Time flowed by, and in the blink of an eye, three days had passed.
It was time to attend the auction.
Shi Nian handed a mask to Zhao Liuyun and led him to an inconspicuous corner of the city. Private auctions were difficult to find unless one had someone to lead the way. They entered a shop and moved into the inner room.
The attendant pushed open a heavy wooden door, and a faint scent of incense wafted toward them. Before them was not a magnificent hall, but a staircase sloping downward. Warm-colored wood panels covered the walls, and bright soul-guided lamps cast a soft glow. The carpet beneath their feet was thick and soft, making their footsteps silent. Despite being an underground space, the air remained fresh and circulating, without a hint of stuffiness.
At the end of the stairs was a spacious front hall equipped with food and drinks, where many people were socializing. Beyond another door further ahead lay the auction venue itself. Participants were entering one after another. Several solemn-faced guards stood by the door, their auras quite formidable. Meanwhile, attendants dressed in red silk miniskirts moved gracefully among the seats, their bold attire and lingering glances carrying a touch of coquetry.
Waving away an approaching attendant, Zhao Liuyun rubbed his chin. "A private auction... I've only heard of them before. This is my first time attending one."
Shi Nian pressed the tips of his fingers together in front of his chest and asked with a smile, "How does it feel?"
Zhao Liuyun's nose twitched slightly as he mused, "Acacia, Flesh Spirit Flower, Ever-Victorious Stalk—these are meant to stir the emotions and provoke physical desire. If there were a Spirit-type Soul Douluo secretly manipulating things, I'm afraid everyone present would fall into an illusion and be wiped out instantly."
What was meant to be incense used to heighten the atmosphere and encourage bidding had become a meticulously laid trap in his disciple's eyes. Shi Nian was momentarily speechless and could only stare at him in silence.
Seeing his teacher's subtle expression, Zhao Liuyun gave a light chuckle and changed the subject. "To have Yuanling Fruits from a thousand-year-old fruit tree for sale, I suspect there's someone from the Spirit Hall behind this."
His "Calm Mind" ensured he remained unaffected by the fragrance, keeping his mind clear.
Shi Nian nodded in agreement. "As the sacred land of soul masters, the Spirit Hall has profound foundations. Naturally, any industry associated with them is extraordinary."
He added calmly, "If there is anything you fancy, feel free to strike. Your teacher will back you up."
This auction house wasn't of the absolute highest tier. With Shi Nian's cultivation as a Spirit-type Soul Saint, he was more than capable of controlling the situation.
"Mm." Zhao Liuyun nodded gently and waited quietly.
Amidst that moment of tranquility, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura entering the field.
"Dai Mubai?"
How could he run into him even here? But on second thought, as a prince, it was perfectly reasonable for him to frequent such venues.
Zhao Liuyun thought to himself: You'd better not go looking for death.
The guests gradually took their seats, and the auction began. Since Shi Nian was a Soul Saint—and in the Douluo Continent, strength reigned supreme—he and Zhao Liuyun naturally sat in the first row. He was VIP No. 3, and Zhao Liuyun was No. 4. Shi Nian didn't even bother wearing a mask to hide his face, fishing with a straight hook.
"Respected guests! Distinguished ladies and gentlemen—good afternoon!"
The auctioneer on stage had silver hair but was as enthusiastic and loud as a young man. Zhao Liuyun perceived that he possessed the cultivation of a Soul Emperor. There were likely Soul Saints hidden in the shadows as well.
The auctioneer said excitedly, "Thank you all for taking the time to attend this meticulously prepared event." He bowed slightly, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Tonight, we shall present strictly selected rare treasures that will surely live up to your expectations—"
"Cut the nonsense, Little Rhino. Just start!" Shi Nian interrupted coldly, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority.
"Hehe, it seems Senior Shi Nian is impatient." The auctioneer's expression didn't change at all, his face still brimming with smiles.
Upon hearing that name, Dai Mubai leaned forward. Shi Nian was precisely Zhao Liuyun's teacher! Blue Sunshine Academy was far away in the Fasno Province; it seemed they had come specifically for this auction.
Malice surged in his heart. He assumed the VIP No. 4 sitting next to Shi Nian was that damned Zhao Liuyun. A flicker of fear crossed his eyes, but Dai Mubai felt his dignity had been challenged and resolved to cause some trouble for them.
"Then, the first item: Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue."
As the auctioneer's voice fell, a glamorous attendant with a curvaceous figure came forward carrying a silver tray. On a red velvet lining lay a deep yellow, gelatinous substance.
The auctioneer's voice suddenly rose, "After appraisal, this was taken from a recently hunted Sea-Swallowing Whale. It is genuine Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue."
"Ten-thousand-year whale glue, the golden spear shall never fall!"
"Simply scrape off a little and take it with hot water to make one's blood boil and restore heroic prowess!"
"Bigger! Thicker! Harder!!"
Amidst the explicit descriptions and the attendant's translucent gauze clothing, the atmosphere in the room suddenly heated up. The auctioneer surveyed the room with satisfaction. "I presume you all understand how difficult it is to hunt a ten-thousand-year whale-type soul beast in the vast ocean—"
"Starting price: one thousand Gold Soul Coins."
