Product Selection, Presales, Installments!

The auction continued.

The remaining lots were nothing to write home about, and the atmosphere below gradually cooled.

Until the scholar rapped his gavel and called out, "Everyone, next is today's grand finale!"

He lifted the red cloth, revealing a fist-sized crystal on the stage.

The crystal was dark red throughout, with faint streams of light swirling within it like a frozen ball of flame.

"This is a demon beast core, said to have come from an exceptionally powerful demon beast!"

"This item is exceedingly rare. It can be used in medicine and is also an excellent collectible. The opening bid is four hundred spirit stones!"

Jiang Yuan's eyes lit up.

A demon beast core?

He had heard that this world was boundless, with Nine Provinces and Four Seas. The Great Yu Kingdom lay at the farthest edge of the Nine Provinces, where spiritual energy was relatively thin and creatures such as demon beasts were rarely seen. He had only happened to hear people mention them before.

It was said that every demon beast possessed the combat power of a human martial artist.

This thing was rather interesting.

And this demon beast core looked rich in spiritual energy. It had to be prime material for alchemy!

"Five hundred spirit stones."

Jiang Yuan raised his voice and made his first bid.

"Five hundred and fifty."

A man's voice came from the neighboring private room, hoarse and deep. One could tell at once that he was a martial artist.

Jiang Yuan raised a brow but did not mind. "Six hundred."

"Six hundred and fifty."

The man bid again, his voice now even more sinister. There was even a faint ripple of true qi in it, carrying a warning.

"Seven hundred."

Jiang Yuan did not hesitate in the slightest. He had just earned three thousand spirit stones from the Marrow-Cleansing Pills and was flush with cash, brimming with confidence, every inch the upstart.

The man seemed angered and spoke again. "Eight hundred!"

"Nine hundred!"

Jiang Yuan refused to yield, though he had already made up his mind: if the other party raised the price again, he would stop bidding.

Not because he was afraid.

But because he did not want to be the sucker footing the bill.

Nine hundred spirit stones was already an extremely high price.

After a brief silence from that side, a woman's languid voice suddenly drifted over. "Forget it. Since this friend wants it so badly, let him have it."

Upon hearing that voice, the guests below were all struck dumb.

Even the scholar serving as auctioneer looked up toward the woman's private room, a faint sheen of cold sweat appearing on his forehead.

Damn it, why was this woman here?

After their initial shock, everyone turned to look in Jiang Yuan's direction, pity filling their eyes.

This fellow dared to snatch something from that woman. He was probably in for trouble.

Meanwhile, in a luxurious private room on the second floor of the auction house.

A woman dressed in extraordinary finery reclined halfway in her chair, her jet-black hair cascading to her waist, her manner languid.

Beside her, a man in black knelt respectfully, his face full of confusion. "Madam, why did we stop bidding?"

"Didn't you come here specifically for this demon beast core?"

The woman lightly raised her jade-like foot and rested it on the man's shoulder, a smile at the corner of her lips. "This is someone else's territory. We are guests, so naturally we cannot be too conspicuous."

"But, Madam..."

The man in black was still somewhat unwilling.

"Lin Sheng, go find that old gentleman who made the bid later. Tell him this humble woman wishes to make friends with him." The woman smiled faintly.

Only then did the man in black raise his head, a gleam flashing through his eyes.

"I am willing to serve Madam!"

After the auction ended, Xu Teng personally hurried to Jiang Yuan's private room. He handed over a storage bag, beaming from ear to ear.

"Old Brother, this is the proceeds from the pill auction. After deducting the ten percent commission and the price of that demon beast core, there are one thousand nine hundred and thirty low-grade spirit stones in total. Please count them, Old Brother."

"No need. This old man trusts Hall Master Xu."

Jiang Yuan accepted the storage bag without inspecting it on the spot, smiling as he put it away.

"Brother Jiang, what do you think of my Black Tortoise Auction House?" Xu Teng asked with a smile.

"It has truly opened this old man's eyes."

Jiang Yuan offered the compliment, then hesitated before saying, "However, Hall Master Xu, forgive this old man for speaking frankly. Some of your auction items are unfit to be displayed, and their quality varies wildly. If some evidence were to fall into the hands of people with ulterior motives, I fear it would bring no small amount of trouble to the Black Market."

Naturally, he was referring to auction lots such as slaves, forbidden drugs, and stolen goods.

The Great Yu Kingdom expressly prohibited the auctioning of slaves, and the crime was extremely serious, almost tantamount to treason.

Though the Black Market was a place where all manner of people mingled and the authorities found it difficult to interfere in its day-to-day affairs, if someone deliberately reported it, it would likely stir up a tremendous uproar.

At those words, Xu Teng's smile stiffened somewhat. He nodded. "Ah, Old Brother is right to admonish me."

"Only..."

Xu Teng glanced around before lowering his voice. "Old Brother, to be honest, I do not like getting involved in these messy businesses either."

"But wealthy masters these days all enjoy playing with something thrilling, especially the masters above..."

Xu Teng pointed upward, wearing an expression that said it could be understood but not spoken. Then he sighed. "Old Brother, I have it hard too. I have so many brothers under me to feed, and the entire Jiangning City branch relies on the business of our four halls to keep it alive."

"If the auction house business were better, why would I bother doing such things?"

Truthfully.

The Black Market was the furthest thing from a respectable orthodox sect precisely because it had too many people and too many mixed fish and dragons. To feed so many mouths, it had no choice but to prioritize business and turf-grabbing over dedicated martial cultivation.

Jiang Yuan nodded slightly and pondered. "This old man understands Hall Master's difficulties. But if you want the auction house's business to flourish day by day, you need not rely on such things to attract nobles and dignitaries..."

At that point, Jiang Yuan seemed to think of something and smiled. "Hall Master Xu, this old man has a plan that may help put your business on the right track."

"Oh?"

Xu Teng was immediately intrigued. "Old Brother is an expert at business. Could it be that you also understand auction houses?"

He might not have believed it if someone else had said it, but he believed Jiang Yuan's words by at least thirty percent.

After all, the man was impressive enough to manage four districts.

Jiang Yuan pondered for a moment before saying, "Hall Master, this old man has three suggestions: product selection, presales, and installments!"

"Please enlighten me, Old Brother."

Xu Teng was completely baffled. He had never even heard these terms before.

Jiang Yuan raised one finger. "First, product selection. Carefully select the auction lots, and keep only the best ten items for auction each day!"

"With things as mixed as they are now, it is truly difficult to stir anyone's interest."

Xu Teng nodded after hearing this, but then asked in confusion, "Old Brother, the auction items of our Black Tortoise Hall are already carefully selected. If we keep only ten, where would the profit come from?"

Jiang Yuan gave a mysterious smile. "Things are precious because they are scarce. Since these are auction lots, the profit from one sufficiently alluring item can equal that of ten or even a hundred others!"

"Better yet, Hall Master should hire some renowned appraisers to vouch for them, perhaps even hire famous scholars to promote them."

"As long as you establish a reputation, why worry about profits?"

"So that's how it is."

Xu Teng seemed to have gained some understanding, his gaze becoming even more eager. He hurriedly asked, "Old Brother, then what are presales and installments?"

"Hall Master, do not be impatient."

Jiang Yuan motioned for Xu Teng to calm down, then raised a second finger. "Second, presales. As the name implies, presales mean selling in advance. Hall Master can heavily promote these ten auction items every day beforehand, and announce that anyone who pays a small deposit may pay eighty percent of whatever price is bid at the auction, high or low."

"That way, not only can you earn a handsome sum in deposits, but those who pay the deposits will also fight until their heads are bloodied."

"There is another benefit as well."

A smile played on Jiang Yuan's lips. "Once they have paid a deposit, regardless of their wealth, they will definitely come to the auction to join in the excitement, perhaps even bid for an item or two."

"But Hall Master must remember: the smaller the deposit, the better."

"The smaller the deposit, the more people will be willing to pay it, and the more people will come to compete for the treasure."

"Brilliant!"

By this point, Xu Teng's eyes were practically shining. He looked at Jiang Yuan as though he were a living Buddha.

When it came to business, it really took an old fox!

How could he even come up with such underhanded tricks?

"Old Brother, what about the third?" Xu Teng pressed impatiently.

Jiang Yuan raised a third finger and could not help smiling as well. "Third, installments. This move is the most ruthless of all. Hall Master can make a promise: any customer who wins an item may buy on credit through Black Tortoise Hall. Whether it is over a year and a half, or three to five years, they may pay the price in installments, while Black Tortoise Hall charges only a small amount of interest."

"Just the interest alone will ensure Hall Master earns until his bowls overflow and his basins fill!"

"Interest?"

Upon hearing those two words, Xu Teng was utterly astounded. His expression as he looked at Jiang Yuan was one of reverence towering as high as a mountain; he nearly bowed his head to the ground in worship.

Damn it, he had only ever heard that lending money could collect interest. He had never imagined that selling goods could collect interest too!

Th-This... this was simply perfect!

Could Brother Jiang be the God of Wealth descended to earth?