NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25 - Encountering the Protagonist Ahead of Time
The auction had already begun. Jun Jiuxiao showed no interest in the initial items, preferring to quietly enjoy Ji Lanqing’s service as she massaged his shoulders and back, her subtle fragrance lingering in the air.
Suddenly, 2233’s voice echoed in Jun Jiuxiao’s mind, 【Host, the male protagonist has been detected.】
Jun Jiuxiao opened his eyes and followed 2233’s guidance, spotting a figure dressed entirely in black robes in the main hall.
He had expected to wait until the disciples of the affiliated sects joined the outer sect before encountering the male protagonist, but unexpectedly, attending this auction provided an early meeting.
Jun Jiuxiao thought to himself, It’s quite fitting to encounter the male protagonist at an auction; after all, male protagonists are always finding hidden treasures at these events.
Using his spiritual sense, Jun Jiuxiao scanned the male protagonist. The guy looked rather ordinary, utterly unremarkable. What do all those female leads see in him?
Thinking about how Ji Lanqing was also one of the male protagonist’s harem members, Jun Jiuxiao felt a surge of irritation. He wanted to torment the male protagonist, making him wish for death rather than life.
“Send me the information on the male protagonist,” Jun Jiuxiao ordered, his tone devoid of emotion.
I should get to know this male protagonist better. Only by understanding him can I truly make him suffer. Killing him outright would be too easy.
Killing someone directly was the greatest mercy Jun Jiuxiao could show to his enemies.
Lin Chen, the male protagonist of a harem novel, was a waste unable to cultivate before the age of eighteen. Then he acquired a ring left by his mother, inside which resided an old master. This was the start of his journey to flaunt and face-slap his way to the top.
Along the way, beautiful master teachers, cold sect leaders, and aloof saintesses all fell under his charm.
The male protagonist’s golden finger was undoubtedly the old master inside the ring. His mother was probably from some powerful faction, Jun Jiuxiao mused, fully aware of the familiar trope.
He couldn’t comprehend how the male protagonist’s mother, a proud and exalted woman, fell for a small-family-born commoner like his father.
Ah, women in love often act irrationally; it’s something Jun Jiuxiao couldn’t understand and was too lazy to ponder further.
He directed his spiritual sense into the ring on the male protagonist’s hand, scanning the so-called golden-finger old master. Before he died, this master was merely at the Holy King realm; being dead, he couldn’t cause any significant trouble.
Jun Jiuxiao didn’t consider the male protagonist’s golden finger a threat. In the Xuantian Holy Land, the Holy King realm isn’t uncommon; there are at least hundreds of them. With a mere breath, he could kill him.
Oh, almost forgot; this ring’s old master is supposed to be an alchemist, right? Should I disable this skill of his?
Forget it. The male protagonist needs the assistance of pills to advance his cultivation and maintain a glimmer of hope. If he loses hope so easily, I’ll just be playing with him until he loses the will to live. If he kills himself, that would be too easy.
Having reviewed the male protagonist’s information, he had already devised a series of plans for him in his mind.
Jun Jiuxiao opened his eyes again, wearing a gentle smile. This smile sent a shiver down 2233’s circuits. It had observed that whenever the host smiled like this, someone was bound to be in trouble.
2233 then turned its mental gears, trying to mimic Jun Jiuxiao’s smile, secretly vowing that it would learn all these traits from the host. Someday, it would be as formidable as Jun Jiuxiao.
However, 2233 was unaware of the concept of “Monkey See, Monkey Do” from Blue Planet, where imitating something beyond one’s grasp could be counterproductive.
Jun Jiuxiao’s power was based on his unparalleled strength and intelligence, not just a gentle smile.
The auction had now reached its climax, and the items up for bidding were of significant value.
Jun Jiuxiao waved his hand, gesturing for Ji Lanqing to sit beside him.
The auctioneer was a mature and alluring woman, dressed in attire resembling a qipao from Blue Planet, but much more revealing. The low neckline exposed a vast expanse of creamy skin, and the slit ran up to her thigh, offering tantalizing glimpses of what lay beneath.
In front of a beautiful woman, men’s brains often become impulsive, which is why auctioneers are typically sexy and enchanting beauties, arousing men’s desires.
As their passions were kindled, their intelligence naturally dwindled.
