Chapter 475: News

Inside the private room.

On Du Xue's face appeared an expression of great excitement.

Every single item before her was worthy of being the grand finale lot.

If this deal went through, wouldn't she have far exceeded her quota?

She could also make a stunning impression before her peers at the Wu Fu Auction House.

At the same time, Du Xue's gaze toward "Lu Shopkeeper" was filled with intense eagerness.

"Lu Shopkeeper, our Wu Fu Auction House will surely secure you an excellent price for these items."

"And rest assured, we strictly protect our clients' privacy—no one will ever know the origin of these items."

"Here is a consignment auction agreement; please review it, and if acceptable, we can sign immediately."

Qin Ming nodded upon hearing this, then picked up the jade slip and scanned it.

Wu Fu Auction House's commission of only ten percent was already quite generous.

He quickly signed the agreement.

Afterwards, Du Xue exchanged a few more words with him.

"Lu Shopkeeper, given the high caliber of your auction items, our house will assign you a VIP seat with dedicated reception."

"Three days from now, simply arrive at the appointed time."

After finalizing the arrangements, Du Xue warmly escorted Qin Ming out of the auction house.

Qin Ming now lacked little in wealth, cultivation techniques, elixirs, or spirit materials—only exceptionally rare third-rank spirit items, or elixir formulas or spirit objects related to Nascent Soul formation could truly interest him.

Qin Ming exited the Wu Fu Auction House and was about to stroll through the marketplace.

The moment he stepped out, his message talisman stirred.

Qin Ming retrieved the talisman and swept it with his spiritual sense—it was Han Yuan, Liu Ye, and Gao Feng of the Wan Dao Trading Alliance, who had also arrived for this trading fair.

As the host of the event, these three comrades naturally came to fulfill their duties.

Qin Ming put away the talisman and headed toward the address Han Yuan had provided.

Half a stick of incense later.

Following the main road, Qin Ming turned several corners and arrived at a tavern—still the famed Yu Feng Tower of Great Jin.

The tower was lavishly decorated and prestigious; only cultivators with substantial background or resources could afford to enter.

The attendant greeted Qin Ming and led him to a window-side table on the second floor.

At the table, besides Han Yuan and the other two, two more individuals were present.

One was an elderly man in a hemp robe, simply dressed, with slightly darkened skin and Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivation; he radiated vigor, showing no sign of age.

Qin Ming sensed on him the aura of a man who had spent years tending fields—he must be a spirit plant cultivator.

The other was a broad-shouldered man with a long face, Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivation.

"Heh! Lu Daofriend has arrived."

"Come, come! Let me introduce you two—this is Lu Shopkeeper, who traveled ten thousand miles from the Southern Wastelands."

"Lu Daofriend, a great honor to meet you!"

"Greetings, Lu Daofriend."

Qin Ming also bowed to both in return; thus, they were formally acquainted.

Han Yuan ushered Qin Ming to his seat and introduced him: "This is Elder Xie, our Alliance's top-grade second-rank spirit plant cultivator."

It was clear that although Elder Xie was only Foundation Establishment mid-stage, Han Yuan and the others held him in deep respect.

"The other is Daofriend Ma Yu."

"Both are our colleagues serving in the Wan Dao Trading Alliance."

"Greetings to both of you," Qin Ming bowed in return.

Soon, the group began eating and conversing.

"By the way, Lu Daofriend, are you planning to auction anything? I've heard your guild is a major force in the Southern Wastelands—you must have no shortage of fine items," Liu Ye asked with a smile.

Qin Ming smiled faintly in reply: "Liu Daofriend flatters me—my guild is nothing in Great Jin; I've come merely to broaden my horizons."

Han Yuan and the others were pleased to see Qin Ming again, but Elder Xie and Ma Yu remained indifferent to his arrival—they had never met before.

At that moment,

Ma Yu raised his hand and cast a soundproofing barrier, then said mysteriously: "I'll let you in on an inside secret—you'll be stunned when you hear it."

At this, the diners exchanged glances, all showing puzzled expressions.

Seeing their reactions, Ma Yu lowered his voice further:

"Do you know who will be presiding over the Wu Fu Auction?"

Han Yuan shook his head and asked: "You mean you know?"

"Correct—the auctioneer will be Elder Jin Han."

"What? Elder Jin himself? That's an unprecedented level of prestige!" Gao Feng also looked astonished.

Qin Ming pretended ignorance, but in truth, he had already learned Elder Jin Han's identity from Hua Tianxiong's memories.

The Elder Jin Han they spoke of was one of the very few Golden Core late-stage great cultivators in Great Jin's cultivation world, his power unfathomable.

"Elder Jin rarely appears at such public events—yet now even he has come in person. There must be a special reason," Han Yuan had already guessed something.

Though they worked under the Wan Dao Trading Alliance, they were mere bottom-tier members, with no access to core information.

"Precisely. I heard from my superiors that this auction will feature not only a Core Formation Elixir, but also a Nascent Soul spirit object as the grand finale lot."

"But the upper echelons have imposed strict secrecy—I don't know what specific Nascent Soul spirit object it is."

At these words,

Not only Han Yuan and the others, but even Qin Ming was stunned.

'Nascent Soul spirit object?'

'I've only just arrived in Great Jin, and already I've stumbled upon such a top-tier opportunity.'

'What luck!'

'But such a spirit object will surely be fought over by every major faction—it won't be easy to secure.'

'Hmm, perhaps I can secretly have Hua Tianxiong bid on it. Isn't that precisely why I traveled countless miles to Great Jin?'

'I absolutely cannot let this opportunity slip through my fingers.'

Thinking this, Qin Ming felt immense satisfaction, and sighed aloud:

"If what Daofriend Ma says is true, then this Five Elements Mountain Trading Fair will be an unprecedented grand event—I truly didn't come in vain, heh."

Upon hearing that a Core Formation Elixir would be auctioned, Han Yuan and the others also looked dreamy and sighed in awe.

But such elixirs were beyond their reach, let alone a Nascent Soul spirit object.

As they conversed,

A commotion rose from below—a golden palanquin, surrounded by attendants, halted before the Yu Feng Tower. From it stepped a fat cultivator with powerful magic power.

Han Yuan and the others, seated by the window, naturally saw this. Their expressions darkened as they whispered: "It's Elder Hua again—why did he show up? Last time, we were saved by a senior from Li Huo Palace."

"This kind of troublemaker—we should keep our distance."

"Should we leave now?"

Before they could rise, Hua Tianxiong, dressed in luxurious robes, had already arrived on the second floor. He was about to continue upward when he happened to glance toward the third-floor window.

Hua Tianxiong's glance was brief—but when he saw Qin Ming at the table, his face twitched.

Yet his steps paused only momentarily; then, as if he'd seen nothing, he walked straight up to the fourth floor.

But his steps only paused slightly, then he acted as if he had seen nothing and walked straight up to the fourth floor.

(End of Chapter)

(End of chapter)