"So this person is the final auction item of the night!"
"He truly possesses outstanding looks and extraordinary demeanor, but what makes him so special that he's worth thousands upon thousands in gold?"
Following the first bid, the entire hall erupted in discussion.
The grand finale item of every full moon night auction was always a priceless treasure. For ordinary cultivators, witnessing it just once was enough to boast about for a whole year.
If this annual grand event failed to cause a sensation, it would only tarnish the Golden Palace's reputation.
The middle-aged cultivator hosting the auction also froze on stage, blinking as he stared at Song Qianji.
Wasn't it supposed to be a lotus flower? How did it turn into a living person?
Since joining the Golden Palace, he had hosted hundreds of auctions both large and small—what kind of scene hadn't he witnessed?
But this particular scene was truly new to him.
The person on stage suddenly spoke: "I am Song Qianji."
"Song, Song Qianji?" the host murmured.
"He's the Rogue Cultivator Song Qianji, the number one Golden Core cultivator, invincible below the Nascent Soul realm!"
"He can serve as both a guard and an assassin. Having him alone is equivalent to gaining countless extra lives. He's truly more valuable than any protective magical artifact!"
Hearing the discussions, the host snapped back to reality: "One hundred thousand spirit stones for the first time! Any higher bids?"
"So this is what Song Qianji looks like—how could we let such a treasure go to waste?" A clear female voice from the third floor called out a bid: "I offer one hundred fifty thousand."
The seductive female voice from the top floor spoke again: "Two hundred thousand."
"This young lady happens to be short of a guard—three hundred thousand!"
"Song Qianji, if I win you, you'll kill someone for me—six hundred thousand!"
"..."
"One million two hundred thousand!"
Once bids surpassed a million, smaller sects and families withdrew from the competition, content to watch the excitement.
"The Evil Buddha truly lives up to his name, actually managing to subdue a fierce man like Song Qianji. But since he doesn't lack followers, he's putting him up for auction."
"Yet I see Song Qianji stepped onto the stage voluntarily, without any shackles. After all these years as a rogue cultivator, constantly pursued by the Huawel Sect's extermination order, drifting from place to place with no security—perhaps this time he wants to find himself a powerful backer? Maybe he'll split the auction proceeds fifty-fifty with the Golden Palace."
"Jin Lu, the top gu poison master under the Evil Buddha's command in the Western Sea, possesses all sorts of strange mother-child gu poisons. To completely control a cultivator, there's no need for shackles and chains. Song Qianji is lawless and untamable—how could he willingly submit to others? I don't think he came voluntarily."
Despite all the speculation from the crowd, Song Qianji remained as steady as a mountain.
While people talked, the top floor bid had already reached three million.
Suddenly, someone on the fourth floor pushed open a window, revealing half of a pretty face: "Everyone, this man has been issued an 'extermination order' by our Huawel Sect. Our sect intends to capture him and bring him to justice. We ask all friends to give us face! Three million two hundred thousand."
"It's Miss Chen from the Huawel Sect!"
"If Song Qianji finds a powerful backer, wouldn't the Huawel Sect lose all face if they can no longer touch him?"
Both inside and outside the private boxes were array formations that altered the guests' voices, making them different from their original tones. Their identities and backgrounds were kept completely confidential.
Wealthy guests participating in Golden Palace auctions didn't need to worry about privacy or safety.
If someone voluntarily revealed their identity, it meant they were determined to win the auction item at all costs, undeterred by potential troubles. This act of speaking openly through the open window was colloquially called "opening the skylight."The host thought to himself that he never expected Song Qianji to be so popular, and announced loudly: 'Heaven Room Sixteen, Huawel Sect's Fairy Chen has 'opened the skylight'—three million two hundred thousand for the first time!""Drums on all four sides of the lotus platform thundered simultaneously, their sound echoing throughout the hall.
Before the urgent drumbeats faded, the window next to Huawel Sect's booth slammed open. A beauty with flowers pinned in her hair sneered coldly:
"It seems Huawel Sect is running short on funds. Miss Chen wants to use her reputation to pressure others. But we're above the West Sea now, not at the foot of Mount Huawel. My sect offers three million four hundred thousand for a Guardian Elder. I ask all friends from the unorthodox paths to grant me this face."
"Why is Huaxi Sect joining the excitement?"
"I heard these two factions clashed on their way here and are still holding grudges!"
"Sect Leader Hua of Huaxi Sect 'opens the window'—three million four hundred thousand!"
