After Lu Yu entered the auction house, the lights in the entire hall dimmed, and the center of the venue was illuminated as the host took the stage.

The host, dressed in a fitted vest, glanced over everyone in the venue and loudly said, "Welcome to the Deep Blue Auction, and I wish everyone a satisfying evening."

"Without further ado, as you all can't wait, I announce the start of the annual grand auction of Yunhai City!"

As the host finished speaking, the lights in the hall brightened again, though not as bright as before, maintaining a dim atmosphere for the audience.

A servant girl in a cheongsam emerged from behind the curtain at the center of the venue, holding a red wooden tray.

The servant girl carried the tray covered with a red cloth to the host's side. The host uncovered the red cloth and introduced it to everyone: "This is a bottle of Grade Four Spirit-Containing Pill, which can enhance the spiritual power of martial cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm."

"A bottle of ten Grade Four Spirit-Containing Pills, starting bid is 1.2 million, with each increment no less than 10,000 gold."

Beep! The host loudly said, "Bidder 243 has offered 1.2 million, is there anyone who wants to raise the bid?"

Beep beep beep! The bidding prompt sounds kept ringing out, and soon the price was raised to 1.43 million gold, taken by an unknown martial cultivator sitting in the crowd.

The popularity of the Grade Four Spirit-Containing Pill was beyond Lu Yu's expectations. He did not expect that the pill selling for 1 million points each in the mall would see its price increase by nearly half at the auction.

After the Spirit-Containing Pill was auctioned off, the next item was a Grade Six Spiritual Weapon, with a starting bid of 800,000 gold.

Because this spiritual weapon was a sword, which has a widespread audience, it was quickly taken away at a price of 1.5 million gold.

Lu Yu had looked over the little booklet produced by the auction house; the Ice and Fire Fragment he desired was placed a bit further down the list.

The placement of the Ice and Fire Inheritance Fragment being further down wasn't due to its value being low; on the contrary, it was because its value was uncertain, which is why it was placed later.

The auction house puts determined value items that are useful to most people and can attract most to bid on at the front to prevent a lull.

They first create a small climax, then auction those items with fluctuating value and high uncertainty, which are harder to sell, and finally, the high-end auction items serve as the finale.

During Lu Yu's wait, dozens of items valued between 1 million and 3 million had been sold by the auction house.

A servant girl carefully carried a jade box onto the stage, and the host also carefully opened the jade box, gave everyone a glance, and immediately closed it, saying loudly, "The next auction item is a section of 2,000-year-old Spirit Ginseng."

"This section of Spirit Ginseng is three inches long, well-preserved, and brimming with spiritual qi, with a starting bid of 2 million, each increment no less than 10,000 gold."

"2 million." "2.1 million." "2.5 million." "2.8 million."…

In no time, the price of the 2,000-year-old Spirit Ginseng was pushed up to over 3 million, and Lu Yu, who initially wanted to make a move, could only silently retract his hand, seeing the momentum, knowing the price for this section of millennium Spirit Ginseng would at least be over 4 million.

Currently, Lu Yu's wealth was approximately 5.5 million gold. If he bought this piece of ginseng, the possibility of buying the Ice and Fire Inheritance Fragment would be uncertain.

Glancing at the auction attendees around him clad in luxurious clothing, Lu Yu couldn't help but feel that they were all wealthy; in comparison, he felt quite poor.

The auction process was simple: insert the Crystal Card into the card reader on the table or chair and press the numbers on the seat to bid, provided there is enough amount on the stored-value card.

As for those who shouted out the bids, it was to boost momentum and inform others of their determination.

Whether it worked was another matter, but uttering it out loud carried an exhilarating feeling of spending lavishly.

Lu Yu inserted the Blue Crystal Card that Huang Ying gave him into the armrest of the chair, ready to participate in the bidding.

In the end, the section of 2,000-year-old, three-inch-long Spirit Ginseng fell into the hands of a guest in the VIP room for 4.5 million gold.

This was the last climax of the early stage; the upcoming auction items were more peculiar, not highly applicable, and some had unclear values.

In the words of old customers who frequently attend auctions, now is the bargain-hunting phase, and whether one could profit depends on their insight.

The previous was the bidding phase, and finally comes the finale phase.

Of course, the bargain-hunting phase wouldn't go on endlessly; it alternates with the bidding phase, giving most customers a chance to spend.

A servant girl pushed a cart onto the stage, on which sat a heavily corroded large bronze armor. The host introduced, "This is an ancient bronze armor salvaged from underwater ruins; in terms of strength, its defense is comparable to a Grade Five Spirit Armor."

"The starting bid for the ancient bronze armor is 600,000."

After speaking, the host glanced over the crowd, waiting for someone to bid.

For a long moment, no one bid. If it were truly a Grade Five Spirit Armor, starting the bid at 1 million would still attract countless to clamor for it, but this was just a broken armor comparable in defense to Grade Five Spirit Armor.

Grade Five Spirit Armor offers comprehensive protection and can withstand spiritual power attacks.

This ancient bronze armor could only defend against physical attacks and wasn't full-body protection.

None wanted to wear such a thing in battle, especially with its severe corrosion.

Just when the host was about to announce it as a no-sale, a burly man sitting in the corner shouted, "600,000."

"Bidder 45 has offered 600,000, does anyone else wish to bid?" The host scanned over everyone and finally smiled at the burly man, saying, "Congratulations to Bidder 45 for acquiring the ancient bronze armor for 600,000."

No matter the price, the host had to maintain a beaming smile.

