Xianxia: Establishing an Immortal Clan Through Simulation (Patreon)

Chapter 38: The Auction Begins, Subtle Atmosphere

The one percent share of spirit stones was a reward decided upon by the Lin Family elders and high-ranking members to honor Lin Zichen's significant contributions to their alchemy business.

Rewards for merits, punishments for faults.

This had always been the guiding principle of the Lin Family, a foundation that ensured unity and helped grow the family's strength and influence.

"There are two weeks left until the Luminous Trading Firm's auction. I wonder if I can master the Cloud-Turning Sword Technique by then," Lin Zichen mused with a hint of urgency.

Setting aside all external distractions, he devoted himself once again to closed-door cultivation.

Blessed with exceptional talent and the advantage of training at triple speed, his progress far outstripped that of ordinary prodigies, earning him the reputation of being the fastest cultivator in the entire Qianyuan Country.

Under such conditions, Lin Zichen's mastery of martial skills progressed by leaps and bounds.

Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, two weeks had gone by.

As tensions simmered beneath the surface, the day of the Luminous Trading Firm's pill auction finally arrived, eagerly awaited by the major factions and independent martial artists of Qingfeng City.

On this day, many groups and warriors gathered early outside the Luminous Trading Firm, anticipating the start of the auction.

Martial artists of the Prenatal Realm, rarely seen by ordinary people, were suddenly everywhere.

One by one, Qingfeng City's renowned figures were recognized by the surrounding crowd, sparking waves of excitement.

"Look over there! Isn't that the elder of the Yun Family, who hasn't been seen for decades? He still looks so robust! By the looks of it, he must be just a step away from reaching the Master realm!"

"It's true! As far as I know, the Yun Family's strongest warriors on the surface are only at the eighth stage of the Prenatal Realm. Who would have thought they were hiding a powerhouse at the peak of the ninth stage!"

"Indeed, the Yun Family truly lives up to its reputation as one of the top ten families. Their foundation is formidable."

Similar conversations echoed around the Luminous Trading Firm.

Soon enough, representatives of Qingfeng City's top ten families, three major sects, and the City Lord's Mansion all arrived, including the Lin Family, who orchestrated the event.

Since they didn't want to reveal their full strength at this time, they had to play their part convincingly.

Creak—

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the grand doors that countless martial artists dreamed of entering slowly opened. The bustling crowd outside fell into an instant hush.

Everyone stared eagerly at the gates of the Luminous Trading Firm, some brimming with excitement and anticipation.

Among them were independent martial artists of lesser means, their expressions tense and worried. Others, who were self-aware of their limits, had come simply to spectate, adopting a detached and amused demeanor.

It was a microcosm of humanity, each person revealing a different story.

Yet none of this had anything to do with the Lin Family.

Among the Lin Family's delegation, Lin Zichen held Lin Lian in his arms, his expression calm as he surveyed the scene before him.

Ever since the extraordinary treasure within him had been activated, Lin Zichen felt as if he no longer belonged to the same world as the other martial artists present. To put it bluntly, even without activating the Immortal Clan Simulator, his natural talent and comprehension would still make him someone these people could only look up to in the future.

"Fellow cultivators, the Luminous Trading Firm's first-ever pill auction is now officially open. All factions with invitation letters may enter by presenting them. For those without invitations, admission will be granted upon verification: either by possessing over one thousand spirit stones or having reached the Prenatal Realm or higher in cultivation. Please proceed."

With a welcoming gesture from one of the Luminous Trading Firm’s stewards, the delegations from the top ten families, the three major sects, and the City Lord's Mansion were the first to enter the Trading Firm. Guided by attendants, they made their way to the private rooms on the second floor.

Following them, other factions and independent martial artists began to file in.

The auction hall prepared by the Luminous Trading Firm could accommodate 3,000 people, and in less than half an hour, it was completely packed due to the overwhelming enthusiasm of the attendees.

At that moment, the steward stationed outside the trading firm received word and immediately stopped verifying entrants, announcing loudly to the remaining crowd:

"Apologies, the auction hall is now full. If you wish to attend a future pill auction, please come earlier next time."

With those words, the trading firm’s guards blocked the path to the auction hall, barring any further entry.

Seeing this, those martial artists who had the qualifications to enter but missed their chance felt a mix of frustration and helplessness. However, the presence of the Master Realm figure overseeing the Luminous Trading Firm ensured that no one dared express their discontent openly.

Some observant martial artists, however, picked up on a crucial detail from the steward’s announcement.

"Excuse me, sir! Will the trading firm really host another pill auction of this scale? If so, when might it be held?"

A martial artist called out as the steward was about to leave.

"The timing of the next pill auction will be announced in the trading firm’s notices. Please keep an eye on them," the steward replied with a vague but promising answer before departing.

This response brightened the spirits of many martial artists.

Though they couldn’t attend this auction, they vowed to arrive early for the next one. Moreover, since they hadn’t spent their spirit stones this time, they believed they would be better positioned to outbid others at the next auction, increasing their chances of obtaining the pills they desired.

Inside the auction hall, the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation.

"Thank you, everyone, for attending the Luminous Trading Firm’s inaugural pill auction. I’m sure you’ve been waiting eagerly, so let’s cut to the chase and dive right into the event," the auctioneer began.

"Our first item is a vial of low-grade intermediate spirit pills: the Youth Rejuvenation Pills. The effect is simple but remarkable—it restores you to the vigor of your prime, akin to being 18 again, brimming with boundless energy. The starting bid is 100 lower-grade spirit stones, with each increment no less than 10. Let the bidding begin!"

On the Tianwu Continent, a vial of pills typically contained three doses.

The market price for a single low-grade intermediate pill ranged from 30 to 50 lower-grade spirit stones. The Luminous Trading Firm’s starting bid of 100 spirit stones for this vial was reasonable, especially considering the pill's unique effects—a blessing for aging martial artists.

As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, a flurry of bids erupted from the audience.

"I bid 110 lower-grade spirit stones!"

"Heh, just 110? How pitiful! I bid 150."

"160!"

"170!"

"—!"

The bidding war surged like a tide, and the first vial of pills sold for 180 lower-grade spirit stones, exceeding expectations.

With the ice broken, subsequent pills were snapped up enthusiastically by eager bidders.

The auction progressed smoothly, even exceeding Lin Zichen’s expectations.

As the event neared its conclusion, the much-anticipated True Essence Pills were finally presented on stage.

The atmosphere in the auction hall shifted dramatically.

All eyes turned toward the pills, glowing faintly on the stage. The gaze of the attending martial artists, especially the more powerful ones, burned with greed and fervent desire.