https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-92-Iron-Stem-Orchid-and-the-Iron-Orchid-Fruit/12549186/
Chapter 91: Flying Magical Artifacts and Illusion Transformation Spells
Chapter 91: Flying Magical Artifacts and Illusion Transformation Spells
"Fellow cultivator, you can observe the entire auction venue from this room and place your bids directly if you see anything of interest.
Our rooms are warded for privacy."
The attendant led Chu Ning into the room and stood at the door to explain.
"If you successfully bid for an item, it will be sent over through the round platform in front. You just need to place the corresponding spirit stones on it."
Chu Ning nodded to indicate his understanding and then asked, "What if I don't find anything suitable for me at this auction? What should I do then?"
The attendant smiled and replied, "Fellow cultivator, you can look for me directly after the auction, or let me know if there's something specific you're looking for. You can tell me now, and I can check if there are similar items among the auction items. If not, I can also try to source it for you."
Upon hearing how convenient it was, Chu Ning quickly said, "In that case, please help me look for a flying magical artifact and a comprehensive book about spirit beasts."
After a brief pause, Chu Ning added, "Also, keep an eye out for any spirit pills or elixirs that enhance divine senses."
The attendant's expression remained unchanged until the end of Chu Ning's request, where his face betrayed a hint of surprise at the mention of spirit pills for enhancing divine senses, especially since Chu Ning was only at the mid-Qi Refining stage.
However, this surprise flashed by in an instant, and his face soon returned to its usual composure.
"Certainly, fellow cultivator. Please wait a moment."
The attendant responded and turned to leave.
Chu Ning took the opportunity to examine the small room curiously.
Previously, when he was on the first floor of Qinghefang, he had sensed that these private rooms in Yunhai Pavilion were warded with a layer of restrictions.
They could block scrying attempts and even modify sounds.
Now, he wanted to test it out.
Chu Ning looked around and noticed that the room was square-shaped, measuring only about ten feet in size.
Three of its walls were made of an unknown metal, while the one facing forward was made of a transparent material that resembled jade.
A faint glow emanated from the jade-like surface, indicating the presence of a restriction.
Indeed, this restriction must be what enabled the room's privacy and sound alteration.
"This restriction blocks outside prying eyes, but the rooms on the second floor are not that far apart. If one pays attention when entering or exiting, they might still catch a glimpse of others."
Chu Ning mused to himself.
"Fellow cultivator, may I come in?"
Just then, the attendant's voice sounded from outside the room.
After receiving Chu Ning's reply, the attendant entered and handed him a jade slip.
"Our manager said that since you came with a Core Formation stage senior, you are a VIP guest of our pavilion. This jade slip contains basic information about the auction items, as well as details about the spirit beast books you mentioned. Please take a look, and call me if you need anything."
Chu Ning took the jade slip and began examining its contents as soon as the attendant left.
As he browsed through the information, Chu Ning experienced a mix of emotions—both joy and worry.
He was delighted to find that there was indeed a flying magical artifact up for auction.
It was called the Wind Chaser Shuttle, a high-grade artifact in the shape of a shuttle.
According to the jade slip, the Wind Chaser Shuttle was crafted from high-quality materials and inscribed with multiple layers of wind-attribute spell formations.
Its flying speed was exceptionally fast.
However, as a high-grade artifact, especially a rare flying one, the starting bid was set at 700 spirit stones.
"I was only thinking about getting a mid-grade flying artifact, but now a high-grade one has appeared at the auction. This will surely attract intense competition, and I might end up spending a significant amount of spirit stones."
Chu Ning pondered, but he was determined to acquire the Wind Chaser Shuttle.
After all, it was the only flying artifact available at this auction.
Regarding the books on spirit beasts, the jade slip indicated that none were up for auction.
However, Yunhai Pavilion offered two books for Chu Ning's reference: the Thousand Beast Atlas, which described the habits and characteristics of various spirit beasts and magical beasts, priced at 200 low-grade spirit stones; and the Hundred Beast Scripture, which detailed the cultivation methods for 100 types of spirit beasts, but with a staggering price tag of 2,000 low-grade spirit stones.
Chu Ning considered his options and decided that if he were to buy a book, he would choose the Thousand Beast Atlas.
He was only interested in finding information about Ling Xiao Bai and had no intention of cultivating spirit beasts.
When Chu Ning saw the section about spirit pills for enhancing divine senses, he shook his head.
According to the jade slip, these pills were extremely rare, even among Core Formation stage cultivators.
The prices were usually quoted in tens of thousands of spirit stones.
This piece of information made Chu Ning abandon his idea of buying pills to accelerate his cultivation of the Divine Sight Technique.
However, there was another item on the jade slip that caught Chu Ning's interest.
Before he could finish reading about it, a gentle bell rang.
