Chương 131: Chapter 22: The Treasure Pavilion Auction

The following day, a crisp chime echoed within the cultivation chamber. Reyn slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a cloud of turbid air as a faint, ethereal glow flickered across his features. Sensing the surging vitality pulsating through his meridians, a sliver of satisfaction touched his lips. After a brief moment of stabilization, he rose, triggered the mechanism, and stepped through the heavy stone doors.

Hu San stood outside the courtyard entrance, his posture stiff and his expression etched with profound reverence. Ever since witnessing Reyn casually produce ten thousand low-grade spirit stones the day before, he had categorized Reyn as a scion of some clandestine, titanic sect traveling incognito. Naturally, he was determined to curry favor, hoping for even the smallest scrap of patronage.

"Greetings, Senior," Hu San stammered, bowing low. Reyn gave a dismissive wave of his hand, signaling for the man to rise.

"The task I gave you yesterday—what is the result?"

"Reporting to Senior, the situation is... not entirely favorable." Hu San stole a glance at Reyn's face, searching for any sign of impending wrath. Seeing none, he continued cautiously, "After you retired last night, I spent the entire night scouring every shop in Tianli City—hundreds of them, large and small. I inquired at every stall and warehouse, but none possessed the specific items you require." Reyn noted the man's haggard appearance and the bloodshot veins in his eyes, confirming the truth of his words.

Despite the effort, a pang of disappointment tightened Reyn's chest. Hu San hesitated, his eyes darting back and forth before he steeled his resolve.

"Senior, I have caught wind of a certain piece of news. I am unsure if it would be of interest to you?"

"Speak plainly. Do not mince words," Reyn replied, his voice cool and level.

"Yes." Hu San took a breath to steady himself.

"In three days, the Treasure Pavilion Auction House will be hosting a grand auction in the city center. While I cannot guarantee your items will be there, the annual auction is famous for producing rare treasures. Ten years ago, an Earth-grade Low-rank cultivation manual was auctioned off. The Blackwater Sect eventually claimed it for the staggering price of five hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones."

"An Earth-grade manual?" Reyn's heart skipped a beat, though his expression remained a mask of indifference. Three days? he thought. The timing is sufficient. It is worth testing my luck; perhaps the materials I need will surface there.

"Since a grand auction is imminent, I shall naturally attend to see the spectacle. Go and secure a seat for me." Hu San's face stiffened slightly, and he let out a wry smile.

"Senior may not be aware, but the Treasure Pavilion's auctions are not free to enter. Every cultivator must pay an entrance fee."

"The seating is tiered," Hu San explained.

"A standard seat is ten low-grade stones. A front-row premium seat is fifty. On the second floor, private VIP booths are two hundred stones, allowing a maximum of two people. The third-floor elite suites are five hundred stones, accommodating up to three." This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Reyn nodded. He was well-acquainted with such methods of displaying status.

After a moment of deliberation, he reached into his sleeve and produced twenty-five mid-grade spirit stones, placing them in Hu San's trembling hand.

"Secure a booth on the second floor. You need not attend to me for the next two days. Simply return when the auction begins to escort me." Mid-grade spirit stones! Hu San felt a jolt of electricity run through his spine. In his thirty years of life, this was the first time he had held mid-grade stones, let alone twenty-five of them at once.

"Senior, this... is this wise? Are you not afraid I might simply vanish with such a fortune? Moreover, you have given me five extra. A second-floor booth only requires twenty mid-grade stones."

"If you were the type to flee for such a pittance, then I have simply misjudged your character," Reyn said, turning back toward the inner courtyard.

"The extra five stones are your compensation for these three days of service." As his voice faded, the courtyard gates swung shut with a heavy thud. Hu San stood frozen for a long moment, casting a look of intense gratitude toward the closed doors. He pinched his thigh hard; the sharp pain brought a grin of ecstatic joy to his face. After a quick, paranoid glance around to ensure no one was watching, he tucked the stones away and vanished into the crowd like a lithe fish darting through a stream.

The Treasure Pavilion Auction... its scale seems significant, Reyn mused, sitting in the main hall with his chin in his hand. Perhaps I can truly find the materials for the Demon Corpse Puppet. However, the Ghost-Corpse Flower and the Golden Demon Diamond are exceedingly rare. Even if they appear, the price will be astronomical. If it comes down to spirit stones, my current wealth should suffice. But I fear they may demand a barter of equivalent value. Regardless, I must prepare properly.

He cataloged his treasures. The Seven-Leaf Crimson Herb from the Sealed Land could bring someone back from the brink of death so long as their soul remained. The Ten-Thousand-Year Myriad Water Lotus could cleanse one's marrow and elevate a spiritual root to the highest grade—even a muddy, low-tier root would become a Peerless Grade. Then there was the Ginseng Fruit, which could forcibly expand a cultivator's Divine Sense to their absolute limit, saving centuries of bitter cultivation.

Each of these items would trigger a bloodbath in the cultivation world. Not just Nascent Soul experts, but even the legendary Soul Transformation eccentrics would descend to fight for them. However, these were the core ingredients for the Reversal Phoenix-Fire Pill, essential for healing Yu Meiren's soul. Even with the White Jade Dragon-Whiskers Rice in his possession, Reyn refused to touch these herbs unless absolutely necessary.

As for the Dragon-Whiskers Rice itself, it was a divine artifact even in the Spirit Realm. In the mortal realm, it was a death sentence to reveal it. Until he had the power to protect himself, it would remain hidden. Therefore, he needed to refine something else for the auction. For the next three days, Reyn remained in seclusion. Occasionally, a refreshing, medicinal fragrance wafted from the chamber.

In those seventy-two hours, the sheer volume of high-quality pills he produced would have left any master alchemist utterly speechless. On the third day, as the morning sun tore through the clouds to bathe the earth in light, Tianli City erupted into a cacophony of noise. Thousands of cultivators converged from all directions, flowing toward the Treasure Pavilion. Hu San arrived early, waiting outside the courtyard with disciplined patience.

He thought of his daughter's joy when he had bought her the low-grade spiritual tool she had long desired, and how his usually cold-hearted wife had finally shown him a smile after he returned home with such wealth. Fifty low-grade stones were nearly half a year's income for him. His reverence for Reyn had now transformed into genuine loyalty. Seeing the hour approach, he gently pulled the red cord at the gate. The crisp ring of the bell echoed within.

Moments later, the gates opened, and Reyn stepped out, looking refreshed and formidable.

"Greetings, Senior!" Hu San bowed deeply. Without wasting words, he turned to lead the way, and the two headed straight for the heart of the city.