Free Web NovelChapter 604: Chapter 603: Competing in Financial Strength
Ye Fan asked the manager, "Can you arrange a top-class private box for me?"
He had seen about a dozen private boxes on the second floor of the auction hall, several of which were already occupied.
The manager replied, "Daoist, the top-class private boxes aren’t cheap!"
"This should be enough, right?" Ye Fan placed a small piece of an Immortal Stone in the man’s hand.
Immediately, the manager was shocked. A flicker of greed crossed his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. He knew he couldn’t be greedy here.
"Enough, more than enough! I’ll arrange a box for you right away!"
Sitting in the private box, Ye Fan could see everything in the hall below, but the people in the hall could not see him. He sensed the occupants of the two boxes flanking his own.
In the box to his left, a domineering aura surged, filling the space and creating an oppressive atmosphere.
The box on the right, however, was as calm as still water. It was so quiet that if it weren’t marked as occupied, Ye Fan would have mistaken it for an empty room.
He didn’t know who was in those two rooms, but he knew they had to be terrifying. It seems this world truly belongs to whoever has the biggest fist.
Just then, the auction supervisor emerged.
He was an elderly man in grey robes. His strength was not to be underestimated—though not a Divine General, he was still considered a rare powerhouse in the Divine Domain. Of course, this vast auction house was the domain of the Lord of God Slaying, a preeminent figure among the Divine Generals. Unless a Main God intervened, no one could stand against him.
The old man had a benign appearance. As he glanced over the crowd, he felt a sense of confidence.
He began, "Thank you all for attending the auction held by the Lord of God Slaying. This year’s selection is exceptionally rich, surpassing all previous years! You will surely be satisfied. As long as you can afford the price, you can take anything you desire!"
He continued with a lengthy introduction, but no one dared to rush him. This was the Lord of God Slaying’s territory, and no one present dared to cause trouble.
"Alright, that covers the pleasantries," he said. "The rules are the same as in previous years. However, I must declare that no threats will be tolerated in the auction hall!
"You are also forbidden from causing disturbances. Although this is Evil City, home to all manner of people, the Lord of God Slaying will not trouble you as long as you behave yourselves here. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"However, once you step outside the auction hall, you are on your own."
The elderly man in grey laid out the rules. Even the most arrogant attendees didn’t dare to openly challenge him.
Naturally, the elder occasionally cast an inconspicuous glance toward Ye Fan’s box. He, too, had been shocked when his subordinate handed him the small piece of Immortal Stone. Immortal Stones were a rare mineral from the Immortal Mines in the Divine Domain. Anyone who could produce one so casually, regardless of their own power, had to possess an extraordinary background.
He’s most likely the descendant of a Main God. Even the family of a Divine General probably couldn’t be so extravagant. He knew Ye Fan was not someone to be provoked. Should they antagonize a powerhouse on the level of a Sovereign God, even the Lord of God Slaying would have to think twice. Such a wealthy patron was not to be missed, so long as he wasn’t offended.
In truth, Ye Fan was no descendant of a Main God. He was just a Martial Artist from the mortal realm. He was, of course, completely unaware of the auctioneer’s cautious appraisal of him. After all, he had brought a vast quantity of Immortal Stones from the Outer Realm, as well as Immortal Crystals, which were of an even higher grade. Therefore, he wouldn’t feel the slightest pinch even if he squandered dozens or even hundreds of them, as long as he could acquire something he liked.
Besides, Immortal Stones and Immortal Crystals were not the only resources he had from the mines of the Outer Realm. He possessed minerals even more precious than Immortal Crystals; he was simply being low-key and not showing off.
The auction began, and the crowd grew restless, but Ye Fan remained seated calmly in his room.
At that moment, the elder in grey announced, "The next item up for auction is a set of armor!"
"No way! You’re seriously auctioning off a set of armor?"
"Exactly! Who doesn’t have one? That stuff is dirt common!"
A group of people began to mock, a wave of jeers rising from below the stage. The elder in grey did not get angry. Instead, he calmly said, "Quiet down! No more chatter!"
Instantly, everyone fell silent.
He then said, "Please wait for my introduction. This suit of armor is a true treasure. Behold!"
Suddenly, the crowd could not sit still.
"Invisible!"
Ye Fan was shocked. It’s actually invisible armor! How fascinating. This is certainly no common piece of junk. He was already interested in the very first item.
The crowd burst into cheers, their eyes gleaming with greed. They were, without a doubt, interested in this armor.
The auctioneer nodded with satisfaction and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, when worn, this invisible armor is as thin as a cicada’s wing! It won’t hinder you in combat, nor will it feel uncomfortable.
"But looks aren’t everything. What’s most important is that this armor can withstand ten full-power attacks from a Divine General and three attacks from a Sovereign God!
"If I’m lying, I’ll stake the reputation of Evil City on it! While our city is a bit chaotic, when it comes to business, we value credibility!
"Rest assured, we absolutely do not engage in deception! With this armor, you’ll gain dozens of extra lives. A Martial Artist below the rank of Divine General couldn’t even dream of breaking it!"
He spoke with such conviction that the crowd roared its belief.
He then added, "Alright, those are the advantages of this armor. For our first item, we have brought out a true treasure. The starting bid is two tons of Immortal Mine!"
The crowd was stunned speechless by the price. In the Divine Domain, the Immortal Mines were almost entirely controlled by the Main Gods. While ordinary people might possess some ore, it was only ever a minuscule amount. For the vast majority of people here, two tons of Immortal Mine was an astronomical figure, an impossibly high number they could never produce.
Many sighed in disappointment. They coveted the armor, but this was an era where possessing Immortal Mine made you a king, while lacking it made you a pawn.
The starting price eliminated more than sixty percent of the Martial Artists present. The remaining forty percent, however, were carefully weighing the armor’s value.
"Five tons!" a domineering voice boomed.
The crowd turned to see a bald, ferocious-looking man who radiated power. Some sharp-eyed individuals recognized him. It was Ghost Foot Seven, a man known for his brutal, one-strike kills and his formidable leg techniques, which had earned him his name.
He was a standout among the Divine Captains, so it was no surprise he could open with a bid of five tons. After all, he had amassed a fortune fighting as a mercenary over the years. Five tons was well within his means.
Just as his words faded, another voice cut in from the side.
"Eight tons!"
Ghost Foot Seven was furious. The five-ton bid had been a near certainty, yet he had been intercepted at the last moment. How could he not be enraged? He was on the verge of exploding.
He shot a glare toward the bidder and saw a muscular man with a fierce face covered in scars, whose presence was nonetheless immense. It was Blood Storm, who made his name across the lands with his Blood Blade.
This man was incredibly strong. A few years ago in Evil Valley, he had come close to becoming the leader of a city. His strength was nearly on par with a Divine General, making him virtually invincible among the Divine Captains. Even Ghost Foot Seven had to think twice before crossing such a man.
"Hmph!" Ghost Foot Seven snorted coldly, but ultimately gave up.
The elder in grey nodded, visibly pleased. The higher the bid, the greater their profit. He announced, "Eight tons of Immortal Mine, going once!"
"Going twice!"
Just as he was about to call for the third time, Ye Fan spoke.
"One top-grade Immortal Crystal!"
