The Fierce Auction
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Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Empress noticed that, aside from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan members led by Yu Xiaogang, there were also Tang Hao and his siblings, Ning Fengzhi from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and even Prince Xue Xing from the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
In other words, aside from the people from the Star Luo Empire who couldn't make it, all the prominent figures had gathered at the Treasure Pavilion Auction House.
It had to be said that the allure of a spirit bone was simply too great. After all, a spirit bone could provide an additional boost to a spirit master's strength.
And, as it happened, spirit masters were never short on money.
By around 1:30 PM, the auction hall was packed with people filling every seat.
Lin Yongming was seated in a curved section of the hall. Each aisle was lined with two or three female attendants. Though they wore masks, their outfits were quite revealing.
"Xiao Ming, these attendants seem so cold. There's not even a flicker of emotion in their eyes," Blue Silver Empress remarked, noticing that some of the attendees were taking liberties with the attendants, who showed no reaction whatsoever.
"Miss Blue Silver, these attendants are slaves meticulously trained by the Treasure Pavilion. As you can see, their lives have lost all color. They're nothing more than empty shells without souls," Bishop Salas explained calmly to Blue Silver Empress, as she was highly regarded by Chrysanthemum Douluo, so he dared not offend her.
"But wait, didn't the two empires publicly ban the trade of slaves?" Lin Yongming asked, puzzled.
"Hmph! Don't take those public declarations too seriously. As long as there's enough profit to be made, there's nothing people won't dare to do. Besides, do you really think the Treasure Pavilion doesn't have partners among the nobility of the two empires?" Bishop Salas sneered, lowering his voice as he explained to Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Empress.
"He's right. Don't think of this world as too kind. And don't think about saving them either. Even if you did, they've lost the ability to live on their own. They'd still die," Chrysanthemum Douluo added coolly, warning the two.
"We understand," Lin Yongming replied, taking Blue Silver Empress's hand to comfort her.
Lin Yongming knew how kind-hearted Blue Silver Empress was and how much she hated seeing such things. He held her hand tightly, silently reassuring her.
The auction soon began, and Cai Qi stepped onto the stage from a door at the back.
"Thank you all for gracing the Treasure Pavilion Auction. On behalf of the auction house, I welcome you. It's an honor to have you here."
"Without further ado, let's bring out the first item!" Cai Qi announced, as two men in black pushed out a table from a side door.
The table was covered with a red cloth and was placed beside Cai Qi.
"Are you excited? Let's reveal the first item!"
Lin Yongming had thought the first item might be the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch he wanted, but it turned out to be a piece of art—a sculpture made entirely of blue crystal, with a starting bid of one thousand gold spirit coins.
The item was quickly sold for five thousand gold spirit coins to someone else. After all, most people here were after spirit bones.
While the sculpture was beautiful, it was merely a decorative piece meant to be displayed in a living room.
The first five items were auctioned off quickly, and soon the sixth item was brought out—the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch.
"This is a spatial spirit tool with ten cubic meters of storage space!"
"What? What kind of trash is this? How can something like this appear at an auction?"
"Exactly!"
"Don't be hasty, everyone. This item is called the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch. What sets it apart from other spatial spirit tools is that it can store living things, such as pets, fresh food, flowers, and plants. Whatever you put inside will remain fresh for days. Imagine being able to carry your pet or enjoy fresh meat while traveling. This pouch can fulfill all those needs," Cai Qi explained, detailing the pouch's unique features.
"The starting bid for the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch is eight thousand gold spirit coins, with each increment no less than one hundred gold spirit coins."
"Xiao Ming, it's here," Blue Silver Empress whispered, patting Lin Yongming's arm.
"Yes, but don't rush. There are many people here, and some will surely want it. We'll bid last," Lin Yongming replied calmly.
"It does seem useful. I'll bid eight thousand!"
"I'll bid eight thousand five hundred."
After a few minutes, the price of the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch reached thirty thousand gold spirit coins, and the number of bidders dwindled, just as Cai Qi had predicted.
"Any more bids? Thirty-five thousand, going once! Thirty-five thousand, going twice! Thirty-five thousand—"
"I bid forty thousand!" Lin Yongming stood up, holding his bidding paddle.
"This esteemed guest has bid forty thousand gold spirit coins! Any other bids?" Cai Qi looked at Lin Yongming and announced loudly.
Tang Hao and his siblings, as well as Ning Fengzhi, turned to look. "It seems he really needs this item."
"Little sister, do you still want it? If so, I'll bid for you," Tang Xiao asked.
"No, since he wants it, I won't compete," Tang Yuehua replied, shaking her head.
Tang Yuehua, who loved flowers, had initially wanted the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch, but she decided to step aside after Lin Yongming placed his bid.
"Alright," Tang Xiao nodded and remained silent.
