Chapter 466: Our Young Master Is Buying It!
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97
As a 4-star pinnacle appraiser, he had a deep understanding of the occupation. It was already formidable if one could determine who the painter was based on the brush stroke. To determine that the painting was drawn when the painter was drunk, and that he had removed the title and his own signature from it... Was this truly humanly possible?
Hall Master Sai wasn't the only one harboring such thoughts. Zhao Feiwu, Luo Qin, and the others were also dumbfounded by the sight before them. They stared fixedly at Zhang Xuan, determined to find out how he managed to deduce this much.
"Hehe!"
Meeting their gazes, Zhang Xuan chuckled softly. "Appraising isn't just about identifying a treasure and its origin. More importantly, one should guess the thoughts going through the mind of the creator, and only then can one gain a deeper understanding of an artifact!
"This painting may seem well-organized, but in truth, it's extremely inconsistent. One of the basics of painting is balance, but this painting is high on the left and low on the right, giving a feeling that it is tilted toward one side. Clearly, the person drawing isn't steady on his feet. It is very likely that he was lying on the paper. Also, look at this area, that area, and that area. It's clear those portions can only be drawn when one is lying down...
"Also, the bizarre birds have short wings, white beaks, black claws, black heads, and a slim body. It doesn't resemble White Purity Birds at all, and it is impossible to tell what species it is with a single glance!
"However, if one were to take a closer look, there are reeds and blooming purple flowers all over the painting. Those two are the favorites of White Purity Birds. And most importantly, every single of those birds has a stalk of grass in its beak!"
Zhang Xuan pointed.
And just as what Zhang Xuan had said, every single bird in the painting had a stalk of grass in their mouth.
"This grass bears a striking resemblance with Riverleaf Grass. The Riverleaf Grass contains lethal poison, and there isn't a single spirit beast that enjoys eating it. As such, it causes some confusion. However, what if these were White Jade Stem instead?
"The stems of the White Jade Grass resemble the Riverleaf Grass a lot, and there are even medicine suppliers intentionally mixing the two together to earn a larger profit margin... While the White Purity Bird wouldn't even touch the Riverleaf Grass, the White Jade Stem is its favorite food..."
"This..."
Hall Master Sai and Luo Qin's bodies froze.
The other party's words were logical and rational. By following his analysis, one can easily conclude that the birds were White Purity Birds.
"Now that we've confirmed the species of the bird, the rest is simple. If one pays careful attention, one can see that the painting is completed in a single breath. Unlike usual paintings, an outline wasn't drawn beforehand. As a talented painter who is capable of producing a work of the sixth level, how could he possibly neglect such fundamentals? More importantly... there are even traces of corrections being made to the birds! Following the previous line of thought, it can be deduced that this painting was done when the other party was in a drunken state!
"After deducing this much, it isn't that difficult to fathom its origin..."
Zhang Xuan's lips curled up.
He wasn't just spouting nonsense. As a painter with capability of 3-star and above, given that he knew the result in advance and the flaws listed in the Library of Heaven's Path, it wasn't too difficult for him to notice the various peculiarities with the painting.
Otherwise, it would be nigh impossible for one to link all of these peculiarities together.
"Th-this..."
Seeing how Zhang Xuan explained the entire matter calmly, everyone in the room was frenzied.
At this very moment, Hall Master Sai realized that the other party's appraising ability wasn't just slightly higher than his; the two of them weren't even on the same level.
"I must report it to the headquarter immediately. With his eye of discernment and capability, he should be qualified as a 5-star appraiser at the very least... or perhaps even higher!"
Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Hall Master Sai made up his mind.
This fellow's capability had already surpassed the level within the Myriad Kingdom Alliance. He was in no way inferior even when compared to a 5-star appraiser.
Given how talented the other party was, he had to report the matter up swiftly so that he wouldn't be buried amidst dust.
"Alright, let's not delay the auction. Take it over!"
After he was done with his explanation, Zhang Xuan took a glance outside and saw that the entire auction hall had been alarmed by the commotion he caused. Thus, he shook his hands casually and sat back down.
"Yes!" Finally recovering from his shock, Luo Qin carefully rolled the painting, kept it, and backed out of the suite.
Not too long later, Elder Chen shocked voice sounded, "I believe everyone here witnessed the spectacle just a moment ago. A painting of the seventh level has been created, and all of us here were privileged to watch this phenomenal sight!
"The painting itself came from a grandmaster painter from eight hundred years ago, Wu Xuanzi, and another rising painter has bestowed it with a name and triggered a Spirit Euphoria, allowing it to make the breakthrough from the sixth level pinnacle!
"This is the very first seventh level painting created in the Myriad Kingdom Alliance. It's a result of the perfect harmony between the older and current generations. I can't say for sure whether there'll be any more of such miracles in the future or not, but without a doubt, this is unprecedented in history!"
The more Elder Chen spoke, the more agitated he became. "And now, the owner of the painting wishes to auction it off. The starting bid will be 8000 spirit stones, and each increment must be no less than 1000. Let the bidding begin!"
"That painting is really up for sale? Great! I want it..."
"8000 spirit stones is the starting bid? It's a little expensive, but it'll be worth the price. Hurry up and inform the clan of the matter. Even if we have to mortgage our old residence, we've got to obtain it!"
"No matter the price..."
...
Hearing that the painting was up for sale, everyone below fell into a frenzy.
A painting of the seventh level had never appeared in the Myriad Kingdom Alliance before. If one could obtain a painting of such level, it would be worth if even if one had to go into bankruptcy.
Putting everything aside, it was highly likely that the price could increase by several folds when selling it in the future.
"I offer 9000!"
"10,000!"
"11,000!"
...
The price rose swiftly.
"This..." Seeing the frenzy below, Zhang Xuan blinked his eyes in shock.
Given how Hall Master Sai could only produce three thousand spirit stones, he thought that 5000 would be the limit already. Never in his dreams did he expect to see the price soar to beyond 10,000.
"Just like Elder Chen and the others, I spent most of my money on the collection of treasures. As such, I don't have many spirit stones on me. Besides, I'm only an individual while they represent an entire power or a prestigious clan..."
Noticing Zhang Xuan's doubt, Hall Master Sai smiled bitterly.
Logically speaking, given how lucrative appraising was as an occupation, these 4-star appraisers should possess immense wealth. At the very least, they should be able to match up to those bidders below.
But unfortunately, they spent all of their wealth collecting treasures. As such, their liquid assets were severely limited. Three thousand was already the limit of their wealth.
Furthermore, the clan that those bidders below could have thousands of years of history behind them. The wealth that a clan could accumulate over such a long period of time was astonishing. While Hall Master Sai and the others would find it hard to take out 10,000 spirit stones, to those below, it only meant a short moment of financial difficulty. As long as they managed to find a buyer for it, not only would they recoup their losses, they would even earn a huge profit.
...
Within a suite in the auction hall.
A young man was currently seated right in front of the window. He carried a majestic and lofty aura reminiscent of a noble dragon.
Standing behind him was an elder. Even though he was completely motionless, his very presence felt like an endless abyss, leaving one unable to determine the depth of his strength. It was likely that his cultivation was superior even when compared to Jin Conghai.
"A seventh level painting? Interesting!"
Looking at the [Rousing from a Drunken Dream] that Elder Chen took out, the eyes of the young man gleamed.
The elder bowed.
"Young master, are you interested in it?"
The young man nodded.
"A seventh level painting is a valuable treasure even to the elders of the sect. If I manage to buy it, it'll surely be extremely useful to my supporting occupation as a painter."
"Alright, I'll buy it then!"
Nodding his head, the elder prepared to offer a price.
"There's no rush to it. We can make our offer after the commotion below dies down." The young man waved his hands casually.
"Yes!" The elder hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Just that... I'm afraid that if the price reaches way too high, we might not have sufficient spirit stones to take down the Soulless Metal Humanoid..."
