This kid... is he out of his mind?

"So, if you eat the Clock of Return, you can absorb its essence and become even more powerful?" Fang Yue asked dubiously.

[That's right!]

That single word, filled with pride, was like a little girl puffing out her chest with her eyes closed, answering loudly and confidently.

"Um... then why should I let you eat the Clock of Return? Isn't it just combining two things into one? What's the point for me?"

[I am Fang Yue, I have humiliated the great and noble Parchment-sama, I deserve to die!]

Fang Yue: ???!

What the hell!

This guy... throws a tantrum if he doesn't get what he wants.

Seemingly realizing that tantrums won't get him the Clock of Return, the parchment finally started explaining again.

[I am Fang Yue, I obtained the Clock of Return, but the Clock of Return is damaged, and the possibility of repairing it is extremely slim. But the great and noble Parchment-sama, as long as he devours the Clock of Return, can immediately inherit its characteristics, exert its power, and help me defeat even stronger enemies!]

[I... feel like I'm about to become invincible!]

This finally made Fang Yue waver.

Not to mention that he has no idea how to repair bizarre objects, just the precious materials needed to repair something this high-grade are beyond Fang Yue's reach, let alone that he doesn't have the skill or technique.

If the parchment can really absorb the Clock of Return smoothly, then he can directly use the Clock of Return's ability through the parchment, bypassing the problem of repairing the Clock of Return.

But...

Fang Yue asked suspiciously, "Is it really that simple? You can absorb the Clock of Return's ability just by eating it?"

[Of course!!]

"Alright, I'll trust you this once."

The environment inside the auction was already dark, and Fang Yue secretly stuffed the Clock of Return into the parchment while Captain Huo wasn't paying attention.

Like a hard object sinking into a swamp, the parchment swallowed the Clock of Return with "Ahhh, oooo" sounds.

After putting away the parchment, Fang Yue anxiously asked how the parchment was doing, but there was no response for a long time, making Fang Yue's face sink.

Good grief, did it run away after eating the thing?

[I am... Parchment... I need... to hibernate...]

Ah, this...

Feeling the words floating in his mind from the parchment, Fang Yue felt a little depressed.

It seems that the parchment eating the Clock of Return wasn't as simple as it said.

Fang Yue asked a few more questions, but the parchment gave no more responses.

Confirming that the parchment had really fallen into hibernation, Fang Yue sighed in frustration.

Although the parchment's abilities are bizarre, its personality always gives people a sense of unreliability.

Suppressing his thoughts, Fang Yue refocused his attention on the auction.

There's no choice, his cultivation manual hasn't been settled yet.

As for the parchment, it can't run away anyway, so he'll call it out and ask about the situation after the auction ends.

At this time, the host had already started introducing the low-grade and mid-grade Mortal rank hard currency items, no longer the fake products from the beginning.

Therefore, the atmosphere, which had been slightly depressed due to Luo Pangzi's incident, quickly heated up again.

Bids were shouted one after another, making the host's face beam with smiles.

The atmosphere was high, and Captain Huo occasionally started bidding, and sometimes even bought some things.

Fang Yue noticed that they were mostly cultivation-related items, as well as some strange and rare materials.

Seeming to sense Fang Yue's doubts, Captain Huo said without hesitation, "My cultivation of martial arts requires the cooperation of some special materials to exert its greatest power. Some materials can also assist my cultivation progress."

"I remember that you just entered the martial path not long ago, and you're only at the Third-Rate Houtian realm. Although your strength is outstanding, there is still a long way to go before you become a true expert."

"The path of cultivation is not that simple. You may be able to improve your cultivation progress by simply cultivating cultivation manuals and martial arts at a low level realm like the Third-Rate Houtian realm. But later on, you will need all kinds of medicines, and even strange objects that match your cultivation manual and martial arts, to assist your cultivation, so as to effectively improve your strength."

"Otherwise, you will be stuck in a certain realm for a very long time, and may not be able to improve even a bit for the rest of your life."

"Cultivation, cultivation, it's not enough to just look at talent. If your financial resources can't keep up, you will lag behind others step by step."

"You've passed through many villages along the way, and most of the village chiefs in those villages aren't very strong, right?"

"Those people don't have enough financial resources to support them, and they don't have strange objects and elixirs, medicinal soups, etc. that are suitable for their attributes to assist their cultivation, so their strength will remain the same for ten years, and they won't be able to improve even a bit."

