PDLP Chapter 203 Attack by a Nascent Soul Cultivator
Chapter 203 Attack by a Nascent Soul Cultivator
At this moment, Jin Ming's smile faded slightly.
He made a hand seal, and the crystal platform in the center of the auction stage shone brightly, the space slightly distorted, and an exquisite jade box slowly rose up.
The surface of the jade box was engraved with mysterious runes, clearly intended to lock in the spiritual energy of the treasures inside.
"The first treasure is the Nine-Turn Divine Forging Pill!" Jin Ming's voice was filled with unprecedented solemnity.
He carefully opened the lid of the jade box.
In an instant, a strange fragrance quickly spread.
Inside the box, a pill the size of a longan, its entire body suspended silently.
"This is a fourth-grade superior spiritual pill, made from the essence of nine thousand-year-old spiritual herbs, supplemented with the pure energy of the Nine Heavens and the spiritual marrow of the earth veins."
"Taking this pill can nourish the very essence of the soul, and has incredible effects on breaking through bottlenecks and stabilizing the primordial spirit!"
"The soul is the foundation of the Great Dao; its importance needs no further explanation. Starting bid: 500,000 low-grade spirit stones; each bid must increase by at least 50,000!"
Before Jin Ming could finish speaking, the bidding had already begun in waves.
"Six hundred thousand!"
"Seven hundred thousand!"
"Eight hundred thousand!"
"Nine hundred thousand!" Chen Xu also made his offer.
He needed this pill to prepare for breaking through to the mid-stage of Core Formation, so he was determined to get it.
"One million!" From the No. 7 VIP room, the voice that had previously failed in the contest for the Golden Lotus rang out coldly, carrying a hint of provocation, clearly harboring resentment towards Chen Xu.
"One million one hundred thousand!" Chen Xu raised the price again.
"One million two hundred thousand!" Box number seven of the Jia class followed without hesitation, seemingly determined to raise the price.
"One million three hundred thousand!" A private room that hadn't bid before joined the competition.
Chen Xu frowned slightly; the price was approaching his expectations for this pill.
He paused for a moment, then continued bidding: "One and a half million."
After all, with the [Dual Purpose] Hextech Rune as a safety net, even if I buy it at a premium, I'm guaranteed to make a profit.
Moreover, elixirs that can help break through bottlenecks are always rare and hard to come by.
"One million five hundred thousand! VIP number eight has bid one million five hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones!" Jin Ming's voice was tinged with excitement.
"Are there any higher ones?"
……
"One and a half million for the third time! Sold! Congratulations to VIP customer number 8, this Nine-Turn Divine Forging Pill is yours!"
The crystal platform shimmered with light, and the jade box containing the pills vanished instantly. The next moment, it pierced through the light membrane of Chen Xu's private room and landed steadily on the table in front of him.
Chen Xu didn't even look at it before putting it directly into his storage bag.
Jin Ming did not pause. The auction stage lit up again, this time with a bronze compass covered in cracks and exuding an ancient aura.
"The second item is an ancient treasure, the Celestial Deduction Compass!"
"Distinguished guests, as you can see, this item is somewhat incomplete. The method of its creation and the materials used have long been lost to the ancient past."
"According to the most knowledgeable appraiser in my Wanbao Palace, it most likely originated from an ancient sect famous for its divination skills."
"This Heavenly Secrets Compass can deduce heavenly secrets, discern fortune and misfortune, and seek opportunities!"
"Even in its incomplete state, its core deductive abilities are still far superior to ordinary divination tools!"
He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming extremely serious: "However! Fellow Daoists, you must remember that the saying 'the secrets of heaven are unpredictable' is no exaggeration."
"Each activation of this treasure requires the use of vital essence as a catalyst and divine sense as fuel. The price for forcibly glimpsing that sliver of mystery lies with the caster themselves!"
"My Wanbao Palace once sought out three Core Formation cultivators skilled in divination to try it out. One of them, after only predicting his own fortune once, vomited three liters of blood on the spot, damaged his Golden Core, and has been in seclusion ever since."
Therefore, although this treasure is miraculous, using it may lead to unforeseen disasters. Yet, abandoning it will inevitably leave one feeling resentful.
"It may only be suitable for those fellow cultivators whose lifespan is about to end and who are desperately seeking a glimmer of hope, or... for those who believe their fate is strong enough to withstand the backlash of heavenly secrets."
He glanced around the private room and continued, "Starting bid: 800,000 low-grade spirit stones! Each bid must be at least 50,000 higher!"
"Mr. Jin would like to remind all distinguished guests once again to act within their means!"
A moment of silence fell over the arena. The allure of deducing the secrets of heaven was immense, but the bloody price was enough to deter most cultivators.
After a brief silence, several cultivators began bidding.
At that moment, a hoarse voice rang out from a private room: "I wonder if this divination compass can be used by subordinates to predict the fortunes of others?"
