Chapter 29: Thousand Lantern Auction House

The evening sky above Green Hollow City slowly slithered into deep orange as the academy disciples walked down the cobble stone pathway leading toward the district. The cool breeze from the trees drifted across the streets while countless lanterns gradually illuminated the city one after another.

Lin Yuan walked calmly beside Chen Ming near the academy gates. Behind them followed Lian Nichang and Ying Yue, both discussing the rumors spreading across the city since afternoon.

"The Thousand Lantern Auction House is truly auctioning the Heavenly Lotus?" Ying Yue asked quietly, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"I heard it was retrieved from one of the River of Origin’s hidden branches near the Tianyuan continent." Lian Nichang nodded slightly.

The Tianyan continent is the most prestigious continent across the world. It was the center and strength of the Origin World. Many powerful sects, clans and cultivators reside in the cities of the Tianyuan continent. Even Divine Beast Realm and Saint Beast Realm cultivators are hailed in the Tianyan continent.

Chen Ming instantly widened his eyes.

"Heavenly Lotus..." Chen Ming muttered, his voice quivering with anxiety. "That thing alone can sell for hundreds of essence stones."

Lin Yuan silently listened while walking. He knew Mid-Tier spirit foods were extremely valuable for beast cultivation, more importantly Lin Yuan now needed a Mid-Tier food to ascend to Spirit Beast Realm. And the Heavenly Lotus is something connected directly to the River of Origin. It may give higher guarantees than other materials.

"The auction rewards this time are insane." Ying Yue sighed softly, waving his hand in a frantic way.

"What are the rewards exactly?" Chen Ming immediately looked toward her.

Ying Yue calmly raised four fingers.

"The first item is a Rank 4 Stormcrest Hawk Beast Core. The second is an Ancient Spirit Vein Map discovered from old ruins near Xuehuan continent. The third is the Heavenly Lotus from the River of Origin." Ying Yue elucidated, narrowing her eyes slightly.

Chen Ming unconsciously inhaled a heavy breath hearing that.

"And the fourth?" Lian Nichang asked.

"A damaged ancient beast cultivation manual." Ying Yue snickered, her eyes filled with disdain. "Rumors say it contains records regarding dual-beast synchronization."

Lin Yuan’s eyes flickered slightly hearing those words: Dual-beast synchronization.

Lin Yuan was analyzing that exact thing for a few days. Multiple beast synchronization can make one person stronger than anyone. His instincts immediately became vigilant. Meanwhile Chen Ming laughed awkwardly.

"We poor disciples should just enjoy watching rich clans burn their essence stones." Chen Ming sputtered, clutching his chest slightly.

The group slowly continued walking toward the city. The city became increasingly crowded the deeper they entered the western caravan streets. Beast caravans moved continuously between the roads while merchants shouted loudly regarding spirit herbs and beast cores. The atmosphere here was entirely different from the calm academy grounds. It was chaotic but lively.

Cultivators from different clans walked through the crowded streets carrying weapons openly while spirit lamps hovered above the pathways. The four disciples reached a crossing near the western bridge.

"Lin Yuan!" An elderly male voice called out from nowhere.

The group immediately turned their heads back. An old man wearing dark-green academy robes slowly approached them from the opposite side of the street. It was Lin Cangxuan. The headmaster of the academy and elder brother of Qing Lin Cangyuan, Lin Yuan’s grandfather.

Chen Ming immediately straightened his posture nervously. Lian Nichang bowed respectfully.

Lin Cangxuan merely waved before his calm eyes darted toward Lin Yuan.

"I heard about the alchemy trial." Lin Cangxuan smirked, his eyes calm and emitting a gentle warmth.

"I failed, master," Lin Yuan frowned, but remained calm.

"Failure itself is not shameful," Lin Cangxuan suddenly laughed softly, his eyes narrowed slightly. "Only fools fear failure. And you can address me as grandfather when we are outside the academy, Lin Yuan."

The old man slowly stepped closer. "The Thousand Lantern Pavilion’s auction begins tomorrow morning."

Lin Yuan quietly listened.

