The Auction’s Cruel Spectacle

Xiyue, deeply displeased, snapped, “Shut up! If you make another sound, I’ll throw you down!”

Su Xiaoxiao dared not speak further. Fortunately, their destination was not far.

A massive, magnificent building loomed before them. The sheer number of onlookers gathered at the entrance blocked it completely, making passage impossible.

The Ghost King, having arrived in person, naturally used a different, deserted entrance. Su Xiaoxiao’s hand was once again clasped by Xiyue.

She felt utterly terrified, disliking Xiyue’s intimacy in the slightest.

Inside, to her surprise, was an enormous, spacious beast-fighting arena. The Ghost King addressed Xiyue, “This place offers different amusements every day. Yesterday, it was beast fights—a paradise for gamblers. Today, it’s a beast auction.”

“As you know,” the Ghost King continued, “anything rare and bizarre from any of the Nine Provinces can be found here. Today’s main vendor claims to have something exceptional and has invited me repeatedly.”

Upon entering that door, they were led directly to a private room on an upper level.

It was like being inside a colossal crystal, perfectly insulating them from the outside din while allowing them to observe everything below.

The Ghost King smiled as she settled into a soft chair. She first spoke to Su Xiaoxiao, “Consider this a pastime. If you see anything you like, feel free to take it.”

Then, she turned to Xiyue, “Perhaps we might even uncover some intelligence useful for our alliance against the Immortal Realm.”

Xiyue picked up a seemingly fresh fruit from the table. After a quick inspection, finding nothing amiss, she placed it into Su Xiaoxiao’s hand.

Su Xiaoxiao held the fruit, feeling a mix of flattered surprise and a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘What would I be doing right now if I hadn’t accepted the fruit Xiyue offered me at the Immortal Clan banquet?’

‘Would I be sleeping on the reefs of the South Sea, or playing and laughing with the small fish and my kin in the ocean? Or would I be dozing off in Elder Yunli’s class, getting my head tapped by a book, and being scolded for not paying attention?’

Su Xiaoxiao’s thoughts drifted far away. She held the fruit, hesitant to eat, until the cheers from below grew increasingly boisterous.

Only then did Su Xiaoxiao snap back to reality and look down.

On the arena stage, a pair of women were brought out, bound. They were strikingly similar in appearance, with voluptuous figures and provocative attire.

A smiling face next to them began to introduce, “A pair of alluring Snake Clan twins! Whether you buy them for pleasure or to consume them to boost your cultivation, they are an excellent choice. Bidding starts at just…”

“A young boy from the Flower Clan, still very young! Today’s special offer – buying him is a guaranteed profit! Bidding starts at just…”

“A Spirit Artifact from the Bird Clan, a unique item that enhances cultivation! For a suitable buyer, bidding starts at just…”

There were spirit artifacts, various sentient beings from different races, and even cultivation bases for sale.

Some treasures were offered that Su Xiaoxiao had never even heard of.

She watched as a buyer, after purchasing an ‘item,’ bit off its head directly in front of the crowd.

Blood splattered everywhere, yet the cheers from below only grew louder.

Su Xiaoxiao witnessed it firsthand. She covered her mouth and averted her gaze.

Xiyue ‘tsk’ed, then turned to the Ghost King beside her. “You should at least try to manage this. Why is it so bloody?”

The Ghost King personally poured Su Xiaoxiao a cup of tea, claiming it was an apology. Xiyue, however, prevented Su Xiaoxiao from drinking it, instead asking softly, “Do you want to leave this place?”

Xiyue gently stroked Su Xiaoxiao’s back, hoping to soothe her discomfort. A pang tightened in Xiyue’s chest.

When they were in the Demonic Palace, Xiyue had shielded this ‘little fish’ from any bloodshed.

It could even be said that every aspect of Su Xiaoxiao’s life—her food, clothing, daily medicine, and drinking water—was carefully curated.

Every plant in the courtyard, the carpets laid upon the bedchamber floor, and the vases adorning the tables were all not only incredibly valuable but also chosen with immense care.

Although she often made Su Xiaoxiao cry or grow angry, Xiyue’s lavish care of her ‘fish’ also subtly protected her fragile, innocent heart.

