Chapter 38: Auction
Editor: Rainystars
The giant sun hung in the sky; it was warm and bright.
In the wreckage of a garden, the exquisite lady was looking more alluring than usual in her blood-red gown. Her expression was seductive, her figure was enticing, with her perky chest, slender waist, and amorous long legs.
She was starting to realize where her awfully strange anger was coming from.
Half of that anger was because she has always hated those who were cunning, the other half was because she cared very much for the Qi Zhen Pavilion’s reputation.
The Qi Zhen Pavilion was established across the Qin Dynasty with one store in every city. Usually, it kept a very low profile and never exposed itself to the messiness outside of its stores. Despite that, nobody has ever tried to provoke the brand, not even the emperors. However, now, someone was standing before its door and making a fuss. Even though there was a reason behind the drama, it was still damaging to the pavilion’s reputation. This was the main reason behind her frustration.
The opponent was, after all, a master in the completion stage of training. Under the circumstances and the fact that the pavilion was in the wrong, she had to swallow her pride. Now that the culprit is dead, this whole event has ended. She had no reason to battle with a well-trained cultivator. Instead, she should try to befriend this master.
Thinking about her next steps, the alluring lady smiled brightly as all her defensive demeanor faded. Her seductive face expressed thousands of different emotions, which kept everyone intrigued. “Elder, your three question have left me speechless. For everything that has happened, I must apologize.”
She then waved her hand, and a fire red thorny whip appeared in mid-air. Unexpectedly, she wrapped it around her own upper body.
The thorns of the whip broke through her robe and dug into her skin. Her bare skin was exposed, and fresh red blood was starting to drip.
The crowds gasped and grimaced. They were all shocked by her actions.
“This object is called the Whip of Thorns. It is convenient to use it when I plead guilty.”
The woman’s smile was very enchanting and very delightful. It was as if she could feel no pain.
“You sure are bold. What is your name?” Ling Xian was a bit surprised.
“Elder, you finally remembered to ask me my name. I am the Regional Manager for the Qi Zhen Pavilion in the City of Qing, Gong Suo Xin[1].” The woman’s body was plump, graceful, and undeniably charming.
“Looking at your seductive ways, your name doesn’t seem like you are one to lock up love and hearts,” Ling Xian teased. “I am merely making a joking. Get rid of the whip now.”
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the long red whip instantly fell. He then turned to walk away.
“Elder, please wait.” Gong Suo Xin pursued after him. Her steps were light, and her long gown floated around her feet. With each step she took, the dress sketched out a graceful curve.
Her snow-white skin was exposed to the world after her own punishment, which only helped to accent her indescribable seductiveness. Her beauty was shaking the souls and hearts of many.
“Is there anything else? Does Manager Gong plan to force me to stay?” Ling Xian frowned.
Gong Suo Xin smiled. “Elder, you must be joking. I just thought that since you came to the pavilion to sell your spiritual Dans, then why don’t we hold an auction? An auction was supposed to happen in three days, but since all the powerful figures in the city have already converged, I thought we might as well do it now. Would you like to join?”
“Ah, this is what you were thinking. You sure have everything calculated in your head.” Ling Xian thought about it, and then he agreed, “I don’t see why not. I am curious as to what kind of treasures the Qi Zhen Pavilion has.”
“I am certain that we won’t disappoint you.” Gong Suo Xin’s eyes brightened. Currently, all the powerhouses in the city are here in one place because of Ling Xian. If they carry forward the auction and hold it now, she was sure they would get fantastic results.
Facing the mountain of people, she smiled and instructed, “The auction today has more treasures than usual. This Elder here is also participating. All those who wish to be a part of the auction, please start entering the building.”
As soon as she finished talking, many people nudged and fidgeted. The pavilion holds auctions often. However, the opportunity to participate in an auction with a completion stage master is very rare. Many people started to march toward the auction ground inside the pavilion.
Ye Xiao Tian did not move right away. Instead, he walked toward Ling Xian and laughed brightly, “Elder, it has been a few days since I have seen you. I have been thinking about our last encounter because I thought I would never have the opportunity to listen to your wise words again. I cannot believe we would run into each other today. I have been a very lucky man.”
“Mayor Ye, your daughter has healed by now I assume?” Ling Xian faintly smiled.
“Of course. It’s all thanks to your abilities that my daughter is no longer in danger. Although she has been asking when she would be able to meet the Elder that saved her life.” Ye Xiao Tian’s back was arched, and he did not behave arrogantly despite his position as a mayor. After all, he was only at the fundamental level when the Elder before him was at the completion level. The cultivation community cared about respect and seniority, how could he not bow down to a master at the completion stage?
