After leaving the "First Eternal Shop," Xu Zimo returned to the inn where he was staying.
By now, night was beginning to fall.
When Xu Zimo and Jiang Changsheng got back, the others were sitting on the first floor of the inn, having dinner.
It was fairly quiet downstairs, with only a few scattered guests at different tables.
"Brother, where did you guys go today?" Lin Feng asked with a smile when he saw Xu Zimo.
"Just walked around Bright Flame City a bit," Xu Zimo replied.
"Did you ask about the auction?" Lin Feng continued.
"What good stuff could there even be at the auction?" Xu Zimo said with a smile and shook his head.
"Besides, you don’t even have any spirit crystals. The auction has nothing to do with you," Lin Feng said, shaking his head, unwilling to explain further.
Ye Xuan, sitting nearby, thought for a moment and said, "This auction is being held by the Wan Clan Merchant Guild. It’s said they’ve been preparing for three years. So the scale is going to be huge, and there will be all kinds of items available."
She explained patiently, "Because everyone has limited funds, they can’t bid on everything. So before the auction starts, people try to gather information to see what will be sold. That way, if they spot something they want, they’ll save their money to bid on it."
"And did you find out anything?" Xu Zimo asked with interest.
"Nothing yet, other than the three main items the auction announced. Everything else is being kept a secret," Ye Xuan replied.
"Three main items? What are they?" Xu Zimo asked.
"A Heart of Thunderflame, an Aeonic Body-Shaping Pill, and a relic from a Grand Empyrean," Lin Feng quickly answered. "Why are you so curious, little brother? These are things even I don’t dare dream about."
"The things you don’t dare to dream of, I will. And the things you don’t dare to do, I will do. Don’t compare me to you," Xu Zimo said calmly while pouring himself a drink.
Hearing that, Lin Feng’s face turned a bit cold. He put down his chopsticks and said stiffly, "I’m full. I’ll head back to rest."
He left with a flick of his sleeve, and Murong Yan’er quickly followed him.
Seeing this, Ye Kai glanced at Ye Xuan with a smirk and stood up. "I can't hold my liquor. You all enjoy yourselves."
"You really know how to make your brother mad," Ye Xuan said with a blush, clearly blaming Xu Zimo.
"He’s the heir of Grand Heaven Mountain and may be the next Mountain Lord. No matter what, you’re still his younger brother. It's good to keep the peace."
"You don’t get it," Xu Zimo shook his head, sipping his wine. "There will come a day when I fight him. I just don’t care right now. Let the grasshopper jump around a while longer."
"Such big talk. What are you going to fight him with?" Ye Xuan rolled her eyes at him.
Then she pulled out a storage ring and handed it over.
"What’s this?" Xu Zimo looked at the ring and asked.
"There are the spirit crystals I’ve saved up over the years. Take them and buy some decent defensive gear at the auction tomorrow," she explained.
"You're about to compete in the Nine Heavens Grand Gathering. You need some protection."
"I thought when you took out the ring, you were going to confess to me," Xu Zimo joked.
"You’re never serious," Ye Xuan said, flustered. She placed the ring on the table and quickly ran upstairs.
Watching her flee in embarrassment, Xu Zimo laughed heartily behind her.
"A rare hero’s courage, but hardest to bear is a beauty’s favor," he said, shaking his head while looking at the storage ring.
…
The night slowly devoured the land like a beast. The moon and stars hid behind thick clouds.
As dawn approached, the sky brightened. A purple sun rose from the east, casting light over all of Bright Flame City.
Flames atop the city walls burned steadily.
For the residents of Bright Flame City, this was the most exciting day of the year.
The Wan Clan's auction was about to begin. By early morning, small groups of people were already moving through the streets.
The auction was being held in the city’s largest building, the Ancient Tower.
The Wan Clan had purchased and built this pavilion specifically for auctions.
This type of Ancient Tower wasn’t unique to Bright Flame City. The Wan Clan's auctions were spread across the entire continent, so they had branches everywhere.
As sunlight lit the city, the streets grew lively. Xu Zimo and his group were having breakfast at the inn.
"The auction starts in an hour. No rush," Lin Feng said coldly.
It seemed that after last night’s events, his attitude had turned frosty, he didn’t even bother pretending anymore.
"We from Nine Heavens Imperial Sect received an invitation in advance, so we’ll have a private booth."
After breakfast, the group followed the growing crowd toward the Ancient Tower.
Although the tower was massive, there were too many people trying to attend. Not everyone qualified to enter.
First, the Ancient Tower only sent invitations to the two great Empyrean Sects and five major Imperial Sects of the Southern Region.
These sects had private booths on the second floor.
In short, anyone on the second floor had status and influence.
Everyone else was placed on the first floor.
There were no private rooms on the first floor. It was like a conference hall, with rows of chairs lined up around the auction platform.
Even getting a seat on the first floor required proof of financial strength, to show you could actually bid on something.
This policy cut out many of the freeloaders who only wanted to watch the excitement.
…
The streets leading to the pavilion were packed with people.
By the time Xu Zimo and the others arrived, half the seats had already been filled.
"Young Master Lin, please come in," greeted a man in a green robe with a mustache shaped like two commas. He walked gracefully, his manner oddly delicate.
He gave off one strong impression: feminine. Overly feminine, even his fingers curled like flower petals.
"Manager Wan," Lin Feng greeted him with a polite smile.
"I’ve been waiting for you. Only your Grand Heaven Mountain and Jade Heaven Mountain came from Nine Heavens Imperial Sect this time," said the man called Manager Wan, smiling. "Your private room is ready. Please follow me."
As they followed him, Xu Zimo glanced around and took in the layout of the Ancient Tower.