Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

"A True Essence Sublimation Pill?! A peak high-grade grand-tier pill?! Where the hell did that come from?"

"This...the storm that’ll be created from this pill will be calamity inviting."

"This is going to be so exciting!"

There were many different comments flying about in excitement, while those with true intentions of buying this pill were solemn beyond compare. They calculated their personal funds. Some used talisman transmissions to pool remaining funds, attempting to convince others to withdraw from the competition, and all types of method to gain a greater chance at obtaining the pill.

"We’ll begin the bid at...500 million drops! Each bid must be a minimum of 10 million!" There was no need to use her alluring features or words in an attempt to heighten the competition for this pill, its very existence was a tonic for competition. This pill essentially represented the chance for twenty thousand years of life, a status as a peak powerhouse, and prowess that’ll be respected by all.

How could they not be enticed? She didn’t even need to explain its effects, those who would bid for this pill obviously knew what it was.

A powerful aura at the half-step True Essence Realm surged in one of the V.I.P. boxes, causing everyone to draw their gazes over in excitement. Normally, if an expert of such degree erupted with their aura, many would be quivering in fear, but no one at this moment felt any sort of fear! Only excitement at the ensuing competition.

"Isn’t that the Vice Palace Master of the Dark Mist Palace?!"

"Oh god! It is, he’s been at the half-step True Essence Realm for several thousand years now! He must be nearing the end of his lifespan. There’s no way he’ll allow this to be won easily!"

Yan Zaizen gazed towards the box, his eyes blazing with traces of vibrant lifeforce, and he could tell from the aura that the crowd was correct. This person’s lifeforce signature was exceedingly dim, perhaps having a few dozen or a hundred years left. This may be a lot by mortal standards, but for powerful cultivators, this was a single cultivation session.

"700 Million!" His old and withered voice resounded with a hint of steel-like resolve. One could see that he was willing to throw his entire wealth at this pill; it was too rare and too precious. To understand, in the entirety of Grux, only the Xiāo City’s Lord, who was its top grand-tier alchemist, was capable of producing this pill. In his entire life, he only produced two of these pills. This displayed its value.

Presba doesn’t even have anyone on the level of the Xiāo City’s Lord within its employ, they had to purchase their pills from other countries, but why would they sell them such a precious pill that could indicate an overall strength enhancement for the country?! The only reason the Earthly Fortune Palace was willing to sell this was due to its owner’s wishes. Unwilling to offend him, they allowed it to be auctioned.

However, they’d be fools not to bid themselves.

"800 Million!" A soft but firm voice directly increased the bid by one hundred million, showing no fear. Many individuals turned their gazes to see a young, handsome male with a profound gaze dressed in sky blue robe.

"Isn’t that Ming Shen, the son of the Earthly Fortune Palace’s Palace Master? Why would he be bidding?!"

"This is insane, could it be that someone auctioned off this pill?! It doesn’t belong to the Earthly Fortune Palace?"

"Stop being an idiot! Of course it doesn’t belong to the Earthly Fortune Palace, if it did, why would they auction it off and not use it immediately? Some powerful expert must want it auctioned, and they had no choice!"

"850 Million!" An elderly voice with a feminine charm resounded once more. This attracted everyone’s eyes to feel the aura of someone everyone here knew! The Grand Elder of the Xin Clan, Xin Miaoyu! The competition continued as many more influential and elderly voices started to bid. Even the True Essence outsiders competed vigorously, putting all of their wealth together in hopes of obtaining the pill.

"1 Billion!"

This bid shook everyone. To reach 1 billion was extraordinary, but after thinking of the pill’s capabilities and what it offered, this was worth too little in comparison. How could you estimate a profound cultivation base that dominated 99.9% of the continent and twenty thousand years of additional life minimum with 1 billion?!

"1.1 Billion!" The bid was quickly surpassed by the first bidder, his eyes within the V.I.P. box were filled with crimson lines of blood. His hands were clenched so hard that the arm-rest was deformed. "I will win this!" He shouted, every single person present could feel his steeled resolve. Everyone could tell he was going all in, but how could he be the only one?!

"1.3 Billion!" Ming Shen laid another bid, not caring about a mere Vice Palace Master of a grand-tier power. His goal was to obtain this pill, and he had the full backing of the Earthly Fortune Palace. This was their homeground, how could he lose?!

However, who cared if he was a part of some Earthly Fortune Palace? Who cared if this was his homeground?! This was a True Essence Sublimation Pill! This was a chance at a second life, at a higher point in that second life to boot! Who gave two flying shits about some Ming Shen?

