57: Chapter 57 Auction

Since he had nothing else to do anyway, Su Jiuchuan decided to go and check it out.

He called over the inn waiter, asked for the location of the auction house, and then walked over there alone.

This auction house was located in the center of Tianshui City and was run by the government. It was usually a place where the government disposed of property confiscated from criminals. Of course, some people also auctioned off private collections on the side.

From far away, Su Jiuchuan could see a long line of carriages queued up at the entrance of the auction house. It seemed many people had come to watch the excitement today. Auctioning a Gold Mine was a rare and grand event. Even if they couldn't participate, just watching the spectacle would give them bragging rights for a while.

Just as he was about to enter the auction house, he was stopped by the guards at the door. An old man with a sharp chin and monkey-like cheeks stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "This Young Master, you look like a fresh face!"

"What? Can't someone with a fresh face enter this auction house?"

The old man smiled and said, "This humble one is Zhao Datong, a minor manager of the auction house. Naturally, we have our rules here. Distinguished guests must have their eligibility verified by the auction house to enter. Otherwise, if someone bids recklessly and can't pay in the end, it would be bad if it angered the prominent figures."

Su Jiuchuan knew this was to filter out potential troublemakers. He nodded and asked, "Then how does one get verified?"

"Show assets worth at least ten thousand taels of silver."

This requirement didn't seem unreasonable, but Su Jiuchuan didn't have that. Although he had made hundreds of thousands of taels over the past few months, it had all been fed to the simulator, and that thing certainly wouldn't spit back out what it had consumed.

Seeing his troubled expression, Manager Zhao sneered in his heart, thinking it was just another poor wretch trying to join in on the fun.

"If you can't produce it, please move aside. Don't block the way of other distinguished guests." At this point, he no longer hid the disdain on his face.

Su Jiuchuan was furious, but he knew now was not the time to make a scene. Suddenly remembering something, he said coldly, "Why look down on people like a snob? Take a look at how much this thing is worth!"

With that, he took an item out from his robes. It was none other than the parchment scroll containing the Shouyang Scripture.

Manager Zhao casually took it, unrolled it, and his eyes widened. He then carefully sized up Su Jiuchuan for a long time. His disdain completely vanished, and he said solemnly, "Please wait a moment, Young Master. I will be right back."

Then, he walked inside with the parchment scroll.

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, just as Su Jiuchuan was getting a bit impatient, Manager Zhao walked out. He gave him a slightly strange look, then cupped his hands and asked, "Young Master, this is half a scroll of a Xiantian Technique. Do you wish to auction it, or..."

Su Jiuchuan's heart stirred. It wouldn't be bad if he could sell this Shouyang Scripture. After all, he wouldn't dare practice an incomplete Cultivation Technique anyway, and he had already memorized the formula for purifying True Qi from the first half.

"Then let's auction it!"

"How much would you like the starting price to be?"

Su Jiuchuan was stunned. He didn't know how much this thing was actually worth, but he couldn't just say 'whatever'. In the end, he said tentatively, "Let's set the starting price at fifty thousand taels!"

Manager Zhao smiled and said, "Very well. Please complete the paperwork, Young Master."

Su Jiuchuan nodded, followed Manager Zhao to complete the registration, and handed over the parchment scroll to be sealed by the auction house staff. Only then was he led into the venue by a servant.

The auction hall wasn't actually very large, about the size of a modern-day movie theater. There were no private booths or similar setups. Here, it was a simple competition of power and wealth, with no need for concealment.

He randomly found an empty seat and sat down. Many people streamed in one after another.

Soon, Su Jiuchuan saw an acquaintance. Squire Wang was helped inside, looking much older. Usually a smooth-talking socialite, not a single person came over to exchange pleasantries with him from beginning to end.

An attendant struck a gong, signaling that the auction was about to begin. By now, the hall was crowded, and the seat next to Su Jiuchuan was also occupied.

Just then, a person walked in through the entrance with light, graceful steps. It was Wen Shuyu, dressed as a scholar, with a maidservant following behind.

She casually scanned the room, and her eyes lit up when she spotted Su Jiuchuan. She slowly walked over. Her maidservant ran ahead to whisper a few words to the person sitting next to Su Jiuchuan, who then stood up, cupped his hands to Wen Shuyu, and gave up his seat.

The maidservant stepped forward to wipe the stool with her sleeve, and only then did Wen Shuyu walk over and sit down.

Once she was settled, she suddenly smiled and asked Su Jiuchuan, "Young Master Su, what brings you to a place like this?"

Su Jiuchuan was somewhat speechless. She was acting as if they were close friends. However, it wasn't convenient to make a scene, so he could only reply testily, "Just short on money!"

Wen Shuyu didn't expect such an answer. Stunned for a moment, she then smiled and said, "Brother Su is indeed a humorous man."

Seeing that Su Jiuchuan didn't respond, she didn't feel awkward either. She continued on her own, "If I were you, I wouldn't be in the mood to waste time here. I heard that the old monster of the Lin family, Lin Shanqi, summoned Young Master Lin Yanyi. I'm afraid it won't be long before Young Master Lin Yanyi challenges you to a duel, Brother Su."

Lin Shanqi is a Destiny Realm expert, the only monster in the Lin family who has trained the Sacred Heart Art to the highest Realm.

Hearing this, Su Jiuchuan's heart stirred. Was this the reason Young Master Lin Yanyi had mended his shattered Sword Intent in such a short time?

"Is he going to make a move on me?" He was somewhat worried that these noble families wouldn't play by the rules. If Young Master Lin Yanyi was defeated again and this Destiny Realm expert stepped in directly to crush him, then the obstacle three months later would truly be insurmountable.

"Hahaha!" Wen Shuyu covered her mouth and laughed heartily before saying, "Brother Su, you must be joking. Given Lin Shanqi's status, how could he? However, he has already sent word that if Young Master Lin Yanyi cannot kill you within half a year, he will be stripped of his status as a Core Disciple of the Lin family and exiled to the frontier."

Su Jiuchuan finally understood. No wonder he couldn't escape even by going out to sea in the simulated life.

Seeing that Su Jiuchuan remained unfazed, Wen Shuyu admired him inwardly. If nothing else, his composure in the face of honor or disgrace was far beyond that of ordinary people.

Next, the auction began, and the two of them stopped talking.

Squire Wang's Gold Mine was bid back and forth among several local noble families. However, an old man stood up and temporarily suspended the auction. He went to the back to negotiate with several noble families for a full incense stick's time. In the end, it was won by an elder of the Jin family for only five hundred thousand taels of silver.

This price could be said to be extremely low. One had to know that the annual output of that Gold Mine alone was worth one million taels of silver in gold.

However, this was only to be expected. If he refused to hand it over at a low price, he probably wouldn't get a single copper coin in the end.

Once everything had settled, an old man finally walked out and said, "The final auction item for today is half a volume of a Xiantian Technique."