Chapter 52

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Chapter 52: The Auction

The Baiyu Building, true to its name, is a structure of pure white, as if sculpted from white jade. It towers at the heart of Ding Kang City, nestled in the most spiritually enriched and bustling district.

Adorned with intricate jade walls and dazzling jewels, the building is enveloped in a dense aura of spiritual energy and radiant light, soaring approximately a hundred stories into the sky. The surrounding edifices seem to bow at its base, forming a protective circle, exuding an air of formidable luxury and opulence.

This towering edifice, the Baiyu Building, is the most prestigious auction house in Ding Kang City, where one might fancy plucking stars from the heavens at its summit.

Ming He, with a raised eyebrow, admired the grandeur as she approached the entrance. A guard, a cultivator at the initial Spirit Guiding stage, stood at the door. "Welcome, esteemed guest," the guard greeted respectfully, his demeanor calm. "Are you familiar with our rules?"

"Indeed," Ming He replied, deftly tossing him one hundred middle-grade spirit stones. She casually displayed the storage ring gifted by Qin Chu Yi, her expression nonchalant.

The guard’s attitude shifted to one of deference as he accepted the spirit stones, handing her a gleaming golden token. "This way, please," he said, bowing and gesturing towards the interior.

Ming He gave a brief nod and followed the attendant inside. The first floor of the Baiyu Building was unexpectedly sparse, devoid of the bustling crowd she had anticipated.

The attendant led her through a lengthy corridor, descending stairs paved with white jade. Contrary to expectations, the auction was held underground.

The ambiance was predominantly dark, with mystical lights swirling around black pillars. Black-clothed guards stood vigilantly, and a circular golden lamp above cast the only light, illuminating the space.

Isolated from the natural world above, devoid of the sun and moon, this underground venue was a realm of perpetual twilight, akin to a clandestine trading hub.

At the stairway’s end, a stone barrier marked the threshold to what might be another world.

"Esteemed guest, this is your private room. May your auction experience be delightful," the attendant said, bowing before discreetly withdrawing.

Ming He surveyed the underground auction venue with curiosity. It was expansive and circular, with uniform seating arrangements, each enclosed by white jade screens to form private rooms. A central window offered a view, revealing over a hundred such rooms at a glance.

Each seat required one hundred middle-grade spirit stones, a testament to the Baiyu Building’s lucrative nature, its wealth rivaling that of nations.

Ming He entered her private room with a subtle smile. The screens obscured the identities of others, but she could sense a chaotic mix of energies—strong and weak individuals alike, all esteemed guests yet potential prey.

The auction was set to commence in fifteen minutes.

Ming He observed the varied gazes around her with indifference, focusing instead on the sunken circular stage at the center, the focal point of the auction.

One thousand middle-grade spirit stones.

Holding the storage ring, Ming He’s thoughts drifted to Qin Chu Yi. The rings from her Master, Yun Zhao Feng, and the Wang family had also contained spirit stones, but those were nearly depleted.

In contrast, Qin Chu Yi’s ring held spirit stones and pills exceeding tenfold the others combined.

The Young Masters of noble families indeed knew how to flaunt their wealth.

A faint smile graced Ming He’s lips as she turned her attention to the circular stage, where a graceful woman in a brocade robe stood.

"Welcome, friends, to the 352nd auction at the Baiyu Building," the woman announced with a charming smile, her voice amplified by spiritual energy. "I am Shu Er, your host for this event."

Capturing everyone’s attention, she continued, "Let us commence with our first item, the Longquan Sword."

She clapped her hands, and a black-clad attendant placed a sword on a stand. "This blade was once wielded by a general of the East Ridge Dynasty. It is renowned for its sharpness, capable of slicing through iron as if it were mud. It has accompanied its master in claiming enemy heads on the battlefield, achieving great feats.

The starting bid is one thousand middle-grade spirit stones."

The Longquan Sword—its name resonated with familiarity.

Ming He, recalling the name from her past life, focused on the sword resting quietly on the stand. A palpable murderous intent emanated from the scabbard; though the blade remained unseen, its quality was yet to be judged.

Nevertheless, its appearance was indeed impressive.

One thousand middle-grade spirit stones—it seemed that once you left the Liu Yun Sect, lower-grade spirit stones were practically worthless. Ming He frowned, thinking about the pile of lower-grade spirit stones she still had. It didn’t sit well with her.

