Chapter 1621: Appraisal

When Han Li emerged from the Fragrant Nectar Pavilion once more, many people on the opposite side had already begun entering the main hall of the auction house. It appeared the auction was about to start.

Seeing this, Han Li's expression shifted, and he walked over without hesitation.

The main entrance of the hall was nearly three to four times larger than the entrances of the two side halls, and the number of blue-robed guards stationed there was far greater than those at the side halls.

However, these guards merely maintained order and took no other actions.

Without drawing attention, Han Li blended into the crowd and entered.

As soon as he stepped through the hall's entrance, Han Li's eyes brightened.

Before him appeared a large hall with several parallel corridors. At the entrance of each corridor, a sign was hung, displaying remarkably simple ancient characters such as "Appraisal," "Pawn," and "Main Hall." Beside these signs, young attendants stood respectfully.

Han Li's gaze swept over these signs, and a hint of surprise flashed across his face. After a moment's thought, he strode decisively towards one of them.

"Appraisal? What does this mean?" Han Li asked in a deep voice, pointing to the sign beside the corridor entrance.

The well-mannered young attendant bowed and replied, "Reporting to senior, this is where auction items are appraised. If senior has any rare items, you may have them appraised here to be included in the auction."

"Oh, so that's what it is." Han Li nodded and, without further hesitation, walked into the corridor before him.

Although Cai Liuying had pledged to cover nearly half of the spirit stone cost for the super teleportation array, the remaining half was still an astronomical sum that he needed to secure himself.

Therefore, Han Li intended to follow his original plan and have the prepared items auctioned off at the event.

The corridor was not very long. After walking only a few dozen feet, Han Li turned a corner and found himself before a dark red door.

The door was wide open, but it was obscured by a layer of green light. In front of the light barrier, seven or eight other alien cultivators were lined up, waiting silently.

Han Li was somewhat surprised but composedly walked over and stood at the very end of the line.

With a flash of green light, the barrier parted automatically, and an alien with red hair emerged from within. His wide grin suggested he had encountered something good inside.

This alien ignored Han Li and the others at the entrance, walking directly through the crowd and excitedly heading out of the corridor.

The next alien, who was closest to the light barrier, then calmly stepped inside.

In this manner, in just about fifteen minutes, everyone in front of Han Li had entered and exited, a remarkably swift process. Meanwhile, four or five more people had joined the line behind him.

It seemed many people had similar intentions to Han Li, arriving just as the auction was about to start to submit items.

When another crestfallen alien emerged from the green light barrier, Han Li lifted his leg and entered.

Behind the light barrier was a large room, over thirty feet wide, illuminated by a milky-white glow. The walls were made of a grayish-white stone, its surface flickering with dense runes to ensure the room's secrecy.

However, save for a jade table and three wooden chairs, there was only a simple teleportation array in one corner of the room.

Three figures, shrouded in a hazy white light, sat on the three chairs.

Concealed by spiritual light, the figures' bodies and faces were indistinct, making it impossible to discern their true appearance.

Han Li instinctively swept his spiritual sense over them.

The three figures must have carried some kind of treasure on them, as his spiritual sense detected no aura whatsoever, making it impossible to gauge their cultivation levels.

Han Li's heart stirred.

The central figure spoke, her voice clear and pleasant, revealing her to be a young woman: "Fellow Daoist, if you have items for this auction, you may present them for us three to inspect. However, let it be known that our four-clan auction only deals in top-tier materials and treasures. For lesser items, please sell them separately in the side hall. Additionally, if you are dissatisfied with our appraisal, you may voice your objection immediately. We will then arrange for three different individuals to appraise them for you again."

"Thank you for the reminder, I understand," Han Li nodded, his expression unchanged. With a flick of his sleeve and a turn of his hand, two items appeared in his grasp.

One was a translucent green jade bottle, and the other was a pristine white jade box.

Han Li did not walk closer but simply tossed them forward. The two items seemed to be held by invisible hands, slowly drifting towards the three figures before gently settling before them.

The two figures who had not yet spoken unceremoniously grabbed the bottle and the jade box with one hand each.

As soon as the bottle was opened, an exceptionally rich medicinal fragrance wafted out. Following this, a faint dragon's cry could be heard from within, and a spiritual green light, full of vitality, flew out.

The figure let out a soft exclamation, quickly re-capped the bottle, and immediately swept out a sleeve. In a flash of white light, the green light was enveloped and seized.

He gazed intently at it.

Within the green light was indeed a greenish elixir, smooth and plump, inscribed with a lifelike silver dragon mark.

The figure picked up the pill with two fingers, gently sniffed it, and then lowered his head to meticulously appraise it.