"The Soulless Metal Humanoid is linked to the soul oracles. As long as we take some useful information back to the sect, my standing will surely surge greatly... Once I earn the recognition of the Master Teacher Pavilion, it'll just be a matter of time before I become the number one expert of the younger generation."
The young man chuckled, "But... there's no need to worry about it. I've already looked into the matter regarding the Soulless Metal Humanoid, and the fellow auctioning the item doesn't seem to intend to sell it for spirit stones."
"He isn't selling it for spirit stones?"
The elder was taken aback.
If a person took an artifact out for it to be auctioned, shouldn't the purpose be profit? To refuse spirit stones as payment, what did that mean?
"I heard that fellow's longevity is reaching its limit. As long as his bottleneck continues to confine him, it'll be futile no matter how much spirit stones he has in his possession. Seems like you got it. Indeed, what he wants is a Tutelage Jade Token; the higher grade it is, the better it is," the young man said.
Even though spirit stones were valuable, there was a limit to what they could do.
If one's cultivation was stuck at a bottleneck, one's longevity would remain at a standstill. If so, it would just be a matter of time before one was reduced to dust... Once one died, what use would money be?
One might as well trade it for Tutelage Jade Tokens. In the off chance that one managed to achieve a breakthrough, one could even extend one's longevity. In any case, it was way better than hoarding spirit stones.
Besides, with a higher cultivation, it was much easier to earn money.
No matter where one went, strength was still the most important factor one needed to possess. Everything else was just secondary.
"If he only needed Tutelage Jade Token, then this matter is indeed easy to settle... Young master is a talented master teacher yourself. To guide a cultivator from this kind of small place and help him achieve a breakthrough shouldn't be too difficult!"
Upon coming to a realization, the elder smiled.
"Of course. After all, I'm aiming for the top five places in the Master Teacher Tournament this time around!"
The young man declared confidently.
"Young master possesses unparalleled talent. Regardless of whether it's your Soul Depth or your understanding toward martial arts, you are far superior to the others. I think that even the first three places won't be too difficult for you!" the elder said.
"First three... It'll be hard to say. Those few aren't easy to deal with. However, I'm not afraid of them. Let's see who will get the upper hand then!"
The young man's expression turned grim for a moment before he shook it off and turned his attention back to the auction hall. "Alright, it's about time. Make an offer! Right, I still have some uses for spirit stones so don't waste them."
"Yes!"
The elder nodded.
At that moment, the price had already come to a standstill. Before such a price, the affluent clans and powers had no choice but to back off.
"20,000 calling once. 20,000 calling twice. Is there anyone who can offer a price higher than this? If not, this Rousing from the Drunken Dreams will be going to this friend from the Suite 14..."
Elder Chen scanned the surroundings.
...
"20,000 spirit stones? To think that a painting could fetch such a price..." Zhang Xuan's eyes glowed when he heard the final price below.
"Indeed, it seems like no one else can compete with that anymore. 20,000 spirit stones... This is truly a huge sum!" Sun Qiang nodded excitedly.
Before the duo could finish their words, the voice of an elder sounded.
"Wait a moment, I offer 21 4-star Tutelage Jade Tokens. Our young master will be taking that painting!"
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Chapter 467: Bidding For The Soulless Metal Humanoid (1)
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97
"21... 4-star Tutelage Jade Token? In terms of spirit stones, that will be 21,000 spirit stones! What a generous offer!"
"Incredible! Tutelage Jade Tokens are incomparably valuable, especially those belonging to 4-star master teachers. Even though the price is publicly known to be 1000 spirit stones per token, the price in the black market has already reached up to 1200. 21 of those would mean a hulking sum of around 25,000!"
"Seems like no one will be able to top that price..."
...
Upon hearing the offer, the auction hall flew into an uproar.
In truth, the most common currency on the continent wasn't spirit stones but Tutelage Jade Tokens.
A 4-star Tutelage Jade Token could be traded for a hundred 3-star Tutelage Jade Token; a 3-star Tutelage Jade Token could be traded for a hundred 2-star Tutelage Jade Token... So on and so forth. And with ten spirit stones, one could buy one 3-star Tutelage Jade Token.
Thus, going by the proportions, a 4-star Tutelage Jade Token was worth 1000 spirit stones, and on top of that... they weren't readily available.
One must know that of the entire Myriad Kingdom Alliance, there were only ten or so 4-star master teachers. On the other hand, there were billions of cultivators... Considering the proportion of the two, one could imagine how lacking the resource was.
Usually, if a cultivator were to obtain a 4-star Tutelage Jade Token, they would use it for themselves. Thus, it was hard to find one even in the black markets. Yet, that person in the suite actually offered 21 of those tokens just to buy a single painting. This incomparably generous act made everyone felt frenzied.
"Incredible!"
Hall Master Sai's eyebrows twitched as well.
Even those of his cultivation would benefit greatly from the guidance of a 4-star master teacher.
The value of 21 4-star Tutelage Jade Token clearly exceeded that of 20,000 spirit stones by way too much.
Just as Hall Master Sai was about to turn to the young man to congratulate him on his massive profit he had just earned, the other party's complexion darkened and he cursed out loud.
"The heck!"
At this moment, Zhang Xuan was undergoing a breakdown within.
The reason why he took this painting out was so that he could earn more spirit stones to buy the Soulless Metal Humanoid, as well as to fuel his future cultivation.
He was just delighted by the windfall of 20,000 spirit stones when that fellow wrecked his dreams.
21 4-star Tutelage Jade Tokens...
Why in the world would I want your Tutelage Jade Tokens?
Even the lesson of a 6-star master teacher would be useless to me!
No matter how formidable a master teacher was, even if it were Empyrean Kong shi himself, they couldn't guarantee that the contents of his lesson would be entirely correct. However, the Library of Heaven's Path could!
As long as a something written had no errors or flaws, it must be correct.
As long as he had this with him, there was no master teacher, no matter how formidable he was, who was qualified to become his teacher?
That fellow actually hoped to purchase his painting using this toy? Zhang Xuan felt so stifled that he was about to explode.
What that left him even more speechless were the countless gazes of envy from the surroundings... Envious your head!
Zhang Xuan was on the verge of crying.
"Zhang shi, those are 4-star Tutelage Grade Tokens! Countless people dream of it, you..."
Seeing Zhang Xuan's reaction, Hall Master Sai was perplexed.
Everyone wanted to get their hands on some Tutelage Jade Tokens; even low ranked master teachers hoped to receive the guidance of higher ranked master teachers. Yet, this Zhang shi... Why did he seem so unhappy?
Wasn't it something to be overjoyed about?
Suppressing his dismal, Zhang Xuan said, "Hall Master Sai, I'll have to trouble you to send a message to Elder Chen to say that... I don't need the Tutelage Jade Token. I only want spirit stones!"
"You only want spirit stones?"
Hall Master Sai was taken aback.
Indeed, the actions of a genius couldn't be understood by mortals such as him...
"Un!" Zhang Xuan nodded.
"Alright then!"
Seeing the other party insist on it, Hall Master Sai could only agree to the matter.
...
"21 4-star Tutelage Jade Token, let's see who else can compete with me!"
Seeing the uproar in the hall right after his bid was announced, the young man's mouths crept upward.
Master teacher was a lucrative occupation, and this Tutelage Jade Token was the main reason behind it.
But of course, this token couldn't be given out as one pleased. There was a limit to how much Tutelage Jade Token a master teacher of a certain rank could distribute each year, and this was regulated by the Master Teacher Pavilion. If one's quota exceeded the limit in the first year, he would have to cut down on the next year.
After all, master teachers couldn't possibly spend all of their time conducting lessons. They had to cultivate too, and there were many other things they had to attend to as well.
To give out 21 Tutelage Jade Token at a single go, that was nearly half a year of lessons for him!
"21 4-star Tutelage Jade Token, is there anyone who can offer a higher bid? If not, this painting will be going to the friend in Suite 23..."
Elder Chen was clearly stunned by this sudden generous offer as well. However, after a moment of daze, he hurriedly recovered and continued on. However, just as he was about to declare the results, he suddenly heard something and his body froze.
