Chapter 19: Scramble For The Nine Phantom Art
After a brief moment of shock, the auctioneers recovered and sent their burning gazes at the green scroll at the middle of the hall. Even the charming Yan Lan seemed to have been forgotten...
Sitting in the back row, Luo Cheng let out a breath. A peak Sky Grade Cultivation Technique? No wonder... Although this Cultivation Technique might be considered unremarkable compared to those owned by major forces, it still was treated as an extraordinary treasure by first rate forces. No wonder that the three baronies of Leng Prefecture are participating. So they were all gunning for this...
To own that cultivation technique would basically mean that they have a pass to become a top Golden Core Realm cultivator and after a few decades, there would be a new force that would rival the three baronies in Green Leaf City.
'But it's only a peak Sky Grade Cultivation Technique, there's nothing special about that.' Luo Cheng thought as he looked at the scroll.
"Everyone, this Sky Grade Cultivation Technique was found by an itinerant cultivator in the mountains. It must have been left behind by a progenitor, so it won't bring anyone any trouble after they buy it. Everyone can bid without fearing that there may be consequences." Yan Lan carefully held up the green scroll and lightly said.
"Lady Yan Lan, can you set the bottom price already!" One of the auctioneers impatiently yelled out.
Keeping her charming smile, Yan Lan said, " Nine Phantom Art, bottom price, 500,000 mid grade spirit stones. And every increments must exceed a thousand mid grade spirit stones!"
After she called out the bottom price, the auction house became visibly quieter. Obviously, a lot of the auctioneers didn't have the wealth to buy such an expensive item.
In a remote region, Luo Cheng couldn't help but shake his head.This woman kills people without spilling blood! 500,000 mid grade spirit stones is equal to the profits of some clans for an entire year!
Zhang Hu and the other two elders furrowed their brows. But they could do nothing about the price, for something as valuable as this, their clans would be willing to pay such a high price to obtain it. Even if they didn't want to buy it, someone else would.
Under the 500,000 price, no one bid at all.
Facing the awkward atmosphere, Yan Lan kept her charming smile. She knew that the attraction of this Cultivation Technique was so huge that people would be willing to use their entire fortune to buy it. Just like her prediction, the lack of bids didn't last for long.
A nearly bald middle aged man shakily yelled out, "510,000!"
Luo Cheng looked towards the voice, he knew this bald middle aged man.The bald man was Gu Tao, the assistant manager of the Trade Alliance branch in Soaring Cloud City, he also owns a weapon shop that nearly monopolized the entire weapons market in Soaring Cloud City. Even though he couldn't compare to the barony clans, he was still quite powerful.
"530,000!" Right after Gu Tao yelled out his price, a yellow robed elder also called out his price.
The yellow robed elder was a huge herbs merchant that owned quite a few shops in Green Leaf City. Like the middle aged man, he couldn't compare to the barony clans but nevertheless, he was quite powerful.
Giving an evil eye to the elder, the bald middle aged man, Gu Tao, yelled out again, "540,000!"
Within the auction house, there were only a few bids. After all, the 500,000 price was enough to bar the majority of auctioneers from bidding.
"600,000!" Right when the previous two were about to quit bidding, Jia Lie in the first row finally called out his bid.
After Jia Lie called out his bid, the two helplessly back down.
"630,000!" In Green Leaf City apart from some titled Count and Viscount Clans, the only people that could rival the Jia Clan were Zhang Clan and Ao Clan. This price was called out by Ao Clan's elder Ao Bai.
Coldly glancing at Ao Bai, Jia Lie coldly said:"650,000!"
Ao Bai forced out:"670,000!"
"680,000!"
"700,000!"
Under Ao Bai's continuous raises, Jia Lie followed without hesitation. It seems like he was prepared to get the scroll at any cost.
When the price got to 730,000, Ao Bai had to stop bidding. 730,000 was all he was given by the Ao Clan to bid on the Cultivation Technique.