A server brought out a box, and the mature woman opened it to reveal the contents, announcing, “This is a Breaking Mirror Pill for the Spirit Transformation Realm. It offers cultivators at the peak of Nascent Soul realm a chance to break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm.”
“Verified by the appraisers of Fu’an Chamber of Commerce, it’s classified as a mid-grade Breaking Mirror Pill with a 50% success rate. Even if one fails to break through, it still imparts profound insights into the Spirit Transformation Realm.”
The cultivators below buzzed with excitement. Breaking Mirror Pills were typically reserved for disciples of major sects and noble families. Those with exceptional talent didn’t need them.
Only those with strong backgrounds but lacking talent could obtain such pills. Each one was precious, with demand far exceeding supply, making them incredibly rare and valuable, especially as a mid-grade pill.
Some cultivators silently vowed to acquire this pill, even if it meant selling everything they owned.
The mature woman didn’t leave them in suspense for long, seductively announcing, “The starting bid is ten thousand spirit stones, with a minimum increment of one hundred spirit stones. The auction begins now.”
Upon hearing the price, the ordinary people in the main hall on the first floor gave up, with only a few attempting to bid.
“Eleven thousand spirit stones.” A middle-aged man at the peak Nascent Soul stage on the first floor was the first to speak.
Others quickly followed with their bids.
“Twelve thousand spirit stones.”
“Fifteen thousand spirit stones.”
“Eighteen thousand spirit stones.”
“Twenty thousand spirit stones.”
Jun Jiuxiao had no interest in this pill and did not participate in the auction.
Suddenly, the male protagonist spoke up, “Twenty-five thousand spirit stones.” He increased the bid by five thousand spirit stones, signaling his determination to secure it.
The people present who wanted the Breaking Mirror Pill didn’t have that many spirit stones.
Those who had that many spirit stones didn’t care for the Breaking Mirror Pill.
Thus, it was highly likely that the male protagonist would win the pill.
The mature woman saw that no one else made a bid and concluded that twenty-five thousand spirit stones was a good price. She said, “Twenty-five thousand spirit stones once.”
“Twenty-five thousand spirit stones twice.”
“Twenty-five thousand spirit stones three times.”
“Since there are no further bids…”
Before the woman could finish, Jun Jiuxiao’s lazy voice interrupted, “Twenty-five thousand one hundred spirit stones.”
Jun Jiuxiao, initially disinterested, became curious when he saw the male protagonist’s bid. He suspected that the pill might be unusual.
Using his spiritual sense to scan the pill, he discovered that while the outer layer was indeed a Breaking Mirror Pill, the actual contents was a Refining Bone Pill.
The value of a Refining Bone Pill was at least fifty times higher than that of a Breaking Mirror Pill. Those in the private rooms on the second floor, knowing it was a Refining Bone Pill, would be desperate to snatch it up.
A Breaking Mirror Pill could only help a peak Nascent Soul cultivator break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm with only a 50% chance. Major sects and families had no shortage of pills and could easily advance to the Spirit Transformation Realm without needing a mid-grade Breaking Mirror Pill.
In contrast, a Refining Bone Pill could be used to refine one’s foundation and enhance talent. Increasing one’s talent might break through limits and advance a significant realm, making it extremely valuable and rare, not something one would sell.
Who among those in the private rooms on the second floor didn’t have a nephew, disciple, or descendant? Who wouldn’t want this pill?
Jun Jiuxiao himself had no use for it, but he bid to prevent the male protagonist from obtaining it and also to give it to Ji Lanqing.
The male protagonist, initially pleased that the pill was almost within reach, was frustrated when the second-floor private room made a bid that only increased by a hundred spirit stones, causing his anger. He had no choice but to continue bidding.
“Twenty-six thousand spirit stones.”
“Twenty-six thousand one hundred spirit stones.” Jun Jiuxiao again only increased the bid by a hundred spirit stones.
While the first instance might be considered a coincidence, making a bid just a hundred spirit stones more for the second time was pure humiliation.
Everyone wondered why this man in black on the first floor was provoking the Xuantian Holy Son.
Some opportunists secretly prepared to capture the man in black and present him to the Xuantian Holy Son, hoping to gain favor with him.
Ji Lanqing thought, This man in black looks disgusting. It’s right for the Holy Son to dislike him; I find him repulsive too.
Ji Lanqing was gradually sliding down the path of a blackened and yandere character.