Chapter 293: Chapter 0293: Hero Auction Begins_1
At seven o’clock the next morning, Zhang Bin and his two companions got up. Despite going to bed very late, none of them were ordinary people, so they showed no signs of fatigue. On the contrary, they were full of spirit, their faces glowing with health.
First, they meticulously applied their makeup, completely transforming into three different people. Zhang Bin donned a long wig and a pair of large sunglasses, giving him the look of a hippie. Ma Rufei and Chen Chaoyue put on skin-like masks, wigs, and gloves, making them appear to be Westerners.
Zhang Bin was left speechless. Your English is so unnatural. Dressing up as Americans will give you away in an instant. he thought. However, considering the two of them had no real enemies and their main purpose for being here wasn’t to bid on Spiritual Medicine but simply to have fun, he decided not to say anything.
And so, the trio left their room, speaking a clumsy mix of awkward English and Chinese words. They went to the hotel restaurant for breakfast and afterward made their way to the Kyoto Building, where the auction was to be held.
This was a world-class auction, the largest of its kind, making it quite an impressive event. It was the Island Nation’s turn to host, and as such, they had deployed nearly all of their top masters for security. The building was surrounded by ten thousand police officers, all of whom were powerful Cultivators. At a minimum, they were at the Rushing Pulse Realm, with some having cultivated to the Qi Sea Realm. There were even terrifying experts at the Liquid State and Golden Core Realm.
Even more frightening was the presence of Superpower Users and Genetically Enhanced Humans emanating intense Oppression. The lowest rank among them was B-Class, but there were also plenty of A-level, S-level, and even SS-level individuals. This was tantamount to a nation’s strongest military force, a sight not typically seen by the public. Of course, an ordinary person would have no way of sensing their formidable strength and would simply mistake them for regular soldiers. Each officer was equipped with special armaments, including Thermal Weapons, cold weapons, and perhaps even Magical Treasures. Faced with so many powerful experts, no Cultivator would dare cause any trouble.
Arriving at the scene, Zhang Bin was left speechless. In the past, he wouldn’t have felt anything special upon seeing so many soldiers from the Island Nation. He might even have looked down on them, assuming they lacked spirit and combat effectiveness. But now, as a powerful Cultivator and Superpower User, he could see the true strength these ’soldiers’ possessed. He could now perceive the profound power of the Island Nation.
Because of the Island Nation’s proximity to China, as well as its historical invasions, it had obtained many precious Cultivation Methods from the mainland. Therefore, like China, the Island Nation was also a mighty country of Cultivators, with numerous True Cultivation Sects and ancient martial arts Sects. Their top Cultivators were by no means inferior to China’s, though they were fewer in number. Naturally, the Island Nation also had fewer Superpower Users than China, mainly because its population was so much smaller. However, they had developed powerful Genetically Enhanced Humans, an area where China could not yet compare. China’s research into Genetic Enhancement was still in its infancy, and it was an open question whether they had successfully created any such beings at all.
Consequently, not even China dared to underestimate the Island Nation. Even America or the White Swan Nation would not dare to do so.
It was only at this moment that Zhang Bin truly realized Earth was not as simple as he had once believed. No country was as straightforward as he had imagined; their true strength was hidden from ordinary people. At the same time, he was struck by his own weakness and inadequacy. Although he had experienced a great stroke of fortune and cultivated to the Qi Sea Boundary Great Perfection, he had been cultivating for less than a year and wasn’t yet considered a truly powerful Cultivator. That was why people were still spying on him; even Hanbing Yun had designs on him.
One day, I will become the most powerful Cultivator on Earth! One day, I will stand at the Peak of the world! Only then can I stop the terrifying crisis of the Genetically Enhanced Humans! Zhang Bin vowed resolutely in his heart.
In that instant, seeing the numerous Genetically Enhanced Humans from the Island Nation, Zhang Bin suddenly realized that the disaster they represented was not far off. He felt the weight of a great mission on his shoulders—the responsibility to prevent that catastrophe from ever happening.
Zhang Bin and his companions arrived at the entrance. There was only a single procedure: a verification of assets. No one asked what country they were from, what their names were, or whether they were good or bad people. The three of them passed through smoothly and entered the Empire Building, heading straight for the top floor and the auction hall.
The venue was a vast space with a podium at the front and rows of sofas arranged below, capable of seating at least two hundred thousand people. A large crowd was already seated. Each person carried themselves with an extraordinary air, exuding an aura of wealth and nobility. Upon closer inspection, however, one could see they were all terrifyingly powerful individuals. The occasional glint in their eyes was as sharp as a sword, and the faint Oppression they unintentionally emanated was fearsome.
Despite this, everyone feigned the appearance of a harmless sheep, smiling amiably. For the time being, there was no tension in the air. Most importantly, everyone had altered their appearance, so even old enemies would not be able to recognize one another, naturally leading to a harmonious atmosphere.
The tense atmosphere was also eased by the presence of numerous beautiful women. Every few rows, special red sofas were set aside, upon which sat these beauties. Each one was a peerless, stunning beauty, drawing the eyes of countless men. These were the most beautiful women from all over the world, here to find a wealthy patron.
While they didn’t need their assets verified to enter the Hero Auction, they had to go through a complex application process. This included submitting a resume, their most beautiful photos, and even a video. Those who passed the initial screening then had to go through an in-person selection based on temperament, appearance, conversational skills, and talents like singing and dancing. In essence, it was an annual global beauty pageant.
The finalists were allowed to attend the Hero Auction, but they could only sit on the designated red sofas and were not permitted to wander about. They could only get up to serve tea or coffee when a wealthy patron requested it. If a patron took a liking to one of them, he would ask for her contact information. After the auction, she might just succeed in climbing the social ladder.
For these women, it was a golden opportunity to marry into a prominent family. For the powerful bidders attending the auction, the women were both a beautiful spectacle and companions they could select at their leisure.
This was why Zhao Dawei had once told Zhang Bin that he would have an unbelievably good time. And indeed, Ma Rufei and Chen Chaoyue had come to the Hero Auction primarily for the beauties. The moment they entered, their eyes lit up, scanning the room intently for the most stunning women.