Chapter 528 (1/2)
In truth, Su Xing did not know at all that ever since he had snatched Xi Yue away from the Illusion Reality Sect and scared off Holy Lord of Draconic Demon, the Purple Thunder Monster's heroic tales had spread throughout the Black Turtle Territory. The Devil Star Palace, Nine Dragons Palace and the other great powers had already issued an alert against him. Every major auction and market square had his, Wu Song's and others' portraits.1 However, with Su Xing's current strength, this alert more or less was somewhat cautionary in meaning.
Things outside the auction were in the middle of intensifying.
Feng Ying anxiously waited. Not long after, the Shifting Star Moving Moon Array flashed.
A woman walked out from the middle.
This woman wore a dark blue flowery gown wrapped in black silk, revealing her gracefully contoured neck and visible collarbone. Her skirt pleats were like snowy moonlight flowing gently towards the ground. It dragged more than three chi, making her gait all the more graceful and beautiful. Her abundant black hair was bound using a headband, and a butterfly hairpin was stuck into it. A lock of black hair lay across her chest, and her makeup only added to her beauty.
If one was to look only at her figure, then she definitely was extremely charming, making them very easily think the woman was a beauty that could lead to the downfall of a country, but upon seeing face, she made people startled. The woman was not at all so ugly, rather, the woman wore a sinister, fanged mask that covered half her face. Its shape was unbearably ugly. At first glance, it was a grotesque beast, making one feel nauseous.
Her exposed small cherry lips were adorned with black lipstick, which added even further to her sinister appearance.
Feng Ying did not dare slight her. She respectfully stepped forward: ”Imperial Empress Yunshang.”2
After the Star Duels began, the Nine Dragons Palace had two Imperial Empresses. The one in the light was Nine Tattooed Dragons Shi Jinglun, and the one in the shadows was that second Imperial Empress before her named Yunshang who made people love and fear her.
Yunshang normally was in charge of the nine city-states outside Nine Dragons City. Her position was second only to Shi Jinglun.
”What has happened, there is no need to startle the Queen.” Yunshang indifferently spoke.
Feng Ying summarized things.
”Wu Song, the Purple Thunder Monster?” A slight ripple appeared in Yunshang's tone.
She had long already heard the rumors about the Purple Thunder Monster. This man who defeated Great Saint Starkiller, who slayed Guan Ying and even left Shi Jinglun at a loss of what to do had most recently become prominent in the Black Turtle Territory. Yunshang stood guard over nine cities, yet she was curious about him – particularly this man who unexpectedly could seduce two thousand year Star Generals who had never once signed a contract in nearly a millennium – Majestic Star Lin Chong and Harm Star Wu Song. This truly was extremely outrageous.
”I have already dispatched people to retain the Black Profound Divine Jade as last to be auctioned. They ought to still be drinking tea.” Feng Ying said.
Yunshang nodded, the meaning being that she expressed approval.
Feng Ying saw that she did not speak, and then continued: ”I feel that they are definitely using the Black Profound Divine Jade to upgrade a Star Weapon. Imperial Empress Yunshang, shall we still sell it to them?”
”We need not play tricks in business affairs. Let him buy everything if he has the money, however, how many Black Profound Divine Jade do we have in this auction?” Yunshang asked.
”Twenty-five pieces.” Feng Ying honestly replied.
”Twenty-five pieces. She should still be lacking in number to upgrade her Star Weapon, however, we should still limit him to fifteen pieces.” Yunshang calmly said.
”As you command.”
”Also, completely turn over all auction items from these nine great cities to me. I hear the Purple Thunder Monster has many Star Generals. Perhaps there are some unfavorable to the Queen among them.” Yunshang continued to say.
”Yes.”
Before Yunshang's commands were finished. ”Finally, immediately inform Devil Star Palace and the other Great Sects. Just tell them that the Purple Thunder Monster has appeared alone. Let them go kill each other in a life and death battle. I want to see just what virtue and capabilities he has, to be able to have contracted with so many of my Sisters.”
