Auction Item Up for Bids

Su Jiu's cheeks were as red as a boiled shrimp, and she wished she could find a crack in the ground to hide in.

She could clearly feel the gazes from all directions, filled with curiosity, disdain, and amusement.

Especially from the private rooms on the second floor, several substantial gazes were cast over.

"Senior brother..." Su Jiu's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, with a sob in it. "Can... can we change to another place?"

"No." Su Ji refused simply and neatly. Moreover, he patted his leg and said, "The view here is good, and it's clear to watch the show."

Su Jiu: "..."

This was not watching a show; it was clearly making herself the one in the show!

Just in this strange atmosphere.

"Boom—!"

The second toll of the bell rang, even more prolonged than before.

The hall, which had still had a bit of whispering, instantly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

The auction officially began.

On the high platform, the light was swirling, and a plump figure, supported by two maids, slowly walked up.

It was Tong Qiannian, the Tong Family Patriarch.

He was wearing an extremely exquisite brocade robe today, but the luxurious fabric couldn't cover up his haggard face as pale as gold paper and the deep - seated twilight air.

Tong Qiannian didn't say any polite opening remarks.

He just stood in the center of the high platform, and his eyes slowly swept across the whole audience.

His gaze stayed on the faces of the casual cultivators on the first floor for a moment, then passed by the obscure and scheming figures in the private rooms on the second floor. Finally, it paused slightly in front of the closed window on the third floor.

"Everyone."

He opened his mouth. His voice was very soft, but it clearly spread to every corner through the sound - amplifying formation of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

"Our Tong family has been established in Tianshui City for ten thousand years, relying on the four words 'Harmony brings wealth'."

"Today, I'm sure everyone knows that our Tong family is in some trouble." Tong Qiannian gave a bitter smile, full of self - mockery. "A common man is not guilty, but possessing a valuable jade makes him so. Since we can't keep it, then we won't."

He suddenly waved his hand.

"Bring up the auction items!"

A maid carried a jade plate covered with a red cloth and gracefully walked onto the high platform.

Everyone held their breath at this moment.

Here it was!

However, Tong Qiannian shook his head.

"Everyone, please be patient. The best part is always saved for last."

"There are also many fellow daoists who came for the auction. We can't favor one over the other."

He reached out and personally lifted the red cloth.

Under the red cloth, it was not the ancient sword that everyone had expected, but a strange flower with a completely black body and the edges of its petals twinkling with blue - black light spots.

"Nine Nether Soul - Tempering Flower, a thousand - year - old one. The starting price is one hundred thousand top - grade spirit stones."

Tong Qiannian's voice was calm.

There was a disappointed sigh in the hall immediately.

Although the thousand - year - old Nine Nether Soul - Tempering Flower was also a rare treasure and had a miraculous effect on cultivators who practiced soul cultivation, it was far inferior to the legendary ancient sword.

In the private rooms on the second floor, several figures that had been full of enthusiasm sat back down again. Obviously, they were not interested in this thing.

"One hundred thousand."

A rough voice came from a private room on the east side of the second floor with a sign that read "Iron Palm Sect".

The person speaking was a man with a fierce face. After reporting the price, he calmly picked up his teacup, scanned the whole audience with his eyes, and carried an undeniable air of domineering.

The Iron Palm Sect was an established local force in Tianshui City. Its sect master, Wang Ba, was at the late stage of the Dao - Integration Realm and had a great reputation locally.

As soon as he spoke, the first - floor hall fell completely silent.

One hundred thousand top - grade spirit stones for a thousand - year - old soul - tempering flower was not expensive, but it was not cheap either.

But everyone knew that the Iron Palm Sect mainly practiced physical body cultivation. This soul - tempering flower was quite useful for them and could just make up for some weak points.

Wang Ba's move was more of a gesture - he wanted this first auction item.

Whoever dared to compete with him was not giving face to his Iron Palm Sect.

The situation was a bit cold for a moment.

Tong Qiannian stood on the stage, and there was no sign of joy or anger on his face.

