novelraw Chapter 420: Can’t Take the Heat?
Chapter 420: Can’t Take the Heat?
“The final auction item—a starship capable of traversing the Starry Sky World—crafted by none other than the master artificer, Wu Ye Zi.
Ladies and gentlemen, you surely recognize Master Wu Ye Zi as one of the top ten artificers in the Southern Region. This starship, named Galaxy, is his magnum opus.
During its crafting, Master Wu Ye Zi even invited his close friend, the renowned array master, Void Daoist, to inscribe intricate formation patterns upon it.
Based on the auction house’s tests, the Galaxy surpasses standard starships by twenty percent in speed and doubles their defensive capacity.
Water Realm Auction House confidently declares that the Galaxy is a masterpiece born of two legendary masters!
Now, I announce the starting bid for the Galaxy starship: ten spirit jades!”
The auctioneer’s impassioned declaration reverberated through the hall.
A wave of excitement swept through the audience. Some even stood up from their seats, gazing at the magnificent starship behind the auction platform. Its body shimmered with a silver-white brilliance, adorned with countless intricate, arcane patterns.
Yu Zhao listened intently to the auctioneer’s introduction. She grasped the concept of a starship but was puzzled about the term “spirit jade.”
Realizing her unique position had already been exposed, she decided not to conceal her ignorance further. Instead, she asked directly, “What is a spirit jade?”The group of four—Feng Jiu Si and the others—were also captivated by the starship. Hearing Yu Zhao’s question, they paused, momentarily stunned.
It was Feng Jiu Si who responded first, a warm smile gracing his face. “Spirit jade originates from a rare type of mineral vein known as a jade mine. A single spirit jade contains the equivalent spiritual energy of ten thousand top-grade spirit stones.”
As he spoke, he flipped his palm, revealing a piece of jade about the size of his hand.
He passed the jade to Yu Zhao.
The moment her fingers brushed the spirit jade, an overwhelming surge of spiritual energy rushed into her body, causing her meridians to circulate automatically.
Yu Zhao was inwardly astonished.
No wonder Dao Lord Tai Wei once remarked that the Cultivation World was a nearly abandoned small world—its cultivation resources paled in comparison to those of other worlds.
Clutching the spirit jade, an audacious thought crept into her mind.
If spirit veins possessed spirit cores, could jade mines also have jade cores? If she could bring back jade cores to cultivate new jade veins in the Cultivation World, could this resolve the realm’s spiritual energy deficiency?
“Fifteen spirit jades!”
Yu Zhao’s musings were interrupted as Huo Shao Yan became the first to bid, his voice eager and urgent.
The other three remained silent, observing as Huo Shao Yan sparred against the competition. After several rounds, as the price incrementally slowed, they finally entered the fray.
The rest of the auction hall realized then that the previously quiet private booth contained not three people, but more.
The revelation prompted some to grumble internally—how could such affluent individuals cram into one booth without a shred of decorum?
Yu Zhao found herself intrigued by the starship.
With a star chart in hand, adding a starship would enable her to travel freely between minor worlds. However, she also understood that this was not her auction to join.
Not only was the price likely to spiral beyond her means, but her current weak cultivation level would make it impossible to safeguard the starship, especially without provoking suspicion or dissatisfaction from Feng Jiu Si’s group.
She chose instead to observe their bidding and discern their intentions.
“Fifty spirit jades!”
Huo Shao Yan, pushed to the brink, blurted out a high bid, only to immediately regret it. He scratched his head in frustration.
Tu Xiao frowned, displeased. “A starship’s usual price is thirty to forty spirit jades. What were you thinking, pushing it so high?”
“Because I wanted to! What’s it to you?” Huo Shao Yan snapped back. Though moments ago he was stomping with regret, his temper flared when scolded, leaving Tu Xiao fuming and ready to strike.
Despite the Earth Family already owning multiple starships, Tu Xiao yearned for one that was exclusively his. Yet starships were rare treasures even in the Medium Thousand World.
Crafting one took centuries, and the material costs were astronomical. Consequently, very few starships circulated in the market. Whenever one appeared, a fierce scramble ensued—let alone this masterpiece from a famed master.
Unwilling to let it slip away, Tu Xiao resumed bidding after a brief pause.
Huo Shao Yan, motivated by pride, matched his bids for two more rounds. But when the price exceeded sixty spirit jades, he wisely withdrew, recalling his family’s warning: overspending would earn him a harsh punishment.
Feng Jiu Si and Shui Qiu Bai, less attached to the starship, readily bowed out.
Just as Tu Xiao believed victory was at hand, Jin Yuan’s voice, infuriatingly smug, echoed from her booth.
“Sixty…” She deliberately paused, dragging it out before finishing, “…one spirit jade.”
“What the—!”
Tu Xiao froze, then erupted in curses, kicking over the table before him.
Jin Yuan had been silent throughout the earlier bidding. Everyone assumed the Jin Family wasn’t interested.
Who could have expected her to pounce now?
Yu Zhao’s lips curled in amusement. Jin Yuan had an unparalleled knack for causing chaos wherever she went.
Tu Xiao, too furious to deactivate his sound transmission stone, unintentionally broadcast his outburst to the entire hall.
“Young Master Tu, I am merely participating according to the auction rules. Why resort to insults? Can’t you handle losing?” Jin Yuan’s saccharine retort dripped with provocation.
Huo Shao Yan barely suppressed a laugh, only to freeze under Shui Qiu Bai’s murderous glare.
Tu Xiao’s rage surged, his eyes blazing. “Jin Yuan! You’re dead set on opposing me today? Fine! Sixty-five spirit jades! Let’s see if you dare top that!”
Everyone braced for a dramatic showdown, with the auctioneer visibly trembling from excitement.
But to their shock, Jin Yuan’s saccharine voice came again, full of mock pity.
“Young Master Tu, you misunderstand. I, too, admired this starship and merely wished to bid. But seeing how much it means to you, I shall graciously step aside. The prize is yours.”
Silence fell.
Tu Xiao felt as though he had punched cotton—his fury unable to find release.
The auctioneer, momentarily stunned, recovered enough to repeat the price. After three calls, he congratulated Tu Xiao on his “victory” with a professional smile.
Yet Tu Xiao could derive no joy from his win. He was simmering with frustration.
The moment the auction ended, he stormed into Jin Yuan’s booth, shoving aside those who tried to stop him.
He found the room empty—except for a table where a grin crafted from spiritual fruits mocked him.
“Jin Yuan! Pray I never see you again!” he bellowed.