Typically your seat within the auction house was first come first serve. If you sat down in an empty seat then that was yours.
Because of this, in order to make it as fair as possible for everyone, the building contained enough chairs for nearly a thousand people.
Yet even so, the place was still completely packed. There was no longer any space to sit at and anyone who came in later would be forced to stand aside, unless given a seat by someone already there.
But it was different for Xue Chang. One of his biggest privileges was that he had access to a private booth.
This was a spacious area set above the rest of the building where several dozen people could rest at. Compared to the loud, cramp lower floors; the private booth was a paradise.
Xue Chang had been to this place once a long time ago, and now that he was back he just naturally sat in the seat that was given to him.
"You seem quite used to this type of thing."
Lou Ning raised a brow as she watched Xue Chang naturally sit down. At first she thought he was just some lucky kid who inherited a nice house, but now she realized that after what just happened she had to reevaluate his position.
He really wasn't someone simple.
"I've only ever been here once, but I'm pretty quick to adapt to things. You should all seat yourselves as well, the auction is about to begin."
The five of them all took their seats and waited with baited breath for the event to start.
Looking curiously at Lou Lan and Lou Ning, he couldn't help but wonder why they were so desperate for condensed earth fire.
It was clear that they had a goal in mind, but he didn't want to pry too much into their private life. Everyone, especially himself, had their own little secrets.
Finally, the crowd below them quieted down as the lights within the building dimmed.
Darkness enveloped everyone as a single flame lit up the stage at the very front of the house.
Two men wearing pitch black masks stepped onto the stage holding onto a large glass case containing what looked to be a clay bowl filled with a red substance.
And then from behind the curtains of the stage, a women in a red dress with a shapely figure stepped forward.
Her slim waist moved in a rhythmic manner as her hips popped out with every step she took. The dress she wore had a single red slit traveling down the middle, opening up a little around her bosom.
Her face, half covered in a mask, revealed soft red lips which were puckered as if about to blow a kiss.
While Tian Kai's eyes brightened at the sight, Xue Chang and Tian Hai didn't show as much interest.
For Xue Chang, his body was kept in a period of time where lust could not affect him, meanwhile Tian Hai just didn't think she was his type.
Lou Ning also snorted at the sight of some of the men below them drooling over the host.
"All she has going for her is her body, she probably isn't that pretty under that mask!"
As she said this, she sadly looked down at her own chest. Gnashing her teeth together she gave another "hmph" as she looked over to her cousin to see his reaction to the scene.
What she found was Lou Lan being in a complete trance with desire burning in his eyes. But unlike everyone else who was staring at the host, his eyes were completely set on the glass case.
"There it is Lou Ning, if we can get that then we will become elemental cultivators!"
Elemental cultivation wasn't for everyone. It was by pure chance that Tian Hai and Tian Kai could both practice it.
But in reality, you had to be a one in a thousand genius in order to have any talents in it.
That's why it was such a big deal when Lou Lan was revealed to not only be able to cultivate, something almost no other Lou Clan member has succeeded in doing, but he was able to practice Dragonfish Ascension, which was an elemental cultivation technique.
The difference between the two paths were huge.
Whether you're an elemental body or internal cultivator, you will be leagues above the neutral cultivators.
He couldn't help but feel his heart pounding in his chest as he shook nervously just from the sight of the earth fire.
Lou Ning looked at her cousin shaking fervently and calmed down from it. She knew better than anyone how much he looked forward to becoming a elemental cultivator.
She watched how much he suffered within the clan due to the prejudice of being an illegitimate child. And she had to watch all of this while being unable to help.
That's why she was also determined to purchase that resource for them.
"Hello wonderful guests, the auction house of Water Cloud City welcomes you!" Finally the host began to speak.
"As I'm sure you're well aware, today is a very special day. The brave hunters of our city have recently went on an expedition as discovered quite a rare material." While saying this, she stepped forward toward the glass box and slid it open.
A wave of heat washed over all of them as the spiritual force within the area receded and was replaced by a thin layer of elemental force.
Those who were quick to react immediately lapped some up but the slower one felt regret as the host closed the case and immediately the elemental force dispersed.
