Chapter 57: Phoenix Flame Lilies

Item after item passed, each more extraordinary than the last. A set of alchemical pills capable of enhancing one's cultivation drew gasps. A rare beast egg elicited a flurry of bids. Jiang Feng remained patient, his goal clear, even though he was tempted by the beast egg.

'Once I get back, I should spend some time cultivating, then I will head to the Obsidian Battlegrounds to test my strength' Feng mused while waiting.

Finally, the auctioneer's voice sharpened, drawing the audience's attention. "And now, a special item for our discerning guests. A dagger technique that has not only survived the passage of time but remains unmatched in its elegance and lethality—Silent Reaper! This technique, unearthed from an ancient ruin, is ideal for cultivators who value precision and speed."

The auctioneer shouted, leveling the crowd with his voice before continuing, "This technique comes with a cultivation method, thus making it a set. Our appraisers think that this cultivation method harnesses the power of darkness, which can be confused with those who practiced the dark arts or shadow arts, I need not say where I'm getting at with this out loud. Be careful, the starting bid is 25,000 spirit stones and can only be increase by increments of 5000!"

A collective murmur swept through the hall. The technique's reputation was clearly hinting at the almost identical art to the Celestial Shadow Church's. If one were to be misjudged as a member after using the technique, only death awaited that person. The risk was very high, and it's not like the Ji clan will be there to say they sold the technique when one was battling against an enemy in a life or death situation.

Jiang Feng's grip tightened on his credit card as the first bids rang out.

"30,000!"

"40,000!"

"49,000!"

The bidding escalated rapidly, the competition intense. Jiang Feng forced himself to stay calm. He wouldn't bid too early; that would draw unwanted attention to himself.

As the price reached 75,000 spirit stones, the pace of bids slowed, the lesser competitors retreating. Jiang Feng waited until the room hushed briefly, then raised his hand. "93,000."

Heads turned toward him, curiosity alight in their eyes. His masked and cloaked figure exuded an aura of mystery, and his calm bid hinted at confidence backed by deep pockets.

The burly man in crimson armor sneered and raised his voice. "110,000!"

Jiang Feng didn't hesitate. "123,000."

The jade-robed man smirked. "140,000!"

Jiang Feng's heart pounded, but he maintained his composed demeanor. He raised his hand again. "148,000."

The room buzzed with whispers. The mysterious bidder wasn't backing down and even though the Ji clans always ensure fairness, in this massive city anything was possible. The auctioneer's eyes gleamed with excitement as he addressed the crowd. "148,000 spirit stones! Do I hear 153,000?, this is a skill that can kill from blind spots!"

The jade-robed man hesitated, his fan pausing mid-swing. Meanwhile, the man in crimson armor clenched his fists but remained silent, he wanted to the technique but there were many rare treasures this time around, as well as other great cultivation skills.

The auctioneer began his countdown. "148,000 spirit stones, going once... going twice..."

Jiang Feng's breath hitched. This was it.

"Sold! To the esteemed guest in the black mask for 148,00 spirit stones!"

Relief flooded through Jiang Feng as the crowd erupted in murmurs. He had secured the Silent Reaper cultivation technique and martial technique. But as he descended from the high of victory, his instincts warned him to stay cautious. His mysterious act had worked for now, but such attention could easily bring trouble.

Steeling himself, he resolved to collect the technique and leave the pavilion quietly. Tonight, he had won, but the world outside was never without its dangers. From the 400,000 credit he was given at the appraisal counter, Jiang Feng was only left with 152,000, if the bidding had not stopped, he feared he would burn through his own pockets or forced to abandon the dagger art altogether.

'152,000 spirit stones left, my my, such a windfall this is!' Feng smiled behind his mask. He had never seen so many spirit stones and was currently thinking about what he should do with so much money.

///

Just as Jiang Feng was preparing to head backstage to collect his winnings, the auctioneer raised a dramatic hand, signaling a new and unexpected highlight. Two attendants wheeled out a glass display case, its contents glowing faintly with an ethereal, otherworldly light. The audience collectively leaned forward, their curiosity ignited.

Inside, nestled upon a bed of pristine white silk, lay three magnificent blossoms—the legendary Phoenix Flame Lilies.

Each lily seemed alive, its petals a hypnotic blend of crimson and molten gold, shimmering like liquid fire beneath sunlight. The edges of the petals danced with faint, flickering tongues of flame, as if the lilies might burst into full blaze at any moment, mimicking a phoenix's mythical rebirth through nirvana. At the heart of each flower glowed a molten core of deep orange, radiating the intense brilliance of volcanic magma. Even through the glass, one could feel the faint, comforting warmth emanating from these celestial blooms.

The flowers exuded a fragrance both alluring and commanding—a mix of ash, spice, and the unmistakable energy of fire-attribute spirituality. The fiery aura surrounding them was tangible, a resonant pulse that stirred the blood of anyone with an affinity with fire. Jiang Feng, seated in the shadows of the auction hall, felt his heart quicken, the heat inside his body raising.

"These, my esteemed guests," the auctioneer announced with reverence, "are the legendary Phoenix Flame Lilies. Grown from volcanic soil and nourished by the essence of the sun for over a thousand years, they are treasures without equal. For those cultivating flame-based techniques, these lilies offer extraordinary benefits: enhancing flame affinity, stabilizing one's core, and—perhaps their most coveted property—igniting dormant bloodlines tied to fire."

The hall erupted with a wave of excitement. Gasps, murmurs, and fevered whispers rippled through the crowd. Even Jiang Feng found himself marveling at the sight, though his practical side reminded him that treasures of this caliber often came with deadly strings attached.

From his secluded seat, he scoffed lightly, masking his own intrigue. "Spirit stones come and go," he muttered to himself, leaning back with a resigned sigh. "Still, the pain in my wallet is very real."

He snorted at his own humor, whispering under his breath, "If I ever get stronger, maybe I should just rob people instead. Easier on the pockets!" The faint chuckle that followed was tinged with self-deprecation as he steeled himself for the inevitable sting of temptation.

"Everyone," the auctioneer continued, his voice amplified by the charged atmosphere, "as you well know, treasures with the ability to awaken dormant bloodlines are almost unheard of. And this is not all—these lilies also enhance flame-based arts to unprecedented levels. Originally, we had no plans to sell them. However, the owner insisted they be auctioned today." He paused for effect, his eyes gleaming. "The starting bid is 100,000 spirit stones, with increments of no less than 20,000!"

Jiang Feng's jaw slackened. "A hundred thousand?" he thought, his mind racing. "I'd better make my escape before this auction drains me dry."

But as murmurs filled the hall, he paused, curious to gauge the crowd's reaction.

"Who even dares set something like this up for auction? The Ji Clan, perhaps?" someone speculated nearby.

"If I could secure those lilies, my Volcanic Breaking Fist would soar to the fourth stage instantly," another murmured, his voice filled with longing.

"It's a treasure like this that could spark a bloodbath outside these walls," a wary voice added. "Whoever wins had better have the strength or the connections to keep it."

The room brimmed with barely restrained greed and tension. Gaze after burning gaze fixed on the lilies, their fiery light reflecting in the eyes of cultivators from all walks of life. Treasures of this magnitude did not simply change hands, they rewrote destinies, either you soar or die. And everyone in the room knew it.

Jiang Feng folded his arms and leaned back, letting out a long sigh. "Looks like this place is about to get a lot hotter..."