed, drawing a long spear.

The Above Cloud Sect disciple called Jiang Wu drew a curved blade. These two weapons were their personal magic artifacts.

Their intentions were clear; a fight was imminent.

"In that case, allow me to send you on your way!" Shen Mo declared, his tone freezing, laced with a chilling murderous intent. With a flip of his palm, the Soul Refining Flag appeared in his hand.