"750,000!" Seeing Ao Bai back down, Jia Lie didn't have a chance to celebrate before Zhang Hu outbid his price.
Coldly staring at Zhang Hu, Jia Lie was full of rage. In the three clans, Zhang Clan and Ao Clan had Mid Sky Grade Cultivation Technique, but Jia Clan only had a Low Sky Grade Cultivation Technique which is why Jia Lie was willing to pay any price to get this Peak sky Grade Cultivation Technique.
Under the gleeful look of Ao Bai, Jia Lie clenched his teeth and spit out, "760,000!"
"800,000!" The impassive Zhang Hu raised the price to a whole new level!
At the center of the auction hall, watching the two fight over the bids, Yan Lan's beautiful smile became even more charming.
"850,000!" His eyes red, Jia Lie finally decided to raise the price again after a brief pause.
"You've won." Contrary to everyone's predictions, after Zhang Hu heard Jia Lie's bid, Zhang Hu only smiled and taunted JiaLie.
The surprise in Jia Lie's expression was quickly replaced with a dark face. The rational side of him knew that he had been played..
"Zhang Hu, you win! I'll remember this!" After cursing at Zhang Hu, Jia Lie raised his head to look at the stunned Yan Lan. Even though he was extremely angry, he wasn't one to be dictated by his emotions and with a dark face suppressed his emotions, "Lady Yan Lan, shouldn't the auction end now?"
Not changing expressions because of Jia Lie's angry stare, Yan Lan calmly smiled. Her eyes contained a hint of ridicule and under the tense stare of Jia Lie, she lightly tapped the hammer in her hand. "Nine Phantom Art, won by Jia Lie. "
Seeing the final moments of the auction, Luo Cheng smiled and slowly got up, leaving the auction house.
"Hahh, once i get the money, I'll start refining Alchemy Pills and also improve my Cultivation. One year later, will be when i make my name resound throughout the Heaven Desolate Region." When he was at the door steps of the auction house, Luo Cheng lightly muttered.
Leaving the first auction hall, Luo Cheng returned to the Inspection Room and under the respectful gaze of the middle aged man, patiently waited.
A few minutes later, with a flurry of footsteps, two shadows pushed the door open. "Hehe, are you the owner of the Blood Qi Pills? Mister, this must be the first time you've come to Green Leaf City right?" With a gust of perfume, a charming yet numbing giggle sounded besides Luo Cheng. It made his firm mind set waver.
After cursing "Vixen", Luo Cheng furrowed his face further within the robe before turning around to look at the red-dressed woman besides him.
With close contact, Luo Cheng once again realized the charm within Yan Lan. On the dazzling face was a pair of watery eyes with long eyelashes that seemed to always send out strands of binding ropes to men. Looking down, past the graceful white neck, Luo Cheng was almost sucked into her cleavage. Her natural charm even influenced the calm Luo Cheng...
Although Luo Cheng had a red face, thankfully, it was covered by his robe. Calming himself, Luo Cheng slightly nodded and at the same time his aged voice also floated out, "The auction was successful? Give me the money, I have something to do!"
As if she was intrigued by the age of the owner of the black robe, Yan Lan covered her mouth as she laughed. After a while, she recovered, "Please excuse us for a little while longer. We're still working on the paperwork."
Slightly nodding, Luo Cheng didn't open his mouth again and moved his sight from Ya Lan while keeping silent.
Looking at the mysterious person covered in the black robe, Yan Lan's brows furrowed. Looks like her prideful beauty had no effect.
Pursing her lips, her gaze swept over the mysterious person, trying to discern every single detail in order to find out who she was dealing with.
After sweeping through Luo Cheng and not getting any information, Yan Lan disappointedly looked at Master Shu. After their eyes met, she bit her lips and asked, "Mister, Yan Fei has rarely seen an alchemist that doesn't have the alchemist badge, could i ask for your name?"
