dì yī jiàn pāi mài pǐn shùn lì pāi chū ， nà ge jiā huo yòu qǔ chū le dì èr jiàn bǎo wù 。（
第一件拍卖品顺利拍出，那个家伙又取出了第二件宝物。（
The first auction item was sold smoothly, and the man then took out a second treasure.
“ xuě luó guǒ ， wàn nián líng wù ， jí biàn shēng fú ， yě yǒu zhe bù kě sī yì de xiào guǒ ， shì liàn zhì xuě luó dān de zhǔ yào yuán liào ， jī bù kě shī ， shī bù zài lái ， gè wèi dào yǒu qiān wàn bù kě yǐ cuò guò 。”
“雪罗果，万年灵物，即便生服，也有着不可思议的效果，是炼制雪罗丹的主要原料，机不可失，失不再来，各位道友千万不可以错过。”
"Snow Lotus Fruit, a ten-thousand-year-old spirit object. Even when consumed directly, it has incredible effects, being the main ingredient for refining Snow Lotus Pills. This is an opportunity not to be missed; don't let it slip away."
huà yīn gāng luò ， xià miàn jiù “ wēng ” de yī shēng zhà kāi le guō 。
话音刚落，下面就“嗡”的一声炸开了锅。
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd below erupted in excitement.
“ shén me ， xuě luó guǒ ， jǐn jǐn dì èr jiàn pāi mài pǐn ， jiù chū xiàn le zhè yàng de bǎo wù 。”
“什么，雪罗果，仅仅第二件拍卖品，就出现了这样的宝物。”
"What? Snow Lotus Fruit! Such a treasure already appears with just the second auction item?"
“ zhēn de jiǎ de ？”
“真的假的？”
"Is this true or false?"
“ hēi hēi ， liáng jī hái zhēn shì bù róng cuò guò 。”
“嘿嘿，良机还真是不容错过。”
"Haha, such a good opportunity can't be passed up."
“ kàn lái zhè cì pāi mài huì hái zhēn shì lái duì le 。”
“看来这次拍卖会还真是来对了。”
"It seems we've come to the right auction indeed."
yī shí jiān ， yì lùn shēng cǐ qǐ bǐ fú 。
一时间，议论声此起彼伏。
The discussion was incessant for a moment. Although everyone's expressions were hidden behind the stone houses, their voices and tones betrayed an excited mood.
suī rán zhòng rén duǒ zài shí wū zhōng biǎo qíng kàn bù qīng chǔ ， dàn shēng yīn yǔ qì ， yě liú lù chū yī gǔ xīng fèn zhī sè 。
虽然众人躲在石屋中表情看不清楚，但声音语气，也流露出一股兴奋之色。
Clearly, Snow Lotus Fruit was no ordinary treasure.
xiǎn rán zhè xuě luó guǒ ， hái zhēn shì fēi tóng yī bān de bǎo wù 。
显然这雪罗果，还真是非同一般的宝物。
Generally speaking, the more precious the auction item, the later it should be placed in the lineup.
yì bān lái shuō ， yuè shì zhēn guì de pāi mài zhī wù ， yuè yīng gāi fàng zài hòu miàn 。
一般来说，越是珍贵的拍卖之物，越应该放在后面。
But not every auction followed this rule.
dàn bìng bú shì měi yī cì pāi mài huì ， dū huì zūn shǒu zhè ge guī jǔ de 。
但并不是每一次拍卖会，都会遵守这个规矩的。
How to reasonably arrange the order was also an art. When used properly, it could produce unexpected results.
shùn xù zěn yàng hé lǐ dā pèi zǔ hé ， yě shì yī mén yì shù ， yùn yòng dé dàng ， kě yǐ qǐ dào yì xiǎng bù dào de xiào guǒ 。
顺序怎样合理搭配组合，也是一门艺术，运用得当，可以起到意想不到的效果。
For instance, that's exactly what was happening now.
bǐ rú shuō ， yǎn qián jiù shì zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng le 。
比如说，眼前就是这种情况了。
Lin Xuan had never heard of Snow Lotus Fruit before, but Xiang'er showed a hint of eagerness beside him.
xuě luó guǒ lín xuān bù céng tīng guò ， rán ér páng biān de xìng ér ， què lù chū le yuè yuè yù shì zhī sè 。
雪罗果林轩不曾听过，然而旁边的杏儿，却露出了跃跃欲试之色。
"How so? This item is useful for you as well?"
