Chapter Seventy-One: A Unique Auction Item

The auction continued. After another twenty or so lots found their way to the hands of their respective buyers, the event was gradually drawing to a close, and Gu Xiaopang had not made any further bids.

“Now, please welcome our third featured item of the evening!” Elder Mu’s passionate announcement rang out, and soon two beautiful women, both at least in the mid to late stages of Foundation Establishment, carried a square object onto the auction stage.

“What’s inside, I’ll keep as a secret for now,” Elder Mu said with a smile. “As everyone knows, the Profound Beast Forest is home to countless ferocious birds and beasts. Any creature that reaches the fifth rank—equivalent to the Human Transformation period for humans—can take human form. Occasionally, some extraordinarily rare beasts, due to mutations in their soul or bloodline, can transform into human shape even in the late fourth rank or at the peak of that stage. Such cases are extremely rare.”

“The item we’re about to auction is precisely one of these remarkable beasts. Ladies and gentlemen, please take a look!” With that, Elder Mu whipped away the red silk covering.

Inside a large, specially designed cage was a young maiden who appeared no older than seventeen or eighteen. Her beauty was breathtaking, as if a celestial goddess had descended to the mortal world, instantly captivating everyone present. Even the female cultivators could not help but be moved by her stunning appearance.

She wore green flowing robes and gauzy silks, her features exquisitely delicate—her bosom and hips perfectly shaped. At this moment, her cultivation was completely sealed, her eyes misty, and her jade-like hands ceaselessly tugged at the chains binding her.

“I bid ten thousand!” someone shouted.

“I bid fifteen thousand!”

“Don’t fight me for it—I bid twenty thousand!”

Before Elder Mu could announce the starting price, countless scions of noble families and wealthy tycoons were already competing fiercely.

Elder Mu remained alone on the stage, smiling so broadly that his wrinkles seemed to pile atop each other, as he watched the heated crowd below.

“The distinguished guest in Box Three bids thirty-five thousand!”

“Excellent! The guest in Box Five bids forty thousand!”

“Is there any higher bid?!”

“This item is truly a rarity not seen in centuries! Whoever wins her, not only gains a forbidden beauty, but with proper training, she will become a guardian as powerful as a Nascent Soul cultivator at its pinnacle. Once she advances to the fifth rank, your family will have a foundation stronger than any Human Transformation cultivator of the same level…”

Elder Mu spared no effort in stirring up the crowd, and everyone understood the logic. Yet, truly subduing such a beast would not be easy, and could even provoke retaliatory attacks from higher-ranked beasts. Still, this risk could not dampen the feverish competition in the boxes and among the crowd below.

In the second-floor private boxes, the Crown Prince of the imperial capital, the Four Great Families, and numerous wealthy magnates were all caught up in the frenzy.

Murong Ying, in truth, should have been comfortably bidding from a second-floor box, but he was the sort who delighted in flaunting himself, always seeking to be the center of attention. Thus, at every auction, he would seize the most prominent seat in the first row of the main hall.

“This item shall be mine! Forty-five thousand!” Murong Ying’s face was already tinged with a hint of ferocity, his eyes ablaze with desire, as he craned his neck and shouted anxiously.

“Murong Ying, the Xuan Yuan family won’t compete with you. Just don’t wear yourself out on that beauty… hahaha!”

“Hahaha! Neither the Yu Wen nor the Duan Mu families will fight for her either.”

“Fifty thousand!”

“Your Highness, do you truly intend to compete with me?! Fifty-five thousand!”

“Ahem, since you’re so determined, Brother Ying… well, I’ll withdraw!”

“Good! I’ll buy you a drink someday, Your Highness—hahaha!”

“Fifty-five thousand! Any higher bids? … Once… Twice… Sold!”

Elder Mu, somewhat dissatisfied, had expected the item to fetch at least eighty thousand, but thanks to the Four Great Families’ interference, the bidding stalled at fifty-five thousand, and he was forced to declare it sold. This alone demonstrated the power of the Four Great Families—their mere names commanded such influence in the imperial capital of the Purple-Gold Royal Court.

The last two featured items—a rare earth-grade martial technique and a precious spiritual herb of thirty thousand years—were both easily claimed by the Four Great Families.

After the auction concluded, the participants exchanged pleasantries as they gradually dispersed, each collecting their winnings.

“You two, follow that young man and see where he’s staying! He dared to challenge our company’s reputation—humph!”

“All of you, carry the beauty home. Remember, be gentle, don’t jostle my lovely prize.”

“Rest assured, Young Master.”

And so the crowd left, one by one.