Chapter 676: Chapter 266: The Silver Rat’s Surprise: Inheritance Jade Scroll

’Sure, most Cultivators probably lose out, but someone’s bound to make a profit. So why can’t it be me?’

’Right?’

"Let’s see... this one... no, I should pick this one. Yes, this is it!"

After careful consideration and comparison, Xiao Chen finally chose a Storage Ring that looked relatively new.

The ring itself was worth a good fifty thousand Spirit Stones if sold.

In other words, as long as he could find items worth at least fifty thousand Spirit Stones inside, he wouldn’t take a loss.

With the Storage Ring in hand, Xiao Chen lost all interest in browsing further.

He went straight to the back of the cave, found an empty meditation cushion, and sat down to focus on breaking the seal.

An ordinary Cultivator would need at least six hours to break the seal on a common Storage Ring like this.

But Xiao Chen had gotten the hang of it by now. It only took him four hours to break the Restriction on the Storage Ring, finishing just before 2:45 AM.

He immediately swept his Divine Sense across the Storage Ring to take stock of its contents.

Inside a ten-foot-square space, all sorts of items were piled in a messy heap.

At first glance, it looked like he had hit the jackpot.

However, when Xiao Chen took a closer look, he was disappointed to find nothing but worthless Spirit Grass and old, Wasted Pills.

Mixed in with heaps of useless Spirit Ore were a couple thousand Spirit Stones.

To sum it up in two words: a huge loss!

"Ugh, so frustrating!"

Xiao Chen picked up the Storage Ring, tempted to just throw it on the ground. "I already fell for this once during the Sea Spirit Festival! Why don’t I ever learn my lesson?"

"No more gambling. I have to stop. I can never fall for this kind of scam again!"

’What "once in a lifetime chance"? What "lucky winner"? It was all just my own greed getting the better of me.’

In the end, though, he didn’t throw the ring on the ground.

It was worth a few Spirit Stones, after all. He might as well recoup what little he could.

’Oh well, forget it. I’ll just consider it an expensive lesson.’

All told, Xiao Chen was out at least forty thousand Spirit Stones. An ordinary Cultivator would probably have coughed up blood from sheer anger.

Fortunately for him, the loss wasn’t crippling.

To put it bluntly, it was only about the value of a single Tree Heart.

The thought of the Tree Heart reminded Xiao Chen that he hadn’t sold his yet.

He had been so preoccupied with the Black Market that the matter had nearly slipped his mind.

Tree Hearts could be sold openly, so he figured he would just handle it when he got back to the Marketplace.

As he was mulling this over, the time for the group exchange arrived.

This event was different from a typical auction. It was more like a trade meet between peers, but with the crucial distinction that all participants kept their identities hidden.

A host wearing a Golden Bull mask brought out various items one by one, introducing each.

Participants could then freely make their bids, or they could offer different Spiritual Objects for the seller to appraise as part of a trade. In the end, the highest bidder won.

Of course, the items that made their way here were naturally different from those at outside auctions.

The first item presented was a Bone Bottle.

The Golden Bull’s voice was muffled as he introduced it. "A single Life Sacrifice Pill, unearthed from Ancient Ruins."

"If a Foundation Establishment Cultivator consumes it, it is a lethal poison with no antidote, causing death on the spot."

"If an Early-Stage Golden Core Cultivator consumes it, they can attain power comparable to the Late-stage Golden Core for a quarter of an hour."

"If a Late-stage Golden Core Cultivator consumes it, they can gain twice the power of an ordinary cultivator at the Great Perfection stage of Golden Core for half an hour."

"Its greatest advantage is that even if the effect is interrupted, the user’s body and soul will be annihilated on the spot. They will be beyond any and all medical aid."

"You won’t have to worry about a Nascent Soul old monster capturing you and forcing you to divulge secrets you shouldn’t."

"It is an excellent choice for a last-ditch, life-or-death battle, or for equipping a Death Warrior."

If something like this were to appear in the outside world, it would likely be immediately seized by the nearest Major Sect and kept as a hidden trump card.

Even here, there was no shortage of competitors.

In the end, it sold for the high price of three hundred thousand Spirit Stones plus a Defensive Spiritual Artifact.

Up next was a vial of Cangming Heavy Water.

The Golden Bull’s introduction was perfunctory. "A specialty of the Cangming Immortal Sect. You all should know what it is. Start the bidding."

Huh?

’What does he mean, "you all should know"? Can’t he give a proper introduction?’

Xiao Chen recognized it at a glance as his own item.

Luckily, the item was indeed renowned. After a bidding war among the surrounding Cultivators, it successfully sold for the high price of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

Several Spiritual Artifacts and Cultivation Techniques were interspersed between the main items.

Xiao Chen’s seven Spiritual Artifacts each sold for over seventy thousand Spirit Stones.

The most expensive one even fetched a price of one hundred thirty thousand.

At one point, a Cultivator had even offered one hundred and twenty thousand Spirit Stones plus a Tier Three Spirit Fruit.

However, after the Golden Bull communicated with Xiao Chen via voice transmission, that offer was rejected.

After all, he wasn’t short on Spirit Fruits.

The two Array Flags he had submitted were even more valuable, selling for the high prices of two hundred seventy thousand and two hundred thirty thousand Spirit Stones, respectively.

However, as the Late Chou Hour approached, Xiao Chen still hadn’t seen his Thunderous Mountains and Rivers Map make an appearance.

He had known from the beginning that it wouldn’t be cheap.

But he hadn’t expected the Black Market to value it so highly as to save it for the finale.

"Everyone, we will now present the final five items. Please proceed to the side hall."

The Golden Bull pointed, and a section of the rock wall slid open, revealing a secret passage.

He raised his voice deliberately. "A word of warning to you all. While there is no fee to enter the side hall, the items within are inherently dangerous."

"If any of you wish to avoid trouble, you may leave through the rear exit now."

As soon as he finished speaking, quite a few Cultivators immediately stood up and walked out.

’Seriously?’

Xiao Chen was a little surprised. ’Everyone here has a Spiritual Artifact to conceal their identity. No one knows who anyone is. Is there really a need to be this cautious?’

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