Wutan City, in the Jia Ma Empire of the Dou Qi Continent's northwestern region.
The Mittel Auction House in the city was merely a branch established by the family, yet its resources were not to be underestimated. The wealth and cultivation resources stockpiled here equaled those of Wutan City's three great families combined, making it the foremost trading hub in this small city.
Deep within the auction house, the appraisal room was elegantly furnished, spacious, and refined.
Xia Kong sat quietly in a chair, cloaked in black robes, his hood pulled low enough to conceal most of his features and figure. He lifted his tea and sipped it leisurely. Though he appeared composed, his heart was full of nervous anticipation.
Level 1 white radishes could speed up cultivation during the Dou Qi stage, with effects rivaling the second-tier Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid refined by Yao Lao. They should be enough to draw Ya Fei's attention.
In his previous life, Xia Kong had been just another face in the crowd. While reading a novel, he had casually picked a tomato from his vegetable garden and transmigrated to the Dou Qi Continent. Whether his soul had crossed worlds or he had awakened memories of a previous life hardly mattered. Over the past month, Xia Kong had fully accepted his current identity.
His name was also Xia Kong. He was alone, fifteen years old, and at the ninth stage of Dou Qi. His Dou Qi was predominantly wood attribute, with a trace of fire attribute mixed in-the exact opposite of the Flame Emperor, Xiao Yan.
Fortunately, as a transmigrator, he naturally had a cheat gifted by his ancestral planet: a special space resembling a farming game.
Over the past month, with the help of the fruits and vegetables with special effects grown on his farm, Xia Kong had successfully advanced to a One-Star Dou Zhe. He urgently needed a suitable cultivation method and matching Dou Techniques, which had brought him to the Mittel Auction House today.
Click, click, click-
The crisp sound of high heels came from outside the door. Their unhurried rhythm made Xia Kong's still-young heart beat along involuntarily, bringing his wandering thoughts back to the present.
With a soft sound, a maid slowly pushed the door open.
A dazzling figure in red robes stepped into the room, pearls and jade adorning her hair. Her figure was graceful, an alluring charm etched deep into her features, and every flicker of her eyes brimmed with captivating appeal.
The newcomer was Ya Fei, the manager and chief auctioneer of Wutan City's Mittel Auction House.
Xia Kong let out a gentle breath and rose to his feet. Somehow, the nervousness in his heart settled.
"Is this the gentleman who offered the rare spirit herb, Spicy Jade?"
Ya Fei chuckled, her voice soft and enchanting, with a teasing sweetness. Her gaze slowly swept over the black-robed figure, curiosity filling her eyes. Clearly, this mysterious seller interested her greatly.
"Judging by your manner, sir, is this your first visit to Wutan City?"
A faint fragrance drifted over on a light breeze, refreshing the senses and quietly sending ripples across the lake of Xia Kong's heart, which had only just grown calm.
"Ahem, that isn't important."
Xia Kong coughed lightly to hide his embarrassment.
He inwardly grumbled, Precious Spicy Jade? It's just a white radish with special effects.
Ya Fei paused slightly at his response.
The maid had reported that this man, who could produce rare Spiritual Plants that accelerated cultivation, acted with calm composure and mystery, like an expert who kept his abilities hidden. Yet upon observing him up close, she caught hints of youthful awkwardness he could not quite conceal in his speech and subtle movements.
Only then did she realize that this mysterious guest was merely a boy.
At that realization, amusement deepened in Ya Fei's eyes, and her smile became even brighter and more captivating.
Noticing the teasing in her gaze, Xia Kong rubbed the tip of his nose awkwardly and hurriedly changed the subject. "The auction went well. I'm very satisfied with our first collaboration."
"Hehe."
Ya Fei covered her lips and chuckled, looking all the more lovely.
From his clear, youthful voice and the pale fingers that occasionally emerged from beneath his black robes, she had already roughly determined Xia Kong's age. Watching him deliberately try to conceal himself while giving himself away at every turn only made him more amusing, though she did not expose him.
"Your Spiritual Plants can accelerate cultivation at the Dou Qi stage, sir. Such a thing is unheard of throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire."
