An Alchemist's Path to Eternity-Chapter 118: Dan Chenzi and the Four Symbols Cauldron (I)

It had to be said, Luo Tianhong from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect was well-versed in the art of auctions. The first item up for bid had instantly captivated the crowd, silencing the noisy auction hall and drawing everyone's attention with the reveal of an enchanted treasure.

For the ordinary rogue cultivators, many of whom had never witnessed such a spectacle, the moment felt surreal.

As the bids rolled in one after another, many cultivators instinctively touched their storage pouches, wondering if they'd ever have the chance to join in on such a high-stakes bidding war. The earlier offers—fifteen thousand, twenty thousand, thirty, then fifty—still seemed within the realm of possibility, at least for the elite.

The crowd gradually began to accept the scale of the auction, reminding themselves that the bidders were all Foundation Establishment cultivators, many backed by powerful factions or family connections.

But when the call of "eighty thousand" rang out across the hall, the atmosphere shifted. All eyes turned toward room number eight.

Jumping directly from fifty to eighty thousand spirit stones, the sudden leap left no doubt: the bidder was determined to claim the treasure. The auction house erupted in shocked whispers. Only the Foundation Establishment cultivators involved in the bidding remained quiet, their expressions unreadable.

After all, enchanted treasures were leagues beyond enchanted artifacts. Even supreme-grade enchanted artifacts rarely exceeded ten thousand spirit stones in value. For a low-grade offensive enchanted treasure to go for over fifty thousand—let alone eighty—was staggering. That kind of price could purchase a solid defensive enchanted treasure. And yet, no one else dared to place another bid.

On the white jade auction platform, Luo Tianhong smiled faintly. "Eighty thousand spirit stones, going once! Is there no Fellow Daoist willing to bid higher? This is a guaranteed enchanted treasure from Tianfan City—tested, certified, and free of past entanglements.

"No one?

"Eighty thousand, going twice!" he called again, dragging the moment out with expert timing.

In room eight, Mi Shuhua remained silent after his bid. The others in the room glanced at one another, stunned by his decisiveness. No one had expected him to throw out such a colossal offer right at the start. Even Mi Junping couldn't help but furrow her brows. Was her father being reckless?

However, Mi Shuhua paid no mind to their thoughts. His usually gentle and kind eyes now appeared as calm and deep as an abyss, fixed firmly on Luo Tianhong on the platform.

He wanted—no, needed—to hear one word from Luo Tianhong: Sold.

Yet Luo Tianhong clearly wasn't finished. Smiling knowingly, he added, "This treasure has no past entanglements—no feuds, no vendettas. Buy it today, and no one will come knocking tomorrow. I vouch for this under the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect's name.

"Moreover, this treasure possesses immense power and is perfect for Foundation Establishment cultivators."

The artifact came to life, glowing with a radiant purple-gold hue. It spun at incredible speed, and suddenly, dozens—then hundreds—of identical flying wheels manifested, forming a swirling storm in the air. The display radiated sharp, deadly energy, seemingly capable of slicing the very air itself.

The crowd gasped. Even the previously aloof Foundation Establishment cultivators began to stir with interest.

"I've been in Foundation Establishment for eighty years and never owned an enchanted treasure. This might be my chance... But eighty thousand..."

"This is impressive, but I already have an offensive treasure. What I need now is defense. No need to overextend."

"No rush. Although I lack an enchanted treasure, there are still several more items in this auction. Let's see what's next!"

"Room eight must be Old Man Mi. With the Poshan Gang collecting resources for him, his wealth far exceeds mine. I can't compete with him for this treasure."

In the end, not a single additional bid was placed.

Luo Tianhong gave a small, resigned smile as he dispersed the flying wheels.

"Eighty thousand, going thrice!

"Sold!

"Congratulations to the Fellow Daoist in room eight. This low-grade enchanted treasure is now yours. May it serve you well in vanquishing devils and protecting the Dao on your cultivation journey."

As these words left his mouth, the atmosphere in the venue became lively once again.

In room eight, Mi Shuhua, who had previously been annoyed by Luo Tianhong's deliberate stalling, finally broke into a wide smile. His aged face blossomed like a chrysanthemum, radiating joy.

On the white jade platform, Luo Tianhong calmly handed the Heavenly Moon Purple-Gold Wheel to an attendant, who carried it off with great care. Without missing a beat, Luo Tianhong brought forth the next item for auction. Though it lacked the overwhelming value of an enchanted treasure, its unique functionality piqued the interest of the Qi-Refining cultivators in the audience.

One after another, bids were called out with energy and eagerness. The crowd, which had just moments ago been stunned into reverent silence, was now alive with excitement. The auction continued, the energy in the venue growing ever more spirited with each new item unveiled.

***

Inside the private room, Mi Shuhua accepted the Heavenly Moon Purple-Gold Wheel from the attendant with barely concealed excitement. After nearly two centuries of struggling in Dahe Market and finally reaching the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, he had long carried the status of a Foundation Establishment cultivator without possessing a matching enchanted treasure. That gap had always weighed on him.

Wang Haichao of the Dajiang Gang—a mere latecomer—had dared to challenge him. Why? Simply because Mi Shuhua lacked an enchanted treasure. But now things have changed.

With this acquisition, he had become a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, armed with an enchanted treasure that could hold its own even against late-stage rivals. From this day forward, who wouldn't treat him with newfound respect upon meeting him?

Mi Junping, watching her father radiate joy, couldn't help but feel proud. The Mi family had truly risen—no longer just a Foundation Establishment household, but one with an enchanted treasure.

