Chapter Thirty-Six: For the Sake of Ye Cang’s Reputation!

After Beiming Lie’s voice rang out, the crowd exchanged peculiar glances. Soon, a trace of sympathy crept into their expressions as they looked toward the cultivator from the Vajra Sect.

Beiming Lie’s bid of five thousand spirit jades far surpassed the value of the Sun-Cleaving Bow, a price the Vajra Sect clearly could not afford. The burly man’s face shifted through several emotions, but in the end, he sat down resentfully, unwilling yet resigned, making no further bids. After all, he simply could not produce five thousand spirit jades. In an auction, wealth speaks louder than anything else; competition is fair, and there’s no need for anyone to yield out of courtesy.

Huang Huifeng’s eyes sparkled. This price was about what he had anticipated—perhaps even a bit higher—so he felt quite satisfied. He immediately asked, “Bidder number sixteen has offered five thousand spirit jades. Is there anyone who would like to offer more?”

As his words faded, the crowd fell silent. No one raised the price.

Number sixteen—that was the card held by Wang Ran.

Huang Huifeng surveyed the room once more and asked again, “Five thousand spirit jades, going once… five thousand spirit jades, going twice… Is there truly no one else who wishes to bid? Remember, this is a fourth-grade spirit weapon!”

When it was clear that no one intended to continue, he struck his small hammer with a resounding thud.

“Five thousand spirit jades, three times—sold!”

With that declaration, the second precious item fell into Wang Ran’s hands.

As Wang Ran gazed at the longbow the attendant brought from backstage, his mind was momentarily dazed. He hadn’t spent a single coin, and yet these two treasures had inexplicably become his.

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—he had clearly chosen his disciple well. Such devotion to presenting gifts to one’s master moved him nearly to tears.

He took up the Sun-Cleaving Bow, examining it from tip to tip. The entire bow burned with a fiery red hue, exuding a domineering and powerful aura—a weapon of true presence. Black patterns were etched on both ends, adding a touch of mystery and making the bow even more extraordinary.

Wang Ran hefted it in his hands, swinging it up and down. It weighed a thousand pounds—a heavy weapon in the eyes of ordinary cultivators. Yet to Wang Ran, it still felt far from ideal. After all, his body-tempering technique was of the eight-star level, and his flesh had already reached the foundation-building stage. For him, this bow would only serve as a secondary weapon.

Still, while the weight was insufficient for him, its power was beyond question. As a fourth-grade spirit weapon, when fully drawn, it could wound even a cultivator at the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm.

Satisfied, Wang Ran stowed away the longbow, and the auction continued.

The third item was no longer one of the nine main treasures. Instead, it was a jade pendant said to calm the mind and focus the spirit during cultivation, with a starting price of eight hundred spirit jades.

The crowd vied for it fiercely; the price climbed higher and higher amidst the lively commotion.

Several more items were auctioned off at high prices.

Meanwhile, Beiming Lie, eager to please Wang Ran, spared no effort—whenever something valuable appeared, he would decisively bid to secure it for his master. In the end, even Wang Ran began to feel embarrassed.

The two soon became the center of attention; the entire hall watched as Beiming Lie raised his hand again and again, busy beyond compare.

“Three thousand spirit jades—my master wants this!”

“Five thousand spirit jades—this is for my master!”

“Six thousand spirit jades—don’t even think about it, my master wants this!”

The entire assembly of cultivators wore strange expressions, watching as Beiming Lie repeatedly bid, eyes wide in amazement.

Wang Ran himself felt a twinge of awkwardness as he glanced at the growing pile of treasures in his hands. He cleared his throat and, pretending at calm, said, “It seems I was right about you. Your filial devotion is truly gratifying.”

Upon hearing this praise, Beiming Lie’s face lit up with joy. Seizing the opportunity, he spoke, “As long as my master is pleased! It’s just that, on the path of cultivation, there are many things I don’t understand. I hope Master can guide me.”