Ya Fei paused briefly, then continued meaningfully.
"However, their effects were excellent, and the bidding was fierce. The ten Spicy Jades ultimately fetched a high price of three hundred thousand gold coins."
Ya Fei took an exquisite green card from the jade tray held by the maid and offered it to him, explaining gently, "Under our usual rules, the auction house charges a five-percent commission. However, I have great confidence in our future collaboration, so I've made you a VIP and reduced the commission to two percent. This is the Mittel Family's universal VIP card, usable at any Mittel Auction House. After deducting the commission, the remaining two hundred and ninety-four thousand gold coins are all on this card. If you have any more special Spiritual Plants like these, we would welcome another collaboration at any time."
To Ya Fei's slight surprise, Xia Kong did not immediately reach for the card.
Under her puzzled gaze, the boy's calm voice came from beneath the black robes. "Of course I'm willing to collaborate. In fact, our second collaboration can begin right now."
"Oh?"
Ya Fei raised an eyebrow and gestured for him to sit. Her beautiful eyes brimmed with curiosity as she stared at the hooded figure. "May I ask what you mean by this second collaboration, sir?"
Xia Kong sighed inwardly. She truly is a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms and bringing ruin to nations. A single look, a single question, is enough to pluck at a man's heartstrings.
Suppressing his distracting thoughts, he kept his expression unchanged and spoke slowly. "I need a wood-attribute cultivation method and matching Dou Techniques, at least Black Tier. Naturally, the higher the grade, the better. I wonder whether you, Miss Ya Fei, or the Mittel Auction House can fulfill that request?"
Ya Fei froze briefly upon hearing this.
Her first thought was of the Mu Family in the imperial capital, but she immediately dismissed the possibility. The Mu Family already possessed the Kui Wood Technique, one of the Jia Ma Empire's finest wood-attribute cultivation methods, and had no need to purchase one elsewhere. The person before her clearly had a different background.
"You should be aware, sir, that wood-attribute cultivation methods are scarce to begin with, and those at Black Tier or above are even harder to come by," Ya Fei explained earnestly. "On the current market, bidding for a Black Tier Dou Technique starts at one hundred thousand gold coins, while a Black Tier cultivation method starts at no less than two hundred thousand."
Her implication was clear: with less than three hundred thousand gold coins at his disposal, he did not have nearly enough to purchase a complete set of a High Xuan Tier cultivation method and matching Dou Techniques.
Xia Kong felt a little embarrassed.
Nearly three hundred thousand gold coins sounded like a lot, but it was indeed far from enough to acquire both a Black Tier wood-attribute cultivation method and matching Dou Techniques. It seemed he would have to bring out another new Spiritual Plant and turn it into cash.
Having made up his mind, Xia Kong pretended to ponder, his gaze casually sweeping over the maid standing nearby.
Quick-witted as she was, Ya Fei understood immediately and waved a hand. "You may leave."
The maid bowed and quietly left the room, closing the door behind her.
Only the two of them remained, seated opposite each other in the silent appraisal room.
Under Ya Fei's astonished gaze, Xia Kong slowly raised a hand and removed his black hood.
With the concealment gone, a handsome, clean-cut young face was revealed. He had sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, his lean frame straight and poised. His gaze was bright and clear, carrying the spirited confidence unique to youth, making him especially pleasing to look at.
Ya Fei was utterly stunned.
She had been secretly guessing at his identity and appearance, thoroughly enjoying the pleasure of unraveling the truth strand by strand. Never had she expected that, with the game only halfway through, he would smash the board himself, leaving all her efforts undone.
"To have already broken through to Dou Zhe at such a young age-heroes truly do emerge from the young!"
Their eyes met. Seeing her own peerless beauty reflected in the boy's clear eyes, Ya Fei felt a slight stirring in her heart. Her thoughts fell into disarray for a moment before she turned her head slightly and sighed softly, an indescribable trace of melancholy in her voice.
"You flatter me, Miss Ya Fei!"
Xia Kong knew Ya Fei had almost no talent for cultivation, so he merely offered a polite response and did not dwell on the subject.
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