The Auction House

Walking on the bustling streets, Li Yi was now clad in a black cloak that covered his entire body, even his face shrouded in darkness. This disguise, a favorite among mercenaries, did not attract any attention in Wanchao City.

Li Yi had to be cautious, as he was planning to acquire high-grade weapons. Getting spotted by someone from his family would complicate matters. Disguising himself was a necessary precaution.

Hidden within the folds of his large robe, the crystal card in his right hand pulsated continuously. Li Yi had learned quite a bit about this card by now. It was rumored to be the invention of a mysterious organization on the Dou Shen Continent. The card made transactions simple – just transfer the required amount directly to the other party.

Although carrying gold coins was common, it was inconvenient for large transactions. Without a crystal card, handling thousands or even more in transactions was nearly impossible. Moreover, the card could be exchanged for an equivalent amount of gold coins in any city on the Dou Shen Continent, making it a secure and convenient option.

A strange voice echoed in Li Yi's mind, "Kid, I didn't expect your family to have so much money. Demanding so much at once, it seems you are determined to become a Fighter within two months, aren't you?"

Li Yi hummed softly, replying in a low voice, "Obviously!"

The Serpent Venerable indifferently said, "Then, pray you find a high-grade weapon at the auction house. Otherwise, you'll have to resort to the second method... There are a few strong individuals in Wanchao City. If it comes to it, I'll help you take them down. You can then refine their Dou Qi seeds."

Li Yi rolled his eyes.

It was a joke to think that he could easily take down high-level fighters in Wanchao City. If things went wrong, there would be nowhere to cry. Li Yi was not so arrogant as to think himself invincible.

Besides, the idea of absorbing others' souls and refining their Dou Qi was something Li Yi still resisted. Although he had been an assassin in his past life, such acts were somewhat repulsive to him.

As they conversed, a large domed building at the end of the street came into Li Yi's view.

This building occupied a significant part of the street and was off-limits to ordinary people. Those entering and leaving were either individuals with considerable status or at least Dou Shi-level fighters. Anyone below the rank of a Fighter probably wouldn't qualify to enter.

It was said that the auction house belonged to a mysterious family that spanned the empire. The family's power was immense, and their connections with the Tianfeng royal family enabled them to operate such a trouble-free auction house in Wanchao City.

Approaching the building, Li Yi revealed the crystal card in his hand under the watchful eyes of about a dozen guards. He chuckled, "Is the entrance fee still five gold coins?"

The leader of the guards glanced at the crystal card and his eyes flickered with recognition. Anyone using such a card was either a Dou Wang-level fighter or a person of significant influence. Either way, they were not to be trifled with.

The guard leader smiled obsequiously, "You jest, esteemed guest. Our auction house has a rule: esteemed guests with crystal cards not only enter for free but are also entitled to VIP seating. Please, allow me..."

With a light tug on a rope by the door, a bell rang. A pretty maid dressed in servant attire approached and bowed, "Allow me to guide you, sir."

The maid's conservative dress had a cut at the chest, revealing just enough to entice. Li Yi knew this was a tactic to attract customers, as most men liked this sort of thing.

He noncommittally agreed and followed the maid inside.

The interior revealed a spacious hall with two corridors on either side, constantly bustling with people. However, the maid did not lead Li Yi down the corridors but instead guided him up a grand staircase, explaining, "The first floor is for regular customers, which can be a bit crude. The second floor is for VIPs, which I hope you will find satisfactory. May I ask what you are looking for at our auction house today? It would help us provide relevant information."

Li Yi inwardly smiled at her attempt to fish for information, a common tactic to gauge wealthy clients. He casually replied, "Just here to look around."

The maid seemed briefly taken aback but quickly returned to her eager demeanor, "I suppose you've heard about the two special items we have today? Many important figures have come for these two closing items."

"Oh?" Li Yi feigned surprise, "What are these items that have garnered such attention?"

The maid giggled, "Well, since you don't know, sir, I shouldn't say too much. But I believe that these two items will tempt anyone..."

As they spoke, the maid led Li Yi to a small balcony. The balcony, spanning several dozen square meters, had seven or eight comfortable loungers, most of which were already occupied by guests, each surrounded by several maids, some accompanied by guards.

The auction house's dim lighting obscured the identities of these so-called important figures from Li Yi's view, and he wasn't particularly interested. He chose a corner seat and began to survey his surroundings.

The auction house was a standard circular building. The first floor was filled with countless people shouting, creating a deafening noise that Li Yi found quite annoying.

In the center of the first floor was a wide semicircular stage, where a thin-faced old man was quietly introducing something.

The auctioneer, undoubtedly a practitioner of Dou Qi, spoke in a low voice, yet his words were crystal clear even amidst the noisy auction hall. This was a level of cultivation Li Yi had yet to achieve, so he merely glanced at the items being auctioned off before lowering his gaze.

The attentive maid by his side served Li Yi fruits and sweets and filled his cup with amber-colored wine, softly saying, "Sir, do you have a familiar maid? If not, may I..."

Li Yi noncommittally nodded, and the pretty-faced maid showed a hint of joy. She began to massage his shoulders with practiced skill. Although lacking in strength, the massage was quite relaxing. Li Yi didn't resist the pleasant sensation and casually sipped his wine, watching the auction unfold.

The elderly auctioneer was now introducing a third-grade magical beast crystal core. These cores had various uses, from weapon and equipment crafting to special cultivation techniques and combat skills. Although equivalent to a Dou Shi-level beast, acquiring such a core was no easy feat due to magical beasts' inherent combat abilities and sheer strength.

However, the price of the third-grade crystal core was not low, deterring many from bidding. Eventually, a sullen-looking elderly man in the VIP section won the core for three thousand gold coins.

Li Yi observed the man briefly but didn't dwell on his identity, instead focusing back on the auction stage.

As time passed, items continued to be sold, including some second and third-grade weapons. While their aura of bloodlust was tempting, Li Yi refrained from bidding. According to the Serpent Venerable, these weapons wouldn't benefit him much.

"Heh heh, now we come to the highlight of this auction," the old man on stage announced with a proud smile. "Many of you are here today for these last two items, so without further ado, the first item is..."

He waved his hand, and an attendant quickly presented a jade tray. The auctioneer lifted the cloth cover to reveal a scroll, instantly drawing the heated attention of everyone in the room.

"Mid-level Zhuque combat technique: Qingyun Hand!"