The Treasure Competition Assembly

“Ninety thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence!”

The voice, brimming with fury, rang out across the entire Manytreasure Peak, even echoing between the mountains. Many of the guests turned to look. From the sheer rage in that bid… everyone could guess that the Shaoyan clan was absolutely livid.

“Fool.” On the cloud, Shaoyan Xiushui glared at his son after hearing his bid. He sent a mental transmission, a sharp reprimand. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? This Ji Ning wants to become famous! He dares to come to the Grand Xia imperial capital so openly and flamboyantly, attends the Treasure Competition Assembly at the headquarters of Heavenly Treasures Mountain, and deliberately sabotages our bid precisely when we call out. He wants fame!”

“In Anchan Commandery, even the Beishan clan of Anchan has to show our Shaoyan clan face. But this isn’t Anchan Commandery. This is the Grand Xia imperial capital. In the imperial capital, it’s not our Shaoyan clan’s turn to throw our weight around. He wants to become famous now, to let the entire imperial capital know that he, Ji Ning, exists! Once he joins some major power, it will be much harder for us to deal with him.” Shaoyan Xiushui looked at his son. “We could have just ignored him earlier. By calling out a price against him… you’ve only made more people aware of him.”

“But… I already called out. Should we… stop?” Shaoyan Jun asked, panicking.

“Since you’ve called out, we can’t back down.” Shaoyan Xiushui transmitted back. “The more attention this gets, the more we have to care about the Shaoyan clan’s face. Don’t speak from now on. Let me handle it.”

“Yes.” Shaoyan Jun didn’t dare say another word.

Ji Ning heard the ‘ninety thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence’ bid from across the hall and immediately broke into a grin. He had been looking for a way to get some sleep, and someone had just sent him a pillow. He was precisely looking for a way to become famous.

“Ninety thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence! Any other bids?” the black-haired maiden on the auspicious cloud called out.

“If it were anyone else making that bid, I’d let it go. But since it’s the Shaoyan clan, I truly cannot back down. Ninety-five thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence!” Ji Ning’s voice rang out, clear and audible throughout all nine peaks.

“It is Ji Ning!” “Who is Ji Ning?” “The Ji Ning who killed Shaoyan Nong is at the Treasure Competition Assembly?”

Although some guests had noticed Ji Ning before, it had only been a few. Now, with Ji Ning’s open provocation… far more people were taking notice.

“I knew he was going for fame.” Shaoyan Xiushui’s face turned cold. Shaoyan Jun didn’t dare make a sound, knowing that his earlier bid had given Ji Ning the opportunity.

“Little fellow from Anchan, are you truly going to contend with my Shaoyan clan?” Shaoyan Xiushui said calmly. “One hundred thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence.”

“Hmph. If your Shaoyan clan wants this formation diagram, you’ll have to bring out more primordial essence. One hundred twenty thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence!” Ji Ning called out again.

Shaoyan Xiushui’s face sank.

This formation diagram was worth between eighty thousand and one hundred thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence. The price had already been forced far beyond that. If they continued to bid, regardless of whether they ultimately won the diagram, the Shaoyan clan would lose. If they succeeded, they would have paid an exorbitant price. If they failed, they would have been trampled on by Ji Ning.

“One hundred twenty-five thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence.” Shaoyan Xiushui’s voice was low.

“One hundred twenty-eight thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence.” This time, Ji Ning’s increase was small.

“Our clan has a surplus of such formation diagrams. Let him have it.” Sensing something was off, Shaoyan Xiushui immediately stopped bidding. “An outsider like you, with no knowledge of formations, buying this diagram just to spite us is truly amusing.”

“Hahaha! What’s a hundred twenty-eight thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence? It’s nothing. Your Shaoyan clan’s Shaoyan Nong gave me several million jin of liquefied primordial essence!” Ji Ning’s laughter rang out.

Shaoyan Xiushui’s face instantly darkened.

