Walking along the dark pa.s.sage, no one spoke. Only the crowd's heavy breathing filled the air.
As the narrow pa.s.sage grew wider, a bright light shone before them. Standing under stone steps, Qin Mo and the others saw a young man standing on a high platform. He didn't wear a black cloak like the other two. Instead, he was wearing an ordinary robe that casually covered his face.
With a hint of carelessness in his voice, he said, "Three pieces of medium-grade spirit stone, any challengers?" He glanced around and then said, "Then the pill medicine is owed by our friend, Dao!"
Seeming to notice them, he turned to the group at the entrance. His eyes lit up and nodded at the two men in black robes. Turning his head back with a smile, he said, "Next comes the auction you've all been waiting for, the human cauldrons."
Once he finished, everyone below seethed with excitement. It was common knowledge that using human cauldrons could quickly improve one's cultivation, but it was not a glorious practice in the cultivation world. Few places would openly auction off human cauldrons.
At the same time, the short man's voice rang in Qin Mo's ears, "Go, go quick!" He roughly pushed Qin Mo and others forwards.
Even more fear showed on their faces, but they didn't say anything. Trembling, they stepped along the stone steps to the high platform.
As soon as they stepped out, Qin Mo felt the surrounding eyes constantly sweeping over his body. He lowered his head, scanning his surroundings. His spirit power was still locked, but his divine sense was still available. The cultivators present, though, their cultivation base was quite high. He didn't dare act recklessly.
There were two floors in the entire hill. The upper level was filled with separate rooms, the doors of each tightly closed, concealing the scene. The lower floor was filled with cultivators, all wearing long black robes, unrecognizable.
"These are the human cauldrons to be auctioned, everyone please look!" The young man said, a long ruler appearing in his hand. He casually pulled a woman towards him and placed the ruler on her forehead.
Watching the s.h.i.+ning light from the ruler, a satisfied smile appeared on the young cultivator's face. He raised the ruler in his hand to the people and said, "Water-wood dual spirit roots, and a pure yin body!"
The audience grew louder after hearing that. A pure yin body was the most suitable human cauldron and was extremely rare, even rarer than the heaven spirit root.
The cultivator's face flashed a trace of ecstasy as he slowly said, "Starting price, three hundred medium-grade spirit stones!"
The atmosphere calmed, the noisy hill quieting. The high-grade spirit stone could be exchanged for 500 pieces of medium-grade spirit stones, and one medium-grade spirit stone could be exchanged for 500 lower-grade spirit stones. 300 pieces of medium-grade spirit stones was a large starting point. The young cultivator remained smiling at the crowd.
Someone held up a sign and called out, "Three hundred medium-grade plus one hundred lower-grade spirit stones." Like flipping a switch, everyone in the room excitedly scrambled for the woman. At last, the woman with the pure yin body was sold for two high-grade spirit stones to a cultivator in a room on the second floor.
Although, the next few people weren't pure yin bodies, their spirit roots more or less carried some yin nature. Someone with a price of one high-grade spirit stone was eventually sold, even the two men were sold. The cultivator world has no shortage of desire for male h.o.m.os.e.xual cultivators.
Standing at the back of the crowd, he was ignored until he was the only one that remained on the platform. When the young cultivator placed the ruler closer to his forehead, his hands trembled, desperate to wield Thunderbolt. Despite it, he retracted his hands into his wide sleeves.
"Mutated thunder spirit root. . ." Looking at the result displayed on the ruler, the cultivator's brows wrinkled. The person in front of him was qualified, but not for a human cauldron. Who caught him?
The people on the hill also noticed the problem. Bursts of laughter pealed out from below.
The young cultivator's face turning red, in a somewhat wronged tone, he said, "Although he isn't very suitable as a human cauldron, it's possible when he's properly raised. Two hundred medium-grade spirit stones. . ."
A charming voice called out from upstairs, "Ah! Just a waste from the early stage of Foundation Building would price at two hundred medium-grade spirit stones. After buying him, I would have to spend more spirit stones on raising him." She paused, then continued, "50 medium-grade spirit stones, then I will buy him!"
