A streak of azure light descended onto one of the staircases outside the Golden Cloud Pavilion, then faded to reveal a burly man with a coarse beard, and it was none other than the disguised Han Li.

He took a glance at the majestic palace before him, then strode directly toward the entrance.

Many black-robed attendants were standing on either side of the entrance, tending to each and every arriving cultivator.

A black-robed attendant immediately approached Han Li with a smile as he asked, "Are you here for the grand auction, Senior?"

"What else could I possibly be here for?" Han Li asked as his brows furrowed slightly with displeasure.

"Please allow me to explain, Senior. This year's auction is a little different from the auctions of previous years," the black-robed attendant said.

"How so? Han Li asked."

"There are far more participants in this year's auction than previous years, so in order to restrict the numbers and keep out patrons who only intend to watch the auction with no intention of purchasing anything, it's been decided that each participant must issue a sum of spirit stones as an entrance fee. However, all you need to do is purchase any item during the auction, and the entrance...