“ zěn me ， cǐ wù duì nǐ yě yǒu yòng tú ？”
“怎么，此物对你也有用途？”
The two had been traveling together and were already quite familiar. Although Lin Xuan hadn't confirmed his identity as the Young Master yet, he was speaking casually enough.
liǎng rén lián mèi gǎn lù ， bǐ cǐ jiān yǐ shì hěn shú xī le ， suī rán lín xuān shàng wèi zhèng shí zì jǐ jiù shì shǎo zhǔ ， dàn zhì shǎo shuō huà ， yǐ shì hěn suí yì le 。
两人联袂赶路，彼此间已是很熟悉了，虽然林轩尚未证实自己就是少主，但至少说话，已是很随意了。
"Yes, Snow Lotus Fruit greatly benefits my advancement. In the eyes of ghost tribes at the Spirit Gathering Stage, it's a miraculous divine object. I didn't expect to encounter it here," Xiang'er said with obvious excitement in her voice.
“ bù cuò ， zhè xuě luó guǒ ， duì wǎn bèi de jìn jí dà yǒu yòng tú ， xuě luó dān zài fēn shén qī guǐ zú de yǎn zhōng ， kān chēng bù kě sī yì de shén wù ， méi xiǎng dào huì zài zhè pāi mài huì shàng yù jiàn le 。” xìng ér de yǔ qì ， chōng mǎn le jīng xǐ ， nà xiàng wǎng zhī yì 。 shì xiǎn ér yì jiàn dì 。
“不错，这雪罗果，对晚辈的晋级大有用途，雪罗丹在分神期鬼族的眼中，堪称不可思议的神物，没想到会在这拍卖会上遇见了。”杏儿的语气，充满了惊喜，那向往之意。是显而易见地。
"Oh, this Lin Xuan really had no idea. If you want it, just bid for it," Lin Xuan said, rubbing his forehead nonchalantly.
“ ó ， zhè lín mǒu dào zhēn bù céng xiǎo de ， jì rán xiǎng yào ， jǐn guǎn pāi xià lái jiù shì le 。” lín xuān yǐ shǒu fǔ é ， bù zài yì de shuō 。
“哦，这林某倒真不曾晓得，既然想要，尽管拍下来就是了。”林轩以手抚额，不在意的说。
Xiang'er's face lit up with joy.
xìng ér zé kǔ xiào qǐ lái le 。
杏儿则苦笑起来了。
Was this senior truly unaware of the situation? Since Snow Lotus Fruit was so useful, the competition would surely be intense to the extreme.
zhè wèi qián bèi ， jiū jìng yǒu méi yǒu jiāng zhuàng kuàng nòng qīng chǔ 。
这位前辈，究竟有没有将状况弄清楚。
Although she wasn't exactly short on resources, winning in such a competitive environment would still be difficult. After all, treasures like these could even attract the attention of Tribulation-Transcending Existences.
xuě luó guǒ jì rán dà yǒu yòng tú ， nà zhēng qiǎng ， zì rán yě huì jī liè dào jí chù 。
雪罗果既然大有用途，那争抢，自然也会激烈到极处。
They might not need them themselves but giving them to disciples and apprentices would certainly earn much goodwill.
zì jǐ suī rán tán bù shàng náng zhōng xiū sè ， dàn xiǎng yào shèng chū 。 yě yǒu tài dà de nán dù ， xū zhī zhè yàng de bǎo wù ， jiù suàn shì dù jié qī cún zài ， yě yǒu kě néng chū shǒu de 。
自己虽然谈不上囊中羞涩，但想要胜出。也有太大的难度，须知这样的宝物，就算是渡劫期存在，也有可能出手的。
"How so? Worried about not having enough Soul Stones? No problem, I'll lend you some."
tā men zì jǐ huò xǔ yòng bù zhe ， dàn cì yǔ mén rén dì zǐ 。 yě huì shōu huò hěn duō de hǎo gǎn dù 。
他们自己或许用不着，但赐予门人弟子。也会收获很多的好感度。
Lin Xuan was a shrewd cultivator. From her expression, he understood what she was troubled by.
