16: Qingyun Treasures Auction

Year 552 of the New Era, June 15th.

Today's revenue: sold two tamed beasts—a Radiant Hound and a Frost Wolf—earning 113,000 spirit coins.

Purchased four Fragrant Rabbits and two Frost Wolves, spending 210,000 spirit coins.

Today's account balance decreased by 97,000 spirit coins.

After the man who bought the Frost Wolf left, Luo Yang quietly pulled Luo Chen aside.

"Brother, what's the deal with the mystic spirit grass in our shop? Many customers have already asked me this morning if we're selling it."

Only then did Luo Chen understand why there were dozens of people lingering in the shop—they didn't seem like they were there to look at tamed beasts.

Instead, they were gathered around the three mystic spirit grass plants, constantly discussing something.

Hearing Luo Yang's words, Luo Chen quickly asked the system in his mind, "System, if the mystic spirit grass is sold, does it count as completing the system's task?"

System: ...

The system seemed to freeze for a moment before replying, "mystic spirit grass is the precursor to a certain type of tamed beast. For now, it can be counted as revenue."

After receiving confirmation from the system, Luo Chen deliberately asked mysteriously, "What kind of shop are we?"

"A pet shop. So?" Luo Yang still didn't quite understand Luo Chen's meaning.

"So if we can make money, why not sell it?" Luo Chen went upstairs, fetched a board, and quickly wrote a lot of content on it with a pen.

After writing, he handed the board to Luo Yang, instructing him to place it in the most prominent spot in the lobby.

"Notice for Purchasing mystic spirit grass from This Shop: This shop has two mystic spirit grass plants for sale. Each plant costs 400,000 spirit coins, and the purchase must include at least one additional tamed beast from this shop."

Luo Chen shamelessly adopted a bundling sales model. Given the popularity of the two mystic spirit grass plants, if both were truly sold, the system's second task would be fully completed.

When Luo Yang placed the sign in the center of the lobby, it instantly attracted the attention of the customers lingering on the first floor.

Many customers, after reading Luo Chen's requirements, felt that the conditions were still somewhat reasonable.

Because the last time mystic spirit grass appeared in Qingyang City, it sold for 610,000 at an auction house.

Now, this shop is only asking for 400,000. Even with the addition of a tamed beast, it's not much.

As soon as the notice's content was read, a customer immediately went to the checkout counter to find Luo Chen. It was a man in his thirties with oily, shiny hair.

"I want to buy one mystic spirit grass plant, plus that Fragrant Rabbit."

When this man was about to pay, the other customers instantly reacted and swarmed to Luo Chen's checkout counter.

"I also want one mystic spirit grass plant, plus that Radiant Hound!"

"Me too, me too..."

...

Luo Chen unconsciously widened his eyes. Are there really this many wealthy people in Qingyang City now? Among the dozens of customers in the shop, this many could afford to buy mystic spirit grass?

Luo Chen extended both hands, pressing them down slightly, and waited for the scene to quiet down a bit before saying:

"Everyone, this shop only has two mystic spirit grass plants for sale. With so many of you wanting to buy, it's really difficult to decide."

"Everyone, I am a purchaser from Liang Corporation. I'd appreciate it if you could give me some face."

It was the same oily-haired man who had first spoken to Luo Chen about buying the mystic spirit grass. He took a business card from his jacket pocket and placed it on the checkout counter.

The card read: Wei Yansheng, Purchasing Manager, Liang Corporation.

Hearing this man's words, the other customers' discussions noticeably quieted.

It had to be said that his status was quite intimidating in Qingyang City.

It was said that Liang Corporation had moved from Middle City to Lower City. In just over a decade in Lower City, they had thrived in Qingyang City thanks to two King-Rank Beast Masters in their family.

Now, they had clearly become a major powerhouse in Qingyang City, so people in the city rarely provoked Liang Corporation.

However, at that moment, several people walked in from outside the shop, wearing uniform and efficient-looking attire.

Everyone present recognized who the newcomers were at a glance: the Qingyang City Enforcement Team.

The leader was a very tall man, nearly 1.9 meters, but his face looked quite young. He scanned the scene inside the shop and spoke:

"I heard there's mystic spirit grass for sale here. I wonder if our Enforcement Team has the honor of purchasing one plant?"

