Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 328: Auction Withdrawn

If the Ziwei Palace was truly a land of riches, why would this mysterious Golden Core cultivator put the talisman up for auction?

Meanwhile, Qin Sang’s thoughts lingered on his own sheepskin. If it was indeed also a Ziwei Secret Talisman, it would explain why all his previous attempts to test it had yielded no response.

As the mysterious Golden Core cultivator had said, the Spirit Tide’s emergence was a harbinger of the Ziwei Palace’s opening, during which the talismans became active and triggered the ensuing scramble for eligibility.

He hadn’t expected the sheepskin to possess such a hidden significance. All this time, it had been stashed away in a corner of his Mustard Seed Pouch, untouched since arriving at the Ancient Immortal Battlefield.

The hall buzzed with murmurs.

The Daoist Master who had earlier acquired the Golden Water Array cautiously asked, "From what I’ve heard, those who enter the Ziwei Palace to explore have historically been Spiritual Infant and Core Formation Realm experts. Even they often die inside; the Ziwei Palace must be extremely perilous. For us Foundation Building cultivators, wouldn’t entering mean certain death? How could we dare hope for treasures inside?"

This question clarified the doubts of many in the room.

The Ziwei Palace was indeed a treacherous place. Even Spiritual Infant and Core Formation cultivators couldn’t guarantee their safety, let alone Foundation Building cultivators, for whom entering would be a death sentence.

Enthusiasm waned instantly.

The mysterious Golden Core cultivator, however, remained patient and unperturbed, letting out a soft chuckle.

"While it’s true that few Foundation Building cultivators have entered the Ziwei Palace, it’s not unheard of."

"Reaching your current level of cultivation means you must understand the principle of seeking fortune amidst danger. Hoping for an easy path and rapid advancement—where in the world can you find such convenience?"

"Within the Ziwei Palace lie many treasures capable of altering fate and remolding one’s destiny. Several millennia ago, a Fake Core cultivator emerged from the Ziwei Palace and reached the Spiritual Infant Realm in under a century."

"Furthermore, for those stuck at bottlenecks in their cultivation, unable to find pills or secret arts to break through, the Ziwei Palace may be the only place to seek these opportunities."

"Whether to live in mediocrity or risk it all, I believe the decision lies with each of you."

The hall grew silent again as the audience fell into contemplation.

The mysterious Golden Core cultivator said no more. Gao Yi, having received his instructions, announced loudly, "One Ziwei Secret Talisman! The base price is set at one astra—damage is acceptable, and the type is unrestricted!"

"嘶......"

Gasp...

The crowd collectively gasped. They had expected the price to be steep but hadn’t anticipated that it would require an astra.

Some cultivators, who had been tempted by the Golden Core cultivator’s speech, immediately gave up upon hearing the price.

Even among Core Formation cultivators, not all possessed an astra, particularly those who had recently advanced. Many were still striving to obtain their first life-bound astra.

For Foundation Building cultivators, the gap was even wider.

The choice was stark: an uncertain opportunity versus the invaluable security of an astra. For most, the answer was clear.

An astra, even if damaged, was easier to repair than forging a new one from scratch. As long as a cultivator succeeded in advancing to the Core Formation Realm, they could quickly acquire an astra. This allure far outweighed the nebulous promise of the Ziwei Palace.

Only those who had lost all hope in their future path and were desperate enough would consider the trade.

Qin Sang relaxed his body, leaning back against the chair. He possessed two astras—the Yan Luo Banner of Ten Directions and the Primordial Unity Ring—but neither could be exposed to the public, nor did he see any reason to trade them.

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Even if his sheepskin truly was a Ziwei Secret Talisman, he would have to wait until he returned to his sect to thoroughly read about the Ziwei Palace before making any decisions.

The mysterious Golden Core cultivator's words were filled with veiled half-truths, and it was evident that the Ziwei Palace was far from simple.

If the potential rewards did not outweigh the risks, there was no need to risk his life.

If the Ziwei Secret Talisman was truly worth an astra, then perhaps...

Qin Sang stroked his chin, lost in thought, and paid no further attention to the auction. He was fairly certain that the Ziwei Secret Talisman would go unsold—he wondered if there would be any fool willing to take the bait.

As expected, Gao Yi continued to hawk the talisman like a street vendor for a while, but no one placed a bid. In the end, he had no choice but to announce that the Ziwei Secret Talisman had failed to sell.

"It seems I’ll have to stay in Yinshan Stronghold for a few more days," the mysterious Golden Core cultivator remarked with a smile, showing no trace of disappointment at the talisman's failure to sell.

Qin Sang suddenly realized the cultivator had likely never intended to sell the Ziwei Secret Talisman in the first place. Instead, he used the auction as a way to spread the news and attract those with real power and resources.

The true objective was the upcoming auction for Core Formation cultivators.

Of course, if someone had actually purchased it, trading a Ziwei Secret Talisman for an astra would have been a profitable deal for him.

What a cunning old fox. Qin Sang thought to himself with a silent curse.

When Gao Yi announced the auction's conclusion, Qin Sang immediately stood up from his seat and squeezed into the crowd, disappearing into the darkness.

Along the way, whispers buzzed in his ears—many cultivators were using sound transmissions to inquire whether he would be willing to part with a Soul-Guiding Grass. The offers were generous, but Qin Sang refused them all.

Once in the darkness, Qin Sang swiftly changed into a new set of robes and donned a mask, drastically altering his appearance. After conducting a thorough inspection to ensure that no tracking marks had been placed on him, he stepped out into the open.

Upon emerging from the darkness, Qin Sang found that nearly everyone had done the same—each person looked completely unfamiliar.

Some chose to leave the stone island immediately, while the majority planned to stay for a few more days.

As the crowd dispersed into the streets, Qin Sang walked unobtrusively, keeping a low profile. He remained vigilant, but after finding no signs of being followed, he seized another opportunity to change his attire once more.