“ zěn me ， dān xīn míng shí bù zú ， méi guān xì ， wǒ jiè gěi nǐ hǎo le 。”
“怎么，担心冥石不足，没关系，我借给你好了。”
"Lend me? Senior, are you serious?" Xiang'er's face lit up with joy, her eyes sparkling.
lín xuān shì hé děng cōng míng líng lì de xiū xiān zhě ， jiàn le duì fāng de biǎo qíng ， yǐ míng bái tā xīn zhōng kǔ nǎo de shì shén me 。
林轩是何等聪明伶俐的修仙者，见了对方的表情，已明白她心中苦恼的是什么。
"Of course I am! Do you think Lin Xuan would deceive this little girl of yours?"
“ jiè gěi wǒ ， qián bèi shuō zhēn de ？” xìng ér què shì lù chū dà xǐ guò wàng zhī sè 。 lián yǎn jīng dōu kāi shǐ fàng guāng le 。
“借给我，前辈说真的？”杏儿却是露出大喜过望之色。连眼睛都开始放光了。
Lin Xuan said irritably but his eyes were full of amusement.
“ dāng rán shì zhēn de ， nán dào lín mǒu hái huì qī piàn nǐ zhè xiǎo yā tou bù chéng me ？”
“当然是真的，难道林某还会欺骗你这小丫头不成么？”
Actually, according to Lin Xuan’s original intention, he could have simply bought it and given it to Xiang'er. She was loyal to Yue'er, and Lin Xuan never stinted on gifts for those close to him.
lín xuān méi hǎo qì de shuō ， rán ér yǎn zhōng què mǎn shì xiào yì 。
林轩没好气的说，然而眼中却满是笑意。
He had intended to give her a big gift.
qí shí àn zhào lín xuān yuán běn de yì tú ， zhí jiē mǎi xià lái sòng gěi xìng ér jiù hǎo le 。
其实按照林轩原本的意图，直接买下来送给杏儿就好了。
But if he did that, she would definitely refuse. A gift from someone else's mouth is easier to accept; in proving his identity, Xiang'er’s stubborn nature wouldn’t allow her to accept such kindness.
zhè yā tou duì yuè ér zhōng xīn gěng gěng 。 ér lín xuān chǔ shì de yuán zé ， duì zì jǐ rén xiàng lái bú huì lìn sè 。
这丫头对月儿忠心耿耿。而林轩处事的原则，对自己人向来不会吝啬。
To avoid making things worse, Lin Xuan decided to use the lending method instead.
yuán běn shì yǒu yì ， sòng gěi tā yī fèn dà lǐ 。
原本是有意，送给她一份大礼。
As long as he could find the Heart Cleansing Fruit later and clarify his identity, whether or not he returned these Soul Stones would be no issue.
kě zhēn zhè me zuò ， xiǎo yā tou shì yí dìng bú huì jiē shòu de 。
可真这么做，小丫头是一定不会接受的。
Of course, this effort was unnecessary to mention. Xiang'er's face already showed great joy: "Thank you, senior."
chī rén de zuǐ duǎn 。 ná rén de shǒu ruǎn ， zài zhèng shí zì jǐ de shēn fèn yǐ qián 。 yǐ xìng ér jué jiàng de xìng gé ， shì bú huì jiē shòu zì jǐ de yī fān hǎo yì de 。
吃人的嘴短。拿人的手软，在证实自己的身份以前。以杏儿倔强的性格，是不会接受自己的一番好意的。
It was clear that she really wanted to get Snow Lotus Fruit.
wèi bì miǎn nòng qiǎo chéng zhuō ， lín xuān jiù zhǐ hǎo cǎi yòng jiè zhè zhǒng fāng shì le 。
为避免弄巧成拙，林轩就只好采用借这种方式了。
Lin Xuan smiled but didn't reveal anything further.
