After picking up the girl Fen Chang continues down the busy street. He stops by many stalls analysing and buying some hidden gems.
'There is has not been any good things yet. I have so far found 2 rank 4 and 1 rank 5 twig from spirit trees. The 2 rank 4 are called the Vein Lighting Tree and Thousand Embers Blossom. The rank 5 tree was called the Earth Dew Tree. I have also found some seeds of rank 1-4 herbs but those are not really the big treasures I was looking of. The rank 5 tree is rare but I can buy them with time and money. I want to find stuff that can't be bought with money. Let's hope I have some protagonist luck soon and find something good soon.'
Fen Chang kept searching through stalls and shops. He eventually arrives in front of a building called Blossoming Petal Auction House. There was a long line out the front and a sign saying there was an auction today.
Interested in trying his luck in an auction house, Fen Chang walks past the line and into the auction house. No one complains or tries to stop him due to the presence of the city guards protecting him.
Once he entered, he was instantly greeted by a large reception room, with fancy but low-level items on display. He instantly caught everyone's attention. His devilishly handsome looks combined with his black and gold robe and protective guards made him stand out within the room.
Within seconds a beautiful girl was standing in front of him bowing her head as she welcomed him in. "Welcome esteemed guest to Blossoming Petal Auction House run by the Meng noble family. Are you hear for the auction today?"
"Yes. Now go prepare me the best room in here and also the best girl you have."
"Sir, the best rooms are reserved for top level guests. Might I know esteemed guests' affiliation?"
"I am prince Fen Chang, son of emperor Fen Zung. That enough status to get me into the best room?"
Her face paled when she heard this. He was a prince; he could have her executed and the auction house could do nothing. She instantly got on her knees and begged for forgiveness. "I am terribly sorry for not recognising the prince. Please forgive me."
"Its fine, not many know me. Now can you take me to the best room and I expect the best female in this building to be sent to me as well. If I like them, I might also take them with me."
"My prince, I do not have the authorisation to take you to the top floor nor get the best female. Please wait a minute while I get my superior."
The woman quickly hurry's off in search of her superior as she doesn't want him to wait long, lest he get angry.
…
She swiftly returns standing behind an old man who has a bright smile on his face.
"Young prince I am Meng Xiuying. I am an elder of the Meng family and am the elder in charge of today's auction. I welcome you to our auction house. Please follow me, our best room has been prepared for you. As for your request of a female, our Meng family's young miss Meng Yating who was set to be the presenter of todays auction will instead be sent to you."
Fen Chang then followed behind the elder to his auction room. The room was on the 5th floor and was directly in the middle. It showed the best angle to see the whole auction house.
"Guards, you can stand outside my room. Little Huo you can come in with me."
"Is there anything else my prince?"
"No, I am fine. When will this Meng Yating be here? Its boring being in a room with no beautiful women in it."
"She will be here shortly. She is just preparing the replacement auctioneer."
Fen Chang then patiently sits down, with his new loli maid Xuan Huo sitting on his lap. He starts to talk to her about her life, and then comforts her when she gets to a sad subject.
'Seems this little girl has been though a rough life. Her parents where kidnapped by an elder of the Divine Grace Sect to be made sacrifices for their god. Then her grandfather took her in and cared for her the past few years. Seems the Divine Grace Sect is one of those religious fanboy sects. I should get some spies in their to try see what their up to.'
It didn't take long before a knock was heard on the door and a gorgeous woman entered the room.
"Good day my prince. I am Meng Yating and I will be your personal host for today's auction."
Fen Chang gets a good look at this woman. She was drop dead gorgeous. She had long blonde hair that was slightly curly, perfectly smooth pale skin. With a pair for sapphire blue eyes. She also wore a royal red coloured outfit to compliment her looks.
'I should get this girl. The database says she has high talent for business and a good affinity for refining. She is also stunning; she has status so maybe a personal maid or concubine. She needs to prove worthy if she wants to be a wife.'
With Xuan Huo still on his lap, he turns to greet Meng Yating. "Good day miss Yating. Well, I can certainly say that when I asked for the most beautiful woman to my my host, I certainly got her. Please sit, I have some drinks. You can tell me some of the stuff that will be on auction and maybe a bit about yourself."
Meng Yating and Fen Chang spent the remaining 30 minutes talking with a few glasses of wine. And before long the auction started.
The curtains opened to reveal a beautiful voluptuous woman. Enough to make any mans heart skip a beat, but disappointment could still be seen in people's eyes. As no matter how beautiful she is, her charm doesn't compare to Meng Yating's.
"Good evening everyone. I will be the host of todays auction. I know most of you where expecting Meng Yating but she has other matters to attend to, so I will be taking over."
Seeing the reaction from the crown isn't what she wanted she decided to just start to take peoples mind off it.
"Let todays auction start. May the first item please be brought up."
With the auction finally starting the disappointment in the audience eyes instantly disappeared.
The first item was an old rock. Meng Yating explained that this rock is actually a rank 1 metal used in refining rank 1 weapons. Fen Chang on the other hand used his analysis feature on it and found that it was different.
[Name: Ten Thousand Suppressing Ore]
[Rank: 7]
[Description: Often mistaken as the rank 1 metal Hundred Suppressing Ore due to having the same looks and melting point. The ten thousand suppressing ore suppresses QI which is why it is very uncommon and easy to mistake for its lower version.]
