Gu Wanchang led the group, paid the entry fee, and was ushered into a private box by a beautiful maidservant.
The entry fee was charged per person: fifty Spirit Stones for Qi Condensation Realm cultivators, three hundred Spirit Stones for Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.
Although the entry fee wasn’t high, the number of people attending the Cloudheaven Auction was substantial.
Just from the entry fees alone, the Yun Clan could earn a considerable sum.
“Esteemed Fellow Daoists, the auction will officially begin in a quarter-hour.
This is the Magical Artifact used for bidding.
If any guest takes a fancy to our auction items, they simply need to mark their bid price on this Magical Artifact.” The attendant explained in a soft voice.
“Very well.
I have attended this auction before.
You may go; we need no attendant here.” Gu Wanchang waved his hand with a stern expression.
“Then I shall leave you to it.
May you all secure the items you want.” The maidservant performed a graceful bow and left the private box.
“Sit down, all of you.
Make yourselves comfortable.” Gu Wanchang looked at the group and said with a smile, as if he had suddenly become a different person.
So the patriarch could change his manner in an instant, Gu Changhuan thought wryly.
Was it his imagination, or did Gu Wanchang seem especially fond of him today?
Indeed, Gu Wanchang was becoming more and more satisfied with this junior Gu Changhuan, even feeling somewhat jealous that Gu Wanhao had such a good grandson.
Gu Wanhao placed the bidding Magical Artifact on the table and lightly coughed.
“We brought you because you are among the clan’s most promising youngsters.
This auction will give you a chance to see more of the world.
It is vast, and the Nine Perches Mountains are only a drop in the ocean.
There is always someone stronger, always a wider world beyond what you know.
If you see only your own little corner of it, you will never go far.” “Thank you for your guidance, Great Elder.” The four said in unison.
Gu Changhuan leaned forward to look out of the box.
The hall was circular, with the auction platform at its center.
Passages on either side presumably allowed the attendants to bring in the lots.
A table and a copper gong stood on the platform.
He could guess what the table was for, but not the gong.
The private boxes on the second and third floors were equipped with one-way Formations, preventing those outside from seeing inside.
The first floor consisted of individual seats, arranged much like a sports stadium from his previous life, except the distance between seats was slightly greater.
It was already filled with people at this moment.
The second-floor private boxes were prepared for Foundation Establishment Realm experts, while the third-floor elegant rooms were for Purple Mansion Realm cultivators or cultivators from Golden Core factions.
Of course, some Foundation Establishment Realm Rogue Cultivators, to avoid drawing attention, would conceal their aura and sit on the first floor.
The cultivators on the first floor all wore identical masks provided by the Cloudheaven Auction House to block others’ Divine Sense detection.
A quarter-hour later, the copper gong on the auction platform emitted a loud boom.
A young woman in crimson court dress floated down above the platform like an immortal maiden.
“She’s actually a Foundation Establishment Realm expert!” Someone among the Rogue Cultivators exclaimed in surprise.
“That is a Golden Core clan for you.
Even the auctioneer for the first session is at Foundation Establishment.” Gu Changze whispered.
Gu Changcheng had sharp ears and heard Gu Changze’s words.
He quickly asked, “First session?
What’s going on?
Sixth Brother, does the Cloudheaven Auction have several sessions?” Gu Changhuan and Gu Shiyou heard Gu Changcheng’s question and turned to look at Gu Changze.
Gu Changze cleared his throat and explained, “I inquired earlier.
The Cloudheaven Auction is generally divided into three sessions: The first session mainly targets Foundation Establishment Realm and Qi Condensation Realm cultivators, with only a small number of Third-Tier spiritual items auctioned in this session.
“The second is for Purple Mansion and Golden Core cultivators.
It features many third-tier spirit objects and a few of the fourth tier.
“The third is an exchange meeting for those same cultivators, where they can trade for things they need.” While Gu Changze was explaining to the three, five gauze-skirted maidens emerged from one side passage, holding brocade boxes in their hands.
Apparently, these were the first batch of auction items.
At this moment, the palace-attired girl spoke: “Welcome, Fellow Daoists, and thank you for coming from far and wide to attend the Cloudheaven Auction.
