Becoming a Saint by Touching Corpses - Chapter 396 - 394: The Auction
Chapter 396: Chapter 394: The Auction
The opportunity quickly came to Lou Yi.
In the dead of night, the frustrated Elder Thirteen went straight to the room to pick someone, and the sounds of obvious merriment echoed through the inner courtyard.
At this moment, Sun Protector’s room was also in the midst of passion.
Lou Yi silently came to the door, poked a hole in the window paper, and saw a somewhat eye-catching scene.
His heart was as calm as a still well.
A dozen silver needles flew from his hand, precisely piercing the Fengchi acupoints on the necks, Baihui acupoints on the tops of the heads, and Sanjiao acupoints behind the ears of the two people inside.
Inside, there was suddenly no sound.
Lou Yi’s martial arts mastery over the body’s acupoints could be described as perfect.
Any cultivators below Foundation Establishment could not escape his stealthy attack.
He entered the room and opened Sun Protector’s storage bag to find it contained as many as fifty to sixty dark thunder amulets, twice the number of people present!
“How fortuitous!” Lou Yi’s eyes lit up.
He thought for a moment and took half, leaving the other half for the other party.
Simultaneously, the Blood Shadow flew from his hand, devouring the powdered youth leaving no trace.
A few breaths later, the “powdered youth” quietly exited the room again, very cautiously.
But he happened to pass through the room where people were playing cards, and was seen by many.
Subsequently, he walked out of the courtyard and never returned.
When Sun Protector woke up, he was furious to find that half of his dark thunder amulets were gone.
From others’ words, he learned that the powdered youth snuck outside.
It was clear, the powdered youth had stolen his dark thunder amulets and fled to some unknown place.
Another day passed, finally arriving at the day of the auction.
Early morning, Elder Thirteen came to the courtyard again and gathered everyone.
“Are you ready?” Elder Thirteen asked coldly.
At this moment, she was entirely wrapped up, her aura chilly, as if she had become a different person from yesterday.
Sun Protector, afraid to incur her anger, dared not mention that half of the dark thunder amulets were missing, so he swallowed his grievances and nodded silently.
A group of evil cultivators then hurried toward Qinglong Villa.
Qinglong Villa, located at the southeastern corner of He City, nestled within the mountainside of the several hundred foot-tall Qinglong Mountain.
The outside wall of the villa entrance was built with red stone, standing over ten feet high, with the surface weathered into numerous cracks and small holes, showing its long history.
Inside, the buildings were all constructed against the mountain, featuring flying eaves and blue tiles, with various pavilions and towers stretching toward the mountaintop.
The auction was held at the highest point.
The mountainside was buzzing with activity as many local vendors came to set up stalls, selling pancakes, cleaned fruits, and even many veils.
The entrance of the villa was heavily guarded, with over a dozen men armored and sword-wielding, their expressions cold, vigilantly watching the surroundings.
Only those with tickets could ascend.
Tickets were either gifted by Qinglong Villa or available for purchase in advance, having long sold out.
Lou Yi and over thirty others used the name “Sun Chamber of Commerce.”
Sun Protector showed the guards the tickets they bought in advance, allowing them to proceed up the mountain unimpeded.
Upon reaching the top, they found the central area had been hollowed out, revealing wide stairs leading downward.
The lowest layer consisted of a large smooth white stone platform, used for the auction, with numerous faint black lines etched in its center.
The higher stairs had many mats uniformly placed for guests to sit, quite simple.
The closest circle to the auction site was comprised of over ten closed stone room boxes, each accommodating more than ten people.
Three sides of the windows were covered with curtains, with only one side open facing the auction site, close enough to allow clear viewing for guests.
This setup reminded Lou Yi of some concert halls he had seen in his previous life.
In the closed stone room boxes, a small number of shadows could be seen moving inside.
It’s uncertain if among those present there were members of the Wang Family.
Lou Yi operated the Yellow Extreme Breathing Technique, as purplish-red true strength entered his eyes, fully opening his eye acupoints.
The world before him transformed into a lifeless, bleak gray.
While the active people on site jumped with red and yellow glows symbolizing vitality.
However, after observing for a moment, Lou Yi couldn’t help but frown.
A cultivator’s Qi-blood was generally stronger than ordinary people.
But there were too many martial artists present, some had Qi-blood comparable to cultivators, and some even stronger, which greatly interfered with Lou Yi’s judgment.
If the Wang Family concealed their cultivation and appearance, it was challenging to pinpoint them amidst the many people wearing masks and veils.
The evil cultivators from Yellow Springs did not go to the downstairs boxes, instead they gathered at the highest point, sitting on mats.
By doing so, they could attack from a high to low position, gaining a geographical advantage.
If the situation turned unfavorable, being nearest the exit made escape convenient.
“Once the Wind Riding Fruit is auctioned, we’ll start the action and take them out!” Sun Protector conveyed to the group.
Excited by the words, the evil cultivators became eager, readying themselves.
As time passed, other factions and wandering practitioners gradually entered.
A group of guards in golden armor, wielding long spears, escorted a middle-aged man in red official attire with a commanding presence.
Seeing this man, many present greeted him, all calling him ’City Lord’.
This man was the esteemed He City Lord, especially attending to support the Gu Family.
A group wearing blue robes, tall crowns, with aloof and independent demeanors, appeared indifferent and avoided interactions with common people.
Through others’ conversations, Lou Yi learned they were from the cultivation family Zhen in neighboring Zhen City.
That a city was named after a family’s surname indicated their significant influence.
The strongest among the Zhen Family had also reached the peak of Qi Refining, just one step away from Foundation Establishment.
A scholarly-dressed, long-haired man, appearing in his thirties, with bright eyes came into view.
