The end of the world, four quarters past.
Sunlight streamed through the stained glass tiles above the fifth floor, casting broken shadows like fragments scattered across the grand hall of the fifth floor.
Suddenly.
Dongââ
Dongââ
Dongââ
Three powerful chimes from a bronze bell resounded.
"Itâs about to begin!" The thought flashed in Jiang Ningâs mind.
A moment later.
"Dear esteemed guests, greetings! Apologies for the long wait!" A crisp female voice rang out.
Jiang Ning pushed open the window and looked down, only to see a woman in a purple extreme dress standing at the center of the stage.
She appeared to be in her early twenties, with a very youthful appearance.
Just standing there, her aura was different from ordinary people, exuding nobility from head to toe.
"I am Xia Wanqin, in charge of this auction!"
As the woman finished speaking, a low murmur rose from below.
"This one looks unfamiliar, never seen her before!"
"I havenât seen her either, definitely looks new!"
"With such an outstanding temperament, she must be extraordinary!"
"..."
On the stage.
Xia Wanqin had a slight smile on her lips.
The surrounding voices all reached her ears.
Then, she clapped her hands.
A corner of the curtain behind the stage was lifted.
A maid in a lavish dress gracefully approached, holding a redwood tray covered with a red cloth.
"The first item, most guests are already familiar with, so I wonât waste words."
"Guiyuan Fetal Breath Skill, Mid-level Inner Strength Martial Arts. Although the inner breath cultivated through this technique is not bold or domineering, it is known for its health-preserving and longevity effects, maintaining the bodyâs functions at peak longer."
"Bidding starts at ten gold, with each increment not less than one gold."
After the words settled.
There was a moment of silence below.
Mid-level Martial Arts held little attraction to most people here.
Moreover, this Inner Strength Martial Art is not skilled in combat but in health preservation.
Despised by most.
Yet ten gold is quite cheap.
Converted to silver, itâs merely ten thousand taels.
"Young master, this is so cheap!" Lv Yi suddenly spoke.
Jiang Ning nodded slightly, "Indeed cheap, but itâs reasonable. Wanhua Building canât set a high price. After all, if it doesnât sell, they must reclaim it at the starting price, unless the consignor refuses!"
"The young master speaks wisely!" Lv Yi nodded repeatedly.
Soon after, someone began to bid.
"Eleven gold!"
"Thirteen gold!"
"Sixteen gold!"
"..."
Cheap enough that many chose to bid.
A moment later.
When it reached thirty gold, no one else bid.
The final selling price, thirty gold.
"Truly cheap indeed!" Hearing the auction conducted by Xia Wanqin below, with the first itemâs conclusion, Jiang Ning couldnât help but remark.
He still remembered the first Mid-level Martial Arts level Inner Strength Method he saw at the Inspection Officeâs Internal Affairs Office, called Five Rises Morning Essence Breathing Technique.
At the time, the exchange price was fifty thousand Contribution Points.
Within the Inspection Office, fifty thousand Contribution Points could directly exchange for fifty thousand taels of silver to spend freely.
And thatâs just the exchange ratio; if a colleague bought it, fifty thousand Contribution Points could fetch seventy to eighty thousand taels of silver.
Seventy to eighty thousand taels of silver equals seventy to eighty gold.
Compared to the Guiyuan Fetal Breath Skillâs final price of thirty gold, it clearly shows Guiyuan Fetal Breath Skill isnât favored.
Thereafter.
The second auction item was presented, followed by the third, and fourth...
Listening to the continuous bidding below, Jiang Ningâs heart remained undisturbed.
Not that those items were useless to him, but because he was currently penniless, nearly broke.
The one thousand gold gifted by Wang Qintan was long spent, and now he could only use tokens totaling a little over three thousand from the auction sales.
He couldnât make a move lightly.
A moment later.
It was time for serial number 119, the White Tiger Xuan Bone.
After Xia Wanqinâs introduction, she raised her hand to showcase the White Tiger Xuan Boneâs effect.
The roar of a tiger echoed, gusts of wind appeared out of nowhere, and murderous aura instantly filled the venue, causing some to change their expressions below.
"Such a strong murderous aura!!"
"..."
Seeing the reactions below, Xia Wanqin nodded in satisfaction.
"Starting price, ten gold! Each increment not less than one gold!"
With Xia Wanqinâs announcement.
Bidding surged immediately.
"Twenty gold!"
"Fifty gold!"
"Thirty gold!!"
"..."
In the blink of an eye, the bidding reached seventy to eighty gold.
Then naturally exceeded a hundred gold.
"Not bad! Not bad!" Listening to the bids below, Jiang Ning nodded in satisfaction.
Sipping the tea beside him.
He couldnât help but take another look at Xia Wanqin.
That display just now, an ordinary Fifth Grade Inner Strength Realm couldnât achieve such an effect.
This implied that the noble woman wasnât simple.
Either a mysterious Heavenly Human Grandmaster, whose lifespan begins at two Jiazi cycles.
A seasoned Heavenly Human Grandmaster, completing numerous Blood Exchanges, reborn time and again, experiencing life-level evolutions, could maintain the appearance of twenty to thirty at the age of seventy to eighty.
If one could enter the Heavenly Human Grandmaster realm before twenty, an extraordinary talent, theyâd seem forever youthful.
Thatâs the wonder of Blood Exchange and rebirth.
In Jiang Ningâs eyes, this woman seemed to have that potential.
Aside from this possibility, it could only be said she was extraordinarily gifted, with a wealthy background, not lacking in resources.
But regardless of which, itâs not simple!
And the White Tiger Xuan Bone he consigned attracted such competitive bids, thanks in no small part to Xia Wanqinâs display just now.
A moment later.
The bidding reached one hundred fifty gold.
At this price, the crowd calmed considerably.
Every bid was made after much hesitation.