Qin Bai Sheng stood on the stage and first took out several mortal Gu, casually tossing them into the main hall. [ ..
Some Gu Immortals caught these mortal Gu, expressions of confusion rising on their faces.
Qin Bai Sheng promptly spoke with eloquence: "Auctioning Immortal Gu is a matter of great importance. Items appearing earlier in the sequence undoubtedly have an advantage — they have a greater chance of being exchanged for Immortal Gu. Therefore, to ensure fairness, this auction will not proceed in the listed order. I have specifically prepared these mortal Gu. Activating them will point toward a particular registered Immortal Gu lot. Which lot they point to is entirely random, with no possibility of human manipulation. Please, everyone, inspect these mortal Gu yourselves."
This explanation drew a favorable response.
The Gu Immortals took turns examining the mortal Gu while murmuring among themselves.
"Good method. I was worried before that my Immortal Gu appearing late in the sequence would put it at a disadvantage."
"Qin Bai Sheng is no simple figure. This auction assembly has been thoroughly thought through in every respect."
"If he really did tamper with them, I'll accept it. After all, I've checked and found no issues."
After the set of mortal Gu was inspected by the Gu Immortals in the main hall, they were passed on to the private chambers.
Soon it was Fang Yuan's turn. He personally inspected them and found them truly free of any tricks.
Once the Gu Immortals in the private chambers finished examining them, the set flowed onward to the private rooms. Nearly all of the major Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals were sequestered in these rooms. After they too had checked, the mortal Gu ultimately returned to Qin Bai Sheng's hands.
Yet Qin Bai Sheng did not continue with the auction. Instead, he asked: "Is there anyone who still has concerns? You are welcome to inspect them again."
Sure enough, several Gu Immortals made requests to examine them once more.
Among them were a few who had already checked before.
There was nothing wrong with the set of mortal Gu. But they had circulated through everyone's hands. In that process, what if someone else had made alterations?
The Gu Immortals were meticulous in their thinking, so they wanted to look again.
This second round of inspection still revealed nothing amiss. The main event of the Immortal Gu auction finally began.
Qin Bai Sheng, before everyone's eyes, personally activated the set of mortal Gu. Instantly, colorful light shifted and transformed, mist and shadows rose and billowed, converging in midair to form two large characters: Hidden Fortune.
"It's been selected. Then the first Immortal Gu will be the Hidden Fortune Immortal Gu." Qin Bai Sheng announced in a clear, carrying voice.
"The Hidden Fortune Immortal Gu was originally positioned in the middle-to-late portion of the lots. I didn't expect it to be auctioned first," Tai Bai Yun Sheng murmured, pinching the Eastern Window Gu to check its contents.
At the same time, many other Gu Immortals were performing the same action.
The rankings recorded in the Eastern Window Gu were not the true sequence. It was entirely possible that the next item could be one's own Immortal Gu. As for those whose lots were placed last, they could only blame their own poor fortune.
This method was fair to the extreme. None of the assembled immortals raised any objections. Even the several mighty Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals acknowledged its fairness.
On stage, the light and shadows shifted, displaying the appearance and image of the Hidden Fortune Immortal Gu.
Qin Bai Sheng introduced it at just the right moment: "Everyone can see that this Gu takes the form of a white-barked longhorn beetle. About half a palm in size. It is a Sixth Transformation Fortune Path Immortal Gu that can conceal one's own fortune. The seller desires a Metal Path defensive Immortal Gu. Anyone who possesses a Metal Path defensive Immortal Gu may participate in the bidding. There is no minimum increment for each bid."
"Hidden Fortune Immortal Gu — concealing one's own fortune..."
"In the Fortune Path, there is the Fortune Observation Gu that can observe the depth of another's fortune. And there is the Fortune Concealment Gu that can hide one's own fortune, preventing others from seeing it."
"This Hidden Fortune Immortal Gu is a Sixth Transformation one, capable of countering a Sixth Transformation Fortune Observation Gu. The effect is useful, but its application is far too narrow."
In the main hall, the Gu Immortals discussed in hushed voices, yet none called out a bid.
If the Fortune Path were prosperous and widespread, it would be one thing. But ever since Immortal Venerable Ju Yang created the Fortune Path, he had kept it to himself jealously, resulting in Fortune Path mortal Gu being exceedingly rare as well.
Moreover, the Hidden Fortune Immortal Gu only demonstrated its value when the opponent possessed a Fortune Observation Gu.
This Immortal Gu's range of application was far too narrow, and its cost-performance ratio was very low. None of the Gu Immortals were fools — how could they bid recklessly?
"Damn it..." The owner of the Hidden Fortune Immortal Gu was a female Gu Immortal. She sat in her private room, silently biting her lip, ultimately watching helplessly as her Hidden Fortune Immortal Gu failed to sell, with no one wanting to purchase it.
The very first Immortal Gu had failed to sell. This outcome was somewhat unexpected. Qin Bai Sheng's expression darkened slightly as he used the mortal Gu in his hand to select the second item.
The light and shadows shifted again, forming the image of a cicada-type Immortal Gu.
This cicada was not as exquisitely refined as the Spring Autumn Cicada. Its head was large and its abdomen wide, its entire body gleaming with silver radiance.
"This is the Heavenly Gong Immortal Gu, Sound Path, Sixth Transformation. It is to be exchanged for a relevant Immortal Gu of the Transformation Path," Qin Bai Sheng announced.
In the main hall, a Gu Immortal who caught sight of this Gu immediately flew into a rage and bellowed: "The Heavenly Gong Immortal Gu! Hmph, this Gu originally belonged to me, but it was snatched away by He Lang Zi! He Lang Zi, get out here right now!"
"Get out here? Fine, get out here. You think I'm afraid of you?" From a private chamber, He Lang Zi emerged with a savage grin.
"It really is He Lang Zi, that famous independent cultivator of the Northern Plains Demonic Path!"
"They say he obtained the legacy of the Stealing Heavenly Demon Venerable, which is why he's able to forcibly seize other people's Immortal Gu."
"This man was raised by a she-wolf since childhood. His temperament is like that of a wild beast — cruel, treacherous, solitary. Completely unlike ordinary people. Old Ancestor Snow Beard once tried to recruit him, and was refused every time."