The next day, Lin Feng returned to the South City Free Bazaar carrying all the repaired artifacts. After fulfilling the latter half of the transactions he'd accepted the day before yesterday, he resumed taking commissions.
Although he had announced that he couldn't accept Spirit Tools or Premium-grade Precious Artifacts for repair because his 'Master' had gone into 'seclusion,' Lin Feng's business not only didn't decline but became even more frenzied. After all, the cultivators in Biquan City were predominantly ordinary practitioners at the Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment stages. Only a minority possessed Premium-grade Precious Artifacts; most owned Magical Artifacts or Precious Artifacts ranging from Low-grade to High-grade. After the story spread of Lin Feng 'defeating' Lian Ye, the Level Five Artifact Refiner from Myriad Treasures Pavilion, no one doubted his 'credibility' anymore. Those who had been hesitating before now all rushed to avail themselves of his services.
Biquan City had a population of over two hundred thousand, the vast majority being cultivators. Among them, sixty to seventy thousand were at the Foundation Establishment stage. Who among them didn't have one or two worn-out artifacts? Many usually found the repair costs at artifact shops prohibitively expensive and simply made do. Now, with Lin Feng offering repairs at unprecedentedly low prices, they naturally wouldn't miss this chance.
Lin Feng later realized his initial pricing wasn't 'standard,' but he couldn't be bothered to change it. Charging the same rates as the artifact shops might dissatisfy customers. Besides, his 'repair' method was infinitely more convenient than the 'repairs' performed by the shops' refiners, so offering lower prices was perfectly fine.
This 'market disruption' had long displeased many artifact shops and refiners in the city. Some had even gathered earlier to discuss whether they should 'remind' this outsider. However, after news spread that Lian Ye, the Level Five Artifact Refiner from Myriad Treasures Pavilion, had lost a 'friendly competition' to Lin Feng, all such thoughts vanished. They could only watch their repair business dwindle to unprecedented lows, sighing helplessly and praying Lin Feng would leave soon...
The following three days were monotonous and busy for Lin Feng. Monotonous because he had almost no time for leisure, dedicating nearly every moment to repairs. This naturally made him extremely busy; he had no time for cultivation, spending entire days and nights repairing artifacts non-stop. He spared no effort to earn as many spirit stones as possible during these few days.
Additionally, although Lin Feng rarely went out, quite a few people sought him out. These weren't customers bringing artifacts for repair, but visitors coming to 'pay their respects.'
Alongside the major news of Lin Feng 'defeating' Lian Ye, another significant rumor had been circulating secretly through the city these past few days: the eldest young master of the Li family, Li Renyao, seemed to have vanished. As people dug deeper and speculated, some gradually connected the dots to Lin Feng leaving the city that day. Many had also witnessed numerous Li family experts hastily heading north out of the city gate afterward. Then, somehow, even the matter of the Star City Thirteen Tyrants came to light. Piecing together various 'clues,' someone managed to deduce the sequence of events with startling accuracy. Consequently, the story spread: Li Renyao had secretly hired the 'Star City Thirteen Tyrants' to deal with Lin Feng, only for them all to be annihilated. Lin Feng's fame soared once more, and many now firmly believed he had a Golden Core stage master.
Amidst this whirlwind of public opinion, Lin Feng became the hottest figure in Biquan City. Therefore, the various factions within the city, large and small, couldn't sit still. They dispatched representatives one after another to visit and curry favor.
Lin Feng initially wanted to ignore these people. However, after careful consideration, he decided that getting acquainted with the city's major powers wasn't without its benefits. So, amidst his repairs, he politely received quite a few visitors.
Some factions offered extravagant gifts in an attempt to recruit him, but Lin Feng politely declined them all – acquaintance was fine, but accepting gifts created obligations he didn't want.
Subsequently, these visitors thought of another way to 'please' him: they brought numerous high-grade artifacts for Lin Feng to repair. This, Lin Feng accepted without exception, thus adding another significant stream of income.
