The departing Lineage Head Yan

"Congratulations to this guest for winning this Crimson Cloud Sheep with a bid of thirteen thousand spirit stones!"

On the stage.

Bu Yi announced with a sweet smile.

After a round of bidding that was not particularly intense.

In the end, this first-tier upper-grade demonic beast, a Crimson Cloud Sheep at the body tempering ninth heaven, was won by a restaurant proprietor.

The restaurant proprietor sat down, looking rather pleased.

A beast at the body tempering ninth heaven, won for only a little over ten thousand spirit stones.

If his restaurant sold it, it would fetch at least seventy or eighty thousand!

"Next is the fourth item in this auction..."

"A first-tier upper-grade martial technique... the Ghost Wheel Saber Technique!"

"The starting bid is seven thousand low-grade spirit stones, with each increase no less than one hundred!"

Bu Yi loudly announced the fourth auction item.

Yet the moment her words fell, the discussions in the hall grew even louder.

"First-tier upper-grade again? Does your auction house even have any second-tier treasures?!"

"Are you deceiving us?! Are you going to auction first-tier middle-grade treasures next?"

"I finally made a trip down the mountain, hoping to buy a treasure to take back to the sect and show off to my junior sister. Who would have thought it would be so disappointing? Sigh!"

"..."

A first-tier upper-grade martial technique.

Though it was precious to Body Tempering Realm cultivators as well.

One must not forget that most of those gathered here had come for second-tier treasures!

The major and minor factions of Yanshan Commandery City were all here, and even the three great sects had young disciples who had come down the mountains!

They had come with such high expectations, only to face a situation like this?

Moreover, this was supposed to be a grand auction, so it should have offered more precious treasures. How had it ended up being inferior to some of the treasure shops in the city instead?

Just as everyone was utterly disappointed.

A voice suddenly rang out.

"Lineage Head Yan!"

Lineage Head Yan?!

Hearing that voice, everyone in the hall immediately turned to look.

They saw Yan Nantian, the Lineage Head Yan, slowly descending from the second floor with a stern expression, heading toward the auction house's exit.

He was... leaving!

At this sight, everyone in the hall widened their eyes.

And it was not just Yan Nantian. As he left, one important figure after another emerged from the private rooms on the second floor and descended, heading outside.

"That's the head of Blowing Snow Academy! She's leaving too!"

"Patriarch Niu has left too. Hiss... the patriarchs of all five great lineages have left. No, apart from the Lineage Head Song, everyone else has left!"

"They must be leaving because they've seen that the auction house has nothing good."

"Heh, they still left a few elders behind. Whatever else you say, this place has auctioned a second-tier top-grade martial technique before!"

"..."

The departure of these important figures shook the entire auction house.

Originally, the gathering of so many top factions here had set many hearts aflutter, leaving people amazed at the grand occasion at the Profound Heaven Auction House.

But now, watching so many people leave.

In everyone's minds, this auction house could not help but fall to the level of an ordinary auction house.

In the end... it still could not compare with the three great auction houses!

As they thought this, the auction continued nonetheless.

"Congratulations to this guest for winning the first-tier upper-grade Ghost Wheel Saber Technique for ten thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

Bu Yi announced from the stage, her expression unchanged.

Although she showed nothing unusual, the departure of so many important figures had still unsettled Bu Yi somewhat.

Even so, it did not affect the auction.

Meanwhile.

In the seat of honor.

Gu Fan listened to the system's voice with his eyes slightly closed.

"First-tier top-grade natural treasure, white bone flower, successfully auctioned. Congratulations to the host for triggering an eightyfold critical multiplier. Return... third-tier lower-grade white bone questioning love flower!"

"First-tier upper-grade demonic beast, Crimson Cloud Sheep, successfully auctioned. Congratulations to the host for triggering a fiftyfold critical multiplier. Return... second-tier top-grade Ghost Sheep!"

"First-tier upper-grade martial technique, Ghost Wheel Saber Technique, successfully auctioned. Congratulations to the host for triggering a fiftyfold critical multiplier. Return... second-tier top-grade Four Directions Ghost Saber!"

By now.

Within Gu Fan's system space.

He had already received hundred-year stalactite milk, white bone questioning love flower, a Ghost Sheep, and the Four Directions Ghost Saber as returns!

Two natural treasures.

One demonic beast.

One martial technique manual.

The departure of the Lineage Head Yan and the others had not affected Gu Fan in the slightest, nor would he chase after them to tell them that this auction would offer second-tier treasures.

Because... none of that mattered.

What mattered was that the auction items did not go unsold, allowing him to receive the system's return rewards.

Only after that came using the auction of second-tier treasures to raise the auction house's reputation.

Apart from that, everything else was fleeting clouds.

As he thought this, the bidding for the fifth item began as well.

Time flowed like water.

The Profound Heaven Auction House's second auction had reached its tenth item.

The departure of the Lineage Head Yan and the others was like toppling a line of dominoes. As first-tier middle-grade treasures were auctioned one after another, more and more guests grew disappointed.

Naturally.

The guests who were utterly disappointed with the auction items followed in the Lineage Head Yan's footsteps and left the auction house.

By now.

Even the hall, which could seat three thousand people, was only two-thirds full.

As for the private rooms, they had gone from being fully occupied to more than half standing empty.

Only a small number of private rooms still had people waiting quietly inside.

Inside Heaven No. 5 private room.

"Lineage Head, there really won't be any second-tier top-grade treasures auctioned this time."

An elder shook his head as he spoke to the Lineage Head Song.

Now, of the five great patriarchs, only the Lineage Head Song remained at the auction.

This was mainly because the elder standing before Patriarch Song had invited Feng Xu for drinks last night and learned from him that second-tier top-grade treasures would be auctioned this time.

Moreover.

Although the Song Lineage held the distinguished status of one of the five great lineages.

It ranked last, and its strength lagged far behind that of the other four.

It was for this reason that the Song Lineage was so desperate to obtain a supreme treasure, striving to avoid being driven out of the ranks of the five great lineages in the future.

"Steward Feng truly said those words?" the Lineage Head Song still persisted.

"He did, but his breath reeked of alcohol at the time. I don't know how much we can trust it..." the elder said hesitantly.

"Then we'll wait a little longer!"

The Song Lineage was still hoping that a second-tier top-grade treasure would be auctioned.

But inside Heaven No. 2 private room.

The Yan Lineage elder whom Yan Nantian had left behind frowned and complained.

"Why isn't it over yet?!"

He had been extremely unwilling to come here in the first place.

Had Yan Nantian not insisted on coming, he would rather have cultivated within the lineage than come.

Of course, if the three great auction houses announced that they were auctioning second-tier top-grade treasures, that would be another matter.

Thinking this.

The Yan Lineage elder could not help sighing, then closed his eyes again and immersed himself in cultivation.

And just then.

On the raised stage.

Bu Yi announced with a smile, "Congratulations to this guest for winning the tenth item of this auction. Next comes the grand finale..."

Her words echoed.

At the same time.

Gu Fan opened his eyes, rose, and strode toward the raised stage.

At this sight, the somewhat noisy hall instantly fell so silent that a falling needle could have been heard.

Some people remembered.

Last night, that second-tier top-grade treasure had been on Gu Fan's person.

And now,

He was stepping onto the raised stage again. Could it be...

At this thought.

Everyone... stared wide-eyed and unblinking at the figure stepping onto the raised stage.