“135,000 Gold Coins going once, 135,000 Gold Coins going twice!… This is your last chance, are there no higher bids…?”
“Alright, then—”
Master Lei swept his gaze across the hall, his voice authoritative and resonant. Suddenly, the sterling silver hammer in his hand slammed heavily onto the specially-made Thunderstruck Wood Stage. “Crack!” A burst of thunder exploded on the stage. “135,000 Gold Coins, going thrice! —Sold!!”
“The 7th-Tier Legendary ‘Diamond Greatshield’ has been won by Lightchaser from Room 233!”
As soon as Master Lei’s voice faded, the packed first floor erupted into chaotic noise again.
Although the later items left less and less room for these poor extras to show their faces and shout bids, the vast majority of them never truly intended to spend money anyway.
What kind of place an auction was, smart people knew very well.
Rather, watching tycoons and big shots from all walks of life throw out astronomical prices to compete for treasures was a feast for the eyes, broadened their horizons, and provided after-dinner conversation topics… Most importantly, the tickets were dirt cheap.
That was why so many authentic onlookers were present.
After all, a typical high-end auction would consider inviting a few dozen people the absolute limit, and over 99% of people couldn’t even meet the threshold to enter.
“7th-Tier Legendary… sss! The first time I’ve seen one in my life! A knight’s shield made entirely of diamonds??? Is a big shot’s equipment really like this????!”
“…Brother, why do your words come with pictures?”
“I heard the finale is a Demi-Divine Artifact? What’s its name and origin!?”
“I don’t know, the Cloudstride Merchant Guild’s secrecy measures are always quite good… But it should be soon, right? I mean, even the 7th-Tier Diamond Greatshield has come out.”
BOOM—!
A bolt of lightning thick as a water snake exploded in the center, its momentary flash illuminating the hall like daylight. Only when that bolt of lightning twisted and dissipated did the entire hall fall into a dead silence, everyone sitting upright like students in a schoolroom.
Master Lei stroked his white beard, his expression solemn with satisfaction. Then, in a deep voice, he announced the long-awaited news.
“The auction has reached this point. I believe everyone has reaped many rewards and feasted their eyes. Next, there is one more treasure about to make its debut that will convince you this trip was worthwhile! Everyone, please wait a moment. After a short break, our Branch Guild Master, Lady Reki, will personally come onstage to serve as the auctioneer!”
The peerlessly beautiful Lady Reki herself would appear?
Needless to say, only that Demi-Divine Artifact finale deserved such an honor!
After an awkward advertisement segment, there was usually some extra time left for all bidders to adjust their mentality and make full preparations.
At an auction, more than half the reason for high prices was the masterfully crafted atmosphere of a massive crowd’s longing. If the atmosphere was set well, people easily lost their rationality.
But true divine artifacts never needed a preheated atmosphere, because their mere appearance would detonate the entire venue like a depth charge, making countless tycoons with vast wealth rush forward madly, even at the risk of financial ruin.
They were synonymous with priceless treasures without a market.
“Haha, the final auction item… I believe every friend present here must be as eagerly awaiting it as I am.”
In this brief moment allowing everyone to catch their breath amidst the fiery auction, a resonant voice suddenly rang out from Room 313.
Wu Yin, the First Prince of the Snow Kingdom, though his face remained unseen, had a voice that was refined, gentle, and clearly audible to all.
“Competition in auctions naturally relies on one’s own abilities. But when one encounters a desired item, financial difficulties are often inevitable. That is precisely why I so enjoy making friends.”
“Many of the precious treasures auctioned earlier, this Prince also liked and coveted greatly. Yet, seeing that your affection for them, my friends, is no less fervent than my own, how could I forcibly take what others love?”
The commoners lacked the courage to interrupt Wu Yin’s verbose speech.
None of the other VIP guests, whose faces remained hidden, made a sound either. Was it such a coincidence that they were all giving Wu Yin face?
Weilin didn’t rush to speak. Instead, she frowned slightly, observing quietly with a puzzled expression.
Wu Yin seemed like a politician with a vast, tolerant heart, claiming all under heaven as his friends. He possessed a certain degree of personal charm.