“So Mayor Ye knows this Elder,” Gong Suo Xin’s gaze was sending electric shocks to everyone. Every little movement she made, she seduced everyone in the room.
“This Elder saved my daughter’s life before,” Ye Xiao Tian didn’t talk about the details. Instead, he extended his arm. “Please, this way.”
Ling Xian nodded. The three of them walked towards the auction ground.
......
The auction stage was very spacious. There were two levels dedicated to it, with the first floor being where regular cultivators sat, and the second ground being private rooms where the influential figures stayed.
Under Gong Suo Xin’s guidance, Ling Xian directly went up to the second floor. Before he entered the room, he suddenly had a thought. He asked loud and clear, “Clan Leader Ling and Alchemist Fang, would you care to join me?’
Once the invitation was extended, the crowds broke out into chatter. Everyone was staring at Ling Tian Qing and Master Fang with curiosity, admiration, and jealousy. They all wanted to be them.
They were invited by a master in the completion stage!
In the little City of Qing, his existence was as rare as immortals!
To sit in the same room as him and converse with him was of great glory and honor.
Ling Tian Qing and Master Fang were confused themselves. They did not know of this Elder before them, why were they invited to be in the same room as him?
However, since the Elder has spoken, there was no reason to reject. Both of them happily followed him upstairs.
Ling Xian’s thought process of simple. Since he was in disguise as a completion stage master, then why not take advantage of his current identity and help out those around him?
Therefore, he chose Master Fang and Ling Tian Qing.
Master Fang has helped him greatly throughout his life, and Clan Leader Ling, after all, shares his Ling last name. He also had a great impression of this leader and did not at all mind for others to associate this man with a master in the completion stage.
He achieved the result he was looking for. The crowds were loudly discussing the possible connection and relationship between him and these two men.
Clan Leader Fang, who has always held hatred towards the Ling Clan, stared at Ling Tian Qing with jealousy and muttered to himself, “I did not think that he knew someone in the completion stage of training. I guess I have to adjust my plans appropriately for the future.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Ling Tian Qing and Master Fang made a fist with one hand and clasped it with another to show him their respect. Leader Ling was very excited while Master Fang was a lot more composed. The two, however, shared the amount of respect they held towards this Elder. They behaved modestly.
One was the leader of the Ling Clan, and one was an eminent alchemist in the city. The two of them were influential figures in the city, yet they were smiling timidly and watching their actions carefully. Ling Xian could not help but shudder.
Capabilities!
Everything came down to who has more capability!
Because he was emitting energy as someone who was in the completion stage of training, he was able to gain this much admiration. If he came today as the handicap, who couldn’t summon any spiritual energy, who would care about his existence?
“There is no need for this much etiquette, please sit,” Ling Xian extended his arm and welcomed them into the private room. “I have heard of Leader Ling and Master Fang for a long time. To have seen you two in person, I can confidently say that the good things people talk about are real.”
The two of them were flattered at the compliment and felt very honored. However, both of them had the same question in mind.
How come his voice sounded so much like Ling Xian’s?
Shaking their heads, the two of them chased away that impossible thought from their minds and sat down slowly.
“Everyone please quiet down. I will not recite the rules for our auction as I am sure you are well-aware of them. I now officially announce the start of our auction!”
A middle-aged man walked onto the center stage. Behind him, there were ten grinning girls, each with a tray that was covered with red cloth.
There were ten objects for sale at this auction.
“The first item that is up for grabs today is the Revitalization Dan, brewed by one of our grandmasters here in the Qi Zhen Pavilion. The use of this Dan should be clear to all of you. That’s right. It’s able to add a month of life to someone’s lifespan!” The middle-aged man smiled.
As soon as he announced the object, the auction ground broke into chaos.
Revitalization Dan!
A seventh-realm spiritual medicine that could add a month of life to any cultivator. Thought it could only be consumed once in someone’s lifetime and only adds one month of time, to those who are on the verge of dying, it grants them with enough time to take care of their wills and other businesses. If they are lucky, they may also find out a way to continue living in that one month they gained. It was a priceless treasure!
Spiritual Dans that had abilities to increase someone’s lifespan are beyond rare because they are challenging to brew. Even though the Revitalization Dan was only a seventh-realm Dan, the difficulties when it comes to brewing it was at the same level as a sixth-realm Dan, if not harder.
Gong Suo Xin snickered at the gasps of shocks coming from the crowd.
