Chapter 454: Qingfeng Compass (2-in-1)

The next second, Qiao Sang raised her bid directly:

“5 million.”

Yu Ke turned her head in astonishment.

Although 5 million wasn’t an exorbitant amount, the girl in front of her was too young, looking like an underage.

Even if her elders had given her the money, for a dark nether crystal, to directly add 2.4 million on the first bid—would she really not get beaten when she returned home?

The Auctioneer Tang Shu looked momentarily bewildered when she saw who raised the bid.

What the heck?

A school uniform?

Her professional composure allowed her to recover in 0.01 seconds. Tang Shu smiled and said, “Number 67, 5 million for the first time.”

Everyone subtly glanced at the girl who had just raised the bid, and tacitly refrained from raising their own bids.

Although an SS-grade dark nether crystal was rare, they could still obtain one with some time and effort.

Everyone present was a person of standing, and bidding against an underage junior in front of so many people would seem somewhat undignified.

Normally, some people would buy such an item for collection even if they didn’t need it, but today, no one made a move.

“Number 67, 5 million for the second time!”

Seeing no one else bid, Tang Shu said, “This dark nether crystal is SS-grade. Whether it’s the dark energy contained within or the integrity of its crystal surface, it’s something rarely seen on the market. If you miss this chance, who knows when you’ll encounter it again.”

Everyone exchanged glances, but still no one raised a bid.

No way, is no one going to contend with me? I can’t feel any of the joy of an auction… Although Qiao Sang was complaining, she felt relieved and quietly took a bite of the pastry Xiao Xunbao had just brought over.

“Number 67, 5 million for the third time!” Tang Shu brought down the hammer: “Congratulations to Number 67 for a successful bid!”

I got it! Qiao Sang was excited internally, but her expression remained calm, looking like she knew this would happen.

If Yu Ke was astonished before, she was now shocked.

An SS-grade dark nether crystal might not be worth 5 million, but anything above S-grade was too scarce, causing its value to be inflated every time it appeared. Normally, a dark nether crystal of this grade would be auctioned for around 7 million.

But today, no one actually bid?

Could it be that the family this person belonged to was extraordinary, and others gave them face by not bidding?

Thinking of this, Yu Ke’s gaze towards Qiao Sang instantly changed.

Soon, a Staff walked over.

Qiao Sang followed the Staff into a room.

After each auctioned item is sold, the buyer should immediately sign the “Auction Transaction Confirmation” and pay the full price and retrieve the item.

“Hello, that will be 5 million in total,” the Staff said respectfully.

Qiao Sang took out her black gold card.

The Staff froze.

…

Just as Qiao Sang was heading to the room to complete the procedures, in a VIP box above, a man with triangular eyes turned to the person next to him and asked:

“I remember your grandson has a Nightmare貘貘. Why didn’t you buy this dark nether crystal for him?”

The man next to him, who looked only in his thirties, took a sip of tea and said, “At this critical juncture, I don’t want to spend several million on a dark nether crystal.”

The triangular-eyed man fell silent. He knew what the other person meant by “this critical juncture.”

…

Qiao Sang was in a joyous mood after obtaining the dark nether crystal. She returned to the auction hall and felt time pass quickly.

Unbeknownst to them, the auction was nearing its end.

On stage, Tang Shu dramatically pulled back the red cloth on the cart and announced loudly, “Next, we have the grand finale item of our auction, the Qingfeng Compass!”

A silver compass, designed with three interlocking rings that could all rotate, appeared beneath the red cloth.

The moment this item appeared, Qiao Sang vaguely noticed that everyone present held their breath for a moment.

Yu Ke’s eyes widened, looking at the item on stage in disbelief.

No wonder everyone was so conservative with their bids after that initial Poison Thorn Earth Dragon egg!

It turned out that a Qingfeng Compass had actually appeared at this auction!

What is a Qingfeng Compass… Qiao Sang bit into a pastry, thinking that this item wasn’t even mentioned in the catalog.

Seeing the girl next to her still calm, Yu Ke finally couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “Why aren’t you reacting at all?”

Qiao Sang looked at her: “What reaction do I need?”

Yu Ke was shocked again: “This is a Qingfeng Compass!”

Qiao Sang was about to ask what a Qingfeng Compass was when Tang Shu on stage began her introduction:

“The Qingfeng Compass is a compass capable of finding Qingqingni. There are only 32 in the entire world, and this Qingfeng Compass is the one Master Yuan Yazhang once used.”

“As everyone knows, Qingqingni only exists in the 16th Secret Realm of the Hollow Region, and the 16th Secret Realm only opens once every thirty years.”

“There are only two years left until the 16th Secret Realm opens again. I believe everyone should be very interested in this compass that can find Qingqingni.”

Upon hearing the last sentence, everyone thought, ‘That’s a given, who wouldn’t be interested in a Qingfeng Compass?’

