Chapter 78: The Auction Begins

Early the next morning, Li Xuan got up early, washed up, and headed straight for the Tian Dou Royal Auction.

On the way, Li Xuan casually bought a mask, but it was just a self‑deception.

Li Xuan is not yet seven; although cultivation has accelerated his physical development, it is still easy to tell he is a child.

A street away from the Tian Dou Royal Auction, Li Xuan saw the bustling, sea‑of‑people scene at the auction entrance.

The two streets in front of the auction were packed with people waiting to get in; the crowd was so dense that the entrance of the auction hall was barely visible.

"So many people? Can the Tian Dou Royal Auction venue even hold this many?" Li Xuan looked into the distance and said irritably.

But Li Xuan only had an ordinary ticket, so he couldn't enter early and had to stand here queuing for admission.

The line entered the auction quickly; half an hour later, Li Xuan arrived inside the Tian Dou Auction hall.

"Young master, your Invitation Letter indicates your seat is on the Third Floor; please take the stairs," the maid said after taking Li Xuan's Invitation Letter, smiled, made a beckoning gesture, and handed him a placard.

"Thank you," Li Xuan nodded to the maid and hurried upstairs; the crowd below was so dense that he feared being trampled if he moved too slowly.

Soon Li Xuan reached the Third Floor, and based on the seat number on his ticket, he found his place.

Now seated on the Third Floor, Li Xuan realized he had underestimated the Tian Dou Royal Auction; the venue has four levels: the first can hold eight thousand, the second about three thousand, the third a thousand, and the fourth consists entirely of private boxes, invisible from below.

In other words, the Tian Dou Royal Auction venue can accommodate tens of thousands!

From his seat he could see the auction taking place below.

Li Xuan arrived an hour early, so the auction was still a dozen minutes away from starting.

Soon the area around Li Xuan filled with people, but the tables and chairs were arranged so reasonably that no crowding was felt.

Li Xuan glanced at the surrounding crowd, then sat down, closed his eyes to rest, and waited for the auction to begin.

Soon, the auction began.

Kabo, dressed in a clean, tidy tailcoat, stepped from behind the curtain to the stage and, very gentlemanly, bowed to the surrounding audience.

Li Xuan did not expect that Kabo was actually the auctioneer for this auction.

"Welcome, distinguished guests, to the annual Tian Dou Grand Auction. Today's lots range from slaves to soul bones, from gold and silver jewelry to top‑grade Soul Guide Devices—everything is here! The auction now officially begins; may each bidder secure the treasure they desire!"

Kabo's voice rang throughout the auction; he must have used an amplified Soul Guide Device, otherwise it wouldn't be so loud.

Nevertheless, Li Xuan paid little attention to that, for the auction is about the items, not the speaker.

"Enough idle talk. Now for today's first lot: a fake mountain carved from Furong Stone, entirely blood‑red, with fine grain. Furong Stone already symbolizes wealth and blessings; this piece further signifies abundant riches piled like mountains and longevity stretching for miles. Starting price three thousand Soul Coins, with each bid increase no less than one hundred Soul Coins!" Kabo tapped his hammer and lifted the red cloth covering the lot.

Li Xuan, seeing it was just an ordinary carving, lost interest and kept his eyes closed. Meanwhile, the nobles on the first and second floors were eager for this auspicious treasure; bidding voices rose and fell, and the final price surged to thirty thousand Soul Coins.

These items had nothing to do with Li Xuan, who remained with his eyes closed, awaiting the next lot.

The next thirty‑plus lots were gold and silver jewelry favored by the nobles; Li Xuan glanced at each but paid no further attention, as such trinkets held no appeal for him now.

Only powerful Soul Guide Devices and soul bones could capture Li Xuan's attention.

When the forty‑second lot appeared, Li Xuan finally became interested.

"This is a bead excavated from the tomb of a Title Douluo of ancient times. After consultation by our ten auction appraisers, it appears to be an ancient Crystal Bead, said to be linked to the legacy of a Title Douluo from antiquity. Starting price five hundred Soul Coins, with each bid increase no less than fifty Soul Coins," Kabo lifted the red cloth and displayed a coin‑sized bead on the auction platform.

"Kabo, can you stop pulling a fast one? It's just a cracked Crystal Bead, and you claim it relates to a Title Douluo's legacy. You guys are always deceiving people!"

"Let's move on to the next item, don't waste our time."

"Yeah, yeah, when will that auction cat lady go up next? Hurry, hurry!"

Bidders on the first floor began to shout; they were nobles, not fools, and could tell at a glance that the Crystal Bead was worthless, so they started to heckle.

Li Xuan's eyes lit up at the sight of the item; without hesitation, he raised his placard.

"I didn't expect the illustration in the Auction Handbook to differ so much from the actual item; I almost missed it," Li Xuan blinked, steadied his emotions, and muttered.

"Oh, the Third Floor has a discerning guest—Customer No. 742 on the Third Floor raises a bid of five hundred fifty Soul Coins! Anyone else willing to continue?" Kabo, seeing a raised placard, became animated and loudly promoted the lot.

When they saw a bid, the first‑ and second‑floor participants stopped heckling and discussed in small groups whether to join the bidding.

"Five hundred fifty Soul Coins, once!"

"Five hundred fifty Soul Coins, twice!"

"Five hundred fifty Soul Coins… three times! Sold. Congratulations to the Third Floor customer for acquiring the Title Douluo legacy! May you soon achieve Title Douluo status!" Kabo, resigned, noted that only one bidder participated and finalized the sale.

"No one recognized the Brahma Sound Glazed Flower Seed, and it was sold as a Crystal Bead—what a case of missing the point," Li Xuan murmured softly.

"Hey, what do you think this is?" a middle‑aged man beside Li Xuan asked, tilting his head.

Li Xuan turned and saw a middle‑aged man wearing a Fox Mask; he stood upright, dressed impeccably and elegantly, exuding an aristocratic aura that made him seem far from ordinary.

When Li Xuan looked into the man's eyes, he felt as if he were gazing into a bottomless pool, as though he might be swallowed at any moment.

"Sir, I just think this item caught my eye, nothing more," Li Xuan said with a smile, waving his hand; after all, he wasn't the man's teacher, so no need to explain.

I, the junior, thank all the honored viewers for their votes—love you all.

(End of Chapter)