Soul-Stabilizing Herb of the Fifth Rank

"Brother Song, long time no see!"

"Ah, I didn’t expect Brother Chen to attend as well. This grand gathering seems to be reuniting many old acquaintances!"

"Hmph! That third-grade Foundation Establishment Pill is mine—I won’t accept any less!"

"Such bold words! Aren’t you afraid of biting your own tongue?"

"Let’s see if some people can even take that pill beyond the city gates after bankrupting themselves!"

"Then we’ll just wait and see!"

...

The hall buzzed with heated discussions from over a hundred tables of guests. At first, they exchanged polite greetings, but soon, threats and provocations flew freely.

As Yi Feng stepped into the venue, he immediately sensed the tense, almost hostile atmosphere. His excitement grew—this was truly a den of the most wicked villains, where death could come in an instant!

A quick glance around revealed a meticulously arranged scene.

The front tables were noticeably more refined, occupied by individuals of dignified bearing. Few spoke, and among them were white-haired elders who exuded an air of unfathomable depth—likely the major figures of Sunlight Island.

The middle and rear tables were also packed, with guests who mostly looked fierce and intimidating, each seemingly formidable in their own right.

In the past, Yi Feng would have marched straight to the front tables to stir up trouble.

But after several failures, he had learned his lesson. Some who appeared strong were actually weak, and engaging them would be a waste of effort.

This time, he had a clear goal: the Treasure Pavilion.

Most of the crowd was fixated on the third-grade pill, which suggested they weren’t particularly powerful—perhaps even weaker than him. He decided to observe first.

After a few steps, Yi Feng took a seat at a corner table in the very back.

As he scanned the surroundings, his attention was drawn to the second-floor balcony, where four private booths were adorned with lanterns labeled "Heaven," "Earth," "Mystic," and "Yellow." Light silk screens shielded them, hinting at the presence of distinguished guests.

Impressed by such exclusive treatment, Yi Feng nodded to himself.

According to Bao Congxin’s intel, only the four great sects of Sunlight Island warranted this level of respect.

Though the "Heaven" booth remained unlit—perhaps its occupant hadn’t arrived—the presence of the other three sects and the numerous powerful figures below suggested that this auction might feature extraordinary treasures.

If truly priceless items appeared, it would confirm that the Treasure Pavilion had top-tier experts guarding the event. Attempting to rob it then would be suicidal!

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

An elderly man with white eyebrows stepped onto the stage, clasping his hands with a smile.

"Honored guests, your presence brings immense glory to our Treasure Pavilion. Today, several rare treasures will be auctioned. This humble elder has the honor of presiding over the event, and I kindly ask for your cooperation in adhering to our rules."

Dressed in a plain robe, the elder’s serene demeanor and scholarly grace belied his authority. Yet, his appearance alone drew gasps and respectful salutes from the crowd.

"It’s Elder Liu himself presiding?!"

"Elder Liu hails from a renowned appraisal family and holds prestige even in the Treasure Pavilion’s headquarters. Since arriving on Sunlight Island years ago, he’s rarely appeared in public—I only saw him once before!"

"Today must hold something extraordinary!"

"Elder Liu, you honor us too much. We will naturally abide by the rules!"

"Our respects to Elder Liu!"

Most guests rose to return the courtesy, their reverence unmistakable.

Watching this, Yi Feng’s anticipation for the auction grew.

Amid the polite exchanges, Elder Liu waved his hand with a smile and clapped lightly.

Graceful maids emerged, carrying trays adorned with exquisite brocade boxes, each containing a treasure that instantly captivated the room.

When the first box was opened, a pill the size of a soybean was revealed. Its surface bore intricate patterns, and a faint purple aura swirled within. A rich medicinal fragrance wafted through the air.

The crowd erupted in awe.

"Is this… the legendary third-grade Foundation Establishment Pill?!"

"It even has pill patterns! The fragrance is overwhelming—this must be a flawless masterpiece!"

"With this pill, the chances of breaking through to the third-grade Heavenly Realm increase by forty percent!"

"What extravagance!"

"In all my years on Sunlight Island, I’ve never seen such a treasure!"

Elder Liu raised his hand, instantly silencing the room.

