Ophidian of the Immortal World - Chapter 80

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◈ Ophidian of the Immortal World ◈

Chapter 80: Auction

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The flying carriage was spacious.

There was enough room for dozens of people to sit comfortably inside.

Jegyeong and Yeon Jung-hyeok were inside, along with Yang Yohyeon, who had been busy dealing with various matters.

“There are a lot of people.”

“Cultivators from dozens of nearby islands have gathered here.”

As they drew closer to the auction house, more and more dots appeared in the sky.

Had flying not been prohibited within Stonewall Island?

When Jegyeong glanced at Yeon Jung-hyeok, he nodded as if he understood what Jegyeong was thinking.

“As I mentioned before, unauthorized flight is prohibited within Stonewall Island.”

So all those people had permission?

There were already dozens in sight. What did permission even mean at that point?

Then again, Jegyeong was riding comfortably in a flying carriage himself, so he had no room to complain.

“Are there any items you have your eye on?”

Yang Yohyeon asked.

“Hmm. There are a few, but I don't know whether I'll be able to obtain them.”

As a distinguished guest of the Spirit Talisman Merchant Association, Jegyeong had received the auction catalogue in advance.

It was a privilege available because the Spirit Talisman Merchant Association was one of the factions hosting this auction.

Thanks to that, Jegyeong knew the auction order as well as the items that would be offered. He had even been able to plan his bidding strategy beforehand, though he still had not finished planning.

There were too many things he wanted, while his funds were limited.

Before coming here, Jegyeong had thought he was rather well-off. But after looking through the auction catalogue, he realized otherwise.

He had been mistaken. Deeply mistaken.

There were far too many good things in the world, and most of them were expensive.

As a Great Demon Beast from some remote backwater, all he could do was look at those fine items and swallow his disappointment.

‘No matter how many Spirit Stones one has, it is never enough.’

How many of the items he had his eye on would he actually be able to acquire?

‘I’ll settle on rough priorities, then watch how things develop.’

Yeon Jung-hyeok and Yang Yohyeon both had extensive auction experience.

They advised Jegyeong that unexpected situations happened far too often at auctions, so planning too much in advance was not a good idea. They also taught him several useful auction strategies, including simple psychological tactics he had heard of in his previous life.

‘Even Immortals are people in the end.’

Cultivators accumulated cultivation and walked the Immortal Path, but in Jegyeong’s eyes, they were no more than aspirants to immortality.

No matter how miraculous their abilities were, they were still people swayed by their emotions.

“We have arrived.”

“Let’s go.”

The flying carriage stopped, and Jegyeong’s group entered the auction house.

There was no guide, nor did anyone block their way.

The Spirit Talisman Merchant Association’s name carried weight everywhere, but its influence was even greater on Stonewall Island.

Jegyeong knew that well. It was one reason he had chosen to attend this auction.

“This way, please.”

Everything had been perfectly prepared.

They did not encounter anyone else, nor did they have to wait.

They simply followed Yeon Jung-hyeok, and before long, they arrived at a spacious private room for distinguished guests.

“The auction will begin shortly. Please rest until then.”

Jegyeong sat in a soft chair and drank Spirit Wine.

He did not even glance at the light refreshments prepared in the room.

‘It doesn’t work.’

Jegyeong discreetly extended his Divine Sense, but it could not leave the room at all.

The same was true for his Spirit Awareness. Here, he could only grasp the situation through his eyes and ears.

He had grown accustomed to using Divine Sense and Spirit Awareness to sense his surroundings, so this felt as uncomfortable as a person suddenly going blind.

As he tried to calm that discomfort and turned his gaze elsewhere, his eyes settled on the cup before him.

His reflection was visible on its smooth surface.

More precisely, his eyes.

His vertically slit pupils stared back at him, full of ferocity.

‘Damn.’

Jegyeong closed his eyes in self-reproach.

He had thought maintaining his transformed state was no longer difficult. Yet the moment circumstances became even slightly unfavorable, he lost his composure.

He worried that he might lose his reason during the auction.

‘What will I do if that really happens?’

It was not a joke. It truly seemed possible.

What if he was diligently bidding for an item he wanted, only for some tactless competitor to keep following his bids?

The thought alone made his blood boil. Would he be able to maintain his transformed state in that situation?

Gulp, gulp-

Jegyeong drank Spirit Wine without end, then picked up a second gourd.

Yang Yohyeon and Yeon Jung-hyeok watched him, and their expressions gradually grew strange.

* * *

Jegyeong kept his eyes closed, calming his mind as he continued drinking Spirit Wine.

He had no idea how much time passed.

Then a clear voice ringing out from below woke him from his deep contemplation.

“I welcome all honored guests who have come to the Spirit Rock Auction. I am Jwa Yumin, the auctioneer for this event.”

When Jegyeong opened his eyes, he saw a beautiful middle-aged woman on the platform below, introducing herself with a picturesque smile.

He could not use Divine Sense or Spirit Awareness to determine her cultivation, but judging by her confident and relaxed manner, she was likely a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

‘At last, it has begun.’

Once he came to his senses, he saw that cultivators occupied every seat below.

More than half were Qi Refining cultivators, but there were also quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators.

“Then let us begin the auction.”

Jwa Yumin’s clear voice echoed through the hall as an item was placed on the platform.

