Zhao Yang sat in a chair, gazing thoughtfully at the auction stage below.
Just then, the private room door opened, and Bai Qiuyuan entered.
Zhao Yang looked at Bai Qiuyuan, his voice laced with confusion as he asked, “Ancestor, where did you just go?”
Bai Qiuyuan chuckled softly.
“I went to see if there was anything to eat.”
As he spoke, he retrieved a whole, specially prepared roast chicken, wrapped in leaves, from his spatial ring.
The moment Bai Qiuyuan produced the roast chicken, its rich aroma permeated the entire private room.
With a gentle smile, Bai Qiuyuan approached Jiang Ruoyun, who was seated in a side chair not far away, and offered, “This is for you.”
He then presented the roast chicken to Jiang Ruoyun, placing it carefully in her lap.
Afterward, he settled into the main seat, resting an elbow on the armrest, propping his face with a fisted hand, and tilting his head as he watched the proceedings on the stage below with keen interest.
Gazing at the roast chicken in her hands, Jiang Ruoyun lifted her eyes to fix Bai Qiuyuan with a suspicious stare.
“You didn’t put anything strange in it, did you?”
Upon hearing this, Bai Qiuyuan simply laughed.
“Eat it or don’t.”
Jiang Ruoyun fell silent.
A rumbling sound escaped her stomach.
As Jiang Ruoyun unwrapped the leaves, a powerful aroma of roasted chicken wafted directly towards her.
“Gulp…”
She watched the steaming roast chicken, wiping a trace of drool from the corner of her mouth, and secretly thought, ‘Even if I, Jiang Ruoyun, were to starve to death! Even if I were to leap from this viewing platform! I would never eat food of such dubious origin!’
Below the private rooms, some cultivators seated in the common area also caught a whiff of the roast chicken’s intoxicating scent.
“What the hell? Who brought roast chicken in here??”
“It smells incredible! Whose roast chicken is that?! Can you tell me where you bought it?!”
“What kind of roast chicken is this? Why does it smell so utterly captivating?!”
“Hey! You’re drooling on me!”
****
Fifteen minutes later.
Thump! Thump!
With the resounding strikes of the auctioneer’s gavel, the entire auction hall instantly quieted.
The auctioneer, clad in black, his face obscured by a black eye-mask, held his gavel aloft and smiled.
“Distinguished guests! Thank you for your patience!”
“We encountered a slight delay due to unforeseen circumstances.”
“Without further ado, I declare the auction officially open!”
“First, let us present our inaugural auction item!”
Having spoken, several dark-gold talismans (TL Note: A type of magical paper charm) adorned with red characters, all meticulously framed, were carried onto the auction stage by several heavily made-up female attendants.
The auctioneer amplified his voice with spiritual energy, introducing them with a smile.
“Behold the Falling Thunder Talisman! Upon activation, it can summon falling lightning to a designated location! The summoning lasts for three breaths of time! Any cultivator below the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment, if struck directly, will be severely wounded, if not killed!”
“The starting bid is three thousand (mid-grade) spirit stones! Each subsequent bid must not be less than one thousand!”
****
Inside Bai Qiuyuan’s private room.
After tossing aside the last chicken bone, Jiang Ruoyun finally produced a handkerchief to wipe her hands and mouth clean.
Folding the handkerchief away, she leaned back against the chair, a look of profound satisfaction on her face.
Patting her slightly bulging stomach, Jiang Ruoyun chuckled contentedly.
“Truly delicious…”
Her gaze shifted to Bai Qiuyuan beside her, and she pondered inwardly.
‘Just who exactly is this man?’
‘His cultivation is formidable, and he’s quite handsome too…’
‘That old man earlier kept calling him “Ancestor”?’
‘Could he actually be some powerful expert who has reverted to youth?!’
At that very moment, Bai Qiuyuan broke the silence, asking, “What do you think of that auction item?”
Hearing his question, Jiang Ruoyun turned her attention to the exhibition stand, where a jade pendant was being held aloft.
She then listened as the auctioneer explained.
“The Purple Moon Jade Pendant!”
“When worn by women, it enhances beauty and preserves youth, resisting the onset of aging!”
“When worn by men, it attracts good fortune and wards off misfortune, accelerating cultivation!”
“Furthermore, it comes imbued with a Level Four defensive formation, capable of blocking an attack from a half-step Core Formation realm cultivator!”
