Chapter 823: The Sorceress

Everyone in the hall stared at Lei En.

This is his home turf; no matter what the bidders think, if they want the Fu Kong Cheng, they must heed every word he says today.

Even the five powerful Holy Soul Wizards showed a focused expression.

Lei En showed no sign of stage fright, smiled, and said, "This auction will be conducted as a sealed bid. Each person gets three chances, three rounds in total. After each round I'll announce the winner, but I won't reveal the winning bid, then we'll move to the next round."

"Each of you has one chance to speak with me privately; you may use it after the first round of bidding or approach me before the final bid."

"Of course, whether you use that chance is up to you."

"If anyone has questions about the auction rules, speak up now." Lei En scanned the room; the remark essentially meant "I'm the final authority," and the bidders, having anticipated this, raised no objections.

Lei En added, "Furthermore, I must state upfront that my opening floor price is sixty million Gold Shields…"

Before he finished, someone shouted, "That's so expensive!"

The voice came from Duke Yin Xing; she fixed Lei En with a question, "Is the hull of this Fu Kong Cheng forged from gold, or is the Iola Core forged from divine fire?"

Other bidders also nodded, indicating the opening price was too high and hard to bear.

The Xinxiang Fu Kong Cheng is the smallest of all Fu Kong Cheng; originally Mo Du aristocrats shrank many designs to finish it quickly. Though this doesn't weaken its offensive or defensive power, the tiny size limits future expansion and hampers the growth of influence.

If the Iola Core is excluded, the Xinxiang Fu Kong Cheng's hull is worth roughly thirty million Gold Shields.

Moreover, the Xinxiang Fu Kong Cheng is damaged, so it warrants an additional discount.

Lei En remained unmoved.

Duke Yin Xing was trying to drum up the bidding, hoping to rally all bidders before the start and pressure her to lower the price.

"Look, where else can you find a Fu Kong Cheng now?" Lei En shrugged. "This is the only Fu Kong Cheng for sale; if you think it's pricey, I think it's pricey too."

The subtext was that he'd buy it or not, depending on his mood.

Duke Yin Xing, seeing he wouldn't bite, said irritably, "If the Fu Kong Cheng is good, I'll definitely buy it. Tell me, can you guarantee this Fu Kong Cheng is good?"

Lei En twitched the corner of his mouth, gave a neutral smile, and said, "Your Grace, with my reputation, would I sell you a bad Fu Kong Cheng?"

"Just tell me whether you can guarantee it!" Duke Yin Xing pressed.

"Your Grace is deliberately picking a fight, aren't you?" Lei En's smile faded, and he stared coldly at Duke Yin Xing, the atmosphere instantly tightening.

The Holy Soul Wizards, accustomed to Lei En's dominance, showed no change in expression.

The others were startled, uneasy, thinking Lei En's audacity was excessive to speak that way to Holy Soul Wizards.

And he's also a vassal of Duke Yin Xing; isn't he afraid of her wrath?

"Lei En."

Speaking now was Tim*Kenan; his attitude toward Lei En was clearly different from that of Director Margarita earlier, a fierce face softened by a smile.

Lei En replied, "TimKainanMaster, please speak."

"Before the auction, I need to inspect the Fu Kong Cheng's condition; there are many rumors outside…" Duke GreyEagle made the request.

"Fine, let's inspect."

Lei En agreed.

The Empire's three great leaders still needed to be saved face, and before assaulting the Fu Kong Cheng, the teacher had asked TimKainanMaster to store the Nine-ring Greater Disintegrate, a favor owed to him.

He had indeed prepared; a transaction of tens of millions of Gold Shields isn't a trifle, and bidders will certainly verify the goods. The reason he pressed Duke Yin Xing was to curb her arrogance, make her feel he might not sell the Fu Kong Cheng to her, and thus squeeze more profit from her.

Sure enough, Duke Yin Xing saw Lei En immediately agree to Tim*Kenan's request, her face clouded with gloom, looking very unpleasant.

"Everyone, follow me."

As the words fell, a towering teleportation gate opened in the middle of the hall.

Lei En entered first, and the others followed in single file.

