Thousand Isle City had never been so lively.
From dawn until dusk, countless flying boats descended one after another outside the city while streams of cultivators continuously poured through the enormous city gates. Some rode spirit beasts across the sea, others travelled aboard luxurious treasure ships several hundred metres long, while the wealthier factions directly arrived through long-distance teleportation formations established by the Jiuding Merchant Alliance.
The reason...
Was naturally the grand auction.
News of the event had spread throughout the entire Thousand Isles Archipelago months ago, but what truly pushed cultivators into a frenzy was the rumour that this particular auction contained several finale treasures whose value far exceeded anything seen in the past century.
Whether those rumours proved true...
Nobody knew.
Yet no cultivator wished to miss such an opportunity.
After all, the Thousand Isles Archipelago wasn't merely one city or a handful of islands.
It was one of the Twelve Great Archipelagos of the Southern Region.
Its territory stretched across an incomparably vast sea.
Countless islands rose from the ocean like stars scattered across the heavens, each supporting their own cultivators, mortal kingdoms and sects.
Its total size...
Exceeded countless provinces of the Eastern Region combined.
Travelling from one end of the archipelago to the other often required years for ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Even Purple Palace experts rarely crossed its entirety unless absolutely necessary.
Today, however...
Cultivators from every direction had gathered within Thousand Isle City.
The streets remained packed with people.
Every inn had reached full capacity weeks ago.
Temporary markets had sprung up throughout the city, allowing merchants to seize the unprecedented flow of customers.
Everywhere one looked...
People discussed only one topic.
"The auction."
Near a teahouse, several Qi Refining cultivators stared enviously at a luxurious flying treasure descending from the sky.
"I heard that's from Coral Spirit Island."
"No."
Another quickly shook his head.
"Look carefully at the banner."
"That's the Azure Wave Sect."
"They're one of the strongest sects in the eastern sea."
As they spoke...
Another enormous treasure ship slowly approached from the distant horizon.
The vessel stretched nearly five hundred metres long, its hull carved from deep-blue spiritual wood while dozens of formation cannons lined both sides.
Several Foundation Establishment cultivators stood respectfully upon the deck.
Yet none occupied the highest position.
Instead...
Three elderly Purple Palace cultivators quietly stood near the bow while overlooking Thousand Isle City.
Seeing this...
Many nearby cultivators instinctively lowered their heads.
Another major force had arrived.
Inside the city itself, discussions became increasingly animated.
"They say the finale includes a treasure capable of helping Purple Palace cultivators break through."
"I heard it's a Rank Four beast core."
"No..."
"I received information from my uncle."
"The finale supposedly contains several mysterious treasures."
"What exactly?"
The man merely shook his head.
"The Thousand Isle Auction house has kept everything strictly confidential."
"Only the highest-ranking managers know."
"Even many Purple Palace seniors travelled here personally because they couldn't discover the truth beforehand."
The more secretive the auction remained...
The greater everyone's curiosity became.
Meanwhile...
Within the central district of Thousand Isle City, the Thousand Isle Auction House stood proudly like a sleeping giant.
Its enormous jade-white walls stretched across several streets while countless formation runes shimmered faintly beneath the surface. Dozens of Foundation Establishment guards continuously patrolled the surroundings as Purple Palace elders occasionally swept their Spiritual Sense across the crowd before quietly withdrawing.
Every security measure had increased several times compared to ordinary days.
No one dared underestimate today's auction.
At that moment...
A seemingly ordinary late Foundation Establishment cultivator slowly walked through the bustling streets.
His robes appeared plain.
His face likewise possessed no distinguishing features.
Even his aura blended naturally amongst the countless Foundation Establishment cultivators surrounding him.
No one spared him a second glance.
Naturally...
That person was Lin Sheng.
Crystal had already adjusted every minute detail of his disguise.
Even his walking posture differed slightly from usual.
His Mental Perception silently spread throughout the city.
Although eighty-five li easily covered the entire auction district, Lin Sheng deliberately limited himself to a much smaller range, merely observing his immediate surroundings while avoiding unnecessary attention.
The stronger one's Spiritual Sense...
The easier it became for experts to notice unusual fluctuations.
He had no intention of becoming the centre of attention before the auction even began.
Passing through the crowded streets, Lin Sheng occasionally heard fragments of conversation.
"...Coral Spirit Palace also came."
"I heard even several pirate leaders entered the city."
"They actually dare?"
"Why wouldn't they?"
"As long as they're inside Thousand Isle City, nobody dares violate the rules."
Lin Sheng's expression remained unchanged.
The arrival of pirates surprised him little.
Benefits always attracted every type of cultivator.
Whether righteous or demonic.
Soon...
The enormous outline of the Thousand Isle Auction House gradually appeared before him.
Its towering entrance resembled the mouth of an ancient beast, continuously swallowing the endless stream of cultivators arriving from every direction.
Lin Sheng quietly looked upwards.
Several VIP flying treasures slowly descended from the sky while servants respectfully guided their owners towards private entrances reserved for distinguished guests.
The ordinary entrance where he stood...
Already contained several thousand cultivators waiting patiently.
He neither hurried nor slowed.
Blending perfectly into the crowd...
Lin Sheng calmly joined the queue.
As more cultivators entered the auction hall, the atmosphere gradually shifted from lively excitement to quiet anticipation.
The interior of the Thousand Isle Auction House was astonishingly vast.
