Chapter Forty-Two: The Relic of Master Gao

“One million gold coins, third and final call. Sold!” As Sima Miao Miao’s voice fell, Du Gu Ling finally slumped into his seat with a sigh of relief. The tension had been unbearable—though he’d paid a steep price, after selling his medicinal herbs he would have enough to repay Iron Ox, and he had nothing else to buy anyway. Now, at last, he could relax.

The items won at auction would be delivered to their new owners after the event concluded, so Du Gu Ling was in no rush. For now, he could simply enjoy the spectacle and mingle with the crowd.

“Uncle Du Gu, are you happy to have won that piece of Nine Yin Black Iron?” Shan Shan approached with a smile.

“Though it was expensive, it’s worth it. With this black iron, I can attempt to forge a treasure of Earth-grade quality. Just the thought of it makes my heart race.” In truth, with his Black Iron Warhammer, Du Gu Ling ought to be able to forge Earth-grade artifacts, yet the best he’d managed so far were only Mortal-grade. He suspected the problem lay in the materials.

Nothing else piqued their interest, so the group wandered about, chatting idly as they watched the proceedings.

“Next, we’ll be auctioning the penultimate item of tonight’s event. Curious to know what it is? Behold—a ten-thousand-year-old ginseng!” Sima Miao Miao pulled aside a red silk cloth, revealing a ginseng root that had nearly taken on human form.

“Heavens, it really is a ten-thousand-year ginseng! Look, it’s almost become a spirit. I must have it!”

“Do you have enough money? I’ll take it instead!”

“No, none of you are getting it. Opportunities like this don’t come twice. A ten-thousand-year ginseng—enough to prolong life by ten years. What’s more precious than life itself? I’ll buy it even if I have to sell everything I own!”

...

The hall erupted as bidders clamored for the ancient ginseng. Du Gu Ling had never expected his ten-thousand-year ginseng to draw such feverish attention.

Even Yuan Tianci was so surprised he stood up abruptly.

“Brother Tianci, what’s wrong? Are you going to bid as well?” Du Gu Ling asked.

“My father, your master, is getting on in years. In this world, except for cultivators, mortals rarely live past a hundred. Though this ginseng extends life by only ten years, for a mortal, that’s a great deal. If we could win this at auction, my father would gain another decade,” Yuan Tianci replied.

Du Gu Ling had always intended to set aside a piece of ten-thousand-year-old treasure for Elder Yuan—not only was Yuan Longba Yuan Tianci’s father, he was as dear as a father to Du Gu Ling himself. Over the past year, Yuan Longba had cared for him with paternal devotion. How could Du Gu Ling not have considered this?

After a moment’s thought, Du Gu Ling decided honesty was best. They were family—no need for secrets. Otherwise, Iron Ox might spend a fortune for nothing.

He moved to Yuan Tianci’s side and whispered in his ear, “Brother, that ginseng is actually mine. I’ve already kept one for Master; we don’t need to bid for this one.”

Yuan Tianci’s eyes widened in shock, then he quickly composed himself and whispered back, “This is no small matter—we’ll discuss it later.”

They exchanged a brief nod.

Meanwhile, the auction for the ten-thousand-year ginseng had begun.

“Five hundred thousand! I’ll start the bid at five hundred thousand—don’t try to compete with me!”

“Five hundred thousand for a ten-thousand-year ginseng? Are you joking? I bid six hundred thousand.”

“I’ll bid six hundred fifty thousand.”

“Seven hundred thousand!”

...

In the private room labeled Number One, Ouyang Chi’s hands tightened into fists as he watched the bidding war. He thought to himself, “Heaven favors me today. Father’s injuries have shortened his life; with this ginseng, he could live another decade. That’s enough time for me to solidify my hold on Cold Moon City. I must get this ginseng, whatever the cost.”

But he also knew that among the bidders, only Iron Ox’s Blacksmith Shop could truly compete with him. He had no idea what their intentions were. He decided he needed to visit Room Four.

Knock, knock, knock. “Is Brother Tianci here?”

“So it’s Young Lord Ouyang.”

Ouyang Chi rose from Room One and hurried to Room Four, knocking at the door.

“To what do we owe the honor, Young Lord Ouyang?” Yuan Tianci quickly stood and greeted him.

“No need for such formality, Brother Tianci. I think you know why I’m here,” Ouyang Chi said with a smile.

“Hm?” Yuan Tianci thought for a moment, then glanced at the ginseng root currently driving the crowd mad. “Is it about that?”

Ouyang Chi bowed. “I hope, Brother Tianci, that you might yield this ten-thousand-year ginseng to me. I would be deeply grateful.”

Seeing Du Gu Ling’s expression, Yuan Tianci hurried to respond, “Young Lord Ouyang, you honor me too greatly. We at Iron Ox’s Blacksmith Shop never intended to bid on the ginseng, so there’s no need for such courtesy.”

Ouyang Chi assumed this was merely polite refusal and did not think further of it. “Then I truly thank you, Brother Tianci. I’ll take my leave and bid at once.”

He returned to his room and immediately raised his paddle.

“One million! Room One bids one million gold coins. That’s the second item tonight to reach a million. Anyone else?” Sima Miao Miao’s voice was seductive and lively.

The hall fell silent. Everyone knew the significance of Room One.

