The population auction venue was packed with most of the wealthy and upper-class individuals from the entire Sabaody Archipelago, totaling nearly a thousand people. The atmosphere was bustling and noisy.
"I hope I can buy a few more beautiful women this time!"
"I want to buy some handsome men!"
"I'm going to get a few strong fish-men!"
...
Excited and eager voices rose one after another throughout the venue.
Lin Xuan had already secured a seat in the auction hall by manipulating the auction staff with his genjutsu. He had even changed into an exquisite suit.
Sensing the excitement around him, the corners of his lips curled slightly: So these are the so-called upper-class people of this world? Tch, how ugly! I hope you'll enjoy the surprise I've prepared for you!
Then, he focused his consciousness on the Reputation Store, already planning how to spend his reputation points to strengthen himself later.
After scanning through the options, he realized that the only thing he could currently afford was the Shaolin Small Restoration Pill, priced at 1,000 reputation points.
Lin Xuan glanced at the description: Enhances twenty years of internal energy.
He frowned and asked inwardly, "System, do I need to buy a martial arts manual first before taking this pill?"
The system replied, "Host, that's unnecessary. According to my calculations, if you consume this Small Restoration Pill now, your physical attributes will immediately double. The remaining medicinal effects will continue to strengthen your body. Once fully absorbed, your physical capabilities will triple your current level!"
"I see!" Lin Xuan nodded. "Better than nothing. I'll take one now for self-defense!"
With that, he purchased a Small Restoration Pill from the Reputation Store and swallowed it on the spot.
Instantly, he felt streams of warmth spreading throughout his body, as if every cell was cheering in delight. The sensation was incredibly soothing.
Lin Xuan couldn't help but marvel, "What a good item! It feels so comfortable. If I had enough reputation points, I'd love to get a few more just for the pleasure!"
Meanwhile, back in the dungeon where Lin Xuan had been held earlier, a voice suddenly echoed from outside the cells.
"Everyone, get ready! The auction is about to begin. Numbers one through twenty, step up first!"
The guards in the dungeon immediately sprang into action. The prisoners, as if waking from a dream, remained completely unaware of what they had done under the influence of the genjutsu.
To them, it felt like they had simply dozed off for a moment. None of them noticed anything unusual—not even that Lin Xuan was missing from the dungeon or that a man named Uchiha Madara had mysteriously appeared in his place. It was as if Uchiha Madara had been the one captured from the start.
As for the guard who had been sacrificed as an offering, no one even noticed his disappearance.
Following the orders from outside, the guards began escorting the slaves to the auction venue one by one.
In the entire dungeon, only Rayleigh remained fully conscious.
Having witnessed everything, he grew increasingly terrified of Lin Xuan, reinforcing his earlier decision: I must escape immediately, or I might not get another chance!
...
At the auction venue, the lively bidding had already begun.
Auctioneer Disco stood on the stage, enthusiastically introducing each slave brought up for sale.
One after another, the slaves were auctioned off like merchandise. Bidders competed fiercely for their desired slaves, driving the atmosphere to a fever pitch.
Some in the audience watched coldly, savoring the expressions of the slaves.
They seemed to take pleasure in seeing the slaves' faces filled with despair, devoid of any hope or will to live.
Lin Xuan, of course, also observed with a cold gaze—but what he appreciated were the ugly faces of the so-called nobles.
Watching the crowd grow excited as they secured their desired slaves, he smirked inwardly: I wonder what expressions these people will have when they realize the slaves they bought can't be controlled?
As it turned out, though Lin Xuan hadn't freed all the slaves in the dungeon, he had secretly sabotaged the explosive collars around their necks!
His reason for doing this? To give the slave buyers a little surprise.
After all, if he simply auctioned off Rayleigh and Uchiha Madara right away, it might cause a stir, but the impact wouldn't be as shocking. To maximize the effect and earn more reputation points, he had made this small arrangement.
In his plan, the first twenty slaves all had some combat ability. Once they realized their collars were broken, even if they didn't dare attack Celestial Dragons, would they really hesitate to kill a few nobles or wealthy merchants?
By then, with so many upper-class individuals suddenly dying across Sabaody Archipelago, the shockwaves would surely earn him a hefty sum of reputation points!
Finally, the first twenty auction items were sold.
The auctioneer loudly announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, the next two items are the highlights of today's auction! The first is the former vice-captain of the Roger Pirates—the Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh!"
"Whoa—!"
The previously weary crowd instantly erupted in excitement at the mention of Rayleigh's name.
Lin Xuan chuckled. "Hah, seems like Rayleigh's still quite popular!"
But then, something unexpected happened.
The auctioneer spent a long time passionately hyping up Rayleigh, recounting his legendary feats to drive up the bidding price.
However, when he called for Rayleigh to be brought on stage, the man never appeared.
Finally, a guard tasked with escorting the slaves rushed over and whispered urgently, "Sir, that… that Rayleigh escaped!"
"What?!" The auctioneer was stunned.
Thanks to his enhanced physical abilities, Lin Xuan's senses—including hearing—had doubled in acuity. He overheard the conversation on stage and was equally dumbfounded: What's going on? That old man Rayleigh actually ran away in fear?!
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T/N:
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