In the end, Ian Song successfully won the mid-tier King-Grade manual, Netherflame Art. With all three King-Grade techniques from today's auction now in his hands, the crowd's gazes toward him grew increasingly unfriendly. At this moment, the auction staff approached and asked, "Will Young Master Chu be paying with gold notes, or with spirit crystals?"
"Young Master, please come with us. A hundred thousand gold equals one lower-grade spirit crystal."
After the auction ended, a manager from the Imperial Crown Auction House personally came to invite Ian Song to settle the payment and collect his winnings.
Ian made five bids in total today and won four lots.
Eternal Grace Pill: two million gold.
Heavenly Sun Art: twenty-two million gold. The transaction went smoothly. After Ian paid three thousand lower-grade spirit crystals, he received five King-Grade manuals. At that exact moment, a cold and familiar system prompt rang out in his mind: "Ding! Congratulations, Host, you have completed the side mission to collect King-Grade techniques. You are rewarded with one Emperor-Grade technique."
Nine Suns Art: thirty million gold.
Netherflame Art: sixty million gold.
So, the total amount of gold he needed to pay the auction house was 114 million.
Naturally, the auction house took this very seriously—they sent a manager to show respect to Ian, but also to make sure he wasn't planning to run off without paying.
Actually, it wasn't just the auction house worrying Ian might run off—even the veiled girl and Chloe Snow, his companions, seriously doubted he could produce so much gold. Just then, Sherry Summers stepped forward and presented a sleek black Imperial Crown VIP Card. "Young Master Chu, this is an Imperial Crown VIP Card. With this card, you can enjoy VIP treatment at any Imperial Crown Auction House in any city, and you only need to pay 90% of the price for any item you win."
"Lead the way."
Ian waved his hand dismissively, not bothered at all.
Soon, under the manager's guidance, Ian and his two companions arrived in a lavishly decorated room. Sherry Summers, the auctioneer, was already waiting inside.
"Greetings, Young Master. May I ask how I should address you?" Sherry Summers asked with a polite smile.
"Just call me Young Master Chu," Ian replied calmly. He'd seen plenty of beauties before, so even though Sherry was stunning, he remained unfazed. This actually took Sherry by surprise, making her wonder if her charm had somehow faded. But that couldn't be right—it was probably just a cover to hide his real identity. Anyone who could casually produce three thousand spirit crystals had to be from a hidden clan.
"Where are my things?"
Ian glanced around the room but didn't see the manuals or the Eternal Grace Pill.
Clap clap! Meanwhile, outside the auction house, Ray Bolton cursed under his breath, "Damn it, that kid better not think he can hide in there and get away from me. You guys keep watch—if he comes out, grab him immediately!"
Sherry Summers gently clapped her hands, and four maids filed in, each carrying one of the auctioned items.
"Young Master Chu, will you be paying with gold notes or spirit crystals?" Sherry Summers asked with a smile.
One hundred thousand gold equals one lower-grade spirit crystal.
"What, I can't pay in actual gold?" Ian retorted.
"Of course you can!" Sherry was briefly stunned, then nodded.
Then, Ian casually waved his hand, and several small mountains of gold appeared right in the room.
For a moment, everyone present was utterly stunned.
After a while, Sherry snapped back to her senses and looked at Ian with deep meaning. "I didn't expect Young Master Chu to carry so much gold on him."
Ian just smiled, waved his hand again, and put away the three manuals and the Eternal Grace Pill. "Payment settled. Goodbye!"
"Wait!"
Sherry suddenly called out, then produced a special black card in her hand. Ancient runes were engraved on its surface, and it gave off a faint, majestic aura.
"Young Master Chu, this is the Imperial Crown Auction House VIP Card. With this card, you can enjoy VIP treatment at any branch in any city, and you'll get a 10% discount on all your purchases."
"That good? Then I'll gladly accept." Ian smiled and took the black card. Suddenly, a thought struck him. "By the way, do you have any more King-Grade techniques for sale? I'm willing to buy at a high price!"
"Uh..." Sherry hesitated.
"I'm willing to pay fifty million gold for each manual, as long as they're complete—even if they're just entry-level!"
