Chapter 280 – Scream! Go Ahead and Scream!

“52,000!”

“55,000!”

“58,000!”

“60,000!”

“……”

After that, the price of the Ancient Blade Art Legacy continued to soar, breaking through 60,000 Contribution Points.

A complete Legacy was quite attractive to those Family factions, causing its price to keep rising.

“70,000!”

Su Ming also went all out, directly raising the bid by 10,000 Contribution Points, startling the receptionist beside him. Immediately after, the receptionist’s eyes lit up as he looked at Su Ming, as if gazing at a money tree.

Even the people in the auction hall were shocked by this sudden, fierce bid increase, and they began whispering among themselves.

“Which rich young master is this?”

“Tsk tsk, directly raising the bid by ten thousand—this is clearly someone who doesn’t lack Contribution Points at all.”

“And it shows he’s determined to win.”

“Judging by the voice, not only is he young, but it’s coming from one of those unassigned private rooms.”

“So, that means he’s not from one of the major Families?”

“But being able to access a private room on the Third Floor auction means he’s definitely not simple.”

“Anyway, we definitely can’t keep up. Let’s see if the major Families will continue bidding.”

Many people gave up on bidding amid such discussions.

Even the major Families in the private rooms fell silent, as if weighing the pros and cons.

Although it was a complete Legacy, the grade of this Legacy was still unknown. If they spent a huge sum to buy a Legacy that was useless to their Family, it would undoubtedly be a loss.

Thus, these major Families were also hesitating, unsure whether to continue bidding.

Under these circumstances, Qin Qing on the stage pursed her lips into a smile and spoke.

“Is there no young master with the courage to continue bidding?”

Her charming, sweet voice, combined with her suggestive words, first caused the entire hall to fall silent, then the atmosphere grew heated again.

“72,000!”

In the end, a bid came from one of the private rooms. The voice sounded somewhat fanatical.

“Damn it!”

Su Ming almost cursed aloud.

It was obvious that the bidder no longer cared about gains or losses and was completely provoked by Qin Qing.

What’s worse, someone seemed unwilling to back down, not wanting to lose face in front of Qin Qing, breaking their earlier hesitation and starting to bid again.

“A bunch of horny idiots!”

What could Su Ming do?

Keep bidding!

In the end, this Ancient Blade Art Legacy was sold to Su Ming for 88,000 Contribution Points.

“Contribution Points that just arrived…”

Su Ming looked at the “20,500” Contribution Points balance displayed on his Terminal, feeling that Contribution Points were spent too quickly.

The pile of alchemical weapons he had sold hadn’t even warmed his hands before he spent seventy to eighty percent of the earnings. It was ridiculous.

Fortunately, those alchemical weapons were just small profits. The real highlight was still the Xiong Wen.

At the very least, they were fine-grade items, and among the finest at that—alchemical weapons famous on the weapon rankings. Given the current trend, they should sell for a considerable price.

He hadn’t come away empty-handed.At the very least, the Ancient Blade Art Legacy was truly in his hands, which should greatly expand Su Ming’s combat techniques and enhance his capabilities as a Hunter.

Thinking this, the frustration from spending a large sum of money dissipated.

However…

“Next up is the second auction item, which is also quite interesting!”

Just then, Qin Qing’s voice resonated throughout the venue from the stage.

“This is a set of Body Tempering Alchemy Potions crafted by the renowned Alchemy Potion Master Zuo Guo of our Tianfeng City. According to the Appraiser’s evaluation, their quality has reached the premium tier. These are specialized potions for Hunters, effective even for Four-Star Hunters. They can improve physical training efficiency, activate the Bloodline, and provide significant assistance in advancing ranks.”

Qin Qing’s words once again ignited excitement across the entire venue.

Su Ming: “(⊙_⊙).”

Su Ming was stunned as well.

Alchemy Potions that enhance physical training efficiency, activate the Bloodline, and greatly aid in rank advