Trading antiques

Antiques were generally something of a hassle to sell.

After all, they were national treasures that had survived the passage of history.

The government regulated them quite strictly.

They would buy all thirty-two antiques in one go, without any hassle, for only ten percent below market price?

Yang Yu thought it over and decided it was workable.

When he had secretly sold the antique treasures he had dug up in the past, he had to sneak into the black market and worry the whole time. The prices he received were probably even lower than what this shop was offering.

"The price is acceptable." Yang Yu showed little expression. He simply gave Mi Ke a calm nod, then headed toward the shop.

"I'll wait for you outside, then. Someone will attend to you once you go in." With a helpless smile, Mi Ke watched Yang Yu walk into the clearance house. Guides like her could only take customers as far as the entrance of the appropriate shop.

Once a customer entered a shop, its own staff would naturally take over.

She wanted to follow Yang Yu inside, but unfortunately, she could not.

All she could do was wait quietly outside... Once Yang Yu finished his transaction and came out, Mi Ke would receive the agreed commission and could continue guiding him to the next shop.

That would continue until Yang Yu left the Ten Thousand Layers Tower.

Or until Yang Yu wanted to enter the section selling supernatural goods. Above the thirty-seventh floor, new, higher-ranking guides would serve him.

She had heard that the guides there were all cultivators. Ordinary guides like Mi Ke could only work between the thirty-second and thirty-seventh floors.

"Treasure Acquisition."

"Welcome to the Tongbao Clearance House! Tongbao Clearance buys anything and everything!"

The moment Yang Yu stepped through the shop's entrance, he felt the bustling atmosphere inside.

Calls rang out all around him.

A young shop assistant with fluctuations of cosmic force in his body, whose strength was roughly at the peak of the mortal level, spotted Yang Yu and immediately came forward to greet him.

"Sir, I'm an assistant at the Tongbao Acquisition and Clearance House. Have you come to sell something?" the young assistant asked.

"Antiques," Yang Yu answered honestly.

"There are quite a few. Thirty-two in total."

As soon as he said that, the surroundings grew a little quieter. Several other customers and assistants looked toward Yang Yu in surprise.

Selling thirty-two antiques at once—the price was almost beside the point.

The real issue was the quantity...

Individuals who owned so many antiques and could sell them all at once were rare.

The young assistant was no exception to everyone else's reaction.

He, too, was startled, and his tone changed noticeably. He immediately said, "Thirty-two? That many? Sir, you've certainly come to the right place by choosing the Tongbao Acquisition and Clearance House. Please follow me... We'll conduct the transaction in the quiet Side Hall. A specialist will appraise the antiques you've brought and provide a final price list."

"This way, please!" The young assistant gestured to guide him, his voice firm and assured.

He clearly knew how to handle people. Although Yang Yu's announcement that he would sell so many antiques at once surprised him, he only froze for an instant before recovering.

Then he immediately escorted Yang Yu to the Quiet Room in the Side Hall.

That area was reserved for distinguished guests, and its surroundings were far better than the main hall's. While waiting there, customers could also enjoy fine tea and a variety of expensive pastries.

Customers came in different ranks, and those with money naturally received better treatment.

Before long, Yang Yu entered a Side Hall.

It was fully furnished with tables and chairs, and even had dedicated attendants waiting to serve.

It was also very well soundproofed. The instant Yang Yu entered the Side Hall, he could no longer hear any of the clamor outside. A layer of pale green light flowed across the walls and doors.

Clearly, as a Side Hall, it was equipped with a soundproofing barrier.

"Please have a seat, Mr. Yang." The young assistant had already asked Yang Yu's name on the way over, and now addressed him respectfully by his surname.

After speaking, he immediately gave instructions to the beautiful attendant standing nearby.

"You, take good care of Mr. Yang... Brew him a pot of our finest tea and bring some premium pastries!"

"Hurry!" the young assistant urged.

After all that attention, Yang Yu rubbed his nose, feeling a little embarrassed.

He had to admit that the young assistant was exceptionally efficient and attentive. His service left a favorable impression before one even realized it... If Yang Yu had more goods to sell next time, this would be his first choice.

Yang Yu had never enjoyed treatment like this when selling antiques before.

He sat down as invited, and the young assistant chatted with him over tea.

The young assistant was very talkative. By steering their conversation, Yang Yu also learned a few things about Shangjing City's cultivation world. One example was the Ghost Infant Sect, with which he had a feud.

The sect had been lying low in Shangjing City for decades.

On a global scale, its strength was only ninth-rate.

But within Shangjing City's little patch of territory, it still carried considerable weight.

What caught Yang Yu's attention most was the Ghost Infant Sect's leader, Du Xingze!

That man was a powerful expert, a Heaven Tier postnatal lifeform!

The wait passed almost without him noticing... Before long, an old man who specialized in appraising antiques entered the Side Hall.

After asking Yang Yu's permission, he opened the two large suitcases Yang Yu had brought, took out all thirty-two antiques, and began examining them one by one.

The old man shared Yang Yu's surname, Yang.

Since they had the same surname, Yang Yu respectfully addressed him as Old Yang.

Old Yang was a renowned antiques appraiser in Shangjing City... Yang Yu had seen him on television before, but had never expected him to work for the Ten Thousand Layers Tower.

Given Old Yang's status and social standing, Yang Yu would certainly have been beneath him in the past. Now, however, Yang Yu had appeared as a cultivator, and their positions had completely reversed.

How unpredictably the world changed.

Cultivators were ultimately more esteemed than ordinary people. As they wielded unmatched power... the restrictions of the ordinary world would also hold less and less sway over them.

Yang Yu found that rather poignant.

The appraisal proceeded.

About half an hour passed... With Old Yang's brisk, efficient examination, all thirty-two antiques were appraised one after another.

All thirty-two were genuine.

And each was worth a respectable amount.

Although none was an exceptionally valuable major piece, the thirty-two together still fetched a very good price.

"Thirty-two antiques in total, with a combined value of 27.6 million."

"Mr. Yang, since you're selling so many goods to our Tongbao Acquisition and Clearance House at once, I'll take it upon myself to offer you a little extra... We'll raise your payment to a round figure and give you twenty-eight million."

"Eight is an auspicious number, too. I hope we'll have another opportunity to do business."

The young assistant smiled calmly, as though raising the price by four hundred thousand was trivial to him.

"What do you think, Mr. Yang?" he asked.

Yang Yu drew a deep breath, feeling thoroughly pleased.

"Of course!"

"No one ever complains about having more money. Since your shop knows how to do business so well, I'll come back when I have more goods to sell."

"I also have some Mortal Shedding Treasures on hand that I want to sell."

"If your shop can buy those as well, I wouldn't mind selling all of them to you." As Yang Yu spoke, he explained the details of the Mortal Shedding Treasures he had.

PS: Thanks to the readers "Nameless and Heavenless" and "Sahara Ocean" for their tips! But seriously, Brother Nameless and Heavenless, what the hell was that about giving soap on Valentine's Day?! Look into my righteous eyes! Please vote to recommend the book and add it to your favorites!