The Wanbao Pavilion was adorned with lanterns and colorful decorations, with flower baskets and brocade clusters.
Manager Wang, leading a group of welcoming maidens and stewards, enthusiastically greeted guests from all directions.
“Immortal Master Ning, what an honor! Please, come in, come in. Xiao Wei, take Immortal Master Ning to Room 7.”
“Immortal Master Jiang, you’re finally here! There are a few Spirit Medicines at this Auction that are guaranteed to satisfy you!”
“Immortal Master Bai, long time no see! Please, come in, come in!”
“Young Master Wang, haha, you’ve arrived! There’s a Spiritual Artifact sword at today’s Auction that’s perfect for you!”
…
Wang Wenbao enthusiastically welcomed Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Family Disciples with notable backgrounds, making the scene incredibly lively.
Li Mu, with only a Qi Refining Seventh Stage cultivation, was a small fry like him.
It was already good enough that he could attend the Auction; he wasn’t within the scope of Manager Wang’s personal, condescending hospitality.
Li Mu showed the welcoming maiden the invitation token given by Lin Huirong, and then, led by the welcoming maiden, successfully entered the Wanbao Pavilion.
The main hall of Wanbao Pavilion had changed its appearance; all the counters had been put away.
In the tall and spacious hall, a half-zhang high Auction platform was set up at the front, with seating for over three hundred people below.
Rows of red wooden chairs were arranged, and on both sides of the hall were small private rooms, two rows high, with their windows open, allowing a commanding view of the Auction platform.
There were over sixty of these, presumably VIP rooms.
It turned out that the original design of the Wanbao Pavilion’s main hall was prepared for the Auction.
Once the counters and shelves were put away, it transformed into a large Auction room.
The seats in the main hall area were packed with people, almost all of them Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators, eagerly awaiting the start of the Auction.
Those powerful Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Disciples of Foundation Establishment Families were individually led to the VIP rooms, accompanied by young, beautiful, and graceful maidens.
Li Mu, arranged by a maiden, took a seat in the last row of the hall.
The view was less than ideal, but the Auction platform was set up quite high, so he could still see the Auctioneer.
At this moment, over ninety percent of the three hundred seats were filled, and Foundation Establishment Cultivators, each exuding powerful Spiritual Pressure, were successively led into the VIP rooms.
About another quarter of an hour passed, and then, “Clang, clang…” several bell chimes suddenly echoed melodiously through the hall.
The bell sounds seemed to carry a hint of Buddhist serenity, instantly calming everyone’s restless emotions, and the bustling hall immediately quieted down.
The next second, an old man in a white Daoist robe was seen descending from the air onto the Auction platform.
“Distinguished guests, welcome to the Auction held by Wanbao Pavilion.
This old man, Zhuang Gongxie, has been invited by Manager Wang to serve as the Auctioneer for this event.
There are countless spiritual treasures in the world; those with fate shall obtain them.
I hope everyone will open their hearts and participate in the bidding, and at the same time, act within their means, so as not to harm the harmony between us.”
The old man, with a kindly smile, surveyed the audience below and in the VIP seats, delivering his opening remarks.
“Thank you for your patience.
Without further ado, let us begin with the first item!”
As Zhuang Gongxie’s voice fell, the teleportation Formation on the Auction platform flashed, and five green porcelain Medicinal Pill bottles immediately appeared on the platform.
“To ensure the success of this Auction and to allow everyone to acquire their desired items, Wanbao Pavilion specifically collaborated with Immortal Master Wang of the Dan Grass Sect, asking him to refine two batches of Foundation Establishment Pills, and fortunately, we obtained five High Grade Foundation Establishment Pills.”
Zhuang Gongxie looked at the audience below, excitedly introducing the Foundation Establishment Pills in the Medicinal Pill bottles.
“Whoosh!”
As soon as Zhuang Gongxie’s words fell, the crowd instantly became agitated.