Then, with a bizarre face, he shouted, "Is there anyone who is offering a price above that of 20,000 spirit stones? If not, this painting will be going to the friend in Suite 14!"
"What?"
The young man was just swelling in pride at having bought the painting when he heard those words, froze, and nearly keeled over.
What was going on?
"Our young master has just offered 21 4-star Tutelage Jade Token. Does that price not exceed 20,000 spirit stones?" The elder couldn't help but ask. "If that's insufficient, we can still raise the stakes!"
"Oh, that friend over there, I apologize but the seller has just told me that he's only accepting spirit stones!" Elder Chen replied.
"Only accepting spirit stones?"
The young man felt his head spin.
There was actually such a foolish person in the world?
With so many Tutelage Jade Tokens, not only could one from a 4-star master teacher, one could befriend him as well. Yet, this fellow actually turned it down... and went for the cheaper spirit stones instead?
"That's right. Are there any higher bids? If not, this painting will be going to the friend in Suite 14!" Elder Chen continued.
The person in Suite 14 was a renowned painter. He thought that he would surely lose the bid given how the other competitor had offered so many Tutelage Jade Token. He didn't expect to make such a sudden comeback; he was overjoyed.
"Sold!"
After confirming that there would be no one offering a higher price, the painting was eventually dealt at with a price of 20,000 spirit stones.
"Damn it, damn it!"
The young man's face steeled, and he was on the verge of going on a rampage.
4-star Tutelage Jade Tokens were goods that were highly desired but in short supply no matter where one went; yet, over here, he failed to trade them for the item he wanted. This made him infuriated.
"Go and check the identity and the background of the one who sold the painting!"
The young man instructed.
"Yes!" The elder walked out, and not too long later, he returned.
"Reporting to the young master, the painting is sold by the people within Suite 1. If I'm not mistaken, the seller seems to be a friend of the head of the Appraiser Hall, Hall Master Sai. As for his identity, I wasn't able to get any information on that at the moment!"
"Suite 1?"
Narrowing his eyes, the young man harrumphed.
"Young master, now that the painting is bought away by someone else, what should we do?" the elder asked.
"Let's put that aside for the moment and focus on obtaining the Soulless Metal Humanoid first!"
The young man was frustrated, but knowing that there was no helping it, he shook his hands.
Once the hammer was struck, no matter how prestigious his standing was, he couldn't reverse the decision.
If the seller insisted on dealing in spirit stones, then no matter how formidable he was, there was nothing he could do about it.
"Alright then!"
The elder also shook his head helplessly.
...
The auction continued on. After selling away the painting which had caused such a huge commotion, the Cold Yin Sword was put on sale again, and eventually, Zhang Xuan took it for a price of 700 spirit stones.
The artifacts that came afterward didn't cause as much of a storm as Zhang Xuan's painting.
Even though they were valuable, they were incomparable to a seventh level painting.
On top of the Cold Yin Sword, Zhang Xuan bought another two artifacts—a spear for Zheng Yang and a body plate for Yuan Tao.
The total price of the two objects was around a thousand spirit stones so it was still within an acceptable price range.
As for Liu Yang and Wang Ying, as there was nothing suitable in the auction, Zhang Xuan wasn't able to buy anything for them.
"Now, the final object of the auction, as well as the one everyone has been anticipating for, the Soulless Metal Humanoid!"
As Elder Chen spoke, a stone pedestal slowly rose, and a figure seemingly crafted of gold donning a full body armor appeared before the crowd.
Zhang Xuan turned his gaze over as well.
It was indeed no different from a human; the only difference was that a huge quantity of metal had been added into the body, enhancing its defense.
Activating the Eye of Insight, Zhang Xuan soon shook his head in disappointment.
Clearly, this object was beyond his current analytical ability. He wasn't able to discern anything about it at all.
"This Soulless Metal Humanoid has undergone a collaborative appraisal by Hall Master Sai, Elder Lu, and myself, and we've confirmed that there's no mistake about it. This is the guard of the ancient soul oracles and it possesses unimaginable value."
Elder Chen introduced. "However, I'm afraid that I am not in charge of this one. The owner of the Soulless Metal Humanoid has decided to sell it for himself. He intends to trade it for a treasure he needs... Let's invite the auctioneer up on stage then!"
Following which, an old man walked in from the back of the round stage.
This old man had a white beard, his skin was slightly loose, and he carried a slightly archaic aura with him. With just a glance, it was clear that he was advanced in age.
"Hmm?"
Activating the Eye of Insight, Zhang Xuan took a glance at the old man and he immediately frowned.
Even though the old man's cultivation seemed to have reached Transcendent Mortal 2-dan pinnacle already, for some reason, Zhang Xuan was still able to discern some things about him via the Eye of Insight.
Under normal circumstances, the Eye of Insight should only work on those of a small cultivation realm above him. Given that Zhang Xuan was current at Half-Transcension realm, he should only be able to peer into the flaws of a Transcendent Mortal 1-dan primary stage cultivator.
But for some reason... He was able to see some problems from the other party. This was extremely peculiar.
"That is the person who discovered the Soulless Metal Humanoid?"
"It seems so. Who knows what kind of luck he has to stumble by it. Once he sells it, his wealth will surely increase by leaps and bounds!"
"Indeed, why do I not possess such luck..."
...
Upon realizing that it was a decrepit old man who'd found the Soulless Metal Humanoid, a commotion broke out amidst the crowd.
"Everyone, please calm down. Since everyone is interested in buying this object, let's listen to what he intends to exchange it for. Regardless of whether it is on your own or with your clan, as long as you can produce the item he needs within a single day, you can feel free to make an offer!" Elder Chen said.
"Alright!"
Upon hearing that the conditions for participating was so lax, everyone was overjoyed.
Initially, just like Hall Master Sai, they thought that the other party would be trading it for spirit stones. Thus, they brought a huge fortune out with them. Yet, the owner was actually intending to trade it for another object. This had caught them off guard.
However, upon hearing that they would be given time to prepare whatever that was needed, they regained their spirit.
Who of those who could participate in this auction didn't belong to an influential power?
As long as the other party could name out the treasure, they were confident that even if they couldn't find it, they could at least find some news on it.
Stepping forward, the old man said, "It is very simple. Everyone here can feel free to offer anything that you can produce within a single day, and if it satisfies me, I'll make the trade immediately!"
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Chapter 468: Bidding For The Soulless Metal Humanoid (2)
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97
"Feel free to offer?"
"As long as he's satisfied, he'll make the exchange? What kind of condition is this?"
"Could it be that this fellow is lustful, and we have to prepare some ladies for him?"
"Indeed, this condition is way too bizarre. After all, you can't possibly expect us to fathom his thoughts to give him something he desires!"
...
Upon hearing the bizarre condition of the auction, everyone was dumbfounded.
In an auction, one would usually demand spirit stones, Tutelage Jade Tokens, or valuable objects. Never had they heard of an auction which the condition was 'as long as I'm satisfied'.
What if that person was unable to find something that satisfies him? Would he refuse to sell it then?
What the heck was this?
"Interesting!"
In Suite 23, the young man had finally recovered from his shock. The anxiety from his eyes disappeared, and a slight smile crept onto his face.
"Interesting?" The elder was puzzled.
"The reason why he made this condition is so as to hook a big one!" the young man said.
"Young master, you noticed something about the auction?"
"Simple. As we're dealing with artifacts here, the value might be subjective as people have different needs. As such, interested buyers can only raise their bids to their upper limit in hopes that the artifact they offer will satisfy him."
The young man chuckled, "This way, the price will soar. All kinds of treasures will be offered, and all he needs to do is to choose the one that is the most valuable and useful to him."
"This..." The elder was stunned.
That was indeed the case.
There were some treasures hoarded by some of the influential powers that one couldn't obtain by normal means. If they were unwilling to take it out, those items would never see the light of the day.
However, for this Soulless Metal Humanoid, there was a good chance that they might take those treasures out. If so, this method of conducting the auction would bring the owner even greater value.
"Let's forget about that for now, let's see what those people have to offer!"
Knowing the other party's motive, the young man chuckled silently.
...
"Something that would satisfy him?"
Hearing the condition, Zhang Xuan was taken aback.
"What arrogant words! Even though the Soulless Metal Humanoid is valuable, it's just an ancient relic now. Who knows whether it still can be used or not? The only reason why most people are interested in it is because it came from the ancient soul oracles!"
Zhao Feiwu harrumphed.
In truth, the Soulless Metal Humanoid was no different from a slightly more advanced puppet, wielding the strength of a Transcendent Mortal 3-dan. If not for research purposes, there was no one who would spend a fortune to purchase it.
With a few thousand spirit stones, one could easily hire several Transcendent Mortal 3-dan experts already.
"You're wrong... What they truly wanted isn't the Soulless Metal Humanoid but the heritage of the soul oracles!"
Hall Master Sai shook his head.
"Heritage?"
Zhao Feiwu turned to look at Hall Master Sai in bewilderment.
"Un, I've examined the Soulless Metal Humanoid and even though it was forged a very long time ago, it's in extremely good condition. If one were to study it carefully, one might be able to uncover the way to forging it! While this puppet only forms a small part of the strength of the soul oracles, it could still become a huge source of fortune," Hall Master Sai said.
"So what if one uncovers the way to forging this puppet? Would one really... use a living human being to forge this darned puppet?" Taken aback, Zhao Feiwu frowned. "If the Master Teacher Pavilion were to learn of it, they would surely eliminate that person."
"It's not to forge the puppet..."
Hall Master Sai shook his head and explained, "There's a limit to a person's lifespan. However, a person's soul can continue existing for a very long time as long as it's well cared for. Four hundred to five hundred years wouldn't be a problem at all. If one learns the way to crafting it, one might learn how to transfer one's soul into this puppet as well. In the ancient times, when the Master Teacher Pavilion was on a crusade against the soul oracles, they managed to escape on many occasions making use of this method..."
"Transferring one's soul to the Soulless Metal Humanoid to sustain oneself?"
Zhao Feiwu widened her eyes in shock.
Even though she had read a lot of books, this was the first time she was hearing of such a peculiar notion.
"That's right!" Hall Master Sai nodded.
He only found out about this after reading through many books concerning the Soulless Metal Humanoid while he was doing his research.
The powers who were interested in it also managed to grab hold of this news through certain means, and thus, they went to great extents to prepare for this auction. After all, there were very few people who could resist the allure of an extended lifespan.
This was especially for those who were reaching their limit. Even if they had to give up on their humanity to live for just another decade or so, they would be delighted to do so.
"If that's the case, then this auction will surely raise a storm..."
Hearing the conversation of the duo, Zhang Xuan sighed.
If that was truly the case, many people would surely be frenzied over the Soulless Metal Humanoid. If so, the price would surely rise to an astronomical sum.
"Since no one is making an offer, allow me to go first!"
Just as the crowd was contemplating over the matter, an elder below raised his hand and shouted.
"It's the Gold Saint Phantom Hands, Liao Yuxi! He had made a name for himself a hundred years ago—to think that he isn't dead yet!"
"If he were to go first, he might possibly come up with a price that no one will be able to top!"
"Let's just watch on first..."
...
After getting a clear glimpse of the elder's appearance, the crowd immediately discussed with hushed voices.
Gold Saint Phantom Hands was an expert whose name induced fear across the entire Myriad Kingdom Alliance a hundred years ago. Everyone had thought that he was already dead since it had been a century since he had disappeared from the public eye. Yet, to think that not only was he alive and kicking, he even attended this auction and became the first one to make his offer.
As an expert who had lived for so many years, no one would believe it if he said that he had nothing valuable on him.
Scanning the surroundings, the Gold Saint Phantom Hands Liao Yuxi said, "The Ursae Majoris Umbrella!"
"Ursae Majoris Umbrella? What's that?"
"It's a Spirit intermediate-tier equipment crafted in reference to the Alpha Ursae Majoris star of the Big Dipper constellation. It is aligned with a formation, and it's an incredible treasure that is both suited for offense and defense. A hundred years ago, the entire Myriad Kingdom Alliance trembled before its name. To think that that legendary weapon would appear here!"
"If one were to exchange it for spirit stones, its value would be inestimable..."
...
After hearing Liao Yuxi's words, the faces of the people who recognized the treasure were astonished, and disbelief marked their faces.
"The Ursae Majoris Umbrella might be incredible, but it's definitely not enough to trade for this Soulless Metal Humanoid. Allow me instead! Old mister, judging by your weak aura, you must be in poor health. I have a Thousand-Year-Old Blood Ginseng here. Even if you're nearing the end of your lifespan, if you were to consume it, you will definitely be able to live for another decade or so!"
Before the crowd could recover from their crowd, another cold voice echoed.
Everyone turned their gazes over. The one who had just spoken was a middle-aged man with thick, black eyebrows. He was dressed in a luxurious robe, and he had an arrogant expression on his face.
"It's the Herb Emperor of the Great Herb Gazebo! That is a Thousand-Year-Old Blood Ginseng! It is much more valuable than the Glacier Spirit Grass sold previously, and even the Ursae Majoris Umbrella cannot compete with it!"
"Indeed, the idea of trading with other artifacts is indeed insane. It's just the second offer, but it has already locked out innumerable competitors!"
"How can we compete with this? A Thousand-Year-Old Blood Ginseng isn't something that one can obtain from the market with just money..."
...
Upon hearing the offer of the Herb Emperor, a commotion broke out once more.
Even the eyebrows of the old man on the stage twitched a little. However, he soon calmed down.
Clearly, this wasn't the item that he was in desperate need of.
"The Thousand-Year-Old Blood Ginseng might sound incredible, but if a person who doesn't know how to process it consumes it outright, not only will his lifespan not be expanded, he might even die from the violent energy contained within the herb. Rather than that, don't you think that the grade-4 pinnacle spirit pill [Duodecennial Longevity Pill] is better? Not only does it enhance one's lifespan by twelve years, there are no side effects at all. Isn't it clear which one is better with just a single look?"
An elder harrumphed.
"It's the head of the Apothecary Guild..."
"Duodecennial Longevity Pill, the pill famous for being able to extend a person's lifespan by twelve years... Even though it's a grade-4 pill, it's a known fact that one has to be at least a 5-star apothecary to successfully forge it! What a generous offer this is!"
"Insane, everyone has gone insane..."
Even though only three people had made their offers, the atmosphere had already reached a new high.
There were many powers here who had made ample preparations beforehand and they were confident of obtaining the Soulless Metal Humanoid. However, at this moment, they felt an immense pressure weighing down on them.
"Blood Ginseng and Duodecennial Longevity Pill? As long as one's body is incompatible with either of them, it'll become a deadly poison. I have a Spirit-tier cultivation technique here that is suited for all constitutions. One's cultivation will surely soar swiftly with this! The best way to ensure one's longevity is for one's cultivation to grow!" another person said.
"Cultivation techniques are profound. Without many years of hard work, how can one possibly achieve a breakthrough? On the other hand, I have a grade-4 Bottleneck Breakthrough Pill here. The bottleneck that has been impeding your cultivation all along will be destroyed in an instant, allowing your cultivation to rise accordingly..."
"Don't listen to them! I have a Myriad Manifestation Design. It'll definitely grant you immense power to dominate others..."
"I have..."
Slowly, all of the powers raised their offers without holding back at all.
There were several powers here who was in no way less affluent than the Appraiser Hall here. Naturally, the artifacts they had to offer were unimaginable.
"Alright, everyone!"
Just as everyone was in the middle of bickering with one another over whose artifact was better, a calm voice sounded. It was from the old man on the stage.
Upon hearing him speak, everyone quickly quietened down.
"All of the items you all have offered are valuable, but it's a pity that those aren't what I wanted."
The old man shook his head.
A person among the crowd harrumphed in displeasure.