Items at the Mu Zhen Auction are kept confidential before the auction, but the people present were not ordinary. To attract more high-quality clients, the Mu Zhen Auction would release some information about auction items in advance.

Over 70% of the people present had already received news that the Qingfeng Compass would be auctioned, and most of them had come for this very reason.

Seeing everyone eager, Tang Shu smiled and announced, “The Qingfeng Compass, starting bid, 110 million!”

Holy cow, the starting bid is 110 million… Qiao Sang was greatly shocked. Although she didn’t recognize the Qingfeng Compass or Qingqingni, she recognized money!

Qiao Sang immediately took out her phone and searched for “Qingqingni,” wanting to find out what exactly this thing was.

“…” Yu Ke was utterly defeated. She never expected the girl in front of her to not only remain calm about the Qingfeng Compass but also start playing with her phone!

[Qingqingni, a legendary Fairy-type Beginner Pet from the Hollow Region, a darling of the wind. However, it is easily influenced by surrounding wind conditions: gentle breezes make it peaceful, while Typhoons make it irritable. In short, the stronger the wind, the more irritable its mood.]

[It loves to drift with the wind, and can pass through any tiny crevice like the wind.]

[It is said that the Yu Beast Master who contracts with it will also be favored by the wind.]

Qiao Sang instantly understood why the Qingfeng Compass’s starting bid was so expensive after reading the content on her phone.

Leaving everything else aside, the mere words “legendary” made it worth the price.

Others must be aiming to contract Qingqingni.

If given the chance to contract a legendary Pet, let alone 100 million, many would probably be willing to go bankrupt.

After all, with a legendary Pet, if one desired, there would be countless ways to make money, and the opportunity to encounter a legendary Pet might only come once in a lifetime.

Not to mention, the people of the Hollow Region, among land, sea, and air, loved the sky the most.

People here often rode on Pets to fly in the sky. Contracting Qingqingni and being favored by the wind would double their safety factor when in the air.

However, no matter how good this item was, it had nothing to do with her. Some things were most feared when you had the money to buy them but not the life to use them… Qiao Sang put down her phone.

At this moment, the price had already been called up to 370 million.

“Are you not interested in the Qingfeng Compass?” Yu Ke, having been rebuffed twice, didn’t give up and asked in a low voice.

She hadn’t forgotten her purpose for being here: to socialize!

The girl in front of her seemed extraordinary in every way, 100% from some prominent family. Getting on her good side was definitely the right move!

“I am interested,” Qiao Sang said.

Yu Ke was somewhat unconvinced: “Then why do you show no reaction at all?”

You were even playing with your phone just now! Of course, she didn’t say that out loud.

Qiao Sang said, “Perhaps I’m just very good at controlling my facial expressions.”

Yu Ke’s mouth twitched slightly, and she tried to continue the conversation: “I wonder who will bid for the Qingfeng Compass.”

Qiao Sang thought for a moment and said seriously, “It should be someone with a strong enough background who isn’t afraid of being robbed.”

Yu Ke paused, then laughed wryly: “How could it be robbed? This is the Mu Zhen Auction!”

“What’s wrong with the Mu Zhen Auction?” Qiao Sang asked, puzzled.

Yu Ke said with a knowing tone:

“This is your first time attending the Mu Zhen Auction; your family must have forgotten to tell you that every item at the Mu Zhen Auction is cursed by a Cursed Night Spirit. Besides the person who successfully bids on the item, anyone else who obtains an auctioned item through illegal means will be cursed and die a violent death.”

“What?” Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned: “Is there no way to lift the curse?”

Yu Ke laughed:

“Why do you think the Mu Zhen Auction is so famous? The Cursed Night Spirit behind this curse has lived for at least a hundred years, and its cursing proficiency is definitely at the Profound Level, no doubt. Unless a Pet appears that is stronger than the Cursed Night Spirit and also possesses cleansing skills like ‘Purify’ that can lift curses, even a slightly weaker one might suffer a backlash.”

“Even if a Pet happened to have a cleansing skill like ‘Purify’ trained to the Profound Level, it wouldn’t dare to try easily.”

“You have to know, this is a Cursed Night Spirit that has lived for over a hundred years. Who can guarantee 100% success in lifting the curse without suffering a backlash?”

Qiao Sang was silent for a few seconds, then hypothesized:

“If, I mean if, if someone paid someone else to steal an auctioned item, and then obtained the item through that intermediary, would anything happen?”

Why would an underage person think so much? Could she be planning to do just that… Yu Ke paused, then subtly shifted her seat further away and said:

“Besides the person who successfully bids on the item, anyone who obtains an auctioned item through illegal means will be cursed, no matter how many hands it passes through.”

At this point, she felt a bit uneasy and emphasized, “Anyone!”

Oh my goodness! What have I missed… Upon hearing this, Qiao Sang deeply regretted being too cautious earlier and not bidding on that pile of treasures!

“Number 255, 567 million for the second time!” At this moment, the auctioneer’s voice reached her ears.

