Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Auction (II)

What you see here are merely the decorative pieces our chamber of commerce has put on display; the true finale items of our auctions are treasures so rare that they sometimes don’t even exist elsewhere on this continent. They come from the Upper Realm. This time, I’ve heard that a mysterious object has been selected for the auction, and if you’re fortunate, you’ll get to witness it.

Having finished her speech, Foxy Meir’s face radiated pride as she lifted her chin and shook her head in satisfaction.

The corridor soon came to an end, and as they stepped out, a grand hall unfolded before everyone’s eyes. Scattered guests sat inside the hall, almost all of them wearing masks or veils, seated quietly in their places.

Looking up, one could see the hall rose three stories high, with several enormous phosphorescent stones set into the ceiling of the upper two levels. The light they cast made the hall brilliantly bright.

A massive phosphorescent stone was also embedded in the auction platform at the front, which for now stood empty.

The chairs on the main floor were spaced more than a meter apart, and staff members stood every few meters, their gazes sweeping the surroundings with vigilance.

Foxy Meir greeted one of the staff and led Dao Sansheng’s party of five upstairs. The auction house was vast, and it took a full ten minutes to make the ascent.

“Well, here is your private suite,” Foxy Meir announced, indicating a wide-open area with no partitions, just a table and a few chairs. Dao Sansheng and his four companions stepped into this unusually transparent VIP room.

As soon as they entered, a transparent barrier of spiritual energy formed around them. Seated inside, they could clearly see every corner below, especially the central auction platform.

“My guests, I won’t disturb you further—call for me if you need anything,” Foxy Meir said, taking her leave.

As time passed, more and more people filled the auction house. Soon every seat was taken, even the lower level was packed. After the time it took for one stick of incense to burn, the atmosphere became electric.

A woman in a white off-shoulder gown appeared, the skirt trailing gracefully to the floor with two slits on either side. One hand lifted the hem, the other held a black microphone as she took the stage.

She adjusted the strap on her shoulder as the gown threatened to slip, but quickly glanced around. Her gaze drew a chorus of screams from the audience.

“Hello everyone, I am Lina, your auctioneer for this session. I will be presiding over this grand auction. I know you’re all eager for the grand finale item, but I won’t spoil the surprise just yet—it will appear soon enough. In fact, we’ve just received an item of even greater value at the last moment.”

The hall erupted into waves of shrieking and applause, echoing on and on.

“No need for more words, I’m sure you’re all impatient. Let’s begin this auction!” Lina snapped her fingers, and a young girl ascended the stage carrying a tray veiled in black cloth, lending it an air of deep mystery.

The girl moved with soft steps, her features delicate and fair, her skin like snow, a doll-like face adorned with a gentle smile. She stopped beside Lina.

“This item has quite a story. After a small secret realm opened last year, a lone cultivator seized this opportunity. Uncertain of its nature, he entrusted it to our chamber of commerce. After a year of research, we’ve determined this is an extraordinary, unknown treasure. Its surface is painted with a vivid starry sky, vibrant and beautiful. We’ll start the bidding at ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones—a true bargain. Cherish this opportunity.”

With that, Lina lifted the black cloth, revealing a black scroll painted with a starry sky, and unrolled it for all to see.

The scroll slowly unfurled, displaying a stunning tableau of stars, reminiscent from afar of a summer night’s sky, while up close it depicted orbs of varying sizes, leaving the audience bewildered.

The starry sky itself was easily understood, but the circles in the foreground were unfathomable, prompting sighs throughout the hall.

“Your Purple Gold Chamber of Commerce isn’t trying to cheat us with this, are you?” someone called from the floor.

Lina smiled, rolling up the scroll. “Our appraisers have conducted extensive tests. Even if you don’t appreciate the design, the materials used for this star chart are of unparalleled quality. You won’t lose out. Used wisely, it could yield returns several times the starting price.”

The skeptic sat back down.

“Bidding starts at ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones,” Lina announced.

Yet not a single bid came; the audience glanced at one another, no one making an offer.

Backstage, a familiar figure stood before the assembled members of the Purple Gold Chamber of Commerce and the enforcement team.

“I, Lin Zhi, am now the envoy assigned to this plane and the current president of the Purple Gold Chamber of Commerce. If you perform well and follow orders, I’ll reward you with techniques, pills, perhaps even take you upstairs with me. Now get to work. I’m going to observe the auction.”

In a flash, Lin Zhi appeared in the VIP suite on the third floor.

Gazing at the sea of people below, Lin Zhi couldn’t help but sigh. “It’s good here. I used to be a pathetic cultivator, bullied by others. Now I finally know the joy of holding real power. It’s truly exhilarating!”

He burst out laughing, then suddenly stopped and, confirming he was alone, burst into laughter again.

With no bids forthcoming, Lina felt awkward and was about to speak when a voice rang out from a box on the second floor.

“Ten thousand one hundred mid-grade spirit stones.”

Dao Sansheng gazed at the water-blue planet depicted, a sense of familiarity and strangeness washing over him. Others might not recognize it, but he did—these were all planets, and that water-blue one in particular… Could this be his way home?

“Congratulations to this friend for bidding ten thousand one hundred mid-grade spirit stones. Any further bids?” Lina glanced around, but saw little interest. Still, procedure must be followed.

“Each increase must be at least five hundred mid-grade spirit stones. I’ll count down from ten; if there are no more bids, the item is yours.”

Lina cast another glance at the box. This auction had almost failed to sell an item, but thanks to this bidder, the disaster was averted. She resolved to inquire about him later.

Upstairs, Lin Zhi, who had just been laughing, heard the bid and peered down at the stage, where two young women stood: one in an off-shoulder gown, the other in a fresh short dress, holding the tray.

When he saw the item on the tray, Lin Zhi’s eyes widened. Wasn’t this the star chart he’d seen at a top-tier auction?

Lina began the countdown.

“One, two, three, four, five—”

Just as she reached five, a voice from the third floor called out, “Twenty thousand mid-grade spirit stones!”

Lina looked up—she knew that voice well. It was the president’s suite. Anyone of note in the chamber of commerce or the Windwalker Continent would recognize it. Was the president deliberately driving up the price? Lina wondered.

“This new president is so ostentatious,” Lina thought.

“Fifty thousand mid-grade spirit stones,” Dao Sansheng declared, unwilling to give up—this might be his ticket home, and he would not let go.

On the upper floor, Lin Zhi heard Dao Sansheng’s bid and immediately shouted, “One hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones!” His voice echoed through every corner of the auction hall.

“One hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones! Does anyone wish to bid higher? Any higher bids?” Lina called out, repeating the president’s offer.