Chapter 1760: Three Realms Island Auction

While there would be no further rental discounts after the first three businesses, Tang Jun promised the cultivators present that within five days, everyone could choose their preferred location on Three Realms Island. This filled the merchants who had made their decision with great anticipation. Even many cultivators who had only come to observe were influenced and decided to settle on Three Realms Island.

News from here quickly spread. Coupled with the arrival of the Five-Color Merchant Guild and the Chime Realm, countless cultivators from all corners of the Myriad Manifestations Sea rushed towards Three Realms Island.

It was clear to anyone with discernment that the rise of Three Realms Island was unstoppable. While the mere presence of the Five-Color Merchant Guild only improved the island's situation slightly and couldn't fundamentally change the landscape, the entry of the Chime Realm played a decisive role!

The reason these merchants previously dared not settle on Three Realms Island was their apprehension of Yuan Du. However, the Chime Realm was backed by the Sunlit cultivator, Jiu Yan. With Three Realms Island now connected to the Chime Realm, what was there to fear from Yuan Du?

The various incentives offered to the first three merchants who chose to settle on Three Realms Island were not the result of a discussion among the Moonlit cultivators of Three Realms Island, but rather Old Tang's spontaneous decision.

He clearly understood that Three Realms Island was currently attracting many small businesses and households. Although numerous, they lacked significant capital or foundation.

While small businesses were essential, large merchants were also needed. Old Tang aimed to use this opportunity to build momentum for Three Realms Island. As long as the island became lively enough, he wasn't worried that big merchants wouldn't come to settle.

It must be said that his decision was very wise. As the first batch of cultivators entered Three Realms Island, in just a short half-day, more and more cultivators arrived, making the commercial district of Three Realms Island extremely bustling.

At the ferry port, He Baichuan personally managed the reception. He also dispatched some of the island's own cultivators to guide the arriving merchants, allowing them to survey the island and discuss details.

In such an atmosphere, the large merchants who had received the news could no longer sit idly by.

They naturally recognized the vast future of Three Realms Island. Their previous inaction was out of respect for Yuan Du. But now, with Three Realms Island's initiatives and the influx of numerous small businesses, Yuan Du's prestige had been utterly trampled and shattered.

These large merchants naturally could no longer hold back.

The Five-Color Merchant Guild had already claimed the largest and most prime location on Three Realms Island. To secure their future interests there, they needed to enter early to select better locations.

After more than half a day, the first large merchant finally arrived, followed by the second, then the third...

Tang Jun continued to receive and negotiate.

In the council hall, Old Tang specifically brought Chu Shen to accompany him. It was a case of "seeing is believing"; although rumors were circulating that cultivators from the Chime Realm had arrived on Three Realms Island, the accuracy of this news still needed verification until they saw it with their own eyes.

Therefore, Chu Shen's appearance was essential. He didn't need to do anything but simply sit there.

Furthermore, when Chu Shen built Peerless Island back then, he had dealt with the representatives of these major powers, so he was not a stranger to many. A few casual conversations further solidified their understanding of the Chime Realm's stance, making them even more optimistic about the future of Three Realms Island. Nearly ninety percent of the large merchant representatives immediately decided to settle on Three Realms Island.

In a short period, Three Realms Island, which had previously been ignored, suddenly became the most sought-after location in the entire Myriad Manifestations Sea, attracting the attention of countless cultivators.

A few days later, a large number of merchants simultaneously moved onto the island, beginning to renovate their shops and prepare their goods.

Three Realms Island also announced that in ten days, it would be fully open. Cultivators would be able to enter the island to buy and sell goods. Furthermore, on that same day, the Five-Color Merchant Guild would hold a grand auction, inviting cultivators from all sides to attend.

Looking across the Myriad Manifestations Sea, the most renowned merchant guild was undoubtedly the Myriad Manifestations Merchant Guild. After all, it was a guild cultivated by local forces, and no other outsider could compare to it.

However, the Five-Color Merchant Guild also had a good reputation. When news spread that its Three Realms Island branch would hold an auction, it naturally attracted considerable attention from many cultivators.

To prepare for this auction, the Five-Color Merchant Guild mobilized many rare goods. They also compiled a catalog of these items into jade slips, distributing them widely to build anticipation.

Giant Blade Island.

The atmosphere on Giant Blade Island had not been good recently. Three months prior, Three Realms Island had marched on Giant Blade Island. Although no conflict occurred, under the opponent's coercion, Giant Blade Island had paid a huge price to make Three Realms Island retreat.

It was truly a case of "getting trouble without benefit." When the news spread, Giant Blade Island became the laughingstock of the entire Myriad Manifestations Sea.

That time, Giant Blade Island was extorted for goods worth twenty million spirit jades by Three Realms Island. Their spirit jade reserves were almost completely depleted. During this period, Giant Blade cultivators had to tighten their belts, having virtually no spirit jades to use for cultivation.

Although they had already sent people back to their home galaxy to seek material support, the round trip would take at least half a year.

This meant they would have to wait another three months before Giant Blade Island's situation would improve.

As for Zhao Yunqi, the Great Island Master of Giant Blade Island, he had been in a state of self-reproach and vexation for these three months. He regretted not having listened to Yu Huan's enticement in the first place, leading his people to Three Realms Island for a "tour." The result of that "tour" was simply too great a loss.

