Chapter 506

Chapter 506: Time Palace

"One billion eighty million?"

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

The price for the tenth jade slip was simply an astronomical figure!

Lu Chengfeng revealed a trace of bitterness in his smile.

Not just the Lu Family, but the entire Canglan Merchant Alliance earned only about 1.2 billion divine stones in net profit per year, split among the six great families. Each family received roughly 200 million.

After deducting the daily cultivation expenses of clan members, saving even 50 million divine stones was already extremely difficult.

A single jade slip costing almost the entire net annual profit of the Canglan Merchant Alliance was utterly outrageous.

Even after managing the Canglan Merchant Alliance for centuries, Lu Chengfeng had never conducted a transaction on such a scale as today.

"My goodness…"

Formless Demon Lord held his breath and sighed. "If I possessed one billion eighty million divine stones, reaching the Dao Sovereign Realm would be no dream at all."

"Daoist brother, if resources alone could carry one to the peak, what need would there be for talent?" Su Mu snorted in derision.

"Quiet!"

With a mere thought from Ye Xu, the two adversaries fell silent.

"One point one billion!"

Finally, a voice broke the clamor in the auction hall. Countless heads turned, seeking the source, but it was shrouded by immortal light, obscuring the bidder from view.

Ye Xu could see.

The bidder was an elderly man in white robes, possessing considerable cultivation—within the Dao Sovereign Realm of the Three Tribulations.

"One point one one billion!"

A second voice chimed in.

"One point two billion!"

Yet another bid followed.

Ye Xu noted that every single bidder boasted cultivation no weaker than the Dao Sovereign Realm of the Three Tribulations.

"One point five billion!"

At that moment,

a staggering price tag plunged the entire domain into silence.

"Utterly lacking in humanity!" Dao Lord Long Yuan exclaimed with envy.

Adding 300 million divine stones in one go—Dao Lord Long Yuan simply couldn’t fathom the sheer financial magnitude of such a bid!

A heavy stone in Ye Xu’s heart gradually settled.

Even at a closing price of 1.5 billion divine stones, his profit would still amount to five hundred million.

But the matter was far from settled.

The purple-haired woman had not made a single bid from start to finish.

"Fifteen billion once!"

"Fifteen billion twice!"

"Twenty billion!"

Suddenly, a gentle and melodious voice rang out. The purple-haired woman lightly tucked back a strand of hair beside her ear. Beneath her sheer veil, shallow dimples appeared on both sides of her lustrous, fair cheeks as she began her bid.

Lu Chengfeng could barely conceal the excitement in his eyes.

Double the profit!

The moment that voice sounded, he knew his first personally managed auction could be declared a complete success.

"As expected of a disciple of Time Palace—truly rich and imposing," came a cold, sinister voice from the Four Tribulations Dao Sovereign who had just bid fifteen billion.

Time Palace?

Upon hearing these words, every Dao Sovereign present abruptly contracted their pupils. Yet none dared utter another word, treating Time Palace with profound reverence and unease.

Ye Xu wore a faint smile at the corner of his lips.

This woman’s background was clearly extraordinary.

"It seems Time Palace is a faction under an Heavenly Venerate…" he murmured internally but paid it little mind. After all, within Canglan City, he reigned supreme.

"The auction follows the logic of wealth,"

the purple-haired woman stated calmly. "If this Daoist friend disputes, feel free to bid further."

"Bid! Bid! Bid!"

Unsealed from their restraints, Formless Demon Lord and Su Mu clenched their fists, urging eagerly.

Ye Xu also watched with anticipation.

Best if both rivals locked horns so he could profit effortlessly.

"Humph!"

A snort echoed, but the Four Tribulations Dao Sovereign offered no new bid.

"Twenty billion once!"

"Twenty billion twice!"

Lu Chengfeng paused briefly. Seeing no further bids, he laughed heartily: "Twenty billion—sold!

Congratulations, Esteemed Senior, on acquiring the tenth jade slip!"

"Today’s auction is hereby concluded.

Esteemed Seniors who secured jade slips, please follow me to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

"Young Master Lu, when shall the next auction convene?" A Nine Tribulations Dao Lord inquired respectfully, cupping his hands toward Lu Chengfeng.

"The matter remains undecided,"

Lu Chengfeng replied. "An announcement and Invitations will precede the second auction. Esteemed Senior needn’t rush."

"My gratitude."

"Farewell."

