Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1485 - 765: Giving You Face (Part 2)

"The auction begins now."

The auction hall was silent, with hundreds of pairs of eyes fixed on the podium at the scroll glowing with a faint golden light, yet not a single person raised a paddle.

The air seemed to freeze, and even the sound of breathing was clearly audible.

"Heavenly Rank Top-grade martial technique ’Spirit Rhinoceros Finger,’ starting bid at fifty thousand High-grade Spirit Stones."

The voice of the Red-clothed Woman, Yue Xia, was as crisp as a clear spring striking a rock, particularly clear in the silent hall.

"If no one bids, in ten seconds it will be declared unsold."

Gu Sheng sat in the back row, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of his chair.

This martial technique was indeed good, but the price of fifty thousand High-grade Spirit Stones was certainly not cheap.

He turned his head to look at Ye Yiyi beside him, who was staring intently at the platform, her eyes shining with a peculiar light.

"Five, four, three..."

Yue Xia began the countdown, her voice unhurried and calm.

Just as the count was about to end, Yue Xia suddenly let out a soft laugh.

"It seems everyone’s interest in this martial technique is not high. However..."

Her slender fingers brushed over the Jade Scroll.

"This ’Spirit Rhinoceros Finger’ was created by me three years ago, and whoever wins it will be personally taught by me."

As soon as her words fell, the entire auction hall seemed to explode.

"Fifty-five thousand!"

"Sixty thousand!"

"Seventy thousand!"

Voices calling out bids rose one after another, and the price climbed at an astonishing speed.

Gu Sheng frowned slightly, turning to look at Ye Yiyi.

"Isn’t this price a bit excessive?"

Ye Yiyi’s lips curled into a meaningful smile.

"Yue Xia is the Branch Leader of the Branch in Xiaguang City, second only to the General Leader. These people..."

She glanced at the martial artists in the front row frantically raising their paddles.

"Are just using this opportunity to curry favor."

Gu Sheng suddenly understood.

His gaze swept over the front row, and indeed, most were local martial artists from Xiaguang City, each vying to bid with flushed faces, as if it was no longer a martial technique, but a ticket to the upper echelons.

"Three hundred and fifty thousand!"

A deep voice overshadowed all the bids.

The crowd followed the voice to see a middle-aged man in a brocade robe slowly standing up.

"It’s Manager Liu from the Heavenly Luck Workshop."

Ye Yiyi whispered.

"It seems today’s winner is decided."

Yue Xia’s face showed a satisfied smile.

"Three hundred and fifty thousand, going once... going twice... sold! Congratulations to Manager Liu."

She nodded slightly.

"After the auction, I will personally visit you."

Manager Liu, his face full of joy, cupped his hands to the surroundings, as if he had already gained immense honor.

Yue Xia lightly clapped her hands, and two attendants brought up a long spear, entirely silver-white.

"The second item for auction, Heavenly Rank Middle Grade Divine Weapon ’Cloud-breaking Spear,’ starting bid at two thousand High-grade Spirit Stones."

Gu Sheng had little interest in spear techniques, intending to close his eyes and rest, but Ye Yiyi suddenly leaned in.

"Brother Gu, how many Spirit Stones did you prepare this time?"

"Not bad."

Gu Sheng gave a vague answer, then asked in return.

"Why, is there something Miss Ye has her eye on?"

Ye Yiyi bit her lip, her eyes showing hesitation.

"There’s an item later that I must obtain, but I might not have enough Spirit Stones..."

She looked directly into Gu Sheng’s eyes.

"If it’s convenient for Brother Gu, could you help me secure it? I, Ye Yiyi, will owe you a favor."

Gu Sheng did not immediately answer, his gaze returning to the platform.

At this time, the Cloud-breaking Spear’s price had been raised to five thousand High-grade Spirit Stones, with several spear technique martial artists competing fervently.

"What does Miss Ye want?"

Gu Sheng finally spoke.

"It’s too early to say now."

Ye Yiyi smiled mysteriously.

"But it shouldn’t be a necessity for Brother Gu."

Gu Sheng let out a light snort.

"Miss Ye, you certainly understand me well."

"Six thousand four hundred High-grade Spirit Stones!"

A martial artist in a purple robe in the front row shouted, his voice filled with determination.

Yue Xia took in the entire room.

"Are there any higher bids?"

After a brief pause, she announced.

"Congratulations to Protector Zhao of the Purple Mist Divine Sect."

As the Cloud-breaking Spear was removed, Yue Xia took out a delicate jade box from her sleeve.

When she opened the box lid, a rich aura of life instantly permeated the auction hall, even making the air grow thick.

