The Ferocious Fire Child's Bid

The Treasure-Gathering Assembly began in an atmosphere of subtle tension.

One by one, treasures were brought out.

"The first treasure." The Lady Ziyi made a slight cradling gesture toward a tri-colored stone, which floated directly in midair. "This is a 'Flamefire Stone' weighing twenty-nine catties and two taels. It can be used to refine magic treasures. The minimum bid is one hundred thirty taels of Primordial Liquid!"

"One hundred fifty taels of Primordial Liquid."

Hun Wuqi spoke directly.

The guests in the other private chambers, upon seeing Hun Wuqi, all called out enthusiastically. "Brother Wuqi is here?" "Brother Wuqi!" Everyone called out to him, acting as though they were quite familiar with him.

"One hundred sixty taels." A crisp voice rang out. From a private chamber in the distance, a young woman dressed in colorful clothes called out.

"One hundred eighty taels." A cold-faced young man as frosty as ice called out.

Within his private chamber, Ji Ning sat there listening to the bids from all sides, then looked towards his side. "Brother Wuqi, not going to bid any further?"

"This is your first time here, Brother Ji Ning, so you wouldn't know." Hun Wuqi laughed and explained. "For these small 'Treasure-Gathering Assemblies' held by the Wandering Cavern, the minimum prices set for treasures are far lower than their actual market price outside. My bid of one hundred fifty taels of Primordial Liquid, if I could acquire it at that price, I could resell it at a tidy profit. But once the bidding reaches two hundred taels, that's too high. Only someone who truly needs it would bid. I'm a merchant; I don't like doing losing business."

Ji Ning was speechless. So his first bid had been purely because he thought he could turn a profit.

"Once you get to know Wuqi better, Ji Ning, you'll understand. This little 'Fortune God' is always scheming on how to make money." Beishan Baiwei also laughed.

"Two hundred ninety taels of Primordial Liquid." A hoarse voice rang out.

A long silence followed.

"Any higher?" Lady Ziyi looked around at the private chambers suspended in the air on all sides. "Very well. This Flamefire Stone is won by Young Master Qu of the Yinglong Guard."

"The second treasure begins…" Lady Ziyi quickly started introducing the next treasure.

…

"Young Master Qu is a disciple of the True Preservation Sect, and also a member of the Yinglong Guard." Beishan Baiwei gave a simple introduction. "He has already reached the Wanxiang Adept stage, with limitless potential ahead of him. Once he becomes a Primal Daoist, he will truly be a man of the hour."

Ji Ning nodded.

Being able to enter this grand hall, even if one did not have the noble birth of Beishan Baiwei or Beishan Hu, one was still extraordinary—someone capable of socializing with Beishan Baiwei and Beishan Hu on an equal footing. After all, although these two young masters of Beishan had high status, they were still young and didn't yet hold any real positions of power.

The reason the Wandering Cavern respected them so much now was because they saw the shadows of Beishan Heihu and Beishan Yin behind them—both of whom were hot candidates for the next Marquis of Anchan.

"That young lady just now was Miss Leshan of the Meng clan." Beishan Baiwei continued. "She is highly valued within the Meng clan and is an incredibly fast cultivator, having reached Wanxiang Adept perfection in a mere sixty years. The Meng clan is also one of the major tribes within our Anchan Commandery."

Ji Ning nodded.

The Meng clan?

He looked towards the young girl in the distance who looked like she was merely eleven or twelve years old. She was a true child of destiny for the Meng clan. Compared to her, the three of them—Meng Jun, Meng Yan, and Meng Xin—were far inferior.

…

Treasure after treasure was purchased. Most of these treasures were meant for Wanxiang Adepts; the occasional ones meant for Zifu Disciples were extremely rare items. Aside from a few young masters with shocking backgrounds like Beishan Baiwei and Beishan Hu, most of those present had already reached the Wanxiang Adept stage.

"Of the treasures prepared by the Wandering Cavern, two did not sell, and the other sixteen have all been sold. Now, we shall begin the bidding for the Human-grade top-grade treasure 'Qushan Seal,' provided by Young Master Beishan Hu. This treasure was forged by taking an entire mountain peak called Mount Qu and refining it into a great seal. Were it an Earth-grade treasure, it would be nothing special. What makes it remarkable is that it is a Human-grade treasure, usable by Zifu Disciples. If a Zifu Disciple at perfection-level were to use it, they could fully unleash it, restoring it to the size of that mountain peak to crush the enemy. Its power is quite astonishing. There is no minimum bid. Everyone present may now begin bidding."