"Those aren't what you wanted? Then what do you want? If you were to tell us, I believe that at least one of us here can offer it to you."
"Indeed, just say it. Even though we're interested in the Soulless Metal Humanoid, we don't have the time to be wasting here with you!"
Seeing that the other party had turned down all of these invaluable artifacts, everyone howled in anger.
It's true that we are interested in buying the Soulless Metal Humanoid, but we don't have the time or effort to be guessing your thoughts. Is there even any basis to what you're doing?
Or are you trying to play us like fools?
"I..." After hesitating for a moment, the old man opened his mouth to speak but his entire body abruptly froze. Then, he slowly closed his eyes and mouth, not saying a word at all.
"What is that fellow doing?"
"Does he think that we're jokes?"
"Damn it!"
Not expecting the other party to still be playing such games, the fury of the crowd surged.
If not in consideration of the location, they might have rushed forward to beat him up.
"Hmm?"
Zhang Xuan found the other party's abrupt freezing to be extremely bizarre. But just as he was about to use the Eye of Insight to take a closer look, his mind suddenly jolted and a book appeared in the Library of Heaven's Path.
"That person executed a battle technique?"
Zhang Xuan was taken aback.
There were only two reasons behind the appearance of a book in the Library of Heaven's Path. Given that he wasn't in physical contact with the other party, the only possibility was that the other party was using a battle technique.
To think that just shutting his mouth was a battle technique in itself... This was way too bizarre!
"I should take a look at the book first!"
Even though Zhang Xuan was perplexed, he knew that there was no point pondering over the matter. Thus, he turned his attention to the Library of Heaven's Path and browsed through the book.
After flipping through the book, a bizarre expression appeared on Zhang Xuan's face.
"Such a matter can happen as well?"
Zhang Xuan blinked his eyes in disbelief.
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Chapter 469: I Can Help You Get It Out
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97
While Zhang Xuan was slightly dumbstruck from the content of the book, that old man had already recovered from his bizarre condition. With a pale face, he surveyed the surroundings and said, "I understand the purpose behind why everyone wishes to buy the Soulless Metal Humanoid. If any of you can bring me the treasure I want, on top of this Soulless Metal Humanoid, I'll bring him to the place where I unearthed the metal humanoid as well so that he can explore the secrets of the soul oracle!"
"What?"
"Legend has it that the Soulless Metal Humanoids will accompany their soul oracles' side, buried along with them even upon death... If it's the place where he unearthed the metal humanoid, doesn't it mean that it's the tomb of a soul oracle?"
"After the soul oracles were destroyed by the Master Teacher Pavilion, their heritage disappeared from the world. Even if we can't obtain their heritage, as long as we manage to uncover some information on that ancient occupation, there will surely be many people who would be willing to buy that information for hefty sum."
"More importantly, soul oracles were known for being the most lucrative occupation in ancient times due to the nature of their powers. Even appraisers aren't a match for them. If we were to unearth the tomb of a soul oracle, we would surely obtain a massive fortune."
"Indeed, anyone who gets this opportunity will strike it rich!"
...
Initially, everyone was rather displeased with the old man due to his ridiculous auction proposal. However, after hearing those words, everyone began trembling in agitation.
The responsibility of the Master Teacher Pavilion was to enlighten the world, and they believed in equality in education as well. Unless truly necessary, they would never make a move against other occupations. Back then, it was due to the soul oracles pushing things too far that they were exterminated.
Even if someone were to obtain their heritage now, as long as they didn't use it for malicious intentions, the Master Teacher Pavilion wouldn't interfere in the matter.
In fact, if one were to make use of this opportunity well, one might even be able to win the grooming and protection of the Master Teacher Pavilion.
Besides, given that an intact Soulless Metal Humanoid was dug up, the soul oracle buried in the tomb was likely to be extremely powerful before his death. If they were to find the tomb, even if they failed to obtain the soul oracle's heritage, they would at least be able to find a whole mountain of treasure that was sufficient to send others frenzied.
"I must obtain it!"
"Indeed. But... so many invaluable treasures have been turned down already. The other party doesn't seem to be interested in anything at all! Does he expect us to give our entire clan away?"
"Give our entire clan away? That is provided he's willing to accept it first..."
...
After a short moment of excitement, the crowd fell back into a dilemma, and they rubbed their glabella in stress.
That fellow simply refused to say what he wanted. Everyone here had already offered about everything that could be offered. Was it because the artifacts they offered weren't valuable enough, and he wanted to go for something better?
"I have the seedling of a Thousand Leafed Tree here. Would you be interested in making a trade for this?"
Just as the crowd was in a dilemma, an impassive voice sounded from one of the suites.
"Thousand Leafed Tree?"
"That legendary spirit tree that can fight and guard over a clan?"
"On the single trunk on a Thousand Leafed Tree, there are a thousand branches, and on each of those branches, there are a thousand leaves. After it reaches maturity, just like any Spirit tool, it'll instinctively protect its owner. On top of that, the Thousand Leafed Tree possesses an astonishing cultivation that is on par with even a Transcendent Mortal 4-dan Clarifying Turbidity realm expert!"
"If one were to plant the seedling in one's clan, a hundred year later, the clan will be blessed with a Transcendent Mortal 4-dan guardian which would devote its life to protecting the clan. This is an ultimate treasure that all big clans are vying over!"
"This is way better than those Spirit weapons, pills, and cultivation technique manuals. Who is in that suite? To think that he would be willing to bring out such a valuable treasure!"
...
There was a limit to a person's longevity; no matter how powerful one was, there would eventually come a day which one would have to die. As such, it was impossible for an expert to watch over his clan forever.
But the Thousand Leafed Tree was different. In a hundred years, one would gain a powerful guardian that could ensure the prosperity of the clan for the next hundred years.
It was no different from having a powerful expert looking after one's clan at all times.
Given such, how could the crowd remain calm before such a treasure.
To trade it for a Soulless Metal Humanoid... This was truly a losing deal.
"This... He can't possibly reject this as well, can he?"
The crowd turned to the old man on the stage, curious to see how he would react.
The Soulless Metal Humanoid was valuable, but it wasn't anything much compared to the Thousand Leafed Tree.
Given the vast difference in the value of the two artifacts... Even a fool would know what to choose.
"I apologize but I'm not interested in the Thousand Leafed Tree."
Just when everyone thought that a new owner of the Soulless Metal Humanoid had been determined, the old man shook his head once more.
"He's not interested?"
"He rejected it outright? This... If it was me, I would have definitely made the trade immediately!"
"Such a waste..."
...
Clearly, the crowd didn't expect that even a Thousand Leafed Tree seedling would be insufficient to move the old man. At this moment, they felt a little frenzied.
What in the world did he want?
"I'll repeat my words once more. As long as anyone can bring out an object that interests me, I'll trade for it immediately. This is a competition over the value of the objects!" The old man shook his hands.
"Interests?"
Hearing those words, everyone fell silent. For a long while, no one made any offer.
You asked for us to offer something that would interest you, but yet, you refused to tell us what is it that you want. Even if we were to continue making offers like that, who knows whether or not we will ever be able to find something that'll interest you. Why in the world did the auction hall bring such a weirdo in?
Glancing at Luo Qin, Elder Chen said, "Manager Luo, in my view, this fellow is here to cause trouble. Besides, I don't think that the auction can benefit from a trade of goods. So, why did the auction hall take up this deal?"
The other party was clearly here to cause trouble!
Who in the world auctions items like that?
Besides, under normal trades, the auction hall would usually claim a small commission from the sales to earn a profit. However, given that the other party was trading the Soulless Metal Humanoid for another artifact, how was the auction hall supposed to claim a commission off the price?
"He isn't causing trouble, he has already paid an advance of 5,000 spirit stones!" Luo Qin shook his head.
"He has already paid even though his item hasn't been successfully auctioned yet?" Elder Chen was taken aback.
Even he was unable to take out so many spirit stones in a single go! To pay this sum in advance... Wasn't he worried that the Soulless Metal Humanoid might not be sold?
