novelhk 17. Auction Prologue
17. Auction Prologue
The Beast Gathering is a prestigious event renowned throughout the Northwest Region of the Dou Qi Continent and even the entire Dou Qi Continent. Each Beast Gathering produces a group of exceptional talents who forge legendary stories.
The unprecedentedly bustling Tianlan City will be exceptionally lively, and with more people comes more things to do.
The Wan Yao Xuan and Jin Meng Chamber of Commerce, two major forces, joined forces to prepare an auction a month and a half before the start of the Ten Thousand Beasts Gathering. The reason for this timing was twofold: firstly, the number of participants was basically at its peak, which could create more value; secondly, the items auctioned needed time to be absorbed.
On the way from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion to the auction house in Tianlan City, a group of five people were walking. The two men in front of them had their arms around each other's shoulders, indicating that their relationship was not ordinary.
"Junior Uncle, there are quite a few good things at this auction. How's it going? Are you well prepared?" Xu Yingwu asked, putting his arm around Xiao Yan's shoulder.
"It's alright, I hope I can buy some of the things I need."
"Hehe, don't worry. Wan Yao Xuan and Jin Meng Chamber of Commerce are both powerful forces with businesses spanning across the region. The auctions held by Wan Shou Hui are just routine for them. According to my old man, the good stuff this time has even brought out many reclusive old monsters."
"Then today is going to be exciting."
Xiao Yan, Xun'er, Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Xu Yingwu walked together. Because of Su Zhang, Xu Yingwu and Xiao Yan had become increasingly close, and Xiao Yan also liked this approachable young master. So, for this auction, before Xiao Yan and the others even set off with the people from the Heavenly Serpent Palace, they had already been dragged away by Xu Yingwu.
"If Xiao Yan finds any good medicinal herbs, we must seize them!" Zi Yan said fiercely.
Despite her fierce expression and tone, Zi Yan's physique couldn't support her harsh words, which instead drew chuckles from the others.
When the group arrived at the auction house, even Xun'er was slightly shocked. A terrifying building with a diameter of over three hundred feet stood there. Inside, there were over thirty thousand seats, and more than half of them were already occupied. In the center, where the view was best, there were even ten small rooms. Xiao Yan immediately recognized that these rooms were made of black spirit stone. The black spirit stone had two sides, one visible and one invisible, providing excellent privacy.
However, as soon as the group entered the auction hall, their loud, boisterous voices rang out.
"You medicine addict, you're here too?"
Xu Yingwu frowned slightly and said coldly, "What bad luck! I forgot to check my luck before I left home and ran into a bastard like you."
The group looked behind them and saw a short, bald man who was only 1.5 meters tall. Although he was only 1.5 meters tall, his whole body was covered in dark, firm muscles.
The bald man wasn't angry at all; he just looked at Xiao Yan next to Xu Yingwu and chuckled, "Who's this? Aren't you going to introduce him?"
As he spoke, he extended his right hand in a friendly manner, but Xiao Yan noticed that the bald man's muscles were quietly swelling, and his palm strike clearly contained terrifying power.
Xiao Yan snorted coldly, his right palm instantly turning blood red as he met Xiao Yan's palm with Xiao Yan's!
Their palms met, unleashing a powerful burst of energy. However, the two managed to suppress the energy burst with a tacit understanding, after all, this was an auction house.
Xiao Yan staggered back three steps, his face slightly flushed and his palms already red. The bald man's physical strength in that attack was truly terrifying; based on that one strike, Xiao Yan could already tell that this person was definitely stronger than Yun Shan.
Although the bald man remained stationary, his body began to radiate heat, like a steamer. He shook his hands, and the skin on his palms crumbled and fell off, clearly indicating that he hadn't gained the upper hand in this brief exchange. A portion of the burning evil power of Xiao Yan's suppressed Red Lotus Karmic Flame had been injected into the bald man's body, causing a surge within him. Had he not possessed formidable strength, he might have been injured in that attack.
"Shi Meng, if you want to hit me, I'll play with you," Xu Yingwu said angrily, clearly angered by the bald man Shi Meng's actions.
"Heh, the real business today is the auction. There'll be plenty of time for a fight at the Beast Guild, you medicine pot." The bald man left with a mocking look, giving Xiao Yan a deep look before he left.
"Uncle-Master, are you alright?" Xu Yingwu asked.
Xiao Yan shook his head and said, "It's nothing. Who is this person?"
As Xiao Yan spoke, he quietly took Xun'er's small hand, which she had reached out to feel his condition out of concern. Xun'er's face immediately flushed red, but fortunately, she was wearing a veil and cloak and no one saw this detail.
Xu Yingwu replied, "He is Shi Meng from Xiangxi Mountain, and one of the formidable opponents in this Beast Gathering. He specializes in physical strength, enough to shatter stone and break gold. But he is also exceptionally cunning. Once, while I was gathering herbs and painstakingly slaying a demonic beast, this guy reaped the benefits. He is extremely ruthless, and those without a background often suffer serious injuries when sparring with him."
Xiao Yan nodded. Just now, Shi Meng took advantage of everyone's inattention to test him with Lei Ting. If it were someone with insufficient strength, he would probably have been injured by him.
"The Beasts Guild will make him pay the price. Let's go to the VIP room first."
Xu Yingwu led Xiao Yan and the others to one of the dozen or so rooms made of black spirit stones. Outside the room, four exceptionally hot maids, dressed in very revealing clothing, waited. Xu Yingwu opened the door to reveal an extremely luxurious room.
The room was spacious, with ten reclining chairs made of high-grade magical beast fur. The central table was laden with various rare fruits and delicious, edible medicinal herbs. There was even a freezer, specially constructed from the battle qi of an ice-elemental master, displaying dozens of bottled wines. Only two people were in the room: one was Xiao Yan's new senior brother, Su Zhang, and the other was a middle-aged man who was conversing with him.
"Father, teacher," Xu Yingwu said respectfully.
The middle-aged man and Su Zhang both nodded. Xiao Yan carefully observed Xu Yingwu's father, Xu Chengze, and found that his mouth was much more swollen than that of an average person. Xiao Yan had heard Xu Yingwu introduce that the Echoing Sect was most proud of its sonic attacks, and Xu Chengze, a nine-star Dou Zong powerhouse, had already mastered sonic attacks to perfection.
"You've arrived? This must be Elder Su's junior brother, Master Xiao Yan," Xu Chengze said with a smile.
"I dare not accept such praise. Sect Leader Xu, you may simply call me Xiao Yan."
"Since you are Elder Su's junior brother and Ying Wu's good friend, you can just call me Uncle Xu."
"Then I'll redeem Xiao Yan for his abruptness."
"It's alright, it's alright. Elder Su has praised your junior brother highly, and today I see that what he said is true. Anything that catches your eye at today's auction can be charged to my Echo Sect."
As Xiao Yan and his companions exchanged warm greetings, people continued to pour into the auction hall, and VIPs, who were symbols of status, entered one by one, gradually bringing the atmosphere of the auction to a climax.