"Longquan Sword?" Ming He heard someone scoff. "Shu Er, we’ve known each other for years. How could you try to pass off something so trivial to me?" The man’s tone was teasing, laced with a hint of flirtation. "No matter how impressive the Longquan Sword is, it’s still just ordinary iron. Are you joking? It might help its wielder take an enemy’s head in the midst of a battlefield, but can it help me chop off a Chiyun Beast’s head?" His voice rose, and other cultivators began to murmur in agreement, their skepticism growing.

"Attending this auction costs a hundred middle-grade spirit stones, yet the items from your Baiyu Building keep disappointing us. What’s going on?"

"Could it be that you’ve heard the Young Master from the Merchants’ Guild has returned, and now you’re too scared to put up anything worthwhile?" one cultivator sneered, dragging the rivalry between the Baiyu Building and the Merchants’ Guild into the conversation.

The room erupted into chaos, the cultivators’ energies growing restless and volatile. Yet Shu Er, the woman in the brocade robe standing on the circular stage, remained unflappable. "Silence!" she commanded, her voice cold and sharp, infused with spiritual energy.

The room fell quiet instantly, as if someone had pressed a mute button. The cultivators, who had been so rowdy moments ago, now dared not utter a word. They stared at Shu Er, who stood there with a faint smile, and suddenly remembered that despite her youth—she was only in her twenties—she had already reached the Xuan Wei Ninth Level in cultivation. Her position within the Baiyu Building was far from ordinary.

"The Longquan Sword is indeed made of ordinary iron," Shu Er began, her voice calm and deliberate. "But this sword once belonged to General Hong Lie of the East Ridge Dynasty. After he sacrificed his life in battle, the sword fell into enemy hands. Over time, it changed hands multiple times before finally arriving at our Baiyu Building. Our master, moved by the general’s unyielding spirit on the battlefield, had our artifact smiths refine it. Now, it barely qualifies as a yellow-level weapon. A starting price of one thousand middle-grade spirit stones is more than fair—it’s not mere exaggeration."

"As for whether it can help you chop off a Chiyun Beast’s head—" Shu Er’s gaze shifted to the cultivator who had first mocked her, her smile still present but now edged with coldness. "That depends entirely on your own skill. If your strength is lacking, even the legendary Xuanyuan sword in your hands would be no different from a child’s toy."

"You—" The cultivator’s face paled with anger, his hand tightening on his sword as if he were about to lash out. But when he met Shu Er’s icy glare, filled with unmistakable murderous intent, he hesitated. After a moment of silence, he sat back down, defeated. He didn’t dare to act against her in the Baiyu Building, nor did he have the strength to challenge Shu Er.

"Well said!" A booming voice rang out from across the room, followed by enthusiastic applause. "Shu Er, you’ve spoken the truth. A weapon is only as good as the one who wields it. True strength comes from within."

"Thank you, Young Master Gongsun, for your kind words. Shu Er is unworthy of such praise," the woman in the brocade robe replied, her smile softening slightly, her demeanor less commanding than before. She was cautious now, and Ming He noticed it immediately. Shu Er was wary of Young Master Gongsun’s status—someone she couldn’t afford to offend.

"For the Longquan Sword, I’ll bid two thousand middle-grade spirit stones," Young Master Gongsun declared casually from his private room across from Ming He. "Consider it a gesture of goodwill toward Shu Er."

What a wealthy and extravagant young master! Ming He pursed her lips, feeling a pang of regret. She had been hoping to snag the sword if no one else bid, as it held some significance from her past life. But now, with her spirit stones running low, she had to be more frugal.

"Shu Er thanks Young Master Gongsun for his generosity," the woman said, her smile growing more genuine as she flashed a radiant grin. "The Longquan Sword is now at two thousand middle-grade spirit stones. Does anyone wish to bid higher?" Her voice was soft and alluring, clearly hoping someone would challenge Young Master Gongsun’s bid. After all, her standing within the Baiyu Building depended on it.

But no one dared. While the room was filled with rogue cultivators and talented disciples, none were willing to risk offending Young Master Gongsun over a sword of limited value.

"Very well," Shu Er sighed, announcing the sale of the Longquan Sword before moving on to the next item. "Next, we have the Mountain Armor."

