Infinite Professions-Chapter 175 - 86: Auction

Three days later, Poison Dragon Pool.

"An auction?"

"At a time like this, how can anyone have the heart to host such a thing?"

"In peaceful times, organizing an auction would naturally be no problem."

"But in this extraordinary period, who can guarantee the safety of this auction, and how many people have the guts to participate?"

"I fear that just after the auction ends, someone might be robbed as they leave the marketplace, or worse, chaos might erupt within the auction itself?"

"We should leave quickly, get some distance, lest we become collateral in a disaster."

"Damn it, they just won’t let people live in peace!"

Amidst rumors, a lot of cultivators left, fleeing the Spirit Land of Poison Dragon Pool.

But a portion chose to go against the tide, arriving at the desolate marketplace.

Shen Hex was among them.

Looking at the lonely marketplace and the hastily passing pedestrians, he felt a sense of melancholy.

The consequences of competition, the collapse of order, fully manifested at this moment.

Originally, auctions were quite credible, as they were often hosted by major marketplaces, backed by Foundation Establishment powers or even Core Formation sects, offering good reputation and strong guarantees.

Hence, major marketplaces enjoyed organizing auctions to reap benefits, and cultivators enjoyed participating, shopping for treasure, creating a win-win situation.

But now, such credibility and harmonious atmosphere are gone.

Endless battle between orthodoxy and demon chaos, Pill Sect killing, focused only on survival, not caring for anything else?

These major marketplaces, despite having Foundation Establishment powers, cannot withstand the rampant demon cultivators, lacking the capability to organize a credible and secure auction.

An auction lacking sufficient credibility and security guarantees, who would dare to participate?

The vast majority wouldn’t, not only wouldn’t participate but would stay away, lest they become collateral in a disaster.

Thus, the scene now, most avoid not just the marketplace, but even dare not linger in the Spirit Land of Poison Dragon Pool, afraid the auction might turn into a murder and robbery event halfway through.

Yet, a small part chooses to go against the tide.

This is not surprising; where some fear death, there naturally are those unconcerned with life and death.

These who defy trends are those unafraid of death, wanting to seize opportunities amidst danger, licking blood off the knife-edge, seeking a future through this "auction."

These types, without exception, all exude the aura of demon dao, being demon cultivators.

Or rather, nowadays in the inland cultivation realm, ninety-nine percent are demon cultivators.

This is the consequence of "competition!"

The Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect spreads Demon Path Technique in such a manner, severely harming the order and balance of the cultivation realm.

After all, within the cultivation realm, there’s never a lack of those bitter with grievances, who will seize any chance to cultivate Demon Path Technique, seeking power for revenge.

Thus, the problem arises. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Your enemy practices Demon Skill, so do you practice or not?

Of course you must practice, if you don’t while others do, once the gap expands, you must pay the price, and might get wiped out entirely by your enemies.

Leaving aside vendettas, there are various factors driving temptation and influence.

The desire for immortality, the pursuit of power, for wealth or pleasure, for fame or profit, all can drive one into the demon dao, using others as fodder to further oneself.

Therefore, Demon Path Technique cannot be divulged, once revealed, it disrupts the whole ecological balance of the cultivation realm, forcing everyone into becoming demon cultivators, fighting and scrambling, life or death struggle.

The final outcome is akin to raising Gu insects; whether a Gu King emerges is unknown, but all other insects and beings will be driven to extinction by the unending, limitless vicious competition.

Thus, dissemination of Demon Path Technique has always been heavily prohibited; such is the consensus and rule, concerning the fundamental interests of both orthodoxy and demon dao, neither would break this balance.

But now, who knows what madness drives the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect, breaking this framework, while the Xuanshao Sect and other orthodox sects are powerless to stop it, allowing such imbalance and harmful competition to surface in the inland cultivation realm.

Though everyone knows, such developments lead only to destruction, no one can stop it, for everyone is powerless against the tide.

The force of circumstance, such it is!

...

Shen Hex arrived at the auction venue, located in the center of the marketplace within an inn, with seating arranged around, without any private rooms, everyone sat in the open seating.

Obviously different from a typical auction.

Yet, no one speaks, all sit silently, awaiting the auction’s start.

Shen Hex also took a seat, concentrating Gang Yuan Magical Power in his eyes, employing Five Elements Technique to assess the cultivation of others.

"Foundation Establishment, all are Foundation Establishment."

"Demon Cultivators, all are Demon Cultivators."

"Hmm...!?"

Observing others’ cultivation, Shen Hex furrowed his brows silently.

Those present, more or less, divided into groups, each group centered around Foundation Establishment cultivators, the rest being at Qi Refining cultivation level, with no burden of Spirit Gathering methods.

Clearly, everyone knows this auction is extraordinary, all prepared for battle, even coming specifically for conflict.

The auction organizer seemingly aimed to intensify disputes, not even setting private rooms, everyone sharing open seating, clearly observing one another.

Now many, like him, unconcernedly exercise Magical Power, using Spiritual Eye techniques to scan others, determining cultivation level and strength.

"This kind of auction..."

Shen Hex’s eyes flickered with emotion, revealing a subtle, inexplicable smile, then quietly awaited in his seat.