Chapter 2593: Buying a Fox
"I just arrived in Lin City and heard this was the city’s signature event, so I came to take a look," Lin Feng said with a smile and a shake of his head. He didn’t want to draw too much attention, as it was best for him at the moment. He only wanted to quickly establish the Holy Pill Pavilion without causing any trouble.
"Our auction house is the only place in the Myriad Heavens Divine Realm where you can buy Demon Beasts above the Demon King level. If you see something you like, don’t miss out; it’s worth coming to Lin City." Liu Heng noticed Lin Feng wasn’t interested in continuing the chat, so he said this before leaving the elegant room where Lin Feng and the others were seated.
"Boss, look quickly!" Suddenly, Ma Biaohu exclaimed, his eyes wide open.
A beauty in red descended from the sky. As a breeze blew past, her garments swayed, revealing snow-white legs, her graceful figure half-concealed by the red gauze. Combined with the swirling smoke on stage, it felt like being in an Immortal Realm, and she appeared to be a Fairy descended to the world.
She gently landed on the stage, picked up the hammer, and with a soft, water-like voice, said, "The auction officially begins."
"Yingying! Yingying! Yingying!"
"Yingying, I love you!"
"Yingying, you’re so beautiful!"
...
Most of the guests in the general seating were men, and those in the elegant rooms poked their heads out beyond the armrests. Unable to contain themselves, they shouted out, for Yingying was the main reason most attended the auction—to catch a glimpse of her beauty. Many men stood up.
The spectacle made Lin Feng suddenly think of Tongtong from the Xucheng Auction House. Beauties are indeed a perennial attraction at auctions, Lin Feng mused. However, he was not genuinely interested in beauties, no matter how lovely, he wouldn’t spare them a second glance.
"I declare the auction officially open; don’t hold back, everyone. Today’s items are particularly mysterious treasures!" Yingying laughed, covering her face, seemingly about to capture the souls of the men below.
A cage covered with a black cloth was slowly pushed onto the stage. Some people whistled, and others stood up from their seats. Yingying reached out, skillfully tossed aside the black cloth.
A beautiful woman, looking about twenty, was sitting inside the cage with a shining Golden Peacock Feather pinned to her coiffed hair, her face like a peach blossom, exuding charm. Even curled up in the cage, her perfect curves couldn’t be hidden, making it hard to look away, immediately causing a stir.
"Wow, she’s stunning."
"I’m determined to have her."
"Don’t compete with me; she’s mine."
...
The situation below the stage erupted, everyone eager to claim that beautiful Flame Spirit Peacock as their own. Some spoke vulgar words, while others wanted to rush to touch her flawless skin. Some even directly placed bids, wanting to take her home, making the event rather lively.
"Oh my heavens," Ma Biaohu exclaimed, his eyes widened on the upstairs balcony.
"She’s a demon beast that has transformed into human form, not a human," Lin Feng said to Ma Biaohu, recalling the time he encountered the Lecherous Tiger, which was also a demon beast turned beautiful woman. Feeling suddenly averse, he sat down, avoiding watching the scene below.
"This is the Flame Spirit Peacock, a beauty in Demon King form. The starting price is one hundred thousand Yuan Stones, with a minimum increment of ten thousand," Yingying smiled and began the bidding. She saw the men below almost drooling and felt a sense of disgust, but as the host, she had no choice.
"One hundred thousand."
"One hundred fifty thousand."
"Three hundred thousand."
"Seven hundred thousand."
...
People below the stage competed in bidding, the price soaring past one million seven hundred thousand Yuan Stones. The atmosphere among the surrounding crowd intensified as the number of Yuan Stones increased, but bidders had become fewer; no one wanted to bid too high on the first item, knowing the best was yet to come.
"Boom"
"Deal, one million seven hundred thousand Yuan Stones; the Flame Spirit Peacock goes to the Second Young Master Tang of the Tang Family, congratulations to him." Yingying led the applause as the crowd below looked towards the Tang Family.
A young man in a white robe sat in the elegant room on the second floor, holding a folding fan, his expression calm. Despite winning the first item, he didn’t seem excited, as if the Peacock he had won had nothing to do with him.
"Boss, what’s the Tang Family’s background? This guy doesn’t seem like a lecherous type." Ma Biaohu remained inquisitive, sensing the Second Young Master Tang didn’t buy the beautiful woman just for pleasure.
Lin Feng watched the Second Young Master Tang in the opposite room without answering Ma Biaohu’s question. He knew the Flame Spirit Peacock was a descendant of the Phoenix Clan, and its peacock feather was indeed a treasure. Perhaps the Second Young Master Tang was discerning; taking the Peacock home likely had other purposes.
Ma Biaohu saw Lin Feng ignoring him and continued observing downstairs.
"That Second Young Master Tang really holds romantic luck in abundance."
...