Su Xiaoxiao coughed softly, her hand still covering her mouth. Below, the auctioneer suddenly became agitated.

“Esteemed guests, next we will be auctioning tonight’s final treasure! Do not blink, for what you are about to witness might be a sight unseen for centuries!”

He waved a hand. Several attendants, who had been waiting behind a curtain, pushed forward a heavy object draped in black cloth.

He grew increasingly excited and fervent, his voice sharpening to an almost piercing pitch.

“Now, I shall present to you this final, exquisite treasure: a living, beautiful, and rare — Mermaid!!!”

His voice was so loud that Su Xiaoxiao found it impossible not to hear. The word “Mermaid” echoed in her ears, and Su Xiaoxiao, forgetting her nausea, reacted as if in shock.

She pushed Xiyue away, rose, and rushed to the edge, bracing her hands against the transparent wall, too stunned to utter a single word.

Indeed, confined within the water cage was a mermaid. She appeared to be no older than twelve or thirteen, a mere young girl.

Perhaps it was the distance, but Su Xiaoxiao found this young mermaid’s appearance strikingly unfamiliar.

Yet, that was not what mattered. What truly mattered was that such a young mermaid, likely no more than a hundred years old within their clan’s reckoning, was here.

Why would such a small mermaid be in this place? The Clan Chief and the elders would never allow mermaids this young to leave the South Sea territory.

Even a mermaid like Su Xiaoxiao, over three hundred years old, only ventured out of the South Sea accompanied by an elder.

Su Xiaoxiao’s mind went utterly blank. Below, the excited shouts, murmurs, and bidding cries seemed poised to shatter the entire building.

Upon hearing the words “Mermaid,” the Ghost King’s expression immediately darkened.

Xiyue, at this moment, couldn’t resist a sarcastic jab. “Isn’t the Ghost King on good terms with the Mermaid Clan? How is it that on your territory, someone is openly selling mermaids?”

“Guards!” the Ghost King roared. Her confidant, who had gone ahead to arrange the inn, rushed in, a look of panic on his face as he responded, “Ghost King.”

“Why are mermaids being sold in the Ghost Market?! What happened to the rules established thousands of years ago?!”

“Your subordinate will deal with this immediately.”

Su Xiaoxiao gazed down, murmuring, “It’s too late…”

The bidding below had already begun.

From the moment the mermaid was pushed onto the stage and the black cloth lifted, the crowd below had eagerly started bidding.

The continuous offers escalated without pause.

The auctioneer on stage grinned so widely his mouth couldn’t close. With every substantial bid, he excitedly declared, “The rarity of mermaids is surely known to all! Don’t let her young age deceive you; this is precisely when she is most tender, the prime moment for harvesting!”

“Records state that a mermaid’s blood is also a precious treasure for cultivation and extending life. Purchasing her as a blood s*ave or a forbidden plaything would be entirely worthwhile.”

The young mermaid in the water cage was terrified by the grotesque faces below. Her tail curled inward, and she trembled uncontrollably, not daring to glance down.

The bidding continued to climb higher. Then, a monkey spirit from below posed a question, “This mermaid isn’t making a sound. What if she’s mute? How uninteresting! This price might be too steep; it’s not worth it.”

The auctioneer on stage offered a fawning smile. “What is this esteemed guest saying? How could she be mute? Her voice is truly beautiful.”

He shot a glance at his subordinate. The subordinate immediately produced a long, golden whip, crackling with lightning.

“A mermaid’s tears are also a valuable commodity,” he announced. “Since acquiring this mermaid, I’ve meticulously cared for her. Today, as a rare treat, I shall offer a performance for all our esteemed guests.”

The lightning whip in his hand then struck out at the young mermaid in the water cage.

“Ah—!”

A heart-wrenching cry of pain rang out. The crowd below fell silent for a fleeting moment, only to erupt into even more deafening bids.

Su Xiaoxiao felt numb from head to toe. She even forgot to breathe, her gaze fixed on the mermaid in the water cage, suffering and crying out.

The whip fell, leaving no bloodstains on her body. Instead, golden lightning flashed within the water cage, inflicting a pain akin to being struck by thunder.