Seeing Feng Xingran's expression, the several elders felt somewhat relieved. Ding Hao, in particular, knew that this woman had truly found the correct way to absorb the orb. He then said to Nie Tian, "Elders, rest assured. Miss Feng has found the way to activate the orb. I dare guarantee that Miss Feng will be fine. It would be better if Elder Nie could rearrange the formation to prevent the heat from dissipating and attracting the attention of other sects!"
The several people had already guessed that Feng Xingran would be fine when they saw the joy on her face. Now, hearing Ding Hao's assurance, they felt even more at ease. Right after Ding Hao finished speaking, Nie Tian began to rearrange the formation.
A short while later, they left Feng Xingran's room. Under Nie Tian's arrangement, Feng Xingran's room appeared ordinary, but whether the real situation was the same remained unknown.
A night passed in the blink of an eye. For cultivators, the concept of time was rather indifferent. A single retreat could last from several hundred days to several decades.
And a day's cultivation had a minimal impact on one's cultivation level. However, just by looking at Feng Xingran today, one could sense that she was very different from yesterday. The several elders, being experienced cultivators for many years, could clearly see the change in this woman. They deeply marveled at the miraculous effect of the Chi Yang Orb. The twenty thousand crystals spent were definitely worth it. With such a change in just one day, what if it was absorbed over a hundred years?
Although Ding Hao had known that Feng Xingran's cultivation would increase, he hadn't expected her to change so rapidly. Instead, he felt a bit uneasy. His strength was inferior to hers. If they were to fight in the future, he would be the one to suffer in the end, right?
Later, thinking of the 神奇 effect of the Wuji Demon Art, he quickly felt relieved. Even if Feng Xingran relied on this orb to cultivate faster, how could it be as rapid as directly devouring? By the time she could completely absorb the true essence of this orb, his strength would probably far exceed hers. Moreover, this woman had already fallen in love with him and should not harm him.
Seeing the several people arrive, Feng Xingran said nothing about last night's cultivation. She just walked slowly towards the Treasure - Gathering Sect's assembly with them. Along the way, although she didn't pay attention to Ding Hao anymore, Ding Hao knew that she was constantly watching him. He secretly sighed, thinking that this woman was getting deeper and deeper. The word "love" could hurt both the person involved and others. Ding Hao was considering how to handle this woman's affection. Feng Xingran was from the Purgatory Demon Sect. Making good use of this relationship would be greatly beneficial to his future development. But if not handled properly, it could also plunge him into an abyss. Truly, those who play with fire are prone to getting burned!
Because of Feng Xingran's actions yesterday, she attracted a lot of attention as soon as she arrived at the auction house. After a night of cultivation, Feng Xingran looked even more radiant today, and her mood was much better. She nodded and smiled at everyone, whether she knew them or not.
Among the crowd, there were many crafty old foxes. How could they not notice the change in this woman? They couldn't help but secretly guess the reason for her change. Recalling her expression at yesterday's auction, they vaguely guessed that it might be the effect of the red orb purchased yesterday. They all regretted it deeply. While lamenting their own lack of judgment, they were determined to be more discerning today and not let treasures slip away easily from their hands again.
It was still the exclusive auction seat of the Purgatory Demon Sect as yesterday. The noisy hall and the auction host Wang Tianyou remained the same. Everything was unchanged. The only changes were probably Feng Xingran's happy mood, her increased cultivation, and of course, her deeper affection for Ding Hao.
Wang Tianyou, seeing that everyone had arrived, announced that today's auction officially began!
The first few auction items were indeed a bit more precious than those of yesterday, but they were not what Ding Hao needed. He couldn't help but be distracted and began to look around.
This look around made him notice that both the Taoist and Demon sects seemed to be deliberately paying attention to the Purgatory Demon Sect. Perhaps it was because the Purgatory Demon Sect's performance yesterday was too conspicuous. Ding Hao wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but he always felt that several sect members seemed to be paying unusually close attention to a nobody like himself.
After careful consideration, he immediately understood. Feng Xingran aside, whether it was the Heavenly Demon Nie Tian or the three accompanying elders of the Purgatory Demon Sect, the several sects surely knew them well. Only he was a new face. Moreover, his cultivation level was so low. According to common sense, a person like him had no right to participate in such a grand occasion. If he were of noble status, the several sects would surely know. So, his identity was indeed worthy of speculation.
Thinking of this, Ding Hao didn't panic. Anyway, after this meeting, he would stay away from Feng Xingran and the others. By then, there should be no chance of conflict with the several sects.
