Chapter 251

Chapter 251: The Terrifying Fire Spirit Peak

Unlike the heated bidding scenes before, an unusual silence fell after Fen Xue announced the auction’s start. The crowd remained quiet for a long time, clearly showing little interest in this item.

In truth, the Fire Spirit Peak was a remarkable treasure. The asking price of an Eighth-rank Treasure was actually quite reasonable. Raising Gu Emperors, Gu Kings, and thousands of Mother Gu required so many treasures from heaven and earth that their total cost nearly matched that of an Eighth-rank Treasure.

Additionally, it functioned as a pseudo Paradise of the Heavens Treasure. Its vast internal space could nurture poison Gu insects. Apart from lacking the ability to generate Spiritual Energy itself, it differed little from a true Paradise of the Heavens Treasure.

This feature alone multiplied its value.

The Fire Spirit Gu also promised decent yields. Proper cultivation might even turn it profitable.

As for the steep initial investment, true wealthy patrons wouldn’t consider it burdensome.

Top-tier Cultivators especially—each owned lucrative estates generating massive annual profits, making such costs trivial.

Those present recognized the treasure’s worth but were simply too poor. Most couldn’t afford an Eighth-rank Treasure, leaving them to watch helplessly.

Just as Fang Lie prepared to bid first, a voice echoed from the highest red lotus: "I offer an Eighth-rank Mingguang Sword. Will that suffice for the Fire Spirit Peak?"

A radiant treasured sword materialized midair—three feet, three inches, and three centimeters long. Its body shone like condensed sunlight, divine scripts swirling across the blade in an otherworldly display.

The sword’s appearance sparked gasps.

"Heavens, the Mingguang Sword! Legend claims it originated from an immortal’s cave dwelling. Its unmatched speed leaves enemies slain before they glimpse its shadow—only light remains!"

"Rumor says Thunder Tribulation Immortal Canghai possesses it. Isn’t he the Four Seas Alliance’s true master?"

"The Fire Spirit Peak must be his now!"

As consensus settled, a discordant voice interrupted: "I bid Sixth-rank Netherworld Ghost Fire for the Fire Spirit Peak!"

A fist-sized green fireball erupted into view.

"Netherworld Ghost Fire? A Sixth-rank true flame? How did he obtain this? Does he fear the Ghost Realm Sect’s retaliation?"

"That voice… sounds like Fang Lie!"

"Look—the ghost fire emerged from his lotus!"

"Bold fool! Challenging a Thunder Tribulation Immortal openly?"

Auction houses followed an unspoken rule: lower-ranked Cultivators yielded to higher-ranked ones.

This reflected the cultivation world’s brutal hierarchy. Provoking superiors risked deadly consequences—whether through inflated costs or missed acquisitions.

Hence, auctions anonymized bidders to prevent intimidation.

Yet Fang Lie, having revealed himself, now flagrantly defied both custom and a Thunder Tribulation Immortal’s dignity.

A mere Qi Sea Cultivator daring to provoke such a being? Unthinkable audacity!

Thunder Tribulation Immortals wielded terrifying power. Their divine skills could erase foes without trace or warning.

Fang Lie’s reliance on his undying nature made this gamble reckless.

What good is immortality if killed repeatedly daily?

His bid drew immediate scorn.

But some scoffed, "Fools! Fang Lie knows none dare cross him. Remember—he holds the Kunlun Sword Token!"

"Exactly. That token commands East Kunlun to fulfill one request. Slaying a Thunder Tribulation Immortal would be child’s play. Until he uses it, which Immortal would risk annihilation?"

"That’s right. In short, Fang Lie had become a distorted anomaly. Though his personal strength was lacking, he now roamed freely without restraint. Lower-rank Cultivators couldn’t defeat him, while higher-rank ones dared not provoke him! No one could handle him!"

As the crowd murmured, the Thunder Tribulation Immortal pondered but ultimately chose not to antagonize Fang Lie. With mild amusement, he said, "I never imagined young friend would take interest in Fire Spirit Peak."

"Merely a plaything for self-protection. I beg your forgiveness if this offends, elder." Fang Lie maintained polite courtesy.

When facing elders without conflicting benefits, Fang Lie never displayed arrogance, his impeccable manners leaving no room for reproach.

"Haha," chuckled Canghai, the Thunder Tribulation Immortal. "Truthfully, Fire Spirit Peak holds little appeal for me. Your Netherworld Ghost Fire, however… What say you? I’ll trade Mingguang Sword for the peak, then exchange it for your ghost fire. We both gain our desires!"

"I care only for Fire Spirit Peak. Should you obtain it, I’ve no objection to trading." Fang Lie’s tone remained respectful.

"Excellent. I presume none here would challenge me now – save yourself!" Canghai remarked with wry humor.

"Heh, my apologies." Fang Lie awkwardly laughed, acknowledging his breach of etiquette.

Canghai waved it off, turning to Fen Xue. "With no further bids, shall we conclude?"

Though a Great Demon, Fen Xue dared not displease a Thunder Tribulation Immortal. She hurriedly declared, "By your will! No higher bids remain – the item is yours!"

Onlookers silently scoffed: ‘Not even pretending to check for bids? Such shameless flattery of a Thunder Tribulation Immortal!’ Yet none voiced objections, letting silence seal the agreement.

Canghai promptly deposited Mingguang Sword on the platform. Fang Lie matched this decisiveness, placing Netherworld Ghost Fire in the crimson lotus without hesitation.

Claiming his prize, Canghai laughed heartily. "Splendid! Returning this to Ghost Realm Sect should yield fine rewards. What a profitable exchange!" His fading laughter accompanied the dissolving lotus as he departed.

Fen Xue still bowed deeply to the empty air before delivering Fire Spirit Peak to Fang Lie’s lotus. Retrieving his prize, Fang Lie immediately departed.

Within the hour, Fang Lie sequestered himself in his villa’s secret chamber to refine Fire Spirit Peak. Employing blood essence and treasure-refining rituals, three months passed before successfully integrating the peak into his Qi Sea.

Internal observation revealed multiple changes: the consumed Ten Thousand Years of Emptiness had been fully refined, expanding his Qi Sea to twenty li across. Tens of thousands of Dao pattern karp swam freely through magical energies.

At the sea’s center sat his Nascent Fetus – an infantile duplicate breathing rhythmically. Each exhalation birthed miniature Dao pattern karp that grew by absorbing Magic. Upon maturing, they embedded themselves as innate Dao patterns within muscles and internal organs, aligning his body closer to the Dao.

Above the Nirvana True Fire primordial fetus hovered Linglong Qi Locking Tower, its magnificent and dazzling form continuously purifying Magic. Below, where low-grade treasures once resided, now dominated the crimson Fire Spirit Peak, dwarfing even the Devouring Heaven Chaos Halberd into mere ornamentation.

Full refinement granted Fang Lie complete control. His divine sense probed the peak’s interior – a labyrinth of interconnected spaces ranging from thousands to mere li across, patrolled by Fire Spirit Gu. The largest chambers housed Gu Emperor Jin Min and his golden-marked guardians; smaller ones accommodated Gu Kings and Mother Gu.

Calculations showed existing inhabitants occupied barely one-tenth capacity. Filling all spaces would require tenfold expansion – a staggering ambition by the peak’s creator. At full capacity, trillion-strong Fire Spirit Gu swarms could slaughter Thunder Tribulation Immortals by the dozen, rivaling Ninth-Rank Treasures in power despite lacking an item spirit.