"Mid-grade Treasure Sword?"
Just as he was about to get up to go and transfer the Red Broken Sword to the steward, Ye Zhen sucked in a cold breath, and shock instantly covered his face.
Ye Zhen couldn’t be clearer about how powerful and precious Mid-grade Artifacts were.
Not to mention anything else, just take the Mid-grade Artifact Green Wing Divine Bow in Ye Zhen’s hands. Below the Spirit Transformation Realm, even an ordinary Martial Artist wielding the Green Wing Divine Bow would be almost invincible, given a certain distance.
If a Martial Artist in the Spirit Transformation Realm had the Green Wing Divine Bow, overcoming those of higher realms wouldn’t be much of a problem.
Moreover, Mid-grade Artifacts were extremely rare, at least very rare in the Black Dragon Domain. Up until now, among the eight True Disciples of the Qiyun Sect, there were still two who hadn’t managed to get a suitable Low Grade Artifact, let alone a Mid-grade Artifact.
Even the Sect Elders in the Soul Sea Realm, Ye Zhen didn’t know about others, but among the elders of Qiyun Sect and Lishui Sect, more than half were still using Low Grade Artifacts.
It could be said that Mid-grade Artifacts were items that even Martial Artists in the Soul Sea Realm would envy.
What’s more, it was a mainstream Mid-grade Artifact—a Mid-grade Treasure Sword!
"I will go over and settle it later!"
Ye Zhen casually dismissed the steward and plopped back down into his chair. The entire auction hall had already become noisy, clearly stunned by the sudden appearance of the Mid-grade Treasure Sword.
"This doesn’t make sense! If there were a Mid-grade Treasure Sword for auction, the Heavenly Treasure Auction House would certainly have invited countless experts from the Soul Sea Realm. Without inviting several dozen Soul Sea Realm elites, how could they let the Mid-grade Treasure Sword fetch a high price?"
Master Hai Luoshuang of the Stars Tower was full of perplexity, finding the situation incomprehensible. Today’s auction didn’t have many powerful individuals from the Soul Sea Realm attending, which seemed unscientific.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please, silence!"
The auctioneer had to bang the gavel over a dozen times to quiet down the entire auction hall.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to finish introducing the situation of this Mid-grade Treasure Sword, the Profound Yang Sword."
"The Mid-grade Treasure Sword, Profound Yang Sword, crafted with Profound Yang Stone as the main material and combined with twenty-one different rare materials, has also been intricately inscribed with talisman patterns by a Grandmaster Artifact Refiner. When wielded by a Martial Artist, the Profound Yang Sword can amplify Spiritual Power by forty percent!"
"Aside from amplifying Spiritual Power by forty percent, it can also activate the inherent powers of the Profound Yang Sword itself, unleashing the sharp and mighty Profound Yang Sword Gang. The power of this Profound Yang Sword Gang is astonishing. Even if a Martial Artist in the Spirit Transformation Realm carelessly takes a hit, they would likely be gravely injured or killed..."
"My heavens, even ordinary Martial Artists in the Spirit Transformation Realm can’t withstand it; isn’t this Profound Yang Sword a bit too formidable?"
"Doesn’t that mean that if a Martial Artist in the Spirit Summoning Realm possessed this sword, they could even trouble those in the Spirit Transformation Realm?"
"No way, this Profound Yang Sword is too powerful. And it looks like none of the mighty Souls from the Soul Sea Realm have shown up in Three Elements City, right? This is a great opportunity! Even if it means spending all my fortune today, I must bid for this Profound Yang Sword!"
"I wonder if the Heavenly Treasure Auction House would accept a deed to a house?"
For a moment, the entire auction house became noisy again, with Martial Artists from the Spirit Summoning Realm excited, and those from the Spirit Transformation Realm even more so.
Clang, clang, clang!
Unexpectedly, the auctioneer’s forehead began to show sweat. "Ladies and gentlemen, please, silence!"
"What I’ve just described are the normal capabilities of the Profound Yang Sword..."
These few words caused Ye Zhen’s eyebrows to suddenly raise and quickly brought silence back to the auction hall. Everyone picked up on the auctioneer’s implication!
"Today’s showstopper, the Mid-grade Treasure Sword, Profound Yang Sword, unfortunately has some flaws!"
