Chapter 328: Auction

Chi Yu, Tong Ming, Ling Ruogu, and the others were very efficient.

In just a few days, the news that Yaoguang intended to auction off a flying-vessel-type Dao Artifact had spread throughout the entire Heavenly Dao Sect.

Upon learning the news, the lineage leaders who held high positions and had accumulated plenty of wealth managed to keep their composure for the most part. However, the peak masters, whose standing was slightly inferior, appeared rather excited.

For a time, one peak master after another hurried around to spread the word, trying every possible method to gather resources and prepare for the upcoming Dao Artifact auction.

And since this matter involved a Dao Artifact, the news naturally reached Zong Wenxian, the sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect. Nonetheless, Zong Wenxian wasn't surprised about it.

"Back when Yaoguang had yet to become a true disciple of our sect, Hou Feng, Heavenly Venerable Jiang, and the others chased after him, yet they could not catch up to him. The only explanation that made sense was for him to have a flying-type Dao Artifact on him." Zong Wenxian looked at Xiang Zhenlong, who had brought him the news, and frowned slightly. "At first, I thought it might have been a gift from the Penglai Dao Lord. But now..." His words trailed off, but he didn't stop considering the matter.

If it were something the Penglai Dao Lord had given him, Yaoguang wouldn't be selling it.

That meant that Yaoguang had most likely really obtained an extraordinary inheritance, which was why the Penglai Dao Lord had taken notice of him and sent him to the Heavenly Dao Sect.

What is the Penglai Dao Lord’s purpose? Did she set her sights on the Heavenly Dao Sect? Is this merely a random move? Or does she simply want some entertainment?

At that time, Yaoguang was only an Azure Golden Core cultivator. No matter how talented, how could he have caused a Dao Lord like her to stop and pay attention?

Zong Wenxian had no intention of acting rashly. He planned to continue observing for a while.

"If he needs to sell a Dao Artifact at this time... Perhaps the Penglai Dao Lord isn't supporting him from behind the scenes. Of course, it is also possible that the Dao Lord is leaving a false trail."

"That's unlikely, though. If that Dao Lord really wanted to do something to our sect, she wouldn't need to go through this." Zong Wenxian pondered. "If Yaoguang really sells the Dao Artifacts, it will at least prove that his relationship with the Penglai Dao Lord is not that close. And if their relationship is not close, perhaps we can try talking to him, and see if we can pull him into our circle..."

As he spoke, he sighed emotionally. "With his special void-type physique, his chances of reaching the Void-Refining Realm are already higher than others. And thanks to the vast amount of resources he can obtain by selling a Dao Artifact, the time he will need to reach the Void-Refining Realm will probably shorten again. I wouldn't be surprised if he were to reach the Void-Refining Realm within a hundred years."

"The Void-Refining Realm." Xiang Zhenlong’s expression grew solemn.

Any Void-Refining Realm cultivator would be very important to the Heavenly Dao Sect. It currently had only two dozen or so powerhouses at that level.

In particular, if Yaoguang reached the Void-Refining Realm, his rank would advance from young sect master to deputy sect master, and he would take over authority over the southern domain from the sect master.

He would be qualified to sit at the table with the other leaders and take a share of the sect's true profits.

"So, Sect Master, are we not going to make it hard for him to sell the Dao Artifact within the sect?" Xiang Zhenlong asked.

"We can't. If he cannot sell it in the Heavenly Dao Sect, he will sell it to other forces. Dao Artifacts are something everyone lacks. And if we forcibly stop him, I fear many peak masters will be dissatisfied. Among the thirteen peak masters of our sect, only five have Dao Artifacts." As Zong Wenxian spoke, he waved his hand. "Let him sell it. This transaction will help us understand what kind of relationship he has with that Dao Lord."

Xiang Zhenlong listened and nodded. "Then we..."

"If you are interested, you can try to buy it. You can even use some methods to test Yaoguang’s confidence. What trump cards a person has can basically be seen through how he handles sudden incidents."

Zong Wenxian paused briefly before saying, "However, pay attention to your methods. I do not want to see any shady tactics make the situation too ugly. Do you understand?"

Xiang Zhenlong’s heart tightened. "I understand!"

They could not use shady tactics and make the scene too ugly, but some aboveboard methods could still be used.

There were only so many peak masters with the financial strength to purchase a Dao Artifact. If they caused those peak masters some trouble before the Dao Artifact was sold, making it difficult for them to move their funds smoothly, perhaps they could acquire this Dao Artifact at a slightly lower price.

Their statuses were the same, but there was still a great difference between having authority and not having authority.

***

The auction of the Longxiang Flying Vessel proceeded in an orderly manner.

A month was an extremely short time, so short that people simply did not have enough time to make enough preparations and mobilize all assets they might have wanted to use to bid on the Dao Artifact.

At the same time, because there was only one month, some conflicts that had originally been hidden in the dark were exposed.

Only then did Yaoguang realize why the Heavenly Dao Sect was regarded as a great alliance.

The sect master balanced the entire sect and sought benefits for everyone in the sect, while also taking the largest share of the cake for himself.

After the sect master came the Supreme Elder Council. They commanded formidable martial power, and no one could afford to shortchange them when it came to their share of the sect's benefits.

Next came the four lineage leaders and the three deputy sect masters.

Each of the three deputy sect masters occupied a domain and was equivalent to a true local emperor, but the "taxes" and "specialty tributes" they owed the sect every year still had to be handed over.

After these resources were divided among the sect master and the supreme elders, it was the four lineage leaders’ turn to divide them. Only at the very end was it the peak masters’ turn.

