Chapter 30

For the Melon-Eating System, if it can deceive others, it of course won’t deceive its own people. Deceiving others? That’s not really deceiving, right? It can’t be.

At this moment, Ning Xu asked a soul-piercing question, “Why did this fellow disciple pick up this… hundred-year-old spiritual essence wrapped in this… strange coating?”

Hearing this question, both the disciples who were idly wandering and those who weren’t, fell silent.

Yes, why did this fellow disciple pick up something like this?

At this point, the Melon-Eating System smugly replied, 【Because the coating was very unique and beautiful, a dazzling golden yellow. Originally just an ordinary… well, you know, but once it absorbed the aura of the hundred-year-old spiritual essence, it gained some of its essence.】

【At least, on the outside, it looks flawless.】

【When this Daoist friend saw it, she thought it was a treasure and picked it up right away. Of course, by the time she picked up the coated spiritual essence, the essence was no longer in the manure pit.】

【The previous owner was a beast spirit that hadn’t awakened its intelligence.】

Ning Xu, “… “

She continued asking a question that everyone wanted to know, “Since she thought it was a treasure, why would she sell it?”

This time, even the Melon-Eating System was silent for a moment.

After a long pause, it spoke the truth, 【Because it stinks too much.】

Ning Xu: !!!

Everyone: !!!

That was the real reason!

The Melon-Eating System chuckled, 【Although, on the outside, the coated spiritual essence looks like a delicate treasure and seems quite valuable, it constantly emits a foul odor… This cultivator had a low cultivation level, so she could only close off her five senses, but she couldn’t block her sense of smell.】

【Over the years, the coating has become part of the essence. She couldn’t crack the coating and couldn’t see inside.】

【She originally wanted to throw it away. But the coating looked too impressive.】

【She instinctively thought it was a treasure, but it smelled too bad, and she couldn’t do anything about it, so she thought maybe she could find a new owner…】

After hearing this, Ning Xu silently closed off her five senses and then silently pulled out gloves.

After all, it was a rare hundred-year-old spiritual essence.

Why be difficult with spiritual stones?

If there’s a chance to profit, take it.

She said concisely, “Let’s go.”

Melon-Eating System, 【Okay!】

As they walked along, Ning Xu said, “My cultivation isn’t high, so I might not be able to break the coating.”

Without hesitation, the Melon-Eating System replied, 【Go ask the Peak Master of the South and North Peaks for help.】

【You made a deal with him before, so rounding it off, you’re pretty familiar with him. He won’t refuse to help.】

South and North Peak Master: !!!

The Elders couldn’t help but suppress their laughter.

Sure enough, the previous Yin-Yang Mirror wasn’t easy to deal with.

As they chatted, Ning Xu had already arrived at the stall the Melon-Eating System had pointed out.

The stall owner was a cute female cultivator with a baby face, and when she smiled, there were two little dimples on her cheeks. When she saw Ning Xu approach, she proactively greeted her, “Is there something you’d like, fellow Daoist?”

Ning Xu’s target was the coated spiritual essence.

But she understood the essence of taking advantage, so she couldn’t just focus on her target.

She pretended to browse the stall and finally picked out six items, saying, “I’ll take all of these. How much are they in total?”

The stall owner had already received instructions from the Sect Leader to sell at the original price without increasing it. The sect would later compensate her a little.

The female cultivator glanced at the items Ning Xu had picked out and smiled, “A total of 200 low-grade spiritual stones.”

“Good!”

After paying the spiritual stones, Ning Xu immediately put the items into her storage ring, not daring to look at them for too long.

Melon-Eating System, 【We need to find the next unlucky person quickly.】

Everyone couldn’t help but wonder who the lucky customer would be to receive the hundred-year-old spiritual essence.

Just imagining that scene made them shudder.

After leaving the black market, Ning Xu followed the Melon-Eating System’s advice and went to find the South and North Peak Master.

This was her second time entering the Peak Master’s cave, and it was much the same as the first time.

However, the South and North Peak Master’s appearance had changed a lot this time.

When Ning Xu had come to see him last time, he had a messy beard, smelled of alcohol, and looked disheveled.

This time, he had tidied himself up. The bushy beard was gone, revealing a handsome face.

Unexpectedly, he was a handsome dark-skinned man.

The Melon-Eating System praised, 【His cultivation has improved, it seems the Yin-Yang Mirror helped him a lot.】

Ning Xu, “As long as it helps.”

After all, the South and North Peak Master still owed her quite a bit of spiritual stones for the Yin-Yang Mirror.

The South and North Peak Master cleared his throat. Although he already knew why Ning Xu had come, proper procedure still needed to be followed.

“What’s the matter?”