This time, a guard general raised the stone box at an angle so that everyone could get a clearer look.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please look at the six fine cracks on this Profound Yang Sword, the one in the middle is particularly noticeable!"
Indeed, upon closer examination, Ye Zhen saw the cracks mentioned by the auctioneer, and the look of confusion on Master Hai Luoshuang’s face dissipated upon seeing the cracks.
"So that’s why..."
"Our Heavenly Treasure Auction House has always conducted business with integrity and honesty—no deception to young or old! This Profound Yang Sword originally belonged to a powerful individual from the Soul Sea Realm, who carried it with them. However, it was damaged in a battle and is now being auctioned off at their request!"
"Because of these cracks, the quality of the Mid-grade Treasure, Profound Yang Sword, has gone through some changes.
The Profound Yang Sword’s ability to amplify Spiritual Power by forty percent remains unchanged. However, due to these cracks, the Profound Yang Spiritual Energy within has dissipated, making it no longer possible to unleash the Profound Yang Sword Gang."
Ye Zhen’s brows furrowed slightly. Being unable to unleash the Profound Yang Sword Gang was hardly a significant issue, and it seemed to have little effect on the value of the sword.
"Furthermore, due to the cracks, the sword’s durability has significantly decreased. After testing by several powerful individuals specially invited by the Heavenly Treasure Auction House, we have obtained results!
This Profound Yang Sword can only withstand Spiritual Power shocks of those below the Soul Sea Realm. If the intensity of Spiritual Power infused into the Profound Yang Sword reaches the level of the Soul Sea Realm, the sword will likely shatter immediately!"
"In other words, this Mid-grade Treasure Sword, Profound Yang Sword, can only be used by Martial Artists in the Spirit Transformation Realm or the Spirit Summoning Realm!"
"Now it makes sense. Otherwise, why wouldn’t they invite those big shots from the Soul Sea Realm for a Mid-grade Artifact..."
Master Hai Luoshuang chuckled softly, while Ye Zhen’s gaze began to blaze with excitement.
Powerful individuals from the Soul Sea Realm couldn’t use it, but he, Ye Zhen, could.
"Young Hero Zheng, you don’t plan to bid for this Profound Yang Sword as well, do you?" Observant Master Hai Luoshuang, seeing Ye Zhen’s intent, expressed shock.
"Uh... I want to give it a try!"
Master Hai Luoshuang’s expression suddenly shifted to delight. "Then that’s great news! If Young Hero Zheng is short on funds at the moment, just say the word."
Owing a favor to him would be a delight for Master Hai Luoshuang. As long as Ye Zhen spoke up, there would be ways to draw him into joining the Tower.
"As instructed by the consignor, this Mid-grade Profound Yang Sword will be auctioned off in exchange for Low Grade Spirit Crystals as currency. If anyone lacks enough Spirit Crystals, they can exchange for them with gold or other treasures at the front desk." At this point, the auctioneer didn’t forget to drum up business for the auction house.
"Mid-grade Treasure Sword, Profound Yang Sword, starting at ten thousand Low Grade Spirit Crystals, with each bid increment no less than one thousand Low Grade Spirit Crystals. The bidding starts now!"
"Eleven thousand Low Grade Spirit Crystals!"
"I bid 13,000 Low Grade Spirit Crystals!"
The simple yet forceful bid instantly shattered the dreams of many martial artists in the auction hall who imagined dominating the world with a Mid-grade Treasure.
Even to snag a bargain, one needed considerable strength.
Indeed, many people who encountered a Profound Yang Sword with a crack at an auction thought they had hit the jackpot and found a bargain.
"35,000 Low Grade Spirit Crystals!"
The two voices frantically upping the bids both came from the private rooms on the second floor, but Ye Zhen had no part in it.
Neither the succinct 30,000 nor the other bid was called out by Ye Zhen.
"At present it’s our neighbors in the next room and the guy in the corner’s private room who are bidding. The person in our neighboring room is a Foreign Affairs Elder from the Sword Origin Sect, and the bidder in the corner...."
At this point, Hai Luoshuang’s brow conspicuously furrowed, "This fellow, he’s a bit of trouble!"
"Young Hero Zheng, if the final bid comes from that rather chilling voice in the corner, I would advise you to give up."