"Indeed. So no matter how he auctions his item, the auction hall won't make a loss at all." Luo Qin said.
"Then... What does he really want?"
Elder Chen was perplexed.
Since the other party was able to produce 5,000 spirit stones in a single go, it was highly likely that he didn't lack money at all. On top of that, all of the artifacts offered previously were invaluable treasures that had encompassed all sectors, and yet he turned down all of them, even the Thousand Leafed Tree... So what was his goal in conducting this auction?
"I have no idea either. Ever since his arrival, he has spoken less than ten words to me so how could I possibly know what he's thinking of!"
Luo Qin smiled bitterly.
He was the manager of the auction and the sales of the Soulless Metal Humanoid was mainly arranged by him. However, his interactions with the seller were terribly limited.
They had barely traded more than a few words.
And thus, the other party's thoughts and wants remained an enigma to him.
...
"To turn down even the Thousand Leafed Tree, interesting!"
The young man from Suite 23 chuckled lightly.
He was the one who made the offer for the Thousand Leafed Tree previously. This object was of great value, and even three Soulless Metal Humanoid couldn't match up to a single one of it. Only a top-notch genius of a prestigious sect like him was able to take out an item of such quality easily.
But it was a pity that the other party wasn't interested in it at all.
"Young master, it doesn't seem like he's trying to hike up the price," the elder beside him said.
Previously, the young master said that the reason why that fellow refused to reveal what he wanted was so as to hike up the prices, but from the looks of it, that didn't seem to be the case.
After all, in terms of price, what else could beat the Thousand Leafed Tree?
To turn down even this object, this only went to show that his motive could be to find something that he really needed.
"Regardless of what he needs, he surely won't be able to turn this down!"
Flicking his wrist, a jade token appeared in the young man's hand.
Upon seeing the item, the elder was taken aback. He uttered in shock, "Young master, this item is incomparably valuable. Are you sure... that you want to make an offer with it?"
"That's right!"
A glint flashed across the young man's eyes, and his lips curled up slightly, "Since he has even refused the Thousand Leafed Tree, I can't think of anything else that might interest him."
The elder hesitated. "But... this item is useful to you too..."
"If I have any problems, I can consult teacher straight. So in truth, this item isn't of much value to me!"
The young man waved his hands and said, "Make the offer!"
"Yes!"
Seeing the determination on the other party's face, the elder knew that it was impossible to convince him out of it. Thus, nodding his head, he stepped forward to the windows and bellowed, "A half 5-star master teacher long-range Tutelage Jade Token!"
...
Everyone in the auction hall was wracking their brains to fathom what that fellow on the stage want when the voice sounded. A short moment of silence, and a huge uproar was suddenly generated.
"Half 5-star master teacher? What does that mean?"
"When a master teacher reaches 4-star and above, the difficulty to advance through the ranks would become exponentially more difficult. As such, there were many people who ended up being stuck at 4-star pinnacle their entire life, unable to make a breakthrough. However, there are clearly masters teachers who possessed teaching capability above ordinary 4-star pinnacle but simply haven't reached 5-star yet... Thus, this rank was born!"
"There isn't a half 5-star master teacher in the Myriad Kingdom Alliance. Even though half 5-star master teachers are, in the truest sense, 4-star pinnacle master teachers, the value of their Tutelage Jade Tokens far surpasses those of ordinary 4-star pinnacle master teachers... Putting everything aside, even the 21 Tutelage Jade Tokens offered before cannot compare up to this in value!"
"I see. Then what is a long-range Tutelage Jade Token?"
"When one obtains an ordinary Tutelage Jade Token, one can look for a master teacher and request for two hours of his time for a one-to-one guidance session. However... finding this master teacher is likely to expend a significant length of time. On the other hand, a long-range Tutelage Jade Token isn't restricted by this limitation. A sliver of the master teacher's soul has been infused into the jade token, and when one drips a droplet of blood on it, one will be able to enter an illusionary classroom where one's problems can be solved.
"In other words, as long as one possesses this item, it's as good as having a half 5-star master teacher around you. No matter what cultivation problem one has, one can enquire about it at any moment. Even though it's just a one-time use object, its value is unimaginable!"
Being able to undergo the guidance of a half 5-star master teacher on the spot and running around the world with the jade token in hand to look for the specific half 5-star master teacher were two vastly different concepts.
The value of this jade token definitely far surpassed that of the previous 21 jade tokens.
Having understood this, everyone turned to the old man on the stage to see how he would choose.
If he were to reject this as well, then no one here would probably be able to produce a treasure to his liking.
"This..."
The old man also clearly didn't expect the person from the suite to take out such a valuable object. Hesitation clearly surfaced on his expression, and after a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, I'll agree to the trade!"
"He agreed to the trade?"
"Well, I can't imagine him doing otherwise..."
Hearing that the other party had agreed to it, even though the crowd was a little disappointed, they knew that the value of this jade token was simply too great for anyone to resist.
"This is more like it..."
The young man from Suite 23 chuckled lightly upon hearing the old man agree to it.
He had even gone to the extent of taking out this treasure. If the other party still continued to turn him down, there would be nothing else he could do.
Just as he was preparing to go down and conduct the trade with the old man, a nonchalant voice suddenly sounded from Suite 1.
"There's no need to rush into an agreement, I haven't made my offer yet!"
"You? Do you think that you can produce something even more valuable than my Tutelage Jade Token?"
The young man stood up in displeasure.
"I can't say for sure whether the thing I can offer is of greater value because my offer is only a single sentence..."
A calm voice sounded, "I can help you... get it out!"
"What did you say?"
Hearing those words, the old man standing on the stage suddenly froze and his face paled. Then, he began to tremble non-stop.
.
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Chapter 470: Zhang Xuan's Move [2in1]
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97
Help you get it out?
The entire auction hall fell silent. The respectable figures of Honghai City stared at one another with so much frustration that they were about to explode.
What the heck was this situation?
Who in the world was that hero in Suite 1?
Your interest...
... is way too heavy!
More importantly, he didn't seem to be in the least embarrassed spouting such dirty words in public; on the contrary, he spoke forcefully and proudly...
Big brother, where in the world does your confidence come from?
Pu!
Hearing those words, the young man from Suite 23 immediately spat out the mouthful of tea that he had just drunk at the elder opposite of him.
The heck! I gave out a long-range Tutelage Jade Token—that is literally worth cities, and its value doesn't lose out to even a Spirit high-tier equipment... If you had made a normal offer, I would still overlook it. After all, it's a fair competition. I can only concede if my financial ability is unable to match up to yours.
But... 'help you get it out', what the heck was that?
The fellow selling the Soulless Metal Humanoid was already in his declining years, and he looked as though he could pass away at any moment. Yet, you want to help him g-get it out?
Am I being too dirty-minded or is your taste really that heavy?
"That..."
The elder beside the young man wiped the tea off his face, and it took him a long moment before he recovered from the shock. "Young master, that person doesn't have long to live so I doubt that he would be tempted by the pleasures of the body. Besides, even if he is interested, he could simply head to a brothel. Why should he resort to finding a male..."
"Cough cough..."
After a bout of violent coughing, the young man finally managed to prevent himself from choking to death. "I know that much. Just that... that fellow from Suite 1 sure is an incredible fellow to be able to say such words... It seems like we aren't the only one astounded by his words. Even that old fellow up there is about to faint!"
"Indeed! No normal cultivator would accept such a depraved offer. How can someone be so shameless?" the elder replied indignantly. In the midst of his words, the ruckus below suddenly disappeared, and following closely, an agitated and excited voice sounded.
"Mister, do you... mean your words?" The old man on the auction stage was trembling in excitement. His face was flushed, seemingly unable to believe the other party's words.
"Of course I do! As long as you pass the Soulless Metal Humanoid to me, I'll try my best to help you get it out!" the calm voice from Suite 1 replied.
"Alright then, I'll agree to it!" Upon hearing the other party's confirmation, the old man nodded his head immediately.