In truth, he was well aware that ever since his son had called out ‘ninety thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence,’ they were destined to lose. Ji Ning’s goal was to become famous. Regardless of what happened next, Ji Ning had certainly achieved his objective.

The formation diagram left behind by the Turtle-Snake Immortals was acquired by Ji Ning for a price of one hundred twenty-eight thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence.

By now, Ji Ning had already drawn the attention of the vast majority of guests present.

Especially his final taunt—‘Shaoyan Nong gave me several million jin of liquefied primordial essence’—which was absolutely savage. It sparked heated discussion among almost all the guests.

“Several million jin of liquefied primordial essence?” “Shaoyan Nong was one of the Four Young Masters of the Grand Xia imperial capital. The treasures he carried were astonishing. Now that Ji Ning has taken them all, several million jin of primordial essence is easily possible.” “I feel like killing Shaoyan Nong myself.” “Several million jin of liquefied primordial essence could buy an Immortal-ranked magic treasure!”

In truth, Shaoyan Nong’s treasures were indeed formidable. However, the three most precious items he possessed—the ‘Stasis Scroll’ and the ‘Black-and-White Disc’—had already been used. The only one remaining was the ‘Greater Teleportation Dao Talisman,’ which was something that couldn’t be bought even with liquefied primordial essence. Ji Ning had been unwilling to sell it.

Among the many guests.

Xiyue Commandery was staring at Ji Ning from afar, a trace of tenderness in her eyes—the look one gave a family member.

“Xiyue, you seem to have a favorable impression of this Ji Ning?” Fairy Qingliu smiled.

“Mm.” Xiyue Commandery nodded.

“How about taking him as a son-in-law?” Fairy Qingliu teased.

“Don’t interrupt.” Xiyue Commandery furrowed her brow and spoke softly. Her feelings for Ji Ning were purely those of a sister for a brother. Why did everyone have to talk about taking a son-in-law?

“Still, this Ji Ning truly has guts, going head-to-head with the Shaoyan clan like this.” Fairy Qingliu sighed with emotion. “That comment he made about Shaoyan Nong giving him several million jin of primordial essence… I bet the Shaoyan clan members are so furious they don’t know what to do with themselves.”

Time flowed on. Treasure after treasure was purchased.

After nearly an hour.

“Everyone.” The black-haired maiden’s voice suddenly grew louder. “Stop chatting with your friends. The next item is the most precious treasure of this entire Treasure Competition Assembly. It’s the kind of treasure you normally can’t buy even if you want to. If you miss this chance, who knows how many assemblies you’ll have to wait before you encounter another.”

Instantly, the guests all turned their heads, curious.

Ji Ning was also watching curiously.

The most precious? Previously, the most expensive treasure auctioned off had reached over three hundred thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence.

“This is the lifebound magic treasure left behind after the death of a sacred beast peacock from the Heaven Realm.” The black-haired maiden’s voice grew passionate. “Furthermore, this sacred beast peacock had extraordinarily pure blood. Even when it reached the Primal Earth Immortal level, it was unable to take human form.”

“What.”

Ji Ning was shocked. An Earth Immortal of the Primal level, unable to take human form? Did it mean it would need to become a Celestial Immortal to transform? A sacred beast like that… in all the stories of the Grand Xia Dynasty, he had never heard of such a thing.

“This great demon peacock’s lifebound treasure is five feathers.” The black-haired maiden waved her hand, and instantly, five feathers appeared in midair. They floated there, radiating their own natural might. One feather was wreathed in flames, one was surrounded by flowing water, one was inconceivably heavy, one had golden qi howling around it, and the last emanated a faint green aura.

As soon as the five feathers appeared, the surrounding space seemed to freeze.

“This is!”

Immediately, cries of shock erupted throughout the Treasure Competition venue.

The peacock was born from the Five Elements, a natural child of the Five Elements of Heaven and Earth. It was said that the purer the bloodline of a sacred beast peacock, the more likely it was to condense its Five Elements tail feathers. Some condensed two, some condensed three. But only the purest sacred beast bloodlines could condense five feathers!

