Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

"With so many Spirit Stones, isn’t he afraid I’ll just take the money and run?" Song Changsheng said jokingly as he weighed the Qiankun Bag in his hand.

"He only agreed after learning your identity. He believes your reputation is worth more than these ten thousand Spirit Stones."

Song Changsheng grinned. ’If I were just a Loose Cultivator, I’d definitely choose the ten thousand Spirit Stones. But I’m a disciple of the Song Clan, the grandson of Song Xianming, and the son of Xia Yunxue.’

"Let’s see what he wants first." Song Changsheng took the Jade Scroll from the Qiankun Bag and pressed it to his forehead. What he saw was an unremarkable black stone.

’You could find stones like this by the hundreds on any roadside. Could it really be some kind of treasure?’

He asked doubtfully, "Can this thing really be put up for auction?"

Zhu Yiqun shrugged. "This is the clue that senior provided. He said that even if this item doesn’t appear at the auction, the Heart Protection Pill is still yours. Seeing how confident he was, the clue should be solid."

"Alright, then I’ll wade into these muddy waters." Song Changsheng made up his mind. After bidding farewell to Zhu Yiqun, he returned to the Treasure Hunting Pavilion to wait for the auction to begin...

————

In Liuyun Marketplace, although the six great Foundation Establishment Influences ostensibly held joint control, everyone knew that the Eight Directions Pavilion was the true behemoth.

After all, in the Purple Imperial Realm, Human Race Cultivators began their journey on the path of cultivation by Introducing Qi into the Body. They had to pass through several realms—Foundation Establishment, Purple Mansion, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation, and Refining Void—before they could ascend to the Upper Realm and become true "Immortals."

Ascension was a rare event; you could count the number of "Immortals" who had ascended from the entire Human Race on two hands. Of the legacies they passed down, only five had survived to the present day, and they were revered as the Five Great Holy Lands.

The entire Human Race Cultivation World was thus divided into five continents, each guarded by one of the Five Great Holy Lands. The Holy Land of the Southern Continent was the "Yang Clan."

The Yang Clan was the leading power in the southern region of the Human Race, placing them at the top of the Pyramid. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Below the Holy Lands were what people usually called top-tier influences. Only an influence with an existing Refining Void Great Power, or one that once had one, could be classified as such.

The Eight Directions Pavilion was one of them. Although they currently had no Refining Void Great Power presiding over them, their foundations were deep, and their shops were spread throughout the world. You could even find them in a remote borderland like Ling Province.

They operated in a wide range of businesses, with auction houses being one of them.

In Liuyun Marketplace, the Eight Directions Pavilion had used its profound background and formidable strength to crush all other auction houses, large and small, establishing a monopoly.

They stipulated that a small-scale auction would be held every month, and a large-scale one every three years. The so-called small-scale auctions involved accepting commissions from Cultivators within Ling Province and earning a fee.

The large-scale auctions were different. In addition to commissions from others, the Eight Directions Pavilion would also put up some of their own treasures for bidding. These items were of all types, a truly all-encompassing collection.

Each time, Cultivators from all over Ling Province would swarm to attend.

The one Song Changsheng was about to participate in, however, was just one of the monthly small-scale auctions. It wasn’t as explosive, but it also made it easier to be targeted.

Wearing the black robe Zhu Yiqun had given him, he arrived early at the auction house owned by the Eight Directions Pavilion.

The auction house was built in a magnificent style. It had three floors. The first floor was open to everyone, but entry to the second floor depended on one’s background or strength. For instance, the six major Foundation Establishment Influences of Ling Province each had a permanent private room on the second floor.

Song Changsheng could have entered his clan’s private box, but that would have drawn too much attention. He quietly found an inconspicuous corner to sit in and waited for the auction to begin.

He had just sat down when a figure, also clad in a black robe, came up beside him and asked, "Friend, is this seat taken?"

Recognizing the familiar voice, Song Changsheng froze for a moment. He quickly pulled the person into the seat next to him and said in a low voice, "What are you doing here?"

Zhu Yiqun chuckled. "I came to be your backup, of course."

"This is ridiculous. Don’t you know the risks? What are you getting involved for?" Although Song Changsheng was touched, he didn’t want his friend to get dragged into this.

"What’s there to be afraid of? No matter how powerful those people are, they can’t be worse than my old man’s enemies, can they?" Zhu Yiqun said dismissively.

Song Changsheng wanted to persuade him further, but in the next moment, the doors to the auction house closed. The auction was about to begin.

"Sigh." Song Changsheng let out a helpless sigh, resolving to remember this kindness in his heart.

BANG.

A gavel struck the podium with a crisp sound. The once-noisy hall instantly fell silent, and all eyes converged on the figure standing by the central auction counter.

She was a woman dressed in a light-colored palace gown. She had a graceful, curvaceous figure, and her hair was styled in a high bun. She possessed a classic oval face, with willow-like eyebrows above a pair of enchanting phoenix eyes that seemed to steal one’s very soul. A charming smile played on her vermilion lips, revealing her pearly white teeth.

Holding a small wooden gavel, she scanned the room and spoke in a delicate voice, "Thank you all, fellow Daoists, for attending today’s auction. My name is Su Rou, and I am your auctioneer for this event. It is my great honor to preside over this auction, and I hope to bring good fortune to you all.

I declare the Eight Directions Pavilion auction now open.

Now, let’s look at our first item up for auction. This is a Tier Two Low-Grade Magical Artifact on the verge of transforming into a Spiritual Artifact. The starting price is one thousand Spirit Stones, with a minimum bid increment of two hundred Spirit Stones. Let the bidding begin!"

The moment Su Rou’s voice fell, the hall erupted. A Magical Artifact on the verge of becoming a Spiritual Artifact—what an opening!

"One thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!" someone immediately raised their paddle and bid.

"I bid two thousand!"

"Two thousand five hundred."

...

Amidst the frenzied bidding, the price of the Magical Artifact was quickly driven up to fifteen thousand Spirit Stones. The price continued to climb, and it was finally won by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator on the second floor for twenty-three thousand Spirit Stones.

This price far exceeded that of a normal Tier Two Low-Grade Magical Artifact. The allure of a Spiritual Artifact was plain to see.

Starting with such a showstopper completely ignited the atmosphere. The next few items all sold for extremely high prices.

Song Changsheng also spent five hundred Spirit Stones to win a Tier Two Metal Ingot, but after that, he remained a cold observer, quietly waiting for his target to appear.

As the auction neared its end, Su Rou took out a small box. Opening it in front of everyone, she said, "Fellow Daoists, this next item was transferred from another auction house in the Daqi Kingdom.

After a joint appraisal by several of our pavilion’s Treasure Appraisers, we have confirmed that it is a treasure. However, as its value and origins are both unknown, it has failed to sell several times. The starting price for this item is one thousand Spirit Stones, with no minimum increment. Fellow Daoists, please bid as you see fit."

Her words surprised everyone present. After all, the Eight Directions Pavilion had never put up such an "irresponsible" auction item before. This couldn’t help but pique everyone’s interest.

Everyone turned to look at the dark object lying in the box...