Pu!
"If only I'd known earlier, I would have prepared a few beautiful girls... or perhaps dashing men..."
Hearing the old man agreeing to the matter readily, everyone felt blood welling up in their chest and they nearly fainted.
This works as well?
Cultivation technique, weapons, Thousand Leafed Tree, and even a half 5-star long-range Tutelage Jade Token... You turned all of them down just for this? Your interest sure is unique!
To abandon all of these treasures just for a short moment of pleasure... More importantly, the other party is a male... You have truly opened up our eyes today.
What is even more impressive is how the fellow in Suite 1 can speak such words in public without the slightest bit of embarrassment...
And most importantly of all, how could you tell that the old man on stage has such an interest?
Could it be that you are also...
Everyone shuddered.
"He agreed to it?"
The young man from Suite 23 trembled. For that moment, it felt as though the skies were rumbling.
Did he really come to a prestigious auction or was this truly a place for such exchanges?
Putting aside how his 4-star Tutelage Jade Tokens were turned down from spirit stones, now, even his Thousand Leafed Tree and the even more valuable half 5-star long-range Tutelage Jade Token was rejected, all for just... a moment of relief!
Their world horizons shattered in an instant.
"He... agreed to it!" The elder uttered through trembling lips.
"Damn it! If only I knew that that fellow has such interests, I wouldn't have wasted so much effort!" After a moment of dismal, a vicious glint flashed past the young man's face, and he turned around to command. "Make the offer saying that we can help him get it out as well. Furthermore, we'll agree to all conditions he sets, regardless of what poses he wants!"
"Young master, you..." The elder's body froze. "Isn't your sacrifice... a little too great?"
To go so far for a Soulless Metal Humanoid... Young master sure is vicious to himself!
"Sacrifice? Sacrifice your head! Do you expect me to do it? You think that I, Song Chao, a 4-star master teacher, would do such a thing? You must be joking! If someone has to go, it'll be you. As long as he agrees to sell the Soulless Metal Humanoid to me, you'll have to serve him well!"
The young man, Song Chao, harrumphed.
"Me?" It was just a moment ago that the elder thought that the young master was extremely noble, but after hearing those words, he shuddered and nearly burst into tears.
Do you have to be so callous?
I watched you grow up from young boy to a young man, and I've followed behind you for so many years. To sell me like that... surely this isn't right...
Who did I offend? I'm already so old and yet I still have to give up my reputation and decency... to not please a young lady but a... decrepit, old man?
"Hurry up! Once they conduct the trade, it'll be too late!" Seeing the other party's warped face, Song Chao hurriedly urged him on.
"Yes!" Even though the elder was reluctant to do so, he still stepped forward to the window and said, "Our young master wishes to make an offer. He's willing to help you get it out as well!"
"Ah? Another one?"
"The heck! There's another one who has given up on his decency as well? How in the world did a normal auction hall turn into a location where such deals are made?"
"Are they all mad?"
The entire auction hall flew into a frenzy.
To think that there would be another one to make such an offer. Where's their pride? Where's their common decency?
For this Soulless Metal Humanoid, you all are willing to give up even your dignity?
While the stage below was in a frenzy, in Suite 1, Zhang Xuan was also perplexed. He stood up and facing the suite which had just made the offer, he asked, "You can help him get it out as well? How do you intend to do it? Shall we compete to see whose technique is better so that he can make a better choice?"
Based on what he knew, it should be very hard to get that thing out. Even with the omniscient Library of Heaven's Path, Zhang Xuan still found the matter troublesome. Thus, he was curious to see what kind of method the other party was going to use.
Pu!
Hearing those words, Song Chao felt as though a snake was diving around in his chest, and he nearly tore his hair out with his hands.
Can you at least have some pride?
To compete over whose technique is better... Is it really alright for you to say such things in public? Do you have to be so fierce?
Furthermore, what is there to compete about it? The main issue at hand should be just to satisfy him, right?
The mouth of the elder beside Song Chao twitched, and tears streamed down his face. Doomed, he knew that his reputation would surely be tarnished at this point...
"Why? You can't say anything? To make such a claim despite being incapable, are you intentionally trying to jack up the price?" Upon seeing that there was no response from Suite 23, the person from Suite 1 continued.
"I-I... What other kind of techniques can I use? Of course it's the one that everyone knows of..." Seeing that the elder had been shocked speechless, Song Chao couldn't hold himself back anymore so he harrumphed.
"The one that everyone knows of?"
Hearing the other party's frenzied words, Zhang Xuan was even more perplexed, "What kind of method is that? You should clarify yourself. He has been plagued by an evil spirit and he's currently going through great anguish. What method do you intend to use to get it out? If it is feasible, I'm willing to let you give it a try first."
"Plagued by an evil spirit? Get it out? Th-this..." Song Chao's body swayed and his face paled. If there was a hole in the ground, he would definitely jump in this very instant.
What the heck was this!
Can your words not be that darned?
You kept saying 'get it out' so I thought you were talking about that... I was even willing to have my close subordinate give up his decency to compete with you and it turned out to be getting an evil spirit out...
You must be toying with me!
"So it's to force an evil spirit out..."
"The plague of an evil spirit is incomparably dangerous. Under such circumstances, one's life hinges by a thread. It's no wonder that person is refusing all treasures. After all, given that his life is in danger, what use are those treasures? What he wants is probably a way to expel the evil spirit, but if that is the case... Why didn't he say anything?"
"That is exactly what stumped me as well... However, being plagued by an evil spirit is an extremely rare occurrence. I've only read about it from some ancient books, how in the world did that fellow manage to stumble by it?"
"Soul oracles are skilled in attacking the souls of others. He must have suffered the retaliation of the evil spirits from the soul oracle whose tomb he dug up..."
...
Hearing the words of the person from Suite 1, everyone came to an understanding and wiped away their cold sweat.
So it wasn't what they were thinking. What the other party meant was to get the evil spirit out. It seemed like they were the ones who were corrupted...
"I see..."
Hall Master Sai heaved a huge sigh of relief and his face flushed red.
Zhang shi's previous words had nearly scared him to death. He had really thought that the other party had such heavy preferences... Only after hearing this did he come to a realization.
In truth, Zhang Xuan also didn't expect his words to incur such a huge misunderstanding. His mind had been too absorbed into getting the Soulless Metal Humanoid that he'd failed to consider the possible innuendo in his words.
Just like everyone guessed, the reason behind the affliction of the old man selling the Soulless Metal Humanoid was indeed vengeance from the soul oracle whose tomb was dug up. With his life at stake, it was natural that no treasure would be able to interest him. It was because he had been trying to suppress the evil spirit through the use of battle technique that the Library of Heaven's Path compiled a book on him.
It was because of that that Zhang Xuan could comprehend what was happening.
Recovering from the awkward atmosphere, Song Chao asked, "Based on what I know, the plague of an evil spirit concerns the subject of souls. Since you said that you are able to... get it out, does it mean that you are skilled in that subject?"
Due to the intricacies behind souls, even master teachers would be stumped before this problem. Based on the other party's voice, he seemed to be rather young. Thus, Song Chao was curious to know what method the other party in mind.
The crowd immediately turned their gazes over, and even the old man on the stage seemed a little anxious at this point. He was worried that the man in the suite was just making empty promises.
"The plague of an evil spirit is similar to a lethal poison corroding one's soul. There's nothing I can do about that!" The voice from the suite echoed.
"Nothing you can do about that? Then..." Everyone nearly fainted. The other party had declared so confidently a moment ago and yet he was saying that he was helpless at this point in time. Wasn't this change in attitude a little too rapid?
Having his hope shattered when it was so close to him, the old man couldn't retain his calmness. He immediately asked anxiously, "Then why did you say that you can help me get it out..."
"Since I can discern your condition and describe it so aptly, naturally, I have my own means!"
Man from the suite chuckled.
"This..." The old man was baffled.
The other party had clearly stated that he was helpless toward the plague of the evil spirit. But now, he was claiming that he had a solution in mind. Was that fellow playing him a fool or was there some secret meaning behind those words that he failed to comprehend?
