"Gang Leader Lu even covered it with black cloth. He sure knows how to keep people in suspense."
Liang Chengshi looked toward the huge iron carriage that had been pushed into the middle of the banquet hall and covered with a layer of black cloth. He couldn't help smacking his lips.
But then he seemed to think of something and turned to Chen Jingping. "Senior Brother Chen, iron carriages capable of resisting the Demon-Human Race aren't something you see every day. Could this huge iron cage carriage have been made by your Chen Family too?"
"If your family really did make it, Senior Brother Chen, you must have seen this Demon-Human woman beforehand."
As though he'd figured something out, Liang Chengshi grew even more excited.
Chen Jingping smiled without replying, only saying, "The auction is about to begin. Why don't we wait and see what this Demon-Human woman looks like?"
Liang Chengshi felt all the wind go out of his sails. He looked over at Zhou Yun and saw that he wasn't reacting either, as though he didn't care in the least.
"What a dull bunch of martial artists..."
Liang Chengshi muttered under his breath, convinced the two of them were utterly boring.
"I wonder if any of the upcoming lots will be rare treasures like the White Jade Ginseng King..."
Zhou Yun grumbled inwardly. If one of them had effects on par with the White Jade Ginseng King, he'd be quite interested in bidding on it.
He might not use it right away, but it would still be a way to increase his reserves. Although he had some silver on hand, he had very little of value to offer.
Even if he couldn't use it for the time being, he could trade it for something with some martial masters.
Quite a few senior brothers and sisters from the Inner Courtyard had come over to greet him during the banquet. They must have heard that Zhou Yun was representing the Black Stone Martial Hall in the Three Halls Martial Tournament.
Although he was only a substitute for now, that was already enough to earn their respect.
"Everyone, welcome to the banquet hosted by the Sea Whale Gang... I won't dwell on the minor matters of the past. We'll be returning to put down roots in Black Stone County, and we hope you'll all be understanding."
Standing in the middle of the hall, Lu Tianxiong spoke in a clear, ringing voice. "Today's banquet is also an auction organized by the Sea Whale Gang and the Black Stone Martial Hall. I expect many of you have already heard about the final lot... That's right, it's a Demon-Human woman!"
Rustle.
Lu Tianxiong pulled away the black cloth, revealing a Snake-Person Demon-Human covered in bloody welts, with a few green scales on her fair cheeks.
She bit her lower lip, looking somewhat defiant. Beneath her black robe, her snake tail had vanished, replaced by a pair of fair, pink-tinged feet.
"So the rumors were right—it's a Snake-Person! That race is the hardest to deal with. They're said to be cunning and treacherous, not to mention extremely skilled at bewitching humans. I can't believe the Sea Whale Gang managed to capture such a beauty."
Liang Chengshi was stunned, but then he chuckled. "The Snake-Person Race may be cunning, but their waists are so slender and soft. That sensation of alternating ice and fire is utterly addictive..."
"Snake-Person Race? So this is what Demon-Humans look like..."
Zhou Yun carefully studied the Snake-Person's appearance and bearing, committing them to memory.
It wasn't for any other reason. He just didn't want to be caught off guard and give himself away if he encountered one of these things deep in the mountains.
"This isn't an ordinary Snake-Person. Normally, Demon-Humans have human heads and animal bodies. But this one's tail has turned into human legs. Aside from certain great demons mentioned in legends, there's only one other explanation... Her bloodline must be extraordinarily precious."
Chen Jingping spoke calmly, as though he knew a great deal about this creature.
"Right. This Demon-Human is nothing like the Cat-Persons and Leopard-Persons I've seen before. Those feet really look human..."
Only then did Liang Chengshi catch on, but he abruptly cut himself off.
"As you can all see, this is a Green Snake Demon-Human with an exceptionally pure bloodline. Several of our gang's disciples captured her by chance on the outskirts of the Black Profound Mountain Range. Her snake tail has already transformed into human feet."
Seeing how stunned the crowd was, Lu Tianxiong continued, "If she's fully tamed, we estimate she'll have at least the strength of a master at the peak of Bright Force. With further cultivation, she could break through to Dark Force. It wouldn't even be impossible for her to become a Transformation Force grandmaster!"
His words stirred the hearts of everyone present.
The female martial masters hadn't been interested at first, but even they were tempted after hearing that.
"Cultivate her a little, and she'll be a Dark Force expert who'll never betray you..."
Zhou Yun's thoughts stirred, but he had no intention of making a move for this Demon-Human.
First of all, taming a Demon-Human was an enormous challenge, let alone cultivating one. Few people even knew how the Snake-Person Race cultivated.
If he bought her, he'd probably have to control her with extreme methods, leaving her as nothing more than a plaything or a death warrior with peak Bright Force at best.
If he failed to tame her properly, given her current state, she might well turn on her master.
"Junior Brother Zhou, are you worried about taming her? My family does know a few secrets about the Snake-Person Race..."
Seeing that Zhou Yun was tempted, Chen Jingping continued, "I've heard that the Snake-Person Race sheds its skin during the full moon, and its strength rises by a whole stage afterward. If you drip a drop of your own blood essence on her while she's weak after shedding her skin, she'll accept you as her master and never harbor a second thought."
"Although how often they shed their skin depends on the purity of their bloodline, you don't need to worry about that with this Snake-Person Demon-Human."
"There's really a method like that?"
Zhou Yun was astonished. But it did make sense, and it even solved the problem of how the Snake Demon cultivated.
If Chen Jingping was telling the truth, buying this Snake-Person Demon-Human would be a sure thing—an investment worth a fortune.
But if she was so valuable, why wasn't Lu Tianxiong keeping her for himself? Why put her up for auction?
"Some of you may already know how to tame this Snake Demon, but there's one more thing I, Lu Tianxiong, should mention..."
Lu Tianxiong gave a light cough. "This Snake Demon is fierce-tempered while shedding her skin. One of our men tried to drip his blood essence on her during the process, but she bit him so badly he was gravely wounded. In other words, she must willingly accept you while shedding her skin if you're to make her your Demon-Human slave."
"Of course, threatening her with slow-acting poison or the like is another option..."
The onlookers wore expressions that said they'd expected as much.
If the Sea Whale Gang really had a Dark Force expert—or even a Demon-Human who might break through to Transformation Force after proper cultivation—how could they possibly not keep her for themselves?
"She has to accept you willingly while shedding her skin? Just look at her. They've clearly tortured her after capturing her. And judging by her expression, she's probably already an adult. Tricks like sweet-talking and deception likely won't work..."
Zhou Yun shook his head and stopped thinking about it.
Liang Chengshi, sitting beside him, looked even more disappointed and let out a rare sigh.
"Getting her to accept you willingly wouldn't be all that hard..."
Chen Jingping gave him a meaningful smile.
Zhou Yun raised an eyebrow at that. Could Senior Brother Chen have another way?
He was just about to ask when Lu Tianxiong's voice rang out.
"Now that I've introduced today's final lot, the Sea Whale Gang's first auction will officially begin!"
At Lu Tianxiong's announcement, two stunning beauties came forward, carrying an auction item and swaying their hips as they walked.
"Senior Brother Zhou, I heard that whenever someone wins a lot at the Sea Whale Gang's auction, the beauty presenting it comes with the purchase..."
Liang Chengshi lost interest in the Snake-Person Demon-Human and turned his eager gaze to the beauties carrying the items.
"Is that so..."
But Zhou Yun's mind wasn't on them. He wanted to know how to make that Snake-Person Demon-Human accept someone willingly.
With a helper like that, he'd have a solid foundation to rely on when venturing into the main city.
Before you continue