Chapter 145: The Nine Nether Divine Thunder Art

The subsequent items left Chu Han truly dumbfounded. There were advanced cultivation techniques and high-grade weapons of all sorts. At times, Chu Han felt as though there was nothing this auction house did not carry.

During this period, he only made a single move, spending eight million gold coins to purchase a high-grade medicinal cauldron. The cauldron he had been using previously was a casual purchase by the roadside and was simply too inferior. The remaining items held little interest for him, so he had refrained from bidding.

However, his inactivity did not mean others were idle. Everyone else was fiercely competing and thoroughly enjoying themselves. There were also many individuals with existing grudges who maliciously drove up prices. Chu Han could not help but touch his nose; he had witnessed such scenarios far too often, as this kind of person always existed at auctions.

Given past enmities, it was completely normal to make the opposing party pay a little extra. He had pulled off similar stunts back in Jingyuan City.

"Very well, the next item up for auction is the penultimate one: the Netherworld Divine Thunder Art, a Low-Tier Earth-Grade cultivation technique. When practiced to its highest realm, it can rival Mid-Tier Earth-Grade techniques. It is an exceptionally powerful technique. The starting price is fifteen million gold coins. Let us begin."

Upon seeing this cultivation technique, Chu Han was instantly ecstatic. Something genuinely useful to him had finally appeared. Currently, he only possessed the Thunder Seal, which was a Low-Tier Earth-Grade technique. Securing this Netherworld Divine Thunder Art would greatly increase his confidence in participating in the Great Scarlet Heaven this time.

"Sixteen million."

He directly shouted out his bid. Yet, calculating mentally, he had recently plundered twenty million gold coins, which, combined with the spoils from the trial grounds and the gold coins given to him by the young prince prior to his arrival here, amounted to roughly forty million in total.

Having just spent eight million gold coins on a medicinal cauldron, he was left with thirty-two million. He could not help but smile wryly. This was, after all, a Low-Tier Earth-Grade cultivation technique; thirty-two million gold coins might not suffice, for such an item was truly priceless.

As expected, within mere minutes, the price was bid up to twenty-five million gold coins by a young man. Although the youth's face was ashen, Chu Han still recognized the emblem on his attire, which belonged to the Blaming Flame Valley of Central City. The Blaming Flame Valley could be considered one of the top ten sects in Central City, possessing formidable and profound strength.

"Thirty-two million."

Without a second thought, Chu Han forked over all the money he had. He was determined to secure this cultivation technique. If he failed, he would have to test whether bartering was an option; should that fail as well, he might be forced to resort to robbery.

Although such behavior lacked morality, desperate times called for desperate measures. He had to get his hands on the Netherworld Divine Thunder Art by any means necessary. With this thought, he glanced at the young man from the Blaming Flame Valley, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward.

"Thirty-five million."

The man from the Blaming Flame Valley hastily raised the price and cast a deeply provocative look at Chu Han. Though angered, Chu Han was powerless, having run out of funds.

"Very well, Mister Dan Ji from the Blaming Flame Valley has bid thirty-five million. Are there any higher bids? Thirty-five million for the first time!"

Subsequently, the host began to announce. Thirty-five million was already an astronomical sum that ordinary families could never produce. Even if they could afford it, few would dare offend the Blaming Flame Valley over a single cultivation technique, considering the Valley's formidable reputation.

After carefully pondering his current possessions, Chu Han spoke up directly, "Pardon me, I would like to ask: since I did not bring that much cash on hand, am I permitted to barter with items of equivalent value?"

Rising to his feet, Chu Han also cast a provocative glance at Dan Ji. He still possessed a considerable stash of fine goods. In terms of personal wealth, Dan Ji certainly could not surpass him. Putting aside the spoils plundered from the trial grounds, he had scavenged numerous treasures during his time in the Eastern Wastelands, alongside several high-grade medicinal pills refined by his own hand.

"Of course. Anything of equivalent value is acceptable. Furthermore, the Meng family strongly encourages bartering. Naturally, you must produce items that match the valuation."

The host nodded. In fact, an unspoken consensus had formed among attendees at the auctions hosted by the Meng family: the family greatly favored bartering. They were not short on cash; rather, by auctioning these items, their primary goal was to acquire materials and treasures useful to their own clan.

"Very well, then I offer thirty-two million gold coins, supplemented by three Profound Gold Pills and one Thunder Tribulation Stone."

Chu Han said in a deep voice. Although the Profound Gold Pill was merely a Top-Tier Human-Grade medicinal pill, its efficacy was fully comparable to Earth-Grade pills, given that its primary function was to heal trauma inflicted upon the soul.

One had to know that the soul could not be cultivated through ordinary means, and methods to heal it were extremely scarce. Numerous types of attacks could injure the soul; while a soul injury might seem negligible at first, its cumulative effects over time severely hindered cultivation. The Profound Gold Pill, however, was precisely tailored to mend such spiritual wounds.

Moreover, these Profound Gold Pills had been refined by himself. Any alchemist worth their salt knew just how immense the difficulty of crafting them was, as gathering the required medicinal herbs was exceptionally arduous.

Upon hearing the name Profound Gold Pill, the crowd drew in a sharp breath. It was evident that Chu Han had staked his entire fortune. Profound Gold Pills were practically priceless and unattainable on the market; while many alchemists were capable of refining them, the ingredients were terribly hard to procure, and purchasing such pills directly from an alchemist commanded a price ordinary people could never accept.

"I bid eighty million gold coins, plus a Low-Tier Earth-Grade cultivation technique. Surely that matches the value of his Profound Gold Pills."

Dan Ji's expression also turned gloomy. He had not anticipated that Chu Han would actually be willing to part with Profound Gold Pills, let alone three of them at once. Eighty million gold coins represented the maximum sum he could mobilize—it was his absolute limit—and he possessed only a single set of a Low-Tier Earth-Grade cultivation technique.

If Chu Han could outbid that, Dan Ji would be entirely helpless. With this thought, he waved his hand, and a servant immediately hurried over. "Go and investigate who this fellow is. To dare contend with me, Dan Ji, for an item—it seems he has grown tired of living."

As his voice trailed off, the servant hurriedly departed. Meanwhile, a faint smile played on Chu Han's lips. Since Dan Ji had even brought out a cultivation technique, it proved he had reached his limit. After all, Low-Tier Earth-Grade techniques were not common goods, and he doubted Dan Ji would be willing to sacrifice four or five sets of them.

"I'll add one more Profound Gold Pill and one Quantization Pill to the previous offer."

Chu Han smiled faintly and spoke. Hearing his words, the surrounding crowd nearly fainted. The appearance of the Profound Gold Pills had already shocked them deeply, yet now even Quantization Pills had emerged.

The Quantization Pill was likewise a Top-Tier Human-Grade medicinal pill, and its function was singular: it could elevate a cultivator by a minor realm within the Dao Palace stage. Everyone knew that after entering the Dao Palace, progressing by even a minor realm was extraordinarily difficult. Yet a Quantization Pill could achieve this without any side effects. Who wouldn't desire such an item? Every major family fought tooth and nail for them.

As expected, the appearance of the Quantization Pill caused Dan Ji to slump dejectedly into his chair. He knew full well that no matter what he offered, it could not surpass a Quantization Pill. At this moment, however, his gaze turned icy cold, and a cruel arc formed at the corners of his mouth.

"Very well, since that is the case, this item belongs to this friend here."

Having received confirmation, Chu Han produced all the remaining gold coins he carried, along with two jade bottles and a single stone, handing them all over to the host. In return, the azure-colored cultivation manual was placed into his hands.

With the technique secured, Chu Han was immensely thrilled. Once he mastered the Netherworld Divine Thunder Art, he would possess two Low-Tier Earth-Grade cultivation techniques, giving him even greater confidence upon entering the Great Scarlet Heaven.

Showing no interest in the final auction item, he rose to his feet, intending to leave the venue. At that very moment, a middle-aged man walked up to him, cupped his fists respectfully, and said, "Esteemed friend, please stay. On behalf of the Meng family, I invite you over as an honored guest. I hope you will grace us with your presence."