Ore Trade

"Oh, oh dear! Sorry to bother you!"

"Ahem! Elder Hai, Grandmaster Xiao Yan, you—you go ahead with your work! We'll come back later!"

"Teng Shan! What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Hai Bodong instantly bristled, his face turning bright red. He jumped off Xiao Yan in a flash, roaring angrily, "It's not what you think!"

In the venue, Ya Fei tapped the silver cube in her hand once more.

Bite--!

A clear, melodious voice quelled the clamor. Ya Fei's red lips parted slightly, her voice carrying a hint of alluring laughter. "I believe all of you distinguished guests have already witnessed the extraordinary power that Spirit Artifact can bring. Mittel Auction House has always been committed to integrity and never makes empty promises!"

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the countless pairs of eyes below, filled with shock and longing, before announcing, "The way of Spirit Artifact, like elixirs, also has grades. From grade one to grade nine, each corresponds to a strength level from Dou Zhe to Dou Sheng. To allow everyone to understand the allure of Spirit Artifact more intuitively and deeply—"

Ya Fei stepped aside and pointed to the huge portal that was slowly opening at the back of the auction hall. "Next, please move to the main exhibition hall!"

--

"There, the Mittel Auction House will showcase a variety of Spirit Artifact ranging from Grade 1 to Sixth Grade! Furthermore, we have specially set up an experience area where you can personally experience the power amplification brought by Spirit Artifact of different grades! A rare opportunity!"

Inside the quiet room, Feng Li received his generous "performance fee" with satisfaction. He wasn't particularly wealthy to begin with, and wasn't very interested in the exorbitantly priced items that followed. Having achieved his goal, he bid farewell and left contentedly.

Watching Feng Li leave, Xiao Yan stroked his chin and said with a look of surprise, "An auction—can it be done like this?"

Huo Yuhao glanced at him, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, "There are many forms of auctions. It's not just about everyone sitting together and raising their paddles."

"Oh!" Xiao Yan suddenly realized, then his expression changed, and he pointed at Huo Yuhao, "In that case, wouldn't that mean—"

"Hehe." Huo Yuhao snapped his fingers cheerfully, "Xiao Yan, you think you can beat me? No way! Alright, we should go see Senior Gu He and the others."

"What?"

When Huo Yuhao, Xiao Yan, Xiao Yi Xian, and Hai Bodong arrived at the main exhibition hall, they were greeted by a bustling and lively scene!

In the spacious hall, crystal display cases were arranged like stars, and soft light illuminated each unique and dazzling Spirit Artifact.

Each exhibit was surrounded by people, who were discussing it animatedly, their eyes filled with amazement and longing.

--

The experience area next door was even more lively!

Within several areas protected by Spiritual Formation, the roar of Dou Qi qi and excited shouts could be heard continuously.

"Haha! These Gale Boots are awesome! My speed is at least 30% faster!"

"Look at my Rock Bracers!" They withstood a blow from Da Dou Shi without a scratch!

"This Qi-Gathering Necklace —wow! I feel like my Dou Technique have doubled in power! And the energy consumption is much lower!"

People lined up eagerly, impatient to touch and feel the power of these wondrous creations.

Whether they were Dou Zhe, Dou Ling, or even some Dou Wang, they all showed excited smiles while experiencing the system. The entire exhibition hall was filled with an atmosphere of fervent exploration of the new system.

"Tsk, this setup—it's a bit like a military exhibition."

Xiao Yan looked around at the people "abusing" the Spirit Artifact in the experience area and couldn't help but click his tongue. "But what if they break them if they use them so casually? That costs money!"

Huo Yuhao smiled calmly, his gaze sweeping over the Spirit Artifact radiating various lights within the barrier. "Don't worry, I've added three layers of sturdy Spirit Runes to these exhibits and demolition items; they're not that fragile. And—"

A glint flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes. "This is a business tactic. Once they've seen, touched, and used it, they develop a possessive desire. Then, during the auction, they'll work even harder!"

Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment. "Damn! A swindler!"

Soon, they saw Gu He, Fa Ma, and Jia Xingtian next to the display stand showcasing the most dazzling Sixth Grade Spirit Artifact.

The three were talking in hushed tones around a Sixth Grade Spirit Artifact longsword that exuded a sharp sword aura.

"Huo Yuhao, Xiao Yan, Xiao Yi Xian! This way!" Gu He was the first to spot them, smiling and waving.

"Senior Gu He (elder brother)!" The three stepped forward to greet him.

Gu He enthusiastically introduced them, "Come, let me introduce you. This is Master Fama, the Grandmaster of the Fa Ma Alchemist Guild. This is Senior Jia Xingtian, the guardian of the Jia Ma Imperial Family."

He then turned to Fama and Jia Xingtian: "President, Elder Jia, these three are the young talents you've been waiting to meet. Huo Yuhao, the creator of these Spirit Artifact; Xiao Yan, Sixth Grade alchemist; and Xiao Yi Xian, also Sixth Grade alchemist."

"Young friend Huo, young friend Xiao, Miss Xiao Yi Xian, it's a pleasure to meet you!" Jia Xingtian's gaze was intense, especially lingering on Huo Yuhao the longest.

"Truly, heroes emerge from among the young! Young friend Huo, are you the Grandmaster who pioneered the path of Spirit Artifact? The younger generation is truly formidable!"

Fa Ma stroked his beard and smiled warmly with a hint of emotion, "When I met the three little friends, I really felt that times have indeed changed!"

The group exchanged pleasantries and pleasantries, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Huo Yuhao turned his gaze to Jia Xingtian, his expression becoming serious, and raised one of the important purposes of this trip. "Elder Jia, I have something I'd like to ask. Does the Empire have any special mineral veins being mined?"

"Our Jia Ma Empire is vast and rich in resources, with a wide variety of mineral deposits."

Jia Xingtian's gaze narrowed slightly, and he nodded, saying, "It's just that because it's not very useful, we haven't put much effort into it, so the mining efficiency is low."

Upon hearing the satisfactory result, Huo Yuhao cut straight to the point. "On behalf of the Jia Nan Academy's Artifact Alliance, I hope to establish a long-term cooperation with the Jia Ma Empire. Jia Nan Academy is willing to purchase all the mineral raw materials mined by the Empire at a price higher than the market price!"

"Hmm?" Jia Xingtian raised a thick eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Jia Nan Academy? Isn't that Mittel Auction House?"

However, he didn't ask further questions, and readily agreed, "The ore will be at market price! These things aren't of much use to the Empire; they can only be used to forge armor. But—"

Because he wanted to befriend Huo Yuhao and the others, Jia Xingtian didn't intend to manipulate the deal. He simply still hoped to gain allies for the Empire.

"Young friend Huo, you must already know that the Empire is about to wage war against the Chu Yun Empire. The Chu Yun Empire's poison masters are rampant, and they are impossible to defend against!"

"I wonder—could we order a batch of items from you three young friends that can resist poisonous gas? Pills or Spirit Artifact are both fine!"

After some back-and-forth discussion, Jia Xingtian finally left his Soul Imprint on Huo Yuhao's soul contract.

The contract stipulates that ores mined by the Empire will be supplied to the Jia Nan Academy at a price 20% lower than the market price.

In exchange, Huo Yuhao promised to deliver a batch of Spirit Artifact capable of resisting poison gas within the agreed timeframe.