Such a peacock was absolutely the equal of a Fiendgod. A peacock at the Primal level might even be able to match a Celestial Immortal in might!

“Its five feathers are born from the innate Five Elements.” The black-haired maiden laughed. “Unfortunately, it was merely a Primal-level great demon. If it had been a Celestial Immortal-level great demon… the value of these five feathers would be astronomical. They would drive even Celestial Immortals mad with desire! Of course, if this peacock had become a Celestial Immortal, these feathers wouldn’t have appeared here. They wouldn’t be put up for sale at all.”

Everyone nodded.

These five feathers were already incredibly precious. If the peacock had successfully crossed the Heavenly Tribulation and become a Celestial Immortal, the value of the feathers would have increased a thousand or even ten thousand times. Even the emperor of a major world would covet them. But a Celestial Immortal-level peacock of the highest bloodline could probably compare to a True Immortal. Such beings were not easy to kill.

“Although it was merely a Primal Earth Immortal, this peacock had an incredibly noble bloodline. Its five feathers each belong to one of the Five Elements. If used to forge a magic treasure, and combined with some other materials, an Immortal-ranked magic treasure could definitely be created. Under normal circumstances, you can forge a top-grade Immortal-ranked treasure. With luck… perhaps even a supreme-grade Immortal-ranked treasure might be possible.” The black-haired maiden spoke.

To the peacock, the five feathers were its lifebound treasure.

To humans, the five feathers were merely forging materials. As for forging a supreme-grade Immortal-ranked treasure? That was pure hype. It would require many other materials, and the possibility was negligible. However, forging a high-grade Immortal-ranked treasure was still very likely.

“Reserve price: two million jin of liquefied primordial essence! Each bid must increase by no less than one hundred thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence!” the black-haired maiden declared.

“Two million one hundred thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence. I want these Five Elements Peacock Feathers.” An aged voice spoke. The speaker was an old man wearing an exquisitely embroidered robe with dragon patterns on it. From his attire, many recognized him as a member of the Grand Xia royal clan.

But this was a treasure competition. Who cared if you were royalty?

“My master is about to forge a Five Elements Immortal-ranked magic treasure and is lacking the primary material. Two million two hundred thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence.” A pale, beardless youth said with a smile.

“Two million three hundred thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence.” A man who seemed to be cast in steel, his entire body glowing with green light, spoke in a booming voice.

“Two million four hundred thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence. I still need a Five Elements Immortal-ranked magic treasure for my tribulation.” This was Shaoyan Xiushui. At this moment, he didn’t care about Ji Ning at all. His eyes were fixed on the five feathers. It was clear he was determined to have them.

“Two million five hundred thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence. The Divine Dragon Serpent Mountain wants them.” A woman radiating a sky-shaking demonic aura said coldly.

Everyone came from extraordinary backgrounds.

But the Grand Xia imperial capital had its laws. No one could simply take something by force. Everyone had to rely on their true strength—whoever had the most primordial essence! Truly rare materials like these Five Elements treasures were incredibly hard to come by. If you encountered them, it was a one-time opportunity. If you wanted to find them again, you had to wait. They were items that were difficult to buy even with liquefied primordial essence.

Many people wanted them. Ji Ning also wanted them.

“Born from the innate Five Elements?” Ji Ning’s eyes lit up. “I’m training in the Six Cycles of the Starseizing Hand. I need the quintessence of the Five Elements. The quintessence of the Five Elements contained within these five feathers… according to the records of numerous treasures in the ‘Starseizing Hand’ inheritance, this is absolutely top-grade. It was only possible due to the rarest peacock bloodline producing these five feathers. The quintessence of the Five Elements within them might even be enough for the third cycle of my Starseizing Hand!”

“Two million six hundred thousand jin of liquefied primordial essence!” Ji Ning called out in a clear voice.