[Special: 75% chance for metal to be supressing an earthly artifact born from heaven and earth.]
Fen Changs eyes lit up when he saw this. 'A treasure on the first item, damn. Well easy rank 7 ore, and possibly an artifact for cheap.'
Not many people in the stands where interested in this ore, only the low-level people on the ground floor.
The bids quickly started. "12,000 gold" "13,000 gold" it quickly rose up to 25,000 gold. This was the highest bid and no one seems to go above. Just as the item was about to be sold, a voice sounded out from the top centre room. "40,000 gold"
This left people stunned as the normal price for this ore is only 23,000 gold yet someone from the VIP area is willing to pay 40,000 gold for it.
Meng Yating is bewildered by the prince making an offer on the first item of the day.
"My prince, this is a low-level material, there will be higher levelled ones later on which would be more worth."
"I have no need to explain my reasoning. I will buy what I like."
Meng Yating can only sigh as she just lets him do whatever. It's his money.
No one else bided on the ore, so it was sold to Fen Chang without a problem and the auction continued like normal.
…
Over the next 3 hours Fen Chang found nothing on the level of the first item, but did buy basically all the resources that where being sold. The people on the ground floor although angry they can't get anything can only sigh and suck it up as they don't want to anger a VIP.
'Its getting to the end now. Only 3 items left. I have already gotten lots of low levelled herbs that I can plant, and other materials that I can use. I don't need the weapons as I can refine my own when I become a stage 1. Let's hope these last few items are worth.'
"Ok everyone. We are now at the last 3 items of the day. We will be taking a short 10-minute break while we wait for the VIP guests to enter."
Fen Chang observed the other VIP boxes over the next 10 minutes as many of them filled up with nobles and high-ranking merchants. There were many families being represented today, even the Lu family sent an elder.
'Seems there is something good for these last few if even the Lu family sent someone.'
The VIP's on the other hand where also checking out other rooms and when they saw the top middle room occupied, they were worried. That was a room only for top experts.
It didn't take long for the auction to begin and the hostess to address the crowd. "We will now begin the auction for the final 3 items. Can the first item please be brought up on stage."
Soon 2 large men in the late stages of stage 2 appeared carrying a large display cabinet covered by a cloth which seemed very heavy.
Once on the floor, the cloth was removed and the hostess introduced the item.
"This item is the low rank 4 weapon called the Blood-Soaked Sabre. This is made from the rank 3 ore Shadow Blood Ore, but after countless battles the sword has absorbed enough blood to turn into a grade 4 object. The starting bid is 1,000,000 gold and must go up in increments of 100,000 or more at a time."
The VIP's with looks of excitement in their eyes started to crazily bid for the object. Hoping to get this rare grade 4 treasure.
Fen Chang on the other hand was looking at the weapon with different eyes. His database is giving information different to what the woman was saying.
[Name: Blood Thirsty Sabre]
[Weapon: Sabre]
[Status: Sealed]
[Grade: Rank 8+ (Rank 4 - sealed)
[Material: Blood Devouring Steel]
[Special: can absorb the blood on enemies to become more powerful. Contains a soul.]
[Defects: Causes the user to slowly loose control as the spirit takes over turning them into a killing machine]
[Recommended Uses:
1. Use spirit expelling technique to cast out the spirit (requires stage 5+).
2. Reforge the weapon (rank 8 weapon refiner).
3. Find a stronger spirit to inhabit weapon (stronger than stage 5 expert).]
'Seems this is a dangerous weapon. I should get it and keep it for when I can reforge it. The ability to grow stronger by absorbing blood is very useful.'
The bids stopped when the Lu family bid 4.5 million gold for the sabre. With no other noble family's willing to compete against them at such a high price they had no choice but to back down.
Fen Changs voice then sounded out. "7 million" within an instant he raised the price by 2.5 million.
The Lu elder was furious that someone dared compete against him, he doesn't care if they are in the best VIP box. He still believes they won't go against his Lu family.
"Are you planning to go against my Lu family? Your seeking death."
Seeing the elder act like this. Fen Chang uses this as a chance. He sticks his head over the wall and stares at the elder.
"Hmm, I am the one seeking death? It seems your Lu family is seeking death. I am the prince of this country Fen Chang. How dare a lowly elder from a cancerous noble family say that to me. Guards go capture and punish him. How dare he speak to a prince that way."
Everyone in the hall is instantly shocked, by the declaration. The elder also goes pale when he heard this, he never thought it would be the son of the emperor.
Although Meng Yating reluctant seeing this conflict happen in her auction house. She can only let it go as he is the prince, and has even higher status than her father.
The elder from the Lu family is a stage 3 level 5 expert. But going against city and royal guards would only spell his doom. So, he deicides to go peacefully and get revenge later on.
'This old man is probably thinking of revenge, too bad Ma Tan will break him before he can do that.'
"Guards take him to Ma Tan for punishment."
"Yes prince."
Like this, the biggest tiger in the auction room was forcefully taken out, and Fen Chang gained another spy.
'Man, it feels good to have status.'
With this thought Fen Chang won the auction and the next item was brought out.