"1.6 Billion!" This bid caused gasps to resound, this price exceeded what Yan Zaizen obtained for a genuine sky-rank mountain! However, he had a gut feeling this wasn’t going to stop at that.

"2.5 Billion!" Xin Miaoyu said calmly. This very bid caused the commotion to reach a peak, a jump of 900 million! This was extreme and the price was astonishing! Many individuals couldn’t help but have their eyes blaze in contemplation. From their point of view, this Xin Miaoyu must be absolutely certain she could ascend in her cultivation if she had this pill.

However, before everyone could feel the shock from a wealth they’ll never touch in their lifetimes, "4 BILLION!!!" Ming Shen thunderously declared, his aura flaring revealing a peak-Origin Core Cultivation. At this point, everyone realized why he was bidding personally. With this pill and his talent, he had a high chance of reaching the True Essence Realm. How could he not bid?

A cold, powerful voice resounded, "You all are pathetic! None of you are worthy! Stand down, this pill is mine. 4.3 Billion!" A newcomer entered the fray. Shockingly, when everyone looked at this person, their eyes widened to moons. Not a single person was exempt from this.

"The Imperial Protector, Dong Wei?! Why is he here?" There were many intense reactions, but all those who were bidding had their expressions turn incomparably solemn. A middle-aged man with silver-gray hair, a robust physique, and a vigorous aura revealed himself at one of the V.I.P. boxes. Obviously, he was intent on obtaining this pill despite already being at the peak of the initial-True Essence Realm.

Many may not know this, but the True Essence Sublimation Pill could let a half-step True Essence expert have a 40% chance increase to their already existing chance at ascending to a higher stage. However, it also had a 10% chance increase to ascending into the mid-True Essence Realm! This was exceptional!

However, how could the Imperial Family truly be the only people that know this?

"Shut up! No one here is willing to be intimidated by your false bravado bullshit! 5 Billion!" Xin Miaoyu fearlessly bid while many others were silent as worms, afraid to take action.

Dong Wei’s eyes narrowed with an intense killing intent at being outbid and insulted. If it wasn’t for his own internal pride and respect for auctions, he would’ve directly snatched this True Essence Sublimation Pill in front of everyone. However, the Earthly Fortune Palace most assuredly had their peak of the Initial-True Essence Palace Master watching this auction carefully.

In truth, they all had their own thoughts. The person who obtained the pill first will most definitely have the advantage over the others in obtaining it. However, they all knew there was a possibility of being robbed, but if someone like Dong Wei obtained it, then robbing it would be nearly impossible and not worth it.

"HMPH! 7 Billion." Ming Shen snorted coldly, ignoring these individuals of high status and fully displaying his intent on buying the pill. If he obtained it, he could simply hide here and take it; he didn’t have to worry about being robbed. The only issue had to do with the price. The individual who sold this pill was definitely someone with an extraordinary prowess, if they bid too high but couldn’t pay up, then they’ll be directly offending someone they shouldn’t.

"AHHHHHH!!! 9.7 BILLION! THIS PILL WILL BE MINE!" The Dark Mist Vice Palace Master roared thunderously, throwing out his entire life savings market worth right then and there. His eyes no longer had any trace of whiteness but pure blood red; he was absolutely intent on buying this pill! All else be damned!! He crushed a transmission talisman decisively.

His action was followed by others also crushing transmission talismans.

Yan Zaizen looked onwards with intense shock at the events that were happening at this moment. "This..."

Numerous lights lit up on people’s fingers, receiving messages from their respective powers. Some of their eyes deflated, but most had their eyes lit up with competitive brilliance.

Xin Miaoyu was the first to contest the bid, "11 Billion." Her voice was incomparably calm, not holding back any longer. Wealth means absolutely shit without proper time to use it, they were just liquid essence, who cared? Liquid essence isn’t even effective in breaking through to the True Essence Realm, hell, low-grade essence crystals were the same, only mid-grade essence crystals could help. However, even with it, it’ll take hundreds of years to process all that essence! Who had such time to waste on an off-chance?! Even if they did, their chances wouldn’t increase a single percentage!

They didn’t have the physique of a Herculean after all! This pill is far more immediate and effective than 100 mid-grade essence crystals.

"You old hag, back the fuck off!!! 15 Billion!" Dong Wei thundered, his eyes were slowly suffusing with madness. Resources meant shit when it came to actual power and status, to him, this represented a chance at the very peak of the entire continent and five thousand years of additional life! This was not a battle he was willing to lose.

He had to win!

"I bid..." Ming Shen’s voice resounded outwards, attracting the astonished and expectant gazes of all, "31.2 Billion."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Silence.