The Auction Ends (IV)

As the cloth was lifted to reveal the final item, the entire auction hall fell silent, everyone staring at the tray in stunned disbelief.

There, a small rubricated map lay, having a faint blue glow that attracted everyone's attention.

And then, someone from the audience exclaimed loud enough for everyone to hear.

"The completed map of the Heavenly Flame… the 'Three Thousand Lotus'!"

Immediately, everyone exchanged wide-eyed looks, as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

The Heavenly Flames were something truly hard to find, in all of the nine heavens, there were only twenty Heavenly Flames, and they could be born at any time and anywhere.

These flames had their innate power and even conscience not to mention how greedy the alchemists were for them.

And with that, this truly was the best item of the auction.

Zhao Xiu's lips curved into a sly smile after seeing the shocked faces of the audience:

"Yes, dear guests. This is indeed the completed map to the legendary Three Thousand Lotus Flame," she announced.

Her voice was like silk, pulling everyone deeper into her words.

"And... the starting bid… is 10,000 perfect-grade spiritual stones!" Her words struck like a heavenly tribulation.

The price was astronomical, enough to bankrupt even some of the wealthiest clans, however, to others, it was measly an annual earning.

And so, the bidding began...

"15.000 perfect-grade spiritual stones!" After a tense pause, the patriarch from the Zhao Clan hesitated before raising his hand.

However, the price was immediately raised again,

"20.000 perfect-grade spiritual stones!" This time, it was Luo Zhiqiang who had raised. He too wanted this Heavenly Flame.

"30.000 perfect-grade spiritual stones!"

"35.000!"

"40.000!"

The price started increasing more and more, until, a single bid shut down everyone.

"100.000 perfect-grade spiritual stones and an 8th-tier pill," Shen Huiying declared loudly, gathering the shocked gazes of everyone at the auction.

Even Long Yu was quite shocked.

After all, even a low-grade 8th-tier pill would cost at least 10.000 perfect-grade spiritual stones if not higher, and then, there was the extra 100.000 perfect-grade stones!

It was a massive bid!

"100.000 perfect-grade spiritual stones and an 8th-tier pill going once!" Zhao Xiu started counting down.

"Twice...!"

"And sol—!" Before she could finish her words, her voice was interrupted by a hooded man in the crowd.

"100.000 perfect-grade spiritual stones and five low-grade 8th-tier pills."

"!!!!!!"

Everyone was shocked by his words.

However, before their surprise could end, Shen Huying had bid once again.

"200.000 perfect-grade spiritual stones." It seemed like she wasn't going to back down from this bid.

Fortunately, her bid seemed high enough to make the hooded man back off, but she still spent a lot of extra money.

"200.000 perfect-grade spiritual stones going once!"

"Twice!"

"And sold! Congratulations to Fairy Shen on getting the map of the 'Three Thousand Lotus Flame'!" Zhao Xiu started clapping her hands, and so everyone followed.

Meanwhile, Long Yu was already on his way to leave the auction; it was nothing but a waste of time because he couldn't even bid for a single item.

'Hah... next time, I won't even bother to come here...' he scratched the back of his head, letting out a small sigh.

'Well, anyways... I'll still help her because she also helped me before...'

On his way to leave, his gaze met Shen Huiying's, and then he threw his discount card at her which she immediately caught.

It would grant her a 75% discount which was great!

So, even if the hooded man maliciously raised the price, it wouldn't be a problem since she would be receiving a discount.

But, unfortunately, his movements didn't get noticed, and just as he left the auction area, he immediately felt the space twist around him...

"Ah... Nanhua Caiyi, what is it?" he let out a tired sigh, furrowing his eyebrows.

He turned to see her, lounging in a fancy chair nearby, one leg crossed over the other as she watched him with a sly smile.

"Mhm~, it's nothing really, I'm just curious about something.." she changed her crossed legs, letting Long Yu peek at undergarments, but he didn't.

"She saved me once, so I was just returning the favor," Long Yu directly went straight to the point.

Caiyi's expression darkened a little as her red lips curled downward.

"But because of you, I lost over 150,000 perfect-grade stones," she said in a cold tone, warning him: "How are you going to make that up to me?"

Hearing her words, Long Yu looked into her eyes without a single ounce of emotion.

"You were the one that gave me that card, no? However, I use it... shouldn't be any of your business, does it?"

Now that they were alone, he didn't have to keep appearances about his relationship with Nanhua Caiyi.

For a moment, Caiyi's smile faded, her eyes narrowing slightly.

But then she gave a playful sigh, shaking her head.

"You really should follow the classic lines, Long Yu!" she teased, leaning against the chair. "You should've said, 'I can only offer my body in return!' Or something romantic, you know?"

"You've been reading too many novels, Caiyi." Long Yu scoffed, rolling his eyes to the side.

Hearing his words, she only let out a small chuckle.

"Hahah... sometimes I wonder if you're simply fearless... or just courageous." Nanhua Caiyi stopped laughing, gaining a colder and neutral expression.

"....."

Long Yu remained silent.

He only stared at her with the same emotionless gaze.

He never did have a single ounce of emotions towards this woman, and just as he experienced more and more plots, his character would change.

Not to mention, that if Long Yu feels something for her, it's just hate or even disgust.

"Hah, I'm going back to my sect," he spoke with a small smile, "And also... take this back, I shouldn't need it anymore."

He waved his hand and the earring that was on his left ear had been thrown to Nanhua Caiyi, who caught it with a confused expression.

"What do you mean by that?" Nanhua's eyes turned a shade colder and even started emitting killing intent toward Long Yu.

However, he only smiled in response.

"The old man already saw that I was wearing the earring right? So, I don't need to continue wearing this... and also, if he asks for me, just say that I'm on a trip around the first heaven or something like that."

"How did you notice his presence...?" she muttered to herself, seeing Long Yu's back as he left the room, leaving her alone.

...

"Ahh... now, I'm not bound to anyone!" Long Yu lazily stretched his arms as he walked through the streets.

Right now, he was either going back to seclusion to cultivate since his talent had been strengthened, or he would try and decrease Luo Yang's fortune.

Except that...

It seemed that he wasn't going to have a break so easily.

"Yu'er... where do you think you're going?" A familiar voice came from behind him.

He didn't even need to turn his body to know who it was.

"Luo Shengxue..."

[...Host, her cultivation already reached the Soul Formation stage...]

'Anything more...?'

[Not really... except that her combat power should reach the first layer of the Enlightenment stage, and she's pretty much invincible in the same stage.]

"Haah..." He let out a tired sigh.

"How many times did I even sigh today?" he muttered to himself.

Today had been quite a tiresome day for him.

"Just do it already." he turned around and directly said to her.

At that moment, a talisman appeared on Luo Shengxue's hand, and both of them disappeared into thin air.