"Give up? Why?"
"Trouble, that old fellow Yine Kainian is very troublesome!"
"Yine Kainian? Never heard of him!"
Ye Zhen shook his head firmly, "Master Hai, would I encounter such a chance a second time? Under normal circumstances, if there were a Soul Sea Realm powerhouse participating in the bidding, how could I possibly compete?"
"But it’s them, and you might not be able to compete either...." Hai Luoshuang let out a self-deprecating laugh, "It’s just me thinking too much...."
Hai Luoshuang’s self-mockery was because she suddenly realized something; she was worrying for Ye Zhen, but was he even qualified to join the battle?
Ye Zhen had already paid out seven million taels of gold earlier, which, even if converted into Low Grade Spirit Crystals, amounted to fifty or sixty thousand. For Ye Zhen, a Spirit Summoning Realm martial artist, to have such wealth was already quite astonishing.
Hai Luoshuang felt that even if Ye Zhen did have an extensive wealth and an additional twenty or thirty thousand Low Grade Spirit Crystals, it was already an exceedingly exceptional existence for his age and cultivation.
Now, the price of the Profound Yang Sword had reached 60,000 Low Grade Spirit Crystals, and Ye Zhen nearly lacked the capacity to compete unless he sought to borrow from her.
However, given the current situation, if Ye Zhen were to participate in the bidding, the amount he would need to borrow would be astonishingly large, and she, as the Stars Tower Master, no matter how much she appreciated Ye Zhen, couldn’t easily agree to the imagined substantial loan.
Hai Luoshuang’s guess was right; Ye Zhen didn’t actually have many Low Grade Spirit Crystals on hand—just a few thousand more than Hai Luoshuang had estimated. In total, counting everything he had, he possessed only 36,000 Low Grade Spirit Crystals.
But, Ye Zhen was loaded with treasures.
Aside from anything else, the nearly a dozen Low Grade Artifacts and several dozen storage rings he acquired from the Battlefield of Demon Souls were nearly going moldy in his possession.
In the corner’s private room, the dark-faced, narrow-eyed elder Yine Kainian made another bid, his gaze towards the Profound Yang Sword on the auction stage was filled with fervor!
"With the Profound Yang Sword, I can finally get past these years of frustration."
As soon as the price tag of 65,000 was announced, a purple-robed elder in the room next to Ye Zhen became noticeably depressed.
A Foreign Affairs Elder from the Sword Origin Sect he was, having failed to break through to the Soul Sea Realm, he turned to this position, knowing that breaking through the Soul Sea Realm in this life would be hopeless.
Driven by his instinct as a swordsman, the sight of a Mid-grade Treasure Sword made this purple-robed elder quite envious.
But now, he hesitated.
With no hope of breakthrough, it was not worth gambling his entire fortune on a Mid-grade Treasure.
After gritting his teeth, the purple-robed elder upped the bid one more time, deciding that if he couldn’t win the Profound Yang Sword after this round, he would give up.
Hearing this significantly reduced bid, Yine Kainian’s sinister face unexpectedly revealed a trace of a smile, although that smile was even more terrifying than a menacing look.
"No longer able?"
The chilly and concise voice of the narrow-eyed elder Yine Kainian caused the purple-robed elder in the private room to sigh slightly and concede the bidding competition.
The bid of 70,000 completely extinguished any hope for the martial artists in the Spirit Summoning and Spirit Transformation Realms in the grand hall, and even if there were one or two Soul Sea Realm powerhouses present, like Hai Luoshuang, they showed no interest in bidding.
For Soul Sea Realm powerhouses, the Profound Yang Sword was a useless trinket; why would they bid for it?
"70,000 Low Grade Spirit Crystals for the first call, is there anyone who would like to raise the bid, anyone?"
"70,000 Low Grade Spirit Crystals for the second call, is there...
"Master, the Profound Yang Sword is yours!" In the corner’s private room, a finely dressed young man, with hands respectfully folded, congratulated the narrow-eyed elder Yine Kainian.
Though his face lacked any signs of joy, Yine Kainian’s fervent gaze spoke volumes about his current state of mind.
"I bid 75,000 Low Grade Spirit Crystals!"
The voice of Ye Zhen placing his bid rang out. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)

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