Chapter 1402 : The Eightfold Heavenly Dragon's Might

The original intent of that ancient Buddha was to forge a Primordial Unity Buddhist Treasure [a supreme treasure of the Buddhist path, embodying the concept of primordial unity].

Alas, fate did not comply with his wishes. Due to imperfections in his artifact-forging technique, he ultimately succeeded only in creating a World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a treasure of the highest grade, capable of splitting primordial chaos and initiating a world].

Even so, this Eightfold Heavenly Dragon Diagram [a treasure depicting eight heavenly dragons] possesses extraordinary might.

Within it reside eight Heavenly Dragon [a supreme dragon species of celestial origin], each possessing power comparable to a Late Stage Earth Immortal [a cultivator at the advanced stage of the Earth Immortal realm] Patriarch.

With these eight Heavenly Dragon joining forces, their combined power at full activation is potent enough to threaten even a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator who has taken half a step into the Celestial Immortal realm] who has cultivated a Primordial Unity Path Fruit [a supreme cultivation foundation representing the unity of primordial forces].

Most crucially, if this treasure is used as the Formation Eye [the core and control point of a mystical formation] to set up a grand Formation [a structured arrangement that channels and amplifies energy for defense, attack, or other purposes], and empowered by the formation's might, each of the eight Heavenly Dragon could attain power rivaling an Earth Immortal Great Perfection [a cultivator at the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm].

At that point, with eight Earth Immortal Great Perfection-level Heavenly Dragon combining their strength, even a peerless figure who has forged a Primordial Unity Foundation [the supreme foundational cultivation method leading to the Primordial Unity Path Fruit] would not dare claim they could breach its defenses.

Such a supreme treasure could serve as the foundational pillar for an Earth Immortal Blessed Land [a realm or territory sanctified and empowered for Earth Immortal cultivation], and every Earth Immortal Patriarch present felt their hearts stir with desire.

Eldrin Chen was also deeply tempted. However, upon hearing the asking price, his thoughts were instantly quelled.

Then, with a faint smile, Immortal Maiden Jade Stream spoke: "The starting bid for this item is one million Immortal Source [a crystalized form of pure, primordial spiritual energy used by high-level immortals]. Honored guests may also bid with equivalent value in Fortune Path Gold [a mystical metal imbued with the essence of fortune and destiny] or Incense Offering Celestial Silver [a sacred silver used in celestial rituals and offerings]."

"If esteemed guests wish to purchase this using Incense Offering Celestial Silver [a special form of spiritual currency used in offerings to celestial beings], a five percent discount can be offered. Should you be willing to pay with Fortune Path Gold [a rare, fortune-aligned precious metal], the price would be reduced by a full twenty percent."

"This..."

Upon hearing the price, the overwhelming majority of the Earth Immortal Patriarchs present instantly dismissed the notion from their minds.

One million Immortal Source [a high-grade spiritual currency used by immortals] could purchase ten thousand Low-Grade Immortal Treasures, one thousand High-Grade Immortal Treasures, one hundred Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasures, ten World-Opening Treasures, or a single High-Grade World-Opening Treasure.

Viewed in this light, the starting bid for this item was indeed not exorbitant, for a World-Opening Supreme Treasure was a Supreme-grade World-Opening Treasure, its value tenfold that of a High-Grade World-Opening Treasure.

Yet, among the assembled Earth Immortals [powerful cultivators who have attained the Earth Immortal realm], those who could produce one million Immortal Source were ultimately few and far between.

Only the most powerful Blessed Lands [realms of exceptional spiritual abundance] ruled by Late Stage Earth Immortals, along with a handful of exceptionally prosperous ones, could possibly muster such a vast fortune in one go.

Eldrin Chen currently possessed a combined sum of Immortal Fate [a metaphysical resource representing an immortal's destiny and fortune] and Incense Offering Celestial Silver exceeding two million Immortal Source. However, his primary objective for this journey was to acquire World-Opening Energy [a primordial energy used in world-creation], so he naturally would not spend it on a single World-Opening Supreme Treasure.

Furthermore, his Black Dragon Suppressing World Cauldron and Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron were currently in a process of continuous restoration. Within three hundred thousand years, they would evolve into two World-Opening Supreme Treasures.

Given these circumstances, it made little sense for him to expend such a monumental price for this Eightfold Heavenly Dragon Diagram.

"Two million Immortal Source [a purified and condensed form of spiritual energy used as high-level currency and cultivation resource]."

Returning to the main topic, as the words of Immortal Maiden Jade Stream fell, an Earth Immortal Patriarch [a powerful cultivator who has ascended to the Earth Immortal realm and leads a lineage] immediately called out an offer.

Soon, many wealthy Earth Immortal Patriarch began bidding. A Blessed Land Lord [the ruler of a region abundant with spiritual energy and natural treasures] who was an Eighth Level Earth Immortal [a cultivator at the eighth stage of the Earth Immortal realm] spoke up: "Three million Immortal Source."

"Four million Immortal Source."

