CHAPTER 47: WINNING THE BID

Just as Ling Yu thought no one else would bid for the core, a rumbling voice descended to shatter her hopes from the fourth floor.

"30,000 Yuan."

!

Many of the participants gasped in surprise when they heard the voice, a looming tone that threatened the atmosphere of the entire auction.

New participants wouldn’t know much about the person from the floor above, but the regular participants seemed to be cautious at his mention.

This guy was a familiar and fearsome figure among the regular participants. Because once he set his eyes on anything, he wouldn’t let others have it in any way.

Ling Yu frowned slightly at the interruption of the process. She thought no one would show any interest in this show-off piece of stone. But, guess there are some weirdos who like to collect bizarre things, no wonder they would show up in this auction.

Though she didn’t have any intention to give up, other weirdos can buzz off!

"40,000 Yuan!" Ling Yu bid the price higher once again.

"60,000 Yuan." The cool and deep voice rumbled once again.

Ling Yu pressed her lips in a thin line, annoyed by this person’s behavior. Does he want to compete with her on this bid?

If so, then she will gladly play with him!

"100,000 Yuan!" Ling Yu abruptly increased the price as she tapped her elbow with her fingers, her eyes fixed on the person on the fifth floor sitting behind the screen.

"...200,000 Yuan." The guy doubled the price after a stop.

"400,000 Yuan."

’How does it feel? Do you still want to bid?’ A devilish smirk spread across Ling Yu’s face.

"800,000 Yuan." The gut doubled the price once again.

Seeing the competition, many of the people present wondered if it was something valuable, but no matter how they looked at it, it seemed to be nothing but a piece of colored stone.

Due to their fear of the fifth-floor guest, they didn’t participate in the bagain. just sitting back and enjoying the show.

"Fine. A hundred million Yuan." Ling Yu didn’t even bat an eye at the amount. She had enough money to spare anyway. Why hold back for something she truly needs?

"Two hundred million Yuan."

’Look at this guy, just doubling the price every time?’

’Does he not have enough money with him? So he is testing my limit?’

This time, Ling Yu’s patience snapped as she slapped the armchair, then she increased the price outrageously, getting back at the no-name guy.

"Ten million Yuan, pack it up for me." Ling Yu flexed the card between her fingers as she made the final bid.

"Ten million Yuan once, Ten million Yuan twice, Ten million Yuan Thrice...! Since no has is bidding, the stone goes to... Guest No. 232! Congratulations!"

’Hmm, looks like that guy didn’t bring enough money? My hunch was right.’ Ling Yu chuckled in satisfaction as she stood up, preparing to go to the back and retrieve the core, then leave the place as soon as possible.

Though Ling Yu only focused on winning the core, the other participants were holding their breath as they observed the guests on the fifth floor, trying to gauge if they were going to make any move out of anger.

The chime sounded again, and the auctioneer smiled faintly. "And now... It’s time for summoning something for the more discerning collectors among you."

Another assistant stepped forward, wheeling in a small black case. Even from a distance, Ling Yu could sense a faint thrum of power from within.

Her fingers twitched. She leaned forward slightly, her interest piqued only for a while, not because she thought this was the item she came for, but because she could feel the aura of something sealed.

’Oh well, I should go retrieve the core first before anything, I can check out the other things at the shop anyway.’ Ling Yu’s mind worked in a single-tracked pace as she quickly left the second floor, not knowing that the shadow on the fifth floor also disappeared after her departure.

***

After getting out of the back alley, Ling Yu looked for a hotel to stay for the night. She booked a room, then took the key and headed to the hotel room after having a late-night dinner.

Knowing that the core was secure in her space, she took her time to eat, then took a bath and freshened herself before finally settling down in the room.

Previously, she changed her clothes and style right after getting out of the auction, safely walking out of the black market alley.

Usually, after these auctions, a large-scale raid sweeps through the entire back alley. It’s of course to catch the nouveau riche commoners and low-class nobles who attend the auction, to snatch back the items they bought at the auction through a fake robbery.

To avoid this problem, Ling Yu made sure to go in a roundabout way and changed everything to make herself look like another dweller of the street, normally crossing the guys looking for her as she exited the alley.

Now that she was in a safe zone, Ling Yu put up a spatial isolation around the room, a barrier that created a space of her own. And no one can walk in and out of this place freely without her permission.

"Alright, now that I put up the barrier, I can start fusing the core into my body, right?" As soon as she spoke out, the system started a countdown as it helped her to absorb the core.

The entire place was filled with a mystical aura as she focused her mind on feeling the power surrounding her body, a warmth that felt as if a baby was being wrapped in a comforting and warm hug from its mother.

Soon, Ling Yu was able to harness the power that settled inside her without any setback. It seems the core didn’t reject her and settled inside her body. With this, now Ling Yu had a complete form to wield the high-class skills that were putting a strain on her body due to a lack of an Aether core.

The system can’t make up the gap that remained due to not having the core. And the system can’t help with merging the core in her body either.

"Whew, I can finally prepare my final works and practice enough with this core. Albeit, the Royal family would come after me after Jiang Meng awakens once again." Ling Yu’s entire body was sweating profusely after absorbing the core and putting down the isolation. Because her core was once taken out, even though this one didn’t reject her, her own body was suffering from backlash due to the power of the core filling up the old injuries and such.

Her body was now healing fine and faster than before, like a rechargeable battery. Her mana stats also jumped up a few ranks, and these changes will help a lot when she later fights the monsters and such.

"Ahh, damn, it stinks..." Ling Yu scrunched up her nose in disgust from the foul smell coming out of her body, running back to the shower to clean herself up. Since the clots around her body were cleared, all the dark and harmful substances came out from the pores of her body, cleaning her inner self.

Ding!

[Warning! Warning!]

[Detecting a stronger being approaching!]

[Host level isn’t enough to proceed with skills.]

[Searching proper skills...]

Ding!

[Do you want to use ’Stealth’?]

’I don’t see why I should elope before seeing what the threat is.’ Ling Yu shrugged her shoulders as she proceeded to get out of the shower.

The presence was strong, but it didn’t seem to carry a threat to her life.

Just as Ling Yu came out of the shower, she wasn’t much surprised to see the shadow of a man occupying the corner of her bed without her even noticing.

’This...’ Ling Yu looked around the room as she made sure the door was locked properly. There is no doubt this guy came through the window.

"...Who are you? What business do you have here?" Ling Yu didn’t flinch as she took the situation calmly; she could just get rid of this guy if he turned out to be an enemy.

"Give back the core, Guest no. 232. I know you have it with you." The deep voice spoke up, startling her slightly, not enough to make her back off.

"And why should I do that? I bought the core with my money, not to give it to others for free." Ling Yu didn’t even flinch as she talked back, glaring at the guy.