"Esteemed guests," he announced, "as you’ve discerned, this is indeed the third-grade Foundation Establishment Pill. Its quality and effects require no further elaboration—our Treasure Pavilion’s reputation speaks for itself. The auction begins now. The highest bidder takes it."

"Starting price: one hundred million Celestial Crystals!"

The staggering sum deterred half the crowd, but many remained feverish with desire.

The moment the words left his lips, bids erupted like a storm.

"One hundred and ten million Celestial Crystals!"

"One hundred and twenty million!!!"

...

Watching the extravagant spectacle from afar, Yi Feng felt a thrill.

These villains were filthy rich!

Robbery was a must!

But as he studied the stage, doubts crept in.

Elder Liu commanded immense respect, likely due to his status, but his actual cultivation level was unclear.

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

After a brief hesitation, Yi Feng suppressed his excitement and continued observing. The villains’ frenzied bidding over a third-grade pill felt like watching amateurs squabble—hardly worth his attention.

Noticing that the front tables remained silent and the balcony booths showed no interest, he guessed they were waiting for the real treasures later.

This subtle dynamic made Yi Feng even more patient.

A few moments later, the first auction concluded.

Whispers began circulating in the balcony booths, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Inside the "Earth" booth:

Lu Renkuang, the white-templed sect master of the Raging Blade Sect, stroked his beard with a faint smile.

"To think Liu Yuantai would personally host this auction… and the first item is a third-grade Foundation Establishment Pill. The rumors must be true—today, we might witness the appearance of the fifth-grade Soul-Calming Herb!"

Beside him, Elder Zhao bowed with reverence.

"Sect Master, your insight is peerless!"

"With your presence today, the Soul-Calming Herb is as good as ours! Though it doesn’t directly enhance cultivation, its benefits are immense. As a rare fifth-grade treasure, it will deepen your comprehension of the Great Dao, perhaps even allowing you to challenge those above your realm!"

"After this, our Raging Blade Sect will ascend to new heights!"

Lu Renkuang met his gaze with calm assurance.

"Naturally."

"Second place is the greatest failure. How long must our Raging Blade Sect remain beneath others? Sa Donglai has clung to the island master’s seat for too long—it’s time for him to step down! With me here today, who dares compete?"

"That old fool has cultivated for tens of thousands of years, yet he chose to enter secluded meditation, hoping to break through to the fifth-grade. Little does he know he’s missing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This is destiny!"

Elder Zhao bowed again, eyes alight with fervor.

"Sect Master, you are truly wise!"

"With Sa Donglai in seclusion and the other two sects far inferior in wealth, even if their leaders attend, they stand no chance!"

"With Liu Yuantai personally presiding and issuing warnings earlier, the Treasure Pavilion undoubtedly has supreme experts guarding the event. Even if they consider robbery, they’d hesitate!"

Lu Renkuang’s eyes gleamed with triumph at the flawless analysis.

"Hahaha…"

"Elder Zhao, your meticulous thinking proves you are the backbone of our sect! Today’s treasure belongs to me! Let them summon all their courage—no one would dare attack the Treasure Pavilion now!"

As the two exchanged silent laughter, several more treasures were auctioned off.

Watching increasingly rare treasures being brought out one after another, the sect leaders in the other two private chambers clicked their tongues in astonishment, their expressions growing more and more uneasy—they had a foreboding sense that things were about to take a turn for the worse!

Amid the brief silence.

A dozen guards in plain robes suddenly appeared at the front of the stage, their auras fully unleashed—each one at the Heavenly Tier!

The sudden display of force stunned the entire audience into silence.

Immediately after.

The gates of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion were sealed shut, with powerful experts stationed both inside and out. Everyone in the hall grew wary, and an oppressive solemnity began to spread through the air.

The atmosphere had shifted abruptly!

The sect leaders in the private chambers gazed down with rapt attention, while the hundreds of guests below tensed up, their eyes alight with curiosity. Even Yi Feng, who had been drowsy just moments ago, suddenly perked up.

Under the gaze of the crowd, four attendants carried out a dazzling five-colored treasure chest!

The elderly host, Liu Yuantai, stood solemnly to the side, his expression turning grave as he surveyed the room and bowed to the assembled guests.

"Esteemed guests!"

"This is the final treasure of today's auction—the Five-Rank Soul-Calming Herb!"

BOOM!!!

The announcement struck like thunder, jolting every guest to their feet!