When Lin Ciyan stepped into Star Luo City, night had already fallen.
The night in this imperial capital is completely different from Shrek City - a little less academic atmosphere of the academy, a little more majestic and prosperous hustle and bustle of the empire.
He did not rush to Starlight Auction House, but first found a hotel in the city that looked clean and comfortable to stay at.
What I chose was not the most luxurious royal property, but a mid-to-high-end hotel named "Listen Wind Pavilion", which has a quiet environment and is quiet in the bustle.
"Let's settle down first and find out the situation first." Lin Ciyan was lying on the bed in the guest room, looking at the carved wooden beams, and began to figure out the next plan.
"I want to inquire about Starlight Auction House's information, but don't be too hasty."
Early the next morning, he put on an ordinary blue gown, which suppressed most of the Soul Power fluctuations.
Just like an ordinary tourist, I started my "exploration journey" in Star Luo City.
He did not go straight to the auction house, but first went to the most famous teahouse in the city, "First Grade Fragrance".
I ordered a pot of excellent Star Luo Cloud Mist Tea and several exquisite refreshments.
Lin Ciyan was sitting by the window on the second floor, sipping tea and observing the street scene seemingly casually, but in fact his ears were keenly picking up on the various conversations in the teahouse.
This is a habit he developed at Shrek City - the most effective information is often not found in official channels, but in these places where three religions and nine streams gather.
Sure enough, in just half an hour, he pieced together the general situation of Starlight Auction House from the chats of several tables of guests.
Starlight Auction House is Star Luo Empire and even the top auction house in the whole continent, its auctions are divided into four levels:
The highest level "Red-Level Auction" is held only once every few years. The auction items are all rare treasures, with prices ranging from one million Gold Soul Coin. Non-top powers are not allowed to participate.
The next-level "Black-Level Auction" is held once or twice every quarter, and there must be a finale auction of Soul Bone level. It is a stage for competition between major sects and nobles.
The second level "Purple-Level Auction" is held every month and is mainly aimed at mid-to-high-end customers. Soul Tool, rare materials and precious elixirs are the mainstream.
The most basic "yellow-level auctions" are held every day. They are more like large-scale sales fairs, open to the majority of soul masters and wealthy people, and the turnover is huge.
"It seems that if Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife has been rejected many times, it is most likely to appear on the purple level or Yellow-Level Auction." Lin Ciyan took a sip of tea and made a judgment in his mind.
He also inquired that due to the holidays in major colleges and universities, Star Luo City's recent traffic has increased significantly, and Starlight Auction House has also increased the frequency of auctions.
Three days later there will be a Purple-Level Auction, and ten days later there will be a quarterly Black-Level Auction.
"The time is just right." Lin Ciyan nodded with satisfaction.
He has a month's vacation, enough to work around Star Luo City.
The next two days were pretty rough for him.
During the day, I wandered around Star Luo City, tasted local food, visited famous attractions, and even watched a Star Luo Empire special Soul Master gladiator show.
In the evening, I would go back to the inn and practice while sorting out the information I got during the day.
He deliberately went around Starlight Auction House.
It was a majestic white building, with countless small crystals inlaid on the outer wall, shining in the sun, as bright as its name.
There was a lot of traffic at the door, and all the people going in and out were richly dressed people.
"It's quite impressive." Lin Ciyan commented, but didn't rush in.
He knew that in a place like this, without sufficient preparation and identity, rash actions would only achieve half the result with twice the result.
He remembered the Starlight VIP Card given by Xu Jiujiu.
"Maybe... it's time to go see Star Moon Teahouse."
At the same time, Star Luo Imperial Palace is deep.
Xu Jiujiu just finished a day's etiquette class, took off the complicated palace clothes, and put on a comfortable light pink home clothes.
She stepped on the soft carpeted floor with her bare feet, threw herself facelessly on the large soft couch, and let out a contented sigh.
"Ah--it's finally over!"
At this time, she was completely different from the dignified, elegant, and measured Star Luo Princess in front of outsiders.
Her long golden hair was spread freely, her delicate face was buried in a soft pillow, and her whole person exuded a lazy and cute look.
"Jiujiu, pay attention to your manners." A gentle and smiling voice came from the door.
Xu Jiujiu raised his head suddenly and saw the person coming. Not only did he not restrain himself, but he pouted coquettishly. "Brother, can't you relax a little in your own palace? I have been learning court etiquette and diplomatic rhetoric all day today, and my head is about to explode!"
The visitor is none other than the current emperor Star Luo Empire, Xu Jiawei.
He looked to be in his mid-twenties, with a handsome face and elegant temperament. He was dressed in bright yellow casual clothes. His brows showed the majesty of an emperor and his doting on his sister.
"Okay, okay, you can relax as you want in your own palace." Xu Jiawei walked in with a smile, sat down by the couch, and rubbed Xu Jiujiu's hair.
"I heard that you sneaked out to play a few days ago? And you met an interesting young man?"
Xu Jiujiu immediately sat up and his eyes lit up. "Brother, do you know? Grandma Man Yi told you, right?"
Xu Jiawei nodded, with probing eyes. "Man Yi said, that boy is very extraordinary. Soul Power is pure, has a special temperament, and has a reassuring aura about him."
"The most important thing is... the food he cooks can make our little princess remember it for several days?"
"How can I never forget it!" Xu Jiujiu's cheeks were slightly red, but then he said calmly, "But his craftsmanship is indeed amazing. Brother, you don't know, those simple ingredients taste completely different once they are cooked by his hands! They are more delicious than all the imperial chefs I have ever eaten!"
She described in detail the grilled fish, stewed soup, and barbecue that day. She danced when she got excited, completely losing her usual dignity.