fǎn zhèng dào shí hòu zhǐ yào zhǎo dào wèn xīn guǒ ， jiāng zì jǐ de shēn fèn nòng qīng chǔ ， zhè bǐ míng shí hái bù hái ， yě jiù méi shén me wèn tí le 。
反正到时候只要找到问心果，将自己的身份弄清楚，这笔冥石还不还，也就没什么问题了。
The auction began.
dāng rán ， zhè fān kǔ xīn bù bì duō shuō ， ér xìng ér de liǎn shàng ， yǐ lù chū dà xǐ guò wàng zhī sè ：“ duō xiè qián bèi 。”
当然，这番苦心不必多说，而杏儿的脸上，已露出大喜过望之色：“多谢前辈。”
"Starting bid of two million Soul Stones, the highest bidder wins."
kàn dé chū ， zhè xuě luó guǒ ， tā hái zhēn shì zhì zài bì děi 。
看得出，这雪罗果，她还真是志在必得。
These words immediately sparked more discussions. The crowd seemed to explode again.
lín xuān de liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī xiào yì ， yě bù shuō pò 。
林轩的脸上露出一丝笑意，也不说破。
"What? Only two million Soul Stones? Did they make a mistake?"
hěn ， pāi mài kāi shǐ le 。
很，拍卖开始了。
"This is too low! Really Snow Lotus Fruit?"
“ dǐ jià liǎng bǎi wàn míng shí ， jià gāo zhě dé 。”
“底价两百万冥石，价高者得。”
"Don't worry; there can't be fake goods in Black Stone City's auction. At just two million Soul Stones, it's indeed absurdly cheap."
cǐ huà yī chū ， lì kè yòu yǐn qǐ yì lùn shēng shù ， dǐ xià ， jiù fǎng fú zhà kāi le guō 。
此话一出，立刻又引起议论声数，底下，就仿佛炸开了锅。
...
“ shén me ， cái liǎng bǎi wàn míng shí ， yǒu méi yǒu gǎo cuò 。”
“什么，才两百万冥石，有没有搞错。”
The discussions were louder than before. Lin Xuan’s face showed a hint of amusement. The auction was getting more interesting.
“ zhè ， zhè yě tài dī le ， zhēn …… zhēn shì xuě luó guǒ ？”
“这，这也太低了，真……真是雪罗果？”
After all, the price an item could fetch had no necessary connection to its starting bid.
“ fàng xīn ， hēi shí chéng de pāi mài huì ， zěn me kě néng yǒu jiǎ huò ， zhǐ shì cái qū qū liǎng bǎi wàn míng shí ， què shí dī dé lí pǔ 。”
“放心，黑石城的拍卖会，怎么可能有假货，只是才区区两百万冥石，确实低得离谱。”
Sometimes, the lower the initial bid for a precious item, the higher the final price might be.
……
……
This wasn’t just idle talk; Lin Xuan had witnessed such scenarios firsthand.
yì lùn shēng cǐ qǐ bǐ fú ， bǐ gāng gāng hái yào xuān nào hěn duō 。
议论声此起彼伏，比刚刚还要喧闹很多。
For example, Snow Lotus Fruit was originally meant to be one of the last auction items. Instead, it was placed second and its starting bid was set so low. The organizers likely aimed for a surprise victory.
lín xuān liǎn shàng ， zé lù chū yī sī xì xuè zhī sè ， zhè pāi mài huì ， hái zhēn shì yuè lái yuè yǒu yì si le 。
林轩脸上，则露出一丝戏谑之色，这拍卖会，还真是越来越有意思了。
And indeed, this plan seemed quite good. The entire auction hall was nearly in an uproar.
xū zhī ， yī jiàn wù pǐn jiū jìng néng gòu pāi chū duō gāo de jià gé ， qí shí yǔ dī jià bìng bù cún zài bì rán lián xì de 。
须知，一件物品究竟能够拍出多高的价格，其实与低价并不存在必然联系的。
With the starting bid announced, bidding voices began to rise.
