A man in black had entered. His expression was cold, his brows carrying an aloof, unyielding air. It was Xi Lin, the sword cultivator who often came to discuss the sword with Yun Lie. Since Xi Lin possessed considerable talent, Yun Lie did not usually turn him away, and he had grown familiar with both martial brothers.
Xi Lin entered without concerning himself with the maid clearing away the tableware. He nodded to the two men and said, ‘Fellow Daoist Yun, there’s a grand auction outside the imperial city today. His Highness sent me to ask whether you’d like to attend.’
Xu Ziqing was a little surprised. Naturally, he had heard of Shengyan City’s auctions.
When treasure pavilions, trading houses, markets, and other merchants acquired valuable objects, they often entrusted them to auction houses to obtain higher prices. This also made trade convenient for independent cultivators and ordinary practitioners. Thus, auctions were held year-round in every prefecture and region, though finding something worthwhile depended on one’s luck.
But an event deserving the name ‘grand auction’ was held only once every several years, with enough rare treasures to attract widespread attention. Even old monsters sometimes could not resist attending.
Moreover, Shengyan City was the capital of a superpower dominating the Western Region. An auction worthy of being held here was naturally extraordinary. Only the greatest merchant house, whose network stretched across the Great Yan Empire and even the Eastern, Southern, and Western Regions, had the qualifications to organize it: the Dragonflight Trading House. Established tens of thousands of years earlier, it had a Mahayana venerable guarding its interests. Ordinary people could not afford to offend it, and even the Yan Emperor had to show it some respect. That was how the trading house secured its privileges.
Consequently, few dared cause trouble at its grand auctions. A handful of fools had tried. Even a powerful Divinity Transformation cultivator who relied on his superior cultivation had been hunted by stronger elders of the trading house for ten days and ten nights, until they finally killed him.
Since then, disturbances had become exceedingly rare.
Today Dragonflight Trading House enjoyed an excellent reputation across the Qingyun Great World. Its numerous treasure pavilions, markets, and other enterprises were trusted, while its auctions surpassed those held by competing merchants, making them especially worth anticipating.
Seats at today’s grand auction were naturally in short supply. Without accompanying a royal prince such as Xuan Ze, even a Golden Core cultivator might find an entry credential difficult to obtain.
Xu Ziqing was interested, but even if he entered and saw something useful, he lacked the spirit stones to buy it.
Mentally tallying his possessions, he found some spirit artifacts and medicinal pills. He needed to keep the savage beasts’ inner cores to feed Chonghua and Xue’er, so those could not be sold. His scattered spirit stones amounted to only a few tens of thousands of lower-grade spirit stones. With such meager wealth, securing anything useful at auction would be tremendously difficult. He could only rely on luck.
He sighed inwardly. Even if I can’t buy anything, at least I’ll broaden my horizons.
With that thought, he turned to his senior brother.
Yun Lie nodded slightly to Xi Lin. ‘We’ll go.’
Xu Ziqing’s eyes brightened, his pleasure evident.
Joy also flashed across Xi Lin’s eyes. He said no more than, ‘Please follow me.’
Yun Lie said, ‘Ziqing, let’s go.’
Xu Ziqing smiled. ‘Yes, Senior Brother.’
The three soon reached a hall, where Xuan Ze stood with his hands behind his back, wearing the silver robes and golden sash distinctive to the imperial clan.
Several cultivators with inscrutable auras sat nearby. Their expressions were restrained, but they exuded a faint sense of superiority. These were Nascent Soul ancestors, the most independent residents of Prince Tiancheng’s estate, known as honored guest elders. They held higher status than retainers and had no obligation to recognize Xuan Ze as their master. They received generous stipends, and Xuan Ze himself treated them with particular courtesy.
This was hardly surprising. Though Xuan Ze was at late Golden Core, without his noble status these Nascent Soul ancestors would view him as no more than an ant and would never befriend him.
It was precisely his extraordinary position that made them willing to accept lavish stipends and serve as honored guests, protecting his safety and occasionally intervening on his behalf.
Although Dragonflight Trading House guaranteed the auction’s security through its reputation, Xuan Ze still needed to guard against desperate people taking reckless measures. He had brought the honored guest elders for protection.
Besides these Nascent Soul ancestors, several Golden Core cultivators stood on either side of Xuan Ze. They were his retainers and, unlike the honored guest elders, constituted his genuine trusted followers.
As Xi Lin led the two martial brothers inside, everyone’s gaze turned toward them.
Several streams of spiritual sense immediately swept over them. Some were so powerful that they seemed capable of seeing through one’s internal organs, searching the brothers for vulnerabilities.
With the weaker cultivation, Xu Ziqing could not resist directly. Instead, he quietly gathered Rongjin around his dantian and ordered it to guard that vital region against intrusion.
