The Feel of a Trade Fair

Though it was called a private trade fair, Liu Jing brought Luo Hong to the largest auction house in the market district. Quite a few Cultivators were coming and going, so there was nothing private about it at all.

Perhaps noticing Luo Hong's confusion, Liu Jing gave him a brief explanation.

The trade fair had originally been started by a Foundation Establishment Late-stage cultivator from Yellow Maple Valley who loved making friends. His initial intention had simply been to make it easier for his friends to barter with one another, and he had never established any rule requiring secrecy.

This man's friends were spread throughout the Seven Sects of Yue Kingdom, and he even had old acquaintances in neighboring Yuanwu Kingdom. Thus, the chances of finding good items at this trade fair were far greater than at ordinary auction houses.

After benefiting from it, his friends would often bring along their own friends the next time they came. After several rounds of trade fairs, its scale had grown to the point where it Could Not Possibly be hidden.

So, the man simply brought the trade fair into the open and entrusted the auction house with hosting it. All he had to do was preside over each event from the stage, and he could earn a considerable profit.

Foundation Establishment cultivation was the basic requirement for entering the auction house during the trade fair, though every Foundation Establishment Cultivator could bring one person inside.

A mortal Maidservant led Liu Jing and Luo Hong to an elegant seat within the auction house. After serving them Spirit Tea, she quietly stood by their side.

Luo Hong looked around and saw that the area was filled with similar elegant seats, arranged in a fan shape around a central raised platform.

"There are quite a few more people this year."

Liu Jing silently counted the Foundation Establishment stage Cultivators who had taken their seats. There were already nearly a hundred of them, and forty percent were disciples of Yellow Maple Valley, their yellow robes occupying an entire section.

Hearing the displeasure in Liu Jing's tone, Luo Hong wisely said nothing.

After silently drinking tea for quite some time, the trade fair finally began.

The venue's doors shut, and Rune Patterns lit up one after another along the surrounding walls. A fairly powerful formation had been activated.

Soon after, a kind-faced Foundation Establishment Late-stage cultivator with a hearty voice stepped onto the platform.

After taking the stage, he skillfully cracked a few jokes with old acquaintances, livening up the atmosphere before getting down to business.

"There are quite a few new faces this year. Our rules remain unchanged: first comes the Spirit Stone trading portion in auction format, then fellow Daoists wishing to barter may take the stage in turn."

"Without further ado, let us begin. The first Auction Item is the top-grade Magic Artifact, the Clear Sound Sword."

Luo Hong set down his teacup and rubbed his nose. That opening really had the feel of a trade fair.

"Nephew-disciple Luo, aren't you lacking an offensive Magic Artifact? This Clear Sound Sword happens to suit the Water Element Cultivation Method you practice. When wielded, it can greatly enhance its power. Why not try placing a bid?"

Liu Jing's suggestion was entirely for Luo Hong's sake. Though the Clear Sound Sword was a top-grade Magic Artifact, judging by its spiritual radiance, it was not among the finest of such artifacts.

Most of the Foundation Establishment stage cultivators present would not bid on it, making this a perfect opportunity for Qi Refining Stage cultivators like Luo Hong, who had come along with others, to make a move.

"Thank you for the reminder, Martial Uncle, but this junior does not have many Spirit Stones on him. Rather than Magic Artifacts for fighting and brawling, I would rather use them to exchange for spiritual items that can aid my cultivation."

At present, Luo Hong was interested only in Aerial Driving Magic Tools with astonishing speed. Nothing else was enough to tempt him into exposing his wealth.

"You Say makes sense. Do as you please."

Although Liu Jing had a favorable impression of Luo Hong, he did not believe a Cultivator with a False Spirit Root could successfully reach Foundation Establishment. He felt that rather than spending his Spirit Stones on Pills, Luo Hong would be better off buying one or two top-grade Magic Artifacts to pass down to his descendants.

