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It had only just begun, yet the bid for the item had already skyrocketed from the starting price of 1,000 gold soul coins to 5,000!
The nobles who had initially considered bidding for fun completely gave up.
Though money wasn't an issue for them, spending 5,000 gold soul coins on something like this was still a loss, no matter how you looked at it.
"Third Brother, I never expected our Hidden Sand Needles to sell for such a high price—5,000 gold soul coins!"
Xiao Wu didn't notice that the man beside her, Ning Fengzhi, was the bidder from White Section, Seat 65.
Five thousand gold soul coins—she had never even seen that much money before.
Unlike Xiao Wu, Tang San had already realized it.
"Uncle, you've overpaid for the Hidden Sand Needles. 5,000 gold soul coins is far beyond its actual value," Tang San said sincerely.
This man had no ill intentions and had even explained many things they didn't know. Taking advantage of him like this made Tang San feel somewhat guilty.
"I never expected such a young man to be capable of crafting such a remarkable item. It truly puts me to shame," Ning Fengzhi replied, surprised that the Hidden Sand Needles had been brought to auction by this very youth.
His words carried a probing tone—if Tang San didn't deny it, that would confirm he truly could manufacture such weapons.
"Five thousand gold soul coins isn't too expensive. Forming a good connection with you, little brother, is worth it," Ning Fengzhi said with a faint smile.
Beside him, Chen Xin's eye twitched. This 'good connection' might not last long…
Once they left the auction house…
"Five thousand gold soul coins—going once!"
"Five thousand gold soul coins—going twice!"
"Five thousand gold soul coins—sold!"
"Congratulations to bidder No. 65 in the White Section for winning the first auction item of today's event!"
With the auctioneer's final declaration, the Hidden Sand Needles officially belonged to Ning Fengzhi.
Seeing this, Tang San hesitated no longer.
He removed an item from his wrist and handed it to Ning Fengzhi. "Uncle, I can't let you suffer a loss. This is the Silent Sleeve Arrow, another type of hidden weapon similar to the Hidden Sand Needles, though its offensive power is slightly weaker. When using it…"
Ning Fengzhi accepted the Silent Sleeve Arrow without hesitation.
Now he was certain—this young man truly knew how to craft these so-called "hidden weapons."
"Then I'll thank you for this," Ning Fengzhi nodded, his mind already calculating.
If he could recruit this boy into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School or obtain the blueprints for these weapons…
Time passed swiftly, and before long, half the auction had gone by.
"Little Paimon, is there nothing here that interests you?"
"Xue Qinghe" asked softly. She had promised to buy Paimon an auction item, but from start to now, Paimon had only shown interest in food.
Paimon shook her head. She didn't really understand these auction items, and none of them appealed to her.
Seeing this, "Xue Qinghe" didn't press further. Even if Paimon didn't want anything, she couldn't go back on her word. She'd just have to find something suitable later.
She knew Zhongli liked collecting antiques, and past auctions had often featured such items.
But today's selection was different—had the theme changed?
In the end, as the auction neared its conclusion, the No. 1 Black VIP room had yet to place a single bid.
In contrast, the No. 2 Black VIP room and White Section No. 65 had secured multiple items.
These two were the true pillars of the auction house!
"Now, for the finale of today's auction!"
As the auctioneer spoke, a knowing smirk appeared on his face—one that all the men in the audience understood.
A large iron cage was carried onto the stage by several strong attendants.
Covered by a red cloth, the audience couldn't see what was inside.
But judging by the grins of the nobles, they already had a good idea.
"Many of our distinguished guests have been waiting for this very item, so I won't waste any more time—here it is!"
The auctioneer yanked off the red cloth and stepped aside.
Instantly, the temperature in the auction house seemed to rise.
Inside the cage was a girl who appeared to be in her teens, with a pair of cat-like ears atop her head.
Her vital areas were barely covered by decorative shells.
And behind her… was a fluffy tail.
"Huh? It's a cat girl?"
Paimon wasn't unfamiliar with cat girls—there were plenty in Teyvat.
In Mondstadt, there was even a famous bartender who was a cat girl.
"Her situation is quite rare. During her martial soul awakening, her body underwent a mutation, resulting in these feline traits," "Xue Qinghe" explained.
Though uncommon, such mutations weren't unheard of in the Douluo Continent.
"That poor cat girl… She doesn't look willing at all, does she? Her eyes are full of hatred."
Paimon's words made "Xue Qinghe" nod. There was no need to hide the truth.
This wasn't just a scandal of the Heaven Dou Empire's nobility—many aristocrats engaged in such practices.
If a mutation like this occurred within a noble family or a powerful faction, the individual could live a normal life.
But if born among commoners?
They would be hunted down and captured.
Judging by the cat girl's untamed demeanor, she must have been recently caught and sold to the auction house—either by bounty hunters or the auction house itself.
"She was likely captured by bounty hunters and sold here."
The Douluo Continent had no shortage of bounty hunters.
Some with professional ethics only escorted parties to hunt spirit rings for a fee.
But those without morals?
They took a darker path.
Capturing a girl like this cat girl earned them a fortune—far easier than honest work.
"Qinghe, let's help her."
"Third Brother, let's help her!"
Not only was Paimon pleading, but Xiao Wu was doing the same.
Seeing this scene, she even momentarily forgot her identity as a spirit beast and spoke up for the cat girl.
"But—"
"Starting bid—100,000 gold soul coins! Minimum increment of 10,000 per bid!"
Well, no need for Tang San to explain further. He simply didn't have that kind of money.
"110,000!"
"Uncle, I never thought you were this kind of person!"
Ning Fengzhi: "…"
"She still has her soul—she's different from those other girls."
Tang San and Xiao Wu looked at him with suspicion.
Just as the No. 2 Black VIP room was about to place a bid—
The No. 1 Black VIP room, silent until now, suddenly spoke up!
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 95 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 20 power stones I will publish the next chapter.