"Hello, can I help you with anything?" As Ye Han entered a larger magic tool shop, the store attendant approached to assist.
"Is your boss here?" Ye Han asked softly. Wanting to provide a permanent home for Xiao Ya away from her desolate abode, Ye Han was looking to buy a house in the precious land of Miyat City, which would serve as a quiet place for cultivation and also facilitate his own plans.
However, Ye Han realized he didn't have much money left. Although he had acquired some from the rings earlier, ever since becoming a zombie, he had little regard for material possessions, paying them no heed. During his last few days in Miyat City, Ye Han had spent money carelessly, leaving him with little...
After sending Xiao Ya away, Ye Han thought of the magic cores in his ring. Since he had no use for them, he decided to sell one at a relatively smaller magic tool shop.
"The boss isn't here. What do you need?" Hearing that the boss was unavailable, and realizing a mere attendant couldn't make significant decisions, Ye Han turned to leave.
"Did you hear? Tonight, Camilla Auction House is auctioning a weapon ranked ninth." As Ye Han was about to leave the shop, he overheard a group of people inside discussing.
"Oh? The one called Fire Essence, the ninth-ranked magic wand on the continent?" another person asked.
"Yes, that one. They say any fire mage who owns it can cast spells two levels higher than their own. Most importantly, when using spells within their level, the magical power consumption is halved and the casting speed is doubled," the first person boasted with their knowledge.
"Really?" someone questioned doubtfully.
"Hmph, don't believe it if you don't want to. I heard tonight, representatives from all powers will be there."
"Then we should go too."
"Forget it, the tickets are already sold out." The group sounded disappointed. Even if they couldn't afford it, witnessing the ninth-ranked weapon on the continent would have been prestigious, something to brag about to friends.
"Camilla Auction House," Ye Han thought, realizing his folly. Why not auction the high-grade magic cores at the auction house? He then asked the attendant for directions to the Camilla Auction.
Navigating through Miyat City's streets, Ye Han soon arrived at Camilla Auction House, which was bustling with nobles and influential people. Clearly, they were there to hunt for treasures.
Observing the scene, Ye Han casually walked inside. The Camilla Auction wasn't a once-a-day event; it was divided into several tiers, with ordinary items auctioned off during the day and valuable items reserved for the evening's prime auction. This strategy attracted more nobles and wealthy individuals, benefiting both the clients and the auction house itself.
Camilla Auction House charged a commission based on the item's category. Daytime auctions took 5% of the sale price, while evening auctions took 10%. The more expensive the item, the higher the commission for the auction house.
Ye Han approached the front desk and said, "I would like to auction some valuable items. Could your boss come out?"
"Sorry, sir. Items must first be appraised by our appraisers. If it's indeed very valuable, our boss will naturally come to meet you," the attendant explained the auction's rules politely.
Ye Han thought it made sense; if every item required the boss's attention, they'd be overwhelmed. "Alright, take me to your appraiser."
"What kind of item do you wish to auction, sir?" the attendant asked professionally.
"Is there a difference?" Ye Han frowned under his hood. He knew the value of a saint-grade magic core but mentioning it in the busy hall could attract unwanted attention. He preferred to keep his identity concealed.
"Yes, we categorize auction items into three levels, each appraised by different experts."
"Then take me to the appraiser who can handle a ninth-grade magic core," Ye Han said, unintentionally drawing attention.
A ninth-grade magic beast core required a saint-level power to obtain. Even a peak ninth-grade fighter would pay a high price for it. The crowd found it hard to believe that this apparent fifth-grade swordsman possessed such a core.
Having hidden his true power after sending Xiao Ya away, Ye Han used the Immortal King's concealment technique, so to the crowd, he appeared merely as a fifth-grade fighter.
"Are you sure it's a ninth-grade core?" Even the attendant was skeptical. It was rare for Camilla Auction to handle cores above the eighth grade, as such high-grade cores were usually kept for personal cultivation, not auctioned off.
"Yes," Ye Han simply replied, then fell silent. The attendant quickly regained composure and apologized with a bow.
"Please follow me, sir," the attendant led Ye Han to the back of the hall, drawing envious looks from other attendants. They earned a
commission only for handling valuable items, and the truly prestigious ones were those authenticated by the chief appraiser and auctioned off in the evening's main event. Their commission was 1% of the 10% fee charged by Camilla, a significant amount for items auctioned at the main event.
Such items, authenticated by the chief appraiser, were rare, and encountering one could secure a comfortable life. This chief appraiser was not just any of the three levels mentioned by the attendant but the most prestigious appraiser of the entire auction house.
Soon, Ye Han was led to a luxurious room, where a distinguished elderly man with gray hair sat. The attendant respectfully informed the elder of Ye Han's item. As the attendant spoke, the elder's eyes brightened, and he scrutinized Ye Han with a smile, deepening the wrinkles on his face.
"You wish to auction a ninth-grade magic core? May I ask its attribute?" the elder asked gently, showing no displeasure at Ye Han's heavily cloaked appearance.
"It's not ninth-grade!" Ye Han stated, causing varied reactions; the attendant turned pale and disappointed, while the elder looked furious.
"It's a saint-grade fire core," Ye Han then revealed, causing both hearts to skip a beat.
"What... what did you say?" the elder asked in disbelief.
"It's a saint-grade fire core," Ye Han repeated.
Hearing "saint-grade core" again, the elder trembled with excitement. Having appraised items his whole life, he had only encountered three saint-grade cores, attesting to their rarity and value.
"May I see it, please?" the elder approached Ye Han eagerly, trying to contain his excitement.