Chapter 207: Chapter 207

The night breeze scattered blossoms like a thousand trees, blowing down stars like rain...

Amidst everyone's eager anticipation, the fortnight passed in a flash, arriving at the day of the grand auction. Before the hour of You (5-7 PM) had even arrived, the massive Biling Pavilion was already packed inside and out with cultivators.

Most wore robes signifying their status as elders or even sect leaders, while the lowest-ranking attendees were still core inner disciples. At a glance, one could see these were all individuals of considerable standing.

Faced with this scene, the attendants at the entrance didn't even bother looking up, knowing perfectly well what had drawn this crowd without needing to see.

The superior-grade Nascent Soul Pill truly lived up to its extraordinary reputation.

The great hall blazed with light as bright as day.

As various rare treasures found their owners one after another, just as the auctioneer was about to speak to ease the palpably tense atmosphere, a rough middle-aged male voice suddenly rose from the slightly noisy crowd:

"On such a fine occasion, might we inquire if Grandmaster Chen has graced us with his presence?"

The previously buzzing hall instantly fell silent.

"To be frank with everyone, this relates precisely to what I was about to announce next—regarding our final auction item, which is also what everyone is most concerned about—the superior-grade Nascent Soul Pill."

No sooner had he spoken than someone blurted out impatiently:

"What? The Biling Pavilion has stood for millennia on its reputation—surely you wouldn't go back on your word today and withhold the pill?"

"You misunderstand, fellow cultivator!"

Pavilion Master Qin's expression remained unchanged: "As you all know, our Biling Pavilion's millennium-long heritage relies entirely on our credibility. Even a superior-grade Nascent Soul Pill, no matter how precious, isn't worth jeopardizing our ancestral legacy!"

Of course, the more important reason was that where there was a first pill, there might well be a second—it simply wouldn't be worth offending a uniquely talented grandmaster over this.

Despite his words, the skeptical expressions in the crowd didn't fade in the slightest.

And why would they? This superior-grade Nascent Soul Pill was simply too valuable...

Under the crowd's burning gazes, Pavilion Master Qin on the high platform lightly clapped his hands, whereupon blue-robed attendants carefully presented a jade box intricately carved with various talismanic patterns.

Pavilion Master Qin personally produced a key-shaped jade token from his robes.

The moment the jade box opened, everyone's breath caught.

They called it the Golden Core for good reason—it was well known that when pills reached a certain grade, emitting spiritual light was hardly uncommon.

Yet such high-grade pills hadn't been seen in the Xuanzhen Continent for many years.

But now, there in the center of the jade box, clear for all to see, was a pill covered in spiritual inscriptions, faintly shimmering with golden light.

More astonishingly, merely smelling a whiff of its fragrance, some Golden Core Perfection cultivators present already felt their bottlenecks loosening...

The superior-grade Nascent Soul Pill truly lived up to its name.

In that moment, nearly everyone's eyes flashed with determination to obtain it at all costs.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Yet at this moment, Pavilion Master Qin suddenly announced: "As everyone knows, Grandmaster Chen places little value on material possessions. However, given this pill's extraordinary worth, today's auction rules will require some adjustments!"

Without waiting for questions, he continued: "At the grandmaster's request, today's bidding will be conducted through item exchange..."

As he spoke, attendants brought forth a jade tray nearly three arm-lengths long, fully equipped with brushes, ink, and paper.

"All present are requested to write down both the items you wish to exchange and your honorable names. As for who ultimately obtains this treasure—that decision will be made personally by Grandmaster Chen himself!"

Hearing this was the grandmaster's own arrangement, whatever dissatisfaction the cultivators might have felt was instantly swallowed. They racked their brains trying to determine what treasures they might offer.

Unfortunately, this newly ascended grandmaster had kept an exceptionally low profile over the past decades. Beyond the occasional spirit pill circulating in the cultivation world, few knew anything of his temperament. Left with no choice, everyone simply listed their most valuable possessions, hoping to demonstrate their sincerity to the grandmaster...

And indeed, An Ning was currently reviewing this so-called "sincerity."

Millennium spirit jade marrow, earth-grade superior soft armor, ten-thousand-year mermaid pearls, all manner of rare medicinal herbs, and even territorial rights to certain regions.

Her gaze briefly skimmed over the paper bearing Sikong Jing's name—the millennium lingzhi mushroom was certainly tempting, but after just a glance, she tossed it aside without hesitation.

For the prime murder suspect, even with just a one-in-ten-thousand chance, she wouldn't let her pill fall into his hands.

Reviewing the original host's memories of these people...

Within fifteen minutes, An Ning had selected her lucky winner.

Elder Yun Yi of the Xuqing Sect's Sword Peak—a Golden Core Perfection cultivator who had reached esteemed status through sword cultivation.

Aside from being absent from the sect when the original host died, this was a genuine female sword cultivator who kept largely to herself with a clean background.

Most crucially, one day before the original host's death in her previous two lives, this elder had been a thousand miles away at Fulan Island for an arranged duel—making her one of the least likely suspects in the entire sect.

Of course, one couldn't deny the attractiveness of her offered item either—

The Hidden Spirit Pearl, harvested from an abyssal sea beast called "Chen." When worn, it could dramatically reduce spiritual awareness probing from others.

An Ning first summoned an attendant and whispered brief instructions in their ear.

Midnight had long passed. As time ticked away with the pill's ownership still undecided, the atmosphere in the hall, which had just begun to settle, grew agitated once more.

Fortunately, Pavilion Master Qin soon reappeared on stage, smiling broadly as he slowly unfolded a slip of paper:

"Congratulations to bidder number three hundred twenty-one! You have successfully won the superior-grade Nascent Soul Pill!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the hall erupted even more violently than before, with many eyes flashing crimson...

"Three hundred twenty-one—who is three hundred twenty-one?"

As expected, no one responded.

The scene was deathly silent.

In the cultivation world, who didn't understand the principle that while the common man's crime is owning the jade, the crime lies in the jade itself?

Let alone a spirit pill of this caliber—it would undoubtedly make everyone covetous, meaning its owner would instantly become everyone's target.

Under such circumstances, only a fool would reveal themselves.

Just as Pavilion Master Qin prepared to smilingly see his guests out—

Someone suddenly shouted from the crowd: "Pavilion Master Qin, if I may be so bold—in terms of treasures, who could possibly compare to your Biling Pavilion?"