This object was something she acquired from an alchemist grandmaster after a long time of begging. She wanted to create an uproar during the first auction she held as the upper manager of the pavilion. This way, she would be able to both increase sales and construct heightened expectations of herself.
As she predicted, everyone was stunned by the Revitalization Dan. Usually, the objects presented at auctions aren’t by any means ordinary. However, when compared to the Revitalization Dan, they were worthless. This was also just the first item of the auction!
Of course, Ling Xian was not as impressed. He stared at the seductive woman before him with great interest and curiosity. “You sure have a powerful background if you were able to get your hands on a Revitalization Dan.”
“Elder, you have flattered me. It is just a Revitalization Dan, I assume you see nothing special about it.” Gong Suo Xin grinned.
“Yes, that is true. If every item after this is of the same level, then I really can’t find it interesting.” Ling Xian shook his head.
“Elder please be patient. I can assure you that you will not be disappointed.” Gong Suo Xin was very confident.
While the two of them chatted, the middle-aged man grabbed onto the small hammer and shouted, “Starting price is 10,000 spiritual stones with a minimum increase in the bid of 1,000!”
“10,200 from me!” someone chanted.
“10,300!” another person pressed.
The atmosphere of the auction ground was getting rowdier and voices after voices were screaming.
Clan Leader Fang remained composed. However, his heated gaze exposed his determination to win. He shouted, “20,000!”
Once this bid was screamed out, everyone fell into silence immediately.
This was both because of the high price he bid, and because of his identity.
As one of the leaders in the City of Qing, who are always considering their reputation, was it worth it to scream out such a high price for a Dan that would gain him a month to his life?
“Seems like he’s determined to win…” Ling Tian Qing squinted.
It wasn’t hard to imagine why Leader Fang was very keen on winning this Dan. It was for sure to help save one of the Elders in the Fang Clan. For example, the previous leader of the clan.
The hatred between the Ling and the Fang Clan has been building up for a long time. If an opportunity arises where one clan can do something to traumatize the other clan, then the clan in power would undoubtedly seize the opportunity. Ling Tian Qing was seriously considering giving up more than 20,000 stones for the Revitalization Dan that he had no use for.
Ling Xian saw his hesitation and whispered, “Leader Ling, if you want the object but have some unspeakable difficulties, I can help you out.”
[1] Literal meaning of Gong Suo Xin: lock heart.
Chapter 39: Boisterous
Editor: Rainystars
"…"
Ling Tian Qing was silent. He did not understand why the Elder before him was being so friendly and what his intention was. After some consideration, he shook his head. "Thank you Elder, but I will pass on that offer. A Revitalization Dan is useless to me."
"As long as you have made a decision." Ling Xian nodded.
"He can have it if he wants, but…" Ling Tian Qing’s eyes glimmered as he laughed. "I won’t make it easy for him."
As he spoke, he stood up, stared right at the hot faced Leader Fang and yelled out, "I bid 30,000 spiritual stones!"
Leader Fang’s face fell. He looked up at where Leader Ling was and shouted sternly, "35,000!"
"40,000!" Qing Tian Qing responded immediately.
"Alright, alright," Leader Fang said. He really wanted to give up on the Revitalization Dan and leave. However, to accomplish his clan’s grand plan of overtaking the City of Qing, he needed to acquire the Revitalization Dan. For that, he tightened his fist. "I bid 50,000 spiritual stones. Ling Tian Qing, if you have the guts to offer more than that, then the Dan is yours!"
"Alright, 55,000!" Ling Tian Qing sarcastically snickered and teased. It was as if he didn’t care about the money at all.
The two clans have been butting heads for way too long. After fighting against Leader Fang both under the table and openly, he knew of his habits and his plans. He was completely aware of the fact that Leader Fang needed the Revitalization Dan. Therefore, he was not at all afraid of the empty threats Leader Fang expressed.
"You!"
Leader Fang was enraged and shot out of his seat. His spiritual energy was creeping out of his body. Like a raging tornado, it instantly wrapped around the entire auction ground.
Half foundational level!
"Humm!"
A long hum pierced the silence room. Then, Leader Fang’s spiritual bubble deflated like a balloon. He stepped backward for four to five steps as his cheek flushed red.
"Leader Fang, if you plan to follow the regulations of the auction and bid on things accordingly, I won’t interfere. However, if you want to show off your half foundational level of training then I must ask, do you see me as a decoration?" Ling Xian’s face was calm, but a storm was brewing in his eyes, sending chills down everyone’s spines.
