Chapter 32: token number 69
The interior of the hall was opulently decorated. The seats were made of Green Spirit Wood and shone with an earthy hue.
At the top of each of the four corners of the hall, large chandeliers emitted a soft glow, illuminating the entire space without being harsh on the eyes.
The auction hall was extremely spacious, accommodating hundreds of people without feeling crowded.
David's room was right in the middle, beside his chair lay a token and a booklet containing a list of items for auction.
Using the token, he could place his bids by simply raising it and stating his offer. After a successful bid, he could proceed to the back of the hall to transact and collect the item he won.
David patiently waited for the auction to begin. He picked up the booklet containing a list of items and started to look through it carefully.
As he browsed through the list, he realized there were some strange items in it.
The first few items were not particularly impressive, comprising low-level things that could be easily bought from the shop. David skimmed through them and continued flipping towards the back, where the items started to become increasingly precious.
"Master, what are you looking at?" Mary, who had been ignored by David all this time, spoke in a cute voice.
Instead of answering her question, he handed the booklet to her.
At this time, the auction house door closed. The lights from the chandeliers dimmed, causing the entire venue to fall into a subdued glow.
Above the wooden stage in the front, a brighter light lit up, instantly turning the stage into the focal point of the whole venue. A woman dressed elegantly in a white gown stepped onto the stage, presumably the host of today's auction.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Allison Auction House," the woman's voice was not loud, but it was clear, as if she were standing right in front of you.
"I am your host, Kylie Allison. Before proceeding further, let me explain some rules of the auction so that bidding can be conducted in a harmonious way."
"First: No false bidding."
"Second: No fighting inside the hall; please keep your enmity outside the hall."
"Third: During the auction, no one is to use force or influence to pressure others."
"And lastly, I would like to invite Mr. Brook Deadwood to the stage to say a few words."
After the lady finished speaking, the hall broke out in loud discussion, as if a bomb had been dropped.
"Brook Deadwood, no way, am I hearing things?"
"The richest man in the city," someone shouted in awe.
Brook Deadwood was a local tycoon, presumably the richest man in the city if we looked at things individually. Dealing in the timber business, he had amassed a huge wealth.
David's interest was also piqued after hearing the exclamations.
Soon, a man in his 30s appeared on the stage, looking extremely dignified, dressed neatly in a long-sleeved robe, and exuding a scholarly air.
David was disappointed as the man had little to no cultivation. From what he could feel, the man was only at the Body Refining Realm.
After thanking the lady, Brook started to speak. Instantly, the whole crowd fell silent.
"First of all, I would like to thank the Allison Family for treating me with such respect…" he spoke in a deep, soothing voice filled with charisma.
The man spoke for half an hour, and the crowd intently listened without disturbing him. David even noticed some people taking notes below.
"In the end, I would like to thank all of you for coming here."
With those words, the man left the stage. Judging by the crowd's reaction, the man was highly respected.
After Brook left, only Kylie remained on the stage.
"What needs to be said has been said, so without further ado, let's begin."
"Next."
"Bring in the first item for the auction."
No sooner had Kylie Allison finished speaking than a young, beautiful servant girl in a long gown came forward, holding an open wooden case in both hands.
Inside the case was a red flower. The servant girl walked to the crowds below, showed it to everyone, and then placed it on the table.
"This item needs no introduction, but I will still... Magma Yang Flower, useful for cultivators at the Body Refining Realm," Kylie Allison gave a short introduction to the item.
Indeed, everyone seemed to be aware of the item. It was mostly used by cultivators to stimulate their bodies and cultivate every rank of the Body Refining Realm to perfection.
"The starting bid is 1,000 Lower Grade Spirit Stones, and each bid must be at least 100 Lower Grade Spirit Stones higher than the previous one."
"Ladies and gentlemen, start your bidding."
As soon as Kylie finished speaking, someone shouted in a loud voice, "1,100 spirit stones."
However, someone else shouted in an even louder voice, "1,200 spirit stones."
"Shouting so much for just 100 spirit stones extra," Mary, who was watching the auction with interest, sarcastically commented while rolling her eyes.
Just as the person who bid 1,200 was feeling happy, they suddenly heard a voice of a young man, "2,000 spirit stones."
Everyone in the hall was surprised, as the voice came from one of the private rooms.
The Magma Yang Flower wasn't rare, and it certainly wasn't worth that much.
"Token number 69 has offered 2,000 stones."
"Anyone else?"
"The item will be sold in 3, 2, 1... sold," Kylie announced when no one raised the price any higher.
Inside a room situated to the left of David's room, a young man dressed in a luxurious robe spoke in a plain voice, "It will be useful for you, junior sister." The young man spoke while caressing the girl sitting beside him.
Feeling the hand of the young man on her back, the girl felt a surge of current where he touched. She bashfully smiled and hugged the young man tightly.