"One thousand one hundred!"
Dai Mubai had been waiting for this. He slammed the table and pulled the attendant in his arms closer, a burning light igniting in his eyes.
"One thousand four."
"One thousand five!"
When it came to matters of the bedroom, the nobles present were all excited. Bidding rose one after another, and the price surged like a tide.
"Three thousand!" Zhao Liuyun said calmly, not even lifting his eyelids. He immediately doubled the price.
Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue could no longer continue to temper his physique, but it still provided physical energy that was extremely easy to absorb. As a high-energy food that could improve the efficiency of body tempering, it was something Zhao Liuyun had been collecting.
Dai Mubai's knuckles turned white. He had originally intended to call out a price of two thousand, but who would have thought this bastard Zhao Liuyun would double it the moment he opened his mouth? Did he want this thing too? Then he definitely had to cause some trouble.
After three thousand, a silence fell over the room. The market price for ordinary Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue was roughly this much. Whale species traveled in pods, making them difficult to hunt but unable to fetch astronomical prices, so they were mostly consumed internally by coastal cities. Thus, they were relatively rare in the interior.
"Three thousand one hundred," Dai Mubai continued to follow up angrily, though he was secretly laughing with a sinister joy.
"Four thousand," Zhao Liuyun said, eyes still lowered.
"Four thousand one hundred!"
"Five thousand."
The two were locked in a stalemate. A glimmer of delight flashed in the silver-haired auctioneer's eyes; such a confrontational scene was exactly what the auction house loved to see.
"Five thousand one hundred!"
"Six thousand." Zhao Liuyun's voice remained as calm as water.
On the other side, Dai Mubai secretly gloated and stopped bidding. Making the opponent pay double the Gold Soul Coins was already a small victory. He didn't plan on actually being the sucker who let six thousand Gold Soul Coins worth of whale glue get stuck in his own hands.
"Ten-thousand-year whale glue, the golden spear shall never fall. Is there anyone else who wants to bid?"
The room was silent; no one responded. After the joy, a hint of regret flashed across the auctioneer's face as the three hammers fell quickly.
"Congratulations to VIP No. 4 for securing this piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue."
"Next is the twenty-first item, the Yuanling Fruit! There are three in total, all of which have matured."
"They can enhance a person's perception and make the body more sensitive. If the ladies eat one, they will surely spend a night full of surprises." He spoke ambiguously, then turned to the male guests. "If any gentleman is brave enough, he can try it personally to challenge his own weaknesses. Or you can give it to a female companion to appreciate beautiful scenery never seen before."
These words drew bursts of crude laughter from the audience.
"Starting price: three thousand Gold Soul Coins, with each bid increase no less than one hundred."
This was the purpose of their trip.
Shi Nian slowly opened his eyes. "Five thousand."
"Five thousand one." The one who spoke immediately after was Dai Mubai. His eyes flashed with a mix of anger and schadenfreude as if he had been waiting for this exact moment. Shi Nian was Zhao Liuyun's teacher; whatever the enemy wanted to do, he would do the opposite.
"Seven thousand."
"Seven thousand one!" Dai Mubai followed closely, refusing to yield an inch.
"Does this brat have a grudge against us?" Shi Nian turned his head slightly and whispered to his disciple. Bidding so tightly was a clear sign of a grudge. Otherwise, why would he specifically target the two of them?
"We do indeed have a grudge," Zhao Liuyun nodded gently.
"Why leave him alive for the New Year?" Cold light flashed in Shi Nian's eyes as killing intent surged. Forced to suppress it due to the occasion, it only manifested as a sharp glint in his gaze. He had already decided that once the auction ended, he would make this ignorant boy disappear forever.
Zhao Liuyun stopped him. "He is the Third Prince of the Star Luo Empire. Many people saw my conflict with him; if he is killed, we won't be able to escape involvement."
Shi Nian fell into thought. He had always maintained a principle of keeping his distance from the direct descendants of great sects and royal families. If he moved against them, it would surely bring endless trouble.
Zhao Liuyun said, "My background is solid enough. Leave this to me to handle."
Like a stray dog, Dai Mubai rushed up to snap at them every time; it was indeed annoying. With Dugu Bo, a Title Douluo, as his teacher, the consequences of Zhao Liuyun killing this waste of a prince—who was destined to fail in the struggle for the throne—would not be as great as imagined.
However, he did not care for slaughter that yielded no gains. When the "Dread Dream Flashback" had hit, Zhao Liuyun had read a fear-dream from the "Lecherous Tiger's" mind regarding an "impotent husband." Was that what he feared most?
He narrowed his eyes slightly, a chill flashing across his face. "Teacher, it's just money. I will win the Yuanling Fruits. I'll give him a profound lesson shortly. In over a month, when the time is right, we'll settle this account slowly."
They say the third time is the charm, but this was Dai Mubai's fourth time overestimating himself and looking for trouble. A prince is not easy to kill, but he certainly wouldn't let him have it easy either!
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