Although his words were phrased as a question, his tone was one of unquestionable authority.

Luo Chen frowned, feeling this person was overly domineering, which inevitably displeased him.

"This shop only has two mystic spirit grass plants for sale. Please wait until the customers have discussed and decided among themselves before making a purchase."

Luo Chen's calm voice rang out, but the impatience in his tone was very clear.

As the person in the room who knew Luo Chen best, Luo Yang clearly sensed the unhappiness in Luo Chen's tone. He frowned, staring at the Enforcement Team and the Liang Corporation manager.

Among the dozens of customers present, these two obviously held the highest status. The others didn't dare to compete with them for the two mystic spirit grass plants.

The Enforcement Team captain-like figure who arrived later also paired his mystic spirit grass purchase with a Fragrant Rabbit.

After successfully holding the mystic spirit grass in his arms, he asked, "Do you sell that last mystic spirit grass plant?"

There were three mystic spirit grass plants displayed on the first floor. After the two men each bought one, there was one left, used as a showpiece.

Luo Chen shook his head coldly. "That one stays in the shop for display. It's not for sale."

"Tsk." The Enforcement Team man clicked his tongue lightly. "What a pity."

He could clearly sense Luo Chen's dislike from his attitude, but he didn't care. Seeing Luo Chen's firm stance, he led his underlings and left the shop.

As for the man from Liang Corporation, he pushed his business card toward Luo Chen and said in a relatively gentle tone:

"Young shopkeeper, if you have any rare items for sale here in the future, you can contact me."

Luo Chen looked at the three characters 'Wei Yansheng' on the card and nodded. "Alright. But in Manager Wei's eyes, what kind of items count as rare treasures?"

Faced with Luo Chen's curious inquiry, Wei Yansheng smiled lightly. "Treasures like mystic spirit grass go without saying. Also, any rare or uncommon tamed beasts can be notified to me."

Luo Chen furrowed his brow in thought for a moment, then pointed to the Fragrant Rabbit quietly staying in its cage on the north wall. "Does something like a Ferocious Beast four-star Fragrant Rabbit cub count?"

"What?" Even the well-informed Wei Yansheng was startled by Luo Chen's words. "A Ferocious Beast four-star Fragrant Rabbit cub?"

Luo Chen nodded naturally. Seeing Wei Yansheng's expression of disbelief, he led him to the Fragrant Rabbit's cage.

"The Fragrant Rabbit in this cage is less than two months old. Looking at the size of the crystal on its ear, I believe Manager Wei can sense its approximate Rank level."

Wei Yansheng himself was a Beast Master of a not-so-low Rank, so he naturally had some sensing ability. He stared at the Fragrant Rabbit in the cage, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"For a cub to reach this Rank, I really wonder how it was nurtured. Has this Fragrant Rabbit learned any other Skills?"

"No." Luo Chen answered truthfully.

The expression on Wei Yansheng's face visibly turned somewhat regretful. "Young shopkeeper, to be honest, this Fragrant Rabbit is indeed surprising. But without Skills, and considering the positioning of its race, calling it a premium item still falls a bit short."

Luo Chen understood Wei Yansheng's meaning. Even a higher-Rank Fragrant Rabbit was still ultimately a Fragrant Rabbit. Without learning new Skills or undergoing any qualitative changes, it could only attract a bit of attention.

"However, young shopkeeper, if you can nurture this Fragrant Rabbit to Ferocious Beast six-star, I could potentially get it into the Qingyun Rare Item Auction."

Luo Chen knew about the Qingyun Rare Item Auction. It was an auction held by Liang Corporation, conducted once a month.

Every item on the auction block was a rare treasure. In principle, items of Ferocious Beast Rank didn't even have the qualification to enter. Any product that made it to the auction saw its value skyrocket.

The last mystic spirit grass that appeared was auctioned for over 600,000 at the Qingyun Rare Item Auction. Presumably, the mystic spirit grass purchased from Luo Chen this time would also appear again at the Qingyun Rare Item Auction.

Luo Chen smiled. "Manager Wei, you bought a Fragrant Rabbit this time, right? You could leave it here for boarding. After I nurture it to Ferocious Beast six-star, you can come back to claim it then. How about that?

When the time comes, no matter what the selling price of the Fragrant Rabbit is, it will all be your personal income. What do you think?"