Rows upon rows of seats descended in concentric circles toward the central auction platform, allowing every cultivator a clear view regardless of where they sat. The walls themselves were engraved with countless sound-transmitting and defensive formations, ensuring every bid could be heard clearly while preventing any Spiritual Sense from probing into the private rooms above.
Lin Sheng quietly chose a seat neither too close nor too far from the stage.
Perfectly ordinary.
Perfectly forgettable.
His gaze naturally drifted upward.
Above the main hall were six levels of private rooms.
Each level represented a different status.
The first two levels belonged to wealthy Foundation Establishment cultivators and medium-sized factions.
The third and fourth housed influential Purple Palace experts.
The highest levels...
Were reserved only for Golden Core cultivators and representatives of the Jiuding Merchant Alliance.
Although the doors remained tightly shut, the faint fluctuations leaking from within spoke volumes.
Every private room contained powerful cultivators.
Some auras were calm and vast like tranquil seas.
Others resembled unsheathed swords that seemed capable of cutting apart heaven itself.
Lin Sheng merely swept his gaze across them once before withdrawing it.
There was no benefit in attracting attention.
Crystal quietly analysed the surrounding fluctuations.
[Detected Purple Palace cultivators:
Thirty-seven.]
[Golden Core aura detected:
One confirmed.
Three suspected.]
Lin Sheng's pupils narrowed almost imperceptibly.
One confirmed Golden Core...
That was expected.
The Jiuding Merchant Alliance certainly wouldn't entrust such an important auction to Purple Palace cultivators alone.
As for the remaining three...
They either possessed concealment treasures or were intentionally suppressing their cultivation.
Either way...
Today's auction had attracted far more experts than anticipated.
His thoughts were interrupted as a bell suddenly echoed throughout the hall.
Dong—
The conversations immediately ceased.
Every cultivator instinctively turned toward the stage.
A beautiful woman wearing elegant blue robes slowly walked onto the platform.
Although only at the late Foundation Establishment Realm, every movement she made exuded confidence cultivated from hosting countless grand auctions.
She smiled gracefully before bowing slightly.
"Honoured seniors and fellow Daoists."
"Welcome to the Thousand Isle Grand Auction."
"My name is Luo Qing."
"I shall be today's auctioneer."
Her pleasant voice spread throughout the enormous hall through the assistance of formation arrays.
"No further introductions are necessary."
"I believe everyone here already understands today's rules."
"The Thousand Isle Auction House guarantees fairness."
"Any attempt to threaten, suppress or attack other participants..."
"...will be regarded as provoking the Jiuding Merchant Alliance."
Her words remained gentle.
Yet the meaning behind them caused many cultivators to subconsciously straighten their backs.
No one doubted the warning.
The pirate leader expelled during the previous auction remained a fresh memory.
Seeing the hall completely quiet, Luo Qing smiled once more.
"In that case..."
"Let the auction begin."
She lightly clapped her hands.
Immediately, two attendants carefully carried the first treasure onto the stage.
It was a crimson spear nearly two metres long.
The spearhead emitted a sharp metallic glow while faint flame runes continuously circulated along its shaft.
Luo Qing introduced it smoothly.
"Rank Two High-grade Spirit Weapon."
"Crimson Flame Spear."
"It was personally refined by Master Xu of Fire Peak Island."
"The weapon contains thirty-six Flame Gathering Runes."
"Each thrust naturally carries fire qi capable of burning defensive spiritual barriers."
"For cultivators practising fire techniques, its power exceeds ordinary Rank Two Spirit Weapons by nearly thirty percent."
"The starting price..."
"Three thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones."
Almost immediately...
A Foundation Establishment cultivator raised his bidding token.
"Three thousand two hundred."
"Three thousand five hundred."
"Four thousand."
Within moments, the spear's price climbed steadily before finally selling for five thousand four hundred Mid-grade Spirit Stones.
The attendants swiftly replaced it with another treasure.
This time...
It was a jade shield the height of a person.
Its surface shimmered with earth-yellow light while numerous turtle-shell patterns naturally formed across its exterior.
"Rank Two High-grade Defensive Spirit Weapon."
"Mountain Turtle Shield."
"It can withstand three full-force attacks from ordinary late Foundation Establishment cultivators before sustaining noticeable damage."
"Furthermore..."
"It possesses automatic defensive formations capable of protecting its owner even without conscious control."
Defensive treasures...
Were always more valuable than offensive ones.
As expected...
The bidding became noticeably fiercer.
Even several private rooms participated.
The final price reached nearly eight thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones before the shield finally found its owner.
Lin Sheng quietly observed everything.
Compared with the Eastern Region...
The Southern Archipelagos clearly valued defensive equipment more highly.
Sea cultivation differed greatly from land.
One never knew when storms, sea yao beasts or pirates would suddenly appear.
Survival...
Often mattered more than killing power.
The auction continued.
A pair of Rank Two Wind Shadow Daggers.
A set of Nine Water Spirit Flying Swords.
An Earth Vein Defensive Formation Plate.
Each treasure quickly found buyers.
The atmosphere within the hall gradually became increasingly enthusiastic.
Meanwhile...
The doors to several higher VIP rooms quietly opened.
Powerful auras slowly descended.
Clearly...
The truly important participants had finally arrived.
Lin Sheng simply watched in silence.
The items appearing now were merely appetizers.
The real competition had yet to begin.