yǒu shí hòu ， yī jiàn zhēn guì wù pǐn ， dǐ jià biāo dé yuè dī ， zuì hòu chéng jiāo de jià gé ， hái yǒu kě néng yuè lí pǔ 。
有时候，一件珍贵物品，底价标得越低，最后成交的价格，还有可能越离谱。
"Two million five hundred thousand!"
zhè kě bú shì zài hú yán luàn yǔ 。
这可不是在胡言乱语。
"Three million."
lèi sì de qíng xíng lín xuān céng qīn yǎn jiàn guò 。
类似的情形林轩曾亲眼见过。
...
jiù ná yǎn qián lái shuō ， xuě luó guǒ zhè yàng de líng wù ， yuán běn yǐ yǒu zuò wèi yā zhòu pāi mài pǐn de zī gé 。
就拿眼前来说，雪罗果这样的灵物，原本已有做为压轴拍卖品的资格。
"Thirty-one hundred thousand."
duì fāng què jiāng qí zuò wèi dì èr jiàn pāi mài zhī wù ， yòu jiāng dǐ jià biāo dé rú cǐ lí pǔ ， xīn zhōng dǎ dé ， kǒng pà jiù shì chū qí zhì shèng de zhǔ yì 。
对方却将其做为第二件拍卖之物，又将底价标得如此离谱，心中打得，恐怕就是出奇制胜的主意。
...
ér cóng xiàn zài de qíng xíng lái kàn ， zhè ge fāng àn hěn bú cuò 。
而从现在的情形来看，这个方案很不错。
In just a short while, the price had more than doubled from its initial value.
zhěng gè pāi mài huì chǎng ， jī hū yào fèi téng le 。
整个拍卖会场，几乎要沸腾了。
But Lin Xuan’s face showed a smile. The participants were mostly Core Profound and Spirit Gathering Stage cultivators, who would only serve as background noise. They had no chance of obtaining Snow Lotus Fruit.
dǐ jià yī chū ， jìng pāi de shēng yīn biàn cǐ qǐ bǐ fú 。
底价一出，竞拍的声音便此起彼伏。
Xiang'er understood this too; although she was determined to get the treasure, she hadn't bid yet.
“ liǎng bǎi wǔ shí wàn ！”
“两百五十万！”
The time wasn’t right yet.
“ sān bǎi wàn 。”
“三百万。”
"Ten million!"
“ sān bǎi yī shí wàn 。”
“三百一十万。”
Suddenly, a deep voice echoed in his ears, and the once lively hall fell silent.
……
……
A two-million Soul Stone starting bid was indeed absurdly low. But doubling it five times would be beyond most cultivators’ means.
duǎn duǎn yī zhǎn chá de gōng fu ， jià gé jiù zài yuán yǒu de jī chǔ shàng ， fān le shù bèi bù zhǐ 。
短短一盏茶的功夫，价格就在原有的基础上，翻了数倍不止。
Higher-level existences finally started bidding.
rán ér lín xuān liǎn shàng ， què lù chū yī sī xiào róng 。
然而林轩脸上，却露出一丝笑容。
The ghostly entities that had been calling out earlier now gaped in disbelief, their faces showing extreme disappointment.
xiàn zài cān yù jìng jià de ， yǐ dòng xuán yǔ fēn shén chū qī de cún zài jū duō 。
现在参与竞价的，以洞玄与分神初期的存在居多。
Was Snow Lotus Fruit destined for them?
ér tā men bù guò shì yī shí tóu nǎo fā rè ， zhù dìng zhǐ néng zuò wèi péi chèn bà le ， jué méi yǒu kě néng huò dé zhè xuě luó guǒ 。
而他们不过是一时头脑发热，注定只能做为陪衬罢了，绝没有可能获得这雪罗果。
Before they could even think this, another bid came.
cǐ dào lǐ ， bié shuō lín xuān xīn lǐ yǒu shù ， biàn shì xìng ér yì qīng chǔ ， gù ér tā suī rán duì zhè jiàn bǎo wù zhì zài bì děi ， què yì zhí wèi chū jià lái zhe 。
此道理，别说林轩心里有数，便是杏儿亦清楚，故而她虽然对这件宝物志在必得，却一直未出价来着。
"One point two million."
xiàn zài hái bú dào shí kè 。
现在还不到时刻。
Two million more Soul Stones in one breath, and the bidding was just beginning.