He also resented Yu Huan's uselessness. How could Three Realms Island have so easily taken down such a large island as Baiyue? If Baiyue hadn't been so vulnerable, Giant Blade Island wouldn't have been caught in the crossfire.

"Senior Brother!" someone called from the entrance. Zhao Yunqi, who was frowning, looked up and saw Mo Hong.

They did not originate from the same realm, but both came from the Giant Blade galaxy. Having been stationed in the Myriad Manifestations Sea for over a hundred years, their relationship was very good.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Yunqi asked casually.

Mo Hong handed over a jade slip. "The Five-Color Merchant Guild is holding an auction," he said. "This is the auction catalog they sent over. It has some interesting items."

Zhao Yunqi took it feebly. "There are many interesting things in this world," he sighed. "But how can we afford to participate in any auction right now?"

He opened the jade slip and flipped through it absentmindedly. He did see some items that piqued his interest, but as soon as he remembered their current financial hardship, he dismissed the idea of joining in the excitement.

It was better not to see good things if one couldn't afford them.

After flipping through a bit more, Zhao Yunqi's expression suddenly brightened, and he exclaimed, "Peak-grade Spirit Refining Pills... twenty bottles?"

He strained his eyes, confirming he hadn't misread. Then, still unsure, he looked up at Mo Hong, who nodded, confirming it was indeed twenty bottles!

"How is this possible?" Zhao Yunqi's face was filled with disbelief.

One must know that peak-grade spirit pills pose no burden to cultivators, are almost entirely free of pill toxins, and have immense medicinal effects. Generally, any spirit pill of peak grade is something extremely rare and hard to come by.

Even the most skilled alchemists cannot intentionally refine peak-grade spirit pills; only when fortunate might one or two appear in a batch of pills.

Therefore, these peak-grade spirit pills are usually collected by alchemists and only put up for sale when a certain quantity has been accumulated.

For instance, the Myriad Manifestations Merchant Guild had also auctioned peak-grade Spirit Refining Pills before. However, they never offered more than five bottles at a time; usually it was three, and sometimes even just one...

Twenty full bottles of peak-grade Spirit Refining Pills—what did that even mean? Zhao Yunqi felt that if he could acquire all twenty bottles of these peak-grade Spirit Refining Pills, he might even have a chance to glimpse the secrets of the Sunlit realm!

After all, at his cultivation level, any further breakthrough would involve soul cultivation. Unfortunately, he had made no progress in this area for years, relying solely on his own abilities.

He had also consumed some similar spirit pills that could enhance soul power. However, those substances contained pill toxins; the more he took, the more obscure his soul became, moving him further away from the Sunlit realm.

Therefore, seeing that this auction actually had twenty bottles of peak-grade Spirit Refining Pills, Zhao Yunqi's desolate heart couldn't help but stir with excitement.

After a brief moment of thought, he looked up at Mo Hong. "Junior Brother, I recall that fifty years ago, you acquired a handful of Heaven's Heart Sand, didn't you?"

That item was highly valuable. Mo Hong had always wanted to find someone to help refine it into a magic treasure, but unfortunately, he hadn't been able to gather all the necessary auxiliary materials.

Mo Hong immediately became wary. "Senior Brother, what are you planning?"

Zhao Yunqi smiled. "Junior Brother, we've been friends for many years, sharing hardships and overcoming difficulties together. Thirty years ago, when you were severely injured, it was I, your Senior Brother, who cared for you day and night..."

Mo Hong's face immediately fell. If he had known this, he wouldn't have brought the jade slip over!

The Five-Color Merchant Guild placed great importance on this auction. It was not just to build momentum for Three Realms Island itself, but also to create buzz for its branch there. Therefore, almost every spiritual island with some renown received an invitation and an auction catalog from them.

For this auction, the Five-Color Merchant Guild indeed transferred many rare goods. However, what truly captivated the cultivators were those twenty bottles of peak-grade Spirit Refining Pills!

Which late-stage Moonlit cultivator wouldn't need such an item?

Which mid-level spiritual island didn't have late-stage Moonlit cultivators?

Generally, items like these are rarely put up for sale because their own cultivators have a demand for them, let alone releasing such a large quantity all at once.

Therefore, for many qualified late-stage Moonlit cultivators, these were not just twenty bottles of peak-grade Spirit Refining Pills; they represented an opportunity to ascend to the Sunlit realm.

No one was willing to miss out!

After the Five-Color Merchant Guild's jade catalogs were distributed, the entire Myriad Manifestations Sea was in an uproar. Countless eyes converged on Three Realms Island, simply waiting for the day the auction would truly begin.

Meanwhile, in a bamboo building within the cultivators' residential area on Three Realms Island, Lu Ye's main body and his clone worked together, their expressions numb as they began refining the "Same Origin, Connected Branches" formation plates.

With his current Moonlit cultivation, refining these items was effortless. With abundant materials, he repeatedly crafted the formation plates, one after another.

Although the situation for Three Realms Island had completely opened up, and they would not lack income in the future as long as they maintained the current state, both Old Tang and Luan Xiao'e felt that Three Realms Island should have its own business ventures, rather than simply relying on rental income from shops.

Therefore, after a Moonlit cultivators' council meeting, Three Realms Island decided to open two of its own shops.