"This is a yellow-level defensive armor that can significantly enhance a cultivator’s resilience. It can withstand up to three attacks from a powerful ally above the Wind Master realm and keep the wearer alive." Shu Er knew this item would be highly sought after, so she cut straight to the point. "The starting bid is two thousand middle-grade spirit stones."

"I bid two thousand five hundred middle-grade spirit stones! This armor is mine!" one cultivator shouted, unable to contain his excitement.

For rogue cultivators like him, yellow-level armor was akin to gaining an extra life.

"Two thousand eight hundred middle-grade spirit stones," another bidder called out, unimpressed by the previous offer.

"Are you serious with such a low bid? Have some dignity!" A third cultivator slammed his hand on the table. "I bid three thousand middle-grade spirit stones!"

The clamor was as boisterous as before, but this time it clearly aligned with Shu Er’s expectations. She stood on the circular platform, a smile gracing her lips as she awaited the final decision on the winner.

The Mountain Armor, being a defensive spiritual artifact, naturally appealed more to those living on the edge. Figures like Young Master Gongsun, hailing from noble lineages, always had guardians at their side, so Shu Er harbored no illusions that the Mountain Armor would bring her any unexpected gains.

Function dictates value.

Ming He observed the other cultivators’ lavish spending with a calm demeanor, showing no inclination to bid. It wasn’t that she, like Young Master Gongsun, lacked defensive spiritual artifacts; rather, her coffers were empty.

She possessed the middle-grade spirit stones necessary to acquire the armor, yet she deemed it of little utility. Moreover, with this being merely the second item on the auction block, it hardly warranted risking her entire fortune.

Otherwise, she would be relegated to mere spectator status.

Ultimately, the armor was claimed by a burly, intimidating middle-aged man for the sum of three thousand five hundred middle-grade spirit stones.

"Next, we present the third auction item, the Rainbow Dress of Feather," Shu Er announced.

"The fourth item up for bid is the Cloud Fairy Brew."

…

"The Nineteenth item is the Crimson Fire Furnace."

As time meandered on, Ming He reclined in her private chamber within Baiyu Building, observing Shu Er, the woman adorned in a brocade robe, who with a radiant smile introduced each auction item in succession. A sense of wonder washed over her—Ding Kang City, the second city of the Eastern Region, was brimming with such treasures.

The thought of the cultivation resources beyond the Eastern Region was almost inconceivable. Reflecting on her time at the Liu Yun Sect, she realized she had been as naive as a frog at the bottom of a well.

Twenty auction items, one hundred middle-grade spirit stones at Baiyu Building.

Ming He selected a piece of pastry from the table in her private room and savored it, her eyes narrowing slightly in appreciation of its delightful flavor.

She wasn’t merely an observer; she had ventured a few bids herself, though fierce competition had forced her to retreat, leaving her with only one acquisition.

A Moonlight Stone, procured for a thousand middle-grade spirit stones, was a rare find, yet according to records, it held scant practical value. It was merely aesthetically pleasing and reputed to soothe the mind and nurture the meridians.

Her purchase was driven by the Star Lock.

After Shu Er had the Moonlight Stone displayed on the podium, a warmth surged in Ming He’s chest—a reaction prompted by the Star Lock.

Recalling the bag of nebula stones that had crumbled to dust, Ming He felt a twinge of regret. Yet, considering the Star Lock’s origins and its extraordinary nature, she acquiesced to its desire and made the purchase.

"This is the Moonlight Stone?" Ming He scrutinized the tray presented by the attendant, upon which lay a scattering of stones emitting a soft lunar glow, and she frowned. A thousand middle-grade spirit stones for these?

It hardly seemed a fair exchange.

"Now, for the final item of this auction," Shu Er declared, her smile taking on an enigmatic air that instantly captivated the assembled cultivators.

"Bring it forth!" she commanded with authority.

Four figures clad in black carried an object to the center of the circular stage, its cubic form shrouded by a black drape.

What could it be? Ming He’s gaze lifted, her curiosity piqued.

"Shu Er, what lies beneath?"

"Indeed, Shu Er, unveil it! Do not keep us in suspense!"

"I wager it’s a ferocious beast," someone ventured, eyeing the concealed mass.

"Patience, everyone," Shu Er chided as she descended the white jade steps toward the black veil, each step heightening the anticipation.

With all eyes upon her, she drew back the black cloth.

Beneath it stood a cage, and within the cage, to the astonishment of all, was a woman!