Nightmare Apostle

Chapter 1085: Chapter 746: Black Lama

"13,000," someone bid.

"13,500."

"13,800."

...

Yang Xiao sighed to himself; it was indeed a good item, and these people weren’t fools. They made their moves when they should.

In no time, the item had broken through 18,000, approaching the 20,000 mark.

It was surely a good treasure, but unfortunately, it had a gender requirement for the wearer—it had to be a woman. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be just at this price.

"18,900," someone gritted their teeth and shouted the price. This item had no offensive capability, it was purely a defensive magic artifact, and this price was already quite high.

Moreover, after many rounds of bidding, most people’s wallets were already empty. Those who could still hold their ground all sat within the first 30 seats of the front row.

"20,000," Yang Xiao raised his hand and bid.

Tong Han, who was sitting next to Yang Xiao, was taken aback and looked at him sharply, exclaiming, "You... what do you want to buy this for? You can’t even use it."

"You can use it." Tong Han’s two magic artifacts were both offensive; she desperately needed a protective artifact, and Yang Xiao figured this Silk Cocoon Robe was just right.

"21,000," Number 7, who had been outbid by Yang Xiao earlier, continued to bid.

"Twenty thousand, one hundred," Yang Xiao leisurely raised his hand, holding up one finger.

"22,000," Number 7 called out.

"Twenty-two thousand, two hundred," Yang Xiao didn’t even look in Number 7’s direction, bidding as if he was playing a game.

"Goddamnit..." The woman at seat number 7 turned her head. Under the mask was a young and beautiful yet slightly harsh face. The woman looked around and finally locked her gaze on Yang Xiao, who dared to challenge her.

"23,000."

"Twenty-three thousand, three hundred."

By now, the rest of the audience roughly understood what was going on. These two likely had a vendetta against each other, and Number 44 was likely here to cause trouble, either that or arranged by the hotel to provoke and inflate prices.

"25,000," the woman continued to raise the stakes. She fancied this item greatly and was determined to get it.

Her status was noble—she was the only daughter of the owner of Pingzong Building in Phoenix City. She was accustomed to prestige, and few dared to cross her. In the vicinity of Phoenix City, even the three major forces like the Patrol Defense Office had to give her father face. Who was this guy who suddenly appeared?

Yang Xiao raised his hand again, held up five fingers, and then retracted four, calmly stating, "Twenty-five thousand and... one hundred."

All eyes were now on Yang Xiao and the woman in seat number 7. Although there were those in the front row capable of challenging the woman, no one got involved, watching with casual interest instead.

Though this garment was good, it could only be worn by women, greatly limiting its value.

Meanwhile, the crowd watching for entertainment grew larger, and hearing the faint laughter from below, the woman’s face turned green under the mask. Just as she was about to bid more, she was stopped by someone next to her.

"Miss, you can’t raise it any further. This person is clearly trying to provoke you." The elder in the black robe was from Pingzong Building and was also the woman’s teacher. "We’ve already spent a lot of golden chips before, we must reserve some to compete for future treasures."

The woman regained some composure at that point, but as she gazed at the cicada-wing-thin robe on stage, she really liked it. Yet the elder was right, and she couldn’t act impulsively. So, she gritted her teeth and finally called out 28,000, a sky-high price, plunging the venue into silence.

The pressure was on Yang Xiao, but he leisurely raised his hand, pointing one finger skyward, and calmly said, "Twenty-eight thousand... and one hundred."

"He’s asking for trouble!" The woman protested to the elder on stage, "Who bids one hundred at a time?"

But the elder on stage didn’t care about that. He wished these two would keep challenging each other, knowing that the bids were all real money, but he also needed to soothe this Number 7 guest, so he smiled and said, "This esteemed guest, the highest bidder wins, which is the rule of the auction. Please bear with it. Do you wish to...?"