Just as the old man was still stuck in bewilderment, the voice from the suite continued, "Alright, hand the Soulless Metal Humanoid to me and I'll solve your problem. There are too many people here so it's not convenient for me to go into detail!"
"Alright!" After a moment of hesitation, the old man surveyed the surroundings and bowed, "I thank everyone here for participating in the auction of the Soulless Metal Humanoid. Pardon me, but I've managed to find a buyer already. Thus, I can only apologize to everyone here!"
After finishing his words, the old man grabbed the Soulless Metal Humanoid.
Hu!
With a light smile, the old man put the metal humanoid lying vertically on the stage away before walking off.
"Young master, what do we do?"
Seeing that the buyer had been confirmed, the elder in Suite 23 started to panic.
The young master had come over excitedly with a huge fortune in hand just to buy this Soulless Metal Humanoid but in the end... he didn't manage to spend a single cent. He could still accept it if the other party's financial ability was above that of his, but the problem was that... the other party managed to win over the metal humanoid with just a single word without spending a single cent...
The more he thought about it, the more dismal he felt.
"What else can we do? Are you able to expel the evil spirit plaguing him?" Song Chao asked with a darkened complexion.
"I... can't!" The elder shook his head.
The plague of a spirit involved the subject of soul. Even though his cultivation and knowledge were impressive, there was nothing we could do about the seller's problem as well.
"Forget it. Go and look into who the person in Suite 1 is. We'll decide on our actions afterward!" Song Chao instructed.
"Yes!" The elder nodded his head.
If he didn't even know who the enemy was, how could he make suitable preparations?
"To be capable of produce a seventh level painting, discern that the seller is plagued by an evil spirit, and show no interest in 4-star Tutelage Jade Tokens... That person in Suite 1 sure is a mysterious figure. Investigate him! Make sure to dig up every single bit of information about him!"
Song Chao wasn't the only curious one. Everyone in the auction was also dying to know whom that formidable figure in Suite 1 was, especially given how he was able to get Hall Master Sai willingly share his suite with him.
...
"This is the Soulless Metal Humanoid?"
In a vast room in the Appraiser Hall, Zhang Xuan studied the puppet on the floor in interest.
The sale of the Soulless Metal Humanoid meant that the auction had come to an end. Under Manager Luo's lead, the old man was brought to the room.
The metal humanoid was around the size of a real human but its physique was much more muscular. As though crafted using metal, its skin was also gold in color. It was hard to tell the person's original appearance under the metal coating.
Knowing that this wasn't the time to be examining the object, Zhang Xuan stored it in his storage ring right after confirming the product was authentic. Then, he turned to look at the old man before him.
"Mister, please cure me of my affliction!" The old man hurriedly clasped his fist.
In truth, after seeing that the other party was a young man, he suffered a breakdown.
After all, no matter how talented a person was, his extent of knowledge was still limited by his age. He thought that the person who was able to tell that he was plagued by an evil spirit should at least be an old man who was beyond his sixties... He didn't think that the other party would be so young, and he found it hard to believe that such a young person could cure him of his affliction.
If not for the other party pointing out his condition accurately, he would have surely thought that this was a scam.
"Un!"
Nodding his head, Zhang Xuan started circling around the other party silently. Then, lifting his eyebrow, he said, "Hall Master Sai and Elder Jin, I have something that I would like to trouble you two!"
"Zhang shi, there is no need to stand on ceremony. Feel free to speak whatever that's on your mind!"
The duo nodded.
Even though each of their cultivation was higher than the lad before him, the latter had simply performed too many extraordinary miracles. They didn't dare view him as a junior.
"Simple..." Zhang Xuan sent a telepathic message over.
"This..."
Hearing Zhang Xuan's message, the duo stared at one another in shock.
After a moment of hesitation, Hall Master Sai awkwardly asked, "Zhang shi... Surely this isn't good?"
"Just do as I say. I know what I'm doing!" Zhang Xuan nodded.
"Alright!"
The duo gritted their teeth.
Seeing the look of difficulty on the faces of the two elders, everyone was perplexed, especially the old man selling the Soulless Metal Humanoid.
Does my treatment require the help of these two?
"Pardon me!"
Just as he was perplexed, he heard Hall Master Sai and Jin Conghai harrumph at the same moment. Then, the duo lifted their palms and two surges of zhenqi surged into the surroundings, sealing the entire area from the world.
"What are you all trying to do?"
The old man frowned.
Through this action, the duo had sealed his path of escape.
In other words, they planned to make a move on him!
"Do you all... intend to steal the Soulless Metal Humanoid?"
Upon realizing something, the old man's eyes narrowed.
The Soulless Metal Humanoid was incomparably valuable. As just a Transcendent Mortal 2-dan pinnacle cultivator, he was still a far way from becoming one of the top experts of the Myriad Kingdom Alliance. He knew that if he were to spread the word, there was a high possibility that someone might come after him for it.
Thus, as soon as he obtained the object, he immediately rushed to the Appraiser Hall. He felt that given the Appraiser Hall's reputation, they shouldn't conduct despicable acts like stealing the goods of its customers. Yet, to think that... the respectable hall master would make a move on him himself!
"Zhang shi..."
Luo Qin also didn't expect such a sight to occur and his face paled. To think that Zhang Xuan would resort to this eventually!
If the Appraiser Guild were to commit such actions, the reputation of the auction hall would also go down to the drain. An auction hall that had lost its credibility would surely lose all of its customers.
"Don't worry. If I intended to kill him, he would already be long dead. There would have been no need for us to seal his surroundings at all." Zhang Xuan rolled his eyes.
No matter what, he was a master teacher. The other party should have been able to see through the benevolent face he had, why was the other party treating him as though a villain who would resort to such petty crimes?
To kill a person and rob him of his possession... To think that you can even think of this!
It was just a Soulless Metal Humanoid. Its value still wasn't sufficient for Zhang Xuan to go to such an extent.
"That's good..."
Hearing Zhang Xuan's promise, Luo Qin heaved a sigh of relief. Turning around, he saw Hall Master Sai and Elder Jin making a move simultaneously. The old man could barely take two blows before he was subdued. Then, the duo sealed his cultivation, leaving him completely powerless.
These two were top-notch experts. With their strength, dealing with a Transcendent Mortal 2-dan pinnacle cultivator was a walk in the park.
Seeing that the other party had only sealed his cultivation, the old man knew that he was overthinking it and he heaved a long sigh of relief. But still, baffled by the condition, he asked, "What do you all intend to do?"
"Didn't you ask me to expel the evil spirit in you? If we don't limit your movement, how can we expel the evil spirit?"
Zhang Xuan smiled.
Hearing that the sealing of his cultivation was a necessary procedure to expelling the evil spirit, the old man nodded his head and said, "I see! I'll be depending on you then, mister!"
"Un!"
Nodding his head, Zhang Xuan stepped forward. The edges of his lip slowly curled up as he raised his hands.
Pah!
His palm struck the other party's face.
"You..."
The strike had caused the old man to flip on the spot and crash onto the floor. Dumbfounded, the old man stared at Zhang Xuan with widened eyes.
What was going on?
In exchange for the Soulless Metal Humanoid, you are supposed to expel the evil spirit within me. Yet, you had someone seal my cultivation first before... then came over here to slap me... What are you up to?
The old man was just about to ask about the situation when a kick came flying toward him.
Peng!
"What is going on..."
His words were jammed back into his mouth by the kick, and he was sent flying a few meters away.
Struggling to his feet, the old man's eyes were filled with fury. He was about to turn insane at any point now.
But of course, he wasn't the only one that was about to turn insane. Everyone in the room looked as though they had seen a ghost.
This was especially so for Luo Qin. At this point, he nearly couldn't hold back his tears anymore.
Didn't you say that... you aren't intending to kill the other party and steal his possessions? Even if you aren't going to kill him, beating the other party up and taking his possession like that... isn't alright either...