Chapter 414
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Chapter 414: Precious Jade
Ye Yun wasn’t some green rookie. His time at the Heavenly Sword Sect had hardened him, so he wasn’t about to consider Zhuge Chong a sworn brother just because the latter spouted a few random words.
Zhuge Chong seemed overly familiar, but Ye Yun couldn’t tell if it was an act or his true nature. Their seats were originally far apart, but as a Divine Grace Palace disciple, Zhuge Chong merely waved, and the staff moved them together. The middle-aged man whose seat he took didn’t protest—he even smiled politely.
“Brother Ye, you’re seventeen or eighteen but only at the first level of Foundation Establishment. Slacking off, are you?” Zhuge Chong teased as he sat down.
Ye Yun chuckled. “I don’t have the training resources or cultivation techniques of a Divine Grace Palace elite like you. Plus, my elders insisted I build a solid foundation early on, so progress has been slow.”
“That’s what people say when they haven’t grasped the mysteries of the Dao,” Zhuge countered.
“Oh?”
“Cultivation is about defying the heavens. Understanding the Dao’s essence matters most—foundations are secondary. Once your pill breaks and you’re reborn, or your infant form ascends, you’ll wield such power that reforging your body from the body refinement stage would be trivial. How could your foundation stay weak?”
Ye Yun frowned. This contradicted everything Su Hao and Elder Seven had taught him. They’d likened cultivation to a towering building—without a sturdy base, even a strong wind could topple it. How could Zhuge’s logic hold?
Zhuge Chong smirked. “Don’t believe me? Join the Divine Grace Palace or Misty Sect as an elite disciple. You’ll see.”
Ye Yun’s eyes narrowed. One goal of his capital trip was joining the Divine Grace Palace. Zhuge’s motives were unclear, but his influence could prove useful.
“My father sent me to broaden my horizons. If I can join a top Great Qin Empire sect, even better. I heard the Divine Grace Palace is recruiting here soon—I’ll try my luck,” Ye Yun said casually.
Zhuge’s face lit up. “Perfect! Senior Brother Zeng Xuan and I are overseeing the selection. Drop my name, and you’ll breeze into the finals.”
Ye Yun laughed. “Brother Zhuge jokes. Entry requires real skill, not favors.”
“Cultivation demands seizing every advantage!” Zhuge snapped. “Hesitation gets you nowhere!”
Before Ye Yun could reply, Zeng Xuan smacked Zhuge’s head. “Ignore him. The Divine Grace Palace doesn’t cheat. Earn your place properly.”
“Understood. Thank you, Brother Zeng,” Ye Yun said.
Zhuge rubbed his head, grumbling, “It’s true, though…”
The auction hall now held two to three hundred people—powerful or wealthy, with over a third at the Golden Core stage. Such was the Great Qin Empire’s might.
A white-haired man in a black robe stood on a two-zhang-wide platform. Yue Yunfan, head of the Alchemy Cauldron Sect’s Treasure Pavilion, radiated sharp energy.
“No need to repeat the rules,” he declared, voice echoing clearly. “Spirit stones decide all.”
The crowd jeered good-naturedly:
“We know the drill, Yue Yunfan!”
“Three-year auctions are your specialty!”
“Quit holding out on us old friends!”
Yue Yunfan waved. A hazy light veiled the first item—a high-grade mysterious weapon.
“This defensive treasure blocks three attacks from fourth-level Golden Core cultivators or below.”
“Fourth-level? Weak!” someone heckled. “Your own disciples surpass that!”
Inside the venue, an old man roared loudly.
"Old Sun, stop your nonsense. If you don’t need it, others certainly do." Yue Yunfan showed no anger, clearly familiar and on good terms with the old man.
"This defensive mystical weapon is a precious jade forged by a seventh-level Golden Core weapon forging master using multiple materials, carved with divine arrays. No reserve price."
"One hundred top-grade spirit stones!"
"Two hundred top-grade spirit stones!"
"Three hundred top-grade spirit stones!"
The moment Yue Yunfan finished speaking, the crowd erupted. In mere moments, the price soared to seven hundred top-grade spirit stones.
"Is it truly worth this much?" Ye Yun frowned. In his mind, attacks from fourth-level Golden Core stage experts weren’t that terrifying. This item might hit a thousand soon.
"Absolutely!" Zhuge Chong whispered urgently. "A thousand stones are beyond ordinary disciples and wandering cultivators. Even Divine Grace Palace’s inner disciples couldn’t produce that sum. But major forces have genius disciples needing protection from enemies. Three defenses against Golden Core assassins after reaching Foundation Establishment stage? Worth every stone."
Born outside powerful factions, Ye Yun knew little of political schemes. He believed true safety came only from personal strength. Still, this mystical weapon seemed useful.
"One thousand top-grade spirit stones."
Ye Yun tapped his bidding device. A light projection materialized above him, blazing with his bid.
The sudden jump from seven hundred stunned the crowd. Chatter died instantly as dozens of eyes locked onto him.
"Ye Yun! Actually bidding? Not bad for decent gear. A thousand’s fair."
"Won’t be enough," Ye Yun smiled wryly, watching the earlier frenzy.
"Don’t be sure." Zhuge Chong’s eyes gleamed slyly. "These people think differently."
"One thousand from this young man!" Yue Yunfan’s voice boomed, arm outstretched toward Ye Yun. "Any higher bids?"
"Lad, this trinket’s barely worth eight hundred. We’re just saving Yue’s face for his opening item."
"Old Sun! Maybe the boy’s showing respect too. Since when’s eight hundred more face than a thousand?"
"Smart lad! Barely first-level Foundation Establishment needs all the help he can get."
"Poor codger like you shouldn’t guess rich men’s thoughts. You’ll weep!"
The crowd’s jeers revealed their true motive – currying favor with Yue Yunfan.
Ye Yun’s jaw tightened imperceptibly. His sideways glance found Zhuge Chong staying silent.
"My apologies, Brother Ye." Zhuge Chong grinned without remorse. "Should’ve warned you."
"No matter." Ye Yun shrugged. "Consider it face for Master Yue."
Scanning the silent crowd, Yue Yunfan thundered, "Sold! Shan Yu Chun – complete the transaction."
The attendant rushed forward, cradling the jade in crystalline packaging.
"Young Master Ye," Shan Yu Chun murmured as he handed over the box, "The third item’s special. Keep watching."
Ye Yun nodded, exchanging the jade for a storage pouch brimming with stones.
Mocking stares followed him, but Ye Yun’s lips curved in a ghost of a smile.
