After flipping through a few more pages of the pamphlet, Qian Jin memorized the auction order for the Blood Demon Heart and continued looking at what came next. There were indeed some good pieces of Mithril and Orichalcum, but the listed starting prices were certainly not cheap, all beginning at ten thousand gold coins.

Qian Jin kept turning the pamphlet, gradually starting to understand that the auction held in Everflow City truly had quite a few valuable items. It wasn't just for warriors; there were things for mages, as well as objects that even ordinary people might need.

Flipping further, Qian Jin spotted a familiar item: an object consigned in advance through the Mercenary Guild—the first-generation Erbu Spear held by Duan Feng Er Bu.

Battle Weapon: Spear type, manufacturing date unknown, Battle Weapon Grade One, original owner unknown, Battle Qi conductivity bidirectional flow. Starting Price: Five Thousand Gold Coins.

Qian Jin overheard several warriors sighing over the Erbu Spear: “What a fine item! It’s a pity the Battle Qi conductivity is bidirectional; that’s truly…”

“It still offers an advantage when fighting opponents of the same level, but if you face someone whose Battle Qi is much stronger, this Battle Weapon essentially becomes their weapon to use against you.”

“Exactly. If it weren't for this conduction issue, the lowest starting price would probably be ten thousand, right?”

“Indeed, indeed…”

Qian Jin shrugged, looking down at the pamphlet in his hand. Now that he knew about the auction, there wasn't much time left, otherwise, he really could have forged a Battle Weapon and put it up for auction here.

“Qian Jin, this way.” Fabredis headed toward the stairs leading to the second floor. “The VIP rooms are upstairs.”

Qian Jin caught sight of Mu Gui Wuxin’s retreating figure and let out a self-deprecating smile. Of course! With the Guild Master of one of Everflow City’s Eight Great Factions present, even if Torrent Battle Fortress was temporarily in decline, it was still one of the Eight Great Factions. If the Auction House didn't show them a bit of respect, Mu Gui Wuxin would surely lose face and cause a scene.

Passing the second floor, they arrived directly at the third. In the spacious VIP room, Qian Jin nibbled on fruit while meticulously studying the listed prices of the various items. He was particularly interested in the final item: the blood of the Blazing Demon Tiger—ten bottles in total!

Each bottle had a starting price of a hundred thousand! And that was just the floor price; the final auction price would definitely be higher. Qian Jin could only hope that Luo Qingqing’s proposed method of bulk auctioning was the most suitable approach.

Thirty bottles of Grade One Spirit Shock Potion, all bundled together to be sold in a single lot! Everflow City had its Eight Great Factions, plus some smaller powers, and as word spread, forces from surrounding cities and even Magic Towers from other cities had arrived, all eager to purchase the Spirit Shock Potion.

In Luo Qingqing’s words, if there were thirty pieces of meat, then all the wolves would measure each other and claim their share of the potion. But if there was only one piece of meat? The only way for a wolf to eat would be to fight desperately.

Qian Jin was worried that these "wolves" might have already conspired privately, but Luo Qingqing had negotiated with the Everflow Auction House: the starting price for this batch of potions would be kept secret, and even the bulk auction arrangement couldn't be publicly advertised, or she would take it to another city for auction.

This type of auction method hadn't been unheard of at previous conventions, and the Auction House also wished to capitalize on the opportunity to earn more revenue, so the two parties finally reached a pleasant agreement.

Suddenly, a stir rippled through the crowd. Qian Jin noticed the City Lord, Li Deyork, appearing at the auction site with his son, Hongser York, and their retinue. Naturally, they became the focus of attention.

“Muran, that old fellow Li De showed up for his son after all.” Mu Gui Wuxin extended his large hand, gripping a water glass that should have looked large but now seemed like it could be crushed at any moment. “That Hongser York boy practices dual cultivation of Battle Tail; I'm quite envious. If his father weren't the City Lord, I would have tried to recruit him into the Torrent Battle Fortress by any means. I hear this kid has also hit a Grade Three Spiritual Power Barrier. His appearance here clearly means he has his eye on those potions.”

Qian Jin glanced at Mu Gui Wuxin with a touch of concern. “Will people be afraid to bid against him because he’s the City Lord?”

“So what if he’s the City Lord? If he had sufficient power and authority, would Everflow City still have merely Eight Great Factions?” Mu Gui Wuxin shot Qian Jin a look. “This boy’s methods are ruthless enough, but he lacks true spirit.”

As time passed, more and more people filled the auction hall. Familiar faces exchanged greetings, while unfamiliar ones tried to forge connections, seizing the chance to get acquainted. But everyone knew one thing: the moment the bell of today’s auction sounded…

On the main stage, a stout man in a tuxedo suddenly walked out. The previous clamor instantly quieted, and all eyes focused on the middle-aged, stout man with graying hair, holding a wooden gavel.

