"Auction off a Dao Artifact!? And it’s the most broadly adaptable of the Void Category Dao Artifacts!?"
Heavenly Dao Sect.
As Sect Leader, Zong Wenxian received the news from the Southern Region immediately.
For a moment, disbelief filled the eyes of the Sect Leader.
His gaze instantly fell upon Yuan Miaoyi who had delivered the news, "I remember not long ago he just sold a Flying Boat class Dao Artifact. How long has it passed, and he’s selling another Dao Artifact? Where does he get so many Dao Artifacts to sell!?"
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Yuan Miaoyi immediately replied.
Zong Wenxian did not press further but mused, "Selling one Dao Artifact could be explained by his urgent need to gather enough resources for cultivation, a reluctant act of necessity, but now, a mere decade or so later, he’s selling a second Dao Artifact..."
"I have some intelligence indicating that after Alkaid sold the Flying Boat Dao Artifact, he purchased a large number of materials for crafting Dao Artifacts, and now... many suspect that there is an Artifact Sage backing Alkaid..."
Xiang Zhenlong, the Heavenly Vein Vein Master present at the scene, tentatively inquired.
"Artifact Sage? Instead of believing that he has an Artifact Sage behind him, I think these Dao Artifacts and the Penglai Dao Lord behind him have something to do with it. After all, people from Penglai Immortal Sect visited the Southern Region not too long ago..."
Yuan Miaoyi said.
"The Penglai Dao Lord wouldn’t make a move in this manner."
Zong Wenxian waved off Yuan Miaoyi’s words.
He had intended to suppress Alkaid by exploiting his ambiguous relationship with Penglai Immortal Sect, knowing that although Alkaid might be favored by the Penglai Dao Lord, he wouldn’t necessarily receive significant support.
But now, it was different.
Alkaid repeatedly selling Dao Artifacts...
Such a level of support was beyond what even those so-called Dao Lord disciples of Penglai Immortal Sect could compare with.
If the world were to believe that Penglai Dao Lord was indeed standing behind Alkaid, and that this Dao Lord was continually supporting him with Dao Artifacts to bolster his strength, there would undoubtedly be many opportunists flocking to Alkaid to show goodwill, in hopes of connecting with Penglai Dao Lord.
Among these people, let alone Refining Void, even those at the Shattered Void level would find it tempting.
Moreover, even if they could not meet the Dao Lord or receive his guidance, obtaining one or two additional Dao Artifacts through Alkaid would also be a great fortune.
"If it’s not due to the support of the Penglai Dao Lord or some Artifact Sage backing him, then there’s only one explanation..."
Yuan Miaoyi’s eyes sparkled with insight, "He’s obtained a great personage’s opportunity whereby he got many Dao Artifacts. From Refining Void to Shattered Void, the process requires growth in concert with the Dao seed to continuously fortify the Cave Heaven until both the Cave Heaven and Dao seed reach Great Achievement. Then one can shatter the Void and glimpse the Three Thousand Great Daos carried by the Great Void Path. The Dao seed reaches achievement through enlightenment, but major accomplishments for the Cave Heaven require substantial resources. He must need these resources to cross this phase and prepare for a rapid ascension to Shattered Void."
Zong Wenxian looked at Yuan Miaoyi with a trace of appreciation in his eyes.
Whether this message was true or false did not matter, but as long as the news spread out...
There would naturally be those who wished to probe into the matter.
If, at this time, their Heavenly Dao Sect were slightly delayed by certain events and unable to pay attention to the Vice Sect Leader in the Southern Region, leaving those curious worry-free...
There would be plenty who would seize the chance to make a move.
By then, directly taking down Alkaid who was in the Southern Capital might be difficult, but sabotaging his Dao Artifact auction, or even causing the Dao Artifact to be looted, thereby shaming the ruler of the Southern Region, would not be a problem.
If things went smoothly, he, as Sect Leader, could justify deploying military forces to protect the Southern Region and showcase the sect’s might, thereby officially entering the Southern Region and completely suppressing the ruler’s influence, leaving him politically neutered.
Then, the Southern Region would effectively be back under his control.
"I also think it’s very likely, such good fortune for our Vice Sect Leader,"
Said Zong Wenxian with a smile.
Yuan Miaoyi, highly skilled at guessing the Sect Leader’s intentions, tentatively asked, "Then this auction..."
"Those who wish to go are naturally allowed to,"
Smiled Zong Wenxian, "As the Heavenly Dao Sect Vice Sect Leader is hosting such a grand event to promote the Southern Region, our sect naturally should support it. Otherwise, if any riffraff were to cause trouble, result in an accident at the grand event, and embarrass Vice Sect Leader Alkaid, it would also damage the prestige of our Heavenly Dao Sect."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Miaoyi instantly confirmed his suspicions, "Indeed, however... In the battlefield beyond the world, the War Vein has sent information claiming that a Divine Race fleet has plundered a higher world, returning with their hulls full... The value of the materials looted by the fleet is feared to be no less than one hundred thousand Void Dao Elixirs. However, with one or two at the Refining Void level presiding over that fleet, our forces on the battlefield are unlikely to overcome them, so they are hoping for our assistance..."
"Goods worth one hundred thousand Void Dao Elixirs!? More than enough to purchase a Dao Artifact!? Especially if the materials are refined and reproduced, the value might even double!"
Zong Wenxian appeared interested.
"The key point is that the Divine Race and our Ten Great Immortal Paths have always been at odds. To plunder a Divine Race fleet to strengthen our Human Race is in itself a meritorious deed for the ages."
Yuan Miaoyi immediately concurred.
Hearing this, Xiang Zhenlong, the Heavenly Vein Vein Master who was by the side, also realized and said, "Shall we then assemble our forces and head out for reinforcement? To intercept this Divine Race fleet?"