”Subordinate immediately carries out your orders.” Despite Yunshang's malevolent personality, her thoughts nevertheless were very meticulous. Very quickly, she had sorted things out.
After Feng Ying left, Yunshang passed through a curtain to look at the auction's arena. Her black eyes, for a time, were abyssal and indecipherable, her mood very unclear.
…
Su Xing watched the auction taking place atop the platform. All of the items had been very ordinary. Perhaps to other cultivators, even Supercluster Cultivators, they were exceptional items, but to the Su Xing in the Star Duels, these magic weapons were not as outstanding as those that Tang Lianxin forged.
Finally, the Black Profound Divine Jade at last was unveiled.
The Black Profound Divine Jade was a strange treasure. In the Black Turtle Territory, it was an excellent item to be used with practicing cultivation methods or refining tools, and Black Profound Divine Jade came from the Endless Depths. It was very difficult to find, and its appearance would attract the interest of all cultivators.
What made Su Xing disappointed was that there were only fifteen pieces of Black Profound Divine Jade. This was too few. Wu Siyou currently had thirteen pieces, and her upgrade to Five Star required forty-eight pieces, meaning that these mere twenty-eight pieces was still deficient by a large portion. However, this was far better than nothing.
”Fifteen pieces of Black Profound Divine Jade, each piece is being auctioned at a price of thirty million apiece.” A female cultivator announced in a loud voice.
Thirty million each. This price made those cultivators somewhat timid. To a Scattered Cultivator, this prices honestly was somewhat not too matching with common sense, far out of the ordinary.
Su Xing was not worried. He slowly waited.
”Thirty-five million liang.” A tottering fat person said.
”Forty million.”
”Fifty-five million.”
The sounds of bidding were considerably weaker than before. Perhaps some had the support of a sect, but very few Scattered Cultivators could come up with the capital for a Black Profound Divine Jade priced at forty, fifty million.
”Seventy million!!”
Just as the fifty-five million was already stopping, just when that cultivator thought that he could obtain it, a voice that rang like a morning bell resounded through the hall.
Everyone turned their gazes and saw a man make his bid. Beside him were two gorgeous girls hugging him from the left and right.
”Seventy million? This is too extravagant.”
”The Black Profound Jade cannot be worth seventy million, can it???”
Everyone discussed spiritedly.
The seventy million appeared like an astronomical figure, however, it did not count as much when exchanged with talismans, pills, or magic weapons. The Bright Pearl Strip that Su Xing gave to Feng Ying contained enough to spare even if he was to barter for every piece of Black Profound Divine Jade at more than a hundred million apiece.
The feeling of someone sending their money to his doorstep felt so good.3
Su Xing sighed.
”Seventy million, is there anyone else who will bid an even higher price? This is Black Profound Divine Jade, a strange stone of the Endless Depths.”
No one answered.
Su Xing had already seen the bottom line price that each of them could afford. Therefore, the moment he spoke was enough to astonish everyone.
”It seems this Black Profound Divine Jade will be given to this Fellow.” The female cultivator smiled and said.
”A hundred million!!”
Just as she was about to close, suddenly at this moment, there was an abrupt change. A voice cold to the bone suddenly resounded. Everyone shuddered in alarm, as if they felt goosebumps upon hearing this voice.
Su Xing and Wu Siyou were both taken aback.
They turned their heads in astonishment.
A woman draped in black silk and wearing dark blue splendid clothing walked in from the main doors. Each step she took seemed to imitate an asura, as if they could see monsters cheering from behind the woman. She made everyone stifled, especially when the woman was wearing an extremely ugly monster mask that covered her face, making her seem even more malicious. This made people feel she was cultivating some Devil Cultivation Method at first glance and needed the Black Profound Divine Jade.
”A hundred million?”