"Go there and buy what you want, Lin Yuan." Lin Cangxuan calmly continued.

Chen Ming’s eyes widened instantly. "Huh?!"

"This is something I can still do for my beloved grandnephew." Lin Cangxuan’s expression remained gentle.

Lin Yuan slightly frowned. He did not expect such support from anyone. Lin Cangxuan calmly took out a dark jade token from his sleeve and handed it toward Lin Yuan. The token possessed the name: Qing Clan carved into its surface.

"With this token, you may represent the Qing Clan during the auction." Lin Cangxuan beamed, placing the token in Lin Yuan’s hands.

Chen Ming, Lian Nichang, Ying Yue were frozen, petrified in shock. Representing a major clan during an auction was not a simple matter. It is a highly represented status, authority and recognition. Lin Cangxuan was an abandoned man, but he gained recognition again by his efforts and power. He doesn’t want his grandnephew to be an alone man like him.

"Thank you." Lin Yuan smiled, quietly accepting the token.

"However..." Lin Cangxuan simply nodded, and his slightly serious gaze slowly sharpened. "The clans attending tomorrow are not ordinary. The Xiao Clan. The Teng Clan. The Gu Clan. And the Mu Yue Clan."

Chen Ming immediately swallowed hard nervously. The Mu Yue Clan alone was enough to pressure most forces in the Qinglin continent. It is one of the four authority clans in this world.

"Observe carefully tomorrow," Lin Cangxuan sighed, continuing calmly. "The true cultivation world does not exist inside academy walls."

After saying those words, the old headmaster slowly turned and disappeared into the crowded lantern streets. The group remained silent briefly afterward.

"Lin Yuan..." Chen Ming’s voice broke out the eerie silence. He stared at the jade token. "...you suddenly became terrifying."

Lin Yuan merely looked toward the distant western district where countless golden lanterns illuminated the night. Deep within Lin Yuan’s thoughts, the phrase dual-beast synchronization repeated continuously.

****

The next morning. The western district of Green Hollow City was lively from sunrise itself. Countless caravans crowded the streets while cultivators from different clans entered continuously. The sound of beast roars echoed occasionally between the distant buildings while armored guards maintained order near the central pathways.

At the center of the district there was a skewering auction pavilion: The Thousand Lantern Pavilion. The seven-story hall towered above the surrounding buildings like a golden palace. Thousands of crimson lanterns floated around the pavilion in a gentle pattern while herds of cultivators continuously entered through the tall, black-jade gates.

Lin Yuan calmly walked toward the entrance wearing dark academy robes. Beside him followed two Qing Clan guards sent by Lin Cangxuan himself. The moment the guards displayed the jade token, the pavilion attendants immediately bowed respectfully.

"Welcome, representative of the Qing Clan!" Guards addressed their hospitality toward Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan quietly entered the pavilion. The atmosphere inside was luxurious beyond Lin Yuan’s imagination. Golden spirit lamps illuminated the massive auction hall while crystal chandeliers hovered beneath the ceiling. Collective rows of seats filled the lower hall while high private chambers surrounded the upper floors.

Cultivators from clans and sects filled the surroundings. Lin Yuan’s eyes quietly scanned the hall. Then, he noticed several familiar figures.

Near the eastern side sat Xiao Clan representatives. At the center rested a middle-aged man with sharp features and cold eyes. Xiao Renjie – Head of the Xiao Clan.

Beside him there were several clan guards silently observing the surroundings nearby. The pressure emitted from Xiao Renjie alone felt terrifying, a Core Beast Realm - Peak Stage cultivator. He recently ascended to the Peak stage.

Meanwhile, toward the northern private section there were the representatives from the Gu Clan, Lin Yuan’s eyes searched for Gu Shiyan. But, unfortunately Gu Shiyan didn’t attend the auction.

And towards the western private chambers, the Teng Clan. A young man wearing dark-golden robes calmly sat within the private chamber while several disciples stood behind him respectfully. Teng Jiuxuan - The Senior disciple of the academy. Even seated casually, his presence alone emitted oppressive confidence. The surrounding cultivators unconsciously avoided looking toward him.

