Chapter 66
In a particular booth inside the Roc's Eye merchant auction house, there stood an old woman. Her eyes are glued on booth number 3 where Shin Jiao is staying.
"Silo, send those who are outside a notice to watch out for the people in booth number 3. That guy seems to be loaded with many spirit stones and other items. I want them all. Hehe…"
"Yes, master." The young man beside her bowed and immediately left.
Meanwhile, in many of the booths in this area, most of them also have their eyes on booth number 3. This is due to the clash between the man inside that room and the Dao ancestor of the Lotus Sect. Some wanted to meet him and curry some favor, and others see him as their rival, and some had the same idea as the old woman.
As this is happening, the auction continued normally.
Many eyes are now looking at the 3D projection high up in the air. This is especially for the craftsmen as this particular artifact is ancient and will be of great benefit to those who are fortunate to get it.
"Now we will start with a bidding price of 500,000 with an increment not less than 5,000." Nalin Ling said.
The bidding price is actually low because this particular item is truly not that useful to anyone in this place. According to the merchant house, most bidders for this item would just be those crafters and some hobbyist.
The bidding war started to erupt until the price has already reached 1 million. Shin Jiao didn't put his bid yet and waited for the heat to die down. Then, at last, 1.3 million spirit stone has been reached and none is raising the price anymore, so Shin Jiao bids 1.4 million.
Meanwhile...
"Excuse me?" a beautiful woman approached one of the staff from the auction house.
"Yes?" the staff which is a woman cultivator with the cultivation of a mid-stage spirit refining realm was a little hesitant because the woman is just a mortal.
"I'm the servant of the master from booth number 3. He asked if he can have a loan?" the woman which is Qian Li asked with a smile.
"Wait a minute please, I'll talk to the manager." The staff said as she immediately turns around and enters the manager's office.
It didn't take too long when the woman suddenly returns while carrying a card.
"This card contains at least 10 million low-grade spirit stone. The manager asked me to give it to your master and to tell that he is sorry as right now he is in a very important meeting with someone." The woman said in a more a polite voice as she handed the card.
"Thank you!" Qian Li said as she turns around and went back to the booth.
...
"I bid 1.5 million!" a loud voice of an old man rang.
He is seated near the stage with his white frisky unkempt hair and fiery burning gaze toward the item. The old man seems to be willing to fight for the ancient flying ship. But then all of a sudden everyone in the area was suddenly silenced as another price was shown on booth number 3.
"2 million low-grade spirit stones from booth number 3, anyone with a higher bid? Do I hear 2.1 million? 2.1 million any takers?" Nalin Ling said with excitement.
"2 million going once!" Nalin Ling announced.
The old man is now very unhappy and a little depressed. It has been a long time since he's been researching on ancient ships. It is known that these ancient ships, although limited in number, were able to leave this world and sail into the stars in the old days. It even has the ability to go around this huge planet. They are not sure if this old ship can also do that but just judging from the design it may be possible. And the matter of fact is that just studying it, a craftsman might receive inspiration and be able to make a breakthrough in one's crafting technique.
As everyone feels the same as the old man, they too wanted this old flying ship. But of course, they feel a little hesitant as they didn't know what the last item is yet. Everyone knows the reputation of Roc's Eye merchant group and how they can label each product. From the gist of it, the last item would surely be a great treasure, so they just decided to give up.
"2 million going twice." Nalin Ling announced.
The old man shook his head and didn't raise the price anymore as he has already given up. But then all of a sudden a call rose which startled everyone.
"3 million low-grade spiritual stone." A voice coming from booth 8 suddenly broke the countdown.
Upon hearing this voice everyone shook their heads. It seems that booth 3 has attracted trouble. But Shin Jiao is oblivious to this and didn't mind the other party. The auction house has loaned him 10 million which means that the auction house really does value that item which he gave.
"3.5 million coming from booth 5" Nalin Ling's voice continued as someone also tried to enter the bid.
"3.8 million coming from booth 3" This bid from Shin Jiao shows that he is really prepared to fight for this artifact.
"I bid 5 million." A young man's voice shouted from booth number 8.
The young man is actually an acquaintance of Shin Jiao; it was the handsome young man from the Lei family. He and his sister were the ones who wanted to poison Cherry Lao and Shin Jiao at that time when they invited the two in their tent. Shin Jiao actually look a little favorably to this young man before as though he has an ulterior motive but he still treated them to a meal at least. And the fact that he didn't actually show a fierce reaction to Shin Jiao.
But right now that same young man has a smirk on his face as he looks at booth number 3.
"Daring to bid against this father let me see you get broke." He thought.
"Young master we only have 5 million in our pocket please be reminded." An old man beside him said which seems to be his guardian.
Jing Lei just nods his head nonchalantly. And continue to watch booth number 3 with contempt.
"5.5 million from booth number 3." Nalin Ling's voice sounded.
This time the crowd broke into a cacophony of discussions. They never would have thought that the old thing could cost 5.5 million already and this is only an old piece of artifact.
While everyone is talking the young man suddenly shouted which stunned everyone else.
"6 million, it seems that this friend has a lot of spiritual stone. Let me see you raise this daddy's bid more. Hehe" the young man's voice said from booth 8 as a challenge.
Right now Jing Lei's purpose is to make the one in booth 3 to cough out more money so that he will spend more. He is a proud young master from the Lei clan and he didn't want anyone to flaunt their wealth under his nose especially when he learned that the one in booth 3 is just a young man too.
You are reading story The Geared Immortal at novel35.com
"6 million low-grade spiritual stones from booth 8, do I hear 6.1 million? 6.1 million any takers?" Nalin Ling said with excitement.
