Chapter 328: Flowing Bid

The mysterious Golden Core cultivator’s voice paused, then spoke with a seductive tone: "The Ziwei Palace is the most enigmatic immortal mansion deep within the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, a sacred place that even Nascent Soul cultivators cannot afford to miss. Countless Core Formation cultivators have racked their brains just to acquire a single Ziwei Secret Talisman. The preciousness of the treasures within can only be imagined. If any of you are interested in entering the Ziwei Palace for treasure, now is the best opportunity. Miss this Ziwei Secret Talisman from me, and finding another one later won't be so easy. You must understand, your cultivation is not yet at the Core Formation stage. Even if you come from a prestigious sect, Nascent Soul patriarchs cannot guarantee your entry into the Ziwei Palace. You must obtain a Ziwei Secret Talisman to ensure a foolproof entry. The last time the Ziwei Palace appeared, I was merely a Qi Condensation cultivator. I still vividly recall the stir caused by the Ziwei Secret Talisman back then!"

As he spoke, the mysterious Golden Core cultivator’s voice was filled with reminiscence and emotion.

Silence fell over the grand hall.

No one doubted the mysterious Golden Core cultivator's words. After all, this was an auction organized by Yinshan Pass, held openly for all to see. Yinshan Pass would not risk its reputation by colluding with a Golden Core cultivator to lie. The key question was, from the mysterious Golden Core cultivator's description alone, it was clear the item was exceptionally precious, but at what price would he sell it? Furthermore, could truly better treasures be obtained by paying such a high price for what seemed like an admission ticket? It probably wasn't that simple.

If Ziwei Palace was truly such a treasure trove, why was this mysterious Golden Core cultivator auctioning it off?

Qin Sang, however, was thinking of his own 'parchment'. If it also happened to be a Ziwei Secret Talisman, then it was no wonder his previous attempts to activate it had yielded no results. Just as the mysterious Golden Core cultivator had stated, only when signs of a spiritual tide appeared, signaling the imminent opening of Ziwei Palace, would the secret talismans emerge, subsequently sparking a struggle for qualification. He hadn't realized his 'parchment' held such a secret; it had been sitting in a corner of his mustard seed pouch, untested since he arrived at the Ancient Immortal Battlefield.

A wave of whispers rippled through the hall.

The Taoist priest who had won the Golden Water Formation asked cautiously: "To my knowledge, those who have historically explored Ziwei Palace have always been Nascent Soul patriarchs and Core Formation seniors. Even so, many seniors have perished within. It stands to reason that Ziwei Palace must be fraught with countless dangers. For us Foundation Establishment cultivators, even if we were to enter, it would likely be a near-certain death. Who among us would dare to covet the treasures within Ziwei Palace?"

The Taoist priest's words clarified everyone's doubts.

Ziwei Palace was undoubtedly an extremely perilous place. Even Nascent Soul and Core Formation cultivators could not guarantee their absolute safety, so for Foundation Establishment cultivators, entering would be suicide. Instantly, everyone's enthusiasm waned significantly.

The mysterious Golden Core cultivator, however, was remarkably patient. He didn't get angry, merely chuckling lightly.

"Indeed, few Foundation Establishment cultivators have entered Ziwei Palace in the past, but there have been some. Having cultivated to this realm, surely you understand the principle of seeking fortune amidst danger? If you wish for smooth sailing and rapid cultivation advancement, where in this world can such good fortune be found? Within Ziwei Palace, there are countless supreme treasures that can defy fate and fundamentally transform a person. Thousands of years ago, a cultivator at the False Core stage successfully formed a Nascent Soul less than a century after emerging from Ziwei Palace. Moreover, if you encounter bottlenecks in your cultivation, the miraculous elixirs and threshold-breaking secret arts that you couldn't find even if you scoured the heavens and the underworld can only be discovered within Ziwei Palace. To live an ordinary life, or to fight with all your might—I believe you can all weigh the options for yourselves."

