Night had fallen.
"Hm? What's going on here? Isn't the Starlight Auction House supposed to be the biggest auction house in Xingluo City? Why does it feel a little shabby?"
Old Ma had already brought Jiang Jue and the others to the front of the Starlight Auction House. Xiao Hongchen looked at the not-so-large building in front of them with a puzzled expression.
Before they came, they had already learned about the status of the Starlight Auction House. It had branches in the major cities of the Xingluo Empire, and the force behind it was rumored to possibly be the imperial family of the Xingluo Empire itself.
"You'll understand once we go in."
Old Ma said in a deep voice. He believed that since that Qingyuan had personally come to deliver an invitation, it wouldn't be as simple as what they were seeing now.
Jiang Jue's eyes flickered. He knew the real face of the Starlight Auction House lay underground.
These major powers loved building their bases or important locations underground. Mingde Hall was like that, and so was the Holy Spirit Sect.
When Jiang Jue and the others reached the entrance of the auction house, a striking figure in red appeared — it was Qingyuan, who had come to give them the invitation earlier that day.
Qingyuan was waiting at the door. Her long red dress made her look even more alluring under the night lights, her beautiful face full of gentle charm.
Seeing Jiang Jue and the others, Qingyuan's face lit up with joy. She hurried forward and said:
"Welcome, honored guests."
Old Ma met her gaze and frowned slightly.
"How did you know we would definitely come today?"
Qingyuan's smile didn't falter in the slightest, her voice calm and clear.
"I didn't know. But my task was to receive you all. Whether you came or not, I would have waited here until the auction officially began."
"Lead the way then."
Old Ma didn't ask further, signaling Qingyuan to guide them in.
After all, they had come here to bid on items. It wasn't likely that there was some trap waiting for them inside.
"Please follow me."
Qingyuan bowed slightly and walked ahead to lead the way.
I wonder… now that I've intercepted the Snow Empress embryo, does the Xu family still plan to scheme against Mingde Hall? Or do they have something else that could attract both Mingde Hall and the Ontology Sect at the same time?
Jiang Jue silently mused as he watched Qingyuan's back, feeling a faint sense of anticipation.
But those answers would be revealed soon enough.
"Jiang Jue, stop looking around!"
Walking beside Jiang Jue, Meng Hongchen hooked both her hands around his right arm in a possessive gesture and spoke in a mock "fierce" tone.
Jiang Jue wouldn't like the bigger type, right?!
Meng Hongchen eyed the curvaceous figure of Qingyuan ahead of them, her heart quietly filling with doubt.
Ever since she and Jiang Jue had run into Ma Xiaotao last time, Meng Hongchen had felt a faint sense of crisis.
No… he shouldn't. I mean, I should still grow a bit more… yes, I can still grow more!
Jiang Jue glanced at Meng Hongchen's blushing face, puzzled. Ever since running into Ma Xiaotao, she had started paying attention to strange things.
"So it's underground, huh? That's pretty extravagant."
Xiao Xiafeng sighed as he looked at the surrounding walls.
After entering the auction house, a staircase five meters wide and covered in red carpet extended downward. At the bottom, they passed through an antique wooden door — and the scene changed dramatically.
In their view now was a golden expanse. The wide corridor glittered with opulence, decorated in the most luxurious fashion.
"It's fine… just a tiny bit worse than Mingde Hall," Xiao Hongchen said casually.
Having grown up in Mingde Hall as the direct grandson of Jing Hongchen, he had seen such grandeur many times before.
At the end of the corridor, two young women in gold dresses approached, bowed slightly, and spoke briefly with Qingyuan. Then one turned to the wall, raised her right hand, and pressed lightly.
Immediately, rippling patterns of light spread across the wall. The glow stabilized, and a passage appeared.
"According to our Starlight Auction House's assessment, your net worth qualifies you for entry into our No. 1 auction hall. Please follow me."
Qingyuan smiled back at them and stepped inside first.
A short distance in, doors began to appear along both sides. Qingyuan led Jiang Jue's group into Room No. 2.
The room was rectangular, with one long wall made entirely of smooth, crystalline white material, unadorned. A wide sofa covered in the pelt of some unknown soul beast stood before it, with a jade table bearing rare fruits.
Everyone took seats on the plush sofa, while Qingyuan and the two gold-dressed girls stayed as well.
Standing beside the sofa, Qingyuan smiled and said:
"Allow me to explain the rules of our top-tier auction."
One of the gold-dressed girls stepped to the smooth wall and pressed it lightly.
A soft glow shimmered across its surface, growing brighter until the entire wall transformed into a giant screen.
Jiang Jue and the others were unfazed; such soul tools were commonplace in Mingde Hall.
Qingyuan continued:
"To protect the privacy of our guests, each of you will be in a private room. When the auction begins, I will introduce each item and announce bids for you. Once bidding ends, the item will be delivered here immediately."
She then stepped back with a gentle smile, saying no more.
"Sit down," Old Ma said, pointing to the sofa.
Before coming, he had looked into the Starlight Auction House. If he wasn't mistaken, someone like Qingyuan in a red dress would be a top-tier auctioneer. Since she would be in charge of introducing and bidding later, he asked her to sit with them.
Qingyuan nodded and happened to sit next to Xiao Hongchen.
For some reason, the faint fragrance coming from the mature woman beside him made Xiao Hongchen's usually cold face heat up. He fell silent.
"Oh? Hongchen junior, why's your face red?"
"Don't turn away, let me see!"
Lin Xi noticed his odd reaction and leaned over with a mischievous grin.
Since they had resolved their earlier conflict, their relationship had grown better — mostly because they shared the same hobby: showing off in front of others.
"I'm not! I didn't! Stop talking nonsense!" Xiao Hongchen denied three times quickly, but his face only reddened further.
"I get it, I get it… you're just becoming a man, that's all," Lin Xi waved dismissively, implying that men needed no further words between them.
Huh? Could it be Hongchen likes this type? Jiang Jue's lips curled in amusement.
"Later, if you see anything that can help in the tournament, feel free to bid. I'll decide whether to buy it for you," Old Ma said, waving his hand decisively. "If the price is low, the academy will reimburse it fully; if it's high, the academy will still subsidize you. Bid without worry."
Mingde Hall lacked everything except money.
"Long live the academy!" Lin Xi and the others cheered.
That was the benefit of a powerful academy — good subsidies and great treatment for students.
A few minutes later, the entire room was bathed in gold. Everyone turned instinctively to the soul tool screen opposite the sofa.
The golden light on the screen gradually faded, and a melodious voice rang out:
"Welcome, honored guests, to the Starlight Auction House's top-tier auction."
"Tonight, we will present nine precious items in total, displayed in order from least to most valuable. We hope you enjoy."
The screen cleared, revealing a beautiful young woman standing at center stage.
It was none other than Xu Jiujou, the princess of the Xingluo Empire, who had tried to recruit Jiang Jue before.
"Why does everyone else have… and I…"
Meng Hongchen glanced at Xu Jiujou on the screen, then looked down at herself, mumbling softly.
"Meng, what did you say?" Jiang Jue asked in confusion.
"It's nothing, nothing," Meng Hongchen quickly waved her hand, but her rosy cheeks betrayed her thoughts.
(End of chapter)