However, seeing how firm Luo Hong's resolve was, Liu Jing could not bear to discourage him and said no more.

After several rounds of bidding, the Clear Sound Sword sold at the inflated price of three hundred and fifty Spirit Stones. It was bought by the Qi Refining Stage Female Cultivator of a Dual Cultivation Couple from the Giant Sword Sect.

The next two Auction Items were also top-grade Magic Artifacts, but this time they were exceptional among top-grade artifacts. They drew competition from the Foundation Establishment stage cultivators and ultimately sold for over six hundred Spirit Stones each.

"The next Auction Item has quite a background. Everyone, please look. This gourd is called the Jade Dragon Gourd. It is a Refined Treasure crafted by a Core Formation stage cultivator from a Level Four Water Flood Dragon Spirit Bone. Not only can its interior space hold an entire lake's worth of water, it also possesses the divine ability to refine Mortal Water into spiritual water. This is quite a rare treasure."

The kind-faced Old Man held up a moderately sized, pure-white gourd adorned with only a few decorative stripes for everyone to see.

Yet before he could announce the starting price, a discordant voice sounded from below the stage.

"Tch, and this counts as a treasure? Isn't it just a slightly roomier little purification bottle? That Level Four Water Flood Dragon's spirit bone was originally a fairly rare spiritual material, but after being scorched by a Core Formation stage cultivator's Core Fire, even reforging it is nothing more than wishful thinking. And that ability to produce spiritual water—can that stuff really be consumed?"

A rude Big Man from Spirit Beast Mountain spoke without the slightest courtesy, criticizing the Jade Dragon Gourd until it seemed worthless.

However, he did have some valid points. Most of those present silently nodded after hearing him.

"Fellow Daoist from Spirit Beast Mountain, mind your tongue. The fellow Daoist selling this treasure is in the venue. Be careful lest disaster come from your mouth!"

The kind-faced Old Man feared that after this brute stirred up such trouble, the Jade Dragon Gourd would fail to sell. He issued the warning coldly.

"Ah, a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. I was not targeting that fellow Daoist. I am simply blunt by nature. To express my apology, I am willing to buy this gourd at its starting price."

A cunning gleam flashed through the rude Big Man's eyes. The Jade Dragon Gourd would be of great use to him.

His family had raised a kind of Spirit Insect called Bone Gnawing Flying Ant for generations. If they could feed it the spirit bone of a Level Four Water Flood Dragon, there was a strong chance it could advance.

The kind-faced Old Man froze upon Hearing This, but he quickly came to his senses and realized he had been used. His gaze toward the rude Big Man immediately became even more disgusted.

"Hmph. The starting price is three hundred Spirit Stones. Are you sure you wish to buy it?"

"How can it be so high? The starting prices for those top-grade Magic Artifacts earlier were only two hundred Spirit Stones! This is merely a useless water-carrying gourd. How can its starting price be higher than that of a top-grade Magic Artifact?"

The rude Big Man widened his eyes, actually intending to haggle with the kind-faced Old Man.

"The starting price of this treasure is three hundred Spirit Stones. Could it be that you do not trust this old man?"

The kind-faced Old Man's gaze gradually turned cold. The formidable aura of his Foundation Establishment Late-stage cultivation slowly pressed down on the rude Big Man, who possessed only Foundation Establishment Early-stage cultivation.

"Fine, three hundred it is."

The rude Big Man put on a pained expression and was about to conclude the transaction with the kind-faced Old Man when a bid suddenly came from behind him.

"Wait. This junior offers three hundred and one Spirit Stones, to ease this senior's worries."

Luo Hong's voice reached the ears of every Cultivator in the venue with perfect clarity. With someone competing for it, everyone's interest in the Jade Dragon Gourd was rekindled.

"Nephew-disciple Luo, you need not do this!"

Liu Jing's expression was difficult to describe—gratitude mixed with a hint of guilt, anger tangled with hesitation.