"Indeed it should be so,"
Elder Zong Wenxian nodded slightly.
...
After the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Dao Sect had made his decision, he immediately informed the Supreme Elder Council and took nearly all of the warriors stationed within the sect to head to the battlefield beyond the skies.
The Supreme Elders who received the news had some unusual expressions on their faces.
"Sect Leader Zong… is starting now? Isn’t it a bit too hasty? The origins of Alkaid’s Dao Artifact are still a mystery. What if there is really an Artifact Sage behind him? Wouldn’t this offend the Artifact Sage?"
"Elder Zong Wenxian probably doesn’t care about that point. If there is indeed an Artifact Sage behind Alkaid, be it a few hundred years or a thousand, with the help of the Artifact Sage, he is bound to achieve Shattered Void. Once he has attained Shattered Void and has the support of an Artifact Sage... how quickly would the Southern Region develop? There might only need a couple more auctions before Elder Zong Wenxian has to step down and yield his position. So, from his perspective, he would rather Alkaid not have an Artifact Sage behind him; he might even wish for the Artifact Sage behind Alkaid to become so furious that they’d abandon Alkaid and the Heavenly Dao Sect entirely."
"An Artifact Sage behind Alkaid is detrimental to Elder Zong Wenxian but not necessarily to us. An Artifact Sage’s utmost utility is not in selling Dao Artifacts, but in creating custom-made ones. Who among us doesn’t have several descendants with the prospects of achieving Refining Void, or even Shattered Void? A custom-fitted, highly compatible Dao Artifact is almost equivalent to providing them with a direct path to Shattered Void. Therefore, I will personally attend this auction."
"We understand the reasoning, but your participation now… could potentially draw us into the conflict between the Sect Leader and the Vice Sect Leader. Sect Leader Zong… is not an easy person to deal with…"
"This…"
"I think we should wait and see a bit longer to measure the strength behind this Vice Sect Leader Alkaid before making a decision."
"Alright, then let’s see if Vice Sect Leader Alkaid has enough ability to deal with this auction crisis and if he is worth our strong support. However, even if we do not go to the Southern Region, it won’t be a problem for our subordinates to attend the auction and compete for the Dao Artifact as bidders."
The Supreme Elders discussed among themselves.
Every single one of them who managed to occupy a seat as a Supreme Elder was extremely astute.
They naturally knew of some of Elder Zong Wenxian’s actions and had already started to guard against the unexpected.
Or rather, they saw that Alkaid exhibited capabilities that could threaten Elder Zong Wenxian in the future, prompting him to start suppressing Alkaid with various tactics.
Such a situation was not surprising.
Vice Sect Leader Song Youque had been in the same situation in the past. Leveraging his wide network built from his travels, he had developed the Southern Region prosperously.
During that period, Elder Zong Wenxian used the pretext of the region’s prosperity to continuously increase its tribute, ultimately pressuring the Southern Region beyond its tolerance and leading to the unauthorized killing of envoys.
What was discovered afterward became common knowledge.
Elder Zong Wenxian led a group of Supreme Elders, Peak Masters, and Elders into the Southern Region, plundering it completely. Every Supreme Elder, Peak Master, and Elder who participated made a fortune.
Now, Alkaid...
Is showing signs of facing the same situation as Sect Leader Song Youque once did.
However, unlike Sect Leader Song Youque, whose power base was in the Southern Region, Alkaid’s backing comes entirely from that mysterious Artifact Sage who has neither shown themselves nor joined the Heavenly Dao Sect, making it more challenging for Elder Zong Wenxian to target him. This is what attracted some Supreme Elders to favor him, leading to their willingness to intervene early on to preserve Alkaid.
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To be precise, it was an excuse to ingratiate themselves with the Artifact Sage backing Alkaid.
However, Elder Zong Wenxian’s influence was so deep-rooted that these Supreme Elders had to consider the consequences of offending him and becoming his enemy before stepping in. This is why they planned to observe first and act accordingly.
Bully the weak with an overwhelming force.
Maintain a discreet distance from the strong.
This was the way of survival for all the cultivators from the Northern Sea Star.
...
Because of Elder Zong Wenxian’s ambiguous stance, the Supreme Elders within the Heavenly Dao Sect were undecided.
But those at the Peak Master level and those Hollow Void Elders that had strong backing were all accepting invitations, expressing their intention to attend the auction when the time came.
It wasn’t just the Heavenly Dao Sect; people from nearby sects like the Taiyi Immortal Sect, the Immortal Martial Sect, and the Dashang Immortal Dynasty also started to make their move upon hearing the news.
Even those from more distant forces such as the Three Pure Sanctuaries, Golden Crow Sect, the Demon God Sect, and the True Dragon Immortal Dynasty traveled thousands of miles toward the Southern Region.
Moreover, the Yin Moon Sect and Demon Shadow Sect, who were close at hand, also began to stir up trouble at this time.
Throughout the large states bordering the Yin Moon Sect, demon cultivators wreaked havoc, clearly deteriorating the situation.
It was obvious that they intended to reclaim the lost large states while the Southern Region was preoccupied with the upcoming grand auction.
At the very least, they wanted to take a big bite out of it.
Especially when the Yin Moon Sect learned that the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Dao Sect, at such a crucial juncture, actually led a group to the battlefield beyond the skies, they realized something.
The borders were not only troubled by Hollow Void mischief but occasionally by Refining Void appearances, steadily corroding the surrounding large states, causing these powers to suffer immensely and sending repeated pleas for help to the Southern Capital.
It was within this tumultuous environment that time swiftly passed.
The auction for the Dao Artifact was right around the corner.