Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Auction Begins

"This is the Celestial Martial Auction House. Don’t you know fighting is forbidden here?" The newcomer, Luo Wenqing, said coldly as he walked up to Shen Haoran and Wu Mengqi.

Seeing Luo Wenqing, Wu Mengqi quickly put away her long whip, ran up to him, and said with a pout, "Uncle Luo, this is the VIP area of the Celestial Martial Auction House! This country bumpkin barged in here without a clue. I was trying to drive him away for you, but he shamelessly refused to leave. Not only that, he even insulted you! That’s why I was teaching him a lesson!" After speaking, Wu Mengqi gave Shen Haoran a haughty look, waiting for Luo Wenqing to punish him.

Hearing this, Shen Haoran stared at Wu Mengqi in utter astonishment, cursing her a thousand times over in his head. ’I just got here! When did I shamelessly refuse to leave? And when did I insult Luo Wenqing? This woman is an incredible liar!’

Beside him, Ji Lingxuan looked at Wu Mengqi with even greater disgust. ’I used to think Wu Mengqi was just a spoiled and willful Little Princess, but now I see how ridiculously wrong I was. This isn’t just a problem with her personality; her character is rotten to the core!’

Luo Wenqing was also stunned for a moment by Wu Mengqi’s words, but he quickly recovered, a flash of disgust flickering in his eyes. He’d had many dealings with the Wu Family in the past and had originally been somewhat fond of their Little Princess. If he didn’t know what kind of person Shen Haoran was, he might have believed Wu Mengqi and thrown Shen Haoran out! But after their conversation the day before yesterday, he knew Shen Haoran would never insult him, which meant Wu Mengqi had to be framing him!

At this thought, Luo Wenqing’s expression turned icy. Any fondness he’d had for Wu Mengqi vanished completely, replaced by a growing sense of disgust.

"What’s wrong? Why is it so noisy?" While each of them was lost in thought, the door to a private box behind Wu Mengqi opened, and Second Master Wu stepped out, frowning as he spoke.

When Second Master Wu saw Shen Haoran, a surge of killing intent erupted from his body! ’This is the brat who utterly ruined my reputation in Celestial Martial City!’ He wished he could skin Shen Haoran alive and rip out his tendons!

However, before his killing intent could even spread a meter from his body, it was forcefully suppressed back inside him by Luo Wenqing. Only then did Second Master Wu notice Luo Wenqing standing beside him. His expression changed instantly, and he walked forward with a fawning smile. "So Manager Luo is here as well. What brings you here?"

"Heh, so Second Master Wu does recognize me after all. I was beginning to think you held me in no regard whatsoever!" Luo Wenqing said coldly.

Hearing Luo Wenqing’s less-than-friendly tone, Second Master Wu’s heart jumped. ’This is bad!’ Luo Wenqing’s influence in Celestial Martial City was in no way inferior to the Wu Family’s, and perhaps even a cut above the City Lord’s. If anyone provoked him, they would be blacklisted by the Celestial Martial Auction House!

"Manager Luo, what are you saying? Of course I hold you in the highest regard. This must be a misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding!" Second Master Wu said with an obsequious smile.

"Hmph. A misunderstanding?"

"Yes, yes, a misunderstanding! Come, Manager Luo, join me in my private box for a drink. I must apologize to you!" Second Master Wu said, making an inviting gesture.

"Come on, Uncle Luo. Mengqi will pour your tea and wine personally!" Wu Mengqi added with a smile.

"Hey, you two country bumpkins! Scram now before my Uncle Luo gets really angry. Otherwise, not even that mysterious benefactor of yours will be able to save you!" Wu Mengqi shouted haughtily at Shen Haoran and his companion.

"Hmph!" This time, before Shen Haoran could speak, Luo Wenqing unleashed the full force of his Tier Nine Spirit General aura. The powerful pressure slammed into Wu Mengqi, causing her to spit out a mouthful of blood as her face turned deathly pale. Nearby, Second Master Wu was stunned by this sudden turn of events, staring at Luo Wenqing in utter disbelief.

"Second Master Wu, I suggest you keep the members of your Wu Family in line. Do not disturb the honored guests of my Celestial Martial Auction House!" Luo Wenqing said, looking at Second Master Wu with an indifferent expression.

"Honored... honored guest?" Second Master Wu couldn’t process what was happening.

"Little Brother Shen is an honored guest of my Celestial Martial Auction House. You allowed Wu Mengqi to insult my guest like this. If not for the fact that she is from the main branch of the Wu Family, this wouldn’t have ended with her just spitting up a mouthful of blood!" A murderous glint shone in Luo Wenqing’s eyes!

