Chapter 95: The Ice Phoenix Puppet
Since his transmigration, Pang Yue had never before experienced such a grand spectacle.
Whether in his past life or this one, it ultimately confirmed the old saying—money truly is a blessing!
The room was arranged with elegant comfort; the furniture was simple yet refined, and the calligraphy and paintings on the walls were exquisite, evoking a serene atmosphere.
Inside stood an opulent golden-threaded spirit nanmu stepping bed.
The intricately carved floral fan-shaped frame was layered delicately, while curtains embroidered with purple-gold phoenix patterns hung low, diffusing a faint, lingering fragrance.
Once inside,
before long, the female cultivator’s slender and alluring figure was clad only in a dark teal silk vest.
She tenderly served Pang Yue with a spiritual spring bath, carefully massaging him. Her charming and enticing body was both plump and firm, her snow-white skin radiant with a glossy sheen.
Pang Yue couldn’t help but sigh—perhaps only in the bustling markets of the great demonic sects could such worldly indulgence be found.
Who could have used what means to train a Sixth Foundation Realm cultivator into such a state?
He wondered how many spirit stones from Meng Zitao’s storage pouch would be consumed by this exquisite, fertile, and yin-nourished ultimate cauldron...
Pang Yue was too lazy to ponder further. Seizing the haze of intoxication, he enjoyed a vigorous and satisfying session of cultivation with this supreme cauldron.
Both body and mind were relaxed beyond compare.
...
As night deepened,
a full moon hung high, scattering endless silver light.
The vast night sky was densely studded with stars.
The Thousand Clouds Island blazed with lights, its spiritual radiance even more dazzling than during the day.
Four of them stepped out of the painted boat, refreshed and carefree, leisurely admiring the night scenery along the Xi River’s banks.
Unconsciously, their bonds had grown closer still.
Meng Zitao smiled broadly: “The quality of this batch of cauldrons is truly impressive! Brothers, are you satisfied?”
“Their looks, figures, and temperament are all top-notch, but their cultivation is a bit lacking—too weak for sustained extraction...” Huang Luxi replied coolly. “Ten years ago, I accompanied my Third Uncle to the Tianmo Sect market and trained with a Golden Core realm cauldron for two days and two nights. It was worth ten years of my hard cultivation.”
He paused, a look of reminiscence on his face. “That was truly refreshing!”
Meng Zitao’s eyes gleamed with longing. “Why don’t we travel to the Tianmo Sect together someday?”
Huang Luxi snorted. “Only when you become a true disciple of the sect can you say such things!”
Meng Zitao: “...”
On the western cliff of Thousand Clouds Island stood a towering and majestic palace.
This was the headquarters of Bogu Studio, an enterprise under the Gu family of the Demonic Talisman Golden Core lineage.
Ordinarily, it was the largest shop on the island.
Inside were hundreds of private elegant chambers for cultivators to conduct secret transactions.
At the center of the main hall was a three-story circular auditorium: the first floor with ring seating, the second and third floors with private rooms.
...
The annual auction of Bogu Studio was held here.
Fifteen minutes before the auction commenced, Pang Yue and his three companions entered a private room on the third floor.
Several beautiful maidens serving spiritual tea and dried fruits attended to them carefully as they awaited the start.
Cultivators gradually arrived; except for a rare few, all wore spirit-masking masks issued by Bogu Studio.
The crowd sat silently, quickly filling every seat on the first floor.
Pang Yue noticed that most were Foundation Realm cultivators, with a few scattered Qi Condensation Realm cultivators.
Moreover, many were not from the Demonic Talisman Sect’s main branch but rather affiliated families or independent cultivators.
Hong Fen sipped his spirit tea and smiled: “If this were the centennial auction, we’d probably never get to the third floor.”
The centennial auction was also called the Golden Core special session.
The decadal auction was for true disciples and inner sect disciples.
