Chapter 2368: True Immortal Descends Heaven-Reversing Banner

"This main auction item is truly invaluable. Otherwise, I would never have dared to suggest that Lord Ming ask the four elders to emerge from seclusion," Hu Yushuang said respectfully.

"It's nothing. Just four or five days won't delay our cultivation. Hu girl, you don't need to entertain us old fellows. Please continue with the auction." The lean old man said with a smile, while the other three stood by expressionlessly, showing no intention of speaking.

"Please wait a moment, honored elders. I will auction off these three finale items as quickly as possible." Hu Yushuang replied, then turned and gestured to the three palace-dressed women.

Immediately, the three women stepped forward, walking to a spot about ten feet away from her, then stood still without moving.

The four elders of the merchant alliance instantly flickered, appearing at each of the four corners of the stone platform, where they sat down cross-legged.

At this moment, when the numerous foreign cultivators in the square saw the Helian Merchant Alliance dispatch four Mahayana grand ancestors at once, they were all greatly astonished.

It seemed the upcoming main auction items were indeed extremely rare; otherwise, such a grand display wouldn't have been arranged.

At this moment, after Hu Yushuang performed some magic, the light screen on the soft silver plate suddenly flashed and disappeared, from which she produced a small, hazy gray banner.

The banner was only about half a foot long, with a light gray pole. The flag itself showed no spiritual light, only a few faint, unknown yellow spiritual patterns inscribed upon it, making it look quite unremarkable.

However, the surface of the small gray banner was densely covered with seven or eight light silver talismans of various sizes. Yet, it still emitted strange fluctuations, causing the surrounding void to appear unusually hazy.

"I'm sure everyone here knows the reputation of the 'Chaos Myriad Spirit List'. This list records the most powerful treasures in a realm. Some of you fellow cultivators might even possess lower-ranked spiritual treasures from it. However, I doubt many have truly seen the higher-ranked Profound Heaven items with their own eyes," the woman said charmingly, her gaze sweeping around the square.

"Fairy Hu, are you implying that this main auction item is a Profound Heaven artifact?" a foreign cultivator at the Integration stage couldn't help but ask.

"Hehe, all of you fellow cultivators are intelligent. What I hold in my hand is indeed a Profound Heaven artifact, and it happens to be the ninth-ranked Heaven-Overturning Banner on the Myriad Spirit List," the woman chuckled, raising the small banner in her hand as she spoke.

"What? The Heaven-Overturning Banner!"

"Impossible! Hasn't this Profound Heaven artifact been missing for many years?"

"Years ago, this Profound Heaven artifact caused severe damage to seven or eight major clans on the Tianyuan Continent, and even led to the complete extinction of two smaller ones. I never imagined this treasure would reappear today."

Instantly, everyone in the square became extremely excited, and murmurs filled the entire venue.

Even most of the Mahayana grand ancestors in the dozen or so flying houses were inwardly stunned.

"The Heaven-Overturning Banner, I've heard of it before too. It's truly unexpected that such a treasure would appear at an auction. The Helian Merchant Alliance truly lives up to its reputation as a super-force!" Han Li muttered, a hint of surprise flashing across his face as he watched the woman on the distant stone platform.

As for Blood Spirit and Vermilion Fruit next to him, their eyes were wide with disbelief.

"May I ask a question? Is this truly the Profound Heaven treasure from the Myriad Spirit List? Heh, if it were, I find it hard to believe the Ghost Alliance would be willing to auction it off instead of secretly keeping it for themselves," said the Mahayana cultivator who had previously competed with Blood Spirit for the Golden Marrow.

"Senior has a discerning eye. If what I hold were the genuine, complete original item from the Myriad Spirit List, our alliance, even with our strength, would never dare to present it so openly. Setting aside other concerns, if even a few ancient True Spirits came knocking, our alliance would face endless troubles. However, my earlier statement that this is the Heaven-Overturning Banner from the Myriad Spirit List was not false," Hu Yushuang replied gravely, giving a slight bow.

"From your tone, this treasure seems to have some other specifics. Don't keep us in suspense; just explain it directly," another unfamiliar Mahayana grand ancestor slowly spoke.

"Yes, I will explain immediately. Although most fellow cultivators here have heard of the Heaven-Overturning Banner and are somewhat aware of its brief appearance years ago, few probably know that its true form is actually split into two—a Yin flag and a Yang flag. What I hold in my hand is only one half, the Yin flag. If this item is used alone, it can only display the powers of an ordinary Heavenly Spirit Treasure. Only when both the Yin and Yang flags are combined can they unleash the full power of a Profound Heaven treasure. Otherwise, our alliance would not have put it up for auction," the beautiful woman hastily explained.

"Split in two?"

"Yin and Yang flags?"

Naturally, the foreign cultivators in the square stirred once more.

Many people showed expressions of sudden understanding.

