Bidding for Treasures, Drum Beating Golden Hammer

The Myriad Treasures Merchant Caravan's reputation was renowned. Even though Ning Xiu had never left Chaotian Capital before, he had heard of them.

This caravan was composed entirely of various extraordinary individuals with formidable strength, which allowed them to travel far and wide, searching for treasures everywhere.

Each time the Myriad Treasures Merchant Caravan returned from afar, it would attract the attention of the wealthy magnates and high-ranking nobles of Great Shang, who wanted to see what treasures they had brought back from their journeys.

Before this, Ning Xiu had only heard their name, but never seen them.

He never expected that tonight the Myriad Treasures Merchant Caravan would be holding a treasure bidding event at the Moon Embracing Tower in Wendeng County. He considered himself lucky to be able to witness the excitement.

The so-called treasure bidding event was essentially an auction, where some of the treasures brought back by the Myriad Treasures Merchant Caravan would be put up for sale.

If you liked something, you could bid on it and compete with others. The highest bidder would win.

As a writer of erotic novels, Ning Xiu figured that such a blend of vulgarity and elegance would surely be popular after publication.

Sales would naturally not be bad, and Ning Xiu estimated that the fellow in question should have quite a bit of wealth on hand.

Seeing Huang You's excited expression, it seemed he intended to spend lavishly and throw money around tonight.

"Ding dong, dong-a-lee-dong dong~ The soldiers' business is too unfair…"

After three rounds of drinks, the martial actor singing on the stage was suddenly interrupted and taken off.

Upon seeing this, everyone in the Moon Embracing Tower instantly perked up. This was likely the prelude to the treasure bidding event.

As expected, after clearing everyone from the stage, a middle-aged man in a long gown and three burly men in tight-fitting clothes walked onto the stage. The entire venue immediately fell silent, all eyes fixed on the stage.

"This is Manager Ye of the Moon Embracing Tower. I don't recognize those three, but if I'm not mistaken, they should be the ones sent by the Myriad Treasures Merchant Caravan to host this treasure bidding event," Huang You explained to Ning Xiu.

At the same time, the Manager Ye on stage also spoke: "Thank you for your patience. These three are the stewards of the Myriad Treasures Merchant Caravan, and they will be hosting this treasure bidding event tonight. We hope everyone will participate enthusiastically. If you see any treasures you like, act decisively, lest you regret it later."

Great Shang's territory originally comprised thirty-six prefectures. However, after the great chaos caused by malevolent spirits across the land, prefectures farther from Chaotian Capital became increasingly difficult to travel to. Along the way, waterways and roads were often occupied by monsters and malevolent spirits, blocking passages and post stations, and causing harm to the region.

Now, Great Shang could only fully control sixteen prefectures. Four of these were recaptured in the past few decades, while the remaining twenty prefectures were still in a state of fighting independently and sealing their cities for defense.

The mountains were high and the roads were long. Even when the Demon Subduing Bureau occasionally dispatched dozens of Demon Subduing Captains on expeditions to reclaim prefectures besieged by malevolent spirits and monsters, they sometimes found themselves lacking the strength to do so.

This was because while some Demon Subduing Captains were powerful, some great demon kings, fiends, and ferocious gods were also terrifyingly strong, preventing the Demon Subduing Bureau from gaining any significant advantage.

They could only gaze at their lost territories, unable to reclaim them.

Over centuries, the prefectures trapped outside slowly evolved into entities akin to 'feudal lords' and 'vassals'. Although the Emperor of Great Shang found it displeasing, he was powerless.

Therefore, the special products of these twenty prefectures, such as gold, fine horses, jade carvings, and fruits, became rare treasures with no market for the people in Chaotian Capital due to the extreme difficulty of transportation. Few could successfully bring them back.

Under Ning Xiu's gaze, the three men each took out a scroll and began to read the names of the treasures and their starting prices recorded on them.

"One Sea Moon Pearl from Daliang Prefecture, three hundred taels."

"Three catties of Star Pattern Damascus Steel from Nanjiang Prefecture, five hundred taels."

"Five feet of Golden Silk Silkworm Cloth from Wuyue Prefecture, six hundred taels."

Listening to these things he had never heard of before, Ning Xiu appeared calm, but Huang You, sitting beside him, couldn't contain himself.

"Good stuff, all good stuff! The Sea Moon Pearl glows at night, providing a soft and gentle light that doesn't strain the eyes when reading. Star Pattern Damascus Steel is lighter and harder than ordinary ore, making it an excellent material for crafting armor and weapons. As for the Golden Silk Silkworm Cloth, it's even more remarkable. Clothes made from it are warm in winter and cool in summer, lightweight, and durable. Anyone who can make a garment from this cloth will be incredibly distinguished."

Huang You took the paper and brush he had prepared from his attendant and began bidding on the treasures he fancied.