But then, that leisurely, composed voice dipped. Wu Yin sighed sorrowfully: “To be frank, recently, I encountered a matter as difficult as reaching the heavens… I must offer up a Demi-Divine Artifact. How rare and valuable are Demi-Divine Artifacts? Even our Snow Domain, with a thousand years of history, only possesses three. All three are controlled by the King’s Sister (Huan Xuezhi)… I roamed the Snow Domain, begged among my friends, yet found nothing. But today, after wearing out iron shoes in a fruitless search, I finally see hope!”
“The world is vast, and wealth like that of Tao Zhu or Yi Dun exists. Even if I pour out my family fortune, I have no great certainty of securing it. However… today, if every friend present can give me, Wu Yin, this face, and help me overcome this immediate crisis, I, Wu Yin, in the name of the First Prince of the Snow Kingdom, solemnly promise here and now: the path ahead shall be a smooth road to the stars! —If we prosper, do not forget each other.”
The hall erupted in shock, and the big shots also chimed in with agreement one after another.
“Well said: ‘If we prosper, do not forget each other!'”
“I, Huobamu, have received the First Prince’s grace many times. Since the First Prince has spoken so earnestly today, we shall naturally help him achieve his goal!”
“Me too! Whoever dares not give the First Prince face is giving no face to the nephew of the Left Protector of the Northern King’s son-in-law!”
“…”
Weilin was stunned.
What kind of operation was this… Deliberate incitement? Frenzied hinting? Threatening warnings?
Only those on the first floor, generally poor and unable to even meet the base price, were intimidated. Even if they were lent ten thousand times the courage, how would they dare defy Wu Yin and his “friends”?
But if this really worked, what was the point of an auction?
Weilin didn’t believe that, given human greed, the hidden big shots in the other VIP rooms would hold back.
“Silence!”
Someone uttered a deep shout, and the commotion in the venue quickly vanished.
Reki, with light makeup, her crimson lips glowing, stepped forward. Her floor-length deep red dress contrasted vividly with her pair of pearl-smooth, round, and exquisitely fair shoulders. Her purple eyes, like crystal, held a poised, elegant smile that seemed to invisibly steal away countless gazes, breaths, and even heartbeats.
“Everyone, thank you for waiting.” She offered a gentle, dreamlike curtsy.
Reki walked onto the auction stage, her beautiful eyes sweeping over the audience that was almost entirely captivated by her. Yet, her facial expression changed less than it would when speaking a single sentence to Weilin.
“The finale auction item… I believe everyone has already heard whispers of it. So, this little lady won’t keep you guessing here.” Reki called out without looking back. “—Black Bell.”
Her personal maid pushed a small cart forward. On the cart lay a Glazed Jade Box. The box was nearly three feet long and less than half a foot wide.
Even the jade box used to store a Demi-Divine Artifact felt like it could be sold for quite a substantial price…
“This Demi-Divine Artifact is named the ‘Zero Boundary Staff.’ It is an item personally entrusted by the Illusory Snow Queen to the Cloudstride Merchant Guild for consignment auction.”
Reki introduced it with an unruffled gaze.
“What!… It’s… actually consigned by the Queen herself?!”
“One of the Snow Kingdom’s only three Demi-Divine Artifacts? …I knew it, it’s a Demi-Divine Artifact second only to Divine Artifacts! Who would take it out for auction instead of hiding it as a family heirloom? …Eh, but…”
“…Why would the Illusory Snow Queen auction a Demi-Divine Artifact…?!”
“Damn, I’m panicking. Is there going to be a war? Recently, there’s been massive conscription and magic competitions. N-No matter how you think about it, something’s wrong!”
“…War… with… whom?”
“Who can the Snow Kingdom… defeat?”
There were only three political powers on the continent: the Eternal Steel Empire, the Star God Free Federation… and the Snow Kingdom, whose strength, foundation, and land area weren’t even one-thousandth that of the Empire or the Federation… as insignificant as an ant.
And just now, the First Prince spoke of an offering, a smooth road to the stars, and ‘If we prosper, do not forget each other’?
Even extras had thoughts and lives. At this moment, those who vaguely sensed something could no longer suppress the fear and trembling rising in their hearts.
“Black Bell, open it.”
“Yes.”
The top lid of the Jade Box was gently pushed aside by the girl’s slender hand. Shaped like icy branches and snowy willows, yet also like a supernaturally crafted ice sculpture artwork, the Zero Boundary Staff finally revealed its true face.
