"Host, hurry up and begin. I really want to win this damaged Storage Soul Tool and study it thoroughly."
"Quick, get started already!"
The guests in the VIP seats were already rubbing their hands together, unable to wait. Greed and desire showed plainly in their eyes. After all, a Storage Soul Tool with a certain chance of being repaired was a status symbol for any wealthy person.
"Very well. Bidding for the final item of this auction, the damaged Storage Soul Tool, officially begins now. There is no starting price. Let whoever has the fortune to obtain it take it."
As the host's words fell, the auction hammer came down, and a dozen or so distinguished guests spoke excitedly.
"This Soul Tool is highly likely to contain precious treasures. Five thousand Gold Soul Coins. I'll take it."
"What's so impressive about a mere five thousand Gold Soul Coins? I offer ten thousand."
"Eleven thousand!"
The auction, which had been somewhat quiet, instantly grew lively as the dozen or so gamblers kept bidding, driving the price up to twenty-five thousand Gold Soul Coins.
"Are there any further bids? Twenty-five thousand Gold Soul Coins, going once. Twenty-five thousand, going twice."
The host was very pleased that an item which had previously failed to sell could fetch such a high price today. It seemed defective goods still needed certain special methods to stir the customers' desire to buy.
Just as he reached the third count, another voice rang out through the auction hall, which had been quiet for several seconds.
"I offer twenty-five thousand one hundred Gold Soul Coins."
The host and every customer present turned toward the voice, only to see Long Qianming holding up bidding paddle number five.
However, just as the host was about to begin the countdown, Bishop Mai Ruimi glanced at Long Qianming, then said coldly,
"Thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins!"
At this, the host and the distinguished guests all looked at Bishop Mai Ruimi in surprise. They had to admit that a bishop of the Martial Soul Sub-Hall certainly had money to spare. He even had the makings of a sucker.
Even with two or three structural diagrams of a Storage Soul Tool, people like them, who knew nothing about Soul Tools, could not fix something like this. If a divine craftsman came, perhaps there would be a sliver of hope.
Thus, spending thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins on a damaged Storage Soul Tool was utterly foolish behavior that treated money as though it were worthless.
Yet the very next second, Long Qianming raised his paddle again.
"Thirty thousand one hundred Gold Soul Coins!"
The guests in the VIP seats all burst into laughter. They did not dare pass judgment on Mai Ruimi, but other people were a completely different matter.
"My friend in VIP seat number five, spending thirty thousand one hundred Gold Soul Coins to bring home a useless piece of junk-are you going to enshrine it, or are you planning to eat it?"
"That much money could hire a Soul Emperor. Why squander it on something that cannot possibly succeed? You must be sick in the head."
Long Qianming paid no attention to any of that. He only hoped the host below would announce the result quickly and spare him any further expense.
At this point, Mai Ruimi, who had been sitting calmly and at ease, could no longer remain seated. He rose and turned toward Long Qianming in seat number five, who had challenged him twice.
"You keep driving up the price, deliberately competing with me, Bishop Mai Ruimi, for what I want. Have you grown tired of living?"
Mai Ruimi was driven by anger. In his eyes, if he won this damaged Storage Soul Tool for thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins, he would certainly suffer no loss.
After all, he had three people skilled in making Soul Tools! But the person in VIP seat number five was truly hateful, making him spend twice as much money for nothing.
"An auction is all about bidding. If you have more money and more courage, then keep bidding!"
Long Qianming did not back down in the slightest before Mai Ruimi's threat. Just as the two sides became as hostile as fire and water, and Mai Ruimi was preparing to send someone to seat number five to deliver a stern warning,
Lou Gao, who had been sitting behind Long Qianming without making a move for some time, suddenly stood up and shouted,
"A bishop of the Martial Soul Sub-Hall, throwing his weight around to bully others! Do you really think no one in Gengxin City can keep you in check, Mai Ruimi?"
"Competing with me, Mai Ruimi, for what I want is wrong in itself! You old fool, you're far too insolent. Believe it or not, once this auction ends, I can make sure none of you leave Gengxin City."
When had Mai Ruimi ever endured such provocation? He immediately removed his mask and glared viciously at Lou Gao, who had challenged him.
Lou Gao stopped concealing himself as well. To minimize the money they spent, he removed his mask in public, leaving the distinguished guests below utterly astonished.
"The divine craftsman! I never expected him to attend this auction!"
"Let's see who dares snatch something the divine craftsman has set his sights on!"
Most of the distinguished guests held the divine craftsman Lou Gao in considerable esteem, and they all bowed to him to show their respect.
Seeing this, Mai Ruimi had no choice but to rein in his anger. He immediately changed his attitude and bowed very humbly toward Lou Gao.
"So it is Senior Lou Gao, president of the Blacksmith Association. Forgive my discourtesy. Since someone accompanying you enjoys studying this damaged Storage Soul Tool, I shall naturally help fulfill that wish."
For now, Mai Ruimi could only give up on the Storage Soul Tool. Although he also deeply despised these lowly blacksmiths, His Holiness the Pope of Spirit Hall valued them greatly, especially the divine craftsman Lou Gao.
He could be described as one of only two divine craftsmen on the entire continent today, and the only one who belonged to no faction.
"Knowing to help others fulfill their wishes is a good thing."
Lou Gao had little liking for Mai Ruimi. In particular, the Gengxin City Martial Soul Sub-Hall under Mai Ruimi's leadership had been collecting all manner of miscellaneous fees from the city's residents, indirectly creating an irreconcilable conflict with the association.
He had revealed his identity this time not only for Long Qianming's sake, but also because he wanted to study this damaged Soul Tool and see whether he could restore it with his own hands.
Seeing this, the host on the auction stage immediately brought down the auction hammer and pointed his right hand toward Long Qianming.
"Congratulations to Senior Lou Gao's esteemed disciple in seat number five on winning this damaged Soul Tool."
Soon, the auction ended, and its participants left one after another. The damaged Soul Tool and the three diagrams were delivered into Long Qianming's hands. As they walked, Lou Gao asked,
"Boy, this damaged Soul Tool is beyond your ability to handle. Let this old man study it for a while first."
"Senior, you've done me a great favor. Of course there's no problem with lending it to you to study."
Long Qianming paused, then looked at Lou Gao with utter sincerity.
"Senior, if you repair it, I can forgo most of the things inside the Soul Tool, but you must return the Soul Tool itself to me. Without it, my life will be very troublesome in the future."
"What sort of person do you take me for, boy? As the president of the Blacksmith Association, how could I stoop to pocketing someone else's belongings?"
Lou Gao accepted the Storage Soul Tool handed to him and looked at Long Qianming with some displeasure. Everything about this child was good, except that he was a little too suspicious.
As far as Long Qianming was concerned, as long as this damaged Storage Soul Tool could be repaired, if Lou Gao wanted its contents, he would not so much as furrow his brow even if Lou Gao took them all.