Just when everyone thought this first auction item would end so blandly.

"One hundred and ten thousand."

A lazy voice came from another private room on the west side, where the Wind - Thunder Valley was located.

Wang Ba's face instantly sank.

He put down his teacup and said in an unfriendly tone, "Valley Master Li, our Iron Palm Sect cultivates the Diamond Body. This soul - tempering flower is just right for making medicine for my disciples. Your Wind - Thunder Valley mainly practices the Wind and Thunder techniques. What do you need this thing for?"

Valley Master Li of the Wind - Thunder Valley gave a soft laugh, with a bit of teasing in his voice. "Sect Master Wang, you're joking. Whether I can use it or not has nothing to do with you. I just simply think that it's too much of a look - down on the Tong family and the Treasure Gathering Pavilion to say that this thousand - year - old Nine Nether Soul - Tempering Flower is only worth one hundred thousand spirit stones."

"You!" Wang Ba suddenly slapped the table and stood up. The aura of the late stage of the Dao - Integration Realm exploded, making the chairs and stools in the first - floor hall buzz.

"What? Does Sect Master Wang want to start a fight?" Valley Master Li's voice was still unhurried. "Others don't bid because they're giving you Wang Ba face. But does our Wind - Thunder Valley need to give you face?"

He paused, and his voice suddenly turned cold. He said word by word, "This is an auction. The highest bidder wins. It's not about who has a higher status that can get it."

"Sect Master Wang, you wouldn't want to break the rules right under the nose of Elder Fang Zheng of Emperor's Court Mountain, would you?"

The last sentence was like a heart - stabbing one.

The aura that Wang Ba had burst out instantly deflated like a punctured balloon.

He stared fixedly at the direction of the Wind - Thunder Valley, but couldn't say a single word.

In the hall, Su Ji watched this highly - charged confrontation and couldn't help but shake his head in his heart.

He picked up a spiritual fruit and took a bite. The juice overflowed.

"It's a show."

In the sea of consciousness, the voice of the Old Emperor sounded lazily, with a look - down - on - everything disdain, fully in agreement.

"I also think it's too fake."

That Wang Ba looked imposingly angry, but that anger was only on the surface.

And that Valley Master Li, although his words were sharp, his provocative posture was too artificial. Every pause and turn seemed rehearsed.

"These two guys' acting skills are even worse than that Elder Lin from the Turbulent Star Sea." Su Ji complained in the sea of consciousness.

"Nonsense." The Old Emperor sneered. "It's obvious that they're the decoys invited by that old guy to warn others."

"He's telling everyone, especially the Shu family, the local snake here -"

"Tonight, in this Treasure Gathering Pavilion, only spirit stones matter, not status."

"Whoever dares to bully others by relying on their power and break the rule of 'the highest bidder wins' is slapping Fang Zheng in the face and slapping Emperor's Court Mountain in the face."

Su Ji suddenly understood.

Brilliant.

Rather than suppressing with tough measures, it was better to actively establish a rule that everyone had to abide by.

In this way, it could not only ensure the "fairness" of the auction but also control all potential conflicts within the controllable range of "bidding".

On the high platform, Tong Qiannian watched the two in a stalemate and timely rang the small hammer in his hand.

"Valley Master Li of the Wind - Thunder Valley bids one hundred and ten thousand. Is there any higher bid?"

"One hundred and twenty thousand!" Wang Ba gritted his teeth and almost squeezed out these two words from between his teeth.

"One hundred and fifty thousand." Valley Master Li said calmly.

"You..."

"Two hundred thousand."

Finally, this Soul-Quenching Flower, with a starting bid of a hundred thousand, was bid up to a sky-high price of three hundred thousand and was purchased by Wang Ba, whose face had turned ashen.

Just then, Tong Qiannian's voice rang out again.

"Thank you all for your support."

"Next up is the second item for auction tonight."

He waved his hand towards the back.

Two maids worked together to slowly wheel a large object covered with a red cloth to the center of the high platform.