The other side of the gate led directly to the Xinxiang Fu Kong Cheng's control room; the damaged main door had been repaired and sealed, obscuring the outside view. The control room's rune array was intact, allowing Lei En to draw on the Iola Core's energy to cast spells and command the whole situation.

The Iola Core rotated slowly in midair, like a small sun.

Except for Tim*Kenan, Kang Jielade, and Storm Queen—three Holy Soul Wizards already possessing a Fu Kong Cheng—everyone else entered the control room for the first time, immediately widening their eyes in amazement.

The control room is the most important part of a Fu Kong Cheng.

The owner of a Fu Kong Cheng would never easily let outsiders in; this is a once‑in‑a‑lifetime chance to visit.

Everyone stared at the Iola Core; its gentle yet non‑glare light let them sense massive energy, leaving them entranced and yearning.

"TimKainanMaster, GrandSage."

Lei En stood beneath the Iola Core, a warning line on the ground indicating no crossing, and said, "Both Masters may inspect whether the Iola Core is intact, and whether the control room's rune array functions properly."

"Gentlemen, photography is prohibited here."

The bidders sent by two newspapers, though legendary Wizards, were merely filling spots, paying a five‑million Gold Shield deposit for an entry ticket; their real aim was on‑site reporting.

Upon entering the control room, they immediately produced a Camera, behaving exactly like reporters.

Lei En instantly shouted a ban.

Both legendary Wizards looked a bit embarrassed, regretting it, but had to put away the Camera and apologize to Lei En together.

The bidders walked around the spacious control room.

In truth there was nothing to see; aside from the Iola Core, the control room contained nothing else. The floor, walls, and ceiling bore layers of rune arrays, but they were shielded, so a superficial glance revealed no magical knowledge.

A few minutes later.

Tim*Kenan and Kang Jielade exchanged glances, nodded slightly, and said, "No problem. The Iola Core and the control room's rune array are operating normally."

The bidders all relaxed.

The two highly respected Holy Soul Wizards performed the check; they certainly wouldn't err.

Also present were three Holy Soul Wizards, a Destroyer Warlock, and a Grand Earth Saint, each possessing astonishing sight and insight; if there were any issue, it would be nearly impossible to hide from them.

As long as the control room is fine, there's no fear the Fu Kong Cheng won't lift.

"What about outside?"

Duke Yin Xing stood before the control room's door and asked, "The control room is fine, but the rest of the Fu Kong Cheng is also crucial. I need to know the overall damage, estimate repair costs and time, so I can better assess its value."

"Silver Star is right," the Storm Queen immediately voiced support.

The Blackstaf City Lord and his wife also nodded in agreement, and Dean Margarita, Countess Kailin, and the Earth Saint also voiced their approval.

Lei En scanned the bidders.

Clearly, this time the Silver Star Duke was clever, not wanting to be singled out, so he brought his two sisters along. The Storm Queen didn't get along with her, but regarding price‑pressuring their interests aligned, and the Blackstaf City Lord was their brother‑in‑law, so he naturally wouldn't oppose.

Someone took the lead, and immediately others followed the wind.

"The control room may be viewed, but not the exterior," Lei En flatly rejected the request, saying coolly, "That's for the consideration of the eventual buyer of the Floating City."

The bidders instantly understood.

The control rooms of Floating Cities are all similar and won't leak any information.

But the exterior is different; the layout of a Floating City reveals many secrets, and whoever becomes its next master doesn't want anyone to know the interior. Even though many have entered the New Village Floating City, the fewer who know, the better.

"As long as you win the auction, you may view it however you wish later, but for now I am obliged to keep the future owner of the Floating City confidential."

Lei En's reasoning was airtight.

If bidders saw the damage to the Floating City, even if minor, they would use it to drive the price down, so it's better not to show them. In any case, the New Village Floating City's damage isn't severe; it should be repairable with three to four million Gold Shields and materials, which isn't unreasonable.

He looked at the Silver Star Duke and said, "I can guarantee the New Village Floating City will be repaired and take off soon, with no risk of crashing."

"If you don't trust me, you may withdraw now, and I'll immediately return the deposit."

The Silver Star Duke had nothing to say.

In truth they had many petty objections, but this auction was a pure seller's market; Lei En's advantage was overwhelming, and they weren't at all afraid the Floating City wouldn't sell.