“The starting bid is forty thousand (mid-grade) spirit stones! Each subsequent bid must not be less than two thousand!”
Upon seeing the item, Jiang Ruoyun inquired, puzzled, “It’s quite good, why do you ask?”
Bai Qiuyuan straightened his posture and shook the bell beside him.
Ding-a-ling!
The auctioneer below heard the sound and chuckled.
“Private Room Heavenly-Tier Nine bids! Forty-two thousand!”
Jiang Ruoyun’s expression was a question mark.
‘I merely said it was ‘quite good,’ and he immediately placed a bid?’
Just then, another bell rang from a nearby private room.
Ding-a-ling!
“Private Room Heavenly-Tier Ten bids! Forty-four thousand!”
Upon hearing this, Bai Qiuyuan leaned back into his chair, appearing somewhat uninterested.
‘Hmm… Level Five is a bit… too weak…’
Jiang Ruoyun watched Bai Qiuyuan decisively abandon the bid after only one offer, her face a mask of bewilderment.
“Forty-four thousand, going once!”
“Forty-four thousand, going twice!”
“Forty-four thousand, going thrice!”
“Congratulations to the esteemed guest in Private Room Heavenly-Tier Ten!”
“Please proceed to the auction’s backstage for settlement and item collection after the event concludes!”
“Next, we have a rather peculiar item up for auction!”
At this point, several guards laboriously carried a colossal black stone onto the stage from below.
The auctioneer explained.
“The material of this stone remains unknown; no weapon, regardless of its power, can inflict even the slightest damage upon it!”
“According to the auction house’s specialists, it is also not a rare refining material.”
“However, rumor has it that this stone originated from an ancient forbidden land! As such, it holds significant collectible value!”
“The starting bid… is two thousand spirit stones! Each subsequent bid must not be less than five hundred!”
A hush fell over the entire audience.
No one was willing to squander spirit stones on an item seemingly devoid of practical value.
All eyes were fixed on the anticipation of the next treasures.
Just as the auctioneer began to believe the stone would go unsold due to a lack of bids…
Ding-a-ling!
Bai Qiuyuan shook his bell.
Upon witnessing this, Jiang Ruoyun exclaimed in surprise, “This might just be a useless rock; why would you buy it?”
Bai Qiuyuan smiled at Jiang Ruoyun and simply said, “Quiet.”
Jiang Ruoyun fell silent.
“Private Room Heavenly-Tier Nine bids! Two thousand five hundred spirit stones!”
“Are there any further bids?!”
“Two thousand five hundred, going once!”
“Two thousand five hundred, going twice!”
“Two thousand five hundred, going thrice!”
“Sold!”
Thump!
Crack!
The very second the auctioneer finished speaking and brought down his gavel, a sudden anomaly occurred!
The massive stone spontaneously split open!
The crowd collectively gasped in astonishment.
The next second, a black ring flew out from within the stone!
Faint, ancient script shimmered indistinctly upon the black ring’s surface!
The instant the black ring departed the stone, the stone itself disintegrated into dust.
Just as everyone stood stunned by the ring’s revealed beauty and brilliance…
The ring shot directly towards Bai Qiuyuan’s private room!
Bai Qiuyuan, in turn, extended his hand and deftly caught the black ring as it flew towards him.
Everyone present sensed that the ring had flown by itself; it was not controlled by the private room’s occupant with spiritual energy.
‘That ring possesses a tool spirit! This is… a divine artifact choosing its master!’
The rest of the crowd was instantly dumbfounded.
Many tried to discern the face of the person in the private room, but from their vantage point below, they regrettably could not make out Bai Qiuyuan’s features.
After slipping the ring onto his finger, Bai Qiuyuan smiled.
“What an unexpected gain.”
Before Bai Qiuyuan’s eyes, an information panel displayed:
[{Key to Secret Treasure}]
The auctioneer on the stage stared blankly at Private Room Heavenly-Tier Nine.
‘I just sold an ancient divine artifact with a tool spirit… for two thousand five hundred spirit stones!?’
Though the auctioneer felt a pang of regret, the rules of the auction were clear: once a bid was accepted, the item was sold, and no disputes were permitted within the auction house.
Witnessing someone acquire an ancient divine artifact so early in the event, the surrounding crowd’s atmosphere immediately livened.
Everyone eagerly anticipated the next treasures.
Despite many being green with envy, the auction was set to continue.