Leader Fang forced himself to swallow the mouthful of blood. Despite his humiliation and outrage, he did not dare to show his true emotions. Instead, he lowered his head and said, "I have been irrational, and I apologize that I have offended you. I hope you will be able to forgive a small character like me."
In the cultivation community, there are many unwritten rules. To demonstrate vigor before someone stronger is a huge taboo and is considered very offensive. If this taboo were breached, then nobody would pity the weak one even if he gets killed.
This was the cruelty in the cultivation community!
The strong ones have the rights to be unreasonable!
"I’ll let it go this time. If this happens again, I will not let it slide so easily," Ling Xian spoke softly. He didn’t really know about this unspoken rule, and he merely wanted to stand up for Ling Tian Qing. After all, he belonged to the Ling Clan, how could he just do nothing?
"Yes, thank you, Elder, for your generosity," Leader Fang felt more humiliated by the second. He was the leader of the Fang Clan and was one of the five most important figures in the community. Everyone had to lower their heads and call him leader when they walked by him. When has he ever had to deal with this much degradation?
He wasn’t allowed to speak the words on his mind nor move his body the way he wanted to.
Leader Fang was bathing in anger, yet he could not express any of his emotions. Before him, was a cultivator in the completion level. A simple hum from him caused him to spit a mouthful of blood. He did not want to imagine the consequences he would have to face if he angered that man.
"Does Leader Fang want to raise the bid? If you want to stop competing, then I will be taking the Revitalization Dan for my own pocket." Ling Tian Qing smiled at Leader Fang. He was trying hard to suppress his satisfaction with the situation. In the past, the two of them fought a whole lot, but because their capabilities were similar in level, there never was a clear winner in each fight. This time, however, using the Elder’s abilities, he was obviously winning. Why would he not be satisfied?
[So this is what real capabilities can grant you. Respect, fear, admiration, and not a trace of disdain.] Ling Xian thought to himself. Other than exclaiming, he was also enjoying himself a whole lot. The usual influential figures he had to behave carefully around were acting like little sheep. They were choosing their words cautiously, trying hard to make him laugh while not angering him. This sure was funny.
"I offer 60,000 spiritual stones!" Leader Fang glared at Ling Tian Qing. In his head, he was thinking, [If you bastard, raise the bid again, I will give up on the Dan! I want you to pay for something you don’t want!]
Just as everyone was anticipating for Ling Tian Qing to raise the bid, he sat right back down on his seat and teased, "Heh heh, 60,000 spiritual stones… Leader Fang sure is rich. The Ling Clan isn’t as lavish and well-developed as your clan. I will no longer fight you for it. You can take the Revitalization Dan."
Leader Fang’s face remained dark. He predicted that Ling Tian Qing was playing against him since the beginning and did not really want the Dan. However, to fulfill his plan of overtaking the City of Qing, he had no choice but to be knowingly ripped off. When he thought about the fact that he paid 60,000 spiritual stones for a Revitalization Dan, he felt a pinch of pain. Even though the Fang Clan was famous for their richness, this amount of spiritual stones was a bit too much to bear.
"Alright, since nobody else is willing to make another bid, then I now announce that Leader Fang has acquired the Revitalization Dan for 60,000 spiritual stones!" The middle-aged man on the stage slammed down his little hammer.
The auction hall instantly got boisterous. Everyone in the room could hear the taunting.
The Revitalization Dan was very precious. However, to be bought with 60,000 spiritual stones was a little excessive. There were only two types of people who would buy it at this high price. One would be a cultivator whose life is hanging by a thread. Two would be a man who got ripped off and couldn't complain.
Leader Fang was the latter. He thought those sarcastic cheers were knives to his ears. So he merely glared at Ling Tian Qing and left.
"Haha, he is angry from embarrassment." Ling Tian Qing was very joyous and did not mind the anger Leader Fang directed at him. The two of them have been battling for a long time, and this wasn’t the first time something like this happened. With their hatred as deep as the sea, there will come other opportunities where they will try to kill each other.
"Thank you, Leader Ling, the Qi Zhen Pavilion made a lot of profit because of you." Gong Suo Xin smiled and unintentionally seduced everyone in the room. Everyone gasped at her beauty.
There was an old saying that says the third party always benefits from the tussle. In this case, Gong Suo Xin was definitely the third party. A Revitalization Dan in the market was only 30,000 stones. However, because there was never enough supply to meet the demand, it’s worth a lot more at auctions.
She would’ve been satisfied with 40,000 spiritual stones and did not expect at all that Ling Tian Qing would end up helping in raising the price to 60,000. She was very content, and thus her smile was very natural and enchanting.
