"You really absorbed it all. How did you do that?"
When Zhiran slowly opened his eyes, he found Xiao Lan staring at him with disbelief.
After all, it took him barely fifteen minutes to absorb that Solar Essence of Xuan rank completely. The auction hadn't even entered its final stage yet.
Such speed was impossible. Even the finest Yellow rank cultivation technique couldn't achieve this, and even Xuan grade arts would find it difficult. Then...
"Zhiran, what kind of technique do you practice?"
Xiao Lan's breath hitched as a bold thought crossed her mind, making her heart flutter in shock. For a brief moment, something dangerous flickered within her before she suppressed it firmly.
Zhiran still caught the slight change in her expression.
"Haha... whatever it is, it's definitely from the Divine Cauldron Sect. Don't worry."
He didn't call out her thoughts and simply laughed it off. Besides, he wasn't lying as the Divine Core Technique truly originated from the Divine Cauldron Sect.
"Tch... as if I'll believe you."
Xiao Lan clicked her tongue at him and withdrew her sealing around the room. By now, her restless heart had finally calmed.
Although the appearance of a Solar Essence and the possible Earth Rank cultivation technique stirred her curiosity, she wasn't the type of cultivator to steal from her junior. That would go against her heart of cultivation.
Besides, she didn't believe Zhiran lacked precautions against her.
"Say, Zhiran, what will you do if I did something to you while you were absorbing that Solar Essence?"
Still, Xiao Lan couldn't help but ask out of curiosity. No matter how she looked, Zhiran's move had been far too reckless.
"Hmm? Why would you do that?"
Zhiran heard her and looked at her with a puzzled expression, acting as if he truly didn't understand.
Then, as if catching on to her meaning, a faint smile appeared on his lips. So, he suddenly leaned slightly closer to Xiao Lan, his tone light.
"Laner, of course, it's because I trust you. I know you won't ever do something like that."
He whispered playfully in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her skin, sending a faint shiver through her body.
For a moment, Xiao Lan felt her body tremble ever so slightly, a faint flush rising to her cheeks despite her efforts to suppress it.
"Okay, stop your nonsense. I'm not a little girl who believes such lies."
Xiao Lan hurriedly distanced herself from Zhiran and admonished him lightly, her face a little red.
Now she understood how Mei Xuan probably felt when Zhiran teased her. Although she couldn't deny that she liked it a little, she was far too shy, as it was a completely new and unfamiliar feeling.
"Haha... Senior also has such sides. I didn't know that."
Mo Zhiran laughed loudly, clearly amused by her reaction. But he didn't tease her further and instead focused on the auction below, which was now entering its final phase.
Of course, while doing so, he silently stored the small jade in his hand into his storage ring.
'Elder Yan Yue is really generous, giving such a precious Jade Array as a gift. I wonder what task she has for me.'
Zhiran thought silently inside his mind. Just like Xiao Lan thought, he of course had a backup in case she tried something while he was absorbing that Solar Essence.
In fact, if he wasn't afraid that the essence might lose vitality if he was late, he wouldn't take such a risk as before.
After all, after being betrayed in his previous life, he would be a fool to believe in Xiao Lan.
Just... he was forced to hurry, since unlike Tianyu, he didn't have the Sun Body to nourish the Solar Essence if something happened.
'Fortunately, all worked out for the better. It seems she is somehow trustworthy.'
Zhiran glanced at the senior from the corner of his eye, noticing her busy attempt to hide her blush.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the auction is finally approaching its climax, and I know most of you have been eagerly awaiting the final items."
Just as Zhiran was distracted, Yan Xi's voice echoed through the auction house, instantly drawing the attention of everyone present.
Especially the Foundation Establishment cultivators on the first floor visibly tensed with excitement at the announcement, including Xiao Lan.
Sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere, Yan Xi smiled and continued,
"This time, our Mystic Exchange Alliance has prepared three exceptional items for this auction. So, without making you wait any longer, let's begin the bidding for the third item, shall we?"
With that, Yan Xi waved her hand and revealed a long sword.
As soon as the sword appeared, its silver blade shimmered faintly, casting a soft glow around it, while the intricate runes etched along its surface pulsed subtly, giving it an exceptional, almost otherworldly appearance.
"Peak Xuan Grade Sword."
However, Zhiran's attention wasn't on the look of the sword but rather on its aura that he could feel even from his room.
"This is the Peak Xuan Grade Quanhong Longsword, forged by the skilled blacksmiths of our Mystic Exchange Alliance. It is made of rare Xuan Iron, which conducts Qi smoothly. For a swordsman, it is an extremely good weapon."
Yan Xi introduced the sword, then finally came to the point.
"Since this is a rare Xuan-rank weapon, the starting bid shall be 1,000 low-grade or 10 middle-grade spirit stones, and nothing less. You cannot bid with anything other than spirit stones. The bid starts now."
She said, starting the bidding immediately as if she had no intention of wasting time.
"1,000 low-grade spirit stones!"
"1,200 low-grade spirit stones!"
"1,500 low-grade spirit stones!"
As soon as the auction began, the ever-so-silent first floor started to stir loudly, with bid after bid being thrown out one after another.
In an instant, the price of the sword shot up to 1,500 spirit stones, showing no sign of slowing down.
The Divine Cauldron Sect was very efficient in pill formation but not so skilled in weapon formation. Any weapon of good rank was highly sought after inside the sect.
So, although the sword wasn't the top choice for every cultivator, it was still heavily contested, even by the Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"2,000 low-grade spirit stones!"
Zhiran was surprised to see that even someone from the ground floor was competing for the sword, going head-on against the Foundation Establishment cultivators.
'Liang Feng? Where did he get so much money?'
Zhiran immediately recognized the person since he wasn't hiding his figure. It was none other than Liang Feng.
From how he called 2,000 low-grade spirit stones, it was clear he was hell-bent on getting this sword today.
'Unfortunately, I also need this weapon. Sorry, bro. Maybe try next time.'
Zhiran shook his head lightly at Liang Feng and shouted his bid loudly, directly participating in the auction.
"2,500 low-grade spirit stones."
Although he stole a middle-rank yellow grade sword from Wu Kang before, that sword wasn't enough for him anymore, as it was almost scrapped after he used his Sword Intent.
He was in dire need of a weapon now that could withstand his Sword Intent. This Quanhong Longsword came at the right time.