Chapter 1147: Fifth Grade Soul Calming Grass

"Brother Song, long time no see!"

"Haha, I didn't expect Brother Chen to come as well. It seems this grand event will reunite many old acquaintances!"

"Hmph! That third-grade Peiyuan Pill is mine for the taking!"

"Such big talk! Aren't you afraid of biting your tongue?"

"Some people might risk their entire fortune, but they still won't be able to take that third-grade Peiyuan Pill out of the city!"

"Then let's wait and see!"

...

In the grand hall, over a hundred tables were filled with guests engaged in heated discussions. At first, they exchanged polite greetings, but soon, harsh words began to fly.

As soon as Yi Feng stepped into the venue, he felt the tense atmosphere, which only excited him further. He thought to himself that he had truly entered a den of top-tier villains, where death could come at any moment!

A quick glance around revealed that the seating in the hall was clearly arranged by status. The front tables were noticeably more elaborate, and those seated there exuded an air of dignity. Most were elderly men with white hair, giving off an aura of profound mystery. They were likely the big shots of Sunshine Island.

The middle and back tables were also filled with guests, many of whom looked fierce and intimidating, as if they were all formidable figures.

In the past, Yi Feng would have immediately walked to the front tables to stir up trouble. But after several failures, he had learned his lesson. Some people might appear strong, but in reality, they weren't much of a threat, and engaging with them would only waste his energy.

This time, he had a clear goal in mind: the Wanbao Pavilion!

Most of the people making bold claims about the third-grade pill probably weren't that strong—perhaps not even as strong as he was. He decided to observe the situation first.

After walking a few steps, Yi Feng took a seat at a table in the far corner.

As he looked around, he noticed that there were four private seats on the second-floor balcony, each marked with a lantern bearing the characters "Heaven," "Earth," "Mystic," and "Yellow." The seats were surrounded by light silk screens, suggesting that they were reserved for distinguished guests.

Seeing this special treatment, Yi Feng nodded to himself. According to Bao Congxin's account, only the four major sects of Sunshine Island were worthy of such treatment.

Although the "Heaven" seat's lantern wasn't lit, indicating that no one had arrived for that seat, the presence of the other three major sects and the many powerful figures in the hall suggested that this auction might feature some truly valuable treasures.

If there were indeed treasures of significant value, it would mean that the Wanbao Pavilion had top-tier experts guarding it. If he tried to steal anything, he would surely meet his end on the spot!

As Yi Feng patiently observed, the hall suddenly fell silent.

An elderly man with white eyebrows stepped onto the stage, smiling and clasping his hands in greeting.

"Esteemed guests, your presence brings great honor to our Wanbao Pavilion. Today, we have several treasures to auction. As the host, I humbly ask for your cooperation and adherence to our auction rules."

The old man wore a plain robe and had a calm, scholarly demeanor. His appearance caused a stir among the audience, with many clasping their hands in surprise.

"It's Elder Liu himself hosting the auction?!"

"Elder Liu comes from a prestigious family of treasure appraisers and is well-known even at the Wanbao Pavilion headquarters. Since arriving on Sunshine Island a few years ago, he has rarely made public appearances. I was fortunate enough to see him once when he first arrived."

"Today, extraordinary treasures are sure to appear!"

"Elder Liu, you are too kind. We will naturally abide by the rules!"

"Respects to Elder Liu."

Most of the guests stood up and returned the greeting, showing great respect.

Seeing this, Yi Feng became even more excited about the upcoming auction.

After some polite exchanges, Elder Liu smiled and waved his hand, then lightly clapped.

Graceful maidservants carrying trays entered, each holding treasures wrapped in exquisite brocade boxes, instantly capturing the attention of everyone in the hall.

When the first box was opened, a pill the size of a soybean was revealed. Its surface was marked with clear patterns, and it emitted a faint purple aura, with a rich medicinal fragrance wafting through the air.

The hall erupted in exclamations!

"Is this... the legendary third-grade Peiyuan Pill?"

"This pill already has pill patterns, and the medicinal fragrance is incredibly rich. It must be a perfect-grade treasure, with excellent effects when consumed!"

"If one obtains this pill, the chance of breaking through to the third-grade Heavenly Realm increases by forty percent!"

"What a grand gesture!"

"I've been on Sunshine Island for years, and I've never seen such a treasure!"

Elder Liu extended his hand with a smile, instantly calming the crowd.