This question reflects the sentiments of many: if others could bear the backlash instead, the value of this treasure would be entirely different.
Jin Ming remained unfazed on the auction stage, clearly having anticipated such a question.
He shook his head slightly, his voice clear and firm, echoing throughout the room:
"I'm sorry, but it can only be activated by the holder of the treasure using their own essence and spiritual consciousness. Any attempt to deduce the contents of another person's treasure will trigger an uncontrollable and violent backlash."
"Wanbao Palace has verified this many times; it is an ironclad rule. Distinguished guests, please do not harbor any illusions."
Jin Ming's answer was resolute, completely extinguishing any thoughts of taking shortcuts.
The atmosphere in the room froze, and the bidding, which had been somewhat heated, instantly cooled down.
Chen Xu sat in the private room, his gaze fixed on the cracked bronze compass on the crystal wall.
Treasures for divination are hard to find, and although activating them comes at a huge cost, one can use a one-time clone to activate them.
Since there were not many interested bidders, Chen Xu easily won the bid for this item.
"Nine hundred and fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones, Heavenly Mystery Compass, sold! Congratulations to guest number eight!"
Chen Xu waved his hand and put the Heavenly Secrets Compass into his storage space, then turned his gaze back to the auction stage.
"Distinguished guests, we now present the final of the three non-public treasures for this Wanbao Palace auction!"
As Jin Ming finished speaking, a brilliant light shone from the center of the auction stage, causing ripples to spread throughout the space.
A bronze box, about a foot long and half a foot wide and tall, slowly rose up.
The box is simple and unadorned, without any carvings, and its surface is covered with a layer of dull greenish-brown rust.
With a soft "click," the lid slowly slid open a crack.
In an instant, an indescribable chilling aura suddenly erupted.
The temperature in the entire auction hall plummeted, as if the air had frozen. Even cultivators with weaker cultivation levels felt a sharp pain in their souls, and their spiritual energy circulation slowed down.
Inside the box lay a jade carving no bigger than a thumb.
The jade is jet black, as deep and unfathomable as an abyss, yet its form is that of a grotesque, ferocious-looking fish.
Its mouth is wide open, its sharp teeth are menacing, and its tail is twisted, as if it is stirring up the underworld.
"This item was obtained from the depths of an ancient forbidden area of the sea race, where it was kept in the same room as the remains of several Nascent Soul cultivators."
Jin Ming's voice clearly reached the ears of every cultivator.
"After being personally appraised by the Grand Elder of Wanbao Palace, this jade carving contains a trace of extremely pure Yin and Yang primordial power."
"Simply place enough 'Yin Spirit Jade' into the specially designed groove in this box as an energy source to activate it!"
"Its power is equivalent to a full-force attack from a Nascent Soul cultivator! And... it can be used repeatedly!"
Jin Ming's words instantly stirred up a tidal wave in the hearts of all the cultivators.
A Nascent Soul cultivator's full-force attack can be reused!?
This means that we now possess a Nascent Soul-level deterrent that can be carried around and activated at any time!
This means that when facing a Nascent Soul level monster, they have an absolute trump card to turn the tide!
Its value cannot be measured in spirit stones; it is a deadly weapon sufficient to serve as the foundation of a sect.
All eyes in the auction house were fixed on the bronze box that had been opened a crack.
Jin Ming surveyed the entire room, taking in everyone's reactions, and began to speak:
"This treasure, an unnamed bronze box, has a starting bid of one million low-grade spirit stones! Each bid must increase by at least two hundred thousand!"
"Two million!"
Before Jin Ming could finish speaking, a hoarse voice rang out from the No. 3 VIP room.
This price doubled the starting bid, instantly raising the bidding atmosphere to its peak.
"Two and a half million!" From VIP room number five, a slightly aged voice followed, carrying an undeniable composure.
Soon, the price reached a terrifying three million low-grade spirit stones.
Although Chen Xu wanted to take it, he didn't have enough spirit stones, so he had to give up.
……
"Three and a half million low-grade spirit stones, third time! Sold! Congratulations to VIP number seven, the nameless bronze box is now yours!"
Jin Ming's gavel slammed down, signaling the complete end of the Wanbao Palace auction.
On the crystal platform, the bronze box, exuding a chilling aura, slowly rose, pierced through the light curtain, and flew towards the hostile No. 7 VIP box.
Chen Xu sat upright in the private room, his heart not stirred by much emotion.
The nameless bronze box was nice, but its terrifying price of 3.5 million was far beyond what he could afford at the moment.
It seems I underestimated the wealth of these Nascent Soul stage monsters...
As the auction concluded, the suspended VIP boxes began to transform into streams of light, which were then transported away from Tianji Island along specific spatial channels.
Chen Xu felt the power of space surging around him, and the scene before him twisted and shattered in a bizarre and grotesque way once again.
