Chapter 2592: Demon Beast Auction House
Ma Biaohu laughed heartily, teasingly saying while holding a tangyuan, "Why don’t we sell you for a drink?"
Tangyuan glared at Ma Biaohu fiercely, flew to his shoulder, and took a bite out of him.
Not to be outdone, Ma Biaohu grabbed Tangyuan’s fluffy little body and began to rub him, saying, "Let’s see if I won’t pluck all your fur!"
"You dare, you dare! Nyah nyah nyah..." Tangyuan retorted, giving Ma Biaohu a flick on the forehead, sticking out his tongue.
"Stop fooling around, let’s go check out the slave market." Watching the one-man-one-beast frolic, Lin Feng shook his head and said.
Upon arriving at the slave market, they discovered something even more bloody and exaggerated than arenas. All kinds of demon beasts were on display, some chained, some caged, their eyes filled with hopelessness, some even letting out hissing roars of hatred. Tangyuan hid in Lin Feng’s embrace, unwilling to look, while Ma Biaohu found it quite intriguing.
"What kind of monster is this?" Ma Biaohu curiously pointed at a fish over two feet long, covered in silver scales but with four legs. He had never seen such an ugly demon beast before; how could something like this be up for sale? It was truly strange.
"Oh, this is called the Golden Whiskers Burrowing Beast." The slave trader glanced at Ma Biaohu, disdainfully saying, having caught this treasure with a lot of effort.
"What about this one?" Ma Biaohu curiously picked up a cage from the ground and asked. Inside was a strange bird like a parrot but without wings. He couldn’t help but be amazed; he’d never seen a bird without wings before. Lin City was full of peculiar and weird things.
"This is a Wingless Golden Sparrow, very expensive. Don’t touch if you’re not buying." The vendor hurriedly snatched the cage away, hugging it to his chest like he was afraid Ma Biaohu would steal it, casting a glance at Ma Biaohu as if thinking he was a pauper who couldn’t afford his demon beasts.
"Hah, I could afford it, don’t judge people by their appearance." Ma Biaohu got instantly angry seeing the vendor’s disdainful look, saying resentfully. He really couldn’t stand the attitude of such small traders, as if he would care for these things out of curiosity!
As he walked further, passing other stalls, Ma Biaohu became interested in another demon beast caged within a large cage that resembled a one-eyed leopard. The slave trader waved his hand impatiently and said to Ma Biaohu, "Not for sale, not for sale, that’s my pet, I can’t sell it to you. This treasure is in the late phase of the Demon King Realm, as fast as lightning, I rely on it to catch other demon beasts."
The slave trader looked at Lin Feng and Ma Biaohu, who had been asking at various stalls but didn’t seem interested in buying, so he no longer engaged with them.
"How much is this?"
"Two hundred Yuan Stones."
"How much is that?"
"Deal, deal..."
......
The crowded throng haggled over prices with the slave traders and paid and took their leave when the price was right. The people of Lin City were quite used to such transactions, while Lin Feng and Ma Biaohu weaved through the bustling crowd, carefully observing their surroundings.
Most of the demon beasts here were ones Lin Feng had never encountered. There were micro-demon beasts smaller than Tangyuan and centaur-like demon beasts half-human, half-demon. Their faces took on human shapes, but their bodies still resembled horses’, looking very bizarre. There were also giant demon beasts resembling elephants, mostly several feet tall, obviously so burly, they could easily break free from chains, yet watched closely by humans, daring not to move.
"Boss, why are these demon beasts so huge, yet they don’t resist and are so quiet?" Ma Biaohu asked, finding it unbelievable seeing the unusually calm demon beasts.
"Not sure." Lin Feng shook his head and said. Ma Biaohu’s question was also what puzzled Lin Feng. He could smell an unpleasant odor lingering in the air, possibly some kind of drug.
As Lin Feng and Ma Biaohu observed along the way, they noticed most of the demon beasts looked very vacant, as if controlled by something. Most were unusually quiet, only a few feebly pounded on their cages in resistance, evoking a feeling of vast disparity between the humans and demon beasts in the Myriad Heavens Divine Realm, just like the ascenders subjected to unequal oppression, helpless but unable to fight back.
"The Demon Beast Auction House is about to auction demon beasts, let’s go have a look quickly."
"Really, let’s hurry and see what’s on offer this time!"
"I’m going too, just in need of a laborer to pull the cart!"
...
The surrounding people were all heading in one direction as they spoke. This Demon Beast Auction House was the largest place in Lin City for auctioning demon beasts. The beasts here were all the newest ones, with all sorts of species. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you might even see humanoid female demon beasts, which are quite in demand. Even if they don’t need them, gifting one would definitely be highly effective! That’s why they were so excited upon hearing such news.
Upon hearing what these people said and seeing them all hurrying to one place, Tangyuan felt curious and wondered what kind of place this was. He jumped off Lin Feng’s shoulder and said, "Boss, shall we take a look too?"