Feeling the undisguised killing intent radiating from Luo Wenqing, Wu Mengqi was so terrified she could only sit frozen on the floor, not daring to utter a single word. She just stared at Shen Haoran and Ji Lingxuan, screaming internally, ’Impossible! This is impossible!’

"Forget it, Brother Luo. It’s not worth getting so angry over them! Let’s go to my private box. I’ll treat you to a drink!" Shen Haoran said with a smile, waving his hand dismissively.

"Haha, Younger Brother Shen, you are truly magnanimous! Very well, let’s go have a good drink!" Luo Wenqing laughed heartily. He then shot one last cold glance at Wu Mengqi before leading Shen Haoran deeper into the VIP area.

"Next time you try to act all high and mighty, do some research on your target first. It’s not a good look to try and show off, only to end up looking like a pathetic clown," Shen Haoran said coldly as he passed by Wu Mengqi.

"’Pathetic clown?’" Hearing Shen Haoran’s words, Wu Mengqi snapped back to her senses. She stared at his retreating back with a venomous gaze and said sinisterly, "Shen Haoran, is it? I will get my revenge for this!"

Shen Haoran was completely unaware of Wu Mengqi’s venomous threat. He and Luo Wenqing had already arrived at a luxurious private box. Looking at all the fine amenities within the box and the unobstructed view of the auction hall below, Shen Haoran couldn’t help but exclaim, "It feels good to be a VIP!"

"Younger Brother Shen, I apologize. That was my failure as a host just now. You were wronged," Luo Wenqing said apologetically.

"Ah, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about such a small matter!" Shen Haoran said with a smile, waving his hand. During the five years he was unable to practice Cultivation, he had suffered far worse. He was already used to it.

"Haha, Younger Brother Shen, you truly are magnanimous! Come, I’ll toast to you!" Luo Wenqing laughed, raising his cup.

"Cheers!" Shen Haoran also raised his cup, and the two of them drained their drinks in one go.

"By the way, Brother Luo, when does the auction start?" Shen Haoran asked, looking down at the auction hall, which was now filled with people.

"Soon. It should start in a few more minutes," Luo Wenqing replied, checking the time.

"Oh, okay. In that case, Brother Luo, you should go take care of your business. You don’t need to stay here with me," Shen Haoran said.

"Younger Brother, what are you saying? I already failed in my duties as a host earlier. I’ll stay with you for this auction. I can even give you some bidding advice later! That’s a privilege not just anyone gets, you know!" Luo Wenqing said with a smile.

"Haha, in that case, I’ll have to trouble you, Brother Luo!" Shen Haoran was overjoyed to hear this. ’I’ve never been to a large-scale auction before. With the auction house manager right here with me, I can get inside information on many of the items. This is practically like cheating!’

DONG... DONG... DONG... As the two were chatting, a few deep bell chimes rang out. A moment later, a voice as clear as silver bells announced, "The Celestial Martial Auction House’s grand auction will now officially begin!"

"Hello, everyone. I am Cheng Xiang, your host for this auction!" A beautiful figure slowly walked onto the stage, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face to the crowd. Her bright eyes sparkled with a flirtatious charm, and her entire being exuded an alluring aura. Her every gesture made one’s heart sway, causing the male Martial Artists in the audience to shout wildly!

"Tsk, tsk. This woman must have cultivated a Charm Art," Shen Haoran remarked, clicking his tongue as he watched Cheng Xiang on the stage.

"Haha, Younger Brother Shen has a sharp eye!" Luo Wenqing praised. He was also secretly surprised. ’Cheng Xiang’s Charm Art is an exclusive Cultivation Technique of the Celestial Martial Auction House. Even I fell for its effects the first time I saw her. Yet Shen Haoran’s gaze is perfectly clear, and he can even identify her Cultivation Technique. He’s truly an extraordinary young man!’

What he didn’t know was that Shen Haoran’s attention wasn’t on Cheng Xiang at all. Ever since she had appeared, every time he so much as glanced at the stage, he would feel a wave of killing intent from the person beside him. Under such intense mental pressure, it would have been a miracle if he’d fallen for any Charm Art! Shen Haoran could only smile wryly to himself. ’Ji Lingxuan gets jealous so easily, but I can’t beat her in a fight, so I can only surrender...’

"Alright, today’s auction officially begins! Our first item is a Middle Grade Fire-Attribute Spiritual Artifact! The starting bid is twenty thousand Gold Coins, with minimum increments of five thousand Gold Coins. Let the bidding begin!"

"I bid twenty-five thousand!"

"Thirty thousand..."

And so, under Cheng Xiang’s skillful direction, the auction officially began...!