It had to be said, Fat Dragon was quite good at adjusting his mindset. He quickly pulled himself out of his emotions and began seriously considering whether this White Trait had any other uses.
No White Trait could possibly be completely useless.
Even his trash White Trait, Strength of Nine Oxen, could be exchanged for nine random Traits through the Green Trait, Self-Severing Root, as long as he was willing.
Very quickly, Fat Dragon seemed to figure something out. Thoughtfully, he said, "Brother Qiu, if I make the rounds of every brothel in Great Xia, wouldn't I be able to free all the fallen women in Great Xia?"
"Once all those ladies get pregnant, the brothels definitely won't keep them, right? Maybe they'll all be put on temporary leave? Then I can open a brothel of my own. Wouldn't that be an absolute monopoly?"
"..."
Chen Qiu remained expressionless and silent for a long while before patting Fat Dragon on the shoulder. In a low voice, he said, "Compared to taking leave, those pregnant women are more likely to become fortune-transfer beads. Stop thinking about such unrealistic things. Let's attend the auction first."
The two walked one behind the other along the main road of the Trading District in Area 7 of Heaven-Question Market. It was still early, and the auction would not begin for another two hours, yet there were already quite a few pedestrians on the streets.
This auction was hosted by Heaven-Question Market and was held once every year.
It gathered many fine treasures that the shops of Heaven-Question Market had prepared over recent days. Many treasures normally unseen would appear at the auction. Moreover, the "breakthrough" type Heavenly Dao Secret Realm in Windward City would open in two days.
Quite a few Rogue Cultivators, as well as disciples from major sects and Lineages, had temporarily gathered at Heaven-Question Market.
After attending the auction and resting for two days, they could head straight to Windward City to take part in the soon-to-open Heavenly Dao Secret Realm.
Chen Qiu and Fat Dragon wandered the streets at leisure, occasionally buying things they liked. Just like that, two hours quickly passed, and the auction was about to begin.
The auction was held in a three-story squat building at the center of Area 7 of Heaven-Question Market. The building was called Heaven-Question Pavilion. It was normally closed and only opened when Heaven-Question Market held its annual or quarterly auctions.
It opened only five times a year, and every time, it was packed shoulder to shoulder.
Whenever it opened, many forces from within a hundred li would send people over. Even if they did not buy anything, it was always good to broaden their horizons. There were usually no opportunities to see so many fine treasures.
With their invitation letter, Chen Qiu and Fat Dragon entered the auction hall without obstruction and found the wooden stools marked with their numbers. The entire hall contained a full thousand wooden stools.
The place really was spacious. By now, most of the seats were already occupied.
The first and second floors were connected. Looking up, one could see the floor of the third level. The second floor merely had a ring of private rooms built above and around the hall for guests, with roughly more than thirty rooms in total.
Not long after the two sat down, the shopkeeper of the Zhao Clan Merchant Association's Heaven-Question Market branch came hurrying over in a stoop, his expression respectful as he lowered his voice. "Greetings, Young Master Chen. All the private rooms were already booked, so it truly was not easy to arrange. But I couldn't possibly let Young Master Chen remain in the main hall."
"Fortunately, I have a few friends in Heaven-Question Market. I finally found a private room for you: Heavenly Room No. 7. I hope Young Master Chen will forgive me."
"Please follow me."
Young Master Chen had spent several thousand Spirit Stones in his shop, which already made him an esteemed guest. Such a guest had to be properly maintained. Although the Zhao Clan Merchant Association had shops throughout the entire Great Xia Kingdom, they were not the only ones whose shops covered the whole of Great Xia Kingdom. Maintaining such an esteemed guest could raise the annual sales of his Heaven-Question Market branch considerably.
His own position could also be promoted another rank sooner.
"Mm."
Chen Qiu nodded and rose, signaling for the shopkeeper to lead the way. He did not refuse. Calling out bids in the main hall really was too conspicuous.
After the two took their seats in Heavenly Room No. 7 on the second floor, two maidservants draped in wine-red gauze entered carrying fruit platters. They cautiously crouched beside them, then used their slender jade fingers to pick up fruit and feed it into their mouths.
Chen Qiu casually glanced at the two maidservants. They were both pretty skeletons, though he had to admit they were pretty skeletons indeed.
The gauze on their bodies was as thin as cicada wings, and beneath it they wore nothing else. The private room was somewhat dim as well, lit only by several oil lamps on the walls, their flames faintly swaying.
Within the shifting light and shadows that danced with the wind, the intermittently visible gauze carried a peculiar charm.
In the corner of the private room, there was also a woman holding a pipa, likewise draped in wine-red gauze. She knelt there, gently playing a tune. She alone wore an additional White Trait veil, making her seem a few shades more pure.
The private room was enclosed by walls on three sides, while a small formation was laid out directly in front. They could clearly see the hall below and the auction platform, but the people below could not look up and see them, offering a fair degree of privacy.
Chen Qiu did not pay attention to these maidservants. Though their appearances were not bad, they were merely pretty skeletons. He had no mind for such things at present. A month of chopping firewood had chopped away every one of his other thoughts.
Right now, he only wanted to become stronger—strong enough to live with dignity.
Though he felt nothing for these pretty skeletons, he knew that if he had not already advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm and had plenty of Spirit Stones in his pocket, then even if he wanted to enjoy this sort of life, he would have no chance at all.
To him, the meaning of cultivation was simple.
To survive.
To survive with dignity.
The pipa music behind him gradually became more winding and plaintive, as though recounting a tragic tale of someone who had left home young, alone and helpless, living under another's roof.
And at that moment—
The auction below had yet to formally begin. Many people sat in their seats chatting with one another. Some knew each other but had never found time to gather; normally, everyone was busy with their own affairs, so they took this opportunity to meet and have a good talk.
Others had come together in groups, discussing matters among themselves. It seemed they had already set their sights on certain items.
Most, however, had come merely to watch the excitement. The items that appeared at auctions were all relatively rare treasures, and their prices were not low. Not many people could afford them.
There were also those who truly had their hearts set on some treasure but did not have enough Spirit Stones in their pockets. Clinging to a fluke, they came to try their luck and see whether they could pick up a bargain.
A thousand people, a thousand faces.
Everyone had their own thoughts.
Among them lurked quite a few Foundation Establishment experts, their gloomy eyes covertly sweeping over everyone present as they searched for targets that were easy to prey upon yet offered rich rewards. For Foundation Establishment experts, as long as they were not at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, there were actually quite a few ways to earn Spirit Stones.
Of course, some Foundation Establishment experts preferred plundering as their method of earning Spirit Stones.
Before you continue