Ning Xu stated her purpose directly.

South and North Peak Master, “…Sure.”

For a Qi Refining Stage cultivator, breaking the coating was difficult, but for him, it was a matter of a finger snap.

The coating broke, revealing the hundred-year-old spiritual essence inside.

This was Ning Xu’s first time seeing a treasure born from the cultivation world itself.

To be honest, she was amazed. The spiritual essence was a translucent ice-blue color, emitting white mist. The mist was ethereal, giving the essence a slightly hazy appearance. After leaving the coating, it radiated a rich spiritual aura.

Earlier, the Melon-Eating System had said the essence could purify spiritual energy. That was the poetic version.

A more straightforward way to say it was that the essence could directly enhance a cultivator’s cultivation.

For example, if this hundred-year-old essence were consumed by a Qi Refining cultivator, it might directly push them to the threshold of Foundation Establishment.

Even for an Infant Transformation cultivator, the hundred-year-old spiritual essence would still be useful.

Although the South and North Peak Master had known what was inside the coating, he couldn’t help but be astonished when he saw the hundred-year-old essence. If he hadn’t known its origins, he might have bought it himself.

Unfortunately, knowing where it came from, he couldn’t bring himself to take it. Not just him, almost everyone in the Wenxin Sect knew its origins and could only deceive an unsuspecting buyer.

Following procedure, he asked, “What do you plan to do with this hundred-year-old spiritual essence?”

Ning Xu cupped her hands, “Peak Master, I want to send it to the auction house for sale.”

The South and North Peak Master nodded, “That’s fine. There will be a small auction in Maple Leaf City two days from now. You can come with me and get some experience.”

Originally, it wasn’t the South and North Peak Master’s turn to attend the auction, but the Sect Leader assigned the spot to him.

Ning Xu’s eyes lit up, and she cupped her hands, “Thank you, Peak Master.”

The Peak Master casually replied, “It’s nothing.”

As Ning Xu left the Peak Master’s cave, she was still amazed. “I didn’t expect the South and North Peak Master to look rough, but he’s actually a thoughtful and good person.”

The Melon-Eating System chuckled, 【Right, he really is quite something. Going to the auction is great, we can learn some experience. Next time, it will be our turn to open our own auction house!】

Ning Xu didn’t expect the Melon-Eating System to still be thinking about opening an auction house. She asked, “So your ultimate goal is to make me the richest person?”

Melon-Eating System, 【Becoming the richest person is just one part.】

Ning Xu, “Got it, and then ascending.”

The Melon-Eating System vaguely responded, 【Not just that.】

Not just?

Is being the richest and ascending not enough? These two things alone would take a lot of time and effort.

Ning Xu asked, “What do you mean?”

The Melon-Eating System ambiguously answered, 【When the time comes, you’ll naturally understand.】

It was the same answer again.

Ning Xu had heard this kind of answer more than once. But she wasn’t the type to dig too deeply. Since the Melon-Eating System didn’t want to say, she wouldn’t press it.

Perhaps it was because she had some expectations in her heart, so the next two days passed very quickly.

Before she knew it, it was the day of the auction.

Ning Xu arrived early and waited outside the South and North Peak Master’s cave. When it was early morning, the South and North Peak Master walked out of the cave.

Seeing her outside, he wasn’t surprised and simply said, “Let’s go.”

“Alright!”

When they reached the sect entrance, they met with the head of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. The three of them boarded a flying shuttle and headed toward Maple Leaf City.

The auction building in Maple Leaf City was grand beyond compare. It could be described as exquisitely carved, with golden beams and brilliant decorations, every step revealing a different view.

The cultivator standing at the entrance to welcome guests had a friendly smile and a sweet voice.

After the Peak Masters of the South and North Peaks handed over the Wenxin Sect invitation, they were quickly welcomed inside.

This was Ning Xu’s first time seeing an auction house in the cultivation world. She had to admit, she was shocked by the opulence and extravagance before her.

The Melon-Eating System leisurely said, 【This is just the standard of an auction house in a second-tier city like Maple Leaf City.】

Ning Xu was surprised, “Just a second-tier city?”

【Yes, the continent where the Wenxin Sect is located is relatively remote. Currently, the top three super sects in the cultivation world are all in the central immortal continent, where true prosperity lies.】

Ning Xu said, “I hope I get a chance to see it.”

The Melon-Eating System countered, 【No, host, you should say, let’s open a branch there in the future.】

Ning Xu, “???”

As of now, they hadn’t even opened a single auction house!

Ning Xu, “…Alright, I know you’re more career-driven than me.”

Before coming here, Ning Xu had already handed over the century-old spiritual essence to the Peak Masters of the South and North Peaks.

