"Everyone sees it, right?" The enchanting woman's gaze swept across the room, carrying a faint hint of allure. "Although there's no energy fluctuation from this round stone, this wisp of soul light is real. Everyone, perhaps it's waiting for a destined individual. Who knows... it might contain a peerless technique."
Hisss.
Stirred by her words,the faces of many proud young talents from the ancient sects flushed slightly red.
A peerless ancient technique,an eerie soul light...
Just thinking about it was enough to get a little...excited.
"The starting bid is one spirit stone. Little brothers, just one spirit stone!"
This tactic was straight out of a live-stream salesroom.
But unlike a stream,this delicate woman was right there, visible and tangible, and she was quite beautiful without needing any 'Eastern Mystical Enhancements'.
Unlike some famous streamers who wouldn't recognize themselves with the filters off.
Staring at their bare-faced reflection each day,they'd chant three times: I can't see it, I can't see it, I can't see it.
How thrilling.
Ling Xiao grinned.This item was clearly meant for a Son of Destiny like Lin Xi.
Unfortunately,having just been scammed out of a hundred thousand spirit stones, his pockets were probably smoother than that rock.
But a Son of Destiny surely had his own methods.
For example,possessing some rare treasure to trade at a critical moment, slapping the faces of those who had arrogantly bid against him before.
A pity.
Whether it was spirit stones or treasures,Ling Xiao had more than enough!
"I bid one hundred spirit stones."
Bidding voices immediately rose within the auction house.
Clever merchants,setting no lower limit meant the price effectively had no upper limit either.
And the more it was like this,the easier it was for people to feel they could still compete.
This was the so-called sense of participation,similar to the immersion authors try to create for their readers.
Otherwise,why would even Yin Tianxing, with only a few coins left in his pocket, look eager to try?
"This fluctuation... it's right! It must be the Soul Sword Nine Styles left by the Soul Emperor! I just don't know which style!" Lin Xi gritted his teeth. If he hadn't wasted a hundred thousand spirit stones earlier, this soul stone would have been easily within reach.
After all,few among the proud young talents present could one hundred thousand spirit stones.
Even if they could,would they spend it on a glowing rock?
But...
Ling Xiao! Just you wait! I will eventually trample you underfoot and make you understand what Destiny means!!
Protagonists love making grand declarations.
'Thirty years east of the river,thirty years west of the river' has become a cliché.
Nowadays,phrases like 'sooner or later, one day', 'wait for my return', and such are more popular.
Wait for your return? And then what?
Ling Xiao watched the Lin Xi, who was shaking all over with excitement) before him and finally couldn't resist, gently patting his shoulder.
"Brother?Such a hot day, why are you shivering so badly? Looking at your complexion—pale, sallow, dull eyes—you look... deficient. I have some Third Grade Rehmannia Pills here, very cheap. Interested..."
You motherf...
Lin Xi glared fiercely at Ling Xiao,took a deep breath, and barely suppressed the excitement in his heart.
"Ten thousand spirit stones."
"Huh?"
All eyes instantly gathered on him.
This guy just spent a hundred thousand on a cauldron, and now wants to spend ten thousand on a stone ball? Is he trying to tell everyone...
That cultivating is fucking useless?
"Eleven thousand spirit stones."
Ling Xiao hesitated not a bit,immediately calling out a higher price.
Damn it!
Ling Xiao, how dare you say you're not deliberately targeting me?!
Lin Xi's hands clenched instantly,but this time, he wasn't angry. Instead, a smile curled on his lips.
Spirit stones,he truly had none left.
But within his ring resided the Flame Venerable,revered as the number one alchemist in the Holy Land!
Although Elder Ling's cultivation was not what it once was,he had imparted all his alchemical knowledge and strange techniques to Lin Xi.
When the Lin family fell into decline,it was precisely by refining and selling pills that Lin Xi restored the family's glory.
Little did he know this would attract the vengeance of his father's enemies,the Ling Clan.
Over the past few years,training through life-and-death situations, Lin Xi's realm continuously broke through, but he never stopped cultivating his alchemical skills.
Moreover,having fused with a heavenly flame, he had a natural advantage in the Dao of Alchemy.
Thus,while he didn't have many spiritual treasures, he had quite a few pills.
Why was it that even the severe poison Nian Qingyun couldn't resist had no effect on him?
Don't kid yourself, it was because Elder Ling absorbed the poison!
"Eleven thousand spirit stones. Any further bids?" The enchanting woman on the high platform looked at Lin Xi.
She could see it clearly now:the only fool in the entire auction house daring to challenge Young Master Ling Xiao was this one.
"If not, then this..."
"Wait!"
Just as the woman prepared to finalize the sale,Lin Xi suddenly stood up.
"Hmm? Young master, do you wish to bid higher?"
"Spirit stones...I have none." Lin Xi shook his head, immediately drawing waves of mocking laughter from the auction hall.
What a refreshingly unique way to show off.
No spirit stones? Are you planning to sell a kidney or what?
Look at your wretched appearance, feeble and weak. Your kidneys probably aren't worth much anyway.
"Young master, if you continue disrupting the order of our Yunlai Pavilion, I will have no choice but to have you escorted out." A cold glint flashed in the enchanting woman's eyes.
Ling Xiao provoking the Yunlai Pavilion was one thing—after all,he was the Ling Clan's heir, the Demon Sect's young master, the Dao Palace's son-in-law.
But...what the hell are you?
No spirit stones,yet you dare tell us to wait? For you to go borrow some on the spot?
"Heh, it's true I have no spirit stones..." Lin Xi shook his head, inwardly sneering. Not yet. The atmosphere hasn't peaked yet.
"Pfft, this kid really thinks he's Young Master Ling Xiao, daring to act recklessly here."
"He probably won't walk out of the Yunlai Pavilion alive today."
"Why not take a piss and look at your reflection?Are you worthy of showing off here?"
"Probably thinks spending a hundred thousand spirit stones earlier earns him special treatment?"
"Pfft,are you joking? My second senior brother splurged a million at the Yunlai Pavilion over ten years. Then a few days ago, he got a bit carried away, tried to show off during an auction, and was carried back to the sect with his face swollen like a pig's."
"What did your second senior brother do?"
"He saw the daughter of the Yunlai Pavilion's master and actually whistled at her."
"Pfft,your second senior brother is usually so steady. Didn't expect him to get carried away too."
The crowd of talented disciples mocked incessantly, looking at Lin Xi as if he were a fool.
"Guards! Drag this fool who doesn't know his place outside!" The enchanting woman on the high platform could no longer suppress her anger and coldly shouted.
It's time!
This is the atmosphere!
All of you, open your eyes wide and watch closely!!
"Wait! I have here—"
"Never mind.I quite like this stone. Ten thousand is too shabby. I bid a hundred thousand spirit stones."
But just as Lin Xi was about to take out his only Fifth Grade pill to resoundingly slap the faces of everyone present, Ling Xiao suddenly spoke up, his tone casual.
"One hundred thousand spirit stones!!"
DAMN IT!!!
The value of a single Fifth Grade pill was only around seventy thousand!Had Ling Xiao lost his mind?
Whether he had or not,at this moment... Lin Xi certainly had!
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Checked and Confirmed: All Chinese characters from the original text have been translated or appropriately explained in the English version.