"For our next item folks we have the qi shining pearl, a rare find from a rare beast: the qi shining clam, it allows you to store an extra set of qi in your body. The minimum bid for this item is 10 million spirit stones".
"Wow I didn't expect such a price" Gu Xiao said.
"Me neither but perhaps we have a gap missing in our knowledge about the item. Maybe it works for higher level cultivators or grows alongside you like some treasures do. If those guesses are correct then its no surprise to see it go for such a price. Although some of the other items are sensational and can give you a big increase in cultivation, this is probably the most practical treasure yet. Just imagine doubling your qi capacity with one treasure. Qi cultivators would salivate at the chance".
It didn't need to be said how important qi was to cultivators. It could be the difference between a life of luxury and a life of poverty, it could also mean the difference between life and death. Still seeing such opulence first hand was still shocking.
"Going once, going twice, SOLD to private booth number three for 15.8 million spirit stones. For our next item we have the green wind technique. For the minimum bid is set to 750,000 spirit stones".
Techniques highly varied in price. Not just due to quality but also due to popularity as well, or in this case, how many people could practice the technique. For some people a technique could be worth less than the food they eat. For others it could be valuable enough to spend their entire fortune on it. It depending on if the technique was compatible with the person or not. Hard to learn techniques were very powerful, but also very unpopular making them usually worth less than what they should be worth. At the same time, popular techniques were so widespread they were worthless to sell to others. Meaning if you want a technique to sell well, the best thing to look out for was a perfect balance between the rarity of the technique and how many people could practice it. In this case, the technique fit both categories earning it a spot on todays auction.
"Going once, going twice, SOLD for 1.3 million spirit stones to guest number 2".
Due to all these factors, techniques were some of the hardest commodities to sell, even though they had a huge demand.
"For our next item folks, we have the legendary nine heavens ambrosia, one of the three divine wines. Although the amount is small something tells me you'll be drunk in one sip. The minimum bid for this item is 3 million spirit stones".
"3.3 million"!
"3.4 million"!
"3.8 million"!
"How are we going to store this many spirit stones" Gu Zhi asked.
"They will give you a storage ring, if you ask for one, of course it will be deducted from your pay, but we should be able to afford it easily".
"Going once, going twice, SOLD for 8.9 million spirit stones to guest number 38".
"Is it just me, or is this scale of this auction abnormally large" Gu Zhi asked.
"This is defiantly an irregular auction. Most would only have one or two big items to bet on while this auction had many. I bet it will be the talk of the town for quite a few weeks".
"For our last item here today, we have brought out a special familiar, the snow fox familiar. Known for its prestige, people in the principality of yore are venerated for acquiring this item. I present to you the snow fox familiar" he said as a fox walked on stage.
With pure white skin, the fox shone with blinding whiteness, like snow in the sun. It had delicate eyes, and a refined demeanor to it.
"The minimum bid for this item is 35 million spirit stones" the host said.
There was a bit of awkward silence until the bidding started in full swing.
"...35.1 million".
"35.2 million"!
"I never thought familiars would be so expensive" Gu Zhi commented.
Gu Xiao rolled her eyes at his ignorance. "They are the dream of every genius. Many of times they are so rare and expensive that they have become a symbol of royalty. As only the ruling class has them and can afford them. There are even many myths and legends about heroes who miraculously stumble upon a rare and powerful familiar. It always becomes a large part of their success in their journey. In fact familiars are so rare and sought after that once a person forms a contract for a familiar and it becomes known, its not uncommon for them to marry into nobility or given special privileges. They are one of the most sought after finds for treasure seekers and nobility alike".
"Going once, going twice, SOLD for 65.8 million spirit stones to private booth number 2. Thank you all for coming to this auction, if you bought an item it will be given to you by the staff behind closed doors, if you sold an item the same will happen to you. Thank you all and have a great rest of your day" the host said as he walked off the stage.
Some time later a worker made their way into the room. "Here is the total amount of spirit stones minus the 5% and the 3 million" said the worker.
"We don't have a storage device at the moment could we buy one off of you" asked Gu Zhi.
"Of course, that will be 500,000 leaving you with a total of 4,955,000 spirit stones. We will have to ask you to come outside to the back to retrieve your items, as they can't fit in a storage device" the worker said.
"Of course lead the way" Gu Xiao said while carrying Gu Bo in her arms.