Jiang Mingyuan took his bank card out of his Storage Soul Tool and held it between his fingertips as he offered it to the attendant. Without the slightest hesitation, he said, "Swipe the card!"
At the sight of the purple bank card, a gleam flashed through the attendant's eyes. Which wealthy family's young master has come out to play?
Ten million Federation Coins was no small sum, even in Eastsea City.
The attendant deftly took out a card reader. Once the deposit had been successfully paid, he enthusiastically showed Jiang Mingyuan and Tang Wulin the way to the exhibition hall.
There were considerably fewer people in the second-floor exhibition hall.
The auction venue in Eastsea City sorted the items it collected into grades according to their quality and value. Items unworthy of the main stage, lots that had failed to sell, and exhibits not currently suitable for auction were placed in display cases.
If several people took a liking to the same exhibit, they could hold a small bidding contest when it came time to pay. If too many people joined in, the organizers would add it directly to the auction lineup.
Jiang Mingyuan and Tang Wulin walked past row after row of display stands.
Rare metals, Soul Tool design blueprints, ancient Soul Tools, and antiques that were completely useless for improving one's strength.
Jiang Mingyuan shook his head. None of these things were of any use.
The attendant watched their expressions closely. Noticing that Jiang Mingyuan seemed uninterested, he stepped forward and asked, "Sir, may I ask what you're looking for?"
Jiang Mingyuan glanced at him and thought, That's right. I should ask whether they have those three things first. I can take my time browsing anything else that interests me afterward.
"A Hundred-Year Ice Crystal Fruit, a Hundred-Year Scarlet Flame Fruit, and fresh blood from a hundred-year soul beast with a dragon bloodline. Do you have those here?"
The attendant searched his memory for those three items. About three seconds later, he smiled and said, "What fortunate timing, sir. A shipment we received just two days ago did indeed include blood from a Hundred-Year Dragon-Bloodline Soul Beast and a Hundred-Year Ice Crystal Fruit. We also have a Hundred-Year Scarlet Flame Fruit in stock. However..." His tone shifted.
"However what?" Tang Wulin asked excitedly. Please don't let anything go wrong with those three things.
"Well, it's like this," the attendant began to explain.
"The Hundred-Year Ice Crystal Fruit is actually something of a reserved item. One of our regular customers often comes here to purchase ice-attribute spiritual treasures and spends quite generously. We therefore tend to keep a special eye out for ice-attribute spiritual treasures and hold them for that customer."
Jiang Mingyuan understood. They wanted him to bid against the other buyer. If the Hundred-Year Ice Crystal Fruit had already been firmly promised to someone else, the attendant would not have invited an awkward situation by bringing this up.
"All right, I understand. Fetch the other two items for me first. I need at least ten drops of fresh blood from the hundred-year dragon soul beast. Could you contact the other buyer for me? I'm willing to pay double the price."
The attendant hurriedly nodded in agreement. These items were far from cheap; together, they would cost at least three or four million. If he managed to close this sale, his commission would be substantial.
The attendant left in high spirits.
Jiang Mingyuan took Tang Wulin's hand to continue touring the exhibition hall. But when he stepped forward, Tang Wulin did not budge.
He turned and saw Tang Wulin standing with his head lowered, seemingly lost in thought.
"What's wrong, Wulin?"
Tang Wulin withdrew his hand and clasped his hands in front of him. He seemed rather embarrassed.
"Mingyuan... I'm sorry. I've made you spend money on me again. Am I really useless? I awakened the weakest martial soul, the blue silver grass martial soul, and I cultivate so slowly. I haven't even paid you back for the Soul Spirit yet, and now you're buying these three spiritual treasures for me. There's nothing I can do to help you, but I keep troubling you. I've been dragging you down all this time." Tang Wulin did not dare look up at Jiang Mingyuan. He truly felt that he was a burden to him.
If Jiang Mingyuan had not come to Eastsea Academy to stay with him, he might already have gone to school in some bigger, better city.
After hearing those words, Jiang Mingyuan did not rush to lecture him as he usually did. He simply watched the child before him quietly as he sank into self-doubt.
Several seconds passed without the response Tang Wulin usually received. He cautiously raised his head and saw the corners of Jiang Mingyuan's mouth slowly lift into a gentle smile of acceptance.
It was not pity. In Jiang Mingyuan's eyes, Tang Wulin saw a warmth like spring waters thawing-an all-embracing kindness.
Jiang Mingyuan reached out and lightly patted Tang Wulin's shoulder, comforting him in the most natural tone imaginable. "Silly boy, what are you thinking? You've never been a burden to me. I've never helped you because I pitied you, or because I wanted anything in return. It's simply because-you're my friend."
Jiang Mingyuan leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them. Then he raised both hands and cupped Tang Wulin's cheeks, his palms reassuringly warm, his movements gentle yet impossible to resist.
Their eyes met. Tang Wulin saw Jiang Mingyuan's smile deepen as he said firmly and sincerely, "You've never been anyone's burden. Friendship can't be measured in terms of gain. You yourself are what friendship means."
The gloom in Tang Wulin's eyes slowly melted away. He remembered an inspirational passage he had once read in a magazine.
True friendship was never just about looking up to each other in moments of dazzling brilliance. It was when you felt ordinary and utterly worthless, yet your friend still willingly stitched your wings back together with patience and stood beneath you with companionship to catch your fall.
At the entrance to the exhibition hall, the attendant cast a pleading look at his colleagues, but every one of them turned away. In that moment, he finally saw those fair-weather friends for what they were.
The attendant held the two spiritual treasures in his hands. Just moments earlier, he had seen them as gleaming Federation Coins-as his house and his car.
In all his thirty-odd years, he had never felt Federation Coins burn so hot in his hands.
These damned legs of mine! Couldn't you have run a little slower?
Jiang Mingyuan took a tissue from his bag and handed it to Tang Wulin, telling him to wipe away his tears himself.
Jiang Mingyuan beckoned to the attendant.
Thank heavens. The attendant felt as though the crushing mountain on his shoulders had finally flown away. He hurried over, yet the tray in his hands did not wobble in the slightest.
"The two spiritual treasures you requested, sir. We've also contacted the customer interested in the Hundred-Year Ice Spirit Fruit for you. If you have time, please come by tomorrow morning, and we'll arrange for you to meet."
Jiang Mingyuan looked at the tray in the attendant's hands. Two boxes rested on it. He opened them one by one. One contained a fruit with fiery-red skin covered in strange patterns; the other held a small bottle filled with red liquid.
Jiang Mingyuan could not actually tell whether either item was the right one, but he assumed the Auction House would not deceive its customers.
After all, reputation mattered most.
"All right, leave them at the checkout counter. I'll browse a little longer. If anything else catches my eye, I'll pay for everything together before I leave."