Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method
Chapter 138 - 126: Truly a Vixen
The arrival of the Fairy from the Golden Crow Sect ignited the atmosphere inside and outside the auction house, raising everyone’s anticipation for the event to a new level.
After all, the Golden Crow Sect was itself a shining calling card, indirectly proving the extraordinary nature of this auction.
Sure enough, their arrival was only the beginning. The Celestial Vein Sect followed close behind, also represented by a Purple Mansion Stage Elder.
Soon after, many other Purple Mansion Cultivators arrived, some from the Seven Eminent Clans and others being far-famed Loose Cultivators.
However, to Song Changsheng’s slight disappointment, "Elder Casual," whom he had been watching for, still had not appeared.
The Lieyang Sect did send people, but not a Purple Mansion Cultivator. Instead, it was just a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, which looked rather pathetic compared to the other members of the Seven Eminent Clans.
This also suggested that the old dog’s injuries were indeed severe; otherwise, he wouldn’t have stayed out of sight for so many years.
’It would be best if he’s dead.’ This was the heartfelt wish of Song Changsheng and many other Song Clan disciples.
The great doors of the auction house slowly closed a quarter of an hour before the auction was set to begin, and Song Changsheng, who had been resting with his eyes closed, finally opened them.
Just then, a side door that had been shut for a long time creaked open, and a woman walked out. She was dressed in a long, light-gauze robe, through which her snow-white skin was faintly visible. A silk ribbon was wrapped around her slender waist, accentuating her perfect figure.
The hem of her skirt swayed gently with her steps, as if dancing to its own rhythm. Her gait was light and graceful, like a dancer on a stage, each step captivating the hearts of all who watched.
Her eyebrows were like crescent moons, slightly arched, revealing a hint of flirtation and charm. With every blink of her almond-shaped eyes, she seemed capable of stealing away a person’s very soul. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
Song Changsheng was a little surprised. A top-grade beauty like this was even rarer than a Purple Mansion Cultivator. Today was certainly interesting, with two of them appearing at once, and both with completely different styles.
The one from the Golden Crow Sect was like a Fairy descended to the mortal realm. Although beautiful and possessing a noble air, she also carried an unapproachable coldness that kept people thousands of miles away.
In simple terms: "aloof."
But the woman before him was entirely different. Her every frown and smile, every movement, and even every step she took seemed to have been meticulously designed to display her in her most perfect state, showing no inhibition before the blatant, invasive gazes of the crowd.
She swayed her snake-like waist as she approached the central auction stage and gave a slight bow, acknowledging every direction and every level of the audience.
A charming smile remained on her face, and her gaze was so intense it was as if it could spin silk. Those with weaker willpower were already struggling to suppress their arousal.
A faint heat stirred in Song Changsheng’s heart, but he quickly suppressed it. ’Truly a siren,’ he thought to himself.
"What a siren!" In a luxurious private box on the third floor, someone else uttered the same words, though their tone was laced with gritted teeth.
"Qingxue, you’re being affected by her," the sturdy man in the black-and-gold robe of the Golden Crow Sect said calmly, holding a wine cup.
Xia Qingxue’s pretty face turned cold as she flatly denied it. "I am not."
The sturdy man smiled faintly and didn’t expose her lie. The history between those two couldn’t be explained in a few words, and it was best for him not to get involved.
"Seniors and fellow cultivators, welcome to today’s auction. My name is Xia Wanyun, and I am honored to be your host. I hope to bring you all good fortune." Xia Wanyun’s voice was sweet and seductive, like a whisper in one’s ear that made the heart itch with desire.
With a light wave of her hand, a handmaiden in a gauze dress brought up a tray covered with a red cloth. Xia Wanyun reached out a snow-white, delicate hand and gently lifted the cloth.
"Everyone, this is today’s first treasure: one Tier Three Low Grade Xunfeng Soul-cutting Talisman. It can be activated by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and is equivalent to the full-strength attack of an Early-stage Purple Mansion Cultivator."
’A Tier Three Attack Talisman?’ Song Changsheng hadn’t expected the auction house to start with something so big. A treasure like this could serve as the finale in an ordinary auction, yet here it was merely an appetizer.
The effect, however, was excellent. The crowd’s enthusiasm was instantly ignited.
Seeing that the atmosphere was right, Xia Wanyun smiled bewitchingly and said, "The starting price for this item is five thousand Spirit Stones, with each bid increase no less than one hundred. Fellow cultivators, please begin your bidding."
"I bid six thousand Spirit Stones!" A Qi Cultivator on the first floor raised his paddle, his eyes full of greed.
"Hah, what use does a mere Qi Cultivator have for such an item? I’ll bid ten thousand," an arrogant voice called out from the second floor, instantly pushing the price into five digits.
Song Changsheng was secretly astonished. He was tempted, of course, but his entire fortune was only a little over thirty thousand Spirit Stones. Even if he were lucky enough to win this Talisman, he could forget about the White Tiger Fang.
Thus, he had no choice but to stay put.
More and more people joined the bidding, and the price continued to climb, finally stopping at twenty-eight thousand Spirit Stones. It was sold to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator on the second floor.
For a Tier Three Talisman, this price was somewhat low, but it was likely because many people were holding back and saving their strength.
The next few items were rather ordinary—just some Tier Two Magical Artifacts, Spirit Fruits, and the like. The main participants were the numerous Qi Cultivators and a small portion of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Just as the crowd’s excitement began to cool, Xia Wanyun dropped another bombshell. This time it was a Sword-Shaped Spiritual Artifact, which once again incited fierce competition. It was ultimately sold to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator for forty thousand Spirit Stones.
’That guy’s in for it.’ Song Changsheng frowned slightly. A Spiritual Artifact was a great treasure, but one had to be alive to use it.
Just as he thought, that cultivator eventually died in the dense forest outside Luoxia City, his body looted clean...
This was just a small interlude for Song Changsheng; he wasn’t particularly concerned with the man’s fate. He did, however, feel that attending this auction was well worth it.
Although he hadn’t participated in any bidding so far, the Rare Treasures had truly opened his eyes and broadened his horizons.
The auction had been going on for three ancient hours now, with over fifty items sold. Five treasures on the level of Tier Three Talismans and Spiritual Artifacts had appeared. He also spotted a familiar face: an Earth Fire Sect Elder—Cheng Yufei.
He spent fifty thousand Spirit Stones to purchase a Tier Three Heart Method inheritance. This instantly put Song Changsheng on high alert. As far as he knew, the Earth Fire Sect only had one Tier Three Heart Method, left by their Founding Ancestor, but it wasn’t suitable for Chang Wudao.
This Fire Element Heart Method, however, was a perfect fit. It meant that Chang Wudao was preparing to break through to the Purple Mansion Stage!
’Old man, you’d better step it up.’ Song Changsheng secretly clenched his fists, but he was powerless to stop it.
He also found it strange. Why hadn’t the clan sent anyone to attend such an important auction? He sensed that something was off.
But before he could think on it further, Xia Wanyun presented the next item. "The next item is the skeleton of a Tier Two High Grade White Tiger..."
...