And the Snow Kingdom commoners, who moments before had been acting as atmosphere creators with their various exclamations of shock, were suddenly overshadowed by the looming threat of national annihilation. What mood did they have left to marvel at the treasure’s uniqueness? They were either stunned, indignant, or fear-stricken and trembling.
From three hundred meters away in her compartment, Weilin directly used Appraisal Technique on the staff.
[Zero Boundary Staff (8th-Tier)]
[Category: Staff]
[Attributes: When using this staff to cast ice-attribute magic, power and debuff effects are enhanced by 50%]
[Additional Active Skill: ‘Absolute Zero Barrier’: Instantly inject a large amount of Mana. Furiously pressing the “Y” key can release a single 9th-Tier Magic ‘Absolute Zero Barrier’. Cooldown: 72 hours]
Below, Reki also took a deep breath, raised her voice, and shouted:
“Starting price: 1,000,000 Gold Coins. Each bid increment must be no less than 50,000 Gold Coins. Bidding starts!”
And right after Reki’s voice, a leisurely, composed voice rang out simultaneously.
“1,050,000 Gold Coins.”
Reki glanced at the source of the voice. Unsurprisingly, it was Wu Yin, the First Prince of the Snow Kingdom, in Room 313.
“Well then, are there any higher bids? Everyone invited here is a prominent figure within the Snow Domain. As a long-famous Demi-Divine Artifact of the Snow Kingdom, the power of the Zero Boundary Staff is something I’m sure everyone has heard of… Moreover, this was personally consigned for auction by the Illusory Snow Queen. You can rest assured regarding its origin and after-sales support!”
This was Reki’s personal promise, and its weight was convincing enough to be trusted.
But even so, there were no competing bids.
Or rather, the guests in the 25 VIP rooms, who had been fiercely fighting over treasures moments before, had seemingly evaporated into thin air by prior agreement, emitting not a single sound.
Master Lei frowned deeply and quickly stepped onto the stage, whispering something in Reki’s ear.
It was undoubtedly about Wu Yin inciting the crowd to yield the Demi-Divine Artifact to him.
However…
“Miss Reki, according to your auction house’s rules, if no bids follow within five breaths, it’s time for the second hammer strike, correct?”
Wu Yin’s voice was not anxious, but rather very composed.
So composed that one could clearly hear the faint mockery of someone who believed victory was already in hand.
Reki’s smile instantly faded. But knowing the rules could not be broken, she could only nod slowly:
“1,050,000 Gold Coins, going twice!”
Why was no one bidding?!
The thousand or so commoners of the Snow Kingdom on the first floor were all anxious for their own safety, too preoccupied to question this. Yet, Weilin furrowed her delicate brows, her gaze dark and brooding.
Logically speaking, as long as one wasn’t foolish enough to reveal their identity, Wu Yin had no way of knowing who was in which room. At worst, they could bid, win, and leave, departing the Snow Kingdom. There was no need to fear Wu Yin.
Unless…
Wu Yin had already grasped the information of all guests in the rooms, perhaps even reached some kind of consensus before the auction?! And those words just now were entirely a front?
Reki also found it unbelievable.
She had invited six Grand Mages and high-ranking ministers loyal to Huan Xuezhi’s faction.
…Could all six of these people have already defected to Wu Yin’s faction?!
This was the only possibility!
With this thought, Reki’s chest heaved with anger, and her gaze could no longer remain indifferent.
“Haha… Miss Reki, what exactly are you waiting for? No one will make another bid!”
A cold laugh, no longer polite, came through. Wu Yin’s voice, this time, was laced with fierce, threatening words. “Do you think just because this Prince is usually refined and easygoing, you dare break the rules right under this Prince’s nose, deliberately stalling?!!”
Even as Branch Guild Master, she had no right to shake the foundational principles of the Cloudstride Merchant Guild.
Time had passed. If no one else bid, she could only strike the hammer and declare the winner.
Although Reki had never met that Illusory Snow Queen, whom Snow Kingdom citizens described as having a fairy-like ethereal grace, her countenance so illusionary it almost didn’t exist in the mortal world, as the consignee, this utterly defeated transaction would inevitably become the greatest stain in Reki’s heart… and her deepest regret.
“One million, fifty thousand Gold Coins, goi—…”
Reki closed her eyes weakly, then reopened them. Her fingers trembling slightly, she picked up the auction hammer and was about to bring it heavily down…
—When…!
“Room 303. Two million.” A calm, young girl’s voice rang out without any warning.
