Chapter 34: The Auction
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Seeing this, Bai Jingyan smiled faintly and patted Lin Xuan on the shoulder. “Brother Lin, you truly have courage. Over the next week, you may experience some discomfort, but that is perfectly normal. Once the Threadworms have completed their task, your body will feel lighter than ever before, and your spiritual energy will flow more smoothly as well.”
Lin Xuan nodded reluctantly, his face still somewhat pale. Suppressing the discomfort in his stomach, he forced a bitter smile. “Brother Bai, I really must thank you this time. But if something like this happens again, could you warn me beforehand and give me some time to prepare myself mentally?”
Bai Jingyan merely smiled without saying much. He knew that although Lin Xuan complained aloud, he already understood the thought behind Bai Jingyan’s actions.
“All right, Brother Lin. All you need to do now is rest quietly. In a week, you will naturally feel the effects.” With that, Bai Jingyan turned and left the room, leaving Lin Xuan sitting there alone, his expression complicated as he rubbed his stomach.
“Sigh. The path of cultivation truly is not easy…” Lin Xuan sighed and muttered to himself.
The following day, the Mad Dragon Sect’s auction finally began in Backdragon City.
It was held in the underground marketplace at the center of the city.
On that day, nearly every martial artist in Backdragon City flocked there, and Bai Jingyan was no exception. Following the people from the Azure Cloud Sect, he soon arrived at the entrance to the underground marketplace.
The entrance was an ordinary-looking pawnshop. After entering, they saw two guards standing at the head of the staircase leading underground, inspecting everyone with strict vigilance.
Every person entering the auction received an identical set of clothing and a mask. This was intended to prevent bidders from forming grudges over competing for the same item. With everyone dressed alike, their identities remained concealed, making the bidding both fairer and safer.
One of the guards discreetly slipped Bai Jingyan a note. He glanced down at it and saw the number “Twenty-One.” That meant he was bidder number twenty-one.
After changing clothes, everyone followed the stairs downward. The scene before them suddenly opened up.
At the bottom of the stairs was a spacious plaza lined with stalls on both sides. The stall owners were likewise dressed in black and wore masks. Most of the items displayed were martial arts manuals and medicinal pills.
Bai Jingyan glanced around and found nothing that interested him.
“Brother Bai, this underground marketplace was actually a black market many years ago, specializing in transactions that could not bear the light of day. It was only converted into the underground marketplace it is today several centuries ago,” Lin Xuan explained from the side. “If you see anything you like, Brother Bai, just say the word.”
Bai Jingyan chuckled inwardly at this. Was Lin Xuan trying to win him over with money?
Still, there truly was nothing here worthy of his attention. Bai Jingyan smiled faintly. “Thank you for your kindness, Brother Lin. But let us wait until the auction begins.”
Lin Xuan nodded and said nothing more.
The group found a place to sit and quietly waited for the auction to begin.
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Just then, a commotion suddenly arose at the entrance.
Seven or eight figures swaggered in, arrogant and utterly unrestrained, pushing aside anyone who happened to block their path. They went straight to the front row, roughly driving away several people who had been sitting there before taking their seats without the slightest courtesy.
“Who are those people?” Bai Jingyan narrowed his eyes, his gaze settling on them.
Suddenly, the man at the head reached up and removed his mask in full view of everyone, revealing a scarred face that appeared to belong to a man of about thirty. Seeing this, the others removed their masks as well, exposing their true appearances.
Each of them bore a winding, four-clawed dragon scar between the brows, as though it were some kind of insignia.
Bai Jingyan’s heart stirred. He lowered his voice and asked, “Brother Lin, where do these people come from?”
Lin Xuan frowned, his tone grave. “They are from the Mad Dragon Sect. That four-clawed dragon scar is the mark of their sect. It seems this auction truly is no ordinary affair.”
Bai Jingyan was puzzled. “They are hosting the auction, yet their own people are participating?”
Lin Xuan smiled. “Brother Bai, there is something you do not know. The Mad Dragon Sect has always been arrogant and domineering. Besides, the item being auctioned this time is a map of the Martial Sect’s tomb. They certainly will not be willing to let it go easily.”
As the two were speaking, a voice came from the Mad Dragon Sect’s side.
“Big Brother, do you think anyone from the Azure Cloud Sect has arrived?”
The speaker’s voice was loud, as though he had deliberately intended everyone to hear.
“The Azure Cloud Sect?”
The man addressed as Big Brother gave a mocking laugh. “Just a pack of cowards. What difference does it make whether they came or not? Why have you suddenly taken an interest in them?”
Lin Xuan’s expression darkened slightly, but he did not lose his temper.
At that moment, the auctioneer stepped onto the stage and rapped the gavel in his hand. In a clear, resonant voice, he announced, “Everyone, the auction is about to begin. Please take your seats and maintain silence.”
As his voice faded, the entire underground marketplace gradually quieted. Every eye turned toward the stage, awaiting the formal beginning of the auction.
Lin Xuan and Bai Jingyan likewise withdrew their attention and waited in silence.
The entire auction hall suddenly went dark.
The auctioneer cleared his throat and continued, “The first item up for auction is a middle-grade Profound Rank martial technique—Wildwind Palm! The starting bid is five hundred spirit stones!”
“Each increase must be at least five hundred spirit stones!”
The moment the auctioneer finished speaking, a hand suddenly rose not far away. A low voice slowly rang out through the auction hall.
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“I bid six thousand!”
“Excellent!” The auctioneer laughed heartily. “Bidder Number Six has offered six thousand. Does anyone wish to go higher?”
“Six thousand five hundred!”
“Seven thousand!”
In an instant, numerous people began calling out their bids.
The atmosphere in the hall gradually grew heated. Yet Lin Xuan and Bai Jingyan’s thoughts were not focused on these ordinary items. Their target was the map of the Martial Sect’s tomb, the final grand lot.
The people from the Mad Dragon Sect continued to sit arrogantly in the front row, occasionally letting out a few disdainful snorts, as though they already regarded the map of the Martial Sect’s tomb as theirs.
Standing before the main platform, the auctioneer announced in a booming voice, “Now, we begin the auction of the second item!”
As his words fell, everyone’s eyes turned in unison toward the transparent glass case on the main platform.
Inside the case lay an enormous corpse.
It was not human, but some unknown beast. Approximately three meters long, it had a massive frame and a savage visage. Sharp fangs protruded from its mouth, as though it had still been roaring at the moment of death. Its entire body was covered in pitch-black scales that gleamed with a cold, sinister light beneath the lamps, inspiring an instinctive shudder.
Most striking of all were the dozen or so sharp spines growing from its back. Each pointed toward the sky like a sword. Its elbows and knees were covered in jagged spikes as well, making it seem like a killing machine born for battle. A thick tail extended from between its legs and lay coiled inside the glass case. A hooked barb tipped its end, making it appear especially ferocious.
The entire underground marketplace fell silent. Everyone was stunned by the corpse before them. Even the most well-traveled martial artists could not help but draw in a sharp breath.
“What… what kind of demonic beast is that?” someone exclaimed softly.
“I have never seen a demonic beast with such a form. Could it be some ancient variant?”
“Judging by its scales and bone spines, its strength in life must have been utterly terrifying!”
The crowd buzzed with discussion, their eyes filled with shock and greed. A demonic beast corpse such as this was priceless, whether used to refine medicinal pills, forge weapons, or study the power of its bloodline.
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