No one dared to bid further—they knew they couldn’t win.

“Well? Any higher bids?” Sima Miao Miao coaxed.

“One million, first call! This is a life-prolonging elixir, after all.”

“One million, second call.”

“One million, th—”

“Stop! I bid one and a half million!” shouted a guest from Room Thirteen, not even bothering with the bidding device.

“What?” The crowd gasped. Someone actually dared to challenge Room One.

Inside Room Thirteen, an elder asked, “Young lord, what are you planning?”

“The one in Room One is Ouyang Chi, the young lord of Cold Moon City. I needn’t say more; you know who he is. I don’t care what he wants with the ginseng—whatever he desires, I must thwart. That ginseng will be mine,” the young man replied haughtily.

After a pause, he added, “In any case, it will be useful for my father as well. Who knows when we’ll see such a treasure again? This time, I’m taking it.”

“But if we do this, we won’t have enough money for the next item,” the elder warned.

“We can’t worry about that now. This is settled.”

“Two million,” Ouyang Chi entered into the bidding device.

“Two million! The guest in Room One has just raised the bid by half a million. Any higher offers?”

Ouyang Chi smiled and glanced toward Room Thirteen. Whoever you are, this ginseng will be mine.

Du Gu Ling was stunned—his ginseng had reached two million gold coins, double what he’d ever expected.

In Room Thirteen, the young man gritted his teeth. “Two and a half million.”

“Room Thirteen bids two and a half million! What will Room One do next?” Sima Miao Miao fanned the flames with delight.

Ouyang Chi’s forehead glistened with sweat at the unexpected escalation. After a moment’s hesitation, he pressed the bidding device for three million.

Even Sima Miao Miao was shocked—she hadn’t imagined the ginseng would fetch three million.

The young man in Room Thirteen was equally stunned. He glanced out, took a deep breath, and seemed to steel his resolve.

“Three and a half million! Guest in Room Thirteen once again raises the bid by half a million. Any more offers?” Sima Miao Miao, ever the merchant, cared little who ended up with the item—as long as the price climbed, so did her profits.

“Three and a half million, first call.”

“Three and a half million, second call.”

“Three and a half million, third and final call. Sold! Congratulations to our guest in Room Thirteen.”

In Room One, Ouyang Chi sat frozen, his finger hovering over the bidding device, where “four million” glowed on the screen. But he could not press “confirm.”

After a long silence, he let out a long sigh. That sum represented four years of Cold Moon City’s budget. Though the city was stable and prosperous, as a lord who loved his people, he simply could not bring himself to spend four million gold coins for a single ginseng root.

Meanwhile, in Room Thirteen, the young man finally relaxed into his seat with a faint, bitter smile. Even though he’d outbid Ouyang Chi and won the ginseng, he knew he might have lost far more. The price far exceeded the true worth of the ginseng. To the world, he might seem extravagantly wealthy, but behind his back, people would doubtless call him a fool.

As for Du Gu Ling, sitting in Room Four, he was surely the greatest winner tonight—three and a half million would last him a lifetime. He smiled to himself in delight.

Sima Miao Miao, standing onstage, was equally astonished. This was madness—he’d never imagined anyone would pay so much for a single ginseng root. Just this sale alone had netted him thirty-five thousand gold coins, even after a four percent commission—otherwise, he’d earn even more.

Just then, a voice whispered into Du Gu Ling’s ear, “Hmph, who would have thought a mere ginseng would fetch such a price?”

Who could it be? Du Gu Ling turned to see the spirit of the Void Divine Ring—Cang Cang—crouched nearby.

“Why are you out here? Aren’t you worried someone will see you?” he asked, but realized that apparently no one else could see Cang Cang.

“How is this possible? Can’t anyone else see you?” Du Gu Ling wondered aloud.

“I am the great spirit Cang Cang! How could mere mortals possibly see me? If I don’t wish to be seen, they simply can’t,” Cang Cang replied with a proud tilt of the head.

“Uncle Du Gu, who are you talking to?” Yuan Shan Shan stood up, walked straight through Cang Cang, and approached Du Gu Ling.

“Oh, it’s nothing—I was just muttering to myself,” Du Gu Ling hastily covered.

“Is that so? Very well then.” Yuan Shan Shan sat beside him, her tone gentle with concern.

“You fool. Since you’ve bound yourself to me by blood, I know everything you think. Just imagine your thoughts and I’ll understand—no need to speak aloud,” Cang Cang scolded, rapping Du Gu Ling sharply on the head.

Du Gu Ling stared in disbelief. How could Yuan Shan Shan pass through Cang Cang, yet Cang Cang could hit him—and so painfully, too?

Cang Cang shot him a cold look. “There’s much you don’t know.”

Du Gu Ling thought inwardly, “Why did you come out here?”

Cang Cang glanced at him, “I sensed something good is about to appear—something very useful for you. Whatever happens, you must buy the next auction lot. Do you hear me?”

Du Gu Ling gazed blankly at Cang Cang, puzzled as to why he must win the next item—he didn’t even know what it was. Could Cang Cang know?

But as he pondered, Cang Cang smacked him again. “Just buy it. No more questions.”

“All you need to know is that the next auction item is called the Immortal’s Relic.”

What? The Immortal’s Relic?