Even she didn't expect that the old artifact would fetch this high price. So right now she felt elated, as this would be a great accomplishment in her name.
"6 million going once." Nalin Ling shouted.
But before she could continue, the young man from booth 8 suddenly said in a loud and challenging voice.
"It seems that booth 3 has lost his balls. His capability is just so-so. Dare not to bid any higher than mine?" he said in a voice full of provocation.
While saying that, his hand is actually sweating cold. He never would have expected that booth number 3 would suddenly stop bidding. His plan to push up the price and let booth 3 suffer some loses was destroyed.
Unknown to him, Shin Jiao has already anticipated this move especially when he heard booth number 8's voice. He immediately remembers the young man who had his eyes all over Cherry Lao at that time while they are traveling towards the town of Dis.
"Booth number 3 would you like to bid higher? 6.1 million?" Nalin Ling asked.
Shin Jiao just had an evil smile on his face. When Qian Li saw this her heart skipped a beat. She didn't know that her master would also be so devious as to act this way. That kid from booth number 8 is still too young to challenge his great master.
"6 million going twice." Nalin Ling said as her gaze turns to booth number 8.
This time Jing Lei is already trembling in fear. He knows what would happen if someone bids a price and they didn't have enough. He would surely lose a layer of his skin and his face this time.
"Young master! I already reminded you." The old man beside him is also anxious.
"I know! I screw up. I just don't like that pompous fellow from booth 3. Think of a way old man!" Jing Lei said in a panic.
"But, but! I need to call master then." The old man said.
"You!... Do we have any other choice?" the young man asked, he truly didn't want his father to hear this as it would really cause him to lose face big time.
But the two's discussion was interrupted when Nalin Ling shouted the last bid.
"Low-grade flying artifact sold to booth 8 for 6 million low-grade spiritual stone. Please pay the corresponding spiritual stones to receive the item." She said with a smile.
But even after a while, booth 8 still didn't pay the spirit stone. Jing Lei is also aware that even if he takes out everything he owns right now, he is unable to reach 6 million. And so Nalin Ling's expression immediately changed.
"As per the rule of our auction house, if a person bids for an item and is unable to raise the required amount for the exchange. That person would be stripped of their belonging and be banned from this auction house forever." Nalin Ling said as she signaled the people around her.
"Wait! Wait! I am Jing Lei of the Lei clan. I can pay up just wait for my father." Jing Lei gritted his teeth and bit the bullet and tried to rely on his clan's prestige.
But he forgot that this is the Roc's Eye merchant group's auction house. The rules they set is to be followed no matter who that person is. The emperor himself, if he were present, would still have to obey that rule just to keep face. Even the Dao ancestor of the Lotus Sect didn't come too aggressive as he is aware of the power of this merchant group.
So without a word, the people from the merchant house immediately enters the booth and drag Jing Lie away as he squeals.
"Damn you! I'll get you! The one from booth number 3, I Jing Lei challenges you! Coward!" he shouted while being dragged out.
The staff took his ring and any valuable things in him but everything is now even worth a million as the merchant house appraised everything. So they just kick him out and banned his name.
"Customer from booth number 3. Your last bid will be invalidated and the bid of 3.8 million will stand." Nalin Ling immediately said after the commotion.
Everyone was quiet as they were truly amused by the antics of the young master of the Lei family. Everyone began to whisper about the funny scene.
No one bids for the item anymore and Shin Jiao was able to get the old flying artifact. After this, he already plans to leave the auction house secretly as he already had what he came here for and at got at least more than 5 million low-grade spirit stone. He didn't care about the outcome of the shield as his goal was already met.
It's just a shield he can casually craft, although it has a high defensive capability and consumes just a little energy, it's still just a shield. But he didn't know that this shield is already considered as a high-grade spirit artifact or even higher by most cultivators.
So without a sound, both their figures suddenly disappear from the booth, especially when the last item was presented. When the people inside the auction hall saw the shield coupled with the explanation from Nalin Ling, everyone was in an uproar. The people began to see the shield as a very valuable object, even those old monsters who were sleeping while the auction is going on now had their eyes wide open and gazed hungrily to the defensive artifact.
When their spiritual sense scanned the item it seems to be just an ordinary metallic shield. But when Nalin Ling inserted a demon core of level 1 and level 2 beast, everyone's eye almost popped out of their sockets.
"How could that be? This is impossible!"
"The strength of the Qi field changes in strength and power. This is really a very powerful shield!"
"So you mean… If you have a level 5 beast core then you can escape an infant soul cultivator?"
"Really, that is way too amazing. Our sect should get this artifact, this would be of great help to our sect leaders."
Everyone is already discussing on how they can obtain the defensive artifact in Nalin Ling's hand. As everyone's attention is way too focused on the item, no one even noticed that the people on booth 3 are already gone.
Meanwhile, Shin Jiao and Qian Li are already outside of the auction house and are darting on the road towards the gate of the town. They didn't bother to stop at anything as they have already taken the important things that they needed in Shin Jiao's ring.
As it is already night time, the thick gate of the town is already closed as there are almost no cultivators willing to go out at night. Though there are those who are still courageous or desperate enough to do so.
But the two didn't want to go out through the gate but to the wall. It is not a problem to both Shin Jiao and Qian Li as they can easily scale the wall unseen and with Shin Jiao's boots they can get down from the high wall safely on the other side.
Just before they can jump a voice stopped them. Unknown to Shin Jiao, because he didn't bother to scan his surroundings using his goggles as he knows that the stealth function of the suits they are wearing is undetectable by others, a beautiful figure was actually able to follow them.
"Wait! Shin! I know it's you, please wait."