Ning Xiu glanced at it. There were a total of seventeen items, each priced no lower than three hundred taels. This showed that Huang You was indeed very wealthy.

"It seems writing erotic novels in Great Shang is quite profitable," Ning Xiu couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"Lord Ning, have you seen anything you like or fancy? If so, please tell me. Huang will do his best as a host and secure it for you, no matter the price," Huang You said to Ning Xiu after handing his bidding list to his attendant to give to the Myriad Treasures Merchant Caravan.

"Thank you, but I haven't seen anything I like yet. I'll tell you if I do," Ning Xiu replied with a smile.

He loved getting things for free.

The Myriad Treasures Merchant Caravan had brought many good items for bidding tonight, and in the end, over a hundred people chose to participate in the bidding. According to the rules, The caravan members would publicly announce the highest bid for each item and ask if anyone in the audience wanted to exceed that price. If so, the bidding would continue; if not, the item would go to the highest bidder.

For a time, this feeling of spending money like water made the atmosphere incredibly heated. Both those who were bidding and those who were just watching were very excited, wishing the bidders would compete even more fiercely, preferably to the point of fighting, which would make it even more lively.

After the time it took half an incense stick to burn, Huang You successfully secured twelve of the seventeen treasures he had set his sights on, reaping considerable gains.

"Lord Ning, this Myriad Treasures Merchant Caravan travels out once every three months. Upon their return, they begin selecting different locations to hold treasure auctions. After a period of rest, they gather their manpower and set out again. Opportunities are rare, so if you see anything you like, you must speak up quickly. Otherwise, if you miss this chance, the next one won't be for several months," Huang You reminded him.

At this point, the first round of treasures on stage was sold out, and the second round of treasure bidding began.

A burly man holding a scroll boomed, "A pair of top-grade Pure White Jade Thumb Rings, five hundred taels."

This man was well-built, and his temples were different from ordinary people, bulging slightly outwards, as if two flesh lumps had grown on his head.

This was a characteristic possessed only by those at the Martial Dao Seventh Rank. It was a physical reaction from just breaking through the realm, where their Internal Energy had not yet been skillfully controlled. Once the martial artist stabilized their Internal Energy, those two bulges would recede.

Just having one person sent to host the bidding and compete for treasures at the Martial Dao Seventh Rank gave Ning Xiu a deeper understanding of the Myriad Treasures Merchant Caravan's strength.

"White jade thumb rings! And top-grade ones at that!" Hearing the man's announcement, Huang You became extremely excited and quickly wrote his bid on the paper.

Eight hundred taels!

Ning Xiu was slightly surprised. Eight hundred taels was a considerable sum, equivalent to many years of expenses for an ordinary family. He wondered what was so special about these thumb rings to be worth eight hundred taels.

Perhaps sensing Ning Xiu's confusion, Huang You proactively explained, "Lord Ning, you might not know, but Pure White Jade is a specialty of Yuyang Prefecture. This type of jade mine can only be found there. Ordinary Pure White Jade, when worn, has the effects of calming the spirit, aiding sleep, and steadying the mind. As for top-grade Pure White Jade, it can nourish essence and protect the kidneys, improve eyesight and hair growth, and maintain a youthful appearance, making it a treasure you simply can't buy on the market."

"Is it really that magical?" Ning Xiu was half-believing. Just wearing a piece of jade could yield so many benefits; it could practically be called a divine artifact.

After waiting for a while, those who wanted to bid had essentially submitted their prices. The powerfully built man took the highest bid sheet from his companion and announced, "Young Master Lu, the bid is one thousand taels. Is anyone else planning to bid? If not, this top-grade Pure White Jade Thumb Ring will go to Young Master Lu."

Huang You's expression faltered. He knew he definitely wasn't the highest bidder, and at worst, he could bid again later.

However, this Young Master Lu, who had the highest bid, made him feel perplexed.

He had lived in Wendeng County for over a decade and had never heard of any wealthy merchants or gentry in the county with the surname Lu.

Could it be that this was a rich young master who had specifically traveled from elsewhere upon learning that the Myriad Treasures Merchant Caravan would be holding a treasure bidding event in Wendeng County tonight?

"Go call your shopkeeper," Huang You said to the waiter outside the private room.

Soon, Shopkeeper Ye of the Moon Embracing Tower hurried over and entered the private room, "Young Master Huang, what can I do for you?"

"Do you know who this Young Master Lu is?"

"Ah, Young Master Huang, you don't know? Young Master Lu is the son of our county's new County Magistrate, Lord Lu."

"New... County... Magistrate..." Upon hearing this, Huang You's composure instantly shattered.

His father had been the County Magistrate of Wendeng County. Not long ago, without doing anything, he received news that his official position had been revoked, and he was forcibly retired. Someone would be parachuted into Wendeng County to replace him.

This new County Magistrate was the person who replaced his father. Huang You didn't know much about the new County Magistrate's information, and now that he knew, he was naturally furious, grinding his teeth.