Items won could only be collected after the auction ended, though if one wished to leave early, they could proactively go to the inner area to claim the items they won.

After winning the ancient bronze armor, the burly man did not leave; it seemed he still intended to continue participating in the subsequent auctions.

The items appearing during the bargain-hunting phase dazzled Lu Yu, with seemingly anything being offered.

For instance, a knife that leaves unhealable wounds after stabbing someone, demon snake liquor that can nourish yin and strengthen yang, and tiles carved with bizarre patterns found from who knows where…

The prices of the auction items at this stage are quite uncertain; some may go unsold, while others might fetch prices in the millions.

After several rounds of alternating between bidding and buying, Lu Yu finally saw the auction item he wanted—an Ice and Fire Legacy Fragment.

"The next auction item is a peculiar blue jade fragment. Its origin is unknown, and its purpose remains unclear. For those interested in uncovering the mysteries behind the blue jade fragment, feel free to take it home."

Upon hearing the host say this, many sighs of disappointment arose from the audience; if nothing is known about it, what's the point of bidding?

The auction house has dedicated appraisers, and if they can't identify the item, how would one recognize it?

Seeing the crowd's waning interest in the blue jade fragment, the host calmly stated, "Although it harbors many unknowns, we have yet to find a way to destroy this fragment. Neither water nor fire affects it, and it withstands attacks from Core Formation Realm experts without any damage…"

The audience's interest was piqued again, and witnessing this situation, Lu Yu felt slightly troubled; he had been pleased when he heard the crowd's dismissive "tsk-tsk" sounds, thinking no one would compete with him.

But now it appeared that others were also intrigued, which made things a bit difficult.

"The starting bid for the blue jade fragment is 800,000, with each increase no less than 10,000 gold." the host said.

The original starting bid was 1.2 million, but the host temporarily lowered it to prevent it from going unsold.

Despite speaking much about the fragment's peculiar aspects, ultimately, its unknown nature couldn't be changed.

No one knows what the blue jade fragment truly is, and not even Core Formation Realm experts can destroy it. Buying it might only make it a decorative piece.

"810,000." "820,000." "840,000." "880,000." …

The price increased slowly with intermittent bids, just as stated earlier; although the blue jade fragment is unique, its essence remains unknown.

Some may pay for it out of a collecting mindset but may not shell out major money.

Lu Yu quietly observed others increasing the bids, never participating.

"Number 164 offers 940,000, does anyone else want to bid?"

"940,000 once, 940,000 twice, 940 thousand…"

"1,000,000." Lu Yu's flat voice sounded, as if treating a million as dirt, seemingly just swapping a million for something mildly pleasing, like a wealthy person.

The bidder at 940,000 hesitated several times upon hearing Lu Yu's bid but ultimately gave up.

"1,000,000 once, 1,000,000 twice, 1,000,000 thrice. Congratulations to number 456 for obtaining the blue jade fragment." The host said with a smile, feeling cheerful about having lowered the starting bid.

Although the selling price was low, it was better than being unsold.

Lu Yu breathed a sigh of relief seeing the item fall into his hands.

For safety reasons, Lu Yu didn't immediately retrieve the ice jade fragment he bid for, to avoid anyone using it as bait.

"Hello, your auctioned blue jade fragment has been sold for a bid price of 1,000,000. The auction house will charge an 8% auction fee; here's your 920,000 gold, please accept it." Inside the Deep Blue Auction, a staff member handed a Cyan Crystal Card to a man with his head wrapped in white cloth.

The man wrapped in white cloth took the Cyan Crystal Card and casually asked, "Did the auctioneer retrieve the blue jade fragment?"

"Not yet. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." The staff left the room.

If not for the man in white cloth offering many items, the staff wouldn't have told him whether the auction item was retrieved, as it involves customer privacy.

"Could he not have come specifically for the ice jade fragment?" Li Yanfeng toyed with the Cyan Crystal Card in his hand, muttering softly.

...

"Congratulations to number 12 for acquiring the seventh-grade spirit weapon, Starfire Flame Sword."

The Starfire Flame Sword was the auction item Lu Yu offered; it was a fire-attribute seventh-grade spirit weapon greatly enhancing fire-attribute damage, going for 4.5 million gold.

Lu Yu only spent 24.6 million Points acquiring it from the mall, equivalent to 2.46 million gold, nearly doubling the price.

The auction proceeds and the ice jade fragment require Lu Yu to collect backstage at the auction, currently inaccessible.

As Lu Yu watched some people leave and considered leaving, something unexpected appeared on the auction stage.

"The next auction item is very special."

Four strong men carried something resembling a box onto the stage, covered with special red cloth, preventing the crowd from sensing what's inside.

Bang! The box was placed on the stage, the host excitedly lifted the red cloth, and upon seeing the contents, Lu Yu sat down instantly, his face showing shock.

"This is a small mermaid, a noble demon tribe living deep in the ocean. It's rumored that a mermaid's song can mesmerize humans, being the most beautiful sound in the world."

"Our next auction item is this mermaid captured by chance, starting bid at 10 million!" The host shouted excitedly.

"11 million!" "12 million!" "15 million!" …

Lu Yu sat in his seat, carefully observing the cramped little mermaid in the water tank. At first, seeing the mermaid's face, Lu Yu thought he was looking at a little tail.

But after close observation, although the little mermaid looked like the little tail, there were many differences; the biggest difference was that she had a colorful fish tail.

Even though she wasn't the little tail, watching a mermaid resembling a little tail being auctioned off before the crowd, Lu Yu felt an indescribable mix of anger and longing …

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