A moment later, his feet found solid ground, and the salty sea breeze rushed towards him. He had returned to the secluded sea cliff outside Meteor City.
The night was still deep, and the waves crashed against the rocks.
The illusionary light membrane on Chen Xu's body dissipated the moment he left Tianji Island, revealing his original appearance.
Without pausing, his spiritual power surged instantly, and he transformed into a streak of light, speeding towards Meteor City.
However, less than a hundred miles after he flew away, a strange change occurred on the sea.
The previously calm seawater below suddenly churned violently, as if stirred by an invisible giant hand.
A massive water spike, formed from deep blue seawater and radiating a chilling aura, suddenly pierced the surface of the sea without warning.
With a piercing shriek that tore through the air, it shot towards Chen Xu in mid-air with the force of a thunderbolt!
The attack came too fast and too fiercely, and the power it contained far exceeded that of the Core Formation realm. It was clearly a Nascent Soul level technique.
Before the water spikes even arrived, the chilling killing intent that locked onto his soul and the immense pressure of the water elemental power descended as if they were real, causing the air around Chen Xu to freeze.
"A Nascent Soul cultivator?!" Chen Xu's pupils suddenly contracted, and a warning screamed in his heart.
He reacted extremely quickly. The moment he sensed the unusual movement of spiritual energy below, the power of the third level of the "Mysterious Bone True Demon Art" was instinctively activated at full power.
Although the third level of the "Mysterious Bone True Demon Art" is not enough to make Chen Xu invincible.
However, with a full set of Light equipment, it's still possible to withstand the water spikes.
hum...
A layer of condensed, thick demonic energy, shimmering with a deep blue-black luster, instantly enveloped his entire body.
Chen Xu suddenly dodged to the side, simultaneously forming hand seals, and Xuan Shui spiritual power surged forth.
A giant shield made of pure Xuan Shui spiritual energy materialized out of thin air and stood in front of him.
Boom!!!
The enormous, dark blue water spikes slammed into the Xuan Shui Heavy Shield, unleashing a deafening roar.
The violent energy exploded wildly, pressing a huge crater into the sea below and creating towering waves.
Click!
The Xuan Shui Heavy Shield only lasted for a moment before shattering.
Although the remaining water spike energy was weakened by more than half, it still carried tremendous force and slammed into the demonic energy shield on Chen Xu's body.
Bang!
Chen Xu was struck as if by a heavy hammer, his body trembled violently, and he was forced backward dozens of feet by this enormous force.
His body was filled with intense blue-black demonic energy, which emitted a muffled buzzing sound.
He felt a sweet taste in his throat, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, causing his blood and qi to churn violently.
If it weren't for the mastery of the third level of the "Mysterious Bone True Demon Art," which would have increased his physical defense several times over.
With the buffer provided by the Xuan Shui Shield and his full set of Radiant Armor, this attack was enough to severely injure him and leave him on the verge of death.
"Huh?" A slightly surprised voice came from the sea below.
"A mere early-stage Core Formation cultivator managed to withstand one of my attacks without dying? It seems there's something special about him."
As the words were spoken, the churning seawater parted to the sides, and a figure slowly rose into the air.
The newcomer was covered in fine, dark blue scales that reflected a cold luster in the sunlight.
His face was stern and his eyes were sharp; he was the same VIP No. 7 who had fiercely bid against Chen Xu at the auction.
The spiritual pressure emanating from him was like an abyss, firmly locking onto Chen Xu, with a hint of mockery.
Chen Xu forcibly suppressed his surging blood and qi, his eyes extremely solemn.
While rapidly circulating the "Qingyuan Technique" to stabilize his soul and resist the suffocating feeling brought by the Nascent Soul's pressure, he kept a wary eye on his opponent, his mind racing.
"Who are you, senior? Why did you attack me without cause?" Chen Xu asked in a deep voice, trying to buy time.
At the same time, he secretly communicated with the Beast Taming Space, preparing to summon Qingling at any time.
Although Qingling was at a crucial moment in refining the Profound Yin Soul-Condensing Jade.
However, this man possessed the cultivation level of the early Nascent Soul stage, and only with Qingling's intervention could he deal with him.
The scaly man sneered, his eyes full of mockery: "You carry the curse of my Ning family's bloodline. I'm here to demand an explanation."
"Besides, you acquired the treasure I had my eye on at the Wanbao Palace auction, so naturally I cannot let you live."
Upon hearing this, Chen Xu's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected that this Nascent Soul cultivator was the one who had been bidding against him.
And...the Ning family...a bloodline curse?
In a flash, the image of Ning Wenxin, the eldest wife of the Xiao family in Wutan City, instantly appeared in his mind.
Yes, back in Fog Pool City, he plotted to kill Ning Wenxin, who ran the Dark Pavilion.
She was born into the Ning family, a family with a legendary Nascent Soul ancestor and profound heritage...