“High Grade Foundation Establishment Pill! The very first Auction item is such a Medicinal Pill; this trip was not in vain!”
“I want one of these Foundation Establishment Pills.
This is my last chance, I hope all Fellow Daoists will show mercy and not contend with me!”
“Heh! Who here doesn’t need one?! Yin, you’re not that important!”
“Exactly, this is Wanbao Pavilion, put that attitude away!”
“Hurry up and start! This old man is determined to get it!”
…
In the audience, the Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators all had fervent gazes, their tempers flared, wishing they could rush forward and snatch a Foundation Establishment Pill.
However, the Wanbao Pavilion had a profound background, and the Auctioneer had a Late Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, someone they could not afford to offend.
They could only honestly compete with their financial resources.
“The High Grade Foundation Establishment Pill, with its rich medicinal properties, is estimated to increase the user’s chances of Foundation Establishment by forty percent.
Fellow Daoists interested in participating in the bidding, please present your invitation token for the Auction.
This token also serves as the bidding token; simply infuse your Divine Sense and input your bid into the token to participate in the bidding.
…Due to time constraints, this bidding will be limited to 60 breaths.
Please prepare yourselves quickly.”
Zhuang Gongxie surveyed the entire hall and explained the rules for participating in the bidding.
Upon hearing this, the audience fell silent, and the Cultivators below the stage quickly took out their invitation tokens, infusing their Divine Sense to perform the bidding operation.
Li Mu, sitting in the back row, seeing this scene, quickly took out his invitation token and infused his Divine Sense into it.
The next moment, Li Mu discovered the secret within the token.
The bidding token was similar to a Disciple token, with a complex information Formation inscribed inside.
When Divine Sense was infused, a virtual white mist appeared, recording a string of information.
Token Number: 641
Auction Item: High Grade Foundation Establishment Pill (one)
Actual Bid Price: (Empty)
Bidding Time Limit: 60 breaths
Bidding Price:
Bid Token Number:
This bidding token was part of a special set of Spiritual Artifacts.
The internal information Formation was connected to a certain master artifact, allowing for real-time feedback of information.
Li Mu found that his Divine Sense could easily manipulate the white mist behind the “Bidding Price” to input his bid.
“The first Foundation Establishment Pill is now available.
Starting bid: 30,000 lower spirit stones.
I now declare: Bidding begins!”
Zhuang Gongxie announced loudly.
As Zhuang Gongxie’s voice fell, the bidding time limit immediately began counting down: 59, 58, …
The number behind the “Actual Bid Price” also appeared accordingly.
As the Auction began, the white mist behind the “Actual Bid Price” instantly flickered, soaring from 30,000 lower spirit stones to 40,000 lower spirit stones.
Before long, it was covered by the next number: 45,000, 47,000, 50,000, 53,000, …
The bidding quickly entered a fierce stage, and soon, the changes in the actual bid price gradually slowed down.
Zhuang Gongxie surveyed the entire hall, excitedly asking loudly: “There are 15 breaths left!
Fellow Daoist number 122, the bid is 60,000 lower spirit stones.
Are there any other Fellow Daoists bidding?”
“Fellow Daoist number 17 bids: 62,000!”
“Fellow Daoist number 99 bids: 65,000!”
…
The Auctioneer, Zhuang Gongxie, enthusiastically called out the bids, fueling the intense Auction atmosphere, making the scene incredibly heated.
In just a dozen breaths, the price of one High Grade Foundation Establishment Pill had astonishingly soared by 30,000 lower spirit stones, with the final bid price settling at 115,000 lower spirit stones.
“Congratulations to Fellow Daoist number 17 for successfully bidding on the first Foundation Establishment Pill.
Next, we will present the second Foundation Establishment Pill.
Opportunities are few, please cherish every chance!”
Zhuang Gongxie congratulated the successful bidder, then surveyed the entire hall and announced.
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the Cultivators below the stage all tightened.