Wang Ran maintained his composure, adopting an air of expert aloofness. “Speak.”

Beiming Lie hastily clasped his hands with respect. “It’s like this: though I am considered a prodigy within my sect, my days are not easy. My greatest troubles are two fellow prodigies—Ye Cang and Wang Ran. They are the most vicious disciples of our sect, terrorizing the weak and monopolizing all the cultivation resources. Their notorious deeds are cries for justice! With the upcoming selection for core disciples, I fear I won’t be able to best them. I hope Master will teach me some means of self-defense, lest I lose too badly and bring shame to your name.”

Wang Ran’s expression grew subtly odd as he listened. “And if you do learn these skills, how will you treat those two?”

Hatred flashed in Beiming Lie’s eyes. “Naturally, I’ll teach them a harsh lesson and rid the sect of their evil! Especially that Wang Ran—thanks to him and his brother, I’ve been confined time and again. If I can truly learn from you, Master, I’ll make sure he’s the first I trample underfoot!”

Wang Ran’s face darkened in displeasure, and he coughed lightly. “As cultivators, we should strive for purity of heart and restraint of desire. If everyone were as combative as you, what would become of the sect’s reputation?”

Beiming Lie hesitated in confusion. “But isn’t cultivation about seeking justice and vengeance as one pleases? Besides, Master, you’re a sword cultivator—your path is one of battle and slaughter. Isn’t it a bit odd for you to say such things?”

Wang Ran flushed at the question but quickly recovered, barking, “Insolence!”

Startled, Beiming Lie bowed his head at once. “Please forgive me, Master. Your disciple knows his mistake!”

Wang Ran rolled his eyes. After a moment of deliberation, he decided it was best to maintain his image as a master. Suddenly recalling something, his eyes lit up. “Very well. I shall teach you a technique to enhance your aura. Master it, and you can kill with intent alone, without lifting a finger. Do you wish to learn?”

Beiming Lie immediately remembered Wang Ran’s thunderous “Begone!” at the city gates—the force of that command was still vivid in his mind. His heart surged with excitement.

“I am willing, Master! What grade is this technique?”

Wang Ran pondered for a moment. “Eight-star. Its name: Righteous Vital Energy Technique!”

It had originally been a six-star method, but from Wang Ran’s lips, it had been elevated two ranks higher.

After all, he now bore the identity of Chen Wangran, a Nascent Soul cultivator. To offer a mere six-star technique to his disciple would seem beneath him, unworthy of his status. And Ran-ge had always cared about appearances—he couldn’t afford to look cheap. Besides, the higher grade fit his character perfectly.

At this, Beiming Lie’s breathing quickened. In his mind, an eight-star technique’s value far exceeded any amount of spirit jades he had spent earlier. Such a miraculous method was rare indeed!

He was moved to tears, nearly prostrating himself before Wang Ran.

Wang Ran found this amusing, though he kept a stern expression as he imparted the Righteous Vital Energy Technique to Beiming Lie—though only the incantation for the lower rank.

Beiming Lie, of course, noticed nothing amiss; he was overjoyed, as if he’d just acquired the greatest treasure.

By now, the auction was drawing to a close.

On the high platform, Huang Huifeng produced the final item—the most precious among the nine featured lots.

It was a simple, round, blue-green fruit, plain in appearance.

Yet the moment it appeared, the entire hall of cultivators was thrown into an uproar.

Huang Huifeng himself was breathing heavily as he stood up and declared solemnly, “Fellow Daoists, this final item is known as the Golden Spirit Fruit. I hardly need to introduce it. Starting bid… eight thousand spirit jades!”

As soon as he finished, the hall erupted.

This was the main event, the highlight of the entire auction!

At that very moment, a proud, commanding voice echoed through the auction house.

“Fellow Daoists, I am Ye Cang of the Sovereign Sect. I hope you will grant me this favor, as I require this item!”

“My bid… ten thousand spirit jades!”