The bidders were silent for a few seconds, and no one raised any objection.

Lei En made a beckoning gesture.

The group passed through the teleportation gate back to the castle hall; Lei En was the last to return, and after closing the gate said, "You all have ten minutes to consider, then give me your first bids."

He waved his hand, and twelve memory crystals rose from the tray in Fabian's hand, landing precisely in each bidder's palm. These magical crystals can store thoughts, requiring no spoken words; holding them allows use, and even a Holy Soul Wizard cannot steal them, making them very safe.

The tray also held twenty‑four memory crystals for the next two rounds of bidding.

The bidders sat on the sofa, each sinking into thought.

Only the Blackstaf City Lord and his wife activated a small Soundproof Force Field, their figures cloaked by a shadow, and they communicated silently with telepathic spells.

In the hall, a pin could be heard dropping.

The Viola party attending the auction dared not make any sound, fearing they might disturb the dignitaries.

Lei En sat in the middle, looking very relaxed.

Within two minutes someone completed a bid; the legendary Wizards sent by two newspapers, after inputting the data, handed over the memory crystals remotely, one after the other.

Lei En caught the crystals, read them, and his expression did not change.

Those two were just the atmosphere crew sent to keep the mood.

Sure enough, their bids were identical—sixty million Gold Shields each—and that was all. Sixty million Gold Shields was the opening price they set themselves, so they could never win the Floating City. Yet there's no rule that each bid must exceed the previous round, so they couldn't be eliminated on that basis.

The third memory crystal flew over, and the bidder was Akaland.

He represented the Steam and Machinery Guild, a close friend of Lei En, yet after arriving today he said not a single word.

"Seventy million Gold Shields."

"Lei En, I'd like to speak with you privately after this round."

The memory crystal contained only those two sentences.

The first‑round bids are merely probes; they rarely include high prices or extra conditions. The Machinery Guild raised the offer by ten million Gold Shields, showing its deep pockets. Lei En glanced at Akaland and nodded.

Akaland's face lit up with joy.

The bidders saw the signal between the two and several could no longer hold back. Within half a minute, five memory crystals flew in succession, each presenting a price to Lei En.

Countess Kailin was the fourth bidder.

She offered forty million Gold Shields plus a fief around Mo Du, an area comparable to Glamorgan, located on Mo Du's western outskirts, mostly fertile land with a permanent population of over a hundred thousand, extremely valuable and certainly exceeding twenty million Gold Shields.

That fief was pieced together by five noble families of Mo Du.

Countess Kailin represented the collective interests of the five noble families; to reclaim the New Village Floating City, they were even willing to part with a fief that forms the noble foundation, showing how much they value it.

Next came Dean Margarita of the Elatusa Sorcerer Academy, the stunning female sorceress, who bid fifty million Gold Shields and lifelong service from one hundred female sorcerers, pledging personal loyalty to Lei En.

Additionally, she promised that if she entered the Supreme Council, she would side with the Mo Du faction.

The memory crystal also included data on the hundred female sorcerers—their names, ranks, origins, each's specialties—and finally their photographs.

It must be said, the female sorcerers are indeed beautiful, all striking beauties, each with distinct temperament, slender yet curvy, and the more powerful they are, the prettier they become; two legendary sorceresses are only slightly less attractive than Viola.

This is blatant erotic inducement, aiming to build a massive harem, pounding daily; even a body of iron would be overwhelmed by a hundred beauties…

Lei En was both exasperated and amused, yet felt a vague stir of interest.

"Hmm, this bid is very competitive!"

By contrast, the Sabbath Dean's bid was rather bland.

He offered thirty million Gold Shields plus a batch of magical items worth ten million, and unconditional support for any of Lei En's proposals in the Supreme Council for three hundred years.

Sabbath Dean stressed that his support was for Lei En himself, not for Anxiwodasi, which was quite thought‑provoking.

"That makes a difference."

Of course, if Lei En asked for support of Anxiwodasi, the Sabbath Dean would comply.

If Lei En's goal is to control the Supreme Council, the Sabbath Dean's iron‑clad vote is extremely valuable, yet he himself is planning to overthrow the Supreme Council!