"Esteemed guests," he said, "as you have guessed, this is indeed the third-grade Peiyuan Pill. Its grade and effects need no further explanation. Our Wanbao Pavilion is a name you can trust. The auction will now begin, with the highest bidder taking the prize."

"The starting price is one billion immortal crystals!"

The staggering amount shocked most of the attendees, but many still looked on with fervent eyes.

As soon as the words left Elder Liu's mouth, the bidding began in earnest, quickly reaching a fever pitch.

"One billion one hundred million immortal crystals!"

"One billion two hundred million!!!"

...

Watching the scene of extravagant spending from afar, Yi Feng felt a surge of excitement.

These villains really are loaded!

I have to rob this auction!

But as he looked at the stage, he couldn't help but feel a bit skeptical.

The old man hosting the auction seemed to have a lot of prestige and appeared quite impressive, but that was likely due to his status. His actual cultivation level was unknown.

If it came to a fight, could he withstand even a single finger from me?

After a moment of thought, Yi Feng suppressed his excitement and continued to patiently observe. Seeing the villains arguing over the third-grade pill, their faces red with anger, was like watching a bunch of amateurs squabbling. It didn't excite him much.

Noticing that the front tables remained mostly silent and that the private seats upstairs were also quiet, it seemed like everyone was waiting for the main event.

Seeing this subtle shift, Yi Feng became even more patient.

A few moments later, the first auction finally concluded.

The private seats upstairs began to buzz with quiet discussions, their occupants smiling.

In the "Earth" private room, the sect master of the Mad Blade Sect, a man with graying temples named Lu Renkuang, stroked his beard and chuckled.

"I didn't expect Liu Yuantai to personally host the auction. The first treasure is already a third-grade Peiyuan Pill. It seems the rumors are true. Today, we might indeed see the fifth-grade Soul-Calming Grass!"

Beside him, the grandmaster of the sect bowed respectfully.

"Sect Master, you are truly wise!"

"Today, with your presence, we are sure to obtain the Soul-Calming Grass. Although this herb doesn't immediately boost cultivation, its benefits are immense. As a rare fifth-grade treasure, it will deepen your understanding of the Great Dao and may even allow you to fight above your level!"

"After this, our Mad Blade Sect will surely rise to new heights!"

Lu Renkuang nodded confidently.

"Of course."

"Second place is for losers. How can our Mad Blade Sect remain in the shadows for long? Sa Donglai has held the position of island master for too long. It's time for him to step down! Today, with my presence, who dares to compete?"

"That old man has been cultivating for tens of thousands of years, hoping to break through to the fifth grade in seclusion. Little does he know, he's missed this golden opportunity. This is fate!"

The grandmaster bowed again, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Sect Master, you are truly wise!"

"With Sa Donglai in seclusion, the other two sects can't match our financial strength. Even if their sect masters were here, it wouldn't make a difference!"

"With Liu Yuantai personally hosting and having issued a warning earlier, the Wanbao Pavilion must have top-tier experts guarding it. Even if they wanted to steal the pill, they would think twice!"

Hearing this thorough analysis, Lu Renkuang's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"Hahaha..."

"Grandmaster Zhao, your insight is as sharp as ever. You are truly a pillar of our sect! Today, the treasure will surely be mine! Even if they had ten thousand times the courage, no one would dare to make a move against the Wanbao Pavilion today!"

After a few more moments of quiet discussion, several more treasures were auctioned off.

As increasingly precious treasures were brought out, the sect masters in the other private rooms began to exchange worried glances, sensing that things were not going in their favor.

In the brief lull that followed, a dozen guards in plain robes suddenly appeared on stage, each exuding the aura of a Heavenly Realm cultivator!

The sudden display of power stunned the entire hall.

Then, the doors of the Wanbao Pavilion were closed, and guards took up positions both inside and outside. The atmosphere grew tense, and a heavy sense of solemnity began to permeate the room.

The mood had shifted dramatically!

The sect masters in the private rooms looked down with keen interest, while the hundreds of guests in the hall tensed up, their eyes filled with curiosity. Even Yi Feng, who had been dozing off, suddenly perked up.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, four guards carried out a multicolored treasure chest!

Elder Liu Yuantai stood to the side, his expression now serious. He looked around the hall and bowed slightly.

"Esteemed guests," he announced, "this is the final treasure of today's auction: the fifth-grade Soul-Calming Grass!"

BOOM!!!

The announcement struck like a thunderclap, and all the guests rose to their feet in shock!