Although his father had a child late in life, he wasn't old enough to retire by any calculation. It must be that the new County Magistrate had used some underhanded tactics behind the scenes to cause his father to lose his official position.

A surge of indignation instantly filled Huang You's heart. The County Magistrate position was taken by your Lu family, so there's no way you're getting this Pure White Jade Thumb Ring tonight.

Without even giving anyone time to stop him, Huang You ran out of the private room and shouted, "One thousand two hundred taels!"

Instantly, all eyes turned towards him. Such a bid was not in line with the rules, but upon seeing it was Huang You, no one said much; everyone present knew him.

The powerfully built man was unconcerned. He simply nodded and said, "One thousand two hundred taels. Is anyone else bidding?"

The entire venue was silent.

Ultimately, the top-grade Pure White Jade Thumb Ring was easily pocketed by Huang You, who felt quite smug.

"Trying to compete with me? Even though my father isn't the County Magistrate anymore, when it comes to financial strength, I'll crush you. What Young Master Lu? Bah." Huang You returned to the private room, feeling refreshed.

On the second floor of the Moon Embracing Tower, in a private room near the walkway, a tall and thin young man in a blue robe sat on a wooden chair, fanning himself and watching the opera stage below.

Seeing the thumb ring being sold, the attendant standing behind the blue-robed youth couldn't help but ask, "Young Master, it's only twelve hundred taels of silver. Why didn't we continue bidding? This Pure White Jade Thumb Ring is a rare sight. Isn't it a shame not to get it tonight?"

The young man smiled faintly, "What's a shame? After the treasure bidding ends tonight, you can take people to snatch the treasure from the one who bought it."

The attendant's eyes immediately lit up, "Brilliant! Young Master, this move of yours is truly ingenious. This is what you call treasure hunting."

After the Pure White Jade Thumb Ring was sold, the powerfully built man proceeded to announce several other very precious treasures, but none of them piqued Ning Xiu's interest.

Huang You would occasionally bid on items he fancied, and if he didn't like something, he'd let others compete for it. Soon, after the thumb ring, seven more treasures were sold.

"The Drum Beating Golden Hammer used by the Purple Thunder True Man in his lifetime. It was originally a pair, but one was lost after the Purple Thunder True Man's death. Each hammer weighs three hundred and twenty pounds, selling for one thousand taels."

Purple Thunder True Man!

Ning Xiu's spirit instantly ignited. "True Man" was a title reserved for experts at Immortal Path Fourth Rank and above; this was common knowledge and no one could be mistaken about it.

A weapon used by an Immortal Path True Man expert was incredibly significant. If he could acquire and use it, its power would undoubtedly far surpass ordinary mortal weapons.

Although Ning Xiu didn't know hammer techniques, he could learn them.

Lifting the bamboo curtain and looking out, he saw on the stage floor a golden hammer, four feet long, with a hammerhead shaped like a round pumpkin.

The hammer's surface was covered with numerous orange-red talismans, indicating it was clearly an Immortal Path artifact.

"This hammer weighs three hundred and twenty pounds. Who can even swing it after buying it?"

"You don't understand. This is a weapon used by a True Man. It's imbued with the True Man's spiritual energy. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have it at home to ward off evil spirits and suppress malevolent forces?"

"This method is reliable, and it also makes me seem very refined."

The entire venue erupted in discussion. It seemed many people were interested in the hammer.

"Young Master Huang, I want this one," Ning Xiu said, looking at the Drum Beating Golden Hammer on the stage.

"Alright, Lord Ning, you've finally spoken. I will definitely get it for you." Huang You brought out paper and pen and wrote down a bid of one thousand five hundred taels.

In the current era, the wealthy pursued the exorcism and suppression of malevolent forces to an extreme. Every household had various statues of immortals and Buddhas, wooden carvings, and displayed various magical artifacts, fearing they might be harmed by malevolent spirits one day.

A weapon used by a True Man immediately drew a frenzy of bidding from the entire venue. Before long, the price had already climbed to three thousand taels, becoming the highest bid of the night so far.

"These guys are really persistent," Huang You nonchalantly wrote another high bid of three thousand five hundred taels on the paper.

If he could successfully acquire this hammer, his expenses for the night would easily approach ten thousand taels of silver.

Ning Xiu became even more convinced that writing H-rated novels in Great Shang was indeed very profitable. Otherwise, how could the son of a former County Magistrate possess so much wealth and spend it so lavishly without any sign of hesitation?

Finally, the Drum Beating Golden Hammer was purchased by Huang You for four thousand taels, setting a new record for the highest expenditure of the night.

After this, the treasure bidding event soon entered its final stages.

The blue-robed young man sitting in the second-floor private room immediately said to his attendant, "You can make your move now. What's mine is mine, and no one else can take it, even if they spend money."

"Understood, Young Master."