Even Sikong Shoujia, well-versed in market prices, couldn't hold back his curiosity. "Gang Leader," he asked, "isn't the typical price for a low-grade offensive enchanted treasure around fifty to sixty thousand spirit stones? Didn't this one have too high a premium?"

"Premium?" Mi Shuhua chuckled. "They just failed to recognize its true worth."

He laughed heartily as he tucked the treasure into his storage bag. "Once we return, I'll begin refining it into my dantian, nurturing it with my spirit power and consciousness."

After saying this, he didn't explain further. This left Sikong Shoujia and Luo Chen incredibly curious.

Could it be that this Heavenly Moon Purple-Gold Wheel had other extraordinary uses beyond being an offensive enchanted treasure?

But if that were the case, why wouldn't the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect state it explicitly to fetch a higher price? And how did Mi Shuhua know about it?

Sensing their growing curiosity, Mi Shuhua smoothly shifted the conversation. "There's a strategy to bidding at auctions," he said, settling into a teaching tone.

"If you're financially constrained, there's nothing to discuss—just bid within your means. What you can't afford, you'll never win. And If you're wealthy, you can afford to haggle slowly; what's meant for you will eventually be yours.

"But if you're somewhere in the middle, then you must rely on tactics—either by seizing the initiative or striking at the last moment. Take my earlier bid as an example, I sharply raised the price within my means, signaling absolute determination while creating the impression of a premium. Perhaps there is indeed a premium, but what is this setting?

"An auction! With countless competitors, most auction items naturally accrue a premium. Instead of letting others gradually inflate the price, it's better to preempt them.

"Of course, this applies to resources you absolutely must acquire. But what about items that are less essential? For example, consider the enchanted artifact being auctioned right now. How do you think one should bid for it?"

Guided by Mi Shuhua, Luo Chen and the others put themselves in the buyer's shoes, contemplating how to secure the item.

It had to be said—this advice truly enlightened them.

The final prices of the subsequent auction items were almost exactly as Mi Shuhua had predicted. It was clear—the elder truly held the upper hand.

About an hour later, the first round of the auction came to a close. During the intermission, the white jade platform turned into a lively hub of activity.

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One by one, cultivators from the Sword Pavilion placed a plethora of items on the platform as if setting up a market stall.

Seeing these items, Luo Chen and the others immediately understood. Without a doubt, this was the auction stage for rogue cultivators.

The enchanted artifacts submitted by Wang Yuan were placed in one corner.

Not long after, Luo Tianhong returned to the stage to preside over the second round. Unlike the grand presentation of individual treasures earlier, this segment was fast-paced and utilitarian. Luo Tianhong simply introduced each item with a quick summary—its grade, name, general function, and starting price—before moving straight into the bidding.

There were no dramatic pauses or prolonged sales pitches. If no one placed a new bid within moments, he'd immediately declare, "Sold."

The first item sold was the second-tier spirit herb submitted by Sikong Shoujia, which was quickly claimed by a concealed Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Wang Yuan's batch of enchanted artifacts also performed exceptionally well, with nearly eighty to ninety percent of them snapped up. Thanks to his deliberately low starting prices, he earned several thousands of spirit stones in just a short span of time.

In contrast, the items submitted by Luo Wudi and Mi Junping received far less attention. Many were passed over entirely, drawing sighs of quiet resignation. It became clear that what might seem like valuable resources under ordinary circumstances simply didn't impress the high-profile attendees at an event of this caliber.

Once the second round concluded, a group of female cultivators came on stage to perform songs and dances, entertaining the guests during the break. To top it off, the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion also provided a variety of pastries and light refreshments for everyone in attendance.

Watching the seamless blend of spectacle, hospitality, and profit-making, Luo Chen couldn't help but marvel at the sect's business acumen. Just attending the auction—regardless of whether one made a purchase—was worth it for the experience alone.

Of course, if he'd known that even the guests had to pay an entrance fee of one spirit stone each, he might have revised his opinion on the sect's generosity.

Soon, Luo Tianhong's voice rang out once again. "The third round of the auction is now beginning."

He gestured to the items laid out behind him. "The first segment features various rare spirit medicines provided by Fellow Daoist Mi Shuhua from the Poshan Gang.

"There are three second-tier demon beast cores, three pieces of refined iron hearts, a third-tier Silver-Maned Horse foal suitable for taming... and ten bottles of mid-grade Jade Essence pills personally refined by the Poshan Gang's Alchemy Hall Leader, Dan Chenzi.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you may begin bidding!"

This third round was composed of auction items submitted by local powers, and as the most established rogue cultivator faction in Dahe Market, the Poshan Gang naturally led the segment. The moment the items were announced, a buzz spread through the hall.

The second-tier demon beast cores quickly attracted bids from Foundation Establishment cultivators, while the refined iron hearts drew a high offer from the Treasure Pavilion's private room. But the biggest stir came from the Silver-Maned Horse foal—if raised properly, it could one day grow into a third-tier demon beast, its strength rivaling a Golden Core cultivator in a few hundred years.

Clearly, Mi Shuhua had brought out the big guns. After dropping eighty thousand spirit stones on an enchanted treasure earlier, he was already on his way to recouping the cost through this impressive display of wealth.

Meanwhile, in room eight, Luo Chen was left blinking in disbelief.

"Alchemy Hall Leader... Dan Chenzi?" he muttered under his breath. "When did I ever get such a fancy title?"