The Chaotic Immortal Wood Sect: Immortal Cultivation War - Chapter 41

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

41. There’s a Problem with the Auction

“How stubborn.”

On the way out of Liaison Trading Hall.

In Deok grumbled about ultimately failing to adjust the auction’s minimum price to the amount he wanted.

“What can we do? I never expected such a big event would be included in this auction.”

“Event?”

“Ah, occasion? Incident? Something like that.”

“Don’t use such strange words.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s not something to get so serious about. But about that matter after the auction.”

“Yeah. Because of that, I couldn’t give up on registering the item. If I did that, the entry tokens would decrease too.”

Kang Hyeon had threatened not to register his item at all unless they raised the minimum bid for the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Spring Grass.

Then Yang Yu, as if he had no choice, told him about the hidden value in this auction.

The behind-the-scenes story of this Liaison Trading Hall auction that those who knew, knew, and those who didn’t, didn’t.

It was that one of the items coming up in the auction was very special, and after hearing that story, Kang Hyeon had no choice but to accept the auction minimum price of six Superior Spirit Stones for the Spirit Spring Grass.

“Without entry tokens, we can’t participate in that final auction, so there’s no choice. And it’s not like we can take out other items either.”

For both of them to participate in that final auction, they each had to possess entry tokens.

So In Deok seemed to have no choice but to acknowledge that this matter was unavoidable, speaking as such.

“Anyway, since there are about two weeks left until the auction, let’s look around the street stalls and shops of this market town thoroughly until then. We need precious cultivation techniques, but we’re also lacking many basic and general-level techniques.”

“Right, we should do that. This time I won’t complain about it being bothersome.”

“Oh, that’s fortunate. I was worried about how to drag you along.”

“After reaching the Qi Accumulation stage, I came to understand my shortcomings to some degree. If it weren’t for you, Hyeon, I would still be struggling to surpass the middle stage of Artifact Refining.”

“What are you saying? With a Heavenly Spirit Root, it wouldn’t have been that difficult.”

“Anyway, it’s true that I’ve been lazy until now, so I’ll reflect on it and do my best from now on.”

“Hahaha. That’s a good resolution. I’ll be there with you.”

“Thank you.”

At Kang Hyeon’s encouragement, In Deok smiled brightly and expressed his gratitude.

After that, they spent spirit stones like water while traversing Butterfly Fall Market and gathering all kinds of training techniques.

Even so, thanks to the spirit stone mine in the Mystic Realm, their pouches never became light.

***

“They said the auction was special, and they’ve matched the venue to suit that.”

“This is underground in Butterfly Fall Market?”

“To be precise, it’s not underground but deep in the lake. Ancient ruins at the bottom of the lake.”

Kang Hyeon answered as such and raised his head to look at the ceiling.

But what he could see was only the ceiling of a wooden building with splendid decorative painting.

“That’s not the original appearance of the ruins?”

“Interior… no, they redid the indoor decoration. They must have found ruins in the deep waters, then added formations and barriers to renovate them.”

“Can you roughly tell where we are?”

“I don’t know that either. I can tell we’re at the bottom of the lake where Butterfly Fall Market is located, but I can’t determine the exact position.”

“There seems to be something interfering with spiritual consciousness too. Even when you extend your spiritual consciousness to the maximum, it doesn’t reach the market above the lake, right? You too?”

“Right.”

“Your spiritual consciousness is twice as strong as mine.”

“The formations and barriers installed here are extraordinary. It seems the stronger the spiritual consciousness, the stronger the restrictions work. In the end, I don’t seem to be much better off than you.”

“I see. Then would seniors and elders with higher cultivation levels than us be similar?”

“They’d be a bit better. But up to a certain level, there wouldn’t be much difference.”

“Hmm. I see.”

While Kang Hyeon and In Deok were examining the various aspects of the auction hall prepared by Liaison Trading Hall, someone appeared on the platform conducting the auction.

“Welcome, everyone. The tally of entry tokens has just finished. Fortunately, all 500 entry tokens have been confirmed. This means not a single person failed to participate. Hahaha, I deeply thank you once again for your enthusiastic support. I am Lee Chil, the First Steward in charge of conducting this auction.”

The First Steward of Liaison Trading Hall who introduced himself as Lee Chil had the appearance of an ordinary middle-aged man in his forties who wouldn’t be memorable if you passed by him briefly.

“Huh? There are five hundred participants, but the number here seems a bit small, doesn’t it?”

After hearing Monk Lee Chil’s words, In Deok looked around and spoke to Kang Hyeon as if something was strange.

“Right. There are only a little under three hundred people here. Then that means the rest are somewhere else?”

“Maybe they’re not interested in the auction and are greedy for the ruins exploration afterward?”

“Everyone participated, but if there are those who can’t be seen, we’d naturally have to think that way.”