"Huh? Girl, coming to this place means that i need to say who i am?" Under the black robe, Luo Cheng's old voice coldly spoke up.
"Hehe, Yan Lan was only curious. If mister doesn't want to say it, Yan Lan wouldn't force you." Yan Lan lightly laughed.
Through the black robe, Luo cheng watched the white legs wrapped in a red dress besides him. Even though he couldn't help but admire her beauty, he silently reminded himself that for Yan Lan to become a top auctioneer, she wasn't some flower pot.
Everyone said that beauty was trouble, after all, in the Leng Prefecture, there were countless suitors but even to this day, none of them achieved their goal. Even though many of them blamed the Misty Cloud Pavilion behind her, none of them would claim that she was a pretty flowerpot.
With such a clever woman besides him, Luo Cheng was as careful as if he was walking on top of ice. He was afraid that Yan Lan would discover something from him.
From Luo Cheng's impassive words, Yan Lan wasn't able to find any information. In the end, she gave upon trying to find new information and instead smiled while taking out a purple crystal card. On the card was the Misty Cloud Pavilions Logo. "Mister, this is the Misty Cloud Pavilion's VIP card. With this card, you can receive VIP treatment at any Misty Cloud Pavilion branch. At the same time the taxes that the auctions take would go from 10% to 5%!"
Hearing that, Luo Cheng's brows jumped. Compared to the blabber before, he liked this kind of solid benefits, so after pausing for a while, he took the purple crystal card.
Seeing the long and pale hand out of the back robe, a glint of confusion flashed across Yan Lan's eyes. The voice from the person under the black robe was obviously the voice of an old man but he has a hand that looks like a young man. This person, who is he?
At this time, a waitress ran in and courteously handed a Spatial Ring to Luo Cheng. "Mister, the Blood Qi Pills sold for 100,000 mid grade spirit stones and taking out 5% as auction fees, the rest is in here." Yan Lan smiled while handing the spatial ring over to Luo Cheng.
Since he already got the money, Luo Cheng didn't have any more reason to stay and after carelessly pushing his hands together, an aged voice calmly said, "I can leave now right?"
"Hehe, of course. If you would like to auction off any more pills, please keep the Misty Cloud Pavilion in mind."Yan Lan smiled.
"Mm." Carelessly responding, Luo Cheng stood up and left the tense room.
Watching the disappearing shadow of Luo Cheng, the smile on Yan Lan's face slowly disappeared and she plopped down into a nearby chair.
"Master Shu, is he really an Alchemist?" After an awkward silence, Yan Lan broke the stillness.
"Yeah, and his Alchemy skills are better than mine. That Grade 3 Pill i can't refine it" Master Shu answered while sighing.
"Even with the formula?" Slightly wincing, Yan Lan's red mouth carelessly let out a dangerous.sentence.
Hearing Yan Lan's words, Master Shu's face changed and he hurriedly said, "A pill formula is an alchemist's life. Please don't think that again. To carelessly anger a mysterious alchemist, even for the Yan Clan, is a huge deal. A couple dozen years ago, the famous Chu family of Snow wind County enraged Pill Master Hei Yan and was annihilated by 5 Nascent Soul Realm cultivators that Hei Yan sent. Even the Zhou Empire's royalty didn't reprimand him on the matter!"
"Even though your Yan Clan is much stronger than the Chu Clan, it's best not to offend some mysterious alchemist. Alchemists are like a hornet's nest, once you poke it, he'll find countless friends and many experts would love to have an Alchemist owe them a favor."
Watching the panicking Master Shu, Yan Lan bitterly smiled while massaging her forehead, "Master Shu, what are you saying. I wasn't thinking any of that, do you think that Yan Lan has wasted these few years?"
"I was reminding you." Hearing Yan Lan's words, Master Shu let out a breath. He was really afraid that she would do something stupid.
Pursing her lips, Yan Lan propped up her cheek while sighing. Alchemists, they really are some dangerous people but why don't I have such a talent?