Since the auction had begun, it was now time for them to choose a pet beast using their capabilities and compete in bidding.
With so many people offering bids, a few clearly impressive beasts would get insane offers. In the last auction, a pet beast containing a rare bloodline was auctioned off at the price of a thousand five hundred intermediate-grade spirit stones.
A thousand five hundred intermediate-grade spirit stones could be converted to fifteen thousand low-grade spirit stones, which in turn would cost over forty thousand taels.
That was an insane amount.
Most of the pet beasts auctioned here had gone through a basic round of evaluation. There would be a simple evaluation report displayed right beside the cages.
But nothing more advanced or detailed was provided.
It wasn’t because they couldn’t hire expert beast appraisers, but by opting not to do so, they retained a sense of ‘mystery’, exactly like a lottery system would.
At times, some seemingly regular pet beast might have hidden bloodlines and unseen potential. One could purchase it at a relatively small price. Meanwhile, some pet beasts that people fought over to obtain and finally secured by paying a huge sum would actually turn out to be only slightly above-average.
Situations like these happened at auctions all the time.
Hence, capable buyers would hire beast appraisers so they could ‘uncover hidden gems’.
“Master Liao, I leave this in your hands,” Zu Tianli said. In fact, it was extremely out of line for him to show up personally and rob the procurement authority from his junior, Zu Can. However, if he didn’t do this, Zu Tianli knew that his older brother’s authority would only grow bigger.
So long as he could still put up a fight, he had to do everything in his power to seize authority. Otherwise, it would be too little too late if the time comes when he can struggle no more.
This time, he was waging everything on Master Liao.
Master Liao nodded with great confidence and said, “Don’t worry Mr. Zu. I’ve been appraising beasts for most of my life so I can’t possibly lose to a young brat. It’s his loss for sure this time.”
“That’s great!” Zu Tianli was ecstatic. If everything went well, he could deal Zu Can a decisive blow, which would in turn damage Zu Can’s father, Zu Tianhong’s reputation. It was best if the other party messed this task up so the family’s elders would start doubting Zu Tianhong’s leadership. That was the only way Zu Tianli can have a shot at taking over the throne of his family.
On the other hand, Lin Jin said to Zu Can, “Let’s begin as well. How many spirit stones do you have?”
Zu Can had absolute faith in Lin Jin and said, “My father says I have to purchase at least three pet beasts with considerable potential so that our younger family members can form blood pacts with them. If I calculate based on low-grade spirit stones, we have about two thousand pieces.”
Two thousand low-grade spirit stones.
That was quite a bit.
Lin Jin formed a rough idea and said, “I’ll evaluate the beasts and tell you which ones are worth bidding for.”
Tagging alongside them were Lu Xiaoyun and Zu Yingying looking excited. Lu Xiaoyun in particular had a booklet out, ready to learn from Lin Jin how he would appraise beasts so she can learn from close proximity.
Lin Jin was then briefed that there were three rounds to this auction. Each round would go on for about half an hour and the sold pet beasts would be switched out in every round. Bidders would wait until the third round to see if there were any unique pet beasts left as the grand finale.
Soon, Lin Jin noticed a problem.
Every pet beast on sale was locked in cages. No one could get close and they could only appraise them from afar. An average beast appraiser would use their spiritual eye to perform an evaluation, but for Lin Jin who relied on the Museum of Deadly Beasts, he couldn’t evaluate anything without touching them.
Lin Jin was dumbstruck.
Furthermore, the venue was spotless without any signs of fur or scales from the caged beasts.
After circling around, Lin Jin looked grave without taking any action.
This wouldn’t do.
Lin Jin knew the spiritual eye technique from his predecessor but it was on an average level. The Museum of Deadly Beasts had other superior spiritual eye appraisal methods, but this was an impossible challenge. He couldn’t possibly learn and use them on the spot.
Fortunately, there was always a way out. Lin Jin knew one ‘coiled wire needle’ skill from the pulse-seeking technique.
This acupuncture technique required him to conjure a natal needle and nourish it with his spirit energy. Once a link was formed, Lin Jin could easily pierce a target or retrieve the needle as if it was a part of his body. He could do it without drawing attention and without anyone expecting it.
Lin Jin had been constantly practicing the pulse-seeking technique. Whenever he had time, he would cultivate his natal needle and have nourished it quite a bit by now. He only needed to familiarize himself with the coiled wire needle and he could use this technique to appraise beasts.
By piercing the beasts with his needle, as if he had touched them physically, the museum would automatically provide him with an evaluation.
Standing still, while it seemed like Lin Jin was focused on observing the caged beast, he was in fact inside the museum, familiarizing himself with the coiled wire needle.
Too engrossed in his practice, almost half an hour went by just like that.
The first round of bidding ended but Lin Jin remained still.
As Zu Can watched from the sidelines, he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t the least bit anxious.
However, seeing Lin Jin so deep in his thoughts, Zu Can dared not disturb him. Thankfully there were still two more rounds for them to make offers and many people didn’t bid during the first round as well.
“Don’t worry. Master Lin knows what he’s doing,” Lu Xiaoyun couldn’t resist comforting Zu Can when she saw the worried looks on his and Zu Yingying’s face.
Zu Tianli and Master Liao came over with a successful bid token in hand.
Evidently, this Master Liao had taken action during the first round.
Seeing how Lin Jin hadn’t made an offer on any pet beast, Master Liao couldn’t resist mocking, “Young man, although the best are normally saved for last, the competition for the later pet beasts will only get fiercer. The pet beasts that were bought in the first round are usually the most cost-effective. While it looks like you’re being careful, you’re actually just a coward. I’d advise you to give up now and go home to study for a few more years.”
Zu Can and the others were furious. But since Lin Jin didn’t make a sound, they could only swallow their anger.
Soon, the bell signifying the second round chimed.
“It’s starting again? Mr. Zu, let’s go and choose some pet beast and not bother this young man with his thoughts.” Having said that, Master Liao left with Zu Tianli.
After another brief moment of contemplation, Lin Jin finally opened his eyes.
At that instant, his eyes were gleaming. He had focused his entire attention on the museum earlier to study the ‘coiled wire needle’. Although he hasn’t completely mastered it yet, he could at least perform it now.
He lifted his head to look at the pet beast before him.
Inside the cage was a rhinoceros with a heavy build. The cage was huge and it had a simple evaluation report beside it. A price had been offered for the rhinoceros and the amount was ‘one hundred and eighty low-grade spirit stones’.
Taking his conjured natal needle in his fingers, with a gentle flick, a silver spark darted across without making a sound. The rhinoceros that had been dozing off abruptly got up, howling.
This roar frightened everyone around.
It was only natural for something like this to happen. Whoever was randomly poked by a needle would give the same response after all.
Just as Lin Jin expected, once the coiled wire needle was in place, it was connected to him via a spirit energy string. Like an extension of his limbs, it worked well, as if he was touching the beast with his own hands.
