Chapter 222: Planting!

After the Fire Captain explained this, Fang Yue finally understood.

Everyone around who bought counterfeits and was willing to pay for them were all gamblers.

It was more or less the same mindset as buying lottery tickets.

In fact, the price offered by the Black Crow Merchant Group was still very favorable.

The current highest bid had not exceeded 15g of Black Ember.

People like Fang Yue, who spent ten pieces of Black Stone, had no interest in such petty sums!

【If you don't want it, feed it to me!】

……Get lost!

What's it got to do with you?

Fang Yue's face darkened.

Every time someone mentioned Black Stone, the parchment became absurdly eager, popping up constantly.

"17g!"

"20g!"

"21g!"

The Mortal Grade Upper-tier Soul Suppressing Shoe was still quite impressive.

Anyway, the number of people willing to bid was far greater than before for the Fluorescent Bead.

"25g of Black Ember! Any higher bids?"

The host began shouting again.

Fang Yue realized that whenever the host's voice suddenly rose, it usually meant no one else was willing to bid anymore.

Unfortunately, at this moment, Fang Yue's Analysis Pupil had just barely completed its analysis and activated its effect.

"Name: Soul Suppressing Brand Lightweight Aged Trial Model Cloth Shoe."

"Grade: Mortal Grade Lower-tier."

"Effect: A cloth shoe that feels extremely comfortable to wear."

"Description: A trial shoe produced by a small workshop, this model was designed as a new release before market launch; it uses ample materials and fine craftsmanship, ranking among the highest quality of ordinary cloth shoes."

"Note: Soul Suppressing Shoe? No good. Soul Suppressing Brand Chain Shoe Factory? That's the real deal!"

Fang Yue: …

Fang Yue's lips twitched—this thing… according to the description, was surprisingly not bad.

Of course, that was only if bought as an ordinary cloth shoe.

But how could an ordinary cloth shoe possibly fetch an auction price, let alone be sold in Black Ember?

Ordinary cloth shoes, even if they flew to heaven, were still traded in Silver—this was outright ridiculous, a profit of a thousandfold.

The heartless host didn't realize he'd been dissed by Fang Yue.

He kept enthusiastically promoting the Soul Suppressing Shoe, but 25g was truly the highest price any fool would pay; eventually, he helplessly brought down the hammer.

"Congratulations to Guest in Row 19, Seat 25, who won the 【Soul Suppressing Shoe】 for 25g of Black Ember!"

Though the host felt somewhat down, he still shouted loudly enough to give the buyer full face and maintain the auction's atmosphere.

The two items originally meant to stir excitement now received a lukewarm response.

The host gave Yaya Gu Niang, his assistant, a glance.

The item originally scheduled third would now be pushed back—the real goods had to be brought out.

This little trick was the host's years of experience, one of the secrets to keeping buyers' emotions constantly high.

Yaya, having served the host for years, immediately understood.

Behind the scenes, the originally third item was swapped out, replaced by another object.

The moment this object appeared, the effect was immediate.

The crowd erupted into chaos; many even stood up on the spot, staring excitedly at the auction item on stage!

Had Fire Captain, a near-godlike presence, not been present, some might have already tried to seize the item by force.

Even now, without openly resorting to intimidation, many had exchanged glances with those around them, sparks of tension flying.

The audience's reaction pleased the host immensely.

This was exactly the effect he wanted!

But when his gaze swept over Fang Yue's direction, both Fire Captain and the unfamiliar Fang Yue displayed an indifferent attitude, utterly out of sync with the excited crowd.

Upon further observation, the host noticed two figures in black robes in the back rows, equally calm, completely unmoved by the auction item.

Were these four people that picky? This item was already a cornerstone of the entire auction, yet they looked down on it?

Were they here for… the hidden treasures?

Today was the final session of the Black Crow Auction, so the items sold were the finest goods from the Black Crow Merchant Group!

Given their value, it was perfectly normal for Mo Cun Captain to take notice.

Because those final items were truly extraordinary!

But it wasn't time yet.

An auction, sometimes, resembled a chef preparing a meal.

You had to stir up the atmosphere, reach the right heat, before you could cook the most delicious dish and sell it for the highest price!

Right now, first, sell this current item well—ignite the first fire of this auction!

Thinking this, the host walked toward the third auction item.

It was… a pill.

"Ji Yang Pill! Mortal Grade Lower-tier, Yang-type pill, greatly beneficial to cultivators practicing Yang-based arts, especially those specializing in Human Soul Flame. Consuming this pill increases… one year of cultivation!"

"One pill, equal to a year of bitter cultivation! Why wouldn't you want to bring your cultivation that much closer?"

"Not to mention this pill has been refined by the Divine Doctor—it's pure and has no side effects whatsoever. As long as you're not someone with an especially weak body, anyone who takes this pill can strengthen their constitution, extend their lifespan, and add to their yang energy."

"If I weren't broke, I'd definitely treat this divine pill like candy—eat one every day, watch my cultivation skyrocket, and get stronger while lying down!"

"Unfortunately, this pill is far too precious. Even our Black Crow Merchant Group only managed to acquire a single one by sheer chance."

"One Foundation Yang Pill—no side effects, a year of cultivation, and added yang energy—its starting price is…"

"One Black Stone!"

How much?

One Black Stone?!

In the audience, Fang Yue's pupils contracted.

He suddenly wanted to curse—Lin Ling, you bastard!!

When he first got the Woodless Fruit Hua Wuye had given him, was what Lin Ling said even human language?

That guy actually wanted to use ten days, a month of yang energy, and even 10g of Black Ember to swindle the Woodless Fruit out of me!

What a beast!

That bastard had been to Mo Cun before and knew the market rates—his black heart is deadly!!

Although that Woodless Fruit was originally meant for Lin Ling by Hua Wuye, and only fell into his own hands later for various reasons.

But this kind of scam tactic deserves the strongest condemnation!!

Only now did Fang Yue realize just how terrifyingly valuable the Woodless Fruit Hua Wuye had given him was!

A Woodless Fruit worth ten years of cultivation, handed over for free!

A Foundation Yang Pill worth one year of cultivation, with a starting bid of one Black Stone!

Watching those crazy bidders from Mo Cun, who knows what the final price will be!

Damn it, why!

Are there really this many rich people in Mo Cun? This is one Black Stone we're talking about!

Fang Yue watched the bids climbing crazily, his scalp going numb.

This is what an auction should feel like, what an auction's price increase should look like—way too exaggerated, way too much of a markup!!

At this rate… can I still successfully buy the Acquired Second-Rate Mental Method?

(End of chapter)