บท 238: Chapter 252: The Auction!
In the vast Great Thousand World, there are few that can rival a Supreme Heavenly Sovereign. He came to sell his stolen goods, not to reveal his prowess. Concealing himself was necessary.
As Jiang Yun entered the bustling market, the city reached a terrifying level of activity. The streets were extraordinarily wide, yet they were engulfed by a sea of people.
On both sides of the street, various shops proliferated, emanating a vast amount of spiritual energy, clearly indicating that the items were not ordinary.
"No wonder it's called the Great Thousand World. Even a single 'black market' here has so much popularity, surpassing even Sacred Pill City on the Dou Qi Continent. One wonders how many such cities exist in the Great Thousand World."
Even Jiang Yun, who had witnessed numerous grand scenes, couldn't help but show a look of amazement. The Merchant Continent's market was one of the most prosperous places he had seen in his life.
The prosperity of the Evil Spirit Tribe was self-explanatory. Although the Dou Qi Continent had abundant flourishing cities, they still paled slightly in comparison.
The Great Thousand World gathered elites from countless planes, blooming with diverse systems, naturally making it more developed than lower planes.
Moreover, the innumerable planes and continents contributed to the vastly larger population of the Great Thousand World, making commercial hubs like the Merchant Continent frighteningly prosperous.
The shops lining the way were dazzling, with abundant spiritual energy drawing the attention of many passersby. Even Jiang Yun was often captivated.
However, in this periphery, nothing had yet fully captured Jiang Yun's heart.
"It's a pity. Although it's prosperous and rich in resources, it doesn't fit my future plans. Furthermore, the unified Merchant Continent I envision isn't the current one. Otherwise, it would be a great choice. Such a place, where the good mix with the bad, is most suitable for development."
The forces behind the Merchant Continent were a mix of many superpowers, making unification difficult to begin with. Moreover, one of the reasons for its prosperity was that it was a 'black market' with a bottom line.
If this advantage was lost, the economic and revenue growth of the Merchant Continent would undoubtedly decline, turning it into an unappealing and worthless piece.
After observing for a while, Jiang Yun murmured to himself internally. Then, he proceeded along the main street, walking to its end, where a grand building loomed.
It was a vast hall, as massive as a mountain, standing silently. Majestic spiritual energy emanated from it, forming a beam that shot straight into the sky.
Outside that hall, a crowd surged in, and only Supreme powerhouses could enter, numbering in the thousands directly outside the building.
Even Earth Supremes were not few.
Above the building's entrance, there were five gilded words written in a flamboyant script.
"Merchant Auction House!"
"A divine artifact, no less, quite extravagant!" Jiang Yun's gaze fell upon the hall. Feeling a peculiar fluctuation, his eyes shifted slightly, and he smiled softly.
This hall wasn't a mere construction but a transformed divine artifact, hence the special fluctuation.
Peerless holy objects are rare and sought-after throughout the history of the Great Thousand World. When they appear, even a Saintly Heavenly Sovereign would be tempted to join the fray.
Typically, a holy object is the weapon of a Heavenly Sovereign, while a divine artifact is a coveted treasure for an Earthly Sovereign. Therefore, the hall being a divine artifact would provoke a strong desire for seizure even among Earthly Sovereign-level powerhouses.
Walking into the grand hall, spatial ripples spread, and after a slight blur, everything became clear.
Inside the hall, it was exceptionally bright. The floor was made of luminous crystals, and even though the hall was packed with people, it didn't feel crowded at all. Instead, it felt exceptionally spacious.
Jiang Yun wandered around and approached a counter. A sweet-looking maid bowed slightly, her fair skin glowing momentarily, offering a fair share of eye candy. A pleasant voice rang in his ear, "How can I assist you, sir?"
Unmoved, Jiang Yun remained calm, shaking a low-grade divine artifact in his hand and said indifferently, "I want to auction this item. Where should I go for appraisal?"
To work at the Merchant Auction House, one needed sharp eyes, especially as a receptionist. She could tell at a glance that the item in Jiang Yun's hand was not ordinary, and coupled with his serene demeanor, she recognized a significant customer. Her smile became even sweeter and more sincere.
"Sir, please follow me." The maid led the way, her curvaceous body swaying alluringly. Such tactics were common in auction houses, and Jiang Yun had seen plenty by now, rendering him immune. He followed the beautiful young girl into the interior of the Merchant Auction House, through an inner passage, to an opulent pavilion.
An old man there was meticulously polishing a spiritual object. Seeing Jiang Yun arrive, he immediately straightened up and gestured for him to sit, "A distinguished guest. What would you like to have appraised?"
"The items here are what I wish to trade. I hope you can handle them, or you may seek others to share the burden. I don't wish to run around anymore." Jiang Yun waved his hand, producing several Sumeru Rings and tossing them over.
Suspicion flickering in his eyes, the old man extended his hand, taking the Sumeru Rings. He then immersed his mind into them.
Moments later, the old man shot up, staring at Jiang Yun in shock, his voice trembling, "These... these are..."
Inside the Sumeru Rings were mountains of spiritual artifacts, divine artifacts, luxurious garments, exquisite jewelry, all pulsating with abundant spiritual energy, clearly not ordinary items.
There were even divine techniques and supernatural powers...
As for rare spiritual herbs and minerals, Jiang Yun didn't plan to trade those, as they could be used to make pills and weapons later. He needed to start preparing now.
Top ancient clans and factions all possessed peerless holy objects, and using these holy objects could significantly boost one's combat power. Some top-tier peerless holy objects could even rival Saintly Heavenly Sovereigns, which was terrifying.
