Chapter 0110

Chapter 110: If you’re so tough, why not call yourself Zhao Ri Tian!

From the stage, Zhao Wu Tian’s mellow voice rolled across the auction hall as he said: “Sorry to keep everyone waiting.” The sound echoed through the venue and pressed down many impatient murmurs.

A rough voice shot back from the crowd: “I didn’t come here to watch dancing. If you’ve got something good, bring it out. I’m not short on money!”

Another person snickered and said: “He’s right. Let’s skip to the main course. Bring out the Yin Yang Dao Physique so we can have some fun with it.”

At those words, Zhou Tong’s pupils shrank into two brilliant points. Lightning-bright intent flashed from his eyes, pierced layers of barriers, and struck the speaker. His spirit power surged.

There was a wet pop. The man jolted as if hit by a hammer. Blood leaked from his seven orifices and fear spread across his face.

His companion turned pale and asked: “What happened?”

He stammered a reply: “N-nothing. I had an old internal injury. It flared up, that’s all. I’m fine.” He had already realized he had said the wrong thing. If that hidden strike had carried killing intent, he would have died on the spot.

It was only a small episode. No matter the heckling, nothing could change the order of the auction.

Zhao Wu Tian spoke again, calm and cool: “Jokes are over. In this auction, highest bid wins. If you see something you like, do not hesitate, because chances come once and never again.”

An attendant stepped forward to read the rules: first, each raise must be no less than 50,000 spirit stones. Second, fighting is strictly forbidden inside the venue. Offenders will be expelled and all property will be confiscated. Third, if you lack spirit stones, you may sell your treasures on the spot. Our appraisers are the most authoritative. There will be no malicious lowballing.

The attendant concluded: “The rules are simple. I trust everyone understands. Now we begin. Bring out the treasure.”

The lights dimmed until all radiance focused on the center dais, the focus of a thousand eyes.

The attendant announced: “First lot, Paired Phoenix Bracelets.”

A graceful female cultivator came up with a jade tray. On it, a pair of crimson Phoenix Bracelets glowed bright and bold. Even while resting, they gave off gentle, warm energy that felt peaceful.

Zhou Tong sat up straighter. He had not forgotten the Empress’s request. She wanted a pair like this. Such a small matter, he would make it happen.

The attendant said: “This needs little introduction. The bracelets are carved from Heavenly Mountain Jade, a treasure worth a city even by itself. They also carry the meaning of a bonded pair flying together. If you give them to a dao companion, you will grow old together.”

Zhou Tong’s back prickled. He could feel two sword-sharp gazes stabbing him from behind, making him sit on pins and needles.

Mu Rong Ya said lightly, her words dripping with sourness: “Little one, are you really going to buy these and give them to that Empress?”

Zhou Tong coughed and answered: “It’s just a promise. If you two like them, I’ll give you something even better.”

“Deal,” the two women said at once.

Feeling the pressure drop, Zhou Tong let out a long breath.

The attendant announced in an even voice: “Starting price, five hundred thousand spirit stones.”

The auction hall nearly exploded.

“My heavens, that’s too expensive!”

“Why don’t you just rob us!”

“They’re just bracelets. That’s half my fortune. Is this a scam house?”

For major sects, the price was nothing, but for rogue cultivators it was a mountain. Spending that much on a pair of bracelets felt like a waste.

A heavy aura slammed down and silenced the loudest complainers. From above, Zhao Wu Tian’s mocking voice drifted down: “Don’t talk nonsense. Running an auction is not easy. These bracelets have always sold at this price.”

He added, sharp as a knife: “If you think it’s expensive, reflect on yourselves. Have you worked hard these years? Have you earned spirit stones with effort? If not, stop talking with your eyes open. You’re driving me mad.”

Zhou Tong grinned, amused. [Still playing the old goading game in this day and age? Do you take everyone for fools?]

Sure enough, Zhao Wu Tian’s words triggered a tidal wave of curses.

“Zhao Wu Tian, screw your ancestors! Who do you think you are to point fingers at us?”

“If you can sell it, sell it. If not, get lost. Without us lifting you up, you’re just a stinking beggar. How dare you whine and bark!”

“I’ve never seen such shamelessness!”

“If you’re so tough, why not call yourself Zhao Ri Tian!”

The foul language poured down in sheets until Zhao Wu Tian went quiet and turtled up.

The old attendant coughed and pulled things back on track: “Please calm down, everyone. If you don’t like the lot, you don’t have to bid.”

Zhou Tong raised his voice first and said: “Six hundred thousand spirit stones.”

He thought it would be easy, but a voice cut in from the neighboring suite: “One million.”

It was the Jade Purity Sect. Judging by the voice, it had to be Mo Liu Su.

Zhou Tong frowned. [Is this woman sick in the head?]

He guessed right. Mo Liu Su was sick, with a twisted obsession for Zhou Tong. The one thing she could not stand was him favoring another woman, not even if it was the guest elder who looked exactly like him.

She sneered inside: [Planning to give those bracelets to that tramp Mu Rong Ya? Did you ask for my permission?] Thinking the “guest elder” was trying to curry favor with Mu Rong Ya, she lit up with anger and bid without hesitation.

Zhou Tong called: “One million two hundred thousand.”

Mo Liu Su followed hard: “One million five hundred thousand.”

Gasps rose. What a rich tyrant. It was like money meant nothing to her. The attendant’s smile widened. Today they had met a true fool with deep pockets.

The attendant waved the hammer and counted: “One million five hundred thousand once… twice… any higher bids?”

Zhou Tong fell silent. He dipped a finger in wine and began sketching Array Arts on the table.

The little demoness leaned over and asked: “What are you doing?” The lines looked familiar.

Zhou Tong said: “I learned a little trick yesterday. Just in time to try it out.”

She blinked and whispered: “Hey, that’s the Equal-Value Transfer Technique. You want to swap the item?”

As a daughter of the Celestial Masters Clan, the little demoness had seen this art before. Someone had used it once to rescue You Feng and You Chong from Zhou Tong’s hands.

She eyed him and asked: “What are you using as the equivalent item?”

Zhou Tong smiled. His spirit gathered and formed a talisman before him. He tapped the sigils and spoke in a low voice: “Talisman Sixty-Seven, Burst Wave.”

The little demoness jumped. The talisman was already primed.

“Relax,” Zhou Tong said, pressing the talisman onto the Array Arts and waiting for the right moment.

The attendant’s hammer fell: “One million five hundred thousand, three times. Congratulations to the honored guest in Heavenly Room Two.”

He signaled, and the female cultivator carried the bracelets toward Mo Liu Su.