“Next up for auction is a Century-Old Tree Ape Vermillion Fruit!”
“For martial artists, consuming it can enhance their vital energy and blood! With good fortune, it can even directly help them break through cultivation bottlenecks!”
“For alchemists, purchasing it allows for the refinement of Grade Eight pills!”
“The starting bid is two hundred thousand spirit stones! Each subsequent bid must not be less than fifty thousand!”
Ding-a-ling!
“Private Room Human-Tier Four bids two hundred fifty thousand!”
Ding-a-ling!
“Private Room Earth-Tier Nine bids three hundred thousand!”
Ding-a-ling!
…
The auction truly seemed to have just begun, as the incessant ringing of bells suddenly filled the air.
The auctioneer, clearly a veteran, skillfully announced the prices according to the bidding order.
Before long, the ringing of bells began to subside.
“Two million five hundred thousand, going once! Is there a higher bid?”
At this moment, Zhao Yang, who had remained still for a long time, finally shook the bell beside him.
“Private Room Heavenly-Tier Nine bids two million five hundred fifty thousand!”
“Two million five hundred fifty thousand, going once!”
“Two million five hundred fifty thousand, going twice!”
“Two million five hundred fifty thousand, going thrice!”
Thump!
“Sold!”
After Zhao Yang placed his bid, no one else continued to raise the price.
Witnessing such a smooth transaction, Zhao Yang breathed a sigh of relief.
‘All I need to do now is pay, then safely escort the Tree Ape Vermillion Fruit back.’
Bai Qiuyuan noticed that some individuals in the audience occasionally glanced his way, either intentionally or inadvertently.
Others were huddled together, whispering about something.
Upon seeing this, Bai Qiuyuan’s heart filled with a different kind of worry.
‘I wonder if my spatial ring will be large enough to hold all their money.’
Soon after, with Jiang Ruoyun’s assistance, Bai Qiuyuan purchased several magical artifacts intended for female use.
These were items primarily chosen for their aesthetic appeal, possessing little practical utility for someone of Han Qianqiu’s cultivation level.
However, for Bai Qiuyuan, their beauty alone was sufficient!
Just then, a silver-white longsword appeared on the auction stage.
The auctioneer smiled.
“This sword is named Cangguang!”
“It is a Grade Three spirit sword, with ordinary offensive power, forged by the renowned refining master, Han Qi!”
“During its refinement, an accident occurred, transforming the sword’s original abilities into the capacity to emit various lights according to the wielder’s desire—a rather superfluous function.”
“Nevertheless, given its commemorative significance, the starting bid is five hundred thousand spirit stones! Each subsequent bid must not be less than fifty thousand!”
Bai Qiuyuan mused for a few seconds, and as if struck by an idea, a mischievous grin spread across his face.
However, he quickly rubbed his face, schooling his mischievous expression, and shook the bell beside him!
“Esteemed guest in Private Room Heavenly-Tier Nine bids five hundred fifty thousand! Are there any other bids?!”
Given the item’s clear origin and defined, yet unexceptional, function, its price was considered rather high, prompting no further bids.
In everyone’s estimation, this sword truly held only collectible value.
“Five hundred fifty thousand, going thrice!”
“Congratulations to the esteemed guest in Private Room Heavenly-Tier Nine for acquiring this item!”
Beside him, Zhao Yang, witnessing this, inquired with a puzzled expression, “Ancestor, why did you bid on this item?”
Bai Qiuyuan chuckled.
“Doesn’t it glow? I’ll use it as a lamp in the future.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yang immediately regarded Bai Qiuyuan with a look of deep suspicion.
Just moments ago, Zhao Yang had incidentally caught a glimpse of Bai Qiuyuan suppressing a mischievous smile.
Though Zhao Yang had not known Bai Qiuyuan for long, he had meticulously observed one particular detail.
That was… whenever Bai Qiuyuan wore that mischievous smile, someone was inevitably about to suffer misfortune.
Nevertheless, Zhao Yang refrained from asking further questions.
Jiang Ruoyun, meanwhile, gazed at Bai Qiuyuan, her face etched with confusion.
‘Didn’t he say he was helping?’
‘Why is he only buying magical artifacts that I like?’
‘Could it be… that he actually likes me?!’
‘Was everything he did before merely an attempt to get closer to me? To capture my attention?’
‘By the way, did the guards even tell my father that I was kidnapped!?’