Chapter 449

Chapter 449: Zhou Luo Takes Action

Deep suspicion swept across the face of the young lady in blue. She stared at Zhou Luo, a flicker of disdain flashing in her beautiful eyes.

In her view, for someone so unsophisticated as him, how could he possibly know the illustrious Cold Ice Fairy?

One must know, Cold Ice Fairy was the idol of many female disciples within the Biquan True Sect, an object of their utmost reverence.

"No, I don’t. But if I ever have the chance, I would like to." Zhou Luo said calmly.

"Hah, and just who do you think you are to meet the Cold Ice Fairy?" The young lady in blue gave a cold sneer.

"Lan Ying! If you remain this rude, then return to the sect at once!"

At these words, Ye Qian was the first to find it intolerable.

She glared at the other, her voice icy. Coupled with the pressure of peak Foundation Establishment, it crushed Lan Ying so badly she nearly gasped for breath.

Lan Ying might be an Immortal Sect disciple, while she herself had been expelled from her sect.

But in the world of cultivation, strength ruled supreme. With her master still backing her within the sect, she could drive the other party away without consequence even if she did it for real.

Lan Ying mocking her husband repeatedly was essentially slapping her own face. How could it not allow anger?

Lan Ying’s little face suddenly turned deathly pale, her body trembling uncontrollably, her beautiful eyes filled with terror.

The other two hurriedly tried to placate: "Senior Sister, Junior Sister Lan Ying spoke without thinking. Please forgive her."

"Hmph." Ye Qian snorted coldly, the pressure vanishing instantly.

This time was only a warning. She wouldn’t be this forgiving next time.

Zhou Luo, looking completely unaffected like nothing had happened, continued, "So, the Cold Ice Fairy is at the Ice Snow Sect?"

Ye Qian nodded slightly. "The Cold Ice Fairy is an inner sect elder of the Ice Snow Sect. Even centuries ago, she had already reached the late stage of the Golden Core… whether she has advanced to the Nascent Soul realm now is still unknown…"

Cold Ice Fairy, within this Jin Yun Domain, held a truly prominent reputation.

Back then, a cultivation city within the Jin Yun Domain suffered an invasion by demons. The immortal overseeing that Immortal City had fallen into demonic cultivation, secretly laying out a Fourth Level blood evil method array within the city. By auctioning supposedly rare treasures, he lured vast numbers of Foundation Establishment cultivators inside.

His goal was to sacrifice all the cultivators within the entire Immortal City to empower his own breakthrough, hoping to ascend to the Nascent Soul realm.

As fate would have it, the Cold Ice Fairy happened to be in the city at that time.

By the time the plot was uncovered, the array had already formed. Breaking it from outside would require summoning a Nascent Soul cultivator.

However, the situation was dire. By the time a Nascent Soul cultivator arrived to act, it was feared that every cultivator inside the Immortal City would have already been sacrificed.

At this critical juncture, the Cold Ice Fairy, grasping the Cold Ice Spear, charged alone into the Demon Cultivator’s mansion. She battled him fiercely for three days and three nights.

Ultimately, under the watchful eyes of everyone, she decapitated the Demon Cultivator, dissolving the city’s crisis.

Through this feat, she became famed overnight, spoken of with awe throughout Jinyun Continent and jokingly hailed as the "war god" – though a female one.

Besides her, numerous Immortal Sect disciples had been trapped in the city at that time.

Having felt utterly hopeless, they were saved by the sight of such a war god fighting for them. Naturally, they felt boundless gratitude.

This was especially true for the disciples of the Biquan True Sect.

After all, they were a sect entirely composed of women, devoted to the ideals of female supremacy.

The emergence of such a powerful woman, even if she did not hail from their own sect, sparked fervent admiration and acclaim.

Even after the incident, the Biquan True Sect tried to invite him to join with extremely generous benefits, but was ultimately refused.

Ye Qian’s account also introduced Zhou Luo to the Cold Ice Fairy.

