Chapter 44: The Mysterious Middle-Aged Man

Facing Xiao Wu's question, Tang San neither denied it outright nor answered directly.

He let out a long sigh and slowly said: "I know... Rongrong likes me! But I also know... Xiao Ao likes her! As the saying goes, a gentleman does not take what others love. I truly am..."

"Brother, I know you are a man of integrity; you won't accept Rongrong, right?"

Hearing Tang San's words, Xiao Wu was overjoyed.

Although Tang San had not stated his position clearly, as a gentleman, how could he snatch a brother's woman?

"..."

Tang San truly did not know what to say and could only temporarily soothe this younger sister.

At this moment, Xiao Wu pointed to a domed building not far ahead: "Brother, look! What place is that?"

Tang San's heart stirred; he also did not wish to continue dwelling on this topic and quickly said: "That seems to be an auction house. The symbol above should be the auction hammer used exclusively by auction houses."

Walking into the auction venue, they did not feel the imagined splendor of gold and jade.

The floor was made of milky-white marble, and the walls were decorated with various relief carvings; the appearance was simple and bright, extremely elegant.

The girl leading the way brought Tang San and Xiao Wu to a room hanging with a sign bearing the two characters "Appraisal."

Inside the room was a row of tables, where eight appraisers dressed in black long robes were busily appraising various items.

Tang San took out an iron box and walked toward the table.

"Brother, didn't you say the Hidden Weapons you create are not for sale?"

Looking at the iron box, Xiao Wu naturally knew it contained a Tang Sect Hidden Weapon, Concealed Sand Shadow.

Tang San smiled slightly and said: "Tomorrow I am going to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, so naturally I must first know how much the Hidden Weapons I create are actually worth."

Xiao Wu happily praised: "You are still the smart one!"

The auction center is located on the second floor of the auction house.

Out of consideration for client safety, masks must be worn before entering the auction house.

The attire of the waitresses here made Tang San somewhat blush; white skirts, deep V-necklines at the chest, sleeveless, with short hems just seven inches past the waist, revealing smooth, delicate thighs, and paired with white high heels, they were exceptionally seductive.

Especially the deep cleavage at the chest and the lifted buttocks rising beneath the short skirt, making one's mind wander into fantasy.

Tang San couldn't help but glance a few more times; in his past life he was a single dog, hehe, always relying only on his hand.

Suddenly, Xiao Wu's threatening voice came to his ears: "What are you looking at? You're not allowed to look."

Tang San winced in pain and quickly whispered: "Do you think I'm Pangzi? Let's go in."

The layout of this auction center was similar to the main Soul Fighting Arena of the Great Spirit Arena; in the center was a circular stage, surrounded by concentric rings of seats arranged in a radial pattern.

It was divided into five major sections: the three rows of seats closest to the stage were red; radiating outward, they were black, purple, yellow, and white in sequence.

Obviously, they were set up according to the different levels of bidders.

The red seats in the innermost area were entered through special passages and protected by dedicated security personnel.

That was the so-called million-level VIP area, and furthermore, one must be a person of status and standing to obtain red VIP qualification.

The black seats in the outer ring were the ordinary million-level VIP area; as long as one had money, one could enter.

The purple ones were the five-hundred-thousand-level purple VIPs, and the yellow ones were the hundred-thousand-level ordinary VIPs.

The white ones on the outermost edge, with the largest area, were for the most ordinary guests.

The waitress brought Tang San and the other person to the white area and gestured that the two could choose freely.

Because the waitress was not enthusiastic, Xiao Wu was very dissatisfied: "Hmph, judging people by appearances. Dressed so flirtatiously, just to seduce rich people; acting so important just because you're grown up?"

After speaking, she looked down at her own budding chest and thought to herself: "When I have time, I must ask Xiao San to help me rub them bigger again..." "All the waitresses here are like this; it's not targeting you specifically."

At this moment, a gentle voice came from the side.

Tang San and Xiao Wu turned their heads and saw a middle-aged man in white robes, with a refined appearance, smiling and nodding in greeting toward them.

Xiao Wu couldn't help but ask: "All like this? Why?"

The middle-aged man smiled and said: "These waitresses are commoner girls bought by the auction house at a very young age and trained from childhood. They are not only the service staff here but also part of the auction itself. If someone is willing to pay, they can be bought and sold."

Tang San said with some surprise: "Doesn't that turn them into slaves? But aren't the two great empires prohibiting slave trading?"

The middle-aged man smiled indifferently: "This world already has many helplessnesses. This is the Heaven Dou Auction House; let alone slaves, there is nothing this place dares not sell."

After several rounds of bidding, the next item up for auction was a rare cat-girl.

During martial soul awakening, her body underwent mutation, possessing some feline forms; her eyes were one blue and one green, uniquely charming.

The host tapped the cat-girl's buttocks with a stick; in pain, her body twisted, revealing a white cat tail previously hidden behind her.

"This is a cat-girl unique on the continent. To own such a beautiful cat-girl as a pet, what a happiness. Just imagine, if while doing the deed, one hand grabs her tail, what a scene that would be?"

He revealed an ambiguous expression on his face and drew an arc in the air with the stick in his hand: "Distinguished guests, please place your bids."

At the same time, Tang San suddenly noticed that the middle-aged man beside him pressed the ten-thousand bid button once.

The initially good first impression instantly changed; this seemingly upright and refined middle-aged man was actually full of male and female depravity.

"Young man, the eyes are the windows of the soul; your gaze has already told me many things."

The middle-aged man smiled at Tang San and pressed the bid-increase button again.

"One hundred and seventy thousand!"

"A red VIP has bid one hundred and seventy thousand Gold Soul Coins; is there any further increase?"

"One hundred and eighty thousand!"

"A white VIP has bid up to one hundred and eighty thousand."

An old man sitting in the front red area suddenly stood up and swept his gaze toward the white area: "I want to see which one who doesn't know life or death dares to compete with me."

Although the other person's face was covered by a mask, Tang San immediately recognized his identity; it was none other than Xue Xing, the Prince of Tiandou Diguo.

Unexpectedly, the middle-aged man who did not wear a mask not only did not dodge the other's gaze but slowly stood up and, with a smile on his face, nodded toward Xue Xing.

Seeing the middle-aged man stand up, Prince Xue Xing's face was filled with astonishment.

At the same time, a chorus of gasps rose from the surroundings, and even the host on the stage found his expression stiffening.

"The auction house has its own rules. May we continue?"

The middle-aged man's voice was not loud, gentle yet refined, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.

Because Tang San sat beside him, he could clearly sense the fluctuations of the other's soul power and secretly marveled: "His soul power aura... is very similar to Rongrong's!"

After the middle-aged man stood up, no one raised the bid again, and he successfully purchased the cat girl.

Then, he slowly said, "Saving those who have already lost their souls is meaningless. This one still has a soul, and it was caused by a mutated martial soul. How could I not save someone I encounter in such a situation?"

Hearing these words, the straightforward Xiao Wu immediately said, "Uncle, thank you."

The auction was now nearing its end, with only the final item left to be auctioned.

(End of this chapter)