Regaining his composure, the old man cautiously looked up at Jiang Yun. Upon close inspection, his heart skipped a beat. At first glance, Jiang Yun appeared quite ordinary, like a common person.
However, with careful examination, one could feel his unfathomable aura...
He was a Nine-Grade Supreme. As the steward of the Merchant Auction House, while he wasn't top-tier in strength, he had seen many Earthly Sovereigns, but none had given him the same feeling as Jiang Yun.
Taking a deep breath, the old man cautiously asked, "Distinguished guest, where did these treasures come from?"
Seeing the cautious look, Jiang Yun knew what he was worried about. Holding a cup of spiritual tea, he said calmly, "Don't worry about anyone coming after me. Since I can auction these, I've naturally handled all possible repercussions. Just tell me, can you take them? Do you dare?"
The old man's heart churned with massive waves. If what Jiang Yun said was true, then something big had happened in the Little Western Heavens Realm. But what did that matter to him?
Thinking this, the old man immediately donned a fawning expression and said, "Sir, these items are worth at least three hundred billion Supreme Spirit Liquids. It'll take some time to count them. And for such a vast amount of Supreme Spirit Liquids, we cannot provide all of it. Would you consider bartering with items instead?"
Jiang Yun nodded, "Rare spiritual herbs, heaven-defying minerals, or clues to peerless holy objects and supreme divine techniques will do..."
No faction would trade peerless holy objects or supreme divine techniques. Jiang Yun merely wanted to use their information network to get some leads and track them down himself.
"Alright, please wait a moment, sir. If bored, why not check out the auction? There are some good items today!" the old man said, handing Jiang Yun a token.
The token was simple, with intricate patterns forming the character 'merchant' on it. It was a VIP token of the Merchant Auction House, which offered various discounts and benefits, rarely given away lightly.
Jiang Yun took the token and left the appraisal room. Outside, a maid awaited, following him closely.
He wasn't worried about the Merchant Auction House swindling his items. Strength was the ultimate guarantee. Or rather, he might even welcome their attempt to rob him.
After leaving the appraisal room, Jiang Yun, guided by the maid, headed to the auction hall. The crowded hall was well-organized, showing meticulous planning.
Led to a pavilion at the very front of the auction hall, the spacious room was filled with drinks and snacks, with chairs fashioned from jade covered in soft furs.
Sitting slowly, he could faintly feel a trickle of spiritual energy entering his body. Everything in the pavilion was extraordinary, even the simplest chairs.
"Sir, the drinks at the auction are complimentary. Please enjoy to your heart's content," the maid said softly, subtly displaying her beauty in front of Jiang Yun.
"Sit over there," Jiang Yun said indifferently, pointing to a distant seat as he gazed at the bustling hall below.
The maid's spirits dimmed slightly at the cold response, but her sharp eye, trained by working at the Merchant Auction House, guided her to obediently follow his instruction, sitting far away and carefully attending to his needs.
"Scarlet Flame Celestial Vine. The current offer from this esteemed guest is sixty million Supreme Spirit Liquids. Does anyone wish to bid higher?" On a brightly lit platform, a white-haired elder in a robe enthusiastically introduced a spirit herb emitting strong spiritual energy in a glass box held by a maid.
"This is a sacred item for cultivation. Absorbing its essence can equate to several years of hard training for an Earthly Sovereign. If refined into a spiritual pill, its effects will be even more significant. It's a rare and precious treasure..."
"Sixty-five million Supreme Spirit Liquids!" someone immediately raised the bid by five million, their tone firm with evident determination.
"Seventy million."
"Seventy-five million."
"Nine million Supreme Spirit Liquids!" A cold voice suddenly cut through, showing the first bidder raising the stakes. His cold eyes scanned the surroundings, his silent threat palpable.
As expected, the bid from this lower Earthly Sovereign dampened the previously heated atmosphere.
"One billion!" Jiang Yun's calm voice resonated, directly upping the bid by ten million, reaching the limit for the Scarlet Flame Celestial Vine.
"Who dares oppose me?" The enraged interruption hurried out a fire-red robed elder from a VIP room, his eyes furious as he glanced around.
"If you desire it, pay the price."
The crowd in the hall looked on with interest when Jiang Yun's calm voice sounded again. At the same time, a terrifying aura emanated from his room, freezing the elder as if gripped by an invisible hand, with an enormous fist pounding his heart.
"Earthly Sovereign pinnacle..." The elder's soul even trembled.
"Can the result be announced?" Not bothering with the elder, Jiang Yun addressed the auctioneer, who, seeing no further bids, quickly confirmed, handing the Scarlet Flame Celestial Vine to the eighteenth VIP.
"The next item is a divine artifact."
With that small episode over, the auction resumed, and soon Jiang Yun received his Scarlet Flame Celestial Vine, which he casually stored in a Sumeru Ring, continuing to watch with interest.
Next, items were successfully auctioned off, ranging from divine artifacts to rare objects and supreme techniques. Among them were many treasures that moved even Supreme experts.
These precious items, naturally sparking bids and disputes, raised the auction hall's atmosphere higher and higher.
Having exposed his strength earlier, Jiang Yun successfully bid on several items that piqued his interest. Few dared to challenge him after displaying his power. To those present, an Earthly Sovereign pinnacle was an invincible presence, likely a regional overlord. Even on the Merchant Continent, they were rare.
Amidst the heated and rowdy auction, as precious items were successfully traded, the final item was brought forward.
Before the auctioneer could even present it, the hall grew eerily silent, like the calm before a storm.
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