The Auction was in full swing, with High-Grade Spirit Treasures appearing one after another, igniting wave after wave of bidding frenzy. The air was filled with tension and excitement, making the entire venue boil.
The six-tier spirit treasures refined by Li Mu, as well as the remaining Spirit Treasures and Spiritual Artifacts from the spoils of war, were all the focus of everyone’s attention. When these treasures appeared on the Auction stage, they immediately attracted bids from many Cultivators.
Time flew by. In just one hour, Wanbao Pavilion sold over two hundred five-tier Spiritual Artifacts and more than ten six-tier spirit treasures, earning over a hundred million Spirit Stones.
Among them, the Spirit Treasures refined by the Grandmaster Refiner of Taiyi Sect were the most sought after, and the six-tier spirit treasures refined by Li Mu also attracted significant attention. When these Spirit Treasures appeared on the Auction stage, they immediately drew fierce competition from many Cultivators.
“Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Number 11, who won the Dark Gold Treasure Claw for 72,000 High-Grade Spirit Stones! Next, we will be auctioning off an extremely precious finale spiritual item,” Lin Baoqing shouted tirelessly with full vigor.
As soon as he finished speaking, the teleportation array on the Auction stage flashed, and a jade token-like spiritual item appeared on the stage. It was smooth as a mirror, emitting a faint green light, like an ancient jade sculpted over long Years.
“Sky Puppet Spirit Token!”
Lin Baoqing held the jade token, showing it to the Cultivators participating in the Auction, and introduced it solemnly.
“Among those present, many Seniors should know the origin of this token. Of course, there are also some Fellow Daoists who do not know about it. Here, Chen will take a little time to give a brief introduction.” Lin Baoqing’s voice echoed through the venue, filled with solemnity and reverence. He paused, then continued, “This ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token,’ one of the components of a seven-rank dao tool, comes from the Legacy treasure of the Sky Puppet Sect from ten thousand Years ago. It is said that by collecting all eight ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Tokens,’ one can obtain the complete founding Legacy of the Sky Puppet Sect.”
Lin Baoqing’s words echoed above the Auction, like a sudden clap of thunder, leaving the Cultivators in the venue dumbfounded. Many stared intently at the ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’ in Lin Baoqing’s hand, shocked by the content of his introduction.
The Sky Puppet Sect, a Sect once renowned in the Cultivation world, though now vanished into the river of history, its prestige still lives on. Many had heard the legendary stories of the Sky Puppet Sect, knowing that this Sect once possessed unparalleled Puppet arts, as well as its Legacy treasure: the Sky Puppet Spirit Token.
“This token, this Old Ancestor wants it. I hope my old friends will show some mercy!” Just then, a Divine Thought transmission came from VIP Room No. 3, requesting other VIP rooms.
“Manager Lin, can you assure that this token is truly a ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’? There have been many ‘fakes’ before,” another Cultivator asked skeptically.
“The Sky Puppet Spirit Token has ‘reappeared’! Tsk tsk, I wonder what kind of farce will unfold this time!” someone exclaimed with a sigh.
“Forget it! Is a Sect Legacy something so easily coveted?! Chen will not participate in the bidding for this spiritual item!” someone else said dismissively.
Below the Auction stage, there was a bustling, continuous discussion. The Cultivators reacted differently, some were optimistic, some were not, some remained neutral, each with their own thoughts. But almost everyone was curious about this mysterious ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’.
Facing the reactions of the Cultivators below the stage, and the transmission from VIP Room No. 3, Lin Baoqing remained unconcerned, a calm smile on his face, and continued his introduction: “Indeed, there have been many fakes before, making it difficult to distinguish the true ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’ and causing many jokes.”
“However, to ensure the authenticity of this item, Wanbao Pavilion had it professionally appraised by over a dozen Spirit Appraisers. Furthermore, we specially invited Great Grandmaster Zhao, a Great Master of Puppets, to be present. He once personally witnessed the power of the Sky Puppet Sect’s Legacy treasure, the ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token.’ Now, he himself is here. If any of you still have doubts about this ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token,’ you are welcome to consult him.” Lin Baoqing added, his gaze turning to an elderly Soul Transformation Cultivator with silver hair sitting in front of the stage, gesturing.
As soon as he finished speaking, the discussions below the Auction stage abruptly ceased. Then, gazes from all directions converged, locking onto the elderly Senior Lin Baoqing had pointed to.
The white-haired Soul Transformation Cultivator slowly stood up and nodded courteously to his surroundings.
“This Old Ancestor, Zhao Kuangsheng, was once fortunate enough to witness the Sky Puppet Sect’s Legacy treasure, the ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token.’ Today, I will introduce it to everyone,” Zhao Kuangsheng stood in a corner of the Auction and slowly began, “This ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’ is the Legacy treasure of the Sky Puppet Sect, and there are eight of them in total. Each piece has its magical qualities. It is said that by collecting all eight ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Tokens,’ one can trigger the secret Legacy of the Sky Puppet Sect and obtain its complete founding Legacy.”
