Lin Feng nodded and followed the appraiser to the auction hall inside the trade center.
The auction hall was lavishly-decorated. Apparently, despite the many battles between humans and beasts lately, there were still some rich and powerful people frequenting the auctions.
"Master Lin, all clients have to use their real names here. The lord of Whitestar City specifically requested as much, so everyone's identities will be displayed on your crystal chairs."
The appraiser pointed at a chair nearby as he said,
"That man over there is Master Andera, the blacksmith who provided weapons for Whitestar's defense corp before you arrived here.
"He has done business with our auctions before. I think he might be here after the blue crystal, just as you are, sir."
Lin Feng turned his eye toward Andera's seat as the appraiser introduced him.
The man on the phoebe wooden chair, Lin Feng soon saw, was covered in muscles and had a head of wavy red hair. Andera gave Lin Feng a courteous nod when he saw the latter's gaze on him, but he did not pay Lin Feng too much attention.
Lin Feng blinked for a bit and then waved it off.
He was determined to get the blue crystal so he could make a Grade-3 weapon and then break through the threshold to upgrade his Holy Flame's energy limit. It was inevitable that he would eventually have to go against his competitor in the same field, but Lin Feng was not very worried about such a conflict.
"Most people who want to buy military equipment these days will be happy to do you a favor or two, so if there's anything you want from the auction, just go ahead and bid on it."
With that, the appraiser left Lin Feng and walked toward the entrance of the auction.
A while after that, a flashily-dressed host took the stage, announcing the official beginning of the auction.
Considering the chaotic times, the first items to go on auction were all sorts of different potions.
Lin Feng watched as the host introduced the wares and three types of differently-colored potions rose onto the stage.
He was not an expert in cultivation, so he was glad when the host of the auction began to introduce the three potions as they slowly appeared on the stage.
"Starting from the left, we have Healing, Energy Recharge and Strengthening Potions…"
Lin Feng was surprised. These potions usually cost more than ten gold pieces a bottle, but now they were going at five each.
Brent still needed some strengthening, so Lin Feng bought ten Strengthening Potions while the rest of the bidders were quiet.
Strangely, most of the other bidders just smiled and nodded at Lin Feng when they saw him bidding. One of them even tapped his fist against his chest twice, as though giving Lin Feng a salute.
Lin Feng did not know why these people were so friendly toward him.
Still, he returned all their gazes and smiles, reveling in his surprisingly good reputation.
Most of the other items on auction were potions, herbs, or weapons.
Lin Feng waited patiently as each item went under the gavel.
He was not interested in a normal Grade-2 weapon.
After he bought some rare Grade-2 ore, the host of the auction finally cleared his throat.
His voice rose in excitement as he announced with a grin,
"As all of you know, the rarer the item, the later in the auction it comes. Now, we shall present a piece of Grade-2 blue crystal ore!"
The moment he said 'blue crystal ore', the air in the auction filled with tension again.
To Lin Feng's astonishment, the auction hall seemed to burst into whispers.
He found out why once he tried eavesdropping on the conversation.
Apparently, the blue crystal was so rare that it was supposed to be the final pièce de résistance, but now it was only the second last to be auctioned off.
The rest of the crowd was growing curious about what could come after it.
There was a wave of pure blue light as the shining blue crystal was carted onto the stage by auction employees.
Lin Feng narrowed his eyes. The blue crystal ore was the size of two adult fists.
If it was that large, there should be more than enough ore for him to make into a weapon.
As the blue crystal made its entrance, the corners of the host's lips curved slightly. He suddenly pointed a finger at the crowd and said,
"After much deliberation, the starting price of this blue crystal will be…
"Five hundred gold pieces!"
As soon as he announced that price, everyone in the crowd leaped in surprise.
For perspective, every defense corp soldier received three silvers a week as their salary.
Even a ranked officer like Captain Acht would only earn about fifty gold pieces annually.
The starting price for this blue crystal was worth ten years of Captain Acht's salary.
Lin Feng was a little surprised too, but then he remembered that the lowest price of his Obsidian Sword should not be less than a thousand gold pieces.
After a few rounds of bidding, he could probably get four to five thousand gold pieces for it.
That put his heart at ease.
"We'll be going at minimum increments of fifty gold pieces. Alright, start your bidding!"
With that announcement from the host, many people in the hall began to yell their bids.
Lin Feng swept his gaze across the crowd and slowly closed his eyes.
It was only when three were only three bidders left that Lin Feng opened his eyes and said,
"Two thousand gold pieces!"
The bidders who were going at each other furiously just a second ago fell quiet at that.
They looked toward the direction of the newcomer in shock, but when they saw that it was Lin Feng, they immediately nodded imperceptibly.
Lin Feng's offer was five hundred gold pieces more than the previous one, so for a while there, no one said anything more.
The host smiled and picked up his little gavel, his voice rising.
"Two thousand gold… going once!
"Two thousand gold… going twice!"
Just then, however, Lin Feng felt his eye twitch. At the same time, he saw the other blacksmith sitting in the corner, Andera, stand up.
"Three thousand gold pieces!"
It was deathly silent!
There was not a single sound in the entire auction hall!
Lin Feng frowned slightly. He looked toward the voice and saw that Andera was looking at him with an expression of solemnity.
The latter seemed to be telling Lin Feng that he was just as determined to get his hands on that blue crystal core!
"Hoo…"
Lin Feng shook his head slowly, his eyes fixed on Andera and his expression unmoved as he said,
"Four thousand!
"I'll pay four thousand gold coins!"