A True Spirit Realm Guardian God General—this was a priceless treasure for any faction. To own one was to possess a completely loyal protector, unwavering and incapable of betrayal. In the eyes of many, its value was immeasurable.
Ordinary Guardian God Generals rarely reached the True Spirit Realm. The most important point was that this one still had room to grow stronger, possibly even advancing to the Dao Platform Realm.
However, breaking through to the Dao-Proving Realm was nearly impossible.
To reach the Dao-Proving Realm, one had to prove a Dao—and for each Dao, only one cultivator could prove it at a time.
For example, the Guardian God General's path was the Dao of Protection. If someone had already proven this Dao, then no other cultivator—or god general—could progress beyond the Dao Platform Realm unless the original progenitor of that Dao fell. Only when a Dao was unclaimed could another attempt to prove it.
Otherwise, they'd have to initiate a Dao War—a brutal contest of Dao comprehension, ending only with the death of one side.
Clearly, no Guardian General would initiate such a struggle unless the Dao of Protection was still unclaimed.
But if one were to truly prove the Dao of Protection, it would become a pillar of destiny, anchoring an entire dynasty's fortune for millions or even billions of years, possibly attaining eternal existence.
"Interesting… A Guardian General like this would make an excellent defender of the Imperial Palace. With one guarding the palace, no intruder would dare violate it."
This time, Yi Tianxing was truly tempted.
Such an utterly loyal divine protector was invaluable.
"Ten billion!"
Without hesitation, Yi Tianxing was the first to bid, offering a sky-high price.
It was a clear declaration of intent: he would win this item, no matter what.
The hall fell into silence.
No one else spoke.
No one dared to challenge him—not because they couldn't afford it, but because Yi Tianxing's intent was too obvious. Competing against him would not only be unwise, it might be seen as an affront.
Besides, Guardian Generals could still be crafted—if one had the refining method and a sufficient supply of incense and merit power, it was just a matter of time and resources.
Even the consignor was satisfied. Ten billion was already above market value.
After all, Guardian God Generals were technically a form of puppet, albeit divine and powerful ones.
And so, with no competition, the Guardian General fell into Yi Tianxing's hands.
The Auction Continues
The auction carried on, with top-tier treasures continuing to appear in endless succession.
Each item was astounding in value, and even the heaven-and-earth treasures presented had already been refined to high ranks—typically Profound-tier or Earth-tier, and even a few considered Innate Spirit Treasures.
Anything less, such as basic Yellow-tier items, wouldn't even appear here unless there was specific demand.
Yi Tianxing kept bidding on a few choice treasures, often opening with sky-high prices that discouraged competition. Many contenders simply withdrew in silence.
Among the items he won were several blueprints—each of immense civil value to Great Yi.
For example, one was a blueprint for a refinery, specifically for refining edible oils.
This wasn't for crude oil or alchemy but cooking oil—something vital for the daily life of ordinary people. The design employed a fusion of rune technology and mechanical ingenuity.
Once built, these refineries would allow Great Yi's food industry to produce high-quality, spiritual cooking oils—completely free of impurities and rich in spiritual essence.
A leap forward in both nutrition and public satisfaction.
Next Lot: The Terrifying Paradise
"Our next item is called the Terrifying Paradise," announced Divine Eye.
This was a unique treasure building—an Earth-tier rare treasure, comparable in some respects to an innate spiritual artifact.
"Within it, one can experience a wide variety of terrifying scenarios: haunted houses, death chambers, horror roller coasters, night parades of a hundred ghosts…"
"Those who are overwhelmed by fear are ejected. But if one can withstand a full hour, the Paradise grants a reward—which could be anything."
The experience wasn't fatal—but the psychological impact was profound.
All cultivators entering would have their cultivation and mana sealed, becoming like ordinary mortals. The structure had been forged from demonic essences and the fearful thoughts of sentient beings, forming a complex set of fear-based environments.
Starting bid: 30 million Eternal Coins, with a minimum increment of 1 million.
This was a niche treasure—fascinating but with limited appeal.
Only large factions might consider it seriously.
"One hundred million," said Yi Tianxing calmly.
A high price—but with little interest from others, he won the item easily.
It was simply too unusual for most cultivators.
Next Lot: The Joyous Amusement Park
"The next item is related. It is called the Joyous Amusement Park."
This building also sealed visitors' powers and offered a full array of joyful attractions—roller coasters, pirate ships, giant spinning hammers, multi-world Ferris wheels...
Its primary effect was to bring happiness, laughter, and joy.
Though it was also an Earth-tier rare treasure, it had no direct combat utility.
The structures within were indestructible and eternally pristine.
Starting bid: 30 million Eternal Coins.
Again, few showed interest.
To cultivators, it felt like a child's toy—a theme park for mortal fun.
"One hundred million," Yi Tianxing bid once more.
No one competed.
And once again, he won the item easily.
"These are excellent additions to the Great Yi Dynasty."
"What we lack is precisely these kinds of public entertainment venues. Whether terrifying or joyous, both can serve as social hubs—allowing the people to laugh, to scream, to release stress."
"They're worth more than any spiritual treasure. In governance, building trust and joy among the people is far more powerful than raw force."
"To me, these treasures are priceless."
Yi Tianxing was deeply satisfied.
To others, these treasures might seem useless.
But to a ruler, they were the keys to stability.
"One man's trash is another man's treasure."
Stage Two: Direct Bartering
With the main auction complete, the event shifted to its second phase: bartering.
Participants could now propose direct trades, seeking specific items.
If mutual interest existed, they could negotiate privately.
No one was forced—everything was voluntary.
The hall buzzed with movement as cultivators discussed trades, many leaving with smiles of satisfaction.
Stage Three: Sharing Information
The third phase was information exchange.
These attendees were not commoners—they were rulers of realms, each with vast experiences and unique insights.
The information shared was not trivial—it was rare and highly valuable.
"I come from the Tianyuan Realm," one cultivator began.
"It's a chaotic realm, overrun by ferocious beasts. Wars rage constantly between the various races. The human race mainly survives under the protection of the immortal sects—ranked from one to nine stars."
"The strongest human sect is the Tianyuan Immortal Sect, a seven-star sect with Dao Platform Realm experts guarding it. It's considered a holy land."
"However, many other races have equally powerful forces, and war is ongoing. The realm has yet to unite. Most of its territory remains engulfed in conflict."
"I once encountered a strange river," said another expert.
"I named it the Phantom River. The water was crystal clear, but when touched, it would release colorful bubbles—mesmerizing yet sinister."
"A massive beast horde once drew near… and simply vanished within it, completely gone without a trace."
"Beautiful. Mysterious. Deadly. I still don't know its origin."