Chapter 314: The Semi‑Immortal Herb That Heals the Spiritual Sea
"Three million, from the Holy Spirit Cult!"
A sinister voice echoed from the shadows, carrying a chill that made the crowd shiver.
Zhongli Wu's tone left no doubt—he was determined to win the Soul Crystals.
The Holy Spirit Cult commanded many followers desperate to strengthen themselves quickly. With the Soul Crystals, their power would expand exponentially in a short time.
Though the Cult's evil soul masters possessed their own ruthless methods—slaughter to enhance cultivation—the addition of these crystals would allow them to progress even faster. Together, those two paths would create a new generation of formidable experts, restoring the Cult's lost glory.
With the emergence of the Human Altar, Zhongli Wu realized the Cult must accelerate its own plans.
Shrek Academy and the allied sects were growing stronger with each passing day. If the Cult fell behind now, all future ambitions would crumble before Shrek's rise—a future he refused to accept.
From the moment this auction began, Zhongli Wu had resolved to claim every treasure that could possibly strengthen the Holy Spirit Cult and deny them to their rivals.
"Three‑and‑a‑half million!"
From the Clear Sky Sect's section, an elder raised his hand with a deep voice.
Known for their offense‑type Clear Sky Hammer, the sect's cultivation techniques were among the fastest on the continent. Yet nurturing younger talent was equally important. A hundred Soul Crystals could significantly strengthen their core heirs.
"Four million!"
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect refused to back down. Specializing in auxiliary abilities, they knew their younger disciples' boosts in soul power would directly enhance their supporting strength. It would be a major gain for the sect as a whole.
"Five million!"
This time, Emperor Xu Tianran of the Sun and Moon Empire raised the stakes sharply. His empire's fusion of technology and soul power made him willing to spend heavily on anything that accelerated power growth.
He understood what these Soul Crystals meant: they could help his empire's army achieve an unprecedented leap in strength.
After subjugating the entire Sun and Moon Empire following the Holy Spirit Cult's attacks, Xu Tianran's rule had entered an age of reconstruction. Though he alone stood as its supreme powerhouse, he needed a new generation of prodigies to cement the empire's dominance.
A hundred Soul Crystals could create several top‑tier talents—an opportunity he wouldn't let slip away.
The bidding escalated rapidly.
Five million… six million… eight million…
Within minutes, the price reached nine million.
The audience of lesser soul masters could only gape. Such staggering figures exceeded their imagination; they had been reduced to mere spectators in this clash of titans.
"Nine‑and‑a‑half million!"
Zhongli Wu called again, his tone growing impatient, hoping sheer cost would drive away his rivals.
Mu En's eyes narrowed. Turning to Yan Shaozhe, he commanded softly, "Raise it. No matter the price, we must secure them. These Soul Crystals are too valuable for the Shrek Seven to lose."
Yan Shaozhe stood and declared loudly, "Ten million!"
The hall fell silent.
The Holy Spirit Cult members exchanged uncertain looks. After a tense pause, Zhongli Wu finally lowered his bid.
He knew Shrek's stubbornness—once committed, they would never back down.
He could force the issue and still win, but there was no wisdom in wasting fortune now. The greater treasures always lay in the auction's final rounds. Repeating his earlier mistake—overspending early only to miss the real prizes—would cripple the Cult again.
The Clear Sky Sect and Sun and Moon Empire likewise withdrew. Even for major factions, ten million was no small sum, and Shrek's resolve was plainly stronger.
Most had come to the same conclusion as the Cult: it was better to conserve their wealth for the coveted items still to come.
"Ten million once—ten million twice—ten million three times!"
Bang! Linyun lowered the gavel.
"The second item—the one hundred Soul Crystals—is sold for ten million gold soul coins!"
A sigh of relief spread through Shrek's seats.
Xuan Zi smiled. "Excellent. With these crystals, our young students will rise even faster."
"All right, everyone," Linyun's graceful voice carried over the hall, "the second auction item is concluded. Now, allow me to reveal the next treasure."
She gestured elegantly, presenting a pitch‑black flower with nine dark leaves coiling around the stem. Strange patterns flowed across each leaf like living sigils.
The very moment it appeared, waves of visible mental power rippled outward. Every top expert in the room stiffened in surprise.
"What incredible spiritual energy!"
Mu En's gaze trembled with awe.
"This must rival immortal herbs like the Skylark Chrysanthemum or Delicate Tulip… and judging by its aura, it's designed to enhance spiritual power."
Those nearby nodded in agreement. Anything radiating such potent spiritual pressure could not be ordinary.
Linyun's calm tone resounded again. "The third auction item—the Nine‑Turn Rebirth Flower. Though not a true immortal herb, it belongs just beneath that rank."
"It has two primary effects: first, it greatly enhances spiritual power in soul masters and beasts alike. Second, it can stabilize and restore the Spiritual Sea of those whose mental realm has been gravely damaged—eventually restoring it completely after proper recovery."
"What? It can heal a shattered Spiritual Sea?"
The crowd erupted.
"Unbelievable! I've never heard of anything capable of such recovery. Even divine healers with special soul skills rarely succeed at mending a broken spirit!"
"And this is only a semi‑immortal herb! If it were a true immortal plant, its power would defy comprehension."
Exclamations spread like wildfire.
Every soul master understood how crucial one's Spiritual Sea was—more vital than mere soul power.
Once damaged, it meant decline at best, ruin at worst.
The Nine‑Turn Rebirth Flower was nothing less than a savior for the spirit‑injured.
…
In the corner, Huo Yuhao's heart skipped. He instinctively turned inward, sending a thought to the Ice Emperor and Skydream Iceworm residing within his Spiritual Sea.
"Ice Emperor, Brother Skydream—does this flower truly have such power?"
The Ice Emperor studied the flower's energy carefully. "The Star Auction Pavilion has no need to lie. Its spiritual aura is pure and resilient. It could indeed stabilize and heal a broken Spiritual Sea."
"It would also significantly amplify your mental strength. If you could obtain it… the benefit for both you and me would be beyond measure."
(END CHAPTER)
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