I am Yun Luoluo, and it is my honor to host the first session.
“In this session, we have thirty-seven third-tier spirit objects, two hundred and sixty of the second tier, and three hundred of the first tier.
“As usual, we will begin with the lower-tier items.
Those that aid breakthroughs to Foundation Establishment or Purple Mansion will be offered at the end!” Yun Luoluo took a deep breath and brought out a jade tablet.
The first attendant in line walked onto the platform, set her brocade box on the table, and stood to one side with her head lowered.
“Without further ado, the first session of the Cloudheaven Auction officially begins now!
First, we will auction First-Tier spiritual items.
Each bid increase for First-Tier spiritual items must not be less than ten Spirit Stones!” Yun Luoluo opened the brocade box.
“Auction item number one: One bottle of Spirit-Tempering Pills!
Spirit-Tempering Pills are First-Tier High Grade Spirit Pills that can temper the spiritual power of Qi Condensation Realm cultivators, laying a good foundation for Foundation Establishment!
Fellow Qi Condensation Realm Daoists, don’t miss this!
Starting price: one hundred Low Grade Spirit Stones!” Upon hearing this item could help with Foundation Establishment, the cultivators in the first-floor hall all reddened with excitement, eagerly placing bids.
The jade tablet in Yun Luoluo’s hand flashed repeatedly, displaying the cultivators’ bids.
“Fellow Daoist number thirty-seven bids one hundred twenty Spirit Stones!” “Fellow Daoist number ninety bids one hundred forty!” “Fellow Daoist number two hundred thirty bids one hundred fifty Spirit Stones!” “Fellow Daoist number one hundred thirty-nine bids one hundred ninety Spirit Stones!
One hundred ninety!” Quickly, the price for a small bottle of Spirit-Tempering Pills was driven up to three hundred Spirit Stones.
Gu Changhuan was stunned.
Auction prices were often inflated, but this seemed excessive.
These rogue cultivators had more money than he had expected, judging by the poverty of those he usually saw.
“Rogue cultivators often have to make do with cheap, commonplace cultivation methods.
Some keep switching methods even during Qi Condensation.
With nobody to guide them, they chase quick progress and end up with impure Spiritual Power and weak foundations.
“Even with a Foundation Establishment Pill, their chances of breaking through are poor unless they spend months, or even two or three years, patiently refining all that Spiritual Power.
“But most rogue cultivators struggle to get by.
They cannot spare that much time.
That is why these pills command such a high price.” Before the others could ask, Gu Wanhao explained the reason for the Spirit-Tempering Pills’ premium in detail.
Now the four understood.
They, as family cultivators, benefited from ancestral blessings.
From the beginning of their cultivation, they had suitable techniques and elder guidance, rarely making mistakes in cultivation.
Wealth, companions, cultivation methods, and a place to cultivate: all four were said to be essential.
Clan cultivators had a natural advantage when it came to companions who could guide them.
Finally, after the Spirit-Tempering Pills were auctioned off for three hundred fifty Low Grade Spirit Stones, the gauze-skirted maiden took the Spirit-Tempering Pills down from the auction platform, and the next gauze-skirted maiden came up.
The Spirit-Tempering Pills ignited the first-floor cultivators’ enthusiasm, and Yun Luoluo appeared exceptionally excited.
Little wonder she was excited.
A bottle of Spirit-Tempering Pills cost only a hundred and twenty low grade Spirit Stones in a shop, and this one had sold for almost three times that.
The auction had started the bidding below the shop price, yet the final bid was almost three times as much!
As the auctioneer, she would receive a commission of half a percent!
Perhaps the Spirit-Tempering Pills set a good precedent, as every subsequent spiritual item sold for quite high prices.
As the auction continued, Gu Changhuan lost interest.
Most of the first-tier lots were pills or high grade artifacts, and he had no shortage of either.
Even the occasional spirit herb missing from the clan’s collection was no longer alive.
It could be used in alchemy, but not replanted.
He stole a glance at the patriarch and Gu Wanhao, then turned his attention inward to his Sea of Consciousness.