The subsequent matters, such as negotiating the share with the auction house, would be handled by the South and North Peak Masters.

The Melon-Eating System clicked its tongue and said casually, 【He reminded me, we don’t even need to learn how to run an auction house. We can just find a reliable person to handle it later, right?】

Ning Xu, “You don’t mean to poach the South and North Peak Masters, do you?”

The Melon-Eating System replied nonchalantly, 【I would like to. But he’s not like the headliner, not so easy to poach.】

【The headliner doesn’t have much of a background.Other master of a peak, can’t compare.】

Ning Xu, “…” You really have big ideas.

As they were talking, Ning Xu followed the head of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall into a private room. The South and North Peak Master went to hand over the century-old spiritual essence to the auction house’s staff, and would return shortly.

The head of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall greeted Ning Xu, “Sit down, take whatever you want to eat.”

“Okay, Hall Master.”

The head of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall was in charge of the sect’s finances, so she accompanied every auction. She had a slightly round face, and was a little plump, looking very approachable.

Ning Xu took a few sips of the spiritual tea in front of her and ate some spiritual fruits. Not long after, the auction began.

The auctioneer was a beautiful female cultivator. She spoke at a moderate pace, with a sweet smile, dressed in an ancient-style gown painted with ink landscapes.

She was a competent auctioneer.

But just competent.

Ning Xu thoughtfully remarked, “The headliner definitely has more charm than her.” In comparison, just a smile from the headliner could make rich ladies bow down in admiration.

【Right? I’ll pick the person, you just trust me.】

【If it’s the headliner, wouldn’t the rich ladies and rich gentlemen start bidding immediately?】

Just as Ning Xu was about to respond, the first item for auction was already presented.

The auctioneer wasted no time and directly addressed the cultivators in the audience, “Today, as our opening item, we present—century-old spiritual essence!”

Everyone: !!!

Ning Xu: ???

Upon hearing the century-old spiritual essence, the atmosphere in the room immediately became charged.

“That’s right, it’s the century-old spiritual essence, and it’s one with nearly no spiritual energy dissipated, an exceptional spiritual essence with extremely high spiritual density!”

At these words, the crowd erupted in excitement.

The spiritual energy hasn’t dissipated?

It must have been preserved very well!

Ning Xu, looking at the piece of spiritual essence the auctioneer was holding, thought, “Is that my century-old spiritual essence?”

The next moment, the voice of the South and North Peak Masters came from the entrance.

“Yes.”

Ning Xu was stunned for a moment, “This item is up for auction so soon?”

The South and North Peak Masters explained, “Once it’s auctioned, you’ll have spirit stones to buy whatever you like.”

“Oh.”

Ning Xu and the Melon-Eating System both felt a sense of admiration. 【The South and North Peak Master is really meticulous! He’s so considerate, I could cry.】

The Melon-Eating System agreed, 【Right? After all, this old man is not young anymore. He’s a seasoned pro, he wouldn’t miss these details.】

South and North Peak Master: …

Not that seasoned.

Among the Peak Masters, he could still be considered young.

While the Melon-Eating System was teasing the South and North Peak Master, the century-old spiritual essence had already reached a bid of 6 million middle-grade spirit stones.

But this was just the beginning.

Ning Xu was stunned by the attitude of these cultivators who seemed to throw money around without care.

If they knew the true origin of this spiritual essence…

Its origins didn’t really matter at all.

What had happened to the spiritual essence before didn’t affect its efficacy.

As long as they didn’t know, they wouldn’t hesitate to bid, nor would they have any psychological burden.

Thinking about it this way, it made perfect sense!

Just as Ning Xu thought about this, a cultivator immediately bid 1 million high-grade spirit stones.

One million high-grade spirit stones was equivalent to 100 million low-grade spirit stones.

Ning Xu was shocked.

Ning Xu fell silent.

The Melon-Eating System explained, 【After all, it’s a rare treasure useful to even Nascent Soul cultivators. It’s normal to fetch this price.】

Ning Xu was only briefly shocked. She composed herself and continued watching the auction.

After the cultivator bid 1 million high-grade spirit stones, the other cultivators stepped back.

The century-old spiritual essence was only worth about 800,000 to 900,000 high-grade spirit stones.

The cultivator who bid 1 million high-grade spirit stones was clearly determined to get this item.

The others tacitly chose to withdraw.

In the end, the century-old spiritual essence was sold for 1 million high-grade spirit stones.

Ning Xu hadn’t had time to celebrate the large sum of spirit stones she had just earned when she watched the cultivator examine the authenticity of the spiritual essence and eagerly consume it on the spot.

Ning Xu: …

She was shocked once again.

Then, she fell silent. She could only say, this guy was truly ruthless.