AZI Volume 4 Chapter 56

"Master."

Taking out a stack of paper from her storage pouch, Tian Cheng hands it to Long Hua.

This is the invoice that the Lan Si Restaurant had given them for their wares. The list contains all the items with their estimated value, and their starting bid.

"Hmm."

Flipping to the final page, and staring at the bottom of it, Long Hua sees an estimated sum, this will be how much he will be able to spend during this auction.

(To be honest, I don't have much expectations for what we will be able to find.)

Towards the Tai Xuan Emperor's remark, Long Hua mutters—

"What a coincidence, I'm the same."

During the days prior to the auction, Long Hua had read through a textbook guide on how to identify rare metals and minerals.

With the basics down, along with his strengthened divine senses, he should be able to tell what's considered rare on his own to some degree.

"…"

At the wave of his hand, Bai Wen sets up a sound containment barrier, and says—

"Lao Long, magic treasures that are just looming about at random is considered a rarity in this world. However, upon the wipe-out phenomenon, not all weapon spirit's bodies are collected by the laws of this world. There's simply too many to account for after all."

Towards Bai Wen's words, which seem somewhat random, Long Hua frowns, and replies—

"So, you're saying—if I want rare metals and minerals, I'd be better off looking for remnant magic treasures within the ruins, instead of the raw materials?"

"Basically."

(Recycling is a good thing, so I'll take those as well. Ah, but you can't recycle Spirit Armaments and magic treasures obtained through the gacha back to me. I consider that cheating.)

Keeping the Tai Xuan Emperor's input in mind, Long Hua looks towards the first floor.

In the same instance, a female worker with light blue hair and eyes—who will be working as the bid caller for today, walks up to the stage.

Compared to the normal red qipao that is worn by the other female workers, the bid caller's attire is noticeably more revealing, as a means to get lecherous individuals of wealth to spend.

Simultaneously—

"Careful now."

"Put your backs into it."

"I already am."

Three men—dressed in black changpao, worked together to push a four-wheeled trolley onto the stage.

Contained on the trolley is a colossal casket, to which—

"Uh?"

Recognizing this casket to be Wang Bei Mu's, Long Hua can't help but raise an eye.

With the bid caller, and the first item of the auction situated, it doesn't take long for all guests of the restaurant to turn their attention towards the stage.

Taking hold of a microphone, the bid caller announces—

"As bid caller of this auction, I—Dān'er, welcomes all to the Lan Si Restaurant today. I assume all guests are already tired of waiting? In that case, let us not waste any more time, and begin bidding on the first item."

"Finally."

"Seems like I've arrived just on time then."

Receiving the guests' full attention, Dan'er gestures at the casket, and explains—

"The casket of Wang Bei Mu, our appraisers speculate him to be a powerful decision maker in the ruins' abandoned city. It's unknown as to why the casket is empty, but the interior shows no signs of having ever held a corpse. That being said, it's safe to say that it has gone unused. If you wish to be buried in the authentic casket of an ancient after death, now is your chance. Starting bid is 800,000 NWDs."

"Heh…"

"…Kek."

"…Oh?"

Towards this explanation, Long Hua, Bai Wen, and Zhen Qing Huai can't help but burst into laughter.

"Ah, that surnamed Wang—if his Nascent Soul is still around, he would be fuming. Seems like I've done him a favor by devouring him, so that he won't have to see this."

"Ai, I came for laughs, and a laugh I got. Someone needs to wipe that name off the casket before use though."

"A wealthy person—even in death, would want to be buried nicely. I'm sure there's plenty of people willing to bid on this item."

Looking at the three who are merrily making these remarks, Zhen Rong thought—

(And you'd think that dinner never even happened. These three, all of them have a dark sense of humor…)

Rather quickly, the bidding price for the casket rises, as individuals with more money than sense raised their placards one after the other.

Eventually—

"Sold!"

Following the podium being hammered, Wang Bei Mu's casket was sold for 1.5 million NWDs.

As the previous three workers came up to the stage—to remove the casket, another worker came after them.

Held in that worker's hands is a tray, occupied by five different pieces of jewelry.

Recognizing two of the five jewelry pieces, Tian Cheng says—

"Two of those are ours, master."

Raising a smile, Long Hua mutters—

"Right then, people, give me money."

One at a time, the pieces of jewelry are auctioned off.

When it comes to their items, the continuous rise in bids is very much music to Long Hua's ears.

As a practitioner, Long Hua didn't care much for NWDs, as they could only be used for living expenses.

However, at this time, they could be exchanged for resources that would allow him to pull on the gacha—making them seem much more appealing in his eyes.

...…

As time passes, more items are brought in for bidding.

From the looks of it, the excavation rights for the ruins will be held out until the end.

"Sold!"

Almost as soon as a painting had appeared, Zhou Chen had raised his placard to bid, and won it at the cost of 1.2 million NWDs.

"1.2 million…"

Glancing at Zhou Chen, a man remarks—

"Zhou-laoye, retirement life has been treating you well, hasn't it?"

Asking Zhou Chen this question is a man dressed in a white military uniform.

The name of the man is Liáng Jīn Hé, and what stood out about him—other than his white hair and blue eyes, is the scar on his right cheek.

Towards Liang Jin He, Zhou Chen replies—

"Hasn't been bad, General Liang. If you wish to buy something as well, I'm more than happy to loan you some money."

"Hahaha, no need."

Similarly to Yang Ning—who is seated to the left of Zhou Chen, Liang Jin He is also a general in the military.