Xu Jiawei listened quietly, with a flash of deep thought in his eyes.
As Star Luo Emperor, he naturally thinks more than his sister.
A young Soul Master who can make Man Yi evaluate it as "not simple", a chef who can make his sister who is used to delicious food full of praise, a stranger who encounters a princess in the wild but shows no timidity at all and has just the right sense of proportion...
This is definitely not normal.
"What's his name?" Xu Jiawei asked.
"Lin Ciyan." Xu Jiujiu replied, "He said that his ancestors were from the Star Luo Empire and came back to travel this time."
"Lin Ciyan..." Xu Jiawei searched for this name in his memory and found no impression. But he didn't show it and just smiled.
"Sounds like an interesting guy. If he's in Star Luo City, you might meet again."
"Yeah!" Xu Jiujiu nodded vigorously, and then thought of something, "By the way, brother Huang, Starlight Auction House will have an event Purple-Level Auction in three days, and I want to host it!"
Xu Jiawei raised his eyebrows. "Want to be addicted to the auctioneer again?"
"Isn't this just the right time to practice!" Xu Jiujiu hugged his brother's arm and shook it.
"Don't you often say that as a member of the royal family, you need to know how to control the scene and mobilize people's hearts? The auction house is the best training ground!"
Xu Jiawei was shaken helplessly and had no choice but to agree, "Okay, okay, go. But you have to bring Man Yi with you, and pay attention to safety."
"Thank you, Brother Huang!" Xu Jiujiu jumped up happily and spun around in circles.
Seeing her excited expression, Xu Jiawei's eyes were full of doting.
This sister is his most beloved relative and his most important helper. She is smart, rational, and has a sense of the overall situation, but the girlish innocence she occasionally reveals makes him feel that she is still a child after all.
"That Lin Ciyan..." Xu Jiawei thought to himself, "If there is really a talent that can be made, maybe we can get in touch. Star Luo Empire, we will always need talents."
What he didn't know was that the talent he planned to contact was currently drinking tea leisurely in the teahouse recommended by his sister, thinking about how to "win" an unsold item in their royal auction house.
Star Moon Teahouse, a rather elegant teahouse in the west of the city.
After Lin Ciyan showed Starlight VIP Card, the waiter respectfully led him to a secluded private room on the third floor.
The view here is excellent, overlooking half of the street, but it is private enough.
"Mr. Lin, here are the recent auction arrangements and general auction categories of Starlight Auction House that you want." The teahouse owner personally sent an exquisite brochure with a respectful attitude.
"In addition, if you want to participate in the auction, we can handle the admission qualification on your behalf. For the qualification of Purple-Level Auction, this VIP card is enough."
"Thank you." Lin Ciyan took the booklet and casually rewarded a few Gold Soul Coin.
The shopkeeper bowed and left.
Lin Ciyan Open the booklet and read it carefully.
Although there is no specific list of lots listed above, it does list the main directions of the next few auctions - Purple-Level Auction three days later, with the theme of "Rare Materials and Soul Tool".
Ten days later, Black-Level Auction will have a special performance of "Soul Bone and Strange Objects".
"Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife... If it has been rejected many times, it is most likely to appear in the 'Miscellaneous Strange Items' section of Purple-Level Auction, or simply be thrown to Yellow-Level Auction for inventory clearance." Lin Ciyan analyzed.
"But to be on the safe side, it's best to attend both auctions."
He closed the book, picked up the teacup, and looked out the window at the bustling streets.
The architectural style of Star Luo City is completely different from that of Shrek City, with more of an imperial atmosphere and heaviness.
The streets are filled with pedestrians, noisy carriages and horses, and soul masters, businessmen, and civilians of all kinds passing through, forming a vivid picture of the city.
"Now that you've come, let's make peace with it." Lin Ciyan's mentality was very stable, "I have enough time anyway, so I'll just treat it as a vacation."
He recalled those days at the Shrek Academy, where he was busy practicing, attending classes, and harvesting influence every day. Although it was fulfilling, it did lack a bit of leisure.
This trip to Star Luo City was a good change.
"But..." His eyes narrowed slightly, "Gold of Life must be obtained. That is a crucial part of the future plan."
With Gold of Life, his mental power will usher in a qualitative leap, Xiyao's recovery speed will be accelerated, and Martial Soul Evolution may also find a new direction.
More importantly, that huge life energy will provide him with the most solid guarantee for absorbing the 70,000-year fourth Soul Ring.
"As for how to get it..." Lin Ciyan tapped his finger on the table, "The best thing is that it appears on Purple-Level Auction and I take it at a reasonable price."
"If it appears on Black-Level Auction, the competition will be much fiercer, but it is not impossible to compete."
He touched Storage Soul Tool. In addition to the three hundred thousand Gold Soul Coin given by his grandfather, there were also some belongings he had accumulated over the years.
Although it is not as good as those large sects, it should be enough to bid for a Ranked Engraving Knife with a "bad reputation".
"If you don't have enough money..." A hint of cunning flashed in Lin Ciyan's eyes, "Perhaps you can 'borrow' some from Her Highness the Princess? Of course, using a reasonable transaction method."
The clear blue eyes of Xu Jiujiu appeared in his mind, as well as the satisfied and restrained look on her face when tasting the food.
"Interesting princess." Lin Ciyan chuckled, "I hope there will be more interesting encounters during this trip to Star Luo City."
He drank the last sip of tea, stood up and left.
Outside the window, the sun sets and the Star Luo City lanterns begin to shine.
The imperial capital is about to usher in another noisy night.
And Lin Ciyan knows that his Star Luo City story has just begun.