NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36: Chapter 36: The Trade Fair
The streets were bustling with cultivators pouring out from all sides, regaining the vibrancy and noise of the previous day. Following behind Senior Zhao Ming, Zhang Hao weaved through the crowd, heading towards the auction venue.
At that moment, a figure slowly levitated from the distance. Zhang Hao looked up to see a man in his thirties, dressed in luxurious attire. His ascent into the sky was enough to draw anyone's attention.
When the man reached a height of a hundred zhang, he stopped. Facing the crowd below, he spoke loudly, "Esteemed cultivators who have traveled far, it is an honor for Qingchuan Sect to host our annual trade fair. I am Qing Yihe, the 20th generation leader of Qingchuan Sect, and on behalf of the sect, I welcome you all."
Qing Yihe must have used some sort of sound amplification technique, as his voice rolled out across the open space, capturing the attention of everyone present.
Zhang Hao was awestruck by the spectacle; it was his first time witnessing the leader of Qingchuan Sect in person. He speculated that Qing Yihe, the leader, was a cultivator at the Orifice Opening stage.
"Brother Zhang Hao, this is our leader. He's rarely seen, even I have only met him a few times," Zhao Ming introduced Qing Yihe with a hint of reverence.
"What does the leader usually do, and what is his cultivation level?" Zhang Hao was very curious about this leader, especially his abilities and cultivation.
"I'm not entirely sure, but from what the elders have said, he's either in seclusion or dealing with sect affairs. As for his cultivation, it's been rumored that he was at the half-step Golden Core stage many years ago, and his current strength remains a mystery."
"But within our entire Zhou Kingdom, the leader's strength is undoubtedly among the top, second only to those old demons who have been cultivating for decades."
Qing Yihe continued with the rules for the auction, delivering a familiar speech before concluding, "The trade fair is about to begin, and I wish you all great success."
With those words, he slowly descended and vanished into a towering pavilion. The quiet crowd burst into noise once more, with most people heading in the same direction—the auction venue.
Zhang Hao's purpose for attending the trade fair was twofold: to seek cultivation resources and to earn some spiritual stones, with the auction being the best place to exchange for spiritual stones.
Although Zhang Hao didn't have any valuable items for trade, he was filled with an inexplicable confidence.
"After all, I'm a college student with a half-understood grasp of business tactics. I don't believe I can't handle these old-timers," he thought to himself, referencing business giants like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.
Upon arriving at the auction venue, he saw the three large doors wide open. Zhang Hao estimated that nearly two thousand people had come to participate in the trade fair, the majority of whom were fellow sect members and outsiders.
As Zhang Hao entered the venue, he realized it was much larger than it appeared from the outside, easily accommodating over a thousand people.
"This is a spatial array! It surprised you, didn't it?" Zhao Ming laughed, explaining the vastness.
Zhang Hao was taken aback.
"It's a high-level array that requires a master array master to set up, and the materials needed are hard to come by. It was deliberately constructed by a former leader of Qingchuan Sect years ago."
Looking around, the auction venue resembled a fan-shaped depression, with rows of stone steps descending, and at the bottom, a circular auction platform.
As the crowd poured in, people began to take their seats on the steps.
Zhang Hao and Zhao Ming chose the last row of steps and sat down, waiting quietly.
Soon, the auction venue filled up.
"Welcome to Qingchuan Sect's annual trade fair. I am the auctioneer, Zhao Ling'er, and the items for auction today are very rich…" Zhang Hao looked around to see the enchanting figure of the auctioneer, Zhao Ling'er, standing on stage. She was dressed in a low-cut, tight red dress that accentuated her curves, with long hair cascading down like a waterfall, exuding a seductive charm.
Zhao Ling'er's voice was as clear as a silver bell, echoing through the venue. "This auction will present many rare magical tools and cultivation resources. I believe everyone will go home satisfied."
Many participants couldn't take their eyes off Zhao Ling'er, whose figure was outlined enticingly by her tight dress, with eyes wandering towards her ample bosom.
"Buyers, if you see something you like, just shout out your bid. As usual, 10 lower-grade spiritual stones equal 1 mid-grade spiritual stone, and 10 mid-grade spiritual stones equal 1 higher-grade spiritual stone. The first 5 bids start at 5 lower-grade spiritual stones, and after that, you can bid freely…"
"No way! There are grades of spiritual stones? What about the ones I have?" Zhang Hao panicked and took out the spiritual stones from his pocket.
A total of 7 stones.
"For an auction, is this a bit too little…" Zhang Hao felt a bit uncertain.
Noticing Zhang Hao's panic, Zhao Ming pointed to one of the spiritual stones and said, "Look, this is a higher-grade spiritual stone."
Zhang Hao examined the spiritual stone indicated by Zhao Ming closely. It was noticeably more translucent than the others, radiating a faint glow and emanating a rich spiritual energy.
"1…2…3. Only 3 mid-grade spiritual stones! And only one higher-grade spiritual stone. Li Bao and Lin Yue, these two rascals! They're both poor as well!" Zhang Hao gritted his teeth.
Zhang Hao's current assets total: 133 lower-grade spiritual stones.
Zhang Hao:"..."