Drums rolled again in celebration.
Another window creaked open leisurely. A small, furry head rested on the windowsill: "Dear sisters, this Song Qianji pleases my eye. I happen to need a guard—why not let me have him? Three million six hundred thousand."
"Immortal Li of Purple Cloud Temple 'opens the window'! Three million six hundred thousand—any higher bids?" The auctioneer grinned from ear to ear.
With the third window opened, spectators who weren't bidding cheered wildly. The roar of approval nearly lifted the palace roof.
"They say Miss Chen is arrogant and makes enemies everywhere. No wonder so many female cultivators are competing against her."
"This Song Qianji is truly popular. If I had the money, I'd call out a high bid too—just for the glory!"
"Four million!" A beauty in purple leaned halfway out her window, glancing around. "Come on, everyone open up! Let's see who's afraid of whom. The first to back down is a coward!"
"Miss Feng of Dayan Sect opens the window—four million!"
Bang! Bang!
Two windows swung open in response. Layer upon layer of drumbeats reverberated, stirring hot blood.
In this war without smoke, Spirit Stones seemed like mere numbers.
At the storm's center, Song Qianji sighed softly. Wouldn't it be better if you spent your money on rouge and powder? Why all this excitement?
Seeing him sigh and shake his head, the auctioneer thought, This man's ambitions soar higher than heaven, his wild nature untamed. Three windows opened, four million offered, and he's still not satisfied?
The situation spiraled out of control as multiple parties bid. The drummers were replaced three times.
"Five million!"
"Six million!"
"..."
"Ten million!" Chen Hongzhu shouted.
The hall fell silent briefly before erupting in cheers that grew increasingly fervent.
The auctioneer, keeping his wits, looked at Song Qianji with pity: if he fell into Huawel Sect's hands, death would be certain.
Suddenly someone cried, "Look! The top floor has lit a golden lantern!"
A half-opened lattice window revealed a golden palace lantern hanging outside, shining brilliantly.
With a soft creak, the other half of the window was pushed open by a boneless, delicate hand.
"Ten million and ten thousand. No matter how much you bid, I'll always exceed it by ten thousand."
The speaker had a face like a lotus blossom, with a peach blossom adornment gracing her forehead.
"Jin Tao Furen lights the golden lantern—" the auctioneer announced loudly.
This time, not only drums but zithers and lutes joined the music. Golden foil scattered like rain from above.
The air seemed splashed with fine wine, intoxicating the crowd before they could drink.
Under the golden lantern's glow, the beauty appeared even more radiant.
"It's Jin Tao Furen, the Evil Buddha's favored consort! She was also the first to bid earlier!"
In principle, the host couldn't participate in auctions. But the Golden Palace's chief steward was Golden Hairpin Madam, who had long been at odds with Jin Tao Furen.
Before the Evil Buddha unified the unorthodox paths, Jin Tao Furen had been a ruler in her own right. Bidding in her own name wasn't against the rules—just highly unusual.
"The Evil Buddha actually allowed his own consort to buy a male cultivator?""How could we fathom the breadth of the Lord of the heretical path's mind?"
"Someone lit the golden lamp—does the auction continue?"
Then Chen Hongzhu declared, "Add one hundred thousand to the highest bid!"
Another golden lamp ignited.
Song Qianji finally lifted his gaze, seeing Chen Hongzhu from "Meng Heze's past life" through the swirling gold foil in the air.
Her expression was domineering as she strained to maintain her imposing presence, yet a restless gloom lingered between her brows, as if she had long been plagued by misfortune and discontent.
Song Qianji smiled at her.
Chen Hongzhu froze momentarily, seeming bewildered.
"Light another lamp. Add five hundred thousand to the highest bid," Jin Tao Furen said leisurely.
"Bang!" Chen Hongzhu averted her gaze and slammed the window shut.
The auctioneer shouted, "Congratulations to Jin Tao Furen for winning the beauty—ahem, acquiring Song Qianji—at the astronomical price of ten million and six hundred ten thousand!"
Music and dance resumed, wine was replenished, and lamps relit as the banquet started anew.
With six skylights opened and three golden lamps lit consecutively, the final bid shattered ten million, setting a new record for the Golden Palace auction.
Amid the frenzied cheers, Song Qianji passed through fluttering colored silks and gold foil, escorted by a group of beautiful maids toward the top floor.
He had already guessed who truly purchased him.
Since Meng Heze had his steward set this trap, how could he not play along?
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