Wandao 018
The auction house in Chiyun Town was named Fengyue Pavilion, located at the town's most prosperous center. It had three floors—the first served as a market for rogue cultivators and minor sects; the second-floor hosted private rooms and specialized auctions for mid-grade magic tools, accessible only with spirit talismans; and the third, the top floor, was the venue for the main auction event.
At dawn, the front of the pavilion buzzed with life. Cultivators from all directions crowded the square, their flowing robes and magical beasts crisscrossing like a living tapestry. The air shimmered with spiritual energy, as if an unseen battle was already underway. Wan Xiaochuan and Lin Qixian stood amid the crowd, dressed plainly in blue-grey Daoist robes, eyes quietly surveying the situation inside.
"This auction is held by the Chiyun Auction Guild. Ordinary cultivators can't access the top floor, but I have a spirit talisman from my master—just enough to get us through," Lin Qixian whispered, pulling a pale golden talisman from his sleeve.
Wan Xiaochuan nodded slightly, though unease stirred in his heart. On the surface, he had come for spirit materials, but in truth, he was pursuing a long-lost heirloom of the Wan family that had somehow ended up in the outside world.
Inside the third floor of Fengyue Pavilion, bright lights illuminated the space. The floor was paved with purple-veined spirit jade tiles, and the surroundings were shielded by formations. At the center floated a luminous jade platform, projecting the images and auras of each auction item.
A middle-aged female cultivator stood in the spotlight. Dressed in a crimson robe embroidered with phoenix patterns, her gaze was sharp and cold—this was Liu Siyu, senior auctioneer of Fengyue Pavilion. Her rich, commanding voice immediately drew the attention of hundreds present.
"This auction features thirty-six spiritual items, all verified and graded by our guild. The first item—Thunder Soul Pearl. It contains three miniature lightning spirits, ideal for late Qi Refinement or early Foundation Establishment cultivators to enhance lightning techniques. Starting bid: 5,000 spirit stones."
"6,000 spirit stones.!"
"7,500!"
"10,000 spirit stones.!"
Bids echoed throughout the hall, but Wan Xiaochuan and Lin Qixian remained still, silently observing.
"Second item—Whistling Serpent Dagger. Forged from bronze, its cry can startle the soul and carries poison attributes. Starting bid: 8,000 spirit stones."
"This blade's too light and subtle—not your type. Better suited for assassins," Lin Qixian muttered.
Wan Xiaochuan nodded faintly, yet his attention was already fixed on a yet-to-be-revealed item.
When the eleventh item appeared, a bead-shaped object with interwoven wind and thunder patterns, a familiar aura surged forth.
"This is the Wind-Thunder Spirit Pearl, said to be the relic of an ancient rogue cultivator. It governs wind and thunder elements. Ideal for those cultivating such techniques—it aids breakthroughs and can suppress spiritual veins. Starting bid: 30,000 spirit stones."
As Liu Siyu finished speaking, Wan Xiaochuan's heart trembled.
"This is… the pearl Father left behind! I remember he once told me that the Wan family possessed a thunder-wind treasure—this very pearl was the key to its heart and soul…" His fingertips clenched involuntarily, a rising heat surging in his chest.
"35,000!" a cool female voice called out from the right.
The crowd parted. A modestly dressed but exquisitely featured woman stepped forward—it was Wan Hongwan, a cousin from a collateral branch of the Wan family. Her eyes were downcast but cold, and she had long been at odds with Wan Xiaochuan.
"40,000!" Wan Xiaochuan responded without hesitation.
Wan Hongwan blinked in surprise, then smiled icily. "So you're here too, cousin? Do you really think a side-branch descendant like you deserves to touch a Wind-Thunder Spirit Pearl?"
Her words were like needles, sharp and taunting. Wan Xiaochuan's gaze turned cold, but Lin Qixian tugged at his sleeve.
"Don't lose your head. She won't let it go easily."
"45,000," Wan Hongwan raised the bid calmly.
"50,000."
"60,000."
The crowd stirred. All eyes now focused on the Wind-Thunder Pearl.
"I must have this," Wan Xiaochuan murmured. In his palm, he already held a half fragment of a thunder-patterned jade slip—left by his father. When joined with the pearl, it could unlock the location of a hidden lightning pool.
"72,000!" he called out, voice resolute, resonating through the hall.
Wan Hongwan's expression twisted—she hadn't expected such decisiveness.
"75,000 spirit stones." Her tone tightened; breath short.
"80,000!"
The entire hall fell silent. Liu Siyu raised her auction hammer with interest.
"80,000 spirit stones going once… twice…"
"Sold! 80,000 spirit stones!"
Wan Hongwan turned abruptly, sleeves flaring, her gaze laced with resentment and veiled threat.
Wan Xiaochuan retrieved the pearl, silently gazing at it. Its patterns were intricate, surface smooth as water. Inside, lightning flashed like serpents, wind patterns fluttered like gossamer wings.
This was more than a treasure.
It was the beginning—of a storm yet to come.