Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Auction (2)

While Li Feng enjoying Wei Meilin’s “service”.

Outside, Goldie sat beside the old driver. The man gripped the reins so tightly his knuckles turned white, sneaking terrified glances at the giant, who remained perfectly still, glowing eyes fixed ahead like a statue.

The carriage slowed after a while, the noise of the city swelling as they approached the auction grounds.

When the door opened, a rush of light and sound poured in. The auction hall loomed ahead, three stories tall, built of dark lacquered wood and white stone, lanterns of blue spirit flame hanging from gilded posts. Guards in polished armor lined the entrance, checking invitations with stiff courtesy.

Wei Meilin stepped out first. She was seen covering her mouth and wiping the corner of her mouth with a silk handkerchief while swallowing something down her throat. Clad in her tight qipao, her seductive elegance drew glances. She ignored them all, as she already used to these kind of attention, and glared at the person who just had his little brother deep into her throat.

Wei Meilin adjusted her qipao lightly as she walked ahead, her usual cold grace firmly in place, though her lips still faintly glistened.

Li Feng followed with an easy smile, looking out of place in his loose robes and casual gait. The whispers started immediately. Some recognized Wei Meilin, some eyed Li Feng in confusion, but more than a few lingered on the silent fully cloth figure following behind them.

“Isn’t that Madam Wei?”

“Who’s that man with her?”

“And that… thing behind them, what is it?”

The guards stiffened when Goldie stepped forward, his towering frame and glowing eyes catching their attention immediately. The captain of the guards instinctively placed a hand on his weapon, but one glance at the auction’s insignia hanging from Wei Meilin’s waist made him reconsider.

“Madam Wei. Please, this way,” the guard said quickly, bowing and motioning them forward.

As they made their way inside, from the far end of the crowd, a familiar pair of eyes followed them intently.

Inside, the auction hall was even grander. Rows of carved wooden seats climbed in tiers around a central stage, a massive jade podium standing ready for the auctioneer. The scent of incense drifted through the air, covering the mix of perfumes, oils, and faint spiritual energy that seemed to cling to the wealthier cultivators already seated.

Wei Meilin led Li Feng toward a private booth on the second floor, still under the Wei Family name. She walked without slowing, disregarding the gazes that followed her, though Li Feng could practically sense the stares from the crowd.

Within the private booth, there was a simple, large sofa capable of accommodating three people, positioned in front of a balcony view. There appeared to be some sort of veil formation hiding the view in the booth from outside.

Wei Meilin sat down gracefully, her expression cooling into that of a woman used to such occasions. Li Feng sprawled lazily beside her, clearly not caring how inappropriate his casual posture looked in such a setting.

Goldie remained by the booth’s door like a silent wall, his glowing eyes scanning the hall below, marveling at this spectacular sight.

Soon, the auctioneer strode out, a rotund middle-aged cultivator with a booming voice and an aura that carried easily across the hall.

“Esteemed guests! It an honor to have you all here! Tonight, we present treasures gathered from across the sect territories, rare herbs, precious ores, and items fit for noble hands!”

As the audience erupted into applause and cheers, driven by the passion of the auctioneer, the atmosphere crackled with excitement.

“I won’t waste your precious time, so let us begin!” the auctioneer announced with fervor.

The first items emerged: a bundle of spirit herbs, a handful of spirit beast cores, and some faintly gleaming ores. Bidding kicked off at a high pitch, voices blending in a cacophony of excitement as the crowd below competed for these coveted treasures.

A well-dressed gentleman made the initial bid for the herbs, swiftly countered by a wealthy merchant flashing his jewelry. The bids climbed rapidly, echoing through the hall.

Simultaneously, collectors eagerly vied for the rare spirit beast cores, their fervor evident in the quick succession of escalating bids.

Across the room, the ores with subtle energy gleams attracted a mysterious bidder, driving up the stakes as tension mounted.

The auctioneer’s voice rang out for final bids, setting off a frenzy of offers before the gavel signaled the end of the intense bidding session.

Li Feng let out a bored sigh. “These don’t appear to hold much value.”

Wei Meilin shot him a sidelong look. “Young Master Li, you might not know this, but the true wealth lies in those private booths owned by the influential.”

She then glanced at each of the booths. “This is just the beginning; usually, it is the last item that will draw the most intense bidding.”

He smirked, leaning closer as if to whisper in her ear. “Then, Madam, should we do something fun before then?”

Wei Meilin stiffened, her eyes flashing, but before she could snap back, the auctioneer’s voice thundered again. “And now, our highlight for the first round: Great Spirit Condensing Pills! Several batches, each personally verified by our hall’s appraisers to be of the highest quality… and some of them-” he paused for dramatic effect, “-are flawless grade!”

“Flawless grade!?”

“Impossible… I heard even Master alchemists find it hard to refine those.”

“I wonder who is the alchemist that refined this…”

The hall erupted. Noble families and rich merchants alike sat forward in their seats, hands twitching toward their bidding placards, even thought they know the chance of obtaining them was slim.

Wei Meilin’s expression didn’t change, but Li Feng saw a faint twitch of satisfaction at the corner of her lips.

He chuckled softly, settling deeper into his seat and reached for the teacup in front of him, sipping leisurely while chaos unfolded below.

The auctioneer raised his hand. “First batch, mid-grade quality. Starting price, two hundred spirit stones! Each increase must be no less than fifty!”

Placards shot into the air.

“Two hundred fifty!” “Three hundred!” “Three hundred fifty!”

The voices came sharp and fast, nobles and merchants competing with clenched jaws. The number climbed past four hundred before finally slowing.

“Going once… going twice… sold! Five hundred spirit stones!” the auctioneer bellowed, striking his gavel.

Li Feng raised an eyebrow. Even this mid-grade batch went for that much? He was reminded again just how precious proper pills were in this world.

Polite applause echoed through the hall.

The second batch was brought forward, its glow brighter, the spiritual fragrance even denser.

“Second batch, high-grade quality. Starting price, Five hundred spirit stones!”

“Five hundred fifty!” “Six hundred!” “Six hundred fifty!”

This time, some of the bidders were from the private booths.

The bids rose like fire catching oil. Voices cracked, some faces red with strain as they fought for a chance. By the time the gavel fell, the pills had sold for one thousand spirit stones, a sum that made even seasoned merchants bite their lips in envy.

Wei Meilin beside Li Feng smiled brightly, her smile almost reaching her ear at the sight. She almost wanted to kiss Li Feng right now but she controlled herself, knowing that if she did… it wouldn’t end with just a kiss.

Then, the attendants revealed the final tray. The pills inside seemed almost alive, with light swirling within them like tiny galaxies. The air in the hall grew heavier, cultivators instinctively straightening their backs.

“The final batch,” the auctioneer declared, his voice lowering for dramatic weight. “Flawless Great Spirit Condensing Pills! Verified by our three master appraisers, unmatched in purity! Starting price–a thousand spirit stones!”

The hall exploded.

“Thousand fifty” “Thousand hundred” “Thousand two hundred”

But instead of the fiery bidding like before, it was a calm exchange between the private booths.

“Thousand five hundred.”

“Two thousand.”

The numbers kept climbing.

Li Feng, who considered himself not to be an easy person to surprise, was dumbfounded at this price.

Then, an old authoritative voice came out from the private booth near them.

“Ten thousand.”

The heated auction went silent. All eyes turned towards the place where the voice originated.

“Isn’t that… the Peng Family’s private booth?”

“No wonder. That’s why they can casually name such a price.”

“But don’t they already have a master alchemist? Why buy more pills?”

The last bidder stared at the Peng Family’s private booth, shook his head, and gave up. Fighting against the Peng Family with wealth? It was like throwing an egg against a stone.

Wei Meilin’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the Peng Family booth.

While Li Feng couldn’t help but feel weird upon hearing this price and frowned, he had spent 35,000 spirit stones in the past to buy his way into the sect. He thought it was a large sum, but now, looking at this sight, he couldn’t help but doubt: if he could buy his way in, why couldn’t these extremely wealthy families do the same?

Li Feng didn’t yet realize that the reason he had been able to get in wasn’t just the spirit stones he had offered….there was another reason unknown to him as well.

Seeing Li Feng frown, Wei Meilin thought he was surprised at this price. With an understanding look, she began to explain to Li Feng, “Young Master Li, you shouldn’t be surprised at this kind of price. You need to know that those who can attend this auction have some background and wealth, and flawless grade pills are truly hard to come by.”

At last, the final gavel came down.

“Sold-ten thousand spirit stones!”

The entire hall buzzed with heated murmurs, some with envy, others with barely concealed greed.

Wei Meilin carefully ran the numbers in her mind, the total profit flickering across her thoughts like beads on an abacus. She smiled, her eyes almost sparkling at the thought, but then she remembered Li Feng’s promise of an extra share. Her eyes narrowed slightly–an extra ten percent share would be worth fighting for. She turned her gaze toward Li Feng, a hidden determination behind the soft smile that slowly curved her lips.

Her hand slid with practiced elegance onto his thigh, fingers coiling lightly as though she were giving him a massage. “Young Master Li,” she murmured sweetly, her voice dipped in silk, “you truly are amazing. To refine flawless pills so easily… it makes this one admire you even more.”

Li Feng only smiled, eyes glinting with quiet amusement. He had already seen through her sudden flattery and wandering hands, but let her continue all the same.

Wei Meilin leaned closer, lashes lowered while her big soft chest pressed subtly against his arm, her tone turning coaxing. “About that extra ten percent share…”

Before she could finish, Li Feng exhaled a long, almost weary sigh, as if her words were troublesome yet amusing. He shifted in his seat, spreading his legs apart in a shamelessly deliberate motion. A visible tent pressed against his robe, already displaying his little brother fierce fighting spirit.

“Ahh, Madam Wei,” Li Feng said with a smirk, “your performance… is still a little lacking. I’ll need more time to properly assess you.” He then nodded his head toward the obvious swelling under his robe.

Wei Meilin froze for a moment, sensing his intention. Her eyes flickered with a mix of irritation and resignation. With a soft sigh, she brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear and lowered her head toward his groin once again.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep