The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable
Chapter 291 - 290: Exotic Stone
The auction was in full swing, and soon, only the final three items remained.
"Everyone, the auction has now reached its final stage. The next three items are all among the rarest and most precious treasures in the world."
As Sunx Qing spoke, he pulled back the red cloth, revealing two secret manuals glittering with golden light on the table. These were the very manuals Qin Ya had sold, but the Four Seas Auction House had altered their appearance to make them look even more magnificent.
"First, for our first finale item... Top Level, Celestial-Tier Martial Skills!"
Sunx Qing’s excited voice exploded in everyone’s minds like a cannonball. The scene immediately erupted into an uproar, and countless people craned their necks to get a look.
"Holy crap, I can’t believe a Top Level, Celestial-Tier Martial Skill actually showed up!"
"Coming to this auction was definitely worth it."
"You know, a single Top Level, Celestial-Tier Martial Skill is enough to serve as the foundation of a major family. I bet even the Shangguan Family doesn’t have many of these."
"Buy it, buy it, buy it! We have to win this bid."
"Notify the family! Get the funds ready!"
"Damn it, I should have brought more Primordial Stones."
Inside the Qingxin Pavilion, Qin Ya took in everyone’s reactions. His expression was indifferent, showing no trace of emotion, as if he weren’t the one who had provided the two Martial Skills.
"Two Top Level, Celestial-Tier Martial Skills! The starting bid is one million, and each increment must be no less than one hundred thousand jin of Primordial Stone! The auction starts now. Place your bids!"
"Two million jin of Primordial Stone!"
"Two and a half million jin of Primordial Stone!"
"Damn! Four million jin of Primordial Stone! This belongs to my Li Family!"
The moment Sunx Qing’s words fell, the price shot up like a rocket. To some Martial Artists at the Celestial Human Realm, these two Celestial-Tier Martial Skills might not be that tempting, but to the Patriarchs of major families, their value was simply too great.
A family’s strength isn’t just determined by its top-level experts, but more importantly by its mid-tier members and younger generation. They are the future of the family. The effect of these two Celestial-Level Martial Skills on them was self-evident. If used well, they could definitely raise the entire family’s power to the next level.
In the end, the two Martial Skills were won by Shangguan Bei for twelve million jin of Primordial Stone, a price that was nearly the sum of all the previous auction items combined.
"What a pity. We really can’t compare to the Shangguan Family."
"Indeed. The Shangguan Family is just too big and powerful. The gap is too obvious."
"There are still two items left. I refuse to believe the Shangguan Family is really that rich!"
Sunx Qing smiled faintly. The auction house had acquired these two Martial Skills from Lin Liyu for ten million jin of Primordial Stone. Now, selling them for twelve million jin, they had made a solid profit of two million. This result was already quite good.
"Now, let’s bring out the second finale item."
Qin Ya wasn’t surprised that the Shangguan Family had won the Martial Skills, nor did he pay it much mind. All his attention was now captivated by the second auction item. He stared at it intently, his expression a mixture of shock and uncertainty.
"Ting Xiao, do you feel it?"
"Yes, I feel it." The Ting Xiao Sword at Qin Ya’s waist trembled imperceptibly and said faintly, "That aura is... Destruction!"
The second auction item was about the size of a human head. Its surface was uneven, and its edges were somewhat sharp, but it looked like nothing more than an irregular, pitch-black rock.
At a glance, there was nothing remarkable about it.
"What’s going on? This thing is actually a finale item?"
"The Four Seas Auction House has had a prestigious reputation for years. They wouldn’t deceive us."
"Indeed. Let’s see how Chief Sunx explains it."
For a moment, everyone turned their puzzled gazes toward Sunx Qing.
But Sunx Qing just smiled faintly and said, "The origin of this stone is unknown. Even our auction house’s Appraisers can’t determine what material it’s made of."
"However, what is certain is that this item possesses some kind of mystical power. It is incredibly durable, able to withstand even an attack from a King. This point alone is enough to make it comparable to some of the rarest Casting Materials."
"According to the item’s owner, it was found in a ruin that had been burned to cinders by a heavenly fire. There was no sign of life in the surroundings; only this object remained."
"The Four Seas Auction House has no intention of deceiving anyone. The starting bid for this item is one million jin of Primordial Stone, with each increment being no less than ten thousand."
Sunx Qing stated calmly. This price had been set by the Four Seas Auction House after careful deliberation. The Exotic Stone was exceptionally hard, even more so than any known rare Casting Materials. This point alone made it incredibly valuable.
After Sunx Qing announced the price, the crowd looked at each other. They clearly weren’t very interested in a stone of unknown origin, even if it was incredibly hard.
"Heh, if no one else wants it, then I will gladly take it."
Just then, a voice rang out. The crowd looked over and saw that the bid of one million one hundred thousand jin of Primordial Stone had come from that Elegant Pavilion.
"I remember the person in that Elegant Pavilion is Master Yun."
"No wonder. Master Yun is an Eighth-Grade Refiner. It makes sense that he’d be very interested in such a rare Exotic Stone. It’s only normal for him to bid."
"Heh, being able to withstand an attack from a King is quite extraordinary."
Inside the Qingxin Pavilion, Qin Ya took a deep look at the Exotic Stone, then said to the female attendant beside him, "Bid one million two hundred thousand jin of Primordial Stone."
Upon hearing this, the attendant immediately wrote the price on a placard, then held it high and walked out. Lin Liyu asked with some surprise, "What’s this? Young Friend Qin, you’re interested in this Exotic Stone?"
"That’s right. I feel that it and I are bound by fate."
Qin Ya smiled faintly. ’This wave of Destruction... If I didn’t possess the Mysteries of Destruction, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to sense the secret within this Exotic Stone and would have missed it.’
"I didn’t realize Young Friend Qin was a man who believes in fate."
Lin Liyu chuckled. He didn’t entirely believe Qin Ya’s explanation, but he understood that Qin Ya surely had his own calculations. He didn’t plan to ask any further.
"Huh? Tower Master Lin is bidding again."
"What is Tower Master Lin up to? He’s not an Alchemist, yet he bought the Muddy Water Black Lotus. He’s not an Artifact Refiner, and now he’s set his sights on this Exotic Stone."
"Tower Master Lin’s actions today are indeed a bit strange."
When the Artifact Refiner who had originally wanted to buy the Exotic Stone saw Lin Liyu make a move, he recalled the aggressive way Lin Liyu had purchased the Muddy Water Black Lotus earlier. He shook his head and gave a wry smile. ’Forget it. Although I’m interested in this Exotic Stone, it’s ultimately an item of unknown origin. And since it can withstand an attack from a King, it would be pure fantasy for me to think I could smelt it. I might as well do Lin Liyu a favor.’
With that thought, he laughed and said aloud, "Since Tower Master Lin is interested in this Exotic Stone, then I, Yun, will not compete with you. Please, be my guest."
Lin Liyu shook his head helplessly. ’Qin Ya is the one who wants all these auction items, yet all the credit—and attention—is falling on my head.’ It left him feeling utterly exasperated.
"You’re too kind. Then I must thank Master Yun for his generosity."
Since no one else was bidding, the Exotic Stone was ultimately bought by Qin Ya for the price of one million two hundred thousand jin of Primordial Stone. With that, it was time for the final auction item.
This last item was a Defensive Pseudo-Spiritual Artifact named Celestial Protection. Although it couldn’t compare to Qin Ya’s Scenic Landscapes, it was still an exceptionally rare item. In the end, it was bought by the Shangguan Family for sixteen million jin of Primordial Stone.
And with that, the auction came to a close.