“Everyone, I am delighted to see you all here today.” The stout man smiled, surveying the hall. “Some of you are old friends, and some are new. Before we begin the auction, allow me to introduce myself: I am Du Yidu, the auctioneer for this house. Let’s dispense with the pleasantries and immediately begin with the first item of the day, the very reason many of you came: the miraculous Spirit Shock Potion!” [Mobile Reading Net, Organized by Hand-Typing Group!]

The hushed hall erupted into low murmurs again. Many people adjusted their seating, staring uniformly at the black box illuminated by a beam of light conjured by several mages working in concert.

“Contained within is the first item up for auction today: thirty bottles of Spirit Shock Potion!” Du Yidu looked excitedly at the crowd. “That’s right! Thirty bottles of Shocking Potion, sold as a bundle!”

What had been a minor stir immediately escalated into a massive commotion. Thirty bottles sold at once? How could this be? Did this mean that among everyone present, only one buyer could acquire the Spirit Shock Potions?

People finally understood why the Spirit Shock Potion, usually positioned last as the grand finale, was placed first.

It was a clear message to everyone: there is only this one piece of meat. Whoever wants to eat it must fight desperately while their funds are sufficient! Watching the seething crowd, Qian Jin felt a faint sense of smugness. If these people knew that this entire auction setup was orchestrated by a little girl who had just become the head of the Luo family, what expressions would they have? Luo Fatty, I’m starting to believe that this girl, who is a thousand times more beautiful than you, truly is your biological sister! It seems the blood of merchants flows in the veins of every one of you Luo family members.

“The starting price for this batch of potions is one thousand gold coins. Each bid must be no less than one thousand gold coins,” Du Yidu announced loudly to the surging crowd. “Bidding starts now.”

“Two thousand…”

“One hundred thousand!” A rough voice carrying an overbearing aura immediately drowned out the person who had bid two thousand gold coins.

Qian Jin’s attention was immediately drawn by the voice, not because of the hundred thousand gold coin price, but by the sheer dominance in the tone—it sounded as if the speaker dictated everything in this world.

“That man is Jun Wudao,” Mu Gui Wuxin stated without opening his eyes or even looking down. “He is from the Jun family, one of Everflow’s Eight Great Factions. They are the only ones who insist on shouting bids from the crowd, caring nothing for VIP boxes. Of course, this has to do with his background and his enterprises. Jun Wudao controls the gambling dens, thieves, and brothels of Everflow City—a figure of the underworld. Li Deyork once tried to deal with him and ended up suffering a small loss.”

Underworld Overlord? Qian Jin studied Jun Wudao closely, feeling a strange familiarity, as if he had seen him somewhere before. But since childhood, he had rarely left the Qian family, and after leaving, he went straight to Oakland. It was impossible that he would know an underworld figure like this.

Jun Wudao, sitting among the crowd, suddenly turned his head and grinned toward Qian Jin’s direction. The long scar stretching from the corner of his eye down to his neck looked especially hideous with that smile.

“Two hundred thousand…”

Just as Jun Wudao turned his head, the City Lord Li Deyork’s voice rang out from a box not far from Qian Jin’s. Perhaps trying to challenge Jun Wudao, his tone carried a faint hint of provocation.

Two hundred thousand! Qian Jin’s scalp tingled. That was two hundred thousand gold coins, not two hundred thousand grains of rice! How could he sound so unconcerned about the price?

“Three hundred thousand.” Jun Wudao didn’t even bat an eyelid, calling out a price that caused countless people to lose hope.

Xiucistak couldn't remain calm at this point either. He raised the arm holding his magic staff high above his head. “Five hundred thousand.”

Five hundred thousand! Before people could even sigh over this price, Lei Guang Riyue gritted his teeth and shouted out the price of one million.

The usually quiet hall immediately descended into an uproar. One million! Even with the immense value of these thirty bottles of Spirit Shock Potion, it shouldn't reach a price of thirty thousand gold coins per bottle, should it?

Lei Riyue’s heart was bleeding; indeed! If the Spirit Shock Potions were sold individually, given the Lei family’s standing in Everflow City, the bidding would likely stall around ten thousand before others backed off, as the other factions could divide the remaining twenty-nine bottles.

But the problem was this: the potions were bundled for auction. If you wanted any, you had to buy them all; otherwise, you’d get none. Lei Yueyue’s dual cultivation of Battle and Demon arts had been stuck at Grade Three due to her Spiritual Barrier. Now, seeing Gu Yue Jiaying’s appearance, she desperately wanted to reach Grade Four Spiritual Power in one go to take revenge on Gu Yue Jiaying.

Moreover, if the Grade Four Spiritual Power Barrier were broken, the next level usually wouldn't feature a spiritual barrier, allowing her to potentially rush to Grade Six Spiritual Power! Grade Six Spiritual Power, combined with her strength from the Battle of Subduing Demons—what kind of concept was that? Defeating Gu Yue Jiaying would be as simple as playing a game.

P: I kept thinking I had updated today until the moderator called me and I realized I hadn't posted anything. My apologies, my apologies. U