"Heh heh, I’m not interested in playing anymore. Who knows if this person is even a real guest?" The woman sneered, sitting back down. That remark openly questioned the hotel’s manipulation during the auction, using shills to drive up prices.

Yet the elder at the auction was experienced, brushing off this page with a few polite words. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

The woman who lost to Yang Xiao would never know that her opponent had only 28,200 golden chips in his pocket at that moment, not a penny more. If she had added just another hundred, Yang Xiao would be exposed.

Finally, with a satisfied smile, Yang Xiao pocketed the Silk Cocoon Robe.

For others present, it was just a minor episode. With the item in hand, Yang Xiao didn’t pay it any mind, but the woman who had been outbid by Yang Xiao wasn’t planning to let it slide.

"Elder Sun, do you know the background of this person?" the woman asked in a low voice.

"No idea. Judging by his seating number, he isn’t from any prominent power; he might be from a small nearby city," the elder was relieved that the woman gave up bidding, thankful that if it continued, he’d be the one penalized upon return. The building owner was far too fond of his beloved daughter to punish her, not even able to say a harsh word.

"Elder Sun, I want you to find him after the auction ends, kill him, and return that item to me," the woman fumed. The unattainable was always the sweetest.

Upon hearing this, the old man’s brows furrowed, his expression somewhat tense, he quickly whispered, "Miss, this Xiang Ma Town is the territory of the Peace Hotel. Acting here would break the rules."

"Who told you to act here? We follow him and find a deserted place to make a move." The woman turned her head, her gaze casually sweeping over Yang Xiao, who was covered in a black robe, a hint of Evil Qi flashed between her brows, "I watched his movements, this person is young, probably at most the level of Fierce Grade, Elder Sun, you’re a master with half a foot in Ghost Level, surely you won’t be afraid of a junior." freēwēbηovel.c૦m

The woman had great confidence in Elder Sun beside her. He was the top expert at Pingzong Building, second only to the OP, easily overpowering a junior from the Li Generation. She just needed to act swiftly without being noticed.

"This... I... I’ll find an opportunity." Elder Sun was unwilling to create trouble, so he could only agree for now.

While this matter wrapped up, the auction continued fervently, Yang Xiao saw many rare treasures, the later items were even better and stranger; he even saw a wooden box marked with damaged seals, with Ghost Talismans drawn in blood on them.

According to the elderly auctioneer, this box was from the group of activities of the Black Lamas and obtained after killing one of their highly-skilled Great Lamas.

What is certain now is that the box contains a Magic Artifact, but its grade, appearance, and abilities are unknown, as no one has ever opened it.

To Yang Xiao’s surprise, this broken box, with unknown contents, started at 29,000 golden chips, higher than the final price he paid for the Silk Cocoon Robe.

"Those Black Lamas from Tibet aren’t ordinary, they have connections with the Black Buddha Mother’s lineage, they roam for years seeking Spiritual Children to refine treasures, and they are top-notch in Magic Artifact cultivation."

"The box has the Lama’s seal, of considerable level, what the hotel said is true, this is likely the secret treasure painstakingly refined by the Great Lama. Whatever comes out, it’s bound to be a fine treasure, but who knows..."

At this point, Tong Han hesitated, and Yang Xiao chimed in, "Who knows what backlash this item might have, whether ordinary people can handle it."

"Exactly, those Black Lamas are quite sinister, outsiders dare not use what they produce easily." Tong Han supplemented.

Yang Xiao recalled encountering the Black Buddha Mother’s disciples; each was more sinister than the last. Since the Black Lamas had connections with the Black Buddha Mother, it was surely no ordinary matter.

If this box were purchased and upon opening, it promised great treasures but required emasculation to practice, that would indeed be interesting.

"By the way, the head of the Black Lamas is a fellow called Spirit Treasure Master, with a set of ten sinister Magic Artifacts, and is said to possess tremendous battle power."

"Ten Magic Artifacts?" Yang Xiao was greatly shocked; doesn’t this rival his count of artifacts?