Lady Ziyi said with a smile.

For treasures brought by the guests themselves, the minimum bid was always zero. The final sale price would go entirely to the guest, with the Wandering Cavern taking not a single tael.

Inside the chamber.

"What price do you think the Qushan Seal will fetch?" Ji Ning asked. After visiting the Treasure Hall of the underwater estate, he wasn't impressed by the Qushan Seal. If it had been in the Treasure Hall, the original owner from that ancient era would probably have rated it no higher than 'Human-grade high-quality.'

"Eighty taels to one hundred taels of Primordial Liquid." Hun Wuqi said. "This is the most common type of seal treasure. Even though it's a top-grade, it's not particularly valuable. It can barely be sold for an Earth-grade treasure's price."

"Fifty taels."

"Fifty-five taels."

"Sixty taels." Bids began coming in from the private chambers suspended in the air.

The price ultimately settled at one hundred ten taels of Primordial Liquid.

Ji Ning could see Beishan Hu standing near the window of his distant chamber, a faint smile on his face. It was clear he was satisfied with this price.

"The next item is a formation, provided by Young Master Beishan Baiwei." Lady Ziyi announced in a loud voice, a joyful look on her face. "The estate of the Marquis of Anchan is renowned for a Heavenly-grade grand formation, the 'Blackflame Dragon Prison Formation.' The set of diagrams before you is a simplified version of that ancient, grand formation. Although it is simplified, the Wandering Cavern has appraised it and determined that the simplification is perfect, reaching the very pinnacle of Human-grade formations. It is a masterwork among masterworks."

Before Lady Ziyi floated a single dragon pearl and four dragon scales.

All those present had extraordinary eyesight. As they carefully examined the items, many revealed looks of shock.

"Ziyi!" Beishan Hu's expression turned extremely ugly as he shouted directly. "A Human-grade simplification of the Blackflame Dragon Prison Formation? I've never heard of such a thing. Has your appraisal been mistaken?"

"The Wandering Cavern is willing to pay two hundred taels of Primordial Liquid to purchase this formation diagram." Lady Ziyi announced directly in a loud voice.

Upon hearing this, Beishan Hu's expression immediately turned black.

He didn't say another word.

The reputation of the Wandering Cavern was unquestionable. If the Wandering Cavern was willing to bid, they were clearly very optimistic about this formation.

"I bid two hundred ten taels."

"Two hundred thirty taels."

Prices began to soar immediately.

Inside the private chamber, Ji Ning's heart began to race. After all, this was his treasure.

The price climbed steadily.

"Three hundred sixty taels!" Suddenly, a crisp, childish voice rang out.

Complete silence fell.

Firstly, the bidding had already climbed to three hundred taels and seemed to be struggling to rise further. A sudden increase to three hundred sixty taels was shocking. Secondly, the voice that called out the bid was clearly a child's voice… This made quite a few people look over, and even Ji Ning couldn't help but look. In a distant private chamber sat a child who looked to be only six or seven years old. He wore a golden collar around his neck and was gnawing on a bone.

"Ferocious Fire Child?" Beishan Baiwei was shocked.

"He's here today too?" Hun Wuqi was also surprised.

Ji Ning's pupils contracted. A child? This was the first time he had seen a cultivator who looked like a child.

"Brother Ji Ning, this 'Ferocious Fire Child' is rumored to be a reincarnated Immortal." Beishan Baiwei said in a low voice. "He is considered one of the top formation masters of our younger generation. Although he has been cultivating for less than thirty years, he has already reached the Wanxiang Adept perfection stage. What's more, his main energy is focused on studying formations; cultivation is just a sideline for him. Yet, with only that sideline, he has already reached this level."

Less than thirty years old? Wanxiang Adept perfection? He only cultivated as a sideline and reached this level?

Ji Ning was inwardly stunned.

A reincarnated Immortal, huh?

"Any higher?" Lady Ziyi looked around. Unfortunately, no one made a bid.

"This Blackflame Dragon Prison Formation diagram goes to Young Master Ferocious Fire Child." Lady Ziyi said with great respect.

The Ferocious Fire Child, who had been gnawing on a bone, immediately burst into loud laughter. "A grand, complex formation refined down to such a state, yet still retaining its spiritual nature… I haven't seen anything like it in a long time. I wonder which formation grandmaster was behind this work? To buy it for just over three hundred taels of Primordial Liquid… what a steal, what a steal!" The Ferocious Fire Child beckoned with his hand, and the dragon pearl and four dragon scales flew directly toward him. At the same time, he tossed out a number of black tokens, which flew directly toward Lady Ziyi.