Inside the auction house, hundreds of Spirit Lamps hovered in mid-air, illuminating the entire hall as if it were broad daylight.

The third auction item... the Sect Realm Demon Core, glowing with a faint green light, was placed on the central podium. Fairy Yue Xia’s slender fingers lightly brushed the crystal cover, causing the energy circulating within the Demon Core to tremble slightly.

"Forty-five thousand High-grade Spirit Stones!"

Ye Yiyi sprang to her feet, her cyan outfit outlining her taut body contours.

Her fingernails dug deeply into her palm, yet she remained oblivious to the pain.

This was all she could afford; she had prepared for three years for this Demon Core that could be refined into a Soul-cutting Sword.

A derisive laugh came from a private room on the second floor, and the bead curtain moved as if blown by the wind, revealing Qi Shaoling’s face that made her sick.

"Hundred thousand."

He lazily uttered two words, the folding fan in his hand snapped open with a "whoosh," the words "Qi Tian" on the fan gleamed with golden light.

The auction hall immediately buzzed with chatter.

Ye Yiyi’s face turned deathly pale, a buzzing filled her ears.

This bid directly doubled the price, clearly intending to push her into a corner.

"Miss Ye, if you’re low on funds, why not come upstairs and have a drink with me?"

Qi Shaoling looked down at her, eyes gleaming like a cat toying with a mouse.

"Consider this Demon Core a greeting gift."

"In your dreams!"

Ye Yiyi’s chest heaved violently.

"I’ll never forget what you did to my sister three years ago!"

Qi Shaoling’s smile froze, and with a "snap," closed his folding fan.

"Ungrateful."

He turned towards the auction platform.

"Fairy Yue Xia, may I announce the result now?"

Just as Yue Xia was about to speak, a deep voice suddenly came from the corner.

"A hundred ten thousand."

All eyes turned in unison to the source of the voice.

Gu Sheng leaned against the sandalwood chair, the shadow of a black cloak obscuring most of his face, revealing only a sharply defined jawline.

His fingertips tapped the armrest, the rhythm strangely synchronized with Ye Yiyi’s suddenly quickened heartbeat.

"Gu... Brother Gu?"

Ye Yiyi couldn’t believe her eyes.

This man whom she had met by chance at the inn, silent throughout the journey, was making a move now?

Qi Shaoling squinted.

"A hundred twenty thousand."

"A hundred fifty thousand."

Gu Sheng didn’t even lift his eyelids, as if he were just discussing the weather.

"Two hundred thousand!"

Qi Shaoling leapt to his feet, the Ling Mu railing in the private suite cracked with a "creak."

This price already exceeded the Demon Core’s actual worth by triple.

The auction room was so silent a pin could drop.

Everyone felt two invisible energies clashing in the air, those with weaker cultivation had started to sweat on their foreheads.

Ye Yiyi bit her lower lip hard, the taste of blood spreading in her mouth.

She didn’t understand why Gu Sheng was getting involved in this dispute, nor did she understand the storm of emotions swirling within her.

"Two hundred fifty thousand."

Gu Sheng finally lifted his head, his star-like eyes beneath the cloak’s shadow piercing towards the second floor.

A Purple Gold Token flew out from his sleeve, rotated slowly in mid-air... it was a Purple Cloud Order that only top powers could possess.

"Hiss..."

The sound of gasping arose from the crowd.

The gray-clad old man behind Qi Shaoling whispered urgently.

"Young master, the Family Head has instructed about the Purple Mist Cave Heaven quota..."

Qi Shaoling’s face turned livid, and with a "crack," the folding fan in his hand snapped in two.

"Very well!"

He glared ominously at Gu Sheng.

"I wonder which family’s dog dares to run wild in Xiaguang City?"

Gu Sheng chuckled softly, but the laughter made the surrounding temperature plummet.

"The Qi Family young master’s upbringing really lives up to its reputation."

"You!"

Qi Shaoling was about to explode, but the gray-clad old man clung tightly to his sleeve.

In the end, he snorted coldly.

"I’ll let Fairy Yue Xia save face today."

With that, he left with a flick of his sleeve, the bead curtain shattered by the spiritual power surging around him.

Yue Xia exhaled deeply, her jade hand waving lightly.

"Congratulations to this distinguished guest for winning the Sect Realm Demon Core with two hundred fifty thousand High-grade Spirit Stones."

The crystal cover opened in response, and the Mystic Jade Box containing the Demon Core turned into a stream of light and flew towards Gu Sheng.

Ye Yiyi’s gaze locked firmly onto Gu Sheng, the complex light in her almond eyes undulating.

The auction hall’s lighting reflected on her slightly flushed eyes, adding a few points of vulnerable beauty to her delicate face.