"An auction house, sounds intriguing." Everyone wanted to visit such a place, even if they had nothing to buy, just to see.

"Don't some of us still need certain materials? I heard this auction takes place once a month, and today's the day. Let's try our luck." Shao Qi had inquired about this event as soon as he arrived in Yang City, having some items to auction himself.

The Yun Sect's auction house was located in the city center, adjacent to the largest plaza and shopping mall, bustling with activity.

Guards surrounded the auction house, preventing ordinary people from approaching. Curious as they might be, they weren't eligible to enter.

After ticket verification, everyone lined up to enter. Inside, attendees were directed to various floors and booths based on their ticket numbers, each booth having its private entrance, ensuring acquaintances wouldn't bump into each other.

Zhou You and his group entered a booth on the third floor, only half-filled. The other half was unoccupied.

Shao Qi explained, "I bought the tickets for the other half. Feel free to sit wherever."

"Talk about throwing money around!" Cheng Suyan exclaimed, though thinking: "Such a show-off, acting as if he's the only wealthy one here."

Soon, a server handed out the auction list, detailing each item and its starting price. An electronic screen sat in front of each seat for attendees to place their bids.

"Esteemed guests, the auction rules are provided on the first page. We urge you to read and remember them. Violators will be blacklisted from our auction house for life."

Zhou You took a glance. The rules were straightforward: no haggling over prices, items won must be paid for in full immediately, and no photography or video recording was allowed.

"There are over a hundred auction items listed. Can they all be auctioned off in a day?"

"Of course. The bidding process is rapid. An item goes up, and within a minute the highest bidder is evident. If you're interested in something, you can pre-book, and you'll be notified when it's up for auction."

Everyone studied the list intently. At their level, ordinary goods hardly caught their eye. They usually started browsing from the back, where the more precious and expensive items were listed.

"I've set my sights on the No. 83 meteoric iron. I hope none of you bid against me," said Cheng Yuran. She was in need of quality material for a sword.

Zhou You noticed the last item was a secret manuscript. Surprised, he asked, "Can they sell manuscripts like this here?"

"If there's a market for it, anything can be sold. Manuscripts at auctions are either incomplete or sold illicitly. Still, many want them, so their prices are quite steep."

Chapter 122: An Acquaintance

As the auction began, a large screen inside the private booth displayed the auctioneer — a stunning young woman. The first item was a spirit pill Zhou You had seen before. Although it was priced at 300 points in the market, here it eventually sold for 500 points.

Many high-grade materials Zhou You recognized were presented. He could see their prices soar on his screen, only halting when no more bids were placed. The final bid and the booth number of the winning bidder were displayed afterwards.

Miao Miao won a beautiful jade necklace. Such luxury items were highly sought after in high society, and the quality was superior to pre-apocalyptic times.

She also gifted Li Yunxi a pair of bracelets. Initially hesitant to accept, Li Yunxi offered to transfer money in return, but Miao Miao declined. "It's just a pair of bracelets. You keep them. They're delicate and not suitable for our missions. But with the upcoming banquet at Qian Ji Hall, we should dress up. Bid for anything you fancy next."

Reminded by Miao Miao, Li Yunxi recalled the forthcoming banquet. It was an opportunity she wouldn't want to miss, especially to gather information on her adversaries.

As the auction progressed, the items grew more valuable and attracted more bidders. Cheng Yuran took an interest in a sword. Though it wasn't top-tier, it was better than being unarmed.

Bidding for the sword was fierce, starting at 1,000 points and quickly reaching 5,000.

"Seriously? It's just a beast bone sword. Have these people lost their minds?" Cheng Yuran complained, entering a bid of 5,100 points, only to be outbid almost instantly.

Zhou You advised against continuing, "Didn't you already collect materials for a custom-made treasure sword? Why are you concerned about such an ordinary one?"

Shao Qi quipped, "Too much money and not enough sense."

Cheng Yuran reluctantly backed off. The sword eventually sold for 6,500 points, not a great deal considering its value.

Puzzled, Zhou You asked, "Aren't weapons like this available in regular stores? Why would they pay more here? Does the sword have special attributes?"

Cheng Yuran quickly explained, "Look at the sword's description. It was forged by a disciple of Master Fan. Though his disciples aren't as famous, knowing one could potentially lead to an introduction to the master himself. For that, spending a few thousand points might be worth it."

"Is Master Fan in high demand? Should we approach him sooner to avoid a long wait?"

Shao Qi casually input a number, then told Zhou You, "There's no need. Master Fan rarely takes orders nowadays. Overbooking isn't an issue."

"Oh? How many disciples does Master Fan have? How skilled are they?" Zhou You leaned in, noticing Shao Qi's interest in a vintage watch from before the apocalypse, probably for the banquet.

Cheng Yuran leaned in to answer, "Three. Only the eldest has been publicly seen. Many have only heard of the other two. The second disciple takes online orders and remains unseen. As for the third, there's no trace of his work. No one's sure if he's even completed his training."