Chapter 223: Truly Not a Single One Left

As a grand elder of the Divine Will Sect, An Miaoli enjoyed the privilege of a private booth at the Heavenly Evolution Pavilion auction without needing to verify her funds. The auction was about to begin.

An Yuyi sat in the booth, brimming with anticipation. Securing the Thunderbane Bamboo Core would balance her dual spiritual roots, paving the way to form a ninth-grade Golden Core with the Star Thunder Stone. Once achieved, she’d soar to new heights and challenge Li Feng again to reclaim her honor. Surely, Ye Chen would see her in a new light then. The thought fueled her excitement.

An Miaoli, by contrast, remained composed.

The auction kicked off swiftly. Given the rarity of the items, it was hosted by the Golden Core-stage manager of Heavenly Evolution Pavilion himself. True to form, the pavilion opened with a bang.

“Thank you, Fellow Daoists, for attending,” the manager said, holding up a jade slip. “Let’s skip the formalities and dive in. Our first item is a fragment of the Eternal Cosmos Sutra’s Golden Core chapter, discovered by an elder of our Heavenly Evolution Holy Land in the ancient Immortal Battlefield ruins. It contains 112 words.”

He continued, “The elder has sworn a Heavenly Oath that only ten copies of this fragment will ever be sold. Successful bidders must also swear a Heavenly Oath to study it alone, with no sharing permitted. The value of an immortal scripture needs no explanation. The Holy Lands owe their status to such texts. Even a fragment can spark profound insights, perfecting one’s cultivation and boosting combat strength. It can also inspire modifications to other techniques, elevating their grade.

“This is the Golden Core chapter of the Eternal Cosmos Sutra, hailed as the ultimate for Golden Core cultivation. Comprehending even a trace of its Divine Ability could propel you to dominate your peers. Starting bid: fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones, with increments of at least five hundred. Let the bidding begin!”

As the manager’s voice fell, bids erupted. Many powerhouses from beyond the Divine Will Sect had come specifically for the scripture fragment. The price skyrocketed, soon hitting one hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones.

An Miaoli’s eyes gleamed as she gazed at the jade slip. No cultivator could resist the allure of an immortal scripture, especially the Eternal Cosmos Sutra. As a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, comprehending it could refine her cultivation and bring her closer to perfection.

But she was realistic. There was no way she could afford it. And indeed, the bidding for the Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment soared. It was finally claimed by a cultivator for a staggering three hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones, drawing gasps from the crowd.

The thousand-plus cultivators in attendance whispered among themselves, speculating which powerhouse faction could afford such extravagance. Three hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones could, with luck, buy a Heaven-grade Golden Core technique. Yet this bidder spent it on a fragment that couldn’t be cultivated and offered no guaranteed insights. It was sheer opulence.

…

“The spirit stones have been counted,” said the steward, who had come to Ye Chen’s booth to finalize the transaction, a hint of surprise in his eyes. “Please, Fellow Daoist Ye, make the Heavenly Oath.”

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Ye Chen nodded and swore the simple oath, ensuring the fragment would be studied by one alone. With the Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment in hand, his mood was buoyant. But he didn’t study it immediately, instead tucking it into his storage ring.

What was the point of comprehending a mere fragment? He aimed to master the complete scripture. Since Li Feihuang was in seclusion, he’d gift it to An Miaoli. With her two-hundredfold multiplier and a potential critical hit, he was confident the system would reward him with the full scripture.

After securing the fragment, Ye Chen turned to the steward. “Please arrange a new booth for me. I’ll continue bidding.”

The steward’s eyes widened slightly. Three hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones were a fortune most Nascent Soul cultivators couldn’t muster. For a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Ye Chen to not only afford it but also keep bidding? What kind of wealth was this? Even the Golden Core direct disciples of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land rarely had such resources.

Surprised but professional, the steward promptly escorted Ye Chen to a new booth. Heavenly Evolution Pavilion’s service ensured discretion—Ye Chen’s high-profile purchase of the scripture made him a target for attention, and a new booth would help him bid discreetly.