“But ruins exploration – didn’t they say you have to bid in the auction for that?”

The reason this Liaison Trading Hall auction was special.

The reason Kang Hyeon and In Deok had no choice but to compromise on the minimum bid price for the Spirit Spring Grass was precisely because of the ruins exploration that Liaison Trading Hall was auctioning.

The final item of this auction was an auction for spots on the exploration team that would enter the ancient ruins beneath Butterfly Fall Market.

They had discovered an entrance to new ruins and prepared means to enter that place.

However, since those means could only be used by about 70 people, they decided to auction off some of those spots.

Naturally, the reason for the auction was said to be to cover the costs invested in excavating the ruins.

Moreover, even if they entered together, since arrival positions were random, actions within the ruins were each person’s responsibility, and any treasures obtained would immediately become their own property.

This was why those aiming for a chance to enter the ruins were enthusiastic about participating in the auction.

“Since they said this auction hall was close to the entrance of the ruins, there must be those who scattered early to find the entrance. They probably thought they could somehow get in if they found the entrance.”

“But if it were that easy, they wouldn’t have sold spots through auction while guaranteeing entry to the ruins, would they?”

“Right. They have that much confidence, so they’re holding the auction in a place like this…”

“That’s what I’m saying. But still, for nearly half not to be visible here is a bit…”

In Deok looked suspicious as he continuously scanned various parts of the auction hall.

And it wasn’t just In Deok’s thinking, as the murmuring of auction participants gradually began to grow louder.

“Hmm. This has become troublesome.”

As the situation turned that way, even Lee Chil, who was in charge of conducting the auction, had no choice but to step forward.

“What has happened?”

Someone among the participants asked Lee Chil.

“Those who aren’t here are currently opening the entrance to the ruins – is that true?”

“Is it true that one can enter the ruins without obtaining entry tickets through the auction?”

“Didn’t you say this was an event held under the name of Liaison Trading Hall? Did others really open the entrance to the ruins?”

“Those who aren’t here haven’t already entered the ruins, have they?”

“Hey, say something!”

The voices of the auction participants were gradually growing louder and rougher.

“Hyeon, this is…”

“Right. Something has gone wrong. Determining who enters the ruins through auction was supposed to be the most anticipated item in this auction, and now it’s all twisted up.”

“What could have happened?”

“Since what’s being auctioned isn’t a physical item, it’s likely that someone who knows how to enter the ruins made the first move.”

“Then what happens now?”

“I don’t know. Liaison Trading Hall isn’t a pushover, so they might handle this well, but if not, we should consider the auction canceled.”

“Then what about our Spirit Spring Grass?”

“If the auction itself falls apart, we should naturally get it back.”

“… Things are going to get complicated.”

“It’s fine. We have the entry token, so we should be able to get the Spirit Spring Grass back with that. Of course, we’ll need to receive appropriate compensation on top.”

Kang Hyeon said this while staying alert to the surrounding participants and drawing up his spiritual energy.

The other participants were doing the same, and the interior of the auction hall was gradually becoming a situation where dense spiritual energies were sharply confronting each other.

“Hmm. This has become quite troublesome. Therefore, I, Lee Chil, who is responsible for conducting this auction, have no choice but to declare the cancellation of this auction.”

At that moment, Monk Lee Chil made a quick decision and declared the auction canceled.

“What? Canceled? Are you kidding right now?!”

“How long have we been waiting, and now you’re canceling it?!”

“Then immediately return the treasure I registered!”

“How can a Liaison Trading Hall event be so shoddy! Handling things this way…”

“Sigh, what a waste of Liaison Trading Hall’s reputation.”

“Right, if you’re canceling the auction, how do you plan to handle the aftermath?!”

Following Lee Chil’s declaration, the participants’ criticism continued, and some asked about future proceedings.

“For now, we will handle the registered items at the Liaison Trading Hall Main Hall in Market Town. And regarding the ruin exploration…”

“Haven’t those other bastards already entered?”

“Do you have something to say about the ruin exploration?”

“Everyone calm down and let’s hear what he has to say. Ho ho ho.”

Since they said they would handle the items entrusted for the auction anyway, there was nothing immediate to complain about.

But Lee Chil brought up the topic of ruin exploration like adding fuel to fire.

He certainly captured the monks’ attention.

“Though it’s not certain at the moment, there are those who have interfered with our Liaison Trading Hall’s event. It’s also true that they are currently entering the ruins we prepared for this auction ahead of us.”

“Huh!”

“Tsk tsk tsk.”

As the situation became clear through Lee Chil’s words, the monks sighed or clicked their tongues in disappointment.

“But if we just take this lying down, wouldn’t our Liaison Trading Hall’s dignity be too damaged? Therefore, we wish to open the entrance to the ruins for all of you here and now.”

