Chapter 97: The Auction Begins, A Middle-Grade Sword

As the old man took the stage, many in the crowd who recognized him began to whisper among themselves.

“I didn’t expect Elder Cai to host this himself. There must be some good things at this auction.”

“Indeed. Elder Cai is at the peak of the Soul Formation stage, a half-step Body Integration expert. To think he would come out of seclusion just to oversee this.”

“You haven’t heard? This time is different. The Abyss Secret Realm is ruined, so everyone is focusing on Spirit Medicine Valley and the Sword Tomb. They’ll spare no expense to win the quotas. The Immortal Dao Merchant Association must have brought out plenty of good things. Naturally, they need Elder Cai here to keep things under control.”

Well-informed patrons in the main hall explained the situation to those around them.

Qin Xiao had already learned from Ling Ruoxue that this man was Cai Mu, the manager of the Pure Yang City branch of the Immortal Dao Merchant Association, and that he would be hosting the event personally.

“Eldest Miss, how many treasures have you prepared this time? Give me a hint.”

Qin Xiao was curious too. With a peak Soul Formation expert hosting, there had to be good things on offer.

“I can’t tell you. Watch and see for yourself.”

Ling Ruoxue refused. In fact, she did not know much about it herself. Though she was the Eldest Miss, they did not tell her everything. Each local branch had some autonomy, and she had not interfered much with this auction.

For a standard auction, a catalog would usually be circulated beforehand so participants could prepare enough Spirit Stones. This time, however, with numerous powerful factions guaranteed to bid, no catalog had been published.

This kept people guessing how many spirit stones they would need. They could only bring as many as possible. With the Abyss Secret Realm out of action, everyone would be focusing on this auction, and the Immortal Dao Merchant Association had seized the opportunity.

“I know none of you wants to hear an old man ramble, so let’s begin. The first lot is the Flowing Cloud Sword, a Middle Grade Dharma Treasure. It comes from a senior, but I can’t say more. Bidding starts at three million spirit stones, with increases of at least a hundred thousand.”

Cai Mu wasted no time with pleasantries, offering a brief introduction before announcing the opening bid.

“A Middle-Grade Dharma Treasure, and a sword, too. Those are always in demand. People will fight over it. They’re opening with something big!”

Seeing that the first lot was a Middle-Grade Dharma Treasure, Qin Xiao knew the Immortal Dao Merchant Association was about to make a fortune.

“My disciples, does anyone need this?”

Qin Xiao turned directly to the group.

“Who is your disciple? Our wager hasn’t even begun, and you are destined to lose anyway.”

Luo Yunshuang was annoyed that Qin Xiao was counting them as his disciples too, and retorted.

“Very well, then. Disciples, does either of you want it?”

Unfazed by the retort, Qin Xiao turned his attention to Yun Man and Lin Shimeng.

“I don’t need it. The sect has a Middle Grade Dharma Treasure. They’ll give it to me once I reach the Soul Formation stage.”

Lin Shimeng wanted it, but her father had brought a Middle Grade Dharma Treasure sword for her to use in the contest, so she did not need another just now.

“Master, I want it.”

Yun Man did not stand on ceremony. Her Low-Grade Dharma Treasure was already a good weapon, but who would turn down a Middle-Grade one?

“Very well. This sword belongs to you, then.”

Without hesitation, Qin Xiao assigned the sword directly to Yun Man.

“Brother Qin, the bidding has barely started and you’ve already decided who gets the sword?”

Luo Yunshuang did not quite know what to say.

Normally, such a sword might command a few million Spirit Stones, perhaps topping out around ten million. Today, however, smaller factions would fight over it like madmen, and major powers would refuse to let it slip away, likely driving the price to absurd heights. Yet Qin Xiao had settled its destination without a second thought.

“Just watch.” Get faster updates on novelping.com.

Qin Xiao offered no further explanation.

“Three million five hundred thousand.”

“Three million seven hundred thousand.”

“Four million.”

In the span of just three bids, the price soared to four million.

Everyone knew it was only the start. The real show had yet to begin.

“Four million five hundred thousand.”

Bidding commenced from the second-floor viewing rooms as well.

“Five million.”

“Five million five hundred thousand.”

