As a behemoth with a long and storied history, the Xingyun sun Commerce Association employed a number of masters who were experts in both the ancient and modern worlds.

They were well-versed in the long history of the Cultivation civilization, knew all sorts of legends and secrets unknown to the outside world, and possessed a profound, first-class understanding and research of various Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, Spiritual Treasures, and Heavy Artifacts. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The upper echelons of the Commerce Association had once organized a large number of people to try and verify the origin and identity of this Spirit Treasure Fragment. Unfortunately, even the most ancient Scriptures and secret scrolls contained no record or description of it.

"...Fellow Daoists, this is likely a Spirit Treasure Fragment from a primordial age. If someone can successfully refine it, they will surely obtain immense benefits..."

The beautiful woman in the golden robe continued her conscientious introduction.

"Sister Feiyu, can you tell what this thing is?"

In the private room, Tang Qiu Yao turned her head and asked Meng Feiyu.

Meng Feiyu’s fine brows furrowed slightly. She stared at the bead for a moment before shaking her head.

"This is indeed a fragment of an Ancient Spiritual Treasure, but it’s been severely damaged and contaminated by Demonic Qi, so its original form is no longer recognizable.

Even if you acquired it, it’s impossible to repair. I don’t think we should bother with it."

According to the conventions of this world, above Magical Treasures were Spiritual Treasures, which were divided into Early Grade, Middle Grade, Upper Grade, and Absolute Top Grade, followed by Ancient Spiritual Treasures.

Meng Feiyu’s memories and experiences from her past life had not yet fully recovered, so she couldn’t discern any more details.

"It would be nice to have it as a collector’s item,"

Ling Changqing said with a smile. With Gong Ling’s hint, there was no way he would let this item fall into anyone else’s hands.

The women looked at him, vaguely sensing that their husband must have discovered something but was unwilling to say it aloud.

"...The starting bid for this treasure is three hundred Middle grade Spirit Stones, with a minimum increment of ten. Interested fellow Daoists may now place your bids!"

The beautiful woman in the golden robe finally announced with a smile.

Whispers filled the auction hall as many Cultivators frowned, scrutinizing the earthy-yellow bead, seemingly hesitant to make a move.

A few hundred Middle grade Spirit Stones wasn’t an exorbitant amount for Core Formation Level Cultivators, but spending it on something with no visible benefit was another matter entirely.

In this vast and boundless world, with its long and deep-rooted Cultivation civilization, the number of cave abodes and ruins left behind by predecessors was countless.

Massive numbers of Cultivators roamed the world seeking fortuitous encounters, and every year, a few items of unknown origin would be unearthed through various means.

A small portion of these things turned out to be useful opportunities, but the vast majority went unrecognized and were eventually sold off cheaply or left to gather dust in the vaults of a Sect or family, never to see the light of day.

The Xingyun sun Commerce Association’s strategy was precisely this: since no one could figure out the item’s origin, they decided to offload it at auction to at least get some Spirit Stones in return.

The Cultivators in the hall were well aware of this tactic, so most were unwilling to be the sucker who fell for it.

After a long while, someone finally bid hesitantly, "Three hundred and ten!"

"Three hundred and twenty."

Another voice followed.

"Three hundred and thirty,"

Ling Changqing said.

Although not many people were participating, after a few rounds of bidding, the price slowly surpassed four hundred and approached the five-hundred mark.

There were always some Cultivators who weren’t short on Spirit Stones and dreamed of finding a hidden gem. What if this was one of those lucky breaks?

"Five hundred!"

A woman’s voice came from an open-air private room on the 2nd Floor. It was a Female Cultivator wearing Beast Hide Armor that highlighted her explosive curves.

"Five hundred and ten."

Ling Changqing continued to bid.

"Five hundred and twenty."

A tall, thin old man in a green robe, leaning on an Azure Bamboo Staff, said calmly. He squinted, carefully examining the bead on the stage as if deep in thought.

"Five hundred and thirty!"

Another voice, a young girl of about ten, said hesitantly.

"Five hundred and forty!"

...

The discussions in the hall grew louder. No one had expected that a seemingly useless item could be driven to such a high price.

"...So many people are fighting over it. Could it really be a fragment of an Ancient Magical Treasure? Not just some Waste?"

"Maybe. Why else would so many people be interested? After all, no one here is a fool."

"It’s hard to say."

"Too bad we don’t have that many Spirit Stones, or we’d jump in and compete for it too."

"Get real. Even if we bought it, we wouldn’t have the ability to restore it. If the Xingyun sun Commerce Association was helpless, what could we possibly do?"

"Ugh, that’s true..."

While they were talking, the item’s price had already surpassed the six-hundred mark and was gradually approaching seven hundred.

"Seven hundred!"

Ling Changqing bid again, still unhurried.

The few Cultivators still in the running were visibly startled, and for a moment, no one followed up with another bid.

Apparently, spending more than seven hundred Middle grade Spirit Stones on such an enigmatic item felt like a bit of a loss.

"Seven hundred and fifty!"

Just when Ling Changqing thought victory was within his grasp, a clear, melodious, and enchantingly gentle voice abruptly rang out, causing his expression to change in an instant.

In a lavish private room dozens of yards away, a beautiful, tall woman in a fiery red dress sat ramrod straight. To his surprise, it was Long Nu, Luo Qingxuan, whom he hadn’t seen in years.

’I can’t believe she’s here too, and at this auction, of all places.’

The private room was shielded by layers of Array Restrictions, but these measures were meaningless to Gong Ling, which was how Ling Changqing knew it was her.

"Eight hundred!"

Ling Changqing paused for a moment, then gestured for Song Xuelan, who was beside him, to call out the bid for him.