“You’ll open the entrance to the ruins? For free?”

“Is that really true?”

“Didn’t you originally say only about seventy people could enter, which is why you were auctioning those spots?”

“If you open the entrance now, can everyone here enter?”

“You’re not going to auction that off again, are you?”

At Lee Chil’s words about opening the ruin entrance, the monks’ excitement was palpable.

This was no different for Kang Hyeon and In Deok.

“If the ruin entrance opens…”

“Hyeon, you’re going in, right?”

While Kang Hyeon was assessing the situation, In Deok asked as if it was already decided.

“Among the monks here, there are several at the Core Formation stage. There might even be masters at the Spirit Body stage.”

“Huh? Core Formation or Spirit Body stage?”

At Kang Hyeon’s words, In Deok was startled and shrank his neck.

“There are definitely more than ten at Core Formation stage. Higher realms than that are just my speculation.”

“Well, we were going to participate in the auction for ruin entry tickets anyway. What reason is there to hesitate here?”

“If we entered through the auction, they said they’d give us teleportation talismans for escape, but if they open the entrance here now, we won’t receive those, so escaping the ruins won’t be easy, making it that much more dangerous. We need to consider that.”

“So you’re not going?”

At In Deok’s question, Kang Hyeon seemed to hear the phantom sound of ‘scared?’ from his past life memories.

“Ugh, we have the Mystic Realm anyway. Fine, let’s go. Let’s go.”

Even if they had secured entry tickets through the auction, what Kang Hyeon and In Deok would rely on most was the Mystic Realm.

If they didn’t have the Mystic Realm, they wouldn’t have even considered setting foot in a ruin exploration where many people participated at once.

Especially in a situation where several monks of higher cultivation than themselves were participating – why would they invite such danger?

It was only because they had the Mystic Realm that they felt secure enough to join the group ruin exploration and test their luck.

“Exactly. The number of people entering the ruins will increase significantly, but we can accept that much. We have the Mystic Realm after all.”

“Tsk, watch your mouth!”

“Huh? Oh!”

Even now, their conversation wasn’t leaking outside.

Using spiritual energy to prevent sound from spreading wasn’t that impressive a technique.

Moreover, in a situation like now where everyone was wary of each other, attempting to eavesdrop on others’ conversations would be inviting danger upon oneself.

So those gathered in the auction hall weren’t taking any serious action yet.

“Now then, as I mentioned, I will open the entrance to the ruins here on this stage. However, since we must mobilize all our resources to allow anyone to enter, returning will have to be handled by each person’s own abilities.”

“You won’t give us teleportation talismans?”

“The teleportation talismans we were going to give to auction winners were linked to the barrier for entry, but the entrance we’re opening now uses a different method, so the prepared teleportation talismans have become useless.”

“You’ll just open the entrance and tell us to figure it out ourselves? Whether we enter or not?”

“Even if we enter, we’ll have to fend for ourselves, and Liaison Trading Hall won’t take responsibility for what happens after entry? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Haha. Opening the entrance to this ancient ruins can be considered compensation for the canceled auction. This is the sincerity that I, Lee Chil, show to Liaison Trading Hall’s guests. In fact, I think this is more than generous enough.”

“Hmm. You’ll open the entrance to the ruins and leave entry up to our choice? Those who enter receive compensation, but those who give up get nothing, which seems rather unfair?”

“I can’t concern myself with that as well. And most likely, won’t everyone enter anyway? Who would back down here?”

“That’s hard to say.”

“Hohoho. Anyway, if Butler Lee Chil has made his decision, please hurry and open the entrance. The longer we wait, the more people will enter from other sides, won’t they?”

As the talk dragged on, an impatient monk’s voice urged Lee Chil to hurry.

And Lee Chil, as if he had expected this, placed his hand on the auction platform and injected spiritual energy.

Originally, the items to be auctioned should have been summoned through that platform, but this time dozens of flags appeared all at once.

They were clearly flags meant for deploying formations.

“Chaaaat!”

As the flags appeared on the auction platform, Lee Chil released spiritual energy with a battle cry and lifted the flags into the air.

Then he wildly swung both arms back and forth, sending the flags flying.

Whiriririk whiririk whirirriririk!

Papapat! Papat! Papat! Pararararara!

Uuuuung uuuuuung! Swhwaat!

Forty-four flags flew out and embedded themselves in the walls, floor, and ceiling of the auction hall.

And as several of them became fixed as if deeply embedded in mid-air, powerful spiritual energy gradually began to dwell in the flags.

Soon after the spiritual energy began condensing in the flags, bright radiance exploded and in an instant, a rippling spatial passage was created in the air above the auction hall.

“It’s complete. Enter as you see fit.”

Then Lee Chil immediately stepped back three paces and stimulated the participants’ competitive spirit.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————