Hearing this, Sherry couldn't help but look tempted. She glanced at Ian and asked, "How many do you need, Young Master?"
Ian immediately sensed an opportunity and was secretly delighted. "Five will do!"
Sherry rolled her eyes. "Just five? You think King-Grade techniques grow on trees? Still, it's possible, but it'll take time—and I have one more condition!"
"What condition?"
"I hope you'll pay in spirit crystals!"
"When will the transaction take place?"
"How about ten days?"
"No way!" Ian frowned and waved his hand. "That's way too long. If you can complete the deal in three days, I'll pay you 2,600 spirit crystals. If you can do it in one day, I'll pay 3,000 spirit crystals!"
"Deal!"
Sherry's eyes lit up. At 3,000 spirit crystals, the average price for each technique would reach sixty million gold—a very lucrative deal. The Imperial Crown Auction House has deep resources and branches across the Ten Great Families' domains, with hundreds of King-Grade techniques in their collection.
Selling just a few copies is nothing, especially since they're only selling duplicates—the originals remain with the auction house for future sales.
"Young Master Chu, we'll mobilize the techniques as quickly as possible. If you'd like, we can arrange a place for you to rest while you wait. How does that sound?"
"Sounds good. I'll trouble you then!" Ian nodded in agreement. He'd thought he'd have to rob a few sects to gather ten King-Grade techniques, but now he could get what he needed just by paying a few spirit crystals. What a surprise.
Led by a manager, Ian and his two companions moved into a quiet, elegant courtyard.
Ian immediately tossed the Eternal Grace Pill to the veiled girl.
"Thank you."
The veiled girl said softly.
"What did you say?" Ian teased.
"If you didn't hear it, then forget it."
The veiled girl shot him a glare, then pulled Chloe Snow back to their room.
Ian just smiled and signaled the courtyard maid to bring him a pot of tea, then lounged around sipping it at his leisure.
While Ian was relaxing with tea inside the auction house, Ray Bolton—who was waiting outside to ambush him—was starting to get anxious. He muttered to himself, 'Why hasn't that kid come out yet? Could he have been detained for failing to pay?'
At the same time, plenty of other schemers were secretly watching the auction house entrance, waiting for Ian to emerge.
But even as night fell, no one saw him leave.
"Damn it, that kid better not think hiding in the auction house means I can't touch him! Keep watch—if he comes out, grab him immediately!"
Ray finally lost patience, pulled his pretty companion close, and left, telling his men to keep staking out the place.
The night passed uneventfully.
The next morning, after the maid delivered breakfast, Sherry Summers arrived with a stern-faced middle-aged man.
"Miss Sherry, have the manuals arrived?"
Ian asked lazily.
"Young Master Chu, you really do have foresight!" Sherry said with a light laugh.
The transaction went smoothly. After Ian paid 3,000 lower-grade spirit crystals, the five manuals were handed over to him. At that moment, the familiar cold voice of the System rang out in his mind: "Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the side mission to collect techniques. You are rewarded with one Emperor-Grade Technique."
As soon as the voice faded, a flood of information poured into his sea of consciousness, making his head feel swollen.
"Miss Sherry, may I stay in your courtyard for a while? I plan to go into seclusion here." Ian suddenly said. With the System's Emperor-Grade Technique in hand, he intended to advance his cultivation to the Core Formation Stage.
"Of course, Young Master Chu! Stay as long as you like!" Sherry replied with a smile.
"Thank you very much, Miss Sherry!"
............
"Nineteenth Uncle, what do you think?"
In a side hall of the auction house, Sherry looked at the middle-aged man who'd accompanied her and asked.
"Hard to say!" The man shook his head. "According to our investigation, he's just the patriarch of a small family!"
"That can't be right!" Sherry looked incredulous.
"It's definitely impossible. That must be a fake identity to hide his real background. Anyone who can casually produce 3,000 spirit crystals is probably from a hidden clan!"
"If he's really from a hidden clan, why would he need to buy King-Grade techniques from us?" Sherry wondered aloud.
"That's what puzzles me too. But let's not get too involved—just focus on building a good relationship with him."
Sherry nodded in agreement.