The various Dao Lords clasped their hands in farewell.

"Esteemed seniors, please follow me."

Lu Chengfeng led the purple-haired woman and the other nine cultivators into a grand hall exuding an aura of profound mystery, its architecture simple and ancient.

On the hall’s floor, countless mysterious divine patterns were etched, as if forming an ingenious time-space formation. At its very center, these myriad divine patterns converged, coalescing into a Time and Space wormhole.

"Young Master Lu, could this be a teleportation array?" one Nine Tribulations Dao Lord inquired curiously.

Lu Chengfeng nodded.

"Esteemed seniors might be unaware, this is a time-space array personally prepared by my Master, the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, for cultivators successful in the auction," he explained. "Using the jade slip as a guide, it can teleport you directly to the location of the opportunity."

"Such a fortunate surprise?"

One Dao Lord was utterly delighted.

Clearly, this was an unexpected boon.

"The Master is truly considerate."

Within the cultivation world, incidents abound of cultivators acquiring treasures at an auction only to be murdered and robbed immediately afterward.

This contingency by Heaven’s Machine Auction House clearly aimed to completely prevent such occurrences.

"The strength of the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion is truly unfathomable," Dao Sovereign Penglai mused inwardly with wry amusement, thinking how foolish he and Meng Qingluo had been to suspect the Master of ulterior motives before.

In hindsight, it was simply their own excessive suspicion and limited perspective.

"Esteemed seniors are honored guests of Heaven’s Machine Auction House, naturally your safety is guaranteed," Lu Chengfeng said with a smile.

The group beamed brightly.

The purple-haired woman remained expressionless.

She understood very well; it was only because the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion possessed immense power that such a feat was possible. What ordinary auction house could have the substantial strength to teleport people anywhere at will?

It must be understood that the Hongmeng Dao Realm spanned Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-Nine Domains, vast and boundless.

Even for a Dao Sovereign, traversing it completely required several years of flight.

"Let us begin with the first senior," Lu Chengfeng announced. "Senior, simply step into the array and channel your mana into the jade slip. This will activate the imprint within, utilizing the array to teleport you to the land of opportunity."

"Very well."

The first Dao Lord presented his divine stones and stepped forward into the Time and Space wormhole.

As the wormhole briefly opened and closed, his figure vanished.

Subsequently.

The other Dao Lords also successively presented their divine stones or treasures and stepped, one by one, into the Time and Space wormhole.

When it was Dao Sovereign Penglai’s turn, he offered up the one hundred million divine stones. Looking at Lu Chengfeng, he stated, "Please inform the Master upon my return, I shall surely visit Heaven’s Secret Pavilion again to pay my respects to his venerable presence."

"No need to inform."

Lu Chengfeng replied. "Our every word remains unheard by the Master."

Dao Sovereign Pengilai was filled with doubt.

He knew the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was formidable, but could he truly be this powerful?

Swish!

A flash of light streaked by, and Dao Sovereign Penglai vanished into the Time and Space wormhole.

"Senior, here you are."

Lu Chengfeng respectfully handed over the jade slip to the purple-haired woman. He cautiously observed her, but she wore a light veil over her face. That thin veil seemed to possess an eerie magic, blocking Lu Chengfeng’s gaze.

The purple-haired woman took the golden book and jade slip.

Nevertheless.

She did not step into the Time and Space wormhole.

Lu Chengfeng showed a look of confusion and said, "Senior, do you not wish to leave through this?"

"I want to see the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

The purple-haired woman smiled. "I’m uneasy handing these two billion divine stones directly to you."

Lu Chengfeng frowned.

As sharp as he was, he instantly recognized that the purple-haired woman’s words were just an excuse; her true aim was likely to meet Ye Xu in person.

"Senior is right."

Lu Chengfeng did not take offense and calmly replied, "I am of low strength, and holding such a large sum is unsettling."

"If you wish to see the Master, I shall lead the way for you, Senior."

"I appreciate your effort."

The purple-haired woman gave a slight nod with her head.

They exited Heaven’s Machine Auction House and walked toward Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

After some time, Lu Chengfeng and the purple-haired woman entered Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Ye Xu was eagerly awaiting their arrival.

The moment he saw Lu Chengfeng, he almost rose personally to greet him.

Of course, he was waiting for the money.

But when he caught sight of the purple-haired woman, he forcefully suppressed his impulse. Feigning an air of calm detachment, he smiled and said, "Daoist friend, we meet again."