"Manager Gong, you are too polite. I simply do not like that bastard." Staring at that lovely face of hers, Ling Tian Qing appeared to be a little infatuated. The next second, however, his head cleared. He did not dare to provoke this woman. Based on the fact that she did not hesitate to tell off a completion level cultivator and how she punished herself so cruelly, he knew that this was a woman he should not irritate.
As the two continued chatting, the middle-aged man took out the fourth auction item. He smiled. "This item is the long lost Qing Hua Dan. It cures those with poor blood flow and reverses the damage to one’s spiritual energy. If there are anyone here who has or has friends and family with spiritual energy issues, then this is your chance."
The crowds became rowdy right away.
"What! The lost Qing Hua Dan? The medicinal Dan that could cure those with a lack of spiritual energy?"
"Hahaha, heaven did not abandon me. I must get my hands on this Qing Hua Dan. Nobody fight with me!"
"Why? Your son has poor energy flow, so does my little brother. This Qing Hua Dan will be mine!"
What was the most important thing in the cultivation community?
Capabilities!
Those with damaged spiritual energy or those with extremely poor blood flow cannot practice Taoism freely. Not only does that mean they can no longer go on with their training, but it also means the achievements they had before will disappear as time goes on. This was a horrifying conclusion for any cultivator.
Unfortunately, for many reasons, it was very easy to damage one’s spiritual energy, and there were very few spiritual Dans that could cure this sickness. These Dans were also very high in ranking. Those without capabilities cannot even see one in their lifetime, let alone purchase one.
Qing Hua Dan, though lowest in realm compared to the other Dans, gives superior results to treat the disease compared to the other Dans. For people here in this little city, it was more than enough and even arguably more suitable. When everyone heard the lost Qing Hua Dan was brewed again, people were more than shocked!
Looking at how boisterous the place has gotten, the middle-aged man smiled. He gestured with his hands to calm everyone down. "Everyone, please quiet down. There are two Qing Hua Dans here, meaning two of you will be able to take one home. Don’t hurt your friendships because of this item."
"However, before the bidding officially starts. I must make something really clear. Though Qing Hua Dan is normally a sixth-realm Dan, today’s Qing Hua Dan was only in the ninth realm. Despite this, our very own alchemists have inspected them and can confidently declare that this Dan has the same effects as the sixth realm ones. These two Dans were personally brewed by the Elder here, who is in the completion level. Therefore, I rest assure you, it is a top quality Dan," the middle-aged man added.
In an instant, every gaze focused on Ling Xian.
"A ninth-realm Qing Hua Dan? I’ve never heard of it. Will it really work?"
"It should be okay. The Qi Zhen Pavilion is guaranteeing it. It was also the Elder who brewed it. I don’t think there will be a problem."
Sensing everyone’s suspicion, Ling Xian was not angry. He understood where everyone’s doubts came from. After all, when the Qing Hua Dan is involved, it’s usually serious. With a beaming smile, he said, "Everyone, please don’t worry. I can swear on my life, and on my completion level of training that this Dan will work. If it doesn’t, then I will end myself."
"I, Gong Suo Xin, can also guarantee that if this Dan does not work, then the Qi Zhen Pavilion will return you double the amount of money you pay!" Gong Suo Xin gracefully smiled.
After acquiring both Ling Xian and Gong Suo Xin’s testaments, everyone felt more assured and began to demand the man to start the bidding process.
"Alright, I won’t talk more then. The first Qing Hua Dan. Starting bid is 10,000 with a minimum raise of 5,000 every bid!" the middle-aged man said.
"20,000!" someone screamed, raising the price to 20,000 in one go!
"30,000!" someone else added.
[Yes, raise the price. The more you bid, the better.] Ling Xian, looking at the rowdy situation, was filled with pride and joy.
The Qing Hua Dan was brewed by him. If these Dans were able to create such an uproar, then naturally he should feel proud. On top of that, whatever price it ends up being sold for will go into his own pocket. He was happy about that.
"Elder, look at how much they want the Qing Hua Dan." There was something profound and mysterious in Gong Suo Xin’s gaze.
"I thought I gave you three Qing Hua Dans, why are you only auctioning two?" Ling Xian asked.
"Qing Hua Dan has been lost for a very long time. To have it suddenly appear in the market again is a big deal. The Qi Zhen Pavilion needs one. But, Elder, don’t worry. We will pay you for the other Dan at whatever price these two end up going for," Gong Suo Xin explained.
With relish, Ling Xian smiled. Looking at her alluring eyes, he saw right through her.
"You want the Dan so you can try and decipher my recipe?"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
0 Power
stone 
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