"So this treasure is only half of the Heaven-Overturning Banner. But such Profound Heaven artifacts are usually extremely sentient. Since the Yin flag has appeared, it's reasonable to assume the Yang flag should also have emerged. Does your esteemed alliance have any information regarding the Yang flag?" a deep voice inquired from another flying house where a Mahayana cultivator resided.

At this question, all the foreign cultivators in the square held their breath and focused intently.

Clearly, this question had struck a chord with them as well.

"Senior jests. If our alliance knew the whereabouts of the Yang flag, we would have acquired it long ago. Why would we auction off the Yin flag separately then? This Yin flag itself was acquired by our alliance quite by accident. As for the whereabouts of the Yang flag, we truly have no knowledge whatsoever. Now, I have finished my explanation. I will now demonstrate a small portion of this treasure's power. Although it cannot display its full Profound Heaven might, I believe it will be enough for all you fellow cultivators and seniors to discern its authenticity," the woman replied respectfully, then gripped the small banner in her hand and unfurled it with a shake.

The originally hazy gray banner immediately hummed loudly. Streaks of yellow light shot out from it, then gathered and solidified, transforming into countless small yellow flowers that instantly engulfed the entire stone platform.

The next moment, the woman's low incantation was heard from the stone platform. After a soft cry, all the yellow flowers began to spin rapidly.

The ambient spiritual energy of the entire grotto-heaven trembled, then surged wildly towards the stone platform, vanishing into the yellow flowers.

A tremendous "rumbling" sound suddenly arose.

All the yellow flowers glowed brightly, rapidly expanding and growing, then began to float and spread swiftly across the entire square.

In just a few moments, the sky above the entire square was filled with a world of giant yellow flowers.

The foreign cultivators below quickly swept their divine sense through these giant yellow flowers, and their expressions changed one by one.

Every single person could clearly sense the terrifying power contained within these yellow giant flowers.

What startled them even more was that the insides of these yellow flowers seemed extremely unstable, as if they could explode at any moment.

Just then, a cold snort emanated from one of the flying houses:

"Hmph, there's no need for further demonstration. Can't we old fellows tell if it's a Profound Heaven treasure? Besides, such an item is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Start the auction quickly!"

As soon as the words fell, a hazy green gale suddenly swept out from in front of that flying house.

Upon contact, the yellow flowers disintegrated and vanished one by one, with more than half disappearing from above the square in an instant.

"Yes, I will begin the auction immediately!" Hu Yushuang exclaimed, startled. She hastily shook the small banner in her hand again, and a peculiar ripple spread out.

After the ripple swept over them, the remaining yellow giant flowers flashed and vanished into thin air.

The woman's figure reappeared on the stone platform.

"The auction for the Heaven-Overturning Banner's Yin Flag officially begins! The starting bid is 300 million spirit stones! If you don't have enough spirit stones, you may bid with various treasures equivalent to the value!" the woman stated solemnly, shaking the small banner in her hand to restore its original dim appearance.

"Five hundred million spirit stones!"

As soon as the woman finished speaking, the Mahayana grand ancestor who had spoken earlier immediately made a bid without hesitation.

Most of the Integration and Void Refinement stage foreign cultivators in the square were immediately speechless.

A price of 500 million spirit stones was simply beyond what people of their cultivation level could afford.

It seemed that, like previous auctions held by the Merchant Alliance, these main items would mostly be claimed by the old Mahayana monsters.

However, in the Spirit Realm, power dictates authority.

Given that their wealth and strength were incomparable, these foreign cultivators, despite their reluctance, dared not show any signs of dissatisfaction.

"To think of buying a Profound Heaven treasure for just 500 million spirit stones, fellow cultivator, you must be jesting. I bid 800 million." A woman's charming laugh came from another flying house, instantly raising the price by more than half.

"Hmph, a complete Heaven-Overturning Banner would naturally be a priceless treasure, unobtainable even with spirit stones. But for a mere half that can only exert the power of a Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure, my offer is already not low. Since you, fellow cultivator, believe its value is greater, then I'll concede it to this fairy," the first Mahayana grand ancestor snorted, withdrawing from the bidding.

A silence fell over the other flying houses. Perhaps they were swayed by the words of the previous Mahayana grand ancestor, or perhaps they had other reservations, but for a moment, no one else made a bid.

The second bidder, however, seemed entirely unconcerned with others. After a light chuckle, she directly addressed Hu Yushuang:

"Hu girl, since no one else wishes to bid, shouldn't you announce me as the winner of this item?"

"Yes, I will ask three more times. If there are truly no other bidders..." The beautiful woman's heart tightened. She forced a smile and spoke.

But before she could finish, a faint bid of "nine hundred million" echoed across the square.

Blood Spirit and Vermilion Fruit in the flying house both looked at Han Li, who was seated, with surprise.

The bid had calmly come from him.

"Nine hundred and fifty million!"

"One billion!"

"One billion three hundred million!"

Han Li's bid seemed to awaken the other Mahayana grand ancestors. Immediately, a series of consecutive bids rang out, pushing the price up to 1.2 billion spirit stones.

Silence fell over the square once more.