Bai Qianlang pointed his folding fan and announced loudly, "I invite you to the first auction item!"
Tathata, a beautiful maid, walked over gracefully with a tray. She placed the tray in Bai Qianlang's hand and then elegantly retreated.
Bai Qianlang lifted the black cloth covering the item and introduced, "This first auction item is a third-tier sword-shaped weapon. The sword is nameless, awaiting its fated owner."
He picked up the long sword and swung it a few times. Instantly, a cold light flickered, and its sharpness was fully revealed. It was indeed a good sword.
"The starting bid is one million star coins, with each subsequent bid not less than one hundred thousand star coins!"
"Begin!"
As soon as the words fell, someone started bidding.
The rules of this auction house were such that the first item was typically a mid-range item, not too bad, not too good. It was meant to attract some attention without diminishing interest in the subsequent items.
In the end, this nameless sword was purchased by a wealthy merchant.
"Next, the second auction item."
This second item was slightly inferior to the first. It was an antique, identified by experts as a piece of porcelain from a certain ancient dynasty before the Great Cataclysm. Such antiques were valuable due to their rarity.
It was eventually purchased by an antique collector.
"Third auction item:..."
Item after item was auctioned off. Lin Yu had not made any bids until the twentieth item. When he saw a bamboo scroll in Bai Qianlang's hand, the system's voice sounded in his ear, filling Lin Yu with joy and prompting him to decide to bid for it.
"This is also an antique, but it is not unearthed from our Blue Star. It originates from a civilization in another world. The text on it is obscure and difficult to understand. After expert deciphering, it is a bamboo scroll that encourages people to do good deeds. Carbon-14 dating indicates that this bamboo scroll is three thousand years old."
"Starting bid: 1 million! Each subsequent bid not less than 100,000."
As Bai Qianlang's voice faded, only a few scattered bids were heard. He was not in a hurry; although this item was niche, there was no shortage of buyers.
As expected, it wasn't long before someone placed a bid.
He called out loudly, "Guest from room 201 bids 1.3 million. Are there any higher bids?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he looked towards room 201, thinking: Why would Lin Yu buy this thing? He's not a collector.
"I bid 1.4 million. This is also an antique. I hope the friend from room 201 can give this old man some face." The elder had white hair and beard, his eyes were dim and cloudy, indicating he was at the twilight of his years. He spoke calmly.
His voice reached everyone, and they all recognized him. He was a highly respected elder in Ji City, known as the Peacemaker Elder because he often mediated disputes. He was also an antique collector who cherished antiques above all else.
If it were anyone else, they would surely have given him face, as this was just an antique.
"1.5 million!" Lin Yu ignored the elder's reputation and bid directly.
"You..." The elder was so enraged that he couldn't speak for a moment.
Bai Qianlang shouted, "This friend bids 1.5 million. Are there any higher bids?"
The hall was silent. Many people were not short of money, but they wouldn't spend it on things they couldn't use.
"1.5 million for the first time, 1.5 million for the second time, 1.5 million for the third time!"
*Snap*, the sound of a folding fan closing echoed. Bai Qianlang announced, "Sold! Congratulations to our friend from room 201 for winning the 20th auction item. A server will deliver it shortly for an in-person transaction!"
Some important figures were already losing interest. They were not particularly interested in these 27 items. After all, they had come for the final three压轴 (yāzhòu - finale/highlight) items.
Otherwise, the city's prominent figures wouldn't have gathered here.
"Next, we begin with the 21st auction item. Please welcome the 21st auction item. This is a..."
*Knock knock knock*. There was a knock at the door. Lin Yu said, "Please come in!"
*Creak*. The door opened.
A man and a woman pushed the door open and said respectfully, "Mr. Lin, this is the item you won. It is a total of 1.5 million star coins. Please pay the amount to complete the transaction."
Lin Yu nodded, then inspected the item. A system prompt sounded in his ear, greatly reassuring him. He paid the fee.
After the servers left, Lin Yu let out a laugh.
"Ding, detected a fragmented cultivation technique manual. Do you wish to consume upgrade points to complete it?"
This was the reason for Lin Yu's immense joy.
"System, you have this function too?" Lin Yu asked.
"This system has many functions. Host, do not be surprised."
Lin Yu was accustomed to it and said, "How many upgrade points are needed to complete it?"
"This cultivation technique manual is severely fragmented. Host can complete it in stages."
"Alright, I'll do as you say."
"Ding, completing the first level of the cultivation technique requires consuming 10,000 upgrade points. Yes/No."
"Yes!"
The next moment, golden light appeared on the tattered bamboo scroll. The originally broken scroll actually gained a few more pieces, and the text on it also changed, becoming readable to Lin Yu.
"System, I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful."
"The system knows the host doesn't recognize the script from another world, so it has automatically deducted the translation fee."
"System, you stingy old crow, I'm touched for nothing."
"This system has no emotions. Please do not be self-moved, host."
Lin Yu: "..."
This system was as sharp-tongued as ever. Fine, he wouldn't bother with it for now. Lin Yu picked up the bamboo scroll and began to read from the first piece.
*Wan Bao Ning Qi Jue*.
This was the name of the cultivation technique. Through studying its content, Lin Yu learned that this technique allowed one to consume internal energy to condense it into physical objects.
This technique had ten levels, with each level corresponding to a first-tier item. The first level could only condense first-tier weapons or armor.
"However, could the tenth level condense divine artifacts?" Lin Yu murmured to himself, feeling a surge of excitement.
Divine artifacts, these were weapons said to be used by gods, their power surpassing the mortal realm and possessing all sorts of miraculous abilities.
"This way, it also solves the problem of weapons and armor for my clones. I won't have to carry a bunch of Tang knives anymore," Lin Yu said to himself.
Lin Yu glanced at his upgrade point balance and found that he could complete one more level.
This was all thanks to Lin Fan's efforts; he now had 150,000 upgrade points.
"System, complete one more level for me," Lin Yu said.
"Ding, consuming 100,000 upgrade points, completion achieved."
The bamboo scroll in front of him gained several more pieces, and the content behind it appeared. Lin Yu looked at the scroll and began to try learning according to the instructions.
However, the method was obscure and difficult to begin. After a while, Lin Yu put down the bamboo scroll with a sigh. "Skill crystals are still more convenient. I'll leave the learning to my clones~"
He split off ten clones and had them learn the cultivation technique.
At this point, the auction was nearing its end, with only the last three auction items remaining.
Lin Yu's Li family assets had also been auctioned off, adding over two hundred million star coins to his account. Combined with his original star coins, he now had close to three hundred million, making him a definite magnate.
"Next, we enter the climax of this auction! Please welcome the finale items!" Bai Qianlang's voice rang out, and a stir went through the hall.