“ yī qiān wàn ！”
“一千万！”
"One point five million."
tū rán ， yī dī chén de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， yuán běn rè nào de dà tīng ， yě yī xià zi ān jìng xià qù le 。
突然，一低沉的声音传入耳朵，原本热闹的大厅，也一下子安静下去了。
"Two million!"
liǎng bǎi wàn de dǐ jià ， què shí dī dé lí pǔ ， dàn zài cǐ jī chǔ shàng fān shàng wǔ bèi ， kě jiù bú shì suí biàn yī míng xiū shì suǒ néng chéng shòu 。
两百万的底价，确实低得离谱，但在此基础上翻上五倍，可就不是随便一名修士所能承受。
...
zhōng yú yǒu gāo jiē cún zài chū shǒu 。
终于有高阶存在出手。
The first round of bids began. By now, Snow Lotus Fruit’s price had already increased tenfold from its initial value.
gāng cái nà xiē jiào jià jiào dé rè nào de yīn hún guǐ wù ， yí gè gè zhāng kǒu jié shé ， quán dōu lù chū jí wéi yù mèn de shén sè 。
刚才那些叫价叫得热闹的阴魂鬼物，一个个张口结舌，全都露出极为郁闷的神色。
After a series of auctions, the price soared to thirty million Soul Stones.
xuě luó guǒ ， guī rán yǔ zì jǐ yuán me ？
雪罗果，归然与自己缘么？
This could be considered astronomical.
zhè ge niàn tou shàng wèi zhuǎn guò ， yòu yī bào jià de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ 。
这个念头尚未转过，又一报价的声音传入耳朵。
Only a few voices remained in the bidding; although Snow Lotus Fruit was rare and precious, this price was too exorbitant.
“ yī qiān liǎng bǎi wàn 。”
“一千两百万。”
Even if it were Snow Lotus Pills, their success couldn’t be guaranteed. And even eating it directly had some effects but didn't justify such a high price.
yì kǒu qì ， yòu shì liǎng bǎi wàn míng shí ， ér zhè cái ， gāng gāng kāi shǐ 。
一口气，又是两百万冥石，而这才，刚刚开始。
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The first auction item was sold smoothly, and the man then took out a second treasure.
"Snow Lotus Fruit, a ten-thousand-year-old spirit object. Even when consumed directly, it has incredible effects, being the main ingredient for refining Snow Lotus Pills. This is an opportunity not to be missed; don't let it slip away."
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd below erupted in excitement.
"What? Snow Lotus Fruit! Such a treasure already appears with just the second auction item?"
"Is this true or false?"
"Haha, such a good opportunity can't be passed up."
"It seems we've come to the right auction indeed."
...
The discussion was incessant for a moment. Although everyone's expressions were hidden behind the stone houses, their voices and tones betrayed an excited mood.
Clearly, Snow Lotus Fruit was no ordinary treasure.
Generally speaking, the more precious the auction item, the later it should be placed in the lineup.
But not every auction followed this rule.
How to reasonably arrange the order was also an art. When used properly, it could produce unexpected results.
For instance, that's exactly what was happening now.
Lin Xuan had never heard of Snow Lotus Fruit before, but Xiang'er showed a hint of eagerness beside him.
"How so? This item is useful for you as well?"
The two had been traveling together and were already quite familiar. Although Lin Xuan hadn't confirmed his identity as the Young Master yet, he was speaking casually enough.
"Yes, Snow Lotus Fruit greatly benefits my advancement. In the eyes of ghost tribes at the Spirit Gathering Stage, it's a miraculous divine object. I didn't expect to encounter it here," Xiang'er said with obvious excitement in her voice.
"Oh, this Lin Xuan really had no idea. If you want it, just bid for it," Lin Xuan said, rubbing his forehead nonchalantly.
Xiang'er's face lit up with joy.
Was this senior truly unaware of the situation? Since Snow Lotus Fruit was so useful, the competition would surely be intense to the extreme.