“This ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’ has many marvelous uses,” Zhao Kuangsheng continued, observing everyone’s reactions, “Firstly, holding it allows for precise control of a Puppet army. With this token, one only needs a thought to command the Sky Puppets to attack, defend, scout, and other actions. It has the effect of amplifying and dividing Divine Thought. One could say, this item is absolutely a Sharp Weapon for Puppet Masters to save effort and control Puppets.”
“Secondly, this ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’ contains a small Spirit-Nourishing space. By placing High-Grade Puppets within it, it can assist the Puppets in giving birth to a primal spirit and evolving autonomously. That is to say, through the cultivation of the ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token,’ a spiritless Puppet can become increasingly powerful and advance to give birth to a spirit.”
“Thirdly, this ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’ comes with a complex Puppet Illusion Array, which can be used to train Divine Sense.”
“Fourthly, this ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’ can activate a protective array. If eight tokens are gathered, the defense of this protective array will be doubled,…”
…
Zhao Kuangsheng surveyed the scene, eloquently introducing the many functions of the ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’.
Hearing so many functional introductions, the Cultivators in the venue became even more excited. The functions of this ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’ were indeed too powerful; whether used to control Sky Puppets or strengthen Puppets, it was incomparable to fakes.
“Senior Zhao, you are so familiar with the functions of this ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token.’ Could it be that this token was put up for Auction by you?” Just then, a voice from below the stage asked.
Upon hearing this, a complex expression flashed across Zhao Kuangsheng’s face. He sighed heavily and said helplessly, “This token was indeed put up for Auction by this Old Ancestor. I have had this treasure for a thousand Years, yet I have been unable to collect the remaining seven tokens.”
“Without obtaining the Legacy of the Sky Puppet Dao, the path of the Puppet Dao is truly hopeless. Now, this Old Ancestor has no choice but to cultivate other Daos. Therefore, I reluctantly sell this item, hoping to find someone destined for it.” Zhao Kuangsheng sighed with a crestfallen and helpless expression.
Zhao Kuangsheng paused, then continued, “The Sky Puppet Sect has been destroyed, and these eight ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Tokens’ have long been scattered among the vast populace. However, it is one of the components of a Dao Artifact, and it also involves the Sky Puppet Sect’s Sky Puppet Legacy. To see one of them here today can be considered a Heaven-Defying Opportunity. Fellow Daoists, if you are interested, you might as well bid!”
As Zhao Kuangsheng’s words fell, the entire venue erupted again. Everyone started whispering and discussing amongst themselves.
Seeing this, Lin Baoqing quickly spoke up, his voice spirited as he encouraged, “With Senior Zhao as a witness, there is no longer any need to worry about the authenticity of this token. Now is a rare Opportunity, Fellow Daoists, if you have the chance to win this item, you will have the Opportunity to obtain the Legacy of the Sky Puppet Dao!”
“Senior Zhao has had this treasure for a thousand Years, yet he still hasn’t been able to collect the remaining tokens. This shows that the difficulty of collecting all eight ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Tokens’ is by no means something ordinary people can achieve. Although this item is good, it is not destined for Guo!” A young Nascent Soul cultivator below the stage shook his head and retorted.
Another Nascent Soul cultivator beside him nodded and said, “Indeed, this is true. Although this item is good, collecting all eight tokens is almost impossible! We can only sigh in admiration.”
Lin Baoqing smiled slightly, not surprised by the reactions of these Nascent Soul cultivators. He said calmly, “Fellow Daoist, your words are mistaken! Collecting all eight ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Tokens’ is indeed difficult, but the Legacy method is even rarer. Opportunity is not always available. If one is destined to gather eight tokens and achieve something in the Puppet Dao, soaring to the sky is not impossible.”
Lin Baoqing’s words were like the breaking of dawn, an enlightenment that instantly cleared the minds of many Cultivators present, invigorating their spirits.
“Manager Lin is right. The path of Cultivation is inherently Heaven-Defying. If there is an Opportunity to collect all eight tokens and obtain the Legacy of the Sky Puppet Sect, then the future path might be different because of it.”
“Yes, after all, the Legacy of the Sky Puppet Sect has been famous for hundreds of Years. If one can obtain this Legacy, perhaps they can soar to the sky and embark on the Peak path.”
The Cultivators present whispered among themselves, many showing signs of being moved.
The atmosphere had been sufficiently brewed. This ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’ was not something these minor Nascent Soul cultivators or minor forces could covet. Lin Baoqing looked towards the VIP rooms and solemnly announced, “The starting bid for this ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’ is 200,000 High-Grade Spirit Stones, with a time limit of 200 breaths. Fellow Daoists, Seniors, please make your bids.”