Huang Luxi said, “There’s hardly any good stuff at these auctions; it’s mostly for amusement. If you want to find something valuable, you might want to check the stalls at Swallow Cape to the north tomorrow.”
As they chatted, the auction began.
An elder of the Gu family, late Foundation Realm, appeared to host. One item after another was presented, sparking intense bidding.
As Huang Luxi had said, there were no true treasures at this level of auction.
At most, they were fine pieces, which held little appeal for inner sect disciples of a major sect like the Demonic Talisman Sect—let alone the four in the private room.
In the blink of an eye,
over thirty items had been successfully traded.
The Gu family elder smiled warmly: “Next up is the grand finale of this event. Everyone, look closely!”
With that, two stunning female cultivators carried a puppet onto the circular stage.
An astonishing chill instantly spread throughout the hall, countless tiny, crystalline frost particles forming in the air.
The cultivators’ gazes fixed on the puppet, their eyes turning cold as they marveled inwardly.
“Huh?”
In the private room, Pang Yue uttered a soft sound, his expression flickering.
Meng Zitao and the others, curious, looked toward the puppet on the stage.
Suspended in midair was a lifelike ice phoenix sculpture.
Its icy feathers were as sharp as swords, imbued with profound spiritual mechanisms, giving off a presence no less imposing than a fully realized Foundation Realm cultivator!
The Gu family elder introduced, “This Ice Phoenix puppet was crafted by a master. Its power rivals that of a fully realized Foundation Realm cultivator, and its innate divine abilities are no weaker than those of an inner sect disciple...”
At these words, the crowd exploded in astonishment!
In other words, the puppet’s true combat strength was likely close to that of a true disciple!
If that were so, this puppet could easily become the treasured heirloom of a Foundation Realm family to suppress their clan’s fortune!
Bogu Studio valued its reputation highly and would not make false claims.
The Gu family elder continued, “Rest assured, our Golden Core guest expert personally verified this puppet; there is absolutely no flaw.”
...
Huang Luxi withdrew his gaze from the Ice Phoenix puppet, surprised: “This item is indeed remarkable. Even among the decadal auctions, it would qualify as the grand finale.”
“Yet I wonder why Bogu Studio did not promote it beforehand, releasing it so abruptly.”
The three naturally assumed Pang Yue’s earlier surprise was at the puppet itself.
“The starting bid for this treasure is 890,000 spirit stones, and each bid increment must be no less than 10,000 spirit stones!” the Gu family elder announced loudly.
“So expensive!” someone exclaimed.
“Nine hundred and thirty thousand spirit stones!” a hoarse voice called from a private room on the second floor.
“One million spirit stones!” another voice came from a different room.
“A million spirit stones... the price of this puppet rivals a first-rank magical treasure!” Hong Fen remarked with feeling.
He had yet to acquire a single magical treasure due to lack of funds.
Typically, low-grade magical tools cost around a hundred spirit stones.
Mid-grade tools break the thousand mark...
High-grade tools are about ten thousand.
As for exquisite tools, they usually start at a hundred thousand spirit stones!
Magical treasures, regardless of tier, begin at a million spirit stones!
They often have no market despite their high value.
Who would complain about possessing too many magical treasures?
Ordinary cultivators without backing could never afford them.
For Foundation Realm cultivators, exquisite magical tools are already extremely precious.
Except for a few true disciples of great sects, magical treasures are usually the standard for Golden Core grand cultivators.
At present, this Ice Phoenix puppet, in some sense, was truly worth no less than a first-rank magical treasure!
As the bidding soared, the auction’s atmosphere reached its peak.
Yet Pang Yue’s mind was occupied by a single thought—could Ran Junxin have also regained memories from the Tianmo Illusion Realm?
This Ice Phoenix puppet was one of the puppetry arts recorded in the Nine Divine Puppets!
Moreover, in the Tianmo Illusion Realm, Ziyue’s life-bound puppet was exactly this Ice Phoenix!
In this world, besides himself, the only person likely capable of forging such a puppet was none other than Ran Junxin!