"Not to mention three hundred years."

Perhaps in thirty years the Supreme Council will no longer exist.

Lei En had already dismissed the Sabbath Dean's bid in his mind; after all, Sabbath had just been ennobled as the Blue Oak Duke, his lands not yet warmed, so thirty million Gold Shields and ten million in magical items were likely the funding ceiling BrewotzAcademy could muster.

He regarded the Earth Church's bid with even less interest.

Saint Rosita offered twenty million Gold Shields and the chance to forge a thousand‑year pact with the Earth Ring. The Earth Ring's strength is undeniable; its death‑defying earth nuns are fiercely powerful, and the legion's reputation echoes worldwide, making it one of the strongest extraplanar forces in the Prime Material Plane.

If we secure the full backing of the Earth Ring for a thousand years, the value of this covenant is almost comparable to half a Fu Kong Cheng.

The Earth Church is very sincere.

Unfortunately, Lei En really has no interest; a thousand years is too long, he only fights for the present. Moreover, the Extreme Brigade and the Thunderforge Legion are not much worse than the Earth Ring, and may become stronger in the future.

The Earth Church is not wealthy; twenty million Gold Shields is the most they can offer. Lord Hestav, however, is the opposite: he controls Thus: Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng and the Turlde Trade City‑state, his personal strength and the Extraordinary Legion are far inferior to the Earth Church, but he has plenty of money!

Lord Hestav and his spouse bid seventy‑five million Gold Shields, higher than the Mechanical Guild.

In the next two rounds, they will surely offer even higher prices.

If only Gold Shields are compared, this auction has just two main players: Lord Hestav and the Mechanical Guild; Storm Queen is inferior.

Storm Queen's bid is fifty million Gold Shields, plus herself.

She offers to become Lei En's lover.

In other words, Storm Queen is willing to pay with her body.

Lei En wants to retort, "Is your body made of gold or of divine fire? No one knows how many have tasted it, how many have played with it, could it be worth ten million Gold Shields? But I guess Storm Queen's offer is just a test, a casual joke; with her fickle and seductive nature, she could actually do it."

Then comes Tim*Kenan's memory crystal; he offers forty million Gold Shields, a batch of magical items worth twenty‑five million, and an ancient black dragon's demonic soul.

The ancient black dragon is a Saint Rank.

Tim*Kenan sees that Lei En has already reached Legendary Peak and may soon challenge the Holy Soul, so he brings out the ancient black dragon's demonic soul; that's quite thoughtful.

The ancient black dragon's demonic soul is far more valuable than ordinary Saint Rank monsters.

However, Lei En examined the dragon's Element information and found it unsuitable for him; GreyEagle Title: Duke's plan will fall through.

KangJieladeGreatSage's bid is similar: forty million Gold Shields, alchemical materials worth twenty million, including a large amount of rare items, many of which can only be gathered from other planes; even with money there's nowhere to buy them.

Finally there are also two Aien Stones.

The value of an Aien Stone is comparable to Legend Grade items, but it can be mass‑produced, so its real price is certainly lower than that of a unique Legend Grade item. Moreover, the more Aien Stones, the stronger the power; with only two, it's still insufficient.

The bids of these two Holy Soul Wizards are both somewhat conservative.

Silver Star Title: Duke is the most conflicted, being the last to bid; Lei En reads her memory crystal, and at first glance sees the Iola Core, instantly invigorated.

She is quite perceptive, having guessed her own needs, perhaps also due to Viola's hint.

Lei En does not mind this.

Given the Duke's economic power, without offering the Iola Core she has nothing else to impress him with. She offers the Iola Core, five million Gold Shields, and three unconditional votes in the Supreme Council.

Lei En smirks contemptuously, wondering who he looks down upon?

After reviewing all the memory crystals, he stores them into the Nebula Ring, pretends to ponder for a while, then, under the anxious gazes of the bidders, speaks: "I've finished reviewing the first‑round bids; I announce that the winner is Dean Margarita."

Ah…

How could this be possible?

The crowd is stunned; no one expected this outcome, even Margarita herself is taken aback. When she realizes everyone's eyes are on her, she recovers, and a surprised smile appears on her beautiful face.

(End of Chapter)