Yun Lie’s expression did not change. Sword intent flickered around him, instantly shredding every probing strand of spiritual sense!
Even the Nascent Soul ancestors’ eyes shifted slightly.
Probing juniors with spiritual sense was ordinarily nothing remarkable, but given the enormous difference in cultivation, they could tell this white-clad sword cultivator’s sword intent was truly extraordinary.
After that brief test, the Nascent Soul ancestors did not lower themselves to greet the younger cultivators. They remained seated without comment.
Xuan Ze, however, stepped forward and smiled. ‘Since Fellow Daoist Yun and young friend Xu are here, we should depart. The auction begins in one shichen, and we mustn’t be late.’
Xu Ziqing smiled in return and answered for Yun Lie. ‘We owe this opportunity to Your Highness. Senior Brother and I are grateful for your consideration.’
Xuan Ze grew still friendlier and took the lead.
Important though the auction was, it was not administered by the imperial family, so it could not be held within the imperial city. Its venue stood in the spacious center of a broad avenue.
A formation had expanded the interior into an immense space, divided into levels for guests of different status. A prince of Xuan Ze’s standing naturally would not have to sit among a mixed crowd.
When they reached a magnificent building, a beautiful Foundation Establishment woman came to welcome them. Recognizing Xuan Ze’s clothes, she approached with graceful steps and said sweetly, ‘Prince Tiancheng! What an honored guest. Please let me guide you to your private chamber. We certainly mustn’t neglect you.’
Xuan Ze gave this female manager of the auction some respect and smiled. ‘Aren’t you afraid I might not have an entry credential?’
The manager’s smile grew more alluring. ‘Your Highness jests. We respectfully deliver credentials to every prince who maintains a residence in Shengyan City. There could be no mistake. Besides, Your Highness cuts such an imposing figure that we could never fail to recognize you.’
The flattery was exceedingly agreeable. Xuan Ze did not make trouble for her. ‘Then I’ll trouble you to lead the way.’
She attended them eagerly and soon brought the party inside.
As expected, the building contained several levels. Down below stood numerous low tables, benches, and large chairs. Although all were neatly arranged, their quality varied clearly by rank. Seats farther back offered more space, quiet, and better views.
The second floor contained reserved seats of a higher class, divided into numerous sections.
Xuan Ze’s party went to the third floor, the most private area, reserved for people of great power, remarkable status, or cultivation at Nascent Soul and above.
This level contained separate rooms, each fitted with a barrier against spiritual sense. Once inside, a guest could not be spied upon even by the spiritual sense of a Divinity Transformation cultivator or someone stronger. Their secrets were secure. The rooms were also elevated, allowing a clear view of everything below.
The female manager respectfully escorted them into their room.
Comfortable seats and tall tables made of spirit wood filled the room. The tables were laden with spirit fruits, spirit tea, spirit wine, and refreshments, elaborately prepared and extravagantly presented.
Everyone took a seat. Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie settled off to one side, keeping apart from those they did not know. Their consideration made Xuan Ze’s associates somewhat more comfortable.
But instead of departing, the female manager clapped her hands.
An elusive fragrance drifted through the door, accompanied by the sound of tinkling ornaments. More than ten stunning women entered in a line.
Most were women at Qi Refining, with a few beauties at Foundation Establishment. Though their aptitude was not necessarily extraordinary, all possessed physiques suitable for cultivation cauldrons. Their complexions were rosy, their brows retained the signs of maidenhood, and their auras were pure: clearly they were all virgins. Yet their glances held subtle allure, even those whose bearing seemed cool and reserved. Their graceful figures and delicate fragrances made it difficult to look away.
The manager smiled. ‘For every distinguished guest with a private room on the third floor, Dragonflight Trading House provides a beautiful maid to serve as you wish. We have raised and carefully educated these young women from childhood. Though I won’t claim each to be a peerless beauty, they are all quite presentable and admire our honored guests greatly. If you do not object, please allow them to serve you and fulfill their wishes.’
As she finished, the women bowed gracefully. Some looked exquisitely shy, some fragile, some pure and dignified, and others naturally seductive. Every one was lovely.
Under their seemingly adoring gazes, even the hardest-hearted man might waver.
Regardless of whether the seated guests intended to accept their services, they were all pleased by Dragonflight Trading House’s attentiveness.
A bolder Foundation Establishment woman stepped forward with delicate steps and approached a Nascent Soul ancestor who did not look too fierce. She sat beside him, stole a demure glance at his face, and leaned close. His brow twitched before he wrapped a large arm around her and drew her into his embrace.
The woman’s beautiful face flushed, the redness seemingly reaching her neck.