As the Elixir of Lucid Mind slowly disappeared beneath the stage, the atmosphere in the hall gradually returned to normal.
The brief state of ntal clarity that the elixir had provided dissipated, but the excitent among the cultivators remained intense.
Everyone knew that this centennial auction was only beginning to reveal its true treasures.
Hundreds of gazes once again turned toward the center of the stage.
Shan Mu waited a few monts, allowing the anticipation to rise again. He was an experienced auctioneer and knew that silence was often just as powerful as any speech.
Only when the hall was completely attentive did he open a small smile.
"Let us continue."
As soon as his voice echoed, the runes on the floor of the stage began to shine again.
Luminous lines appeared across the jade, forming concentric circles that rotated slowly. The spiritual energy in the hall rippled softly.
Then sothing began to rise.
The jade platform erged once again from the center of the formation. But this ti...
Even before the object appeared completely, several people had already realized what it was. When the item finally beca visible, an imdiate murmur ran through the hall.
i Li narrowed her eyes slightly.
Resting on the platform was a deep blue jade book.
It was thick and ancient, its edges slightly worn by ti. Spiritual symbols were engraved on its cover, emitting a soft glow under the light of the formations.
It was unmistakable.
A technique manual.
Shan Mu walked calmly around the platform before beginning the presentation.
"Ladies and gentlen."
He raised one hand slightly.
"This is the Silent Palm Manual."
The reaction was imdiate.
Many cultivators straightened their posture. Techniques were extrely valuable treasures, especially for sects, clans, and families.
Weapons could break. Pills could run out.
But a technique... could be passed down for generations.
Shan Mu continued.
"A mid-level Earthly technique."
Now the murmurs beca even more intense.
Kyrian watched calmly.
He knew exactly what that ant.
Techniques at this level were extrely sought after.
Shan Mu opened the manual slightly. A soft blue light escaped from inside the book, briefly revealing so of the spiritual runes engraved on its pages.
"Inside this manual lies a palm technique capable of attacking at a distance."
He raised two fingers, demonstrating the motion.
"Unlike common strikes..."
His voice beca slightly more dramatic.
"The Silent Palm produces no sound when it is released."
So cultivators frowned. Others imdiately understood the value of that.
Shan Mu smiled slightly.
"No sound."
"No warning."
"No perceptible vibration in the air."
He slowly closed the manual.
"A strike that can hit the enemy before they even realize the attack."
The hall fell silent for a few monts. It was a dangerous technique. Especially in ambushes... or assassinations.
Shan Mu continued calmly.
"The difficulty of cultivation is moderate."
That made several cultivators relax. So techniques were extrely powerful but almost impossible to cultivate. But moderate difficulty ant sothing different.
"A technique that can be learned by disciplined cultivators."
He then added,
"And more importantly... a technique that can be passed down from generation to generation within any force."
Now the atmosphere completely changed. Sects. Clans. Noble families. Academies.
Everyone began to beco seriously interested.
Shan Mu then raised his hand.
"The starting bid begins at twenty thousand dium-grade spirit stones."
He had barely finished speaking.
"Thirty thousand."
The voice ca imdiately.
And it did not co from the common section.
It ca from the VIP area.
Several people turned their heads.
"Thirty-five thousand."
"Forty thousand."
"Forty-five thousand."
The bids began to rise quickly.
Unlike the previous items, this ti the common section practically did not participate.
Everyone knew that competing with great forces for a technique was almost impossible.
Kyrian simply watched.
He had no interest in that technique.
But it was interesting to see how much the forces were willing to spend.
"Fifty thousand!"
"Fifty-five thousand!"
"Sixty thousand!"
The values rose without hesitation.
"Sixty-five thousand!"
"Seventy thousand!"
Now the dispute was completely between the VIP partitions.
Kai let out a small whistle.
"As expected..."
"Everyone wants to strengthen their technique libraries."
i Li nodded calmly.
"A new technique can completely change the strength of a generation of disciples."
"Seventy-five thousand!"
"Seventy-eight thousand!"
"Eighty thousand!"
The values began to rise more slowly.
But then...
A calm voice echoed from the third floor. From the private rooms.
"Ninety thousand spirit stones."
Silence.
The entire hall froze for a mont.
Ninety thousand.
It was an extrely high price for a mid-level Earthly technique. Everyone began discreetly looking toward the rooms on the third floor.
Who had made that bid? Murmurs began to appear.
"That voice..."
"Isn’t that..."
"It’s him..."
So cultivators quickly recognized it.
"Vice Director of the Cloud Academy."
Understanding imdiately appeared. Now it made sense.
The Cloud Academy was one of the most powerful institutions in the capital. Its collection of techniques was famous throughout the empire.
It was obvious that they were there searching for new techniques for their library.
After that bid... no one else competed. Not even the other private rooms.
Shan Mu waited a few seconds before speaking.
"Ninety thousand spirit stones."
He raised his hand.
"Going once."
Silence.
"Going twice."
No new voice appeared.
"Going three tis."
The hand descended.
"Sold."
The formation beneath the platform shone again.
The blue jade manual was enveloped by a spiritual mist and slowly descended into the stage.
The hall returned to murmuring.
But before the agitation could grow too much, Shan Mu had already raised his hand again.
"Let us continue."
The formation at the center of the stage shone again.
But this ti...
Sothing was different.
Even before the object fully erged, a strange pressure began to spread through the hall.
It was heavy. Dense. And carried sothing that many cultivators imdiately recognized.
Killing intent.
Then ca the sll. A tallic odor. Thick. Unmistakable.
Blood.
Kyrian imdiately narrowed his eyes.
Beside him, i Li straightened slightly.
Bai Zhu, Li Fen, Kai, and Yan Ling also focused all their attention on the stage.
They knew that feeling. It was impossible not to recognize. Energy of the path of blood.
Even before the item appeared completely, everyone already knew.
Most likely... that was one of the items Kyrian had co to obtain. The item that Dong Zhen wanted.
The jade platform finally finished rising.
And the object appeared completely. A crimson scroll.
Black runes ran across its surface like pulsing veins. The bloody aura was so strong that it seed to slightly distort the air around it.
Shan Mu looked at the audience with a controlled smile.
"This..."
He pointed to the scroll.
"Is a scroll belonging to an evil sect long extinct in the northern territory."
So cultivators frowned.
Shan Mu continued.
"Inside this scroll..."
He paused briefly.
"...is recorded a 6° rank blood formation."
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