After merging with the [Dao Tian Jian], Yang Hong visited several sects, and passed by countless others. The dragons of luck he had seen before were all of the classic Eastern dragon image: camel head, deer antlers, snake neck, fish eyes, fish scales, tiger paws, and eagle claws.
However, the dragon of luck for Chaoyang City was a bit strange. Its horns were not deer antlers but a long single horn, and this single horn was black. Black represented misfortune! He wondered if there was something fishy going on beneath Chaoyang City, or if something was sealed there.
But with Yang Hong's experience and knowledge, he couldn't figure anything out. He was then approached by two black-robed Daoist cultivators at the Tribulation Stage.
"Fellow Daoist, this humble Daoist wishes to invite you to join the Chaoyang Sect. Are you willing?" After a brief pleasantry, one of the black-robed Daoists directly invited Yang Hong.
Yang Hong didn't even need to consider it. He shook his head and said, "I'm sorry. I have my own sect, and I don't wish to disband it."
"That's a pity. However, we have investigated, and Qingfeng Villa is merely a first-grade sect with no development potential. If you are willing to join the Chaoyang Sect, you will immediately become an elder, at least an elder in charge of internal affairs." As the black-robed Daoist spoke, his aura of an eighth-level Tribulation Stage cultivator continuously emanated, slowly pressing down on Yang Hong.
"No need. I am quite content being the sect leader." Yang Hong was not a pushover. He immediately simulated his own aura to the ninth-level Mahayana Stage and pushed back!
"Oh? That's truly a pity. My junior brother and I will not disturb you further." Feeling an aura far exceeding that of an ordinary Mahayana Stage cultivator, the two black-robed Daoists quickly clasped their hands in farewell.
Yang Hong slightly cupped his hands in return, a pleasant smile on his lips.
[Little punk, trying to intimidate me with your aura? Try again when you ascend!]
[Bastard, another one who plays the pig to eat the tiger!]
Both sides, with their own thoughts, parted ways, their smiles as bright and polite as ever. Glancing up at the dragon of luck, which was invisible to the naked eye, Yang Hong shook his head thoughtfully.
The next day, Yang Hong, accompanied by his disciples Ran Boren and Qiu Kun, arrived at the center of Chaoyang City. There stood a ten-story building covering an area of one hundred mu, entirely constructed from green [Jin Shen Shi].
"Sect Leader, this Chaoyang Sect is too wealthy! Green Jin Shen Shi is a seventh-grade spiritual material. Although this ten-story building is only a little over ten zhang tall, this building alone is probably worth trillions of spirit stones!" Looking at the low-rise building, which was much shorter than the surrounding structures, Yang Hong's eyes even felt a little envious.
"Indeed! It's such a waste of good materials." As he sighed, Yang Hong quickened his pace, wanting to see if the interior of the building was even more luxurious.
"Truly magnificent!" Upon entering the building, Yang Hong could only utter a single exclamation from beginning to end, while Ran Boren and Qiu Kun, like bumpkins entering the Grand View Garden, continuously marveled at the seventh, eighth, and even ninth-grade spiritual materials. The lowest grade of material used throughout the entire building was seventh-grade! Yang Hong, filled with envy, took a few deep breaths, suppressing the urge to pry off a few floor tiles as souvenirs, and quickly entered his own private room, Xuan character number six.
The Chaoyang Sect did not give them a general invitation to the auction because Qingfeng Villa was a first-grade sect, nor did they give him a higher-tier room because Yang Hong had provided a large quantity of Iron Thorn Grass seeds, saving the Yuru Plains. They only arranged their third-tier room to be closer to the front.
Upon seeing that the spiritual fruits placed in the room were only fourth-grade, and the spiritual tea was even only third-grade, Yang Hong smiled. It turned out that the Chaoyang Sect, despite its solid foundation, had declined considerably in its development. He didn't believe he was being targeted; auctions were places to show off wealth, and if they had better spiritual fruits, the Chaoyang Sect would undoubtedly display them. Even if the spiritual fruits were tiered, the spiritual fruits in the Heaven-tier rooms would not exceed sixth-grade. This indicated that the Chaoyang Sect, at least in terms of spiritual plants, was in decline. Even the spiritual plants of the Yuru Plains, especially high-grade spiritual plants, had degenerated. This presented Yang Hong with a great business opportunity.
"Welcome, fellow Daoists, for traveling from afar to attend the Chaoyang Sect's auction, held once every thirty years. This year also happens to be the grand auction held once every three hundred years. Great merchants from Xiqu Prefecture, Nanheng Prefecture, Beigu Prefecture, and the Central Divine Continent have brought even more and better treasures, and we believe everyone will return with a full harvest!" Just as Yang Hong was contemplating what kind of spiritual fruits to cultivate, a hoarse and resonant voice sounded, and an elder with a beard reaching his chest suddenly appeared on the high platform in the center of the auction hall.
"The Chaoyang Sect is truly powerful, having a ninth-level Mahayana late-stage cultivator serve as the auctioneer."
"As expected of the Chaoyang Sect, this is true dominance."
"Look at the surroundings of the high platform; those eight are at least fourth- tribulation Loose Immortals. It seems the Chaoyang Sect has a major treasure to put up for auction this time!" The appearance of the old auctioneer immediately ignited the auction hall, and all the attending cultivators marveled. The auctioneer, seeing the enthusiastic response, also smiled, a proud smile.
"We will now begin the first batch of auctions. A total of ten thousand items, all treasures below seventh-grade. Although the quality is a bit low, they are all exquisite items from the entire Taiyuan Continent."
"In front of each of your seats is a light screen. Simply input the price you deem suitable for the items you fancy. One hour later, all ten thousand items will be sold to the highest bidder."
"This is a test of discernment and courage. You might acquire a treasure worth thousands of times its value for a very low price, or you might spend a large sum on junk you don't need. It tests both your foresight and your luck, and more importantly, your financial strength."
"All ten thousand treasures have been appraised by our professional appraisers, and not a single treasure is valued at less than one hundred thousand spirit stones! Please bid with confidence!" As the old auctioneer introduced the auction in a lengthy manner, a light screen rose in front of Yang Hong's seat, like a virtual projection in science fiction. If he wanted to view an item, he simply had to lean towards it, and the information registered for that item in the auction house would appear. It was very convenient and very sci-fi. Yet, it was also very "cultivation-like"! This was an application of formations, which made Yang Hong exclaim that he had learned something new.
After playing with it for a while, he began to focus on the items. He ignored magical artifacts, pills, and talismans. He had killed enough cultivators in the Wufang Domain, and the three types of cultivation resources he had obtained were enough for Qingfeng Villa to use for several hundred years. He bid on spiritual ores, spiritual materials, and spiritual herbs of any quality or attribute, adding 20% to the base price. He would grab as much as he could. He was most concerned about spiritual plant seeds, but there were only six types and nineteen seeds, of which he already owned two types. For spiritual plant seeds, he was willing to go the extra mile, bidding double the price.
"Sect Leader, won't your bid be too low?" Ran Boren couldn't help but remind him upon seeing Yang Hong's bid.
"It's not low. Any higher and it wouldn't be worth it."
"Sect Leader, please raise the bids for the spiritual materials and spiritual herbs. We are not short of spirit stones; we still have 1.3 billion spirit stones!"
"No need. Buy as much as you can. This price is already very high." Yang Hong still resolutely shook his head. Spiritual materials still needed to be refined to be usable by cultivators, and the auction itself already marked up the prices considerably. There was no need to go higher. Yang Hong's thoughts were beautiful, but after this round of auction ended, he felt his face sting.