"Forty thousand, going twice!" Cai Qi continued the countdown.
"I bid forty thousand one hundred!" A familiar voice rang out. It was Yu Xiaogang.
Lin Yongming noticed Yu Xiaogang glancing in his direction.
"I still remember how you humiliated me at the Great Spirit Arena," Yu Xiaogang thought, smirking at Lin Yongming.
"Forty-five thousand," Lin Yongming called out, not even looking at Yu Xiaogang.
"Forty-five thousand one hundred," Yu Xiaogang countered, always bidding just one hundred gold spirit coins more than Lin Yongming.
"This is infuriating, Xiao Ming. He's clearly messing with us," Blue Silver Empress said, her anger rising.
"Oh, it's that old dragon, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan," Chrysanthemum Douluo frowned. "Do you have any history with them?"
"Elder Ju, it's like this," Coroll explained the incident at the Great Spirit Arena where Yu Xiaogang had pestered Lin Yongming.
"Ah, so it's that failure of a son from the old dragon king. Half-level innate spirit power, and he still dares to study spirit theory? Ridiculous," Chrysanthemum Douluo sneered.
"Exactly, that's Yu Xiaogang. I heard he begged his father to send gifts to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and various academies just so he could read their books," Bishop Salas added.
"Judging by his gaze, I think we'll have to warn his family after the auction," Chrysanthemum Douluo said slowly. "Otherwise, who knows what they might do after I leave."
"Understood, Elder Ju," Bishop Salas nodded.
"Sixty thousand gold spirit coins!" Lin Yongming finally called out.
"Sixty—"
"Xiaogang, don't push it. Chrysanthemum Douluo is looking this way. Stop," Yu Yuanzhen grabbed Yu Xiaogang's arm, stopping him from bidding further.
"Fine, Father," Yu Xiaogang said, noticing Bishop Salas glaring at him. He reluctantly sat down.
"That Yu Xiaogang is really too much!" Tang Yuehua couldn't stand his shameless behavior.
Lin Yongming had raised his bid five times, and each time Yu Xiaogang had added just one hundred gold spirit coins. The audience, of course, enjoyed the spectacle, as it was clear Yu Xiaogang was trying to provoke Lin Yongming.
"Little sister, let's not get involved. I noticed Chrysanthemum Douluo looking their way twice," Tang Xiao whispered to Tang Yuehua.
"But with his poor talent, what gives Yu Xiaogang the nerve to mess with Lin Yongming? Just because his father is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's leader?" Tang Hao looked at Yu Xiaogang as if he were an idiot.
"Probably," Tang Xiao sighed.
Ning Fengzhi remained silent, simply shaking his head at Yu Xiaogang. He was well aware of Yu Xiaogang's background, as Yu Yuanzhen had once approached the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to let Yu Xiaogang access their library, but Ning Fengzhi's father had refused.
"Xiao Ming, this is so unfair. I really want to punch him. He made us waste tens of thousands of gold spirit coins," Blue Silver Empress clenched her fists.
"A'Yin, don't worry. We still got the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch in the end. As for him, we might cross paths again someday," Lin Yongming said calmly.
"Yu Xiaogang, you're despicable! How dare you make A'Yin so angry," Lin Yongming thought, secretly clenching his other fist.
But Lin Yongming knew that Yu Xiaogang was surrounded by powerful figures, and there was nothing he could do for now. He hadn't expected Yu Xiaogang to be so petty, holding a grudge over being rejected twice and trying to embarrass him here.
"Sixty thousand, going once! Sixty thousand, going twice! Sixty thousand, sold! Congratulations to this guest!" Cai Qi announced, finalizing the sale.
As the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch was taken off the stage, an attendant approached Lin Yongming.
"Esteemed guest, congratulations on your successful bid. Please proceed to the transaction area to collect your item," the attendant said coldly.
"Elder, Bishop, I'll go handle this," Lin Yongming said.
"Go ahead," Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded.
Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Empress followed the attendant to the transaction area.
"Sir, please inspect your item. If everything is in order, sign here and make the payment. The Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch will then be yours."
Blue Silver Empress examined the pouch, which appeared to be a simple cloth bag but was actually made from the silk of a hundred-year spirit beast.
After confirming it was genuine, Blue Silver Empress signed the paperwork and handed over sixty thousand gold spirit coins.
"Xiao Ming, we finally have it," Blue Silver Empress said happily.
"Yes, but we shouldn't go to that place just yet. Let's wait until we're about to leave Heaven Dou City," Lin Yongming reminded her.
After all, they were now the center of attention, and it wasn't the right time to visit the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"I understand. There's no rush," Blue Silver Empress nodded.
"Let's go."
As Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Empress left the transaction area, they noticed the auction hall was filled with excited shouts. On the stage, Cai Qi stood beside a caged woman.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 185 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 80 power stones I will publish the next chapter.