The Empire's Decline
The emcee, dressed in formal attire, clapped his hands lightly.
From the other side of the stage, a staff member strode over, carrying an exquisite tray.
A rolled-up scroll was placed on the tray.
The beautiful host began by saying, "Now, please allow me to introduce the first item to be auctioned in this Premium Auction."
This is the City Lord Appointment Certificate of Mo City, a city located on the edge of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Due to the city's proximity to Barren Desert region and the mismanagement of its former City Lord, the city's finances are on the verge of bankruptcy.
Left with no other choice, the former City Lord commissioned our Auction House to select a suitable replacement for him.
The starting bid for this item is 10,000 Gold Soul Coin, and each bid must be at least 1,000 Gold Soul Coin higher.
As soon as the beautiful host finished speaking, several bidders in the Black Zone raised their bids one after another.
In an instant, the bidding price soared from 10,000 Gold Soul Coin to 20,000 Gold Soul Coin.
During the auction, people can easily and simply participate in the bidding process by using the bidding button next to their seats.
However, these buttons are directly linked to an individual's Savings Account, and if the amount requested exceeds the amount in the account, the process will be stopped.
Quan Yi and Huo Wu's accounts only reached the million-level position because Zheng Xiao temporarily granted them permissions; in reality, they didn't have a single penny in their accounts.
The auction was truly exceptional, living up to its reputation.
From the very first item, the starting bid was no less than 10,000 Gold Soul Coin. Moreover, what surprised Quan Yi even more was that the Auction House was openly auctioning off the city's management rights.
Selling titles and official positions—corruption phenomena that usually only occur at the end of a dynasty—were vividly displayed before Quan Yi's eyes.
The darkness of the Auction House was even deeper than Quan Yi had imagined.
Huo Wu, standing to the side, also looked on with astonishment.
She whispered to Quan Yi, "This Auction House is too audacious. Don't they know that buying and selling official titles is illegal?"
Quan Yi moment, and could only say, "The law can't punish these people."
Huo Wu was still young, and her passion had not yet died down. Seeing this scene, she was also indignant.
Quan Yi patted Huo Wu's head and comforted Huo Wu.
However, at this moment, Quan Yi had gained a deeper understanding of the overall situation on the mainland.
The Heaven Dou Empire has been in a rare period of peace in recent years.
The Heaven Dou Empire, which has been temporarily spared from external threats, is now facing another crisis.
That is internal trouble.
The corruption among the nobility, the empire and kingdoms, the duchies, are becoming increasingly estranged.
The vast empire had long shown signs of decline.
However, the sale of official positions is merely a symptom of decline.
Most of the bidders in the Black Zone are people who are rich but powerless.
They are incredibly wealthy, but they don't wield much power. Therefore, even if it's just the position of City Lord of a small border town, they will do everything in their power to seize it.
"Fifty thousand. Okay, a black VIP has bid fifty thousand. Are there any other bidders?"
Seeing that no one else was bidding, the beautiful host decisively brought down the Auction Hammer and said, "Fifty thousand Gold Soul Coin for the second time, fifty thousand Gold Soul Coin for the third time."
make a deal.
This document will belong to the VIPs in the Black Zone.
The beautiful female host smiled sweetly, and a portly man in the Black Zone got up and walked towards the passageway to the side.
Clearly, this person is the bidder who won the bid for the city.
Judging from his impatient behavior, this person clearly came specifically for this purpose.
However, the man's actions did not affect the auction process.
The staff quickly pushed a small cart onto the cart and began the next round of bidding.
The next item up for auction is a Soul Tool with storage capabilities.
Although its Storage Space is smaller than that of the original Blazing Sun Heart, its starting bid has been raised to 20,000 Gold Soul Coin.
For this item, the VIPs in the Red Zone who had remained silent in the first round of bidding also began to raise their bids.
Ultimately, the Storage Soul Tool was auctioned off to a VIP in the Red Zone for 30,000 Gold Soul Coin.
The price increase in the second auction was significantly less than that in the first.
This is because the first item in the auction precisely captured the desires of the bidders in the Black Zone, attracting everyone to compete fiercely.
Ultimately, the deal was completed for an amount exceeding its original price.
After the second auction, the host moved from the center of the stage to the edge.
She smiled and said, "Please note, distinguished guests, the following auction items are somewhat special. In order to fully demonstrate their merits, we have decided to present them to you in a unique way."
She raised the Megaphone and said, "Lights."
In an instant, the lights in the room gradually went out, and the bright room became dim.
Just then, a clear bell rang out from the passageway next to the host.
"Ring ring!"
The attention of all the VIPs was instantly drawn to it.
The next moment, a stream of light flashing with golden fluorescence rushed out of the passage and quickly circled the Circular Podium.
Just as everyone was wondering what it was, the VIPs sitting in the Red Zone at the front exclaimed in surprise, "What is this thing?"
Another person said, "I saw a person's figure."
Upon closer inspection, everyone could clearly see a person sitting on a strange device, propelling their body forward solely by the power of their legs.
Seeing this, Huo Wu excitedly said, "Xiao Yi, this time it's our item in the auction."
Quan Yi was also surprised that the Auction House would make such an arrangement for the Bicycle.
The staff member skillfully rode the Bicycle around twice, and then the room lights gradually came on.
Only then were people able to clearly see the Bicycle and the rider in their entirety.
"What? This isn't Soul Tool?"
At this moment, a sharp-eyed VIP was the first to express his surprise.
The VIP next to him then asked, "So how does he maintain his balance?"
The Bicycle, which made a mysterious appearance, instantly attracted the attention of everyone present.
Under the bright lights, the fluorescent glow dimmed, revealing the pristine white body of the car. Its sleek and simple design made its operational structure immediately clear to everyone.
At this moment, the host standing on the stage introduced the item to the audience, "Distinguished guests, please allow me to formally introduce this auction item."
This thing is called Bicycle. It is a means of transportation that uses two feet to pedal, converting human power into driving force.
They are magical tools created by mysterious craftsmen through their wisdom.
At the same time, I assure all distinguished guests that this is the first appearance of Bicycle on the Douluo Continent, and all of you present will be among the first people on the entire continent to witness this event.
The host's enthusiastic introduction instantly aroused the interest of all the bidders.
The Bicycle, making its debut, held a mysterious Gravity for these wealthy individuals.