"Fellow cultivators, welcome to the Linran Dragon Lunar Private Gathering. I'm the Vice City Lord of Linran City, Guan Hai. I will be the Master of Ceremonies for the auction this time, please go easy on me."
An intelligent-looking middle-aged man landed at the front of the hall facing the crowd with a smile, leaving a grand first impression.
"I won't waste any further time on words. We'll now start with the first item, the Eight Lunar Flame, starting at thirty thousand God Stones. Each bid needs to be at least five thousand God Stones higher than the previous price."
As Guan Hai spoke, six seventh-layer Martial Progenitors carried a giant ice crystal box to the front, and inside it was a strange flame burning slowly.
The temperature of the palace suddenly increased.
The cultivators' eyes flickered, as they did not expect such an extraordinary treasure to be the first item.
"Forty thousand God Stones!"
"Fifty-five thousand God Stones!"
Several calls could be heard.
The atmosphere in the palace gradually became lively.
The Eight Lunar Flame was auctioned off within a short period of time. The rest of the items were presented to the crowd too.
Time gradually passed. Half an hour later, more than half of the items were sold.
"The next item is known as the Misery Ocean Brew, which is a very rare kind of magical wine. The starting price is ten thousand God Stones and each bid has to be at least a thousand God Stones higher than the previous bid."
As Guan Hai finished introducing the item, the moment he took out a jade jar from his ring, the sound of rolling waves could be heard as the exact vision appeared in the air, which brought a hint of misery to the crowd.
"Misery Ocean Brew? Deep within misery is said to be the opposite shore1. Who would have thought the wine had such a great illustration behind it. It would be a good gift for the Princess."
Qin Nan mumbled in his heart as he proceeded to yell out his price.
"Twenty thousand God Stones."
It was all his possessions at the time being.
Many cultivators who were previously intrigued by the wine immediately shook their heads hearing the bid.
Dong Kuo and his crew were busy fawning upon Ning Jianfei, thus they did not interfere with the bid. He ended up winning the bid in the end.
"Brother Duan Qing, you like to drink?" Zhan Xiaoxian asked in a curious tone. Normal people would not be willing to spend twenty thousand God Stones on wine.
Qin Nan was about to answer as a sudden thought crossed his mind, causing him to respond with a smile, "I do like it."
He had never had any interest in wine before, but he did like it now.
Wine was actually not bad company.
Especially when he was drinking with the Princess.
After a minor interlude, the auction continued.
However, what confused the cultivators was the fact that Ning Jianfei had remained silent throughout the entire auction.
Finally, Guan Hai wore a mysterious smile as he said, "Everyone, this will be the final item for this auction. It's the Hundred Forms Silver Soul Flower, and I believe I wouldn't need to explain what it uses are? The starting price is three hundred thousand God Stones, and each bid must be at least fifty thousand higher than the previous call."
At the same time, a giant purple box was brought out. At its center stood a one zhang tall herb with silver petals.
Unlike other herbs, apart from the petals, the color of its branches and leaves continually changed between red and blue.
"The Hundred Forms Silver Soul Flower?"
"Gasp, it actually is the Hundred Forms Silver Soul Flower. According to the rumors, once a person refines it, their Martial Tree will also inherit its rare phenomenon, which would significantly increase its power!"
"I didn't expect to see such a remarkable herb here!"
"Five hundred thousand God Stones!"
"Six hundred thousand God Stones! That's pretty much all I got now!"
The eyes of the cultivators became fiery after they recovered from the initial shock. Many clenched their teeth and decided to go all out with their possessions!
Within a few breaths' time, the price had increased to a million God Stones!
Seeing this, Qin Nan immediately yelled, "Two million God Stones!"
He immediately bid with double the price.
Since the Anti-Heaven Alliance was paying the price, Qin Nan would not hesitate to call it.
"Two million God Stones?"
The cultivators were stunned, as they never thought this Duan Qing would start bidding with such an insane price.
Most of the cultivators shook their heads and gave up. Only a few were still hesitating to make a decision. At this rate, it was most likely that they would need to pay a great price to secure the Hundred Forms Silver Soul Flower.
However, at that instant, a loud voice could be heard, "I'm here specifically for this Hundred Forms Silver Soul Flower. Two million one hundred thousand God Stones. It shall be mine."
The voice sounded extremely calm as if the Hundred Forms Silver Soul Flower were already his.
The owner of the voice was none other than Ning Jianfei himself.
Hearing this, the cultivators who had previously been hesitating immediately gave up on their thoughts.
It was no longer a matter about God Stones. Ning Jianfei was a genius ranked on the God Ranking and an inner disciple of the South-Heaven Sacred Ground, thus making him proud and arrogant. If they dared to bid for it, they would need to suffer his wrath.
Qin Nan's lips curled upward slightly.
As he expected, the reason why the Anti-Heaven Alliance wanted him to secure the Hundred Forms Silver Soul Flower was to let him go against Ning Jianfei.
Qin Nan yelled again without hesitation.
"Four million God Stones."
The few words were enough to stun the entire crowd.
They were not shocked hearing the bid, but the fact that this Duan Qing was daring enough to compete with Ning Jianfei for the item.
Didn’t Duan Qing know that he would offend Ning Jianfei if he continued to bid for it?
"Brother Duan Qing, you…"
Zhan Xiaoxian opened her eyes wide, as she too was shocked.
In the other booth, Dong Kuo, the woman from the Undead Tribe, and the man from the Lightning Tribe were stunned for a second, before their hearts were filled with joy.
They had initially planned to provoke Ning Jianfei so he would pick on Duan Qing, but it seemed like Duan Qing had done it himself.
What an idiot.
"How bold!"
Four loud yells could be heard.
The four disciples of the South-Heaven Sacred Ground walked out from the booth with cold looks.
"This is the City Lord’s Mansion. Please think twice if you are to stir any kind of trouble here."
An icy voice was heard, which belonged to Guan Hai.
Even though he had no intention of offending the people of the South-Heaven Sacred Ground, it was still their territory. They would be seen as laughing stocks if they failed to maintain the order.
"Stay back."
Ning Jianfei said in a calm tone.
The four disciples nodded. They glared in the direction of Qin Nan's booth before returning to theirs.
Inside the booth, Ning Jianfei's gaze finally changed as his eyes flickered with a hint of murderous intent.
He never thought a mere rogue cultivator would dare to try and compete with him.
"I remember your name, it's Duan Qing, right? You will bid five million God Stones for the Hundred Forms Silver Soul Flower and bring it to me. I will forgive you for what you've done and spare your life."
[1] TL Note: This is sometimes used to refer to the realm beyond life and death in Buddhism.