”This one's insane, to unexpectedly offer one hundred million.”
”Heavens.”
Everyone discussed in succession.
Yunshang glanced at Su Xing. There was no emotion to be seen in her gaze.
Su Xing did not expect Cheng Yaojin to show up suddenly along the way.4 His first impression was that she was deliberately bidding the price higher. This was an auction's trick, Su Xing knew, but the woman in front of him seemed a bit unfathomable.
”Two hundred million!!”
Su Xing said immediately.
Everyone drew in a deep breath. Glancing at Su Xing's crafty eyes, no one expected that Su Xing would immediately double the bid. Could it be that he was deliberately inflating the price?? Even Wu Siyou felt that Su Xing's bid was honestly overwhelming.
Su Xing was expressionless. He calmly talked and joked with Little Huang.
Su Xing deliberately did so to fight a psychological battle, to make his opponent believe that he was raising the price. Under normal circumstances, if he was not so insistent, even a person deliberately increasing the price could not possibly dare make another bid.
Yunshang's extremely cold expression showed slight astonishment from Su Xing's action, If it was not for knowing Su Xing's bottom line towards the Black Profound Divine Jade was that he had to obtain it, she perhaps would honestly have retreated.
Yunshang's pupils shrunk. She ruthlessly spat out.
”Three hundred million!!”
Boom.
Everyone was shaken.
These cultivators had never seen this level of bidding in an auction. Each and every single one of them stared dumbstruck at the two of them.
”The Black Profound Divine Jade also can be given to a Star General to upgrade her Star Weapon. That Elder Sister over there is somewhat familiar.” Yunshang pensively said. ”It seems this item must be obtained at all costs.”
These words seemed enlightening, waking everyone up.
Only then did they return to their senses. If this was used for a Star General's Star Weapon upgrade, two or three hundred million was not bargaining.
”She is…” Someone whispered, a greedy light flashing across their eyes.
Wu Siyou's eyes narrowed, concealing her cold blade.
”It seems you also want to use it to upgrade your Star Weapon?” Su Xing smiled and said. ”Since the lady has bid like this, it seems I really must obtain it without fail.”
Yunshang was expressionless, as if answering this was indeed the case.
As expected, she had come to increase the price?
To encounter a Star General at this kind of auction was perhaps most detestable. Regarding materials required to be obtained, to give up on them was not too possible.
However, to use four or five hundred to buy one Black Profound Divine Jade, fifteen pieces would then be close to a billion. As far as the Su Xing who was rich and overbearing was concerned, this still hurt very much. Su Xing sunk into contemplation.
Some people showed sneers. They were secretly pleased that Su Xing was agonizing in front of his wives' faces.
”Three hundred million apiece. Is there any other Fellow that wishes to bid?” The female cultivator's voice trembled. However, this was not because of the high price or because of Yunshang. She knew the Nine Dragons Palace's Imperial Empress. To slap down their own was a gain that did not make up for the losses.
”Lord Husband, let us leave. Since Little Sister is fond of it, leave it to her.” WU Siyou calmly said. To make Su Xing waste a billion to buy the Black Profound Divine Jade, Wu Siyou did not like this.
”Feng Ying.” Su Xing suddenly said.
”Fellow, what is the matter.” Feng Ying hurried over.
”I want to tell you something.”
”Please speak.”
”Exchange the things in the Bright Pearl Strip for these fifteen Black Profound Divine Jade. If you are willing, then Your Servant shall make the trade. Of course, if you feel the price is too low, then these fifteen pieces of Black Profound Jade can be yielded to this lady.” Su Xing remained calm amidst the chaos, slightly smiling.
Feng Ying was stunned. SHe did not expect Su Xing to be so generous. THe things in the Bright Pearl Strip, no matter how it was put, neared a billion in value. Although this did not compare to the price of three hundred million apiece, it was an absolute profit.
Feng Ying did not dare make the decision, and she subconsciously glanced at Yunshang.