"As I'm sure you all can tell, this is condensed earth fire. And as I've just displayed, this is no counterfeit. This small vessel contains around three liters worth of condensed earth fire, and we plan to auction off three hundred liters!"
The demonstration along with the words of the host caused an uproar to rise up within the hall.
This was just a small auction and they planned release three hundred liters of condensed earth fire into the market!
While most people wouldn't need that much to break into the first level, as their cultivation progressed they would need more and more.
They all planned to buy as much as possible, but since it was a hundred sets of three liters it would be difficult.
After all they had to decide whether or not to battle it out and spend their money for the first few batches or bide their time buy some of the later ones.
As the bidding began many prices and other objects were rung out.
In this auction, the house would accept not only gold coins but other valuable materials as currency.
Herbs, medicine, ores, all type of things were called out as everyone spent what they had in the auction.
Xue Chang stayed silent though as he had no interest in the earth fire itself. After so many visits to the pool, of course he'd get his own little collection brought back with him.
Instead he kept watch of the people surrounding him.
Lou Ning approached from behind while looking down at the sight as well. She curiously looked around at everyone getting excited and questioned, "Why are some people not bidding at all? Are they just here to watch?"
Xue Chang shook his head as he stated calmly, "Humans are devious creatures, they will stalk the prey they find weak and take anything from them. They are cruel and merciless even when it comes to their fellow man."
Lou Ning paled as she realized what he meant. Those people weren't there to participate in the auction, but to see what treasures people had brought with them. If you weren't strong enough to protect yourself, then those people will undoubtedly rob you outside of the auction house.
They wouldn't dare do it here as the guards would stop them, but no one will say anything if you get pounced on outside.
Lou Ning wasn't used to such tactics being used. Because of her family background she never had to do things like robbing people to obtain the things she wanted or needed. But others weren't so lucky.
Theft, murder, and pillaging were all things people would do if it meant they could increase their strength.
Meanwhile, Lou Lan stayed silent as he watched one bowl after another get sold.
He did not plan to buy too much now, as long as he could get at least ten liters then he would be able to break through to the first level. At that point his family would help him purchase more when the guild officially sold in bulk.
But he had to pick his timing wisely, he wasn't sure how much the moonlit jade could get for him. And if he couldn't buy enough with the jade then he'd only have one option left.
After half of the earth fire had been sold, the host stopped calling out bids as she looked around the room while revealing her pearly white teeth.
"Now the exciting part begins."
Just as Lou Ning looked over toward Xue Chang quizzically and was about to ask what he meant, the host's next words entered her ears.
"We have only a hundred and fifty liters left now. So how about we raise up the stakes a little? From here on out you can name the amount you want and your bid. If anyone can offer up anything beyond yours then they'll win, if not then you'll win. How about it? Interesting isn't it?"
But before anyone could exclaim over her words, a single sentence rang out within the building.
"100 liters, for ten spirit stones!"
As soon as that voice rung out, the surrounding area immediately became silent.
Not only had someone dared to purchase a third of the remaining earth fire, but to everyone's shock they had used spirit stones as the currency!
Spirit stones, a rare treasure comparable to even condensed earth fire.
Spirit stones could be considered the currency of immortals. They contained extremely rich spiritual energy that took little to no effort to absorb.
While most people had to forcefully take the spiritual force from the world into their body, spirit stones skipped this step.
It took time and effort to absorb energy from the air but energy from a spirit stone was incredibly passive.
So passive in fact that the speed in which one could absorb spiritual force was from a stone was five times as fast as practicing normally.
While only absorbing energy from the stone could severely damage your foundation. Using some stones to speed up the process in some places wasn't bad at all.
And spirit stones had a chance of containing some traces of elemental energy as well. Not only could you absorb spiritual force much quicker but if you collected enough of them you could obtain quite a few strands of elemental energy!
Yet to spend ten of such treasure for a hundred liters of condensed earth fire was barely making a profit. No one could be so thrifty!
Even Xue Chang and Tian Hai stood straight up from shock at the bid.
But they didn't do so due to the absurdity of the price, but for a completely different reason.
The person who declared she would be buying the earth fire was a familiar face.
It was one of the ladies they saw back in the village after they fought the bear weeks prior!