16: Chapter 16 The Auction (Part 1)

The auction has begun.

The floor in the hollow center of the round building slowly separated, and a beautiful Fairy ascended.

The Fairy wore immaculate white robes, setting off her unparalleled elegance. Only a single green sash cinched her waist extremely tightly, catching everyone's eyes.

The Fairy smiled sweetly, like being bathed in a spring breeze, and gave a slight curtsy. This sight captivated the eyes of countless people.

"Wan'er greets all fellow Cultivators."

Upstairs, a teasing voice came from an unknown room, "I didn't expect the auctioneer today to be Miss Wan'er. We are truly blessed."

Wan'er, with a smile lingering in her eyes, bowed again toward the room where the voice originated. "Fellow Cultivator, you jest. It is Wan'er's fortune to host this auction for all of you."

Another voice came from a different room, "Haha, Miss Wan'er speaks so nicely. But I didn't come today just to see you, Miss Wan'er. Hurry up and bring out the good items so we can take a look."

This was a prompt, showing no interest in the pleasantries.

Wan'er's expression remained unchanged, her smile as sweet as ever. "Since the Fellow Cultivator is anxious, please present the first auction item."

Bai Shao on the eighth floor was quite displeased. He still wanted to tease Wan'er a few more times, but he was cut off just like that.

Bai Ji cast a light glance, and Bai Shao, who was about to speak again, immediately shut his mouth, showing he was quite perceptive.

"The first auction item: foundation establishment pill."

Instantly, the entire auction hall fell silent.

Even the dullest person should have been able to sense the tension in the atmosphere at that moment.

The foundation establishment pill was not easy to obtain, even within the Qingyun Sect.

Otherwise, Yao Banmeng would not have so easily conceded the one hundred thousand Spirit Stones required to bid for the foundation establishment pill.

Wan'er was very satisfied with the current atmosphere. The order of the items was set by her; she wanted an opening item that would immediately capture everyone's attention.

"Low Grade foundation establishment pill, starting bid ten thousand Spirit Stones. Each subsequent bid must not be less than one thousand Spirit Stones. Fellow Cultivators who are interested may begin bidding."

Almost as soon as Wan'er finished speaking, someone on the first floor made a bid.

"Twenty thousand!"

Xiao Tian's eyes flickered, and he looked toward his father. "Father, is that Miss Yao?"

Luo Yunkai stroked his beard. "It should be her."

Su Xin glanced at the father and son, then withdrew his gaze.

The foundation establishment pill was not something he could covet yet.

"Thirty thousand!" A bid came from the second floor, also increasing the price by ten thousand Spirit Stones.

"Fifty thousand!" On the eighth floor, Bai Shao called out a bid.

Hearing Bai Shao speak, the auction fell silent for a moment.

Bai Shao, that second-generation dandy, was only at the first level of Qi Refining; he had absolutely no need for a foundation establishment pill.

Who was he bidding for the foundation establishment pill? The result was obvious.

That Sect Master's eldest Disciple had been at Qi Refining Great Perfection for some time.

No one dared to compete with the Qingyun Sect's Eldest Senior Brother.

Even though it was well-known that the foundation establishment pill was worth more than this price!

"Junior Sister Yao, since Eldest Senior Brother wants this foundation establishment pill, you cannot compete. Why not give Eldest Senior Brother some Face? As long as there are Spirit Stones, there will always be foundation establishment pills."

Yao Banmeng's Face darkened like water. She didn't give the Senior Brother who was trying to comfort her a good look, only biting her lower lip tightly while staring at the foundation establishment pill on the auction stand before Wan'er.

Seeing this, Xu Feng's heart softened. He reached out, intending to pat his Junior Sister's hand to comfort her, but his hand met empty air.

Yao Banmeng looked at this Senior Brother Xu with a hint of defensiveness.

Xu Feng forced an awkward smile. "Junior Sister Yao, I didn't mean anything else."

Yao Banmeng forced a strained smile. "I know Senior Brother is a good person. If it weren't for Senior Brother bringing me to the auction, I wouldn't even have the qualifications to bid."

Xu Feng smiled humbly. "It's a pity I couldn't help Junior Sister..."

"Sixty thousand!" An aged voice rang out, making the already silent auction even quieter.