Everyone below the stage cast envious glances when they saw the Second Young Master Tang winning the first auction item. They began speaking in vulgar tones as the Flame Spirit Peacock was pushed off the stage, and only then did everyone fall silent, waiting for the next item.
Subsequently, the second treasure was brought up. The pitiful moans could be heard intermittently coming from the cage.
"What is that sound?"
"This treasure must be much more valuable than that peacock, just look at the golden cage."
"I have no idea, but it seems like it should also be a beauty."
...
The audience below started discussing again, staring intently at the golden cage in the center and whispering among themselves.
"The second Demon Beast is the Snow Peak Hidden Spirit Fox from the most secretive part of the Southern Sea. The starting price is one hundred thousand, with increments of ten thousand each time." Yingying said as she pulled away the black cloth. Even though she was accustomed to such scenes, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the injured little fox in the cage.
The small fox, snow-white all over, curled up in a corner of the cage, a unique snowflake mark on its forehead glimmering silver. Its eyes seemed to have tears that were about to fall, and its entire body was covered with silver fur. Judging by its size, it was probably still a juvenile. What was surprising was that its hind leg was still bleeding red, apparently injured by some sharp object.
"One hundred and ten thousand."
"One hundred and fifty thousand."
"Two hundred thousand."
...
Before Yingying could strike the gong, the people below were already enthusiastically and voluntarily raising their bids. They were well aware of how precious the Snow Peak Hidden Spirit Fox was. In the Southern Sea, the Fox Clan was the most secretive. If someone could refine their Demon Core into an Elixir, it would ensure women’s eternal youth and men’s sustained vitality, significantly aiding cultivators in their breakthroughs. For them, it was undoubtedly the most treasured item, worth any amount of money.
"Boss, look at how pitiful it is." Ma Biaohu couldn’t help but say to Lin Feng. He watched the little fox below, genuinely feeling in his heart that the auction was too cruel.
Lin Feng got up and saw the Snow Peak Hidden Spirit Fox in the cage, recalling the time he had rescued the Thousand-Faced Nine-Tailed Fox in the Lower Realm. His heart momentarily softened. This kind of unequal transaction existed everywhere, whether on Earth or in the Myriad Heavens Divine Realm. He sighed and waved his hand, calling out, "Five hundred thousand Yuan Stones."
The people below were enthusiastically raising their bids when suddenly, a voice emerged from upstairs. They all looked up at Lin Feng, but he ignored them and continued sipping his tea.
"Five hundred thousand." A woman in a purple dress across from Lin Feng called out fiercely. She had already bid two hundred thousand and Yingying had already called it out twice, but Lin Feng interjected in the middle, making her furious. Who was this young man?
"Eight hundred thousand." Lin Feng directly bid eight hundred thousand. He didn’t want to waste his breath. Since he intended to save the little fox, he might as well be decisive.
Is he crazy? Spending eight hundred thousand on a fox?
Who on earth is he? Adding so much at once?
This person must have quite the background...
...
Everyone was collectively amazed in their hearts; Lin Feng’s bid indeed exceeded their expectations. Since the auction began, Lin Feng’s private room had been unusually quiet, and now he bid eight hundred thousand as soon as he spoke. Such extravagance made everyone curious about his background.
The woman in purple promptly stood up, walking to the railing and glaring angrily at Lin Feng. The crowd below watched her stand, and there was an uproar in the room, which suddenly fell silent. Everyone looked at the woman in purple, waiting for her to raise her bid. They all knew that the woman was the Fourth Wife of Elder Xu, one of the eight Steward Elders in Lin City. She was notorious for her vanity and dominance. What kind of status did this young man have to dare to contend with her, and was he courting death? Everyone stayed silent, waiting for a good show to unfold.
"Eight hundred and fifty thousand." The woman in purple harshly spat out these words through gritted teeth. She had been intent on winning, and when she was on the brink of succeeding, Cheng Yaojin suddenly appeared, making her furious. The Snow Peak Hidden Spirit Fox was a treasure she had been waiting for a long time and would not give up easily.
Seeing her continue to bid, Lin Feng became interested as well. He no longer kept his head down to sip tea but instead met the eyes of the woman in purple. Things were getting more interesting.
"One million five hundred thousand." Lin Feng said calmly, without a trace of emotion, as if the one million five hundred thousand Yuan Stones did not belong to him.
"My heavens."
"One million five hundred thousand Yuan Stones..."
"It’s been a long time since a price this high has been seen!"
...
The people below quietly whispered among themselves. It had been a long time since there had been such fierce bidding in Lin City. Everyone’s heads turned back toward the woman in purple, waiting in silence for her to raise her bid.
The woman in purple stamped her foot, and if not for her husband’s order to remain low-key, she would have fought tooth and nail with this young man. Lin City, unlike other cities, was full of chaos and strife. If it were only her husband calling the shots, she wouldn’t be afraid. But now, she must not make trouble; this realization made her even angrier. She let out a cold snort, glared at Lin Feng, and got up to leave in a huff.