"Let’s go, take a look," Lin Feng replied. With that, he led Ma Biaohu and Tangyuan, following the flow of people ahead.
The architecture of the building was strange, from afar it looked like a giant chimney. The building was at least dozens of yards tall, wrapped entirely in an iron material, shining with a mysterious silver light. Below, there was only a small door that seemed out of place with the rest of the structure. The sign on the door boldly displayed the words Demon Beast Auction House.
The two men and the beast followed the crowd and entered the auction house. As soon as they entered, they were immediately overwhelmed by the smoke inside, unable to open their eyes.
"This place is too smoky, not sure what kind of strange odor is floating around?" Tangyuan said, coughing in discomfort. The smell inside was just too peculiar. However, Ma Biaohu and Lin Feng only saw the smoke but did not show any adverse reactions. Unable to bear it any longer, Tangyuan was placed into the Cave Heaven Mansion by Lin Feng.
As they were speaking, a beauty in a golden qipao approached with a smile, "This way, esteemed guests, would you like a table in the common area or a private room?"
"What’s the difference?" Ma Biaohu asked, thinking that the business here was really booming. He looked around, seeing that the common tables on the first floor were full of guests, and even the private seats upstairs were occupied as well.
The beauty politely replied, "The private seats require a fee of one hundred Yuan Stones, the common tables are free, guests."
Lin Feng casually handed the beauty one hundred Yuan Stones and ascended the stairs, really wanting to find a quiet place. Ma Biaohu followed him up.
The second floor was comprised of small rooms with viewing platforms. From the edge of the platform, one could see the whole interior of the building clearly. In the center of the hall was a golden circular stage, surrounded by common seats packed with waiting guests.
"Please call your manager," Lin Feng said to the beauty in the qipao. He had to figure out the situation in Lin City. This feeling of knowing nothing made him uneasy, and perhaps calling the manager might provide some useful answers.
"Alright, please wait a moment." The beauty poured tea for Lin Feng and the others, then left.
Not long after, a man in his thirties entered. He was dressed in a black suit, carrying a teapot, with a demon beast resembling a monkey perched on his shoulder. Walking in swaggeringly, he carefully eyed Lin Feng, finding it strange, as it was rare for anyone to seek him out proactively.
"Dear guest, I’m the head steward here, Liu Heng. Is there something you need?" Saying this, he pulled out a chair and sat down, looking at Lin Feng and Ma Biaohu. He wondered who these two were, seemingly new arrivals to Lin City. But observing Lin Feng, he found this person to be truly different.
"Manager Liu, we’re from afar, not too familiar with Lin City, and want to know what this place does?" Lin Feng smiled as he looked at Liu Heng. He knew that this person was merely the manager of the auction house, not the owner. However, getting some useful information from Liu Heng would be good.
"We are the only Demon Beast Auction House in Lin City, and also the only one in the Myriad Heavens Divine Realm. The demon beasts auctioned here are at least above the Demon King level. Occasionally, we may have one or two at the Demon Venerable level every year," Liu the Shopkeeper explained. He regarded Lin Feng, thinking that this young man looked extraordinary yet exuded an intimidating aura. Though he himself was a Divine King, he couldn’t discern this young man’s depth, at least above a Divine Venerable, making him cautious in his speech.
"Demon Venerable?" Lin Feng wondered. How formidable must a Demon Venerable-level demon beast be, that it could be casually priced and auctioned in Lin City? During his time in the Myriad Heavens Divine Realm, he had encountered a few Demon Venerables and knew well their prowess. Yet in Lin City, they became commodities for trade, a truly unimaginable scenario.
Seeing Lin Feng’s puzzlement, Liu the Shopkeeper chuckled and said, "Our Lin City is a first-tier city within the Myriad Heavens Divine Realm, with all sorts of talents, what’s so strange about it having those above a Demon Venerable?"
"Shopkeeper, I want to know what the smoke in this room is?" Lin Feng voiced his confusion. He had long sensed something was amiss because even the monkey-like creature on Liu’s shoulder seemed as if it were drunk, looking dazed. Thinking of Tangyuan, Lin Feng felt it necessary to ask this question.
"It’s called Nine Poisons Imperial Beast Powder. It’s specifically designed to deal with demon beasts, harmless to humans. No matter how mighty the demon beast, once it inhales a little of this potion, its mind will scatter, and it will obediently comply," Liu the Shopkeeper said, taking a sip from the teapot he held. Recognizing the young man’s pointed questions, he didn’t hide anything and spoke truthfully. This powder was their auction’s secret weapon.
Lin Feng suddenly understood why Tangyuan felt uncomfortable upon smelling it. This potion was terrifying, capable of numbing the nerves of demon beasts, rendering them entirely defenseless.
"Esteemed guest, you probably wish to purchase a demon beast as well?" Liu the Shopkeeper subsequently asked. Observing that Lin Feng continuously inquired about demon beasts, he must not be here just for excitement. For someone looking so young, he wondered how substantial his financial resources were.