Although she wasn't exactly short on resources, winning in such a competitive environment would still be difficult. After all, treasures like these could even attract the attention of Tribulation-Transcending Existences.
They might not need them themselves but giving them to disciples and apprentices would certainly earn much goodwill.
"How so? Worried about not having enough Soul Stones? No problem, I'll lend you some."
Lin Xuan was a shrewd cultivator. From her expression, he understood what she was troubled by.
"Lend me? Senior, are you serious?" Xiang'er's face lit up with joy, her eyes sparkling.
"Of course I am! Do you think Lin Xuan would deceive this little girl of yours?"
Lin Xuan said irritably but his eyes were full of amusement.
Actually, according to Lin Xuan’s original intention, he could have simply bought it and given it to Xiang'er. She was loyal to Yue'er, and Lin Xuan never stinted on gifts for those close to him.
He had intended to give her a big gift.
But if he did that, she would definitely refuse. A gift from someone else's mouth is easier to accept; in proving his identity, Xiang'er’s stubborn nature wouldn’t allow her to accept such kindness.
To avoid making things worse, Lin Xuan decided to use the lending method instead.
As long as he could find the Heart Cleansing Fruit later and clarify his identity, whether or not he returned these Soul Stones would be no issue.
Of course, this effort was unnecessary to mention. Xiang'er's face already showed great joy: "Thank you, senior."
It was clear that she really wanted to get Snow Lotus Fruit.
Lin Xuan smiled but didn't reveal anything further.
The auction began.
"Starting bid of two million Soul Stones, the highest bidder wins."
These words immediately sparked more discussions. The crowd seemed to explode again.
"What? Only two million Soul Stones? Did they make a mistake?"
"This is too low! Really Snow Lotus Fruit?"
"Don't worry; there can't be fake goods in Black Stone City's auction. At just two million Soul Stones, it's indeed absurdly cheap."
...
The discussions were louder than before. Lin Xuan’s face showed a hint of amusement. The auction was getting more interesting.
After all, the price an item could fetch had no necessary connection to its starting bid.
Sometimes, the lower the initial bid for a precious item, the higher the final price might be.
This wasn’t just idle talk; Lin Xuan had witnessed such scenarios firsthand.
For example, Snow Lotus Fruit was originally meant to be one of the last auction items. Instead, it was placed second and its starting bid was set so low. The organizers likely aimed for a surprise victory.
And indeed, this plan seemed quite good. The entire auction hall was nearly in an uproar.
With the starting bid announced, bidding voices began to rise.
"Two million five hundred thousand!"
"Three million."
...
"Thirty-one hundred thousand."
...
In just a short while, the price had more than doubled from its initial value.
But Lin Xuan’s face showed a smile. The participants were mostly Core Profound and Spirit Gathering Stage cultivators, who would only serve as background noise. They had no chance of obtaining Snow Lotus Fruit.
Xiang'er understood this too; although she was determined to get the treasure, she hadn't bid yet.
The time wasn’t right yet.
"Ten million!"
Suddenly, a deep voice echoed in his ears, and the once lively hall fell silent.
A two-million Soul Stone starting bid was indeed absurdly low. But doubling it five times would be beyond most cultivators’ means.
Higher-level existences finally started bidding.
The ghostly entities that had been calling out earlier now gaped in disbelief, their faces showing extreme disappointment.
Was Snow Lotus Fruit destined for them?
Before they could even think this, another bid came.
"One point two million."
Two million more Soul Stones in one breath, and the bidding was just beginning.
"One point five million."
"Two million!"
...
The first round of bids began. By now, Snow Lotus Fruit’s price had already increased tenfold from its initial value.
After a series of auctions, the price soared to thirty million Soul Stones.
This could be considered astronomical.
Only a few voices remained in the bidding; although Snow Lotus Fruit was rare and precious, this price was too exorbitant.
Even if it were Snow Lotus Pills, their success couldn’t be guaranteed. And even eating it directly had some effects but didn't justify such a high price.
PS: I really need your support for one more week. Please vote for recommendation tickets! Thank you so much!