Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1864: 1401: Pending Revision
Previously on Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan...
Although Li Zhirui didn't feel deeply stirred by the event, the sheer magnificence of the auction still left him in awe, making him ponder the origins of such extraordinary treasures.
Yet, the bidding war about to unfold promised to be intensely fierce!
Be it the Xiu Family's desire to reclaim it and safeguard their legacy, or fellow scholars eager to obtain it for a profound insight into the Xiu Family's scholarly depths, or even to unravel and adapt its contents further.
Undoubtedly, they would dive into a wild frenzy of offers, driving the cost of this precious inheritance sky-high!
“Ten million silver!”
A bidder emerged first, throwing out ten million silver without hesitation—a fortune matching the tax haul from multiple years in major provinces, yet it appeared trivial to him.
“Twenty million silver!” In a shocking twist, the following offer doubled it outright.
This move swiftly sidelined numerous scholars, as most hadn't carried such vast sums to the venue.
Though they might think of promising payment later, the steep cost deterred them anyway.
Besides, this was merely the start; the contest was nowhere near its peak. Jumping in now could still end in defeat.
Thus, amid the buzzing, chaotic, and charged vibe, an odd quiet prevailed: the auction chamber stayed mostly hushed, with only a handful of voices raising bids!
In no time, the figure soared past fifty million silver!
“Seems the traders are set to rake in massive profits from this sale.”
The fellow beside Li Zhirui muttered inevitably, then complained further, “If every lot turns out this way, I wouldn't have endured all that hassle to enter.”
He gave a faint nod of concurrence. Truth be told, the auction's arrangement baffled him greatly. It kicked off with ordinary goods available anywhere for a modest extra spend.
Only at the end did they unveil a gem like the personal cultivation insights of a Xiu Family expert.
Despite dragging on for ages, the event left most attendees disengaged, and Li Zhirui had even toyed with slipping out prematurely.
One might call it a dismal failure of an auction.
Naturally, from the traders' viewpoint, they likely beamed with contentment, since that one relic alone would overflow their vaults.
Soon enough, the sale of this piece wrapped up, clinched at the staggering sum of ninety-five million silver by some mysterious buyer!
The outcome ignited a uproar throughout the assembly!
Li Zhirui felt a touch of astonishment; had the Xiu Family not reclaimed it? Perhaps the inheritance was counterfeit or incomplete, riddled with defects?
Still, he dismissed that notion as improbable. Such a revelation would shatter the traders' standing!
After all, for those in trade, trust and reliability form the backbone of enduring success.
Nevertheless, the proceedings pressed onward, drawing all eyes swiftly to the subsequent treasure on the block.
On this occasion, things felt far more routine: a manuscript of the Four Books and Five Classics penned personally by a renowned Great Confucian.
The moment it appeared, a fresh scent of ink wafted through, calming hearts effortlessly, akin to a soft zephyr of spring.
Li Zhirui himself sensed its pull, realizing that as a Heavenly Immortal, scant influences remained to sway him, sparking an urge to join the fray for this piece.
“Three hundred thousand silver!”
“Five hundred thousand!”
…
A Great Confucian's autograph on the Four Books and Five Classics held immense worth. Before Li Zhirui could act, the bids had already hit five hundred thousand silver. Refusing to yield without a fight, he upped the ante boldly, declaring, “A bottle of Healing Pills at the Human Immortal Rank!”
By trade standards, that vial equated to roughly a million silver, and in urgent times, its value might swell by another twenty to thirty percent.
Furthermore, Immortal Pills weren't exclusive to cultivators; those on the Human Dao path, though they skipped refining Spiritual Energy, harbored inner vitality. Advanced ones could process premium elixirs safely, untroubled by surplus power.
Li Zhirui's offer drew sharp glances from the crowd; plenty were stunned to see a cultivator vying against them for a Great Confucian relic.
“Hmph!”
“Why would a Dao-seeking cultivator like you challenge us for the Great Confucian’s script?! Planning to ditch Daoism for Confucianism now?”
“Confucianism welcomes all without bias, and we shan't reject your background.”
A few Confucian followers couldn't hold back their sneering tones.
“Doesn't an auction go to the top bidder, or is there a rule barring non-Confucians from Great Confucian items?”
Li Zhirui shot back coolly, “Isn't Confucianism rooted in gentlemanly virtue? Where's that grace in any of you?”
His words sparked a wave of unrest among the gathered Confucian practitioners.
“How dare you!”
“Such insolence to deride Confucianism!”
“Unmask yourself and reveal who you are!”
“If you're bold, come out of the hall; we'll demonstrate Confucianism's true power.”
…
Li Zhirui stayed quiet, merely observing the auctioneer up front and awaiting his handling of the abrupt commotion.
“Our firm promotes peace and mutual gain. Settle any rivalries post-auction on your own turf, without interrupting the event!”
To his surprise, the host brushed aside the conflict entirely, pressing forward undeterred.
Yet that made sense—in Jinzhou, the merchants wielded unmatched authority and boldness.