Painting of the Nine Immortals

“Mu Clan Leader, that technique is now mine.”

The moment the statement was made, the entire auction ground silenced until a needle drop could be heard.

Yours now?

What the f*ck!

Everyone was cursing with ugly words on the inside. They were at the peak of their excitement and were all certain that they would be the one winning the Technique of Physical Refinement. To have suddenly heard Ling Xian’s presumptuous statement, how could they not be angry? However, no matter how enraged they were, they didn’t dare to reveal any dissatisfaction.

For one, Ling Xian was far too capable. For two, they knew that the Mu Clan had promised him that he gets to pick three items of his choice.

In other words, if Ling Xian speaks, Mu Feng had no reason to reject him.

Because of that, the originally explosive atmosphere died down. Everyone’s face was now full of annoyance and helplessness. Everyone was sighing and exhaling deeply.

The most helpless one was, of course, Mu Feng.

Originally, he had high hopes for the Technique of Physical Refinement to auction off under an astronomical price and bring great wealth to the Mu Clan. However, Ling Xian’s soft statement immediately crushed his dreams. This made him steam from anger, and he wanted so much to start cursing at him.

However, he didn’t dare.

For one, he was terrified of Ling Xian’s capabilities. For two, the ancestor’s orders came first, and he didn’t dare to disobey. It was just that he felt awful about having to give up such a valuable technique to the enemy.

For this reason, Mu Feng didn’t respond right away, but instead, fell into silence.

Seeing this, Ling Xian teasingly asked, “What is it? Perhaps Mu Clan leader is regretting what you said before? You don’t want me to take this technique?”

“Aye, oh well.”

Mu Feng sighed deeply. Though he had a thousand reasons why he didn’t want to hand it over, he knew very well that he had no choice. Therefore, he squeezed a smile that was uglier than his crying face and said, “Since I have promised already, how can I bite back on my word?”

Then, he geared his gaze towards everyone else and apologized, “Everyone, I am very sorry. However, because the Mu Clan has already promised him, the Technique of Physical Refinement is no longer a part of the auction.”

Then, everyone at the scene sighed deeply but did not say anything in response.

Mu Feng sighed as well. His heart was bleeding, and his flesh was hurting at this.

Remember that this was the Technique of Physical Refinement. In the short while beforehand, the price of it had already been increased dramatically. Yet under everyone’s eyelids, Ling Xian was about to take it away without paying even half a spiritual stone. How could his heart not hurt?

Pity though, no matter how much his heart ached, it was useless. All he could do was place it into Ling Xian’s hand.

“Mu Clan leader sure is a man of your word. Please give me the technique.” Ling Xian’s lips curled up. He folded up his sleeves, and the scroll immediately flew towards him from Mu Feng’s hand.

However, after he scanned the black scroll with his Qi, he frowned.

Then, Ling Xian coldly snickered. He didn’t say anything and placed the scroll inside his storage pouch.

[Aye, it was such a good auction before this person ruined everything. Even the Technique of Physical Refinement, which was brought out by the Clan to make a profit, was taken by this person without any effort. This was also the first treasure he took.]

Mu Feng kept on sighing and returned to the state of being absolutely exhausted. He then said, “Okay, we will continue our auction. Everyone, please bid on whatever catches your eye.”

After he spoke, everyone rediscovered their excitement. Even though the Technique of Physical Refinement was taken away by Ling Xian, they truly believed that there would be better treasures coming up.

Therefore, when more and more rare treasures made their appearances, the atmosphere once again turned heated and competitive.

Just like that, prices were being shouted one after another and everyone tried to outshine the other. A smokeless war revolving with spiritual stones proceeded to occur.

Ling Xian however, lost all of his interest. Though the treasures were nice and all, they were only nice to others. To him, they were without exhilaration.

However, the appearance of a strange pearl caught his attention.

The pearl was completely red in color and had fire symbols carved on its surface. Though its luster was not by any means dazzling, it had an overall eeriness and extraordinariness.

With Ling Xian’s expertise, he recognized the item right away. It was one of the five spiritual Pearls, the Fire Repelling Pearl. It was a rare item so expensive it had no market price.

A decade ago, at the auction hosted by the Zhou Dynasty in the City of Yunxiao, he acquired a Water Taming Pearl. Though that pearl was imperfect and was only 50 percent effective, it was considered to be a treasure.

The Fire Taming pearl before him was also an imperfect treasure. Though its imperfection affects its value, it does not lessen the hype around its abilities.

When everyone saw this item, everyone’s eyes turned extremely hot, and they wanted very much to claim it as their own.

“I bet everyone’s sharp eyes recognize what this item is. Though this Fire Taming Pearl is incomplete, it remains 50 percent effective. If you ever find yourself in an angry fire, it can help save your life.”

Mu Feng grinned slightly, “I know you are impatient and cannot wait anymore. I will stop speaking now. The starting bid for this Fire Taming Pearl is 5,000,000 spiritual stones. The minimal increase is 500,000. The bidding starts now!”

The shouting of prices immediately began after.

“7,000,000!” A man in purple screamed out.

“8,000,000!” Another voice immediately followed.

Within a few seconds, the price of the Fire Taming Pearl rose up to 12,000,000. From this, it became apparent how valuable this treasure was and how much everyone wanted it.

Just as the competition became fiercer, a husky and magnetic voice rung, silencing the auction ground.

“15,000,000.”

With one shout, he increased the price of this item by 3,000,000, startling everyone there. Everyone followed the voice and ended up finding a silhouette of a man dressed in a giant black robe.

Even Ling Xian pinpointed the origin of the voice. Then, he frowned.

“If nobody continues to bid, then doesn’t that item belong to me?” The man in black spoke slowly.

“Haha, if nobody is willing to offer more, then this Fire Taming Pearl will go to this Taoist friend.” Mu Feng smiled. 15,000,000 was a very high price already. He naturally was very satisfied.

Of course, that was one part of it. The more important reason for his happiness right now was because Ling Xian didn’t speak.

After hearing what Mu Feng had said, everyone became silent. They personally were not willing to spend that many spiritual stones to purchase a damaged Fire Taming Pearl.

Therefore, nobody continued to bid.

Mu Feng was a little disappointed as he wanted people to continue hyping up the prices to make up for the damage the Technique of Physical Refinement caused. However, he will soon learn that instead of feeling disappointed, he should’ve slammed the hammer the moment the price was offered.

Because just as he was about to announce that the Fire Taming Pearl was going to the man in black who offered 15,000,000 spiritual stones, a bright and lovely chuckle suddenly echoed, making everyone clench their teeth.

“Mu Clan Leader, this treasure is now mine.”

The exact replica of the laughter from before and the exact replica of the statement before. The auction ground was once against silenced.

What the actual f*ck!

It’s yours again?

Everyone cursed heavily under their breaths and their teeth hurt from the hatred.

Mu Feng was the most broken out of everyone. He cried tearlessly.

Even that collected man in black couldn’t handle his anger and crushed the chair he was sitting on into a powdered form.