In short, over these three days, Lin Feng essentially became acquainted with representatives from over a dozen factions in the city. Many were important figures like family heads or second-in-commands visiting personally, underscoring the considerable status Lin Feng held in their eyes.
Indeed, in a small place like this, even just a Level Four Artifact Refiner was enough to warrant serious recruitment efforts from these forces. Especially when that Level Four Refiner supposedly had an even more formidable 'master' backing him.
...
The three days passed in the blink of an eye. On the fourth morning, Lin Feng did not go to the free bazaar. In fact, his repair business had officially concluded the day before.
From the beginning until yesterday, Lin Feng had earned a staggering amount of spirit stones, beyond anything he had ever dared to imagine before. Now, the multiple spirit stone pouches he carried contained nearly three million low-grade spirit stones!
Three million – even some ordinary Golden Core cultivators probably didn't possess such wealth. Lin Feng had been quite excited while counting them last night. He remembered how painfully he'd spent twenty thousand spirit stones for his Foundation Establishment breakthrough. Now, he was carrying such an enormous fortune, filling him with a profound sense of accomplishment.
Today was the day of the auction Loong Chengkong had mentioned. Lin Feng got up early, prepared himself, and set out with Zhang Fangzhou and his two brothers towards the center of Biquan City.
Along the way, they saw many other cultivators heading in the same direction, presumably all attending the auction. Most were Foundation Establishment cultivators, the primary demographic in Biquan City, and this auction was primarily targeted at these established practitioners.
Before long, Lin Feng and the others arrived at a vast plaza in the city center. He realized he wasn't particularly early; the plaza was already teeming with people, a bustling scene.
On the north side of the plaza stood an enormous, opulent structure resembling a stadium. This was the city's sole auction house, the venue for today's event.
The crowd gathered on the plaza, however, weren't all auction attendees. Many had set up stalls, doing business right there.
Most of these stallholders were Qi Condensation cultivators, essentially there to 'join the excitement.' They were also taking advantage of the auction crowd to hold an impromptu free trade fair outside.
Lin Feng's group traversed the plaza and reached the auction house entrance, immediately spotting Loong Chengkong, who was already waiting for them.
"Brother Loong." Lin Feng stepped forward, clasping his fists in greeting. "My apologies for keeping you waiting."
Loong Chengkong smiled warmly. "Not at all, I only just arrived myself. Come, they've started admitting people. Let's head in."
"Alright."
Lin Feng nodded and followed Loong Chengkong into the auction house.
Once inside, Lin Feng realized it was even larger than he had imagined. The layout wasn't much different from an Earth auction house – though Lin Feng had never been to one, it reminded him somewhat of a movie theater.
A raised platform stood at the front. Facing it were rows of tiered seating. Encircling the main floor was a second level extending outwards, housing private VIP boxes.
The boxes on the second floor were typically reserved for Golden Core cultivators. Even the Loong Family considered the cost of reserving one prohibitively expensive. However, the Loong family had secured excellent seats on the main floor. Loong Chengkong led Lin Feng's group directly to a prime area on the left side near the front, offering a clear view of the auction platform.
As Lin Feng walked through the hall, several cultivators who recognized him came forward to greet him politely. He returned their courtesies one by one. Upon reaching their seats, they found two middle-aged men already waiting. One was familiar – Loong Xingyun, who had helped Lin Feng during the Li family confrontation. The other, a man with an imposing and dignified demeanor, was Loong Chengkong's father, the current head of the Loong Family, Loong Xingtian.
Loong Chengkong made the introductions. Lin Feng exchanged polite greetings with the smiling Loong Xingtian. Everyone settled into their seats, engaging in light conversation and laughter.
Suddenly, Lin Feng's gaze sharpened. He sensed something and turned his head. On the same row, but on the opposite side of the aisle, a man sat glaring at him with undisguised hostility and venom flashing in his eyes.
It was Li Ziyao, the Patriarch of the Li Family.