When A Wu pushed Ye Rou, who was seated in a wheelchair, up to the entrance of Yang's Treasure Appraisal Pavilion, he discovered that, for once, Yang Fan had actually opened the place for business himself.
Only after A Wu went inside did he realize they had a distinguished guest.
"Hmph! I'm done, I'm done! You and Sister Ye Rou knew I was a beginner, and you still didn't go easy on me!"
Ning Rongrong lifted her chin, but her eyes couldn't help drifting toward the pavilion's entrance.
"We've been playing cards for ages, and you still haven't had any customers. Looks like the pavilion master has nothing to do today. Why don't you come out and have some fun with me?"
"Today's the opening day of the Heaven Dou Royal Auction House. I hear they have plenty of good things this time. With me there, I'm sure I can help you find a suitable gift for Brother Qinghe."
At the words "auction house," a sharp glint flashed in Yang Fan's eyes.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was wealthy beyond compare. What rare treasures hadn't they seen? If Ning Rongrong had her eye on something, then this auction probably had a few surprises in store.
Yang Fan smiled and stepped forward, holding out his hand.
"Since Miss Ning has spoken, shall we get going?"
"I'll broaden your horizons!"
Ning Rongrong extended her hand without a trace of hesitation, grabbed Yang Fan by the sleeve, and tugged him outside.
The two walked side by side along the bustling streets of Heaven Dou City, the afternoon sun spilling across the smooth bluestone pavement.
Ning Rongrong wore a white dress patterned with flowing clouds, her delicate soft-soled boots making no sound as she walked. Yang Fan, meanwhile, wore a neat, dark outfit that showed off his tall, straight figure.
Together, the handsome, composed young man and the lively, charming girl made a striking sight on the street.
The two bodyguards followed some distance behind them, neither too close nor too far. They gave the pair room to themselves while staying close enough to act if danger arose.
Before long, a magnificent circular building came into view.
The Heaven Dou Royal Auction House was imposing, its hundred-meter-high dome gleaming in the sunlight and proclaiming the deep coffers of the royal family and the major merchant guilds.
"Well, if it isn't Pavilion Master Yang and Miss Ning! What brings you to my humble establishment today?"
As the two reached the entrance, a middle-aged steward in a tailcoat, a gold badge pinned to his chest, hurried over. His manner was exceedingly respectful.
"Steward Wang, you're too kind. Please take us to a VIP box on the top floor."
Yang Fan nodded with a smile and handed him a purple-gold token engraved with the emblem of the Swan Martial Soul.
"Right away! Esteemed guests, this way, please!"
They crossed the luxurious, spacious lobby and followed an attendant to the top-floor box, which offered the best view.
The box had a soft red carpet and rosewood furniture that gave off a faint, sweet fragrance. Through a huge one-way glass window, they had a clear view of the circular auction hall below.
The auction was due to begin in the time it took an incense stick to burn.
The two guards stood silently at the door.
Ning Rongrong sank into the sofa like a lazy kitten, then turned to Yang Fan. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "We tied last time. How about another round?"
Yang Fan sat on the sofa opposite her, tapping his long fingers lightly on the table.
"Sure. How about we see whose winnings are worth more?"
Ning Rongrong raised an eyebrow. "So confident? My father told me I must get the star lot of this auction, the Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone. If you can win something worth more than that, I'll accept defeat."
"No wonder you were given two bodyguards with such high cultivation."
Yang Fan lowered his voice and glanced toward the two guards at the door.
He wasn't sure how strong they were, but the pressure they gave off seemed no weaker than a Spirit Emperor's. In Heaven Dou City, cultivators of that level could easily support a small or medium-sized academy.
"And ever since we came in, someone has been using their spiritual power to probe the area. On our way upstairs, at least two boxes watched us."
Yang Fan glanced at two boxes across from them, each hidden behind thick curtains, and another box bearing the emblem of Spirit Hall.
At his words, Ning Rongrong's expression grew serious.
With Yang Fan's reminder, she too sensed the faint tension in the air.
"Looks like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect isn't the only one after the good stuff today."
Ning Rongrong smiled. The girlish innocence faded from her eyes, replaced by the confidence and pride of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's young mistress.
"Whoever it is, they'll have to follow the rules at the Heaven Dou Auction House. If anyone dares to try anything underhanded, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect won't just sit back and take it."
As she spoke, the lights in the center of the hall abruptly dimmed, leaving only a brilliant beam shining on the auction stage.
With a clear chime, a graceful auctioneer in a purple cheongsam stepped onto the stage.
"Esteemed guests, welcome to the Heaven Dou Royal Auction House. I'm tonight's auctioneer, Yanran. No need for long introductions—let's get straight to it."
At the sound of Yanran's clear, melodious voice, the first lot was brought onto the stage.
The red cloth was lifted to reveal a jet-black lump of iron, its surface marked with strange cloud patterns, resting quietly on a tray.
"Everyone, take a look. This is no ordinary iron. It's Extraterrestrial Meteorite Iron from the Extreme North. It's far harder than ordinary refined steel. If a Grandmaster forged it into armor, it could easily withstand a full-force strike from a Spirit Emperor.
"The starting price is ten thousand Gold Soul Coins, with bids rising by no less than one thousand at a time. The auction begins now!"
As soon as she finished speaking, bids rang out across the hall.
Yang Fan's gaze didn't linger on the meteorite iron. Instead, he rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
He turned to Ning Rongrong and asked quietly, "Miss Ning, does the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect want this meteorite iron?"
Ning Rongrong glanced at the black iron and shook her head with indifference. "What's so special about an unrefined lump like that? I came for the Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone."
She really didn't know what she was looking at. If this Extraterrestrial Meteorite Iron appeared in the era of Legend of the Dragon King, even a Divine Craftsman might personally bid for it.
Using this Extraterrestrial Meteorite Iron as a base, Blood Sacrifice with any kind of fused metal would have a high chance of producing a top-tier forging hammer with a special effect.
For a blacksmith, that was absolutely as tempting as a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone!
"Thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins."
Yang Fan raised the bid by twenty thousand at once. Anyone could tell he was determined to get the Extraterrestrial Meteorite Iron.
A wave of gasps and discussion swept through the hall, but in the end, no one chose to bid against him.
Clearly, the price had made everyone hesitate.
Yang Fan wasn't surprised. He acquired the Extraterrestrial Meteorite Iron without a hitch.
Thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins was no small sum. Even Lou Gao, the most skilled blacksmith of this era, might not be willing to spend so much on it.
By the standards of the Legend of the Dragon King era, his skill would only have reached the level of a fourth-rank forging master. He only broke through to fifth-rank blacksmith after using the sacrificial method at the very end.
If even Lou Gao was like that, how could these nobles or Soul Masters know the true value of the Extraterrestrial Meteorite Iron?
They would probably just use Hundred Refinement or Thousand Refinement techniques to make some armor or weapons out of it. Spending so many Gold Soul Coins just for a gimmick clearly wasn't worth it.
They'd probably even mutter in private that the pavilion master of the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion could make mistakes too.
Fame that came too quickly was bound to bring a little storm in its wake.
Hadn't Ning Rongrong gotten to know him to test his abilities, too? But if Ning Fengzhi made a move, they'd probably start thinking there was something special about that scrap of iron.