Another Blessed Land Lord spoke, revealing himself to be a top-tier Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has transcended mortality and attained the Earth Immortal realm] who had reached Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm].

Watching these Earth Immortal bid against each other, Eldrin Chen found the spectacle utterly fascinating. Since embarking on his path of cultivation, most of the high-level transactions he had encountered involved bartering goods for goods.

This was because most high-grade treasures were exceedingly rare; they were often items that could not be bought with mere Spirit Stone or even Immortal Source, regardless of the premium offered.

Eldrin Chen could surmise the reason why Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven [a mystical realm or sect known as the Divine Abyss] was hosting this auction.

Such a massive auction, with a gathering of several thousand Immortal [beings who have achieved immortality through cultivation], was precisely the kind of event that could drive the price of such precious treasures to an exorbitant premium.

As long as the final, inflated price was high enough, purchasing with Immortal Source would still be considered a worthwhile transaction.

Indeed, this was precisely the case. As the various Earth Immortal Patriarchs continued their bidding, the price of the Eightfold Heavenly Dragon Diagram steadily climbed, soon reaching a staggering fifteen million Immortal Source [a crystallized source of pure immortal energy].

Fifteen million Immortal Source! The Immortal Spirit Essence [the refined spiritual energy within an Immortal Source] stored within would be sufficient for a First Layer Earth Immortal at the Sixfold Heaven realm to cultivate all the way to the Ninth Level Earth Immortal without ever lacking for spiritual energy.

If Eldrin Chen could obtain such a fortune, he estimated he could rapidly advance his cultivation to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal realm within a hundred thousand years.

Without selling the two ancient cauldrons or the Primordial Unity Thunder Abyss Myriad Tribulations Sword, even if Eldrin Chen sold everything in his Immortal Clan down to the last pot and pan, he likely couldn't gather even half of this immense sum of Immortal Source.

Yet, even this price was merely the beginning.

Theoretically, the value of a single World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a supreme treasure capable of creating or stabilizing a world] was roughly equivalent to ten million Immortal Source.

However, while Immortal Source could be mined from spiritual veins or accumulated through various means, a World-Opening Supreme Treasure was a rare treasure that could only be encountered by fate, not sought by force.

Without sufficient Opportunity and Fortune, even a significant premium in Immortal Source would rarely be enough to purchase such a supreme treasure.

Compounded by the fierce competition among the assembled immortals at this auction, the item's value began to skyrocket.

"Twenty million Immortal Source."

At that very moment, a voice echoed through the void.

Eldrin Chen looked up and saw that the speaker was a cultivator at the Ninth Level Earth Immortal realm.

Seeing this, Nyssa Qu spoke up, "That person is known as the 'Seven Mystery Divine Lord'. It is said he is an Earth Immortal Great Perfection who has opened the Seventh Heaven."

"Several million years ago, he discovered a Large Immortal Source Mine. He has been secretly excavating it for millions of years and is rumored to have already extracted tens of millions of Immortal Source [a highly concentrated and pure form of spiritual energy crystal]."

"That single great mine alone has made his wealth comparable to a Half-Step Celestial Immortal, establishing him as a famously immense tycoon within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea."

Eldrin Chen nodded and remarked, "Such a vast mine would surely tempt even a Half-Step Celestial Immortal. To possess grain but no spear is a path to certain doom."

"It seems this item is something he must acquire."

"Twenty-one million Immortal Source."

As he spoke, another voice chimed in.

The speaker was none other than the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace, that Half-Step Celestial Immortal whose might shakes the very foundations of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

This individual, during the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event of immense scale and consequence], had his World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a primordial-grade artifact of supreme power used to establish or stabilize a world] destroyed, resulting in a significant decline in his own strength. His desire to acquire a new World-Opening Supreme Treasure to restore his power was entirely within expectations.

Witnessing this, Exquisite Jiang could not help but smile and remark, "It seems we are in for a fierce battle between titans."

As she spoke, the price of the Eightfold Heavenly Dragon Diagram [a supreme treasure depicting eight celestial dragons] soared with each successive bid from the two contenders, swiftly reaching thirty million Immortal Source [a highly concentrated and pure form of spiritual energy used by high-level immortals].

This price was offered by Seven Mystery Path Master, a staggering threefold premium that left Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace with a face ashen with fury.

Even though the Flowing Fire Star Palace had operated for tens of millions of years, amassing an astonishing fortune, they had suffered grievous losses during the great calamity. Now, they simply could not produce such a vast sum of Immortal Source.

With a final glance at Seven Mystery Path Master, a flicker of murderous intent flashing in his eyes, he ultimately relinquished his claim on the Eightfold Heavenly Dragon Diagram.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Seven Mystery, on obtaining this Eightfold Heavenly Dragon Diagram."

Seeing the Eightfold Heavenly Dragon Diagram sold for several times its expected value, Immortal Maiden Jade Stream could not suppress a smile of satisfaction.

Having completed the transaction, Seven Mystery Path Master took possession of the Eightfold Heavenly Dragon Diagram. Right there, heedless of the watching crowd, he immediately began the ritual to refine and claim this supreme treasure as his own.