He looked up and saw a middle-aged man in a brocade robe slowly appearing on the round platform between the first and second floors.
After a brief introduction, the auction officially began.
The first item that Host Bai Shuangquan presented was a high-grade defensive artifact, which Chu Ning had already read about beforehand.
Knowing that this artifact was more suitable for water-attribute cultivation techniques, Chu Ning immediately lost interest.
In the end, the high-grade water-attribute defensive artifact was sold to a cultivator for 1,150 spirit stones.
"As expected, defensive artifacts are valued higher than offensive ones, and the starting bid for this flight artifact is even 100 spirit stones higher..."
Chu Ning silently mused to himself.
He recalled the metallic high-grade offensive artifact that he had seen at the Qinghefang auction, which had ultimately sold for only 700 spirit stones.
The subsequent few items were also familiar to Chu Ning, and he remained silent as they weren't what he was looking for.
"The seventh item up for auction is the Wind Chaser Shuttle, a single-person flight artifact. Bidding will start at 700 spirit stones, and each increment must be no less than 50 spirit stones..."
As soon as he heard Host Bai Shuangquan's introduction, Chu Ning's interest was piqued.
"750 spirit stones!"
Before Bai Shuangquan could even finish speaking, a voice piped up.
"800 spirit stones!" "850 spirit stones!"
One after another, bids kept rising.
Chu Ning felt his teeth itch as he listened, wishing he could join in.
His original plan was to refrain from bidding early on to avoid driving up the price, but that didn't stop others from doing so.
After five or six people had bid, the price quickly surpassed 1,000 spirit stones.
Seeing this, Chu Ning joined in, not wanting to be too conspicuous by waiting too long.
"1,050 spirit stones!"
Chu Ning spoke, and his voice, modified by the room's restrictions, came out deeper and richer.
"1,100 spirit stones!"
Immediately, another voice chimed in, "1,150 spirit stones!"
Chu Ning waited for a breath or two before speaking again, "1,200 spirit stones."
To his surprise, his voice had changed yet again, this time sounding older and more mature.
Chu Ning couldn't help but marvel at the ingenuity of the voice-altering restriction, ensuring each room's bids were unique and untraceable.
"This voice-changing restriction is quite interesting. Each bid sounds different, and the direction of the voice also varies. Yunhai Pavilion has clearly thought of this small loophole, ensuring that even when a deal is made, no one will know which room placed the bid."
At that moment, the auction hall fell silent as everyone waited with bated breath.
Host Bai Shuangquan's voice broke the silence, "1,200 spirit stones. Any other bidders?"
Before he could finish, another voice piped up, "1,250 spirit stones."
Chu Ning sighed inwardly and calmly spoke, "1,300 spirit stones!"
The auction hall fell silent once more as Bai Shuangquan asked, "1,300 spirit stones. Any other bidders?"
After asking twice and receiving no response, he declared, "Sold for 1,300 spirit stones."
Chu Ning breathed a sigh of relief.
His primary goal for attending this auction had been achieved, although the price for the Wind Chaser Shuttle had been driven up to 1,300 spirit stones.
Even with his current wealth, he couldn't help but feel a slight pinch.
Soon after, a round platform appeared in front of Chu Ning, carrying a black shuttle-shaped artifact.
Chu Ning picked it up, examined it, and then took out 1,300 spirit stones from his storage bag and placed them on the platform, which then disappeared.
Having successfully acquired the Wind Chaser Shuttle, Chu Ning paid little attention to the remaining items.
His focus now shifted to the fifteenth item up for auction.
One by one, the auction proceeded swiftly through the first fourteen items.
Soon, Host Bai Shuangquan's voice echoed once more.
"The fifteenth item up for auction is the Illusion Transformation Spell, a technique that allows the user to alter their appearance and voice at will. Please note that this spell cannot conceal or alter one's spiritual power. Bidding will start at 300 spirit stones..."
Chu Ning's eyes lit up as he heard this.
This was an item that had caught his interest while browsing through the jade slip earlier.
His Yin Wood Spirit Body naturally concealed his spiritual power, and if he wished, he could even suppress it completely to appear as an ordinary person.
However, he always felt that combining this ability with a means to change his appearance would be even more advantageous.
And now, the Illusion Transformation Spell seemed to be the perfect fit.
"300 spirit stones," Chu Ning called out, opening the bidding.
Another voice quickly followed, "330 spirit stones."
Chu Ning waited for a moment, and when no other bids came, he continued, "360 spirit stones."
Perhaps due to the fact that the Illusion Transformation Spell couldn't conceal or alter one's spiritual power, others seemed disinterested.
After all, for ordinary cultivators, changing their appearance would be futile if their spiritual power gave them away.
After Chu Ning's bid, no one else spoke up.
Thus, for 360 spirit stones, he successfully acquired the Illusion Transformation Spell.
(End of Chapter)
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