As Lin Baoqing’s words fell, the atmosphere in the venue tightened. Everyone’s gaze focused on the bidding stage, on the Spirit Mirror displaying the changing bid prices.
However, the crowd in the venue did not immediately bid; instead, there was a moment of silence. 200,000 High-Grade Spirit Stones was not a small sum for the Cultivators present. Most Cultivators held an inexplicable caution towards this mysterious and wondrous ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’.
“210,000! Auction Order No. 83!”
“230,000! Auction Order No. 75!”
“250,000! …”
…
The price changed rapidly on the Auction Spirit Mirror. In just a few dozen breaths, the bidding price had doubled, breaking through the 400,000 High-Grade Spirit Stone mark. At this moment, both Lin Baoqing on the Auction stage and the Cultivators present were shocked by this frantic bidding atmosphere.
“Order No. 17, bidding 450,000! Is there anyone else bidding?! Only 60 breaths left!” Lin Baoqing’s excited voice echoed, like a grim reaper, making it impossible for anyone to remain calm.
“Order No. 3, bidding: 460,000! Is there anyone else bidding, only 55 breaths left!” Lin Baoqing’s face was flushed, and he continued to shout excitedly, urging the next bidder to appear.
…
Below the Auction stage, the Cultivators watched the soaring prices with wide eyes, their faces filled with disbelief.
“This kind of spiritual item is not something we can covet!”
“Indeed, alas!”
“The Sky Puppet Legacy, even if there’s only a slight possibility, the Opportunity won’t be left for us!”
The young Nascent Soul cultivators below the Auction stage murmured dispiritedly, their faces filled with disappointment. Looking at the fierce bidding scene, their hearts were full of helplessness and regret. For them, this ‘Sky Puppet Spirit Token’ was not just a token; it represented an Opportunity, an Opportunity to change their fate. Now, this faint Opportunity seemed to have left them.
In VIP Room No. 7, the moment the Sky Puppet Spirit Token appeared, Li Mu immediately couldn’t sit still. He held the bidding token, silently counting down in his mind, preparing to intervene in the bidding at the right time.
Time flew by, and in a blink of an eye, it was the final moment. Lin Baoqing’s voice once again rang out in the Auction house: “Last 10 breaths! Is there anyone else bidding?! The current price is Order No. 3, bidding 520,000 High-Grade Spirit Stones.”
At this moment, Li Mu finally couldn’t hold back. He took a deep breath and silently entered a price into the bidding token.
“550,000! Order No. 7!”
Seeing this bidding information, Lin Baoqing jumped in surprise, reporting the price with a trembling voice, almost a roar.
“Bastard!”
In VIP Room No. 3, a purple-robed Old Ancestor was furious. He had originally thought he was sure to win, but he didn’t expect a strong opponent to emerge at the last moment.
Soon, the bidding soared again.
“620,000, Order No. 3!”
“650,000, Order No. 7!”
…
In just a few breaths, the bidding price broke through the 650,000 High-Grade Spirit Stone mark, and it was still soaring. This number was already enough to leave every bidder present stunned.
“Who exactly is Order No. 7? What terrifying financial power!”
“650,000 High-Grade Spirit Stones! That’s enough to buy six decent six-tier spirit treasures. Is it worth it for him to do this?!”
“My heavens! Who on earth is this person, daring to go against the Ji Family Old Ancestor?!”
“So VIP Room No. 3 is the Ji Family! I wondered who it was!”
…
Time passed bit by bit. Watching the bidding price for the Sky Puppet Spirit Token soar to 650,000 High-Grade Spirit Stones in a blink of an eye, and Order No. 7 continuously suppressing Order No. 3, the participating Cultivators were collectively dumbfounded and discussed animatedly.
At this point, Lin Baoqing’s voice became somewhat shaky. He never expected Master Li to intervene in the bidding so aggressively, almost regardless of the cost.
VIP Room No. 3 housed Venerable Fallenwood of the Ji Family. The reason he cared so much about this Sky Puppet Spirit Token was that he also had a Puppet Dao token in his possession. However, what was the situation with Master Li?
Lin Baoqing tried to remain calm, excitedly continuing to report the price: “Order No. 7, 680,000! Is there any higher bid?! This is a Sky Puppet Spirit Token! An Opportunity not to be missed!”
“680,000, Order No. 3! Only three breaths left!” Lin Baoqing spoke extremely fast, his heart rate instantly accelerating. He nervously looked towards VIP Room No. 7. This price had already set a new record for Wanbao Pavilion’s Auction, but he was even more eager for Master Li to create another miracle.
Below the Auction stage, all the Cultivators held their breath, staring intently at the bidding mirror. In the final three breaths, the price battle between Order No. 3 and Order No. 7 would determine the winner. (End of chapter)