From this perspective, the deputy sect masters and the peak masters of the various peaks were all equivalent to workers.

At most, the deputy sect masters were far from the center of power and relatively free. Even so, they were still restrained by the sect master and the four-lineage system led by the sect master.

Under such circumstances, the peak masters would think of ways to become lineage leaders, while the deputy sect masters would think of ways to compete against the sect master, trying their best to retain more profit for their own use after giving the sect the tributes they were tasked with collecting.

The process involved was anything but open and aboveboard.

Why had the position of deputy sect master of the southern domain remained vacant all this time? Why was it being handled by the sect master himself?

It was because eight hundred years ago, Song Youque, the deputy sect master stationed in the southern domain, had assassinated multiple groups of envoys that the sect master had secretly dispatched to audit the southern domain’s actual income.

Killing them would have been fine if not for the fact that one of those times there had been evidence left behind, and Sect Master Zong Wenxian found it.

No one knew what method he used to persuade the Supreme Elder Council, but half a month after the evidence was submitted, the Supreme Elder Council announced that Deputy Sect Master Song Youque had betrayed the sect. At the same time, they dispatched three supreme elders, who led ten battle halls and several dozen Void-Piercing Realm cultivators into the southern domain and completely wiped out Deputy Sect Master Song’s faction.

It was one of the Heavenly Dao Sect’s larger internal operations over the past thousand years.

As for smaller matters, such as an elder embezzling funds and accepting bribes... Incidents like those occurred several times every century. Everyone had long grown used to that kind of behavior.

***

"For the sects on the North Sea Star, inheritance and history have never been important. Fierce internal fighting over the division of benefits, and even driving others to their deaths, is perfectly normal. Even when the internal strife leads to the destruction of a sect, at worst, they will gather more people and establish another sect. Where there are people, there is a sect. As long as the Dao Lord does not perish, the fire of the sect can endure for eternity."

Yaoguang glanced at the report in front of him, reporting the situation of three peak masters.

One peak master had had his cash flow cut off.

Another peak master’s guarded territory had suddenly been ravaged by a demon king, forcing him to go and guard it.

As for the last peak master, he had been directly exposed for colluding with the divine races and was requested by the Law Enforcement Hall to cooperate with an investigation.

In theory, these three people would have been Yaoguang’s biggest buyers. Whether this Dao Artifact could sell for a relatively high price depended on their performance when the time came.

Now all three had run into problems...

"I hope the final price does not fall below one billion. Otherwise, do not blame me for going back on my word and refusing to sell," Yaoguang said.

Selling a Dao Artifact within the Heavenly Dao Sect was safer than selling it externally, but it was far too easy for people to manipulate things behind the scenes.

A month quickly passed.

In such a short time, the group led by Wan Liugui and the others could not even make it to the Heavenly Dao Sect. For this Dao Artifact sale, Yaoguang could only have the Ling family and Chi family people put in the effort and bustle around.

Fortunately, there were only so many people in the entire Heavenly Dao Sect who qualified to compete for a Dao Artifact.

When the day of the auction arrived, only fifteen people reached Guest Peak, where the auction would be held.

Aside from the four great lineage leaders, only six of the thirteen peak masters came. The three deputy sect masters did not attend in person, but all of them had sent Void-Piercing Realm elders as representatives.

In addition, two Void-Piercing Realm cultivators representing the supreme elders were there as observers.

If the price was low, they would be happy to pick up a bargain. If the cost was too high, the supreme elders behind them wouldn't miss owning this specific Dao Artifact.

Yaoguang did not make the potential buyers wait for long. He soon appeared on the mountain peak that had been prepared for receiving the guests.

"Thank you, everyone, for taking time out of your busy schedules to participate in the sale of my Dao Artifact. I will not waste words," Yaoguang said.

Yaoguang stretched out his hand, and the Longxiang Flying Vessel immediately rose into the air, revealing its true form and hovering above Guest Peak.

"Everyone, please take a look. This flying-type Dao Artifact not only has extraordinary void-traversing ability, but also excellent resting spaces within..." Yaoguang began introducing the relevant features of the Dao Artifact.

Meanwhile, the other Void-Piercing Realm and Void-Refining Realm cultivators each activated their psychic thought and began probing the specific effects of the Longxiang Flying Vessel.

Naturally, Yaoguang did not stop them.

After introducing it for over ten minutes, and after everyone had gained some understanding of it, Yaoguang spoke again. "I imagine everyone now has a basic understanding of the Longxiang Flying Vessel. Now, the bidding will begin. The starting price is one billion Pure Yang Grand Pills. Each bid must increase the price by no less than ten million Pure Yang Grand Pills."

As soon as Yaoguang finished speaking, the lineage leader of the immortal lineage immediately said, "You are auctioning it with Pure Yang Grand Pills? Void-Refining Realm cultivators like us normally do not prepare so many Pure Yang pills. Why not trade using Void Dao Pills and various natural treasures? How about using twelve thousand Pure Yang Grand Pills to offset one Void Dao Pill?"

"Isn’t a starting price of one billion too high? Young Sect Master Yaoguang, you do not understand the market price of Dao Artifacts. Although Dao Artifacts sold outside often sell for one billion Pure Yang Grand Pills, those Dao Artifacts each have their own unique special characteristics. This Longxiang Flying Vessel's performance in void traversal is ordinary, and it does not possess any other abilities. Aside from its decent internal environment, there is nothing worth praising about it. For a Dao Artifact like this, I think a starting price of five hundred million would be more suitable." A peak master also smiled. "I will bid five hundred million first. Everyone can bid based on this number; how does that sound?"