A hush fell over the hall once more, and everyone appeared to be deep in thought.

The mysterious Golden Core cultivator said no more. Gao Yi, having received instructions, announced loudly: "One Ziwei Secret Talisman! The senior has set the reserve price: one Dharma treasure, even if it is incomplete, with no restrictions on its type!"

A collective gasp swept through the room. Everyone drew a sharp breath. They had anticipated a high price, but no one had expected it to be a Dharma treasure!

Several individuals who had been swayed by the mysterious Golden Core cultivator's enticing words and were considering a bid were immediately deterred by this price. Not even all Core Formation cultivators possessed Dharma treasures, especially those who had recently broken through to that stage, most of whom were striving to acquire their first Natal Dharma treasure. How much more so for the Foundation Establishment cultivators present.

Moreover, on one side was an ethereal opportunity, and on the other, an incomparably precious Dharma treasure. Everyone could discern which held greater weight. Even those who possessed Dharma treasures would not exchange them! Even a damaged Dharma treasure was far easier to repair than to forge a new one from scratch. As long as one successfully formed a core, they would soon possess a Dharma treasure—this temptation was far greater than anything offered by Ziwei Palace. Only if their path forward was entirely without hope, and they were willing to stake everything, would they choose to make such an exchange.

Qin Sang leaned back in his chair, relaxing. He possessed the Ten Directions Yama Banner and the Hunyuan Concentric Rings, which counted as two Dharma treasures, but both were unspeakable secrets, and there was no need for him to exchange them. Furthermore, even if his 'parchment' was indeed a genuine Ziwei Secret Talisman, he would still need to return to his sect and thoroughly investigate Ziwei Palace before making any decisions. The mysterious Golden Core cultivator's words were evasive, containing many inaccuracies, suggesting Ziwei Palace was certainly not simple. If the potential rewards did not outweigh the risks, there would be no need to gamble his life.

If a Ziwei Secret Talisman was truly worth a Dharma treasure, then perhaps... Qin Sang stroked his chin, his thoughts drifting elsewhere, no longer paying attention to the auction. This Ziwei Secret Talisman was likely to go unsold, and he wondered if there would be any fool to bid on it.

As Qin Sang had expected, Gao Yi continued to hawk the item for a while like a street vendor, but no one made a bid. Ultimately, he had no choice but to declare the Ziwei Secret Talisman unsold.

"It seems I'll have to stay in Yinshan Pass for a few more days," the mysterious Golden Core cultivator said with a chuckle, retrieving the Ziwei Secret Talisman. There was no hint of disappointment in his voice over the item going unsold.

Qin Sang suddenly understood. The mysterious Golden Core cultivator had likely never intended for the Ziwei Secret Talisman to be auctioned off at this point. Instead, he was using this method to spread news of the talisman, attracting powerful individuals. His true objective was the upcoming Core Formation cultivator's auction! Of course, if it had actually sold, trading one Ziwei Secret Talisman for a Dharma treasure would still have been a gain for him.

"What an old fox," Qin Sang cursed inwardly. Hearing Gao Yi announce the end of the auction, he immediately rose from his seat, pushed through the crowd, and headed towards the darkness.

Along the way, Qin Sang's ears buzzed with numerous spiritual messages from people hoping he would part with his Soul-Guiding Grass, offering decent prices. However, Qin Sang refused them all.

Upon entering the dark area, Qin Sang immediately changed into a new set of spell robes and a mask, completely altering his appearance. He then meticulously checked himself to ensure no one had left any marks on him before stepping out. After emerging from the darkness, Qin Sang noticed that most other attendees had done the same, each looking completely unfamiliar.

Some chose to leave the stone island immediately, while most others intended to stay for a few more days. The crowd dispersed into the streets. Qin Sang walked discreetly, found no one trailing him, and then sought another opportunity to change his attire again.

Related:Cultivation Novel