"But our Mo Village is different. As a large village, we have abundant resources and active economic circulation. Merchant caravans pass through more frequently than in those remote small villages, so as long as you can become the chief of Mo Village, most of the cultivation resources are generous."

"I don't know what cultivation manual and martial arts you are cultivating, but the master who taught you martial arts should have told you what things can help you cultivate."

"If these things appear at this auction, I suggest you buy them directly. After all, Blackstones can be earned again, but good things that are suitable for you are fleeting, and it will be difficult to encounter them again next time."

What Captain Huo said makes sense.

For example, if it weren't for attending the Black Crow Auction, Fang Yue might never have the chance to obtain something like the Clock of Return.

And this terrifying bizarre object, which was treated as garbage by the Black Crow Auction, will also be treated as garbage by other buyers, thrown into some corner, and covered in dust for who knows how many years, and may even be damaged as a result.

Therefore, Fang Yue of course knows that the opportunity at the Black Crow Auction is very precious, and that he should take action when he encounters good things.

The problem is...

He doesn't have any so-called master to tell him which strange things to get to help him cultivate.

They are indeed strange. Fang Yue saw Captain Huo also bid for a living thing called a Fire-Patterned Snake, which she put into her sleeve and let the snake crawl around in her body, giving Fang Yue goosebumps.

In addition, Fang Yue still needs to save money to buy a cultivation manual. His cultivation progress is already maxed out, and only the cultivation manual is his only need.

Of course, Captain Huo kindly told Fang Yue so many things, so Fang Yue naturally couldn't show nothing. After nodding to show his approval, he asked some more questions about cultivation.

Since he started cultivating, Fang Yue can basically be said to have no master, and relied entirely on his own exploration.

After all, Chen Mu died early, and left the secret manual not long before passing away.

As for Lin Ling, their relationship is not bad, but their paths are different. Others play with guns, and their cultivation manual is also unique, so they can't help at all.

As for Hua Wu Ye, it's even more hopeless. She has very little interaction with him.

Fang Yue asked in detail, and Captain Huo explained clearly.

While asking and answering, the two didn't forget to pay attention to the auction items on the auction, and occasionally bid to buy auction items.

Just as Fang Yue was absorbing a lot of knowledge about cultivation, the host suddenly took a deep breath.

"Everyone, it's time..."

"Finally, it's time for the last few auction items of our Black Crow Auction."

"These items are the finale of our Black Crow Auction. Many people may have received inside information and guessed what many of the finales are, but I hope you can remain silent and let me give a grand and solemn introduction."

"Next, please let my assistant, Miss Ya Ya, bring out the first finale item!"

Everyone's breathing suddenly became heavy.

Finally, finally, it's time for the most important finale!

It can be said that most of the people gathered here today came for the final finale items.

The auction items before this were just appetizers.

Amid everyone's anticipation, Miss Ya Ya pushed up the first finale item covered with a red cloth.

The host uncovered the red cloth, revealing a cloak.

Fang Yue showed a disappointed look, while Captain Huo next to him showed an interested expression.

And Hei Da and Hei Er behind them sat in place without any reaction, obviously this item was not their target either.

And except for the four of them, the reactions of the others in the audience were almost identical, all bursting out with unusual enthusiasm, their eager eyes staring straight at the cloak.

"Phosphorescence Cloak, Top-Grade Mortal Rank! Made with the phosphorus powder of Phosphor Ghouls as the main material, combined with various precious materials."

"The wearer of this cloak can unleash a terrifying phosphorescence once at night! The power is almost the same as a full-force attack from a Black-Rank Initial Stage Bizarre [Phosphor Ghoul]."

"Moreover, this item can be used repeatedly. On the days when Phosphor Ghouls appear every month, it can be placed outside to be charged by moonlight..."

The green cloak was covered with various colorful phosphorescence. Although the shape looked a bit green, the effect sounded very good.

In the hands of a martial artist, a full-force attack from a Black-Rank Initial Stage Bizarre at the right time is enough to turn the tables.

Even in the hands of ordinary people, it can play a huge role.

There is no doubt that the value of this item is very huge!

The best thing is that it can be used repeatedly, a Top-Grade Mortal Rank item, well deserved!

Fang Yue's eyes lit up, but unfortunately, a full-force attack from a Black-Rank Initial Stage Bizarre is no longer of much use to him.

Although he is still in the Third-Rate Houtian realm, his strength is no longer something that ordinary Black-Rank Initial Stage Bizarres can compete with.

"...Starting price, 2 Blackstones, each bid must not be less than 10g of black embers."