Just as Ding Hao was thinking secretly, Feng Xingran's charming cry came to his ears, "You little rascal, what are you daydreaming about? I've called you several times and you didn't answer. Are you thinking of some evil idea again?"
Looking at Feng Xingran, he said, "The current auction items are not what I need. Eh? How did you know I was thinking of an evil idea? Have you cast a mind - reading spell on me?"
Her face blushed again. Ding Hao wasn't sure if he was being overly sensitive, but he always felt that Feng Xingran was blushing more and more frequently these days, and the topics she talked about with him were becoming more and more ambiguous. Even if it wasn't Ding Hao's intention, this woman always managed to drag the topic they were talking about onto matters of love between men and women.
Just as Feng Xingran was about to answer, Wang Tianyou's voice suddenly rang out, "Five Raging Stones, with a base price of one thousand high - grade crystals!"
Both of their hearts moved. Raging Stones were an excellent material for setting up formations. Moreover, some formations required Raging Stones. For example, Feng Xingran's Deadly Demon Formation had to be assisted by Raging Stones. Such good materials had a base price of only one thousand high - grade crystals. They looked at each other, as if having a mutual understanding, and focused their attention on the bidding for the Raging Stones.
Feng Xingran asked Ding Hao if he really intended to buy them when she saw that Ding Hao seemed interested in the Raging Stones. Ding Hao considered for a moment and said, "Let's see. If it's too expensive, I can't afford it."
Feng Xingran giggled, "Stop pretending. The crystals that Nie Tian and I gave you in the past few days have already made you quite wealthy. Besides, who knows how much you had originally? How dare you pretend to be poor in front of me? Hmph."
Hearing her say this, Ding Hao was also stunned. After thinking about it, it was indeed true. He did have a lot of crystals in his pocket. There was no better time to use them than now. At this time, the Raging Stones had been bid up to one thousand three hundred crystals. Seeing this situation, Ding Hao didn't hesitate to bid one thousand five hundred crystals. After two more small adjustments, Ding Hao finally bought the Raging Stones at a price of one thousand eight hundred crystals.
After this bidding for the Raging Stones, Ding Hao couldn't stop. He bought the Blue Rain Sand, Xuantian Wood, and Tuoyue Stone later at prices of one thousand two hundred crystals, one thousand six hundred crystals, and one thousand nine hundred crystals respectively.
At this time, Ding Hao couldn't help but sigh that bidding could actually be addictive. Watching one item after another fall into his hands, he almost forgot that these items needed to be exchanged with crystals. Although these items were not needed for the time being, he would surely use them as his cultivation improved. If he had to look for these materials then, it wouldn't be so easy. The auction of the Treasure - Gathering Sect was only held once every hundred years. Although a hundred years wasn't a very long time for ordinary cultivators, Ding Hao was not the kind of person willing to wait.
Ding Hao's series of auctions was dazzling. In just a short while, these items had all been bought by him. Some people were still annoyed because of their momentary hesitation. Finally, the last auction item of the day was placed on the auction platform.
"Yanpi Essence, with a base price of two thousand high - grade crystals!" said Wang Tianyou.
"Two thousand five hundred high - grade crystals!" said Ding Hao. Because of the continuous bidding, Ding Hao suddenly felt unable to stop. Moreover, he had enough crystals in his pocket to buy this item. Ding Hao had some impression of Yanpi Essence in his mind, but he hadn't remembered its specific function yet.
"Three thousand crystals!" "Three thousand five hundred crystals!" Just as Ding Hao was carefully thinking about the function of Yanpi Essence, two bidding voices rang in his ears. Without thinking much, Ding Hao quickly said, "Four thousand crystals!"
After saying this, Ding Hao finally remembered the function of Yanpi Essence. Yanpi Essence was extremely rare and only lived in a very rare kind of rock. Its saliva, a kind of light - silver liquid called Yan Jing Liquid, was an extremely precious tonic for cultivators, especially beginners. Taking this liquid could increase intelligence and power, but it seemed to have little effect on him. He couldn't help but secretly sigh for his rashness. Looking down, he found that the several people from the Purgatory Demon Sect were also looking at him with puzzled expressions.
"Four thousand five hundred high - grade crystals!" Just when Ding Hao was full of regret, someone else continued to bid. Ding Hao looked in the direction of the voice in confusion and found Shi Yushuang looking at him angrily!
Ding Hao was feeling puzzled. Nie Tian explained, "Yanpi Essence is worth at most two thousand five hundred crystals. You've driven the price up to four thousand crystals. Shi Yushuang has a nephew who has just started cultivating and needs this item urgently. No wonder she's angry."
Ding Hao was stunned. It seemed that he had definitely offended this woman!