Yao Banmeng recognized the familiar voice. She no longer cared about Xu Feng and directed her gaze outward.

The room from which the voice originated was directly opposite the one she was in.

Unfortunately, the doors and windows of the auction hall were tightly closed. One could only see out from inside, not in from the outside, so she could not see the person in the opposite room.

"It must be him!"

Bai Shao slapped his jade fan onto the table with a 'pa' sound, rage erupting in his eyes.

Bai Ji's brow didn't move at all. He said lightly, "Such composure. It's only sixty thousand. Continue."

Bai Shao's lips moved, wanting to remind his elder brother that the old man was very rich.

But then he thought that perhaps the old man had brought out all his wealth at that time, and in any case, it couldn't be more than his elder brother's total!

"Seventy thousand!" Bai Shao's voice carried suppressed anger. "Old man, keep raising the price. No matter how much you add, my elder brother can match it!"

His words carried a subtle threat.

Luo Yunkai didn't even lift his eyelids. "One hundred thousand."

He directly called out the price of the foundation establishment pill from the previous auction.

Bai Shao was furious. This old thing!

"One hundred and ten thousand!"

"One hundred and twenty thousand."

"One hundred and thirty thousand!"

"One hundred and forty thousand."

"One hundred and fifty thousand!"

"One hundred and sixty thousand."

From beginning to end, Luo Yunkai's bids were calm, as if he were calling out sixteen Spirit Stones instead of one hundred and sixty thousand Spirit Stones.

Bai Ji raised his hand, interrupting Bai Shao's attempt to continue bidding.

"If he wants it, let him have it. It's just a Low Grade foundation establishment pill. There is also a Medium Grade foundation establishment pill to be auctioned later."

When Bai Shao heard this, his eyes lit up.

He shouted loudly toward the lower floors, "Old man, bidding one hundred and sixty thousand Spirit Stones for a Low Grade foundation establishment pill, hahaha..."

"It's yours, it's yours! When I bid for the Medium Grade foundation establishment pill later, I wonder if the bid can even reach one hundred and sixty thousand, hahaha..."

His arrogant laughter echoed throughout the auction hall.

It was as if his previous bids were only made to trick Luo Yunkai into overpaying.

Xiao Tian became angry at that moment. "He did it on purpose! He deliberately made Father spend such a high price to buy back the foundation establishment pill!"

Su Xin held Xiao Tian back. "Bai Shao doesn't have the brains for that. He's just finding an excuse for backing down."

Luo Yunkai stroked his beard and nodded with a slow smile. "I didn't expect a Medium Grade foundation establishment pill would also be auctioned. This is truly an unexpected delight."

To be honest, when he bought the foundation establishment pill, he hadn't planned on using it himself. After all, he had already failed Foundation Establishment once; trying again would only be harder.

However, a Medium Grade foundation establishment pill might be worth a try!

Luo Yunkai looked deeply at the room where Bai Shao was on the eighth floor. "Let him be smug for now. I will buy the Medium Grade foundation establishment pill later, and then we'll see what he says!"

Bai Shao felt he had regained his Face, and the subsequent auctions continued with his arrogance.

As long as there was something he fancied, if someone bid twice, he would immediately raise the price.

For the sake of his elder brother's Face, most people tolerated it and let him have the items.

This was also because Bai Shao's cultivation was low, and the things he fancied were not crucial items. Letting him have his fun made him feel that the entire auction revolved around his mood, making him even more arrogant.

Consequently, when a Heaven And Earth Treasure was placed on the auction stage, he dared to point and direct, demanding others listen to him.

"The next auction item is an Earth-attribute Heaven And Earth Treasure—Xirang!"

As soon as Wan'er displayed the item, she felt several Divine Senses sweeping over her from the higher floors.

For people like Luo Yunkai, the auction items were unknown and mysterious.

But the Cultivators on the higher floors already knew what some of the items were.

They were waiting for this moment!

"Xirang. I believe all fellow Cultivators are aware of it. Wan'er will not elaborate further here."

"Starting bid five hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Each subsequent bid must not be less than fifty thousand."

As soon as Wan'er's voice fell, she heard someone place a bid...

"One million!"

She looked toward the bidding room in astonishment, filled with disbelief.