In the Qingxuan auction hall, He Xuan's face was brimming with a smile, quite satisfied as he observed the Lin Family and Huang Family locked in competition.
The more they vied against each other, the higher the auction hall's earnings—and his personal cut would be.
As for bids not paid, he wasn't worried; the last Purple Mansion Hermit who did so is still under the soil of the auction hall to this day.
He Xuan clapped his hands again, and onto the Spirit Platform walked a female cultivator holding a tray.
On the tray this time was a small leopard-type Spirit Beast.
The Spirit Beast was covered in blue Spirit Patterns that resembled lightning bolts, but it seemed to be in poor spirits, with its eyes drooping and its limbs all locked by chains. A Forbidden God Talisman was also affixed to its body.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the offspring of a Second Rank peak Lightning Leopard. With the right opportunity, it could very possibly evolve into a Third Rank Spirit Beast. The starting bid is 1,500 Spirit Stones, with minimum increments of 100 Spirit Stones!"
He Xuan once again introduced the Lightning Leopard with a stirring description.
The cultivators in the audience also had their eyes blaze with eagerness, almost wishing to call out the highest bid and take it for themselves.
However, everyone knew the rule of thumb: just listen to the first half of He Xuan's words.
"1,800 Spirit Stones!"
"2,000 Spirit Stones!"
...
The price of the Lightning Leopard shot up rapidly, and it was at this moment that Lin Shiming spoke:
"4,000 Spirit Stones!"
He directly called out a price nearly triple the base, instantly silencing all the Loose Cultivators.
Everyone looked towards Lin Shiming, all trying to guess what kind of scion this was!
Only a few from Foundation Establishment families who knew the Lin Family's details were still observing. A Second Rank peak Lightning Leopard was definitely worth cultivating, but 4,000 was indeed too high—after all, nurturing a Spirit Beast would require even more resources!
Lin Shiming paid no mind to the murmurs of other cultivators and looked straight at Huangyun Qi.
His gaze was filled with amusement!
His seventh great-uncle had told him to have fun, so he would indeed enjoy himself.
The latter's face, full of wrinkles and made to look even older by threads of black hair, flushed with rage, and his angry eyes began brimming with blood!
Glaring in the direction of the Lin Family, he stood up abruptly, his veins bulging and entire body quivering.
"Lin Xianzhi, you are bullying too much!"
But when Lin Shiming called out five thousand eight hundred, the Huang Family stopped following!
The Profound Soul Needle was smoothly secured by the Lin Family, but the price was nearly the highest for a Supreme Grade assassination Magic Artifact.
Lin Shiming didn't continue to bid, instead wearing a somewhat worried expression as he looked toward Lin Xianzhi.
"Seventh great-uncle, something's not right..."
"They're just depleting our Spirit Stones!"
"With the Li Family's support, securing the Foundation Establishment Pills is going to be difficult!" Lin Shiming realized, and naturally, Lin Xianzhi saw it too, his face showing some concern.
The situation they were most worried about had still occurred.
They indeed managed to annoy Huang Yunqi, but as the auction progressed, it turned out to be they who got annoyed.
The Huang Family had the backing of the Purple Mansion Family; they were determinedly making things difficult for the Lin Family. No matter the amount, they would follow their bids, but once a certain expectation was reached, they would let the Lin Family buy it!
The Huang Family could afford mistakes, but even one mistake from the Lin Family might mean that the Spirit Stones they had prepared would not suffice to compete for the Foundation Establishment Pills.
Moreover, the situation was even worse because unless the Lin Family was willing to pay high prices for some other Magic Artifacts and treasures, they could forget about taking home a single treasure at its normal auction price from this grand event!
The Huang Family wasn't foolish, and Lin Xianzhi always had a feeling that Huang Yunqi was acting somewhat exaggeratedly.
Starting from the entrance of the city, it's been rather overdone!
Living for over two hundred years, would he really be so unable to resist provocation?
"Stop bidding, let's focus on the Foundation Establishment Pill!" In the end, Lin Xianzhi said, realizing that for the sake of the Foundation Establishment Pill, any good treasure in the interim was no longer within their reach.
And even then, it's not certain they would get the Foundation Establishment Pill!
After selling over a dozen more items, although the Lin Family did not bid, it still broadened Lin Shiming's horizons.
The fair in Qingxuan City truly was magnificent, featuring rare top-quality assassination Magic Artifacts, Third Rank peak young Spirit Beasts, and various rare Spirit Talismans, and Spiritual Medicines.
And these were only the treasures for the Qi Refinement Realm.
As the auction reached its midpoint, the items offered had evolved to Third Rank Magic Artifacts, Third Rank Elixirs, and Third Rank natural Spiritual Objects.
Those who started bidding were all from Foundation Establishment Hermit Cultivators and Foundation Establishment families, and even the Purple Mansion Family from the second floor began to participate.
Several times Lin Xianzhi encountered items he needed, bid once or twice, but the Huang Family instantly followed, driving the price up to thirty or forty thousand Spirit Stones.
The Lin Family could only give up.
And at this moment, the Foundation Establishment Pills finally made their appearance.
"Fellow daoists, we've now reached the segment you've all been most looking forward to—the Foundation Establishment Pills!"