Chapter 22: Wang Lin’s Concern

The bidding for the pearl necklace climbed to eighty-five mid-grade spirit stones.

Fang Zhiyi raised her hand.

"Seat one, ninety mid-grade spirit stones!" As the words left her lips, every gaze in the room turned toward her. Ninety mid-grade spirit stones was no small sum, especially when there were many other magical artifacts available with much higher utility. This, however, served as an indirect testament to the fact that Fang Zhiyi’s status was far from ordinary; she discarded ninety-five spirit stones as if they were nothing.

With the final gavel, the pearl necklace became hers. From that moment on, everyone realized that whatever caught Fang Zhiyi’s eye, she would obtain, regardless of the price. Before long, others stopped bidding against her, knowing they couldn't compete. Fortunately, the items Fang Zhiyi chose were...

"..."

They were all rather puzzling—expensive trinkets of little practical use, mostly things that appealed to female cultivators.

Because of this, news soon reached Teng Huayuan. Holding a teacup, Teng Huayuan couldn't help but laugh when he heard what Fang Zhiyi had spent such vast sums on.

"I truly couldn't have guessed that a Soul Formation elder from the War God Hall would be so sheltered and inexperienced." He waved his hand dismissively. "Tell them to bring out something of real quality."

"Yes," the lackey replied, retreating with a fawning bow.

...

When a square brocade box made of pure gold and inlaid with countless jewels was brought out, Fang Zhiyi’s pupils contracted. Her fingers, resting on her knees, tightened until her knuckles turned white.

"The next item is the Five-Tiger Sumeru Needles. These were refined using the heart of the Tiger King over the course of three hundred years. The true value of this artifact lies in the fact that the higher the user's cultivation, the more lethal the damage inflicted on high-level cultivators."

"If a Soul Formation cultivator wields this, a single strike of these needles can instantly claim the life of a Nascent Soul cultivator. However, they are called the Five-Tiger Sumeru Needles because there are only five needles in existence."

As the auctioneer opened the box to reveal the golden needles—as thin as embroidery needles, yet clearly formidable treasures—Wang Lin, standing beside Fang Zhiyi, was the first to notice her shift in demeanor. He cast a puzzled glance at the needles, wondering what could possibly be so special about them to warrant such intensity from her.

"The starting bid is thirty high-grade spirit stones! Each increment must be at least ten high-grade spirit stones." With the strike of a gavel, the bidding began.

It was a fine item, but thirty high-grade spirit stones was a significant amount; an ordinary cultivator might never see such wealth in a lifetime.

However, the ability to kill a Nascent Soul cultivator in a single strike was undeniably tempting. The only caveat was that one had to reach the Soul Formation stage first to use them.

"Number fifty, forty high-grade spirit stones."
"Number fifty-five, fifty high-grade spirit stones."
"Number three, sixty high-grade spirit stones."
"..."

Finally, Fang Zhiyi raised her placard. Everyone present knew her temperament: regardless of the price, if she wanted it, it would be hers.

"Number one, one hundred and eighty high-grade spirit stones."
"Number fifty, one hundred and ninety high-grade spirit stones."
"…Number one, five hundred high-grade spirit stones."
"Number fifty, five hundred and ten high-grade spirit stones."

Fang Zhiyi waved her hand impatiently, and Wang Lin leaned in. The two were now in close proximity; Wang Lin could feel the warmth of her breath and catch the faint, cold fragrance that clung to her. Without pausing to hesitate, Wang Lin signaled the auction staff. A maidservant hurried to the auctioneer’s ear and whispered something.

Immediately, the lamp above Fang Zhiyi’s seat was lit.

"Number one has ignited the Celestial Lamp!"

All eyes turned to her. To "ignite the Celestial Lamp" meant that no matter how high the bidding soared, the bidder would pay double the final price. It was rare in most auctions, as it invited malicious actors to intentionally drive up the cost. Furthermore, it meant that from this item until the end of the auction, every single lot would be purchased by the lamp-lighter under the same terms.

As expected, with Fang Zhiyi having ignited the lamp, the bidding became even more rampant. Before long, the price of the Five-Tiger Sumeru Needles was pushed to two thousand four hundred high-grade spirit stones. This meant Fang Zhiyi would have to pay four thousand eight hundred high-grade spirit stones to secure them.

"The Five-Tiger Sumeru Needles go to the honored guest at seat one!"

With the final gavel, Fang Zhiyi finally let out a sigh of relief. Leaving now would have been too deliberate, so she sat patiently for a while longer, though she had no interest in the subsequent items. Because of the Celestial Lamp, the crowd had spared no effort in raising the prices; by the end of the event, Fang Zhiyi had spent at least several hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones.

What a display of wealth. Even Teng Huayuan was astonished when he received the report.

"You say she ignited the Celestial Lamp?"
"It is absolutely true."

Teng Huayuan pondered for a moment before saying, "Do her a favor. Do not collect the spirit stones."
"But... that is hundreds of thousands of high-grade spirit stones."
"Do not be shortsighted. Cultivating favor with a Soul Formation cultivator will only benefit our Teng Family City, never harm it."
"Understood—I will go at once."

Teng Huayuan stood under the eaves, watching the horizon. He wondered if Fang Zhiyi’s arrival was a blessing or a curse, and for now, he could only take things one step at a time.

...

Back at the inn, the auction staff delivered all the items but refused to accept payment.

Fang Zhiyi tossed a storage bag onto the table. "There is more than enough inside. Tell Teng Huayuan not to engage in meaningless gestures."

The cultivators who delivered the goods exchanged looks before finally accepting the bag. "Understood."

When everyone had left and only Fang Zhiyi and Wang Lin remained, her fragility finally surfaced. In the dappled light, her face was pale as frost. As she picked up the brocade box, a look of momentary confusion crossed her features, and her hand traced the box unconsciously. She looked like a delicate flower deprived of nutrients, ready to wither, swaying precariously in the wind.

This was a side of Fang Zhiyi that Wang Lin had never seen. Seeing her like this, a sour ache bloomed in his chest. His throat tightened, and he found himself unable to speak.

Fang Zhiyi’s hand trembled as she opened the box. Upon seeing the Five-Tiger Sumeru Needles, her voice grew faint and listless.

"I knew it was you. Why... why didn't you wait for me?"

She did not avoid Wang Lin as she spoke, and the young man, though confused by the situation, watched her with eyes full of concern.

"Master... are you alright?"