After the host's final announcement, someone immediately started bidding.

"2.20 Blackstones!"

"2.30 Blackstones!"

"2.50 Blackstones"

The price soared all the way, and bidders appeared one after another.

"3 Blackstones!"

Captain Huo also suddenly bid at this time.

The people around who were bidding recognized Captain Huo's voice, and the bidding voices paused briefly, followed by...

"3.15 Blackstones!"

"3.25 Blackstones!"

"3.35 Blackstones!"

Before, those people would more or less give Captain Huo some face. Even if they bid, they wouldn't be so decisive and direct.

But now, they are frantically bidding without any hesitation.

Captain Huo raised an eyebrow and also offered a high price of 3.55 Blackstones, but was quickly surpassed.

This time, she completely lost interest.

"Not bidding anymore?"

"Too ugly, not good looking."

...I think it's because it's too expensive.

The Phosphorescence Cloak, as a good Top-Grade Mortal Rank item, is indeed worth a high price.

But for Fang Yue and Captain Huo, this thing can only be regarded as a toy, and the improvement to actual combat is not so obvious, and it has no effect on cultivation.

But for ordinary people with low strength, or ordinary martial artists, this item can be said to be a life-saving item of the killer level in this crisis-ridden world with bizarre existences running rampant.

A good thing that is enough to save lives, no matter how high the price is, is not excessive, especially since the people present are quite rich.

Captain Huo glanced at Fang Yue at this time.

"Aren't you going to buy it? This thing is still very useful for a little guy like you who is at the Third-Rate Houtian realm."

Fang Yue shook his head calmly. His goal, from beginning to end, was only one, and that was the cultivation manual.

And at this time, someone else in the auction reported a high price.

"5 Blackstones!"

With the high price of 5 Blackstones being reported, many people silently gave up bidding.

Bizarre creatures are not easy to kill, and few people are willing to sell black embers.

Even this group of people who have a very high status in Mo Village and control the village's commercial lifeline are not convenient to acquire black embers.

Therefore, not everyone has as much assets as imagined. 5 Blackstones is already a high price for them.

Moreover, many people came with a mission.

Although the Phosphorescence Cloak is good, it is not within the mission target, so they should try to save as much as possible and bid for the target item at a high price when it appears!

Next, some people still followed the price intermittently, and finally the Phosphorescence Cloak was sold for a high price of 5.55 Blackstones.

The green cloak was happily put on by that person on the spot, causing the others to look at him strangely.

Next, the host began to auction the second finale item, which was a fiery red ring.

Almost as soon as this ring came out, Captain Huo's eyes lit up.

When the host announced the start of the auction, Captain Huo immediately offered a high price, scaring the others.

After hesitating for a while, people started to follow the price one after another, but the increase was very small.

Captain Huo raised an eyebrow and directly doubled the price.

"8.80 Blackstones, is there anyone who can bid higher?"

The host shouted excitedly, but no one dared to continue bidding.

Because judging from Captain Huo's appearance, no matter how high others bid, as long as it doesn't exceed her limit, she will not hesitate to follow the price.

8. 8 Blackstones to buy this ring has already exceeded many people's estimated price, and it can be regarded as selling at a premium, so naturally no one is willing to compete with Captain Huo anymore.

"Congratulations to Captain Huo for winning the Fire Gathering Ring [Top-Grade Mortal Rank]!"

The host happily announced loudly, and personally sent the Fire Gathering Ring to Captain Huo's hand - the respect that should be given to big clients like the Mo Village Captain is still necessary.

Fang Yue looked enviously at the Fire Gathering Ring on Captain Huo's finger. According to the host's explanation, this ring can assist the cultivation progress of fire-based cultivation methods.

Fang Yue's Starfire Set is a fire-based cultivation method.

Unfortunately, the cultivation manual has reached its peak and needs to be replaced with another cultivation method to go further.

"Want it?"

Captain Huo winked playfully at Fang Yue.

"I'll sell it to you for 10 Blackstones."

"..."

Fang Yue rolled his eyes and ignored her.

Hehe!

Captain Huo covered her mouth and smiled, her eyes narrowed.

And at this time, the host had already started introducing the next auction item.

"Now, we are going to introduce the second to last item in our 10 finale auction items."

With that, the host pulled away the red cloth, revealing the contents inside.

It was... a secret manual with a fiery red cover!

A line of large characters was clearly printed on the cover of the secret manual - Blazing Fire Cultivation Manual!