Bear in mind, his leverage was the Underworld Robe, but whether Spirit Treasure Master had something akin to the Drama Robe goes without mention. If he managed to absorb ten Magic Artifacts with sheer will alone, then he is indeed extraordinary. His name very fitting, perhaps Duobao Master suits him even better.

Speaking of him, Tong Han’s voice carried more caution, "This man is unfathomable, it is said that your Patrol Defense Office had a Provincial Bureau Chief from the Northwestern Province killed by him, though the office never publicly admitted it, only saying he was ensnared in the Nightmare World."

Yang Xiao was not qualified to meet individuals at the Provincial Bureau Chief level, but anyone in that position was indeed at the Patrol Defense Office’s top echelon, their strength surely significant.

Yang Xiao speculated that even if not as formidable as the Old Clan Leader of Ru Lin Academy, they wouldn’t be far off, at least on par with the fallen Dean Yang Yunluo.

To kill a Provincial Bureau Chief, Spirit Treasure Master is undoubtedly a genuine Netherworld-level Apostle.

Heroes are as numerous as fish in the river, and the higher one stands, the more they feel their own insignificance.

Yang Xiao deeply appreciated his uncle’s teachings; the road ahead for him was indeed long.

Suddenly, while lost in thought, Yang Xiao heard gasps from the crowd, and as he looked up, he found a fan being showcased on the big screen - an ivory-framed Bone Fan.

Painted on the fan was a square courtyard, cold and desolate with few brushstrokes, yet it gave an unusually realistic feeling, as if the courtyard truly existed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this Bone Fan is the last treasure in our regular auction. Truth be told, one of our treasure appraisal specialists directly stated that this item could easily qualify for the special sale. It’s here as a token of gratitude for the support from esteemed guests like yourselves over the years."

"Stop beating around the bush, just tell us what abilities this fan has." Someone from the crowd shouted.

Upon hearing this, the auctioneer elder smiled mysteriously, raised his hand pointing to the Bone Fan on the screen behind him, his voice deep and steady. "Ladies and gentlemen, listen carefully, this is an exceedingly rare space-type artifact, capable of drawing enemies into the world within the fan during battle."

As soon as these words were spoken, silence fell over the room. Moments later, the voices urging bids came continuously, even those major powers in the front row couldn’t contain their excitement; this was undoubtedly a significant treasure.

"Haha, don’t rush, let me finish explaining." The auctioneer began slowly elaborating on the mysterious aspects of this Bone Fan. His pauses were well-timed, revealing the secrets methodically.

The elderly man excelled at suspense, deliberately leaving words unsaid, creating ample space for audience speculation.

Most attendees had never seen such an artifact, temporarily bewildered, but Yang Xiao wasn’t easily misled, as he had a Soul-Capturing Mirror with him.

After listening for a while, Yang Xiao roughly grasped the Bone Fan’s capability, indeed able to pull enemies into the painting, but the space size was small, limited to the depicted square courtyard.

This ability seemed flashy, yet Yang Xiao knew it was mostly showmanship. Even if enemies were drawn in, the battlefield was restricted to just a courtyard, if he couldn’t prevail, he still wouldn’t prevail, and most embarrassingly, if defeated, escape would be impossible.

The auctioneer subtly mentioned that the Bone Fan’s activation and deactivation required time.

This item appeared decent, but compared to his Soul-Capturing Mirror, it’s inferior. However, to fully master the Soul-Capturing Mirror, he paid a considerable price, even participating in dark contests at Ru Lin Academy, nearly perishing there.

Perhaps through a subtle connection, Yang Xiao stared at the screen, feeling he was overlooking something. Moments later, his brows furrowed, his gaze fixed on a small, secluded house within the courtyard.

To be precise, his focus was on the half-open window of that small house, there he vaguely saw a few blurry silhouettes, like several heads squeezed together, peering outside desperately.