Qiao Sang seemed to suddenly realize something, and vigorously raised her bid: “600 million!”

Yu Ke: “!!!”

This tender voice caught the remaining few bidders off guard. Everyone turned their heads sharply, then saw the underage person in a school uniform.

Everyone: “???”

Everyone present was stunned, including Tang Shu on stage.

“Whose child is this? Don’t they have an elder to manage her?”

“I haven’t seen that school uniform before. It doesn’t seem to be from one of the capital’s top ten high schools.”

“That bid shouldn’t count, right.”

For a moment, everyone stirred.

Before Tang Shu could regain control, a voice came from a VIP box: “610 million.”

“620 million.” Qiao Sang followed closely.

“Is no one going to manage this? Should we verify funds first? Otherwise, if prices are just called out randomly, and then parents are called to pay, what if the parents don’t acknowledge it?” Someone in the hall complained.

Tang Shu was silent for a moment, just about to speak.

At this moment, the Staff’s voice came through her earpiece: “The auction continues. This child is holding a black gold card from the Federal Ding Shi Bank.”

Tang Shu: “!!!”

“Number 67, 620 million, once!” Tang Shu announced loudly.

This… everyone fell silent. Looking at the auctioneer’s attitude, could this child really afford that much money?

“Number 67, 620 million, twice!”

“630 million.” The voice from the original bidding VIP box spoke again.

“700 million.” Qiao Sang raised her bid.

“710 million.”

“800 million.”

“Number 67, 800 million, once!” Tang Shu’s face was flushed with excitement.

The VIP box fell silent.

“Number 67, 800 million, twice!”

“810 million.” The voice from the VIP box spoke again.

Qiao Sang raised her bid without hesitation: “900 million.”

Everyone’s minds went blank.

The minimum bidding increment at the Mu Zhen Auction was 500,000. Who would directly add 90 million?!

Ahhh! How much is the commission on 900 million! Tang Shu’s expression was ecstatic, as if she could hear her own heart pounding furiously.

“Number 67, 900 million, once!”

“Number 67, 900 million, twice!”

“Number 67, 900 million, thrice!”

Tang Shu brought the auction hammer down heavily: “Congratulations to Number 67 for winning the grand finale item of our auction!”

Commotion erupted.

Qiao Sang, led by a Staff, entered the room for signing the confirmation and collecting the auctioned item.

Everyone waited at the main entrance of the building, not leaving.

Everyone had different expressions; they still couldn’t believe that an underage person, without an elder’s accompaniment, could produce so much money.

Was I just sitting with someone extraordinary… I spoke so much, it wouldn’t be too much to ask for contact information, right… Which family’s direct descendant is she, after all… At the main entrance, Yu Ke kept peeking inside, her expression tense.

Meanwhile, Qiao Sang, under Xiao Xunbao’s Space Movement, was already riding on Yabao, flying back to the hotel.

…

Mo Ting Hotel.

900 million, if I didn’t have an unlimited card, I’d probably have to think for half a day even for 90,000… Qiao Sang sat on the bed, stared at the Qingfeng Compass for a while, then casually put it aside, and then her consciousness entered the yu beast codex.

Ten seconds later, Qiao Sang’s consciousness returned to reality. She opened her eyes, carefully opened the box containing the dark nether crystal, and looked at Xiao Xunbao:

“Xiao Xunbao, come here.”

“Xun~”

Xiao Xunbao, hearing her Yu Beast Master, put the ant back into the ring and obediently floated over.

Qiao Sang placed the dark nether crystal in front of it and said seriously, “It’s time for you to evolve.”

“Xun…”

Xiao Xunbao froze for a moment, looked at the dark nether crystal, then at its Yu Beast Master, then at the dark nether crystal again, and then back at its Yu Beast Master, before instantly bursting into tears.

“Xiao Xunbao!”

The next second, Xiao Xunbao pounced into Qiao Sang’s arms.

“What’s wrong with you?” Qiao Sang looked utterly bewildered.

“Xiao Xunbao!”

“Xiao Xunbao!”

Xiao Xunbao cried out twice.

It just realized that the item bought tonight was for its evolution!

It felt so useless to need an item to evolve! Unlike Big Brother Yabao and Luobao, they didn’t need anything!

Qiao Sang: “…”

Qiao Sang explained, “Many Pets need items to evolve. Evolving with an item doesn’t mean you’re useless. Many Pets that evolve with items are more powerful than those that evolve naturally.”

“Xiao Xunbao?”

Xiao Xunbao looked up, sniffing.

Really?

Qiao Sang smiled: “Of course.”

“Xiao Xunbao!”

Xiao Xunbao’s eyes instantly gleamed with fervor.

It was finally going to reclaim its position as second oldest!

Qiao Sang: “…”

Xiao Xunbao extended its paw towards the dark nether crystal in the box.

The moment Xiao Xunbao touched the dark nether crystal, a bright white light filled the room.

There’s one more chapter missing, which will be added tomorrow.