“Spirit Silk Sand. It is a spiritual material with many uses. When mixed in during artifact refinement, it greatly improves a Dharma Artifact’s durability and allows it to withstand hotter earthfire. Bidding begins at thirty lower-grade Spirit Stones, with increments of one lower-grade Spirit Stone. Let the auction begin.”

The moment she finished speaking, bids began ringing out from every direction.

The price quickly rose to fifty, then passed one hundred and even approached two hundred.

Jegyeong watched the scene without much interest.

He had no interest in spiritual materials.

He could not refine artifacts, nor did he have much use for Dharma Artifacts. No matter how fine the material was, it did not appeal to him.

He simply watched the auction as it gradually grew more heated.

“A mid-grade Dharma Artifact, the Soul-Subduing Whip. Bidding begins at three mid-grade Spirit Stones.”

“A spiritual material, the Radiant Grace Tear. Bidding begins at two mid-grade Spirit Stones.”

The auction moved quickly.

In no time, more than ten items had been sold. Half were meant for Foundation Establishment cultivators, while the other half were for Qi Refining cultivators.

Stonewall Island might be one of the trade centers in the outer region of Yangseo Lake, but Foundation Establishment cultivators were not that common.

The cultivation factions of Stonewall Island might be wealthy, but they could not fill every auction with items that would satisfy Foundation Establishment cultivators. It had become customary to fill part of the auction catalogue this way.

“The Auspicious Spirit Pill. It is a Medicinal Pill that every Foundation Establishment cultivator has heard of at least once. It strengthens the foundation of one’s Dharma Power and can help break through bottlenecks. Bidding begins at ten mid-grade Spirit Stones.”

Some of the Foundation Establishment cultivators who had been sitting idly straightened up.

Active bidding immediately followed.

The price, which began at ten mid-grade Spirit Stones, doubled in the blink of an eye and continued to rise.

‘The Human Race cultivators’ obsession with pills and elixirs truly is severe.’

Watching the fierce competition, Jegyeong slightly furrowed his brow.

He knew the Auspicious Spirit Pill was a good item, but was it really worth paying so much for?

“Is the Auspicious Spirit Pill really that precious?”

Unable to hold back any longer as the price climbed to forty mid-grade Spirit Stones, Jegyeong asked.

“The bidding has become somewhat overheated.”

Yeon Jung-hyeok laughed.

“Most of them do not know what items will appear later. When something they need appears, they try their best to obtain it. If they let it go because the price seems high, only for the item they truly wanted not to appear later, then their trip would have been for nothing.”

Jwa Yumin called everyone who attended the auction honored guests, but the true distinguished guests were not gathered below.

Those casual attendees did not know which items would appear at this auction, much less when they would appear.

“But the Auspicious Spirit Pill is certainly a precious item. Most cultivators are so busy accumulating Dharma Power that they only realize the importance of their foundation after they encounter a bottleneck. By then, a Medicinal Pill like the Auspicious Spirit Pill becomes more desperately desired than most Realm-Breaking Pills.”

“That’s right. The value of an item is ultimately determined by demand. For cultivators who have encountered a bottleneck, price is not the issue.”

Only then did Jegyeong understand after hearing Yeon Jung-hyeok and Yang Yohyeon.

“Fifty-one mid-grade Spirit Stones. Fifty-one mid-grade Spirit Stones! Any higher? Fifty-one mid-grade Spirit Stones. Sold!”

The Auspicious Spirit Pill was only the beginning.

One after another, items that made Foundation Establishment cultivators’ eyes shine appeared on the platform.

There were a few among them that even Jegyeong wanted badly enough to regret his earlier decision, despite having already set his priorities.

“A Wing-Splitting Fish juvenile. Once it reaches adulthood, it is suitable for use as a mount. If bloodline reversion occurs, it may even become a Great Demon Beast.”

A large water tank was brought onto the platform.

Inside was a small ray with six wings. Perhaps it was terrified, because its eyes darted about anxiously.

“Fairy, aren’t you going too far? Bloodline reversion? Do you mean to say that even a one-in-ten-thousand chance is still a chance?”

“That is correct. One of you honored guests might be that one person in ten thousand, might you not?”

Mocking voices rang out from various places, but Jwa Yumin took them in stride with a playful smile.

“Let us not drag this out. The Wing-Splitting Fish juvenile starts at three mid-grade Spirit Stones.”

Despite the laughter before the bidding began, the Wing-Splitting Fish juvenile was quite popular.

It was not because anyone expected something as absurd as bloodline reversion. Wing-Splitting Fish were simply among the finest mounts available in Yangseo Lake.

They were not inferior to any Water Demon in swimming speed, could fly for a while if necessary, and had relatively long lifespans. Anyone who could obtain one wanted to.

“Twenty-two mid-grade Spirit Stones!”

As bids rapidly followed one another, Yeon Jung-hyeok and Yang Yohyeon secretly observed Jegyeong’s reaction.

They were worried that he might feel uncomfortable.

Yet Jegyeong’s expression was utterly calm as he watched the auction.

It was not an act. His heart truly did not stir in the slightest.

The creature imprisoned below was certainly a Demon Beast, one of his own kind.

But whether it was of his own kind or another species, it was still only a stranger.

Pity? Displeasure? What did any of that matter?

Instead, his eyes gleamed as he watched the Wing-Splitting Fish sell for such a high price.

If he had the chance, he intended to see whether there were any Wing-Splitting Fish in his waters.

One insignificant-looking Water Demon was worth that much?

‘I should find out whether there are other creatures that sell for high prices besides Wing-Splitting Fish.’