Meanwhile, the other figure also opened the white jade box.

Inside, there was a verdant bamboo stalk, about half a foot long.

The figure first examined it for a moment, then touched the bamboo with one hand. With a crackling sound, a finger-thick golden arc sprang from the bamboo's surface.

"This is Golden Lightning Bamboo!" the figure exclaimed involuntarily.

"Golden Lightning Bamboo! Brother Daoist, please appraise it more carefully," the woman in the middle seemed equally startled, but she still urged him.

"Please rest assured, Immortal. I will be extra careful," the figure appraising the green bamboo replied in a deep voice, taking a deep breath.

Seeing this, Han Li smiled faintly, crossing his arms and remaining silent.

Then, the figure reached into his other sleeve and pulled out an ink-black gourd, only a few inches in size and exquisitely crafted.

The figure inverted the gourd's mouth, pointing it at the green bamboo in the jade box, and gently tapped the bottom of the gourd with one hand.

With a flash of black light from the gourd's mouth, a fist-sized cloud of black mist sprayed out, striking the green bamboo.

But as soon as they touched, a rumbling thunder roared, and several golden arcs flashed into existence again, instantly dispersing the black mist.

After performing these actions, the figure did not stop. He then pulled out an emerald green jar and released a stream of green mist from it, which was also extinguished by the golden arc emitted by the bamboo.

"Indeed, this is truly Golden Lightning Bamboo. I am certain," the figure exhaled slowly, stating with certainty.

"Good work! Fellow Daoist, how is the elixir appraisal coming along? Since it possesses a trace of spiritual essence, it must be extraordinary, right?" The woman nodded, then turned to the other figure and inquired.

"This elixir is primarily wood-attributed, with auxiliary earth and metal attributes. Its medicinal properties are already spiritual, suitable for cultivators of the seventh or eighth stage of the higher races. If used by a ninth-stage cultivator, its effect would be less than a tenth of its original potency. This elixir can certainly be classified as a first-grade item." The other figure had only been staring for a long time, and without knowing what methods he used, he precisely described the medicinal properties of this Soaring Dragon Elixir.

Han Li, standing in place, couldn't help but show a hint of surprise on his face.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist. Both the Golden Lightning Bamboo and these elixirs can be included in this auction. Especially the former; it is certainly worthy of being a highlight item. By the way, do those elixirs have a name? Also, I've listed a reserve price for you, please see if you're satisfied," the woman said, turning her head and looking at Han Li with a slight smile.

Then, without waiting for Han Li's reply, she raised her hand and quickly wrote something on a pale white jade tablet on the jade table with her fingertip, then tossed it to Han Li.

Han Li caught the jade tablet, glanced at it casually, and then nodded:

"These two reserve prices are acceptable. Anyway, I trust these items won't actually sell at their reserve prices. As for the elixirs, they are called 'Soaring Dragon Elixirs.' They were quite difficult to refine."

"Soaring Dragon Elixirs, good, we will auction them under this name. Fellow Daoist, please keep this jade tablet safe; it will also be the basis for settling spirit stones after the auction," the woman said slowly.

"I understand! If there are no other issues, I'll head to the main hall to await the auction results," Han Li clasped his hands in greeting to the three, calmly stating his departure.

"Farewell, Fellow Daoist! We three will carefully transfer the items ourselves," the woman replied with a smile.

Han Li nodded, turned, and walked back.

It was unclear which of the three controlled the room's restrictions, but without any visible action from them, the light barrier of the room's door flashed green and parted.

Han Li then exited the room, ignoring the others at the entrance, and unhurriedly walked out of the corridor.

The number of aliens in the main hall seemed to have increased, with a continuous stream entering the central corridor designated "Auction Main Hall."

Han Li did not hesitate and entered it as well.

Passing through a yellow-lit passage, Han Li emerged into a vast hall.

As his gaze swept around, Han Li's expression showed a touch of emotion.

This hall was not only astonishingly spacious but also divided into three levels: upper, middle, and lower, arranged within the venue.

The middle and upper levels were crafted from an unknown material; everything was pristine white and silently floated in mid-air without any visible support, appearing profoundly mysterious.

The middle and lower levels consisted of ordinary tables and chairs, each separated by only about ten feet. Only the uppermost level featured individual rooms of the same size, their surfaces flickering with spiritual light, seemingly imbued with protective restrictions.

Evidently, these rooms were reserved specifically for those with status and prestige in Cloud City.

Han Li merely glanced, then lost interest, withdrawing his gaze and casually finding a discreet corner to sit down.

He quietly waited for the auction to begin.