The next day.
In the heart of the Great Qin capital, the main pavilion of the Primordial Commerce Pavilion stood towering and resplendent, its exterior carved from jade stone that shimmered faintly with runic light. Dozens of suspended spirit lamps floated in the air, illuminating a hall large enough to hold tens of thousands.
Private lofts lined the upper levels, each one sealed with independent formations—reserved for hegemonic powers and great clans.
Even though this was only a branch of the Pavilion, no dynasty or holy land in the Southern Wilderness dared show the slightest disrespect.
As streams of cultivators entered the venue, the air grew thick with murmurs and spiritual pressure. The weaker casual cultivators, standing at the back, could only whisper among themselves.
"Have you heard?" one said, voice trembling with excitement. "Almost every hegemonic force across a hundred states has come! Even those from beyond the Southern Wilderness!"
"What! All of them?"
"That's right! What kind of treasure could make them all move at once?"
Their eyes gleamed with feverish anticipation. To them, this was not merely an auction—it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness the true powers of the world.
They wouldn't be bidding, of course. They couldn't afford to. But to see the wealth and dominance of the overlords of the Southern Wilderness? For a rogue cultivator, that was worth more than gold.
Inside one of the upper pavilions, Qin Wucheng and his group had already taken their seats.
From the window, he could see the endless flow of sect leaders, nobles, and cultivators entering the grand hall. Even Luo Jingtao, who had experienced countless court gatherings, looked uneasy.
With the Sect Master of Lingxiao present, he felt far safer. But still—this was the Primordial Commerce Pavilion. Even a hegemon could lose everything in this place with one wrong bid.
"Sect Master," he said carefully, "if a ninth-grade spirit medicine appears, I must try to obtain it—no matter who I'm bidding against."
"Of course," Qin Wucheng said lightly, swirling the tea in his cup. "But tell me, what exactly are they auctioning today?"
He smiled faintly to himself.
To stir up trouble—no, to join the fun—was the real reason he'd come. Still, if a top-tier treasure or sacred medicine appeared, he wouldn't mind securing one or two.
After all, a Sect Master must properly nourish his cultivation.
Spirit medicines ranged from first to ninth grade, each level rarer than the last. Sacred medicines were treasures even the great dynasties would wage wars for, and above those were the Emperor's medicines—said to be able to extend the lifespan of the strongest Immortal Kings.
As for Immortal Elixirs… those were the stuff of legend. Even an Emperor would lose his dignity for a single drop.
He sighed dramatically. "Ah, but I suppose I don't need to compete. I have my System, after all."
That thought alone filled him with satisfaction.
Behind him, Luo Jingtao blinked at the question. Then, realizing what Qin Wucheng had just asked, his mind began to spin.
Didn't… didn't they use spirit stones to trade in the mythic age?
He looked dazed for a moment before his eyes suddenly widened.
No—wait!
In his mind, the Lingxiao Sect was no ordinary power. It had to be an ancient force, passed down from the Mythic Era, tens of millions of years ago!
Could it be that the Sect Master did not use spirit stones at all? Could it be… Divine Essence Crystals?!
Just the thought made Luo Jingtao's blood run cold. The Divine Essence Crystal was the most mysterious of all resources—able to preserve even dying immortals. Only the greatest holy lands of antiquity possessed a few fragments, sealed within their deepest vaults.
If Lingxiao Sect used that for cultivation…
He swallowed hard and forced himself to calm down. "Sect Master, the auction uses spirit stones as its bidding medium," he said carefully.
"Oh?" Qin Wucheng nodded, pretending to ponder. "Spirit stones, is it?"
Then his eyes flickered playfully. "Tell me—can I bid with other things?"
Luo Jingtao froze. "Other… things?"
The Sect Master's voice grew calm, almost thoughtful. "This is the perfect chance to make the Lingxiao Sect's name known across the Southern Wilderness. If I show the Pavilion our… strength, the sect's reputation will soar."
Luo Jingtao nearly choked.
Strength? Was he planning to challenge the major powers here? That wasn't "showing strength"—that was suicide!
But before he could speak, Qin Wucheng had already turned inward.
System, he said silently, be a good partner for once. Give me something valuable to flaunt.
[Ding—Request denied.]
He blinked. "What?"