His arrival caused quite a stir, with many wandering practitioners at the scene greeting him warmly.
“It’s Li Jiawei, the most promising wandering practitioner in the Zhao Kingdom to advance to Foundation Establishment.
He even once escaped from a Foundation Establishment cultivator, his strength is no less than the top great sect inheritors!”
Lou Yi glanced at him and unexpectedly felt a hint of threat.
This person was undoubtedly the strongest Qi Cultivator he had ever seen, comparable to the number one Qi Cultivator of the Corpse-Driving Sect, Qiu Shaojie.
The number of people entering continued to grow, and soon the auction venue was filled to capacity.
“You must have eaten a bear’s heart and a leopard’s guts to dare sneak in, treating our Azure Dragon Villa as your backyard? Now let’s take you to the dungeon!”
“Spare me, my lord, spare me!”
Before the auction officially started, a noisy commotion could be heard outside.
Lou Yi listened and couldn’t help but shake his head.
Someone didn’t buy a ticket to the auction and somehow snuck in privately.
Unfortunately, they got caught by the villa’s guards outside and were to be taken to the dungeon.
On the spacious white stone platform below, seven or eight men and women dressed differently had unknowingly appeared.
The elder at the helm appeared to be in his sixties or seventies, with graying hair, a tall stature, and dressed in black brocade clothing.
His aura was extremely obscure, difficult to discern or measure.
Yet it made the Thirteenth Elder take him seriously; it was none other than the Patriarch of the Gu family, a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator.
The Patriarch of the Gu family smilingly said, “I, Gu, am honored that you all can attend our Azure Dragon Villa’s auction.
The items up for auction today total twenty-three, guaranteed to be exquisite!”
With that said, he waved his hand, and a streak of light flashed.
The black lines on the ground began to flow quickly, followed by a rumbling sound.
A small emerald-colored platform made entirely of glazed glass slowly rose from the ground.
At the center of the platform was a dazzling armor assembled from countless red metal fragments, appearing extraordinary at a glance.
A circle of fist-sized red pearls was inlaid around the platform.
Each shone brightly, projecting into the air, forming a large colorful projection.
The armor’s detailed features, including the array patterns engraved on the metal pieces and the golden threads connecting them, were clearly visible.
A beautiful female cultivator with a veil and a charming figure stepped forward, laughing lightly, she introduced:
“The Upper-Grade Defensive Magical Artifact Fire Glass Armor, made of sturdy fire glass, can integrate into the body after refining and automatically cover the wearer’s body during danger. Ordinary Upper-Grade attack magical artifacts are hard to break it.
It also contains a Pure Array, beneficial for auxiliary cultivation…
The consignor does not accept gold or silver, only Qi Absorption Pills, Spirit Stones, or equivalent Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures from great sects, with a starting bid of ten bottles of Qi Absorption Pills.”
The first item in the auction was an Upper-Grade Defensive Magical Artifact, immediately causing quite a stir at the scene.
Due to the difficulty of crafting, defensive magical artifacts are inherently more precious than attack magical artifacts.
Upper-Grade defensive magical artifacts are gems among them, rarely seen, and always cause a scramble whenever they appear.
This defensive magical artifact also included a Pure Array, making it even rarer.
Sure enough, the atmosphere at the scene became heated, with cultivators eagerly raising their bids.
“Ten bottles of Qi Absorption Pills!”
“Fifteen bottles!”
“I’ll offer twenty bottles!”
Qi Absorption Pills, due to their ability to increase cultivation, are often used as currency in the Cultivation Realm, with everyone keeping a good supply on hand.
As the auction began, Azure Dragon Villa decided to seal the venue, surrounding the entrance with many guards to ensure the auction process wouldn’t be disturbed.
However, at that moment, the eagle in Lou Yi’s mind let out an urgent cry.
Sitting not far beside him, the Thirteenth Elder’s expression suddenly changed, and he looked up.
Above the open-air auction site, a yellow banana-leaf magical artifact the size of a small boat suddenly appeared.
Standing on the magical artifact was a stocky middle-aged man, his eyes as sharp as a hawk’s, gazing icily at those below.
Although he had changed his appearance, the familiar physique and eyes made Lou Yi’s heart freeze.
It’s Elder Wang!
He unexpectedly revealed himself flamboyantly just as the auction began.
Completely unlike what Lou Yi expected, that he would appear only when the Wind Riding Fruit started bidding.
The disguised Elder Wang suddenly took out an ancient-looking bronze lamp.
As the ghostly green flame on the bronze lamp lit up, an invisible wave swept over everyone below.
“Ah!”
Two people at the scene couldn’t restrain their Spiritual Power, their auras surging visibly.
A group of armored guards immediately rushed towards them, escorting the two anomalous individuals out of the auction venue.
Lou Yi’s own Spiritual Power also fluctuated, the Profound Yin Technique spontaneously activated.
Fortunately, he forcefully suppressed it with True Strength, and with the Disguise Talent, he didn’t explode immediately.
’This bronze lamp can expose those who have practiced the Profound Yin Technique.’ Lou Yi’s expression turned somewhat grim.
He underestimated Elder Wang after all; the opponent was simply not playing by conventional rules.
Such a commotion immediately caused a stir within the auction venue, making many attendees uneasy.
“What is Azure Dragon Villa trying to do?”
“What’s this, doesn’t the Gu family care about their reputation?”
Below, the amiable-looking Patriarch of the Gu Family smiled and said, “No need to worry, everyone. This old friend of mine is just apprehending a traitor in his sect, he will soon leave.
To compensate everyone, there will be another auction held next month after today’s auction concludes, and there will be no shortage of rare treasures.
Everyone will receive free tickets to attend that auction.”
…