As soon as he got the dragon pearl and four dragon scales, the Ferocious Fire Child lowered his head and began to study them.

Ji Ning, watching from afar, sighed inwardly. Even for a reincarnated Immortal, you still had to be utterly obsessed. Without obsession, it was difficult to achieve great things.

"Hmph!" At another location, Beishan Hu's expression grew even uglier.

He had lost.

His Qushan Seal had sold for only one hundred ten taels, while the Blackflame Dragon Prison Formation had sold for three hundred sixty taels of Primordial Liquid.

…

Inside the chamber.

An attendant placed a stack of black tokens on the table, then bowed respectfully and withdrew, closing the door behind him.

"This is three hundred sixty taels." Beishan Baiwei handed the stack of black tokens directly to Ji Ning. Ji Ning saw that there were three slightly larger tokens and six smaller ones.

On the larger tokens were inscribed the words: "Grand Xia Dynasty, Heavenly Treasures Mountain" and "Redeemable for one hundred taels of Primordial Liquid."

On the smaller tokens were inscribed: "Grand Xia Dynasty, Heavenly Treasures Mountain" and "Redeemable for ten taels of Primordial Liquid."

"'Heavenly Treasures Mountain' can be found in every Marquis's commandery city across the endless lands." Beishan Baiwei explained. "These Primordial Liquid tokens are the standard currency. They are also treasures. At the very least, a Xiantian lifeform must refine them before they can be used. After you refine them and carry them with you, you can use them directly to buy treasures or trade them in for Primordial Liquid. Primordial Liquid is what all the major powers throughout the endless lands truly value."

Ji Ning nodded.

On Earth, one of the countless minor worlds, gold was the hard currency. But here in the endless lands, Primordial Liquid—the essence formed from the purest Heavenly Earth energy—was the hard currency. With it, one could dramatically shorten the time required for arduous, slow cultivation. However, even Immortals could not afford to use Primordial Liquid constantly. They would only use it occasionally during a breakthrough.

"The fact that I ended up taking away this great formation of yours truly is embarrassing." Beishan Baiwei said hastily. "I feel deeply ashamed."

"I've gained this Primordial Liquid instead." Ji Ning said quickly. "That formation was of no use to me anyway."

Beishan Baiwei shook his head. "It's not the same. A rare formation like that can be easily converted into Primordial Liquid. But Primordial Liquid can't easily be exchanged for a formation like that. Still, I'm feeling absolutely fantastic today. Beishan Hu deliberately came looking for trouble with me, first ruining your chance to join the Rift Heaven Sword Sect, and then using his power to take away Qin the Zither Fairy. To have dealt him such a blow… it's given me a great sense of satisfaction."

"With Beishan Hu's personality, he must be raging with fury." Hun Wuqi laughed.

"Yeah." The moment Beishan Baiwei thought about it, his smile grew even wider.

Ji Ning smiled as well.

In his heart, he was planning what he would do with this three hundred sixty taels of Primordial Liquid—to exchange them for flying sword treasures.

"Before I left the Yan Mountains, I visited the underwater estate. At that time, I managed to clear the second floor of the War God Hall and acquired the Nine Yang Sword Formation." Ji Ning pondered. The Nine Yang Sword Formation was the most suitable choice for the 'Lesser Thousand Sword Formation.' Although those nine flying swords had been rated as Human-grade high-quality by Daoist Threelives, they would undoubtedly be considered Human-grade top-quality in the present era.

Moreover, the nine flying swords all originated from the same source, forming the perfect foundation for a formation. The power of the Lesser Thousand Sword Formation had indeed grown enormously.

"I need to acquire more flying swords of a decent quality that also originate from the same source. I don't need them to be as perfect as the Nine Yang Sword Formation, but at least high-quality, or mid-grade at the least." Ji Ning understood that the power of the Lesser Thousand Sword Formation was closely tied to the quality of its treasures. The better the quality of the treasures, the greater the power naturally.

Now that he had achieved his Divine Sense, the Lesser Thousand Sword Formation could unleash an extremely powerful combat force. His killing move, the 'Starseizing Hand' divine ability, needed to be saved for critical moments. For ordinary battles, he would rely on the Lesser Thousand Sword Formation to sweep through his enemies.