The young cultivator felt awkward. He glared at Qin Mo and explained, "It's against the rule!"
"The rules are set by the people, do you sell or not?" Full of savagery, the woman's voice was a little arrogant.
The cultivator's face s.h.i.+fted, but he didn't speak. Qin Mo stood on the stage, sending chilling glare to the audience.
"Two hundred and one medium-grade spirit stones," A hoa.r.s.e voice came from the first floor of the lobby. The sound was processed, making everyone unable to tell whether they were a man or a woman.
Seeing everyone's eyes were focused on them, they repeated, "Two hundred and one medium-grade spirit stones."
Filled with joy, the young cultivator said, "Alright, sold."
"You dare!" The woman upstairs screamed when she caught sight of the mysterious person. Threat laced her tone.
"What don't I dare?" Ignoring her tone, the mysterious person nodded to the young cultivator.
"One shouldn't be too arrogant, or they might not be able to leave this auction." The threat in their tone was even more serious. Everyone could hear it. The ident.i.ty and the strength of those on the second floor weren't simple.
"Humph, force isn't allowed within the area of Qingfeng House!" Before the mysterious person spoke, the cultivator's expression s.h.i.+fted. What this woman said, she really didn't put their Qingfeng House in mind.
Seeing the cultivator open his mouth, the woman let out a low hmph and stopped speaking. Her heart knew that for the Qingfeng House to occupy this chaotic place, the forces behind it should not be underestimated. She dared to bargain with them because she didn't touch the bottom line of Qingfend House until then. Her behavior was obviously irritating them, so she quieted.
After this episode, the auction carried on in an orderly manner. Qin Mo was taken from the hall.
Standing inside the room and looking at the two cultivators in front of the door, Qin Mo's eyes glistened. According to the woman in the stone room, his spirit power was only imprisoned within the scope of the Qingfeng House. Once he left with the mysterious person, he could think of a way to escape.
Qin Mo calmed at the thought. He stood in the same spot, waiting for his purchaser's arrival.
"Friend Dao, it's right here," A voice whispered as two people entered the room. The first was dressed as a servant, the second was Qin Mo's "Master."
Feeling a chill down his spine, Qin Mo knew the person was sizing him up.
"Take it away directly?" The mysterious person's voice was still hoa.r.s.e.
"Yes, we the Qingfeng House already planted a lock array in his body. Even if leaving the scope of Qingfeng House, the spirit power in his body cannot be used. Friend Dao, you can take him away." The servant said respectfully.
The mysterious person nodded, he knew about the lock array of the Qingfeng House. The effect was powerful. Without much to say, he left with Qin Mo.
Once they were out of the auction house, Qin Mo looked back. This Qingfeng House was an ancient building, with about nine floors. Everything he saw inside resided on the bottom two. A plaque hung above the wooden door in front of the building. On it, the words "Qingfeng House" were delicately but boldly written. The words felt pressured, making Qin Mo think the Qingfeng House wasn't simple.
A bustling street resided in front of the Qingfeng House. Cultivators selling things all along it.
The mysterious person drew a flying sword and pulled Qin Mo to stand on it. They were ready to leave.
Standing behind the mysterious person, Qin Mo's eyes dimmed. Free of the stone chamber, no lock array was cast over him. His spirit power was able to circulate properly. Looking at the mysterious person's muscular back, he dismissed the thought of a sneak attack. He knew they were still on guard. He needed to wait before taking action.
They were in a town. When they flew over the outer wall, the flying sword came to a stop.
The mysterious person spoke in a husky voice, "Come out."
As soon as he finished, a red light flashed over them, and a woman appeared. She wore a long red dress that revealed her perfect figure. Looking at them, she smiled, the spoke, "I still like this little brother, I wonder if you could give him to me?"
After she finished speaking, Qin Mo recognized her. She was the woman who wanted to buy him for 50 spirit stones in the Qingfeng House.