“Six million.”

Once the price reached six million, the bidders in the main hall fell silent. Anyone who could afford more would not have been sitting there in the first place.

“Six million one hundred thousand.”

Feeling the financial pressure at six million, the bidders on the second floor began raising their offers in increments of one hundred thousand.

“Seven million.”

A bid of seven million came straight from the third floor.

“Could that be Young Master Yu?”

Glancing toward the private rooms, Ling Ruoxue guessed the voice belonged to Yu Shaoqing.

It was indeed Yu Shaoqing. He liked the sword and had raised the bid straight to seven million.

The City Lord had not come to this auction and had not given him the Supreme Membership Card. Yu Shaoqing had to use his own purple card and sit in a third-floor room.

“Seven million five hundred thousand.”

Someone on the second floor clearly had deeper pockets than expected: the next bid went up by another five hundred thousand.

“Eight million.”

Yu Shaoqing would not give up, especially with a second-floor room bidding against him. How could he face anyone if they outbid him?

“Eight million five hundred thousand.”

The second-floor room raised the bid by another five hundred thousand, sounding just as determined to win.

“Nine million.”

Gritting his teeth, Yu Shaoqing raised the bid by another five hundred thousand.

“Ten million.”

The second-floor occupant immediately raised the stakes to ten million, leaving Yu Shaoqing no room to retreat. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.

“When did such a ruthless competitor arrive on the second floor?”

Qin Xiao looked curiously at the second-floor room opposite.

“He’s wearing a cloak and using an ordinary gold card, but he can’t fool me. That’s Fang Xiuxian, leading the Tianyi City team this time.”

Noticing Qin Xiao’s interest, Ling Ruoxue provided the explanation.

“So he’s Grand Commander Chen Shunyi’s disciple. No wonder he has so much money.”

After Ling Ruoxue explained, Qin Xiao understood. And the man was his enemy.

“Do you know him, Brother Qin?”

Luo Yunshuang was curious too.

“No, but I know his master. That old bastard is no good, and neither is his disciple. The whole lot of them are rotten. A nest of vermin!”

At the mere mention of Chen Shunyi, Qin Xiao gritted his teeth in irritation.

“Ah… pretend I asked nothing.”

Luo Yunshuang could see that Qin Xiao had a grudge against the man. His master was a Grand Commander, too. She had better stay out of it.

“Eleven million.”

Yu Shaoqing could not back down. Gritting his teeth, he raised the bid to eleven million. How he wished someone would save him now. Keeping up appearances was becoming too much.

“Twelve million.”

Fang Xiuxian kept raising his bids casually. Twelve million was still acceptable to him.

“It appears Young Master Yu is reaching his limit. It is time for me to make a move.”

When Yu Shaoqing’s room fell silent, Qin Xiao knew the City Lord’s son had reached his limit.

“Fifteen million.”

Qin Xiao increased the bid without a second’s hesitation. To be frank, Spirit Stones were little more than numbers to him now; so long as Yun Man desired the weapon, any price was justified.

At Qin Xiao’s fifteen-million bid, Yu Shaoqing finally breathed a sigh of relief. With someone on the fourth floor bidding, he could stop without losing face.

Fang Xiuxian had not expected a bid of fifteen million for a mere Middle Grade Dharma Treasure. Did the bidder really like the sword, or was he targeting him?

“Sixteen million.”

He added another million to test the waters.

“Twenty million.”

Qin Xiao drove the price up again. They were only Spirit Stones; he would keep bidding until Fang Xiuxian gave up. The man would not get a single thing he wanted today. Tomorrow, Qin Xiao would give him a good beating, too.

Qin Xiao was bidding out of spite now, but he did not care. If his enemy was unhappy, he would be happy.

“Have you lost your mind? Who bids in increments like that?”

Luo Yunshuang was stunned by the way Qin Xiao raised his bids by millions at a time. These were Spirit Stones, not rocks by the roadside. Even millions of ordinary rocks would be a lot!

“I’m perfectly sane. It’s a Middle-Grade Dharma Treasure. Is twenty million so much? Besides, my disciple wants it. As her master, of course I have to get it for her.”

Qin Xiao did not care. It was only twenty million. He was just getting started.