Startling Thunder Qi

The gongs rang in rapid succession.

One astronomical bid after another rang out from the private rooms.

The fiftieth lot was a dragon-blooded Great Demon, divided into twenty-two auction items in total.

More than an hour later, the one hundred fiftieth lot was equally extraordinary: a pure-white Great Demon phoenix!

The phoenix bore a golden crown atop its head, feet like gold, narrow willow-leaf eyes, and seven long tail feathers, each one magnificently resplendent.

According to the introduction, it was immune to water and fire, impervious to blades and spears. Refined into a Phoenix Visage Pill, it could preserve one's beauty and lend fragrance to bodily fluids; refined into a Phoenix Body Pill, it could also improve one's movement technique and alter one's constitution...

The auction format was the same as for the Azure-Bearded Dragon, except only eighteen treasures had been separated out—four fewer items.

"A dragon and phoenix bringing auspiciousness."

Liang Qu looked toward the seven detached golden plumes, which the attendants carefully placed into specially made long cases. The cheapest one, if he remembered correctly, had still sold for the sky-high price of three hundred and eighty thousand taels.

As expected of the Imperial Capital's first auction after the New Year Festival.

Two Great Demons.

Both dragon and phoenix were present.

What he had seen and heard here would be enough for him to boast about for quite a while after returning to Pingyang Prefecture.

Thinking of Pingyang—

He wondered how construction on Water Island was progressing. Had Lan Province already been incorporated?

Lan Province lay at the intersection of two rivers. Taking it smoothly would not be easy.

His thoughts drifted.

Nearly two hundred treasures had been auctioned off. Sky light gradually brightened, the wind and snow outside the window weakened, and shattered jade-like icicles beneath the