Chapter 138

Chapter 138

Old William's smile deepened upon hearing Evan's reply. He gently swirled the black tea in his cup, causing subtle ripples on the surface. "Judging by your appearance, you haven't been in the world of the supernatural for long, have you? Your supernatural aura is still faint, and there's a curiosity in your eyes that we old relics have long since lost."

Evan was startled. He hadn't expected this elder to see through his situation at a glance. He instinctively touched the holster at his waist, then remembered the invitation in his inner pocket, his tone tinged with respect. "You have a keen eye, sir. I have indeed only recently come into contact with the supernatural world. I came to this gathering to see more of the world and to look for suitable supernatural items."

"My name is Old William. I'm an appraiser and I act as a middleman for this Supernatural Assembly. I usually help people assess the quality of items and occasionally mediate trade disputes." Old William set down his teacup and pointed to an inconspicuous silver rune on the cuff of his robe. "See this mark? It's the official middleman's insignia for the Assembly. Should you encounter any difficulties, look for someone with this mark."

Evan followed Old William's finger and indeed saw a small silver rune on his cuff, its pattern somewhat similar to the watermark on the invitation. He quickly nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, Mr. William. My name is Evan."

"Evan," Old William took a sip of his tea and advised in a gentle tone, "Since it's your first time at a private auction, you'll want to keep your wits about you. While there's a wide variety of items here, there are also many pitfalls. For example, some spatial storage items may appear to have large capacities but are internally worn and will fall apart after just a few uses. Some offensive items might carry residual curses, and you could easily fall victim if you're not careful. If you're unsure, observe more and don't act hastily."

Evan listened attentively, committing Old William's words to heart—this advice was invaluable for a newcomer like him, helping him steer clear of many a misstep. He was just about to express his thanks when he heard a crisp bell sound from nearby. Unlike the bells under the eaves, this ringing was more urgent, carrying a clear signal.

Hearing the bell, Old William stood up and straightened his robe. "It seems the next trading session is about to begin. Come on, I'll take you to the meeting room. For your first time, I'll point you to a seat with a good view, making it easier for you to observe."

Evan promptly rose and followed. He noticed the other waiting guests in the lounge were also starting to move. People who had been scattered around were now heading towards the double wooden doors. The previously quiet lounge instantly became livelier, with anticipation evident on everyone's faces.

They arrived at the double wooden doors. Old William gently pushed them open, and a denser supernatural aura washed over them. The meeting room was already half-filled, with nearly half the seats around the originally empty redwood table occupied. Everyone was conversing in low voices, their eyes occasionally glancing towards the door, clearly awaiting the official start of the trade meeting.

Old William pointed to an empty seat near the corner of the long table and said to Evan, "You can sit there. That seat will give you a clear view of the items on the table and you can easily observe others' reactions. Once the meeting starts, someone will display the items for trade one by one. Interested parties can bid, with the highest bidder winning. If there's a dispute over an item, we middlemen will arbitrate."

Evan walked towards the seat Old William indicated, thanking him along the way. "Thank you, Mr. William. You've been a great help."

Old William waved his hand dismissively, smiling. "It was nothing. I hope you find something you like today." With that, he walked to an empty seat beside the head of the table and sat down—clearly the middleman's spot.

As soon as Evan settled into his seat, he saw a person in a black uniform, with the same silver rune pinned to their chest, step forward holding an exquisite wooden box. The person cleared their throat and announced in a resonant voice, "Everyone, the next private trade meeting begins now! First, let's review the rules for this meeting. As usual, bidding is fair and just. Malicious price inflation and item snatching are prohibited. Violators will be blacklisted by the Assembly and permanently banned from all trade activities. Now, let's begin showcasing the first item for trade."

The staff member in black carefully placed the wooden box in the center of the redwood table, handling it as if it were a fragile treasure. Slowly opening the lid, a soft green light instantly spilled from the box, illuminating the faces of those nearby. Inside lay a palm-sized jade pendant. The pendant was a pale green throughout, its surface carved with intricate leaf-vein patterns. Faint energy fluctuations swirled within the patterns, clearly marking it as an extraordinary auxiliary supernatural item.

"First item, 'Spirit Leaf Jade Pendant'," the staff's voice rang clearly throughout the meeting room. "Wearing this pendant can stabilize chaotic Supernatural Factors within the body. It is especially suitable for Supernaturals who have recently broken through a realm or are prone to qi deviation during cultivation. Starting bid: thirty Gold Sala."

As soon as the words fell, someone in the audience raised their hand. "Thirty-five Gold Sala!" The speaker was a young man in a cyan robe, his eyes fixed intently on the jade pendant in the box, clearly determined to have it.

"Forty Gold Sala!" another immediately countered, their tone firm and resolute.

Evan sat in the corner, leaning forward slightly, his gaze fixed on the Spirit Leaf Jade Pendant. He could sense the gentle energy fluctuations from the pendant; it was indeed a practical auxiliary item. However, his goal for this trip was a storage-type supernatural item, so he remained a quiet observer with no intention of bidding. He noticed many around him showed interest, and bidding voices rose one after another. Soon, the price of the Spirit Leaf Jade Pendant was driven up to sixty Gold Sala, and it was finally secured by a brawny, bearded man for sixty-five Gold Sala. After paying, the man carefully tucked the pendant into his chest pocket, a look of great satisfaction on his face.

Next, the staff brought out the second item—a palm-sized bronze compass. The compass needle wasn't made of ordinary metal but of some kind of luminous crystal. It constantly rotated, pointing in one direction, and its surface was engraved with dense runes. "Second item, 'Tracking Compass'," the staff introduced. "This compass can sense specified types of supernatural energy within a ten-mile radius. Whether tracking Supernaturals or searching for energy-containing ores or herbs, it can be of use. Starting bid: forty Gold Sala."

This time, the bidding was even more intense, with many Supernaturals whose professions involved tracking or treasure hunting joining in. "Forty-five Gold Sala!" "Fifty Gold Sala!" "Sixty Gold Sala!" The price soared and was finally secured by the young man in the cyan robe who had spoken to Evan earlier, for seventy-five Gold Sala. Upon receiving the compass, the young man eagerly began adjusting it. The needle quivered slightly in his hand, causing his lips to curl into a constant smile.

Over the next half-hour, the staff successively showcased several more auxiliary supernatural items: a "Night-Light Stone" that could emit strong light in darkness, illuminating a hundred-meter radius (starting bid twenty Gold Sala, final price forty Gold Sala); a "Healing Ointment" that could quickly heal minor wounds and accelerate bodily recovery (starting bid fifteen Gold Sala per jar; with three jars available, they were purchased by three different Supernaturals for twenty, twenty-one, and twenty-three Gold Sala respectively); and an "Earring of Acute Hearing" that enhanced hearing, allowing the user to discern faint sounds from a hundred meters away (starting bid thirty-five Gold Sala, final price sixty-five Gold Sala after multiple rounds of bidding, acquired by a slender figure).

Each item's display and trade was accompanied by fierce bidding from the crowd. The atmosphere in the meeting room grew increasingly heated. Some cheered for securing a desired item, while others sighed in regret over losing a bid. Evan remained seated in the corner, watching everything with calm eyes. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the hem of his clothes, but his mind was silently calculating—seven items had been showcased, all practical auxiliary tools, yet the storage-type supernatural item he most wanted still hadn't appeared.