The atmosphere inside the pavilion changed slightly. Several people straightened their postures suddenly. A group of people wearing pale silver robes slowly entered from the main entrance.

The Mu Yue Clan. The most influential clan in the Qinglin continent. At the center there was a young man with calm silver eyes and long black hair tied behind his back. His expression remained indifferent compared to others. But his beast aura alone felt far heavier than ordinary cultivators.

"Mu Yue Jian..." Some cultivators whined, bowing their heads slightly in the traditional way. "The son of Elder Mu Yue Haoran... He came personally?"

Lin Yuan silently observed him, but the surrounding atmosphere itself unknowingly changed around his presence. The difference between ordinary clans and authority clans became immediately obvious. Soon afterward, the lights within the auction hall gradually dimmed.

The murmurs slowly quieted. Then, a beautiful woman wearing crimson robes walked toward the central stage gracefully.

Mei Lanyin - The host of Thousand Lantern Pavilion’s auction.

"Welcome, honored guests," Mei Lanyin’s voice beamed, her faint smile immediately attracting many glances across the hall. "The Thousand Lantern Pavilion thanks everyone for attending today’s special auction."

The cacophony of sounds gradually became quiet across the pavilion.

"Today’s auction consists of four main treasures." Mei Lanyin elegantly smiled, pointing her hand toward the stage. An attendant slowly carried the first item onto the stage under a golden cloth.

"The first treasure..." Mei Lanyin smiled faintly, removing the cloth deliberately. A massive, shimmering violet beast core glanced under the lantern lights instantly. Lightning flickered continuously around its surface. The concentrated beast pressure spread across the entire hall instantly. "It is the Rank 4 Thunderfang Leopard’s Beast Core."

The surrounding cultivators immediately broke into discussions.

"The pressure..."

"That beast core has great quality."

"Amazing..."

"The Thunderfang Leopard possesses both speed and thunder attributes," Mei Lanyin continued calmly. "This beast core is suitable for thunder beast cultivators, and can also be used for high-level body refinement medicines."

The lightning around the core intensified slightly.

"It was retrieved three months ago from Green Jade Forest by a group of mercenary cultivators at the cost of seven lives." Mei Lanyin frowned, her voice turning into a low whisper.

The hall became slightly quieter hearing that. Lin Yuan quietly observed the beast core carefully. The essence from the core was enormous. Far greater than the Rank 3 core from the Stonehorn Boar, but it is similar to Stormcrest Hawk’s core.

"The starting price..." Mei Lanyin smiled faintly, a cunning grin crawling across her face. "...two hundred essence stones."

The entire pavilion filled with their bids immediately.

"Two hundred fifty."

"Three hundred."

"Three hundred twenty."

Bidding voices immediately echoed across the hall continuously. Lin Yuan silently watched the auction unfold. The prices climbed rapidly.

"Four hundred."

"Five hundred."

"Six hundred essence stones."

The atmosphere gradually intensified. Then, a calm voice echoed from the Mu Yue Clan section.

"Eight hundred." The entire auction hall became quiet instantly. It is an enormous amount along with authority. Even the previous bidders immediately stopped speaking. It was Mu Yue Jian.

Mu Yue Jian calmly sat within his seat without even changing expression. To him, eight hundred essence stones sounded meaningless.

"Eight hundred essence stones from the honored Mu Yue Clan." Mei Lanyin smiled elegantly. "Any further bids?"

The eerie silence followed after Mei Lanyin’s words. Nobody dared continue competing. The authority of the Mu Yue Clan itself was enough pressure.

"Sold!" Mei Lanyin announced, lightly striking the crystal hammer. "The Rank 4 Stormcrest Hawk Beast Core belongs to the Mu Yue Clan."

Lin Yuan quietly narrowed his eyes slightly while observing the calm expression on Mu Yue Jian’s face. The true monsters of the Qinglin continent took the first item of the auction without any interference. But Lin Yuan’s thoughts were fixated on the Heavenly Lotus and the ancient beast manual.