Originally, he had considered seeking her out to craft a treasure again. But now, judging by her status and realm, it seemed she no longer crafted treasures.

He had no choice but to set aside that thought for now.

At this moment, with the Ice Snow Sect disciple speaking forcefully, few others dared to compete so blatantly.

Ultimately, the Heavenly Demon spear fell into their hands. Although the price remained staggering, exceeding six thousand medium-quality spiritual stones, they seemed to still have strength to spare.

Truly worthy of an Immortal Sect; their heritage was indeed substantial.

The auction continued. As time passed, staggering sums were shouted out intermittently.

Zhou Luo watched from beginning to end, never once placing a bid.

He had only one target today: the Xuanming Jade Essence.

Seeing how fiercely contested the items became, he resolved to commit all his remaining spiritual stones for that single, crucial bid, saving nothing for later considerations.

“The item we present next is surely one you’ve all heard of,” the elderly auctioneer’s voice resonated clearly as a beautiful waitress brought forward an exquisite wooden box. “It is one of the key materials essential for forming the Golden Core: the Xuanming Jade Essence.”

“The starting bid is four thousand medium-quality spiritual stones. Each raise must be no less than five hundred medium-quality spiritual stones.”

These words ignited a storm across the auction hall. Countless gazes burned with fervent desire, fixed on the wooden box on the stone platform. Bodies leaned forward unconsciously, many wishing they could seize it outright.

The most anticipated item of this entire auction was undoubtedly the Xuanming Jade Essence.

As a primary material for forming the Golden Core, it was an object of intense longing for countless Foundation Establishment cultivators.

However, unlike the palpable excitement among the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the main hall, the Immortal Sect disciples and heirs of major powers within the private boxes remained unmoved.

Their sects boasted deep reserves. As long as they reached the required realm, their sects would provide the materials long prepared for them. There was no need to seek them out themselves.

Thus, such a primary material held no appeal for them.

It was precisely the Foundation Establishment strong persons lacking such robust backing who were determined to win it.

“I bid forty-five hundred spiritual stones!” One immediately stood and declared his bid.

His bid, however, was swiftly drowned out by others.

“I bid five thousand spiritual stones!”

“I bid fifty-five hundred spiritual stones!”

“I bid seven thousand spiritual stones!”

…

Like Zhou Luo, these Foundation Establishment cultivators had endured, saving their resources until now, solely for the Xuanming Jade Essence. Naturally, unwilling to yield, they called out prices relentlessly.

Seeing the moment was ripe, Zhou Luo raised his offer as well.

“I bid one hundred superior-quality spiritual stones.”

His voice fell like an explosive shell into a still lake, erupting into towering waves.

Instantly, the boiling auction hall plunged into utter silence.

Foundation Establishment cultivators stared wide-eyed, expressions full of shock, towards the direction of that private box. Their eyes brimmed with disbelief.

One hundred superior-quality spiritual stones equaled ten thousand medium-quality spiritual stones.

The price alone, however shocking, wasn’t the sole reason for their astonishment.

What truly stunned them was that it came from the private box of the Biquan True Sect.

Why would a disciple of an Immortal Sect expend such immense resources competing for an item their sect surely already possessed?

The Foundation Establishment cultivators present couldn’t comprehend it at all.

Originally, they believed the absence of major sects and powers meant they had a chance.

The sudden, unexpected intervention of the Biquan True Sect was a jarring blow that left them reeling.

For a moment, no one dared to raise the bid further.

Inside the private box, Lan Ying stared at him with profound disbelief.

One hundred superior-quality spiritual stones was no trivial sum.

Could he genuinely produce that amount?

She had assumed he came from some backwater, lacking significant resources, hence summoning her and her companions to bolster his presence and intimidate others.

Yet, he seemed to genuinely possess the necessary wealth.

Lan Ying felt a tremor deep within. It felt… jarring to accept.

Suddenly, a flash of certainty filled her beautiful eyes.

“He must have used the senior sister’s spiritual stones,” she thought with conviction. “He absolutely must have.”