The auction begins

The moon shone bright, the stars sparse.

Outside the Profound Heaven Auction House on Vermilion Bird Street.

A dense crowd blocked the street so tightly that not even water could pass through, and complaints rose one after another.

"What's going on? Didn't they say the auction would be today? It's already time, so why won't they even let us in?"

"What a fine Profound Heaven Auction House! How dare they toy with us like this! Hmph!"

"If you ask me, that Yang Zong ought to be beaten up and tied to the city gate! That would teach him a lesson..."

"..."

Everyone was furious.

The paper clearly stated that the Profound Heaven Auction House would hold an auction tonight.

Yet after they had put everything aside to rush here, they were not even allowed through the door?!

What kind of sense did that make?!

"Master! What should we do?!"

Inside the auction house, a steward spoke to Yang Zong, his face filled with anxiety.

It was nowhere near the scheduled auction time yet. They had not even prepared the auction items, so how could they hold an auction?!

But the crowd gathered outside clearly bore a grudge against their Profound Heaven Auction House!

Yang Zong was furious about this as well, but in the end, he could only give a bitter smile.

By now, Yang Zong understood that the one behind all of this... was Gu Fan!

As he saw it.

The other party had done all this just to disgust him!

And Yang Zong truly was sickened by this little trick of his!

With that thought in mind.

Yang Zong calmly instructed the people beside him, "Go out and tell them we aren't the ones holding the auction. That auction house is on Linnan Street!"

After speaking, Yang Zong could not help clenching his fists.

Trying to disgust him?

He wanted to see whether the auction house Gu Fan had only just bought could satisfy that angry crowd outside!

After the vicious-looking guards "frankly informed" them.

The crowd gathered on Vermilion Bird Street complained for a while before gradually dispersing.

Most of them headed home indignantly because the Profound Heaven Auction House had toyed with them.

A small portion, however, took out their papers again and headed toward Linnan Street.

Tier-two treasures?

Those were exceedingly precious to them.

Linnan Street.

The Profound Heaven Auction House.

By now, two-thirds of the seats in the hall were occupied.

Although many who had seen the paper had instinctively set their sights on Vermilion Bird Street.

There were still those who paid attention to detail and noticed the annotation specifying Linnan Street.

Naturally, they had arrived here just before the auction began.

"Master... we already have more people seated in the hall than ever before. If you ask me, shouldn't we take this opportunity to buy a few tier-one high-grade magical treasures outside to put up for auction?"

Feng Xu quietly asked Gu Fan, who sat in the seat of honor.

He was very excited.

In the past, every auction could fill half the hall, but no more than that.

Now, however, it was almost full!

With an opportunity like this, they ought to spend their own money freely to buy treasures for auction and build the auction house's reputation!

"No."

Gu Fan shook his head, rejecting the suggestion.

Most of these guests had come for tier-two treasures.

No matter how many tier-one high-grade treasures they offered, it would do no good!

Besides, he had no money either.

Hearing this, Feng Xu shook his head regretfully.

And just then.

Even more people poured through the entrance!

"The Profound Heaven Auction House! Wasn't this Heavenly Tiger? Why has it become Profound Heaven?"

"So this is the place auctioning tier-two treasures! Ah, what a search that was..."

"Hm? It's almost full? Brother Zhou, hurry and grab a seat with me!"

"..."

More and more people flooded into the auction house.

These were the guests who had rushed over from Vermilion Bird Street.

The maids were so busy they could hardly tell day from night. Fortunately, Feng Xu hurried over, welcoming the guests with an excited expression.

Those who entered first could still snatch up the few remaining seats in the hall.

Those who came later could only stand in the aisles.

There was no helping it. The former Heavenly Tiger had been a small auction house to begin with, with only around two hundred seats.

However.

Although they could only stand in the aisles.

These guests remained patient.

For tier-two treasures, they could grit their teeth without a word even if they had to stand amid mountains of blades and seas of fire!

At the back of the hall.

Feng Xu's face was flushed.

With the auction house drawing such a crowd, this was simply the pinnacle of his life!

And all of this... had been brought about by Gu Fan!

However.

Although he was excited about this.

Feng Xu was still deeply worried.

Because he knew these guests had come for tier-two treasures!

But Feng Xu knew even better that all of this was nothing more than Gu Fan's deception!

Tier-two treasures?

Not only did they have none, they even had just four tier-one mid-grade auction items!

At this thought.

The excitement in Feng Xu's heart was swept away, replaced by a basin of cold water... poured straight over his head!

Inside the auction hall.

By now, the crowd had nearly packed the entire hall.

A clamor filled the air, with almost every discussion revolving around the tier-two treasures in this auction.

And amid this lively atmosphere.

The auctioneer stepped onto the raised platform in the hall.

"Please quiet down, everyone. I am the auctioneer in charge of today's auction-Bu Yi!"

Bu Yi was a young girl with an innocent face, sixteen years of age. Her every smile and frown made one feel as though bathed in a spring breeze.

And so.

As her words fell.

The assorted noises within the auction house quieted as well.

"For this auction, the Profound Heaven Auction House has prepared five items in total. The first of these..."

A maid walked gracefully onto the platform at that moment. Facing the guests below, she opened the wooden box in her hands and presented it to everyone.

At this, Bu Yi said with a sweet smile, "The first auction item is a tier-one mid-grade martial technique-the Great Buddha Palm. The starting bid is one thousand low-grade spirit stones, with each increase no less than one hundred low-grade spirit stones. Bidding begins now!"

A tier-one mid-grade martial technique!

Hearing the voice from the platform.

The people below immediately began bidding.

"One thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

"One thousand one hundred!"

"One thousand two hundred!"

"..."

Scattered bids rang out one after another.

Although some people below the platform frowned at this, they said nothing.

A tier-one mid-grade martial technique was a reasonable enough opening item!

In the end.

A guest standing in the aisle won this copy of the Great Buddha Palm for four thousand low-grade spirit stones!

At the same time.

The system's voice rang out in Gu Fan's mind.

"Tier-one mid-grade martial technique successfully auctioned. Congratulations, host, on triggering a thousandfold critical return. Obtained..."

"Tier-three supreme-grade martial technique-Vajra Demon-Subduing Palm!"