Jiang Xu was stunned.

’Someone else is actually competing for it?’

He looked in the other bidder’s direction.

The bidder was an old woman, nearly an octogenarian. Her skin was like aged tree bark, etched with deep, mottled wrinkles. She wore a long skirt and silver ornaments in the style of Miaojiang, and her face was grim. A single glance told you she was not someone to be trifled with.

Fairy Ding Xiang was delighted. Averting an unsold item was a good thing for her, so she continued speaking.

"Two hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, going once! Are there any other bidders?"

"Two hundred and sixty Spirit Stones!" Jiang Xu joined the bidding.

Fairy Ding Xiang’s smile bloomed like a flower.

"Excellent! This gentleman bids two hundred and sixty! Will you raise the price?"

"Two hundred and seventy!" Seeing Jiang Xu bid against her, the old woman’s expression soured as she called out her price.

"Two hundred and eighty!" Jiang Xu immediately followed.

The old woman whipped her head around, her eyes filled with killing intent as she stared at Jiang Xu.

"Fellow cultivator, what is the meaning of this?" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"My apologies, but I have my eye on that Golden Silkworm Gu as well. As for what I mean? It’s nothing more than a fair auction. The highest bidder wins."

"Do you have any idea what you’re doing? This Golden Silkworm Gu is a Holy Insect of my clan! It was stolen by some villain and put up for auction here. Today, I am under orders from my clan to retrieve our Holy Insect. Anyone who stands in my way is an enemy of my clan!" the old woman said, her tone icy.

Jiang Xu didn’t show the slightest weakness.

"What, are you going to try and take it by force? Do you have no regard for the rules of this auction house? Fairy Ding Xiang, surely you don’t condone people like this freely threatening others, do you?"

Fairy Ding Xiang’s smile vanished instantly.

No auction house would ever permit such a thing to happen.

This was undermining the auction house’s very foundation and reputation!

"Hmph!"

A wave of Divine Sense pressed down, forcing a grunt from the old woman as a trickle of blood ran from the corner of her mouth.

"You dare cause trouble in my auction house? This is just a warning. Next time, you won’t get off so easily!"

Having suffered a major setback, the old woman didn’t press the issue. She turned her head back and stopped looking at Jiang Xu.

After that, she didn’t continue bidding, as if she knew she lacked the funds and was no longer going to force it.

And so, Jiang Xu successfully acquired the Golden Silkworm Gu.

Everything seemed to return to normal.

But Jiang Xu sensed an incredibly tiny insect attached to his outer robe.

This insect had flown over to him from the old woman!

In fact, Jiang Xu had watched it fly over with his own eyes using the Spiritual Eye Technique!

It turned out the old woman hadn’t given up at all. She had secretly marked Jiang Xu, preparing for the dirty business of killing him for his treasure!

’Since I dared to compete with you, I’m not afraid of you coming for revenge!’ Jiang Xu sneered inwardly.

He had used his Spiritual Eye Technique to check her Cultivation, which was at the Qi Cultivation Late Stage.

Furthermore, she appeared to be a user of insects and poisons, which Jiang Xu happened to counter perfectly.

That was why he dared to confront her head-on.

After all, if the Golden Silkworm Gu was raised and upgraded into a Spirit Insect, it would be powerful enough to cripple even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

For the sake of the Golden Silkworm Gu, offending an old woman was well worth it.

...

「Later in the auction.」

Jiang Xu also won a Tier One Upper Grade Seven Extremes Array Plate and a Tier One Upper Grade Talisman Brush.

Array Plates and Array Flags are a type of portable Forbidden Magical Artifact. Array Masters pre-install an Array Formation within the Magical Artifact.

When you want to set up the Array, you just have to activate the Magical Artifact, making it extremely convenient.

The only downside was that an Array set up this way was slightly weaker than a fixed one.

However, Jiang Xu only planned to use it to add a layer of security to his residence. As long as it could briefly hold off a Qi Cultivation Late Stage Cultivator, it would be enough.

The Talisman Brush was made from Tier Two Demon Wolf Tail Tip Hair using a special process and was said to increase the success rate of Talisman Making.

His previous Tier One Lower Grade Talisman Brush could no longer keep up with his Talisman Making skill. It frequently caused problems when he tried to create Middle Grade Talismans, and he had wanted to replace it for a long time.

The auction was now entering its final phase. More and more precious Treasures appeared, prompting the Cultivators in the upper-level private rooms to start joining the bidding.

"One thousand Spirit Stones! We, Cyan Island Valley, will take this Thousand-Year Ginseng Essence!" a Cultivator shouted from one of the upper rooms.

This Thousand-Year Ginseng Essence was the grand finale of the auction.

"PFFT—! HAHAHA! Elder Liu, you think you can get the Thousand-Year Ginseng Essence for a mere one thousand Spirit Stones? You’re going to make me laugh my teeth out! My Profound Origin Sect bids two thousand Spirit Stones!"

The moment he spoke, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

Everyone was extremely envious of the Profound Origin Sect’s extravagant wealth.

The man from Cyan Island Valley was gritting his teeth in frustration.

Jiang Xu actually wanted it, too.

This Thousand-Year Ginseng Essence could be refined into a Tier Two Elixir, the Longevity Extension Pill, which could extend one’s life by thirty years!

That would directly increase the speed at which Jiang Xu accumulated Limit-Breaking Points by a quarter.

But looking at the current situation, he could only dream.

A whole bunch of Major Sects were fighting over it, and they weren’t pushovers like that old woman.

Jiang Xu understood that this item was not destined for him. If he forced it, he would likely meet with disaster.

"Two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones! If your teeth fall out that easily, I can toss you a Spirit Stone or two to get them fixed!"

"Two thousand six hundred Spirit Stones! Forget it. My teeth? I’m afraid all your Spirit Stones combined wouldn’t be enough to replace even half of one!"

"Two thousand seven hundred Spirit Stones! Are your teeth made of Nine Heavens Profound Iron or Divine Phoenix Wood?"

"Three thousand two hundred Spirit Stones! In any case, they’re more expensive than that measly Tier Two Middle Grade Magical Artifact of yours!"

Amidst the sharp back-and-forth, the price had already climbed to nearly four thousand.

Just as Cyan Island Valley called out a bid of three thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones and was waiting for the Profound Origin Sect to counter, their opponent suddenly went silent.

The Cultivator from Cyan Island Valley was stunned and couldn’t help but ask:

"Where’s your bid?"

"Do you take me for a fool? Three thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones is enough to buy two Thousand-Year Spirit Medicines! I’m not bidding anymore. If you want to keep bidding, go right ahead! But I’d advise you to think about how you’re going to explain this to your Sect, HAHAHA!"

Hearing this, the Cultivator from Cyan Island Valley finally realized he’d been tricked. Rage instantly surged through him, and his entire aura erupted with malicious intent. The next moment, he was about to lash out!

But just then, the Cyan Island Valley Cultivator felt a terrifying sense of crisis that made his blood run cold lock onto him. If he moved even an inch, he would be instantly killed!

He broke out in a cold sweat.

In his fit of anger, he had forgotten that he was currently inside the Marketplace—on their turf, no less—and at an auction where the defensive Array was constantly active.

Trying to cause trouble here was purely courting death!

"Three thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones, going three times... sold!"

After the final item was sold, the auction house began organizing a free trade session.

However, only Foundation Establishment Cultivators could participate, so Jiang Xu was not qualified to join.

But Jiang Xu had no intention of participating anyway. He planned to go back and study the Golden Silkworm Gu.

Jiang Xu glanced behind him again.

"And to deal with someone."