[Ding—You've asked for too much already.]
"You stingy piece of junk!" Qin Wucheng muttered under his breath, earning a startled glance from Zhao Han.
[Ding—Host is advised to cultivate humility.]
He nearly choked on his tea. "Cultivate humility? I'm trying to cultivate a reputation!"
The System stayed silent.
Trash dog system
Behind him, Luo Jingtao, unaware of the internal argument, looked increasingly excited.
He misunderstood entirely.
In his mind, "other things" could only mean Divine Essence Crystals—the most divine of materials.
Heavens above! he thought, barely holding in a gasp. The Sect Master is truly unfathomable! Using Divine Essence Crystals to bid for mortal treasures—this is generosity beyond measure!
If any of the sealed ancient immortals heard such a thing, they'd probably claw their way out of their coffins just to strangle him.
"Sect Master," Luo Jingtao said quickly, regaining composure, "it's possible to offer treasures instead of spirit stones. The Pavilion allows barter bids, but they'll charge a handling fee."
"Hmm." Qin Wucheng nodded. "Good. I understand."
He leaned back in his chair, his lips curving slightly. "Maybe we'll give these overlords a small surprise."
From beside him, Zhao Han's expression turned eager. "Sect Master, if you need me to—"
"No," Qin Wucheng interrupted. "Your job is to look like you understand what's going on."
Zhao Han blinked. "…Understood!"
Luo Xueyao covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
Just then, a deep, resonant voice rolled through the grand hall, shaking the air like a temple bell.
"Welcome, cultivators of the Southern Wilderness!"
"Welcome to the Primordial Commerce Pavilion, Qingzhou Branch!"
"Today's auction shall begin!"
The voice carried immense spiritual force, echoing in the minds of every participant. At once, the chatter in the hall fell silent. All eyes turned toward the center of the vast platform, where a man in white and gold robes slowly appeared.
Behind him floated several crystal boxes, each sealed in golden light. The aura they exuded made even Soul Transformation experts tremble slightly.
"First," the man announced, "the Pavilion shall present several introductory treasures—holy-grade armaments, sacred herbs, and ancient talismans. After that…" He paused deliberately, letting the tension rise. "…we shall unveil the first of the Five Supreme Lots of this auction."
The hall buzzed again.
"Five Supreme Lots?"
"Could one of them be the Heavenly Spirit Pill?"
"I heard it's even stronger than a Sacred Pill—it can raise a cultivator's realm directly!"
Qin Wucheng smiled faintly.
Heavenly Spirit Pill, huh? That does sound worth taking.
He glanced lazily toward the stage, eyes gleaming.
If all went according to plan, by the end of this auction, not only would the Lingxiao Sect's name resound across Qingzhou—
but a few of these so-called hegemonic powers might learn a lesson about true wealth.
The auction had officially begun.
Countless cultivators leaned forward, eyes bright with greed and curiosity. Even those who couldn't afford to bid were here for the spectacle.
Then a faint fragrance spread through the air.
From the back corridor, a woman in a long violet dress walked slowly onto the stage, every step graceful and deliberate. A light veil covered her face, but it couldn't hide her charm.
For a moment, the crowd went silent—then exploded.
"Fuck!"
"It's Fairy Wei Yiyi!"
"She's here? The one ranked seventy-second on the Southern Wilderness Tianjiao Ranking?"
The name rippled through the room like thunder. Even the cultivators from powerful sects looked surprised.
Fairy Wei Yiyi—disciple of the Purple Sky Pavilion, known across the Southern Wilderness for her beauty and terrifying strength. No one expected her to appear as the auctioneer for the Primordial Commerce Pavilion.
Cheers and laughter filled the air.
"Fairy Wei Yiyi! Look at me!"
"Marry me! I'll sell my spirit beast!"
Someone shouted something obscene, and Qin Wucheng rubbed his temples. "These idiots have no shame…"
Still, when he looked at the stage again, his expression changed slightly.
The spiritual pressure rolling off her body wasn't weak at all.
"Spirit Sea Realm," he muttered under his breath. "At her age?"
Even Ling Xue blinked in disbelief.
Qin Wucheng frowned. Something about her aura felt unstable—too smooth, too polished. He tapped the armrest lightly.
"System," he said quietly, "is that woman a genius?"