CHAPTER 60: LOW LEVEL AUCTION

Once there were enough participants, the staff and the city auctioneer began the auction. Through Li Shen’s eyes, there were ten rooms on the second floor, nine of which were occupied by cultivators from sects or famous families in the city.

"Only core formation cultivators, even their bodyguards are the same. It seems that this auction house has chosen to maintain its credibility and security by limiting the number of cultivators who come," replied Li Shen.

"Still, there are some gaps that they are not aware of," said Li Shen.

The gaps he was referring to were cultivators who disguised or concealed their cultivation. The staff at this auction house did not thoroughly check people for such potential cheating.

This was proven when Li Xun managed to slip past the auction staff’s inspection due to their negligence. It was not impossible that others had done the same.

"Welcome to the Zhoguang City Auction. I am Zhou Nan, I will be leading this auction session," said a middle-aged man with a stocky build and half-bald black hair.

"There are three auction sessions based on three categories of auction items, starting with the first session for low-end auction items, the second session for mid-range auction items, and the third session for high-end auction items," said Zhou Nan.

The man explained while distributing pamphlets listing the names of the items to be auctioned today. The names of the items were exactly the same as those in the auction information bulletin. Li Shen got one.

"Please, Daoist masters, you can all take a look at the pamphlet," said Zhou Nan.

Li Shen remained silent. The low-tier auction items were pitiful, ranging from level 2-3 technique scrolls to third-grade pills. None of them were truly valuable; they were just junk being auctioned off to cultivators.

Moving on to the medium-tier auction items, Li Shen saw several items that caught his eye. One of them was a continent map. It was the item Li Shen had been looking for since he arrived here.

For the high-tier auction items, they presented five items at once: a fifth-level pill, a fourth-level water element technique scroll, an ancient artifact, a piece of a map, and an alchemist’s fire bottle.

Even so, Li Shen had items that were better than the five high-tier auction items. Why would Li Shen buy items of lower quality when he had items of higher quality?

"In order with the auction item categories, we will begin the first auction session with low-tier auction items," said Zhou Nan.

The people on the ground floor applauded, unlike those on the second floor. The tension between the VIP room occupants was real, as if there was competition between sects and between families.

One by one, the low-category auction items were displayed on the stage, starting from scrolls of techniques to pills and pill recipes. There were a few VIP guests who wanted those items, but the majority of the guests on the ground floor fought over them.

"Aren’t we going to buy anything from that category?" asked Li Xun.

Li Shen shook his head. He and Li Xun were still sitting on wooden chairs at a dining table next to the second-floor railing. From there, they could clearly see the auction.

"There are no useful items, especially with your current level of cultivation," replied Li Shen.

"Is that so? I understand.

Zhou Nan announced that the first auction session was over. He said loudly that the second auction session would begin after a 15-minute break.

Li Shen nodded. Even though there was a break, Li Shen and Li Xun did not use it to leave the auction. They remained in their VIP room, sipping warm tea and waiting for the second auction to begin.

From outside the auction hall, Li Shen faintly sensed spiritual energy colliding. He could feel the fluctuations from the spiritual energy explosion, even though it was only at the Golden Core Formation stage.

"As I expected, they are fighting," replied Li Shen.

"Fighting? Are those practitioners fighting over that item?" asked Li Xun. Li Shen cleared his throat.

"For you and me, such an item may not be very useful. But for low-level practitioners like them, it is quite useful," Li Shen replied.

"Let them fight. We don’t need to interfere," Li Shen said.

Li Xun fell silent, then refocused her eyes forward, watching the auction area and the VIP rooms that were still occupied by several cultivators. They chose to wait rather than go outside to rest.

Right in front of Li Shen, there was a female cultivator wearing a long sky blue dress with a slit at the leg, revealing her slender, white legs. She sat with two escorts behind her.

Li Shen and Li Xun were silent, not knowing who she was or where she came from. However, it was certain that she was probably a young lady from a cultivator family or sect.

After waiting for fifteen minutes, Zhou Nan returned and announced the second auction session. Li Shen thought that the number of cultivators who would join as regular bidders would decrease. But the reality was different.

There were many more people with different faces. Li Shen guessed that they had only come here when the second auction session was about to begin.

They seemed to be targeting the items in the middle category.

There were a total of 10 items in the middle category displayed on the stage, one of which was the Continent Map. Li Shen got up from his seat and slowly walked towards the second floor railing.

Not only him, but five people from the five VIP rooms on the second floor also joined in. They had their own objectives, which might be the same or different from Li Shen’s.

"Alright. The first auction of the second session begins with the Sky Dome Pill, a 4th grade pill!" Zhou Nan explained, showing the Sky Dome Pill to all visitors without exception, "I open the auction for this item at 1000 spirit stones!"

"1,500!"

"2,000!"

"2,700!"

"3,000!"

People began to bid against each other, offering their bids to Zhou Nan. Only those who offered the highest bid would be able to obtain the pill.

"The highest bid is 3,000! Does anyone want to bid higher?" asked Zhou Nan.

No one! After the countdown ended, not a single cultivator dared to bid higher than 3000. Zhou Nan explained that the bidding increment for the second session should be 100 spirit stones, unlike the previous one which was only 1 spirit stone.

"Sold!" Zhou Nan said firmly, striking the gavel once and pointing to the VIP.

"Congratulations to the Young Master of the Eagle Claw Sect for obtaining this item," Zhou Nan explained.

The pill was immediately stored and delivered directly to the VIP’s room. Li Shen saw it, but he didn’t care much. He was only after the Continent Map, no matter the price.

"Now, we move on to the second item in the second auction session. A complete map of the Ming Continent!"

"With this map, you can find out which kingdoms and cities are on the Ming Continent," explained Zhou Nan.

"We’re opening the bidding for this map at—"

Li Shen tapped his magic pouch and brought out a high-level spirit stone, placing it right in front of Zhou Nan’s face. This took Zhou Nan and the other cultivators by surprise.

"I’m bidding 10,000 spirit stones!" Li Shen said firmly, without hesitation.

"Alright. Young Master Li is bidding 10,000 spirit stones. Does anyone wish to bid higher?" Zhou Nan asked.

Everyone’s attention turned to the second floor, specifically to a man in a light blue robe with an azure dragon pattern. They had never seen Li Shen’s face before, which made him seem mysterious to them.

Zhou Nan counted down until the time was up. No one dared to bid higher for a mere map, which was not very valuable for their cultivation.

"Sold to Young Master Li!" Zhou Nan said firmly.

"Congratulations to Young Master Li for obtaining this item," Zhou Nan said.

Li Shen nodded. He stepped back and sat down on the wooden chair, waiting for the auctioneer to bring him the map.

In another VIP room, a woman heard that the winner of the continent map was someone from the Li family. This caught her attention and curiosity.

"Is it true that he is from the Li family?" asked the woman, who was wearing a beautiful purple dress with roses on it.

"I think he is, especially since he is a VIP auction participant," said one of her escorts.

"What an unexpected coincidence. One of you go there and meet that man. Tell him that Young Lady Wang wants to meet him."

"Yes, Young Lady."