Chapter 114: The Demon Cultist Emerges in the World

The sudden emergence of that voice, alongside Lin Xiaobao’s unexpected appearance, was even more shocking. After all, although Lin Xiaobao did not show respect to the Xuan Yang Hall, he was still someone qualified to sit in the second private room, his status clearly established. Yet this person merely sat in the main hall, making his identity all the more intriguing.

All eyes in the room turned toward the source of the somber voice. In an inconspicuous corner of the auction hall sat a figure clad in a black robe. A black veil covered his face, revealing only his nostrils and eyes, adding an aura of mystery to him.

Lin Xiaobao’s spiritual perception swept toward this figure almost the instant the voice resonated. If before Lin Xiaobao had been uncertain whether Xuan Yang Hall knew the origins of the Chaos Mirror fragment, now he was certain this person must know its secret. In fact, the very reason for his presence at the Xiaoyao Pavilion auction was likely for this fragment.

No matter how Lin Xiaobao altered the frequency of his spiritual perception, he could not penetrate the spiritual fluctuations surrounding this man’s body. It was clear the man was deliberately guarding against having his origins discovered.

“Mid-stage Dao Embryo!” Though this man could block Lin Xiaobao’s spiritual perception, when it came to the Chaos Mirror fragment, the two elders within Lin Xiaobao naturally would not stand idly by. Upon discerning the man’s cultivation, Elder Wu’s voice carried a note of surprise. “There’s even a demonic cultivator?”

“A demonic cultivator?” Lin Xiaobao furrowed his brow once more.

The Nine Calamities and Thirteen Tribulations hung like a sword over every cultivator’s head. In ancient times, some cultivators sought shortcuts in their cultivation, unscrupulously accelerating their progress to shorten the time required and thus avoid the five-hundred-year heavenly tribulation. At first, these cultivators preyed on spirit beasts or demons, stealing their cores or flesh to hasten their growth. But as they tasted success, their gaze shifted toward other cultivators.

By employing forbidden techniques to directly seize others’ cultivation and absorb it for themselves, these cultivators became known as demonic cultivators. Unsurprisingly, this aroused the displeasure of the orthodox sects, for none wished to have such a group lurking nearby.

Hence, many self-proclaimed righteous sects formed alliances to hunt down demonic cultivators time and again. As the conflict escalated, the demonic cultivators banded together, forming what was called the Demonic Sect.

The Demonic Sect’s cultivation speed was extraordinarily rapid, thanks to their method called “Tide-Listening Pavilion,” and their techniques were exceedingly malevolent. For a time, orthodox cultivators could not eradicate them. It was not until a powerful figure named Mu Xinghua emerged within the orthodox ranks. He led all the righteous alliances in a three-year cosmic war against the Demonic Sect.

That battle destroyed six planets and claimed countless lives among the righteous. Even Mu Xinghua disappeared without a trace during the war. Afterward, demonic cultivators vanished entirely.

What transpired in that war remained a sealed secret. The survivors seemed bound by an unspoken oath never to mention it. Over time, demonic cultivators faded into obscurity. Were it not for the two elders residing within Lin Xiaobao, perhaps no one in the entire Longxiang Continent would know what demonic cultivators truly were.

After hearing Elder Wu’s explanation, Lin Xiaobao’s expression grew even more grave. It seemed that obtaining the Chaos Mirror fragment today would be far from easy.

“Five hundred million!” Though the communication between Lin Xiaobao and the two elders was intricate, it was conducted through thought and completed in an instant. At this moment, the first private room resumed its aggressive bidding.

To the members of Xuan Yang Hall, whether this nameless iron shard was truly worth the price no longer mattered; what mattered was that this precedent could not be set — Xuan Yang Hall could not afford to lose face.

Moreover, the three present from Xuan Yang Hall were no fools; having cultivated to the Dao Embryo realm, they naturally discerned from various signs that the nameless iron shard was likely something significant. Though they did not know each other, once purchased and brought back to the hall, their elders could identify it. If it proved to be a rare treasure, that would be a great achievement.

As for whether the two others were plants hired by Xiaoyao Pavilion to inflate the price, the thought quickly passed. They believed Xiaoyao Pavilion was not foolish enough for such a scheme; otherwise, it would not be able to do business in the Blood Victory Empire anymore.

“Six hundred million!” The black-robed man, now revealed, no longer held back.

“One billion!” The first private room raised the stakes again with flamboyance. To those at the Dao Embryo stage, money was merely a number, long having lost its meaning.

Unfortunately for them, the demonic cultivator seemed prepared. No matter how high Xuan Yang Hall raised the price, he always added another hundred million as soon as the other finished speaking.

Watching the two sides endlessly outbid each other, Lin Xiaobao remained silent for the moment. Raising the price now would be futile; what he needed to consider was how to escape once the Chaos Mirror fragment was in his hands.

Under the relentless bidding war between Xuan Yang Hall and the black-robed man, the price of the Chaos Mirror fragment soared to eight billion gold coins. The entire auction hall fell into a heavy silence, the only sounds those of the heated bidding.

No one had expected such a scene at today’s auction. Even the host on stage lost his previous composure, standing awkwardly in the center.

At this moment, Wen Hongcai began to regret his decision. If Lin Xiaobao’s bidding had merely aroused suspicion, the current fierce competition convinced him beyond doubt that the nameless iron shard was indeed a precious treasure—Xiaoyao Pavilion simply had not recognized it. Yet now, withdrawal was impossible.

He quickly contacted Xiaoyao Pavilion’s headquarters through special channels to report the situation and seek instructions. Clearly, the matter had exceeded his authority.

“One hundred billion!” The first private room seemed utterly indifferent to the amount.

“One hundred…” As the black-robed man was about to respond, Lin Xiaobao interrupted.

“Gentlemen, how about we pause for a moment?” Lin Xiaobao’s long silence naturally drew all eyes to the second private room. He spoke calmly: “I doubt shouting prices back and forth will yield a result, even if it goes on until tomorrow. Why don’t we try a different approach?”

By the later stages of this auction, both the black-robed man and the Xuan Yang Hall members in the first private room felt like they were performing a farce—constantly outbidding and outbid, yet neither daring to stop, for neither could afford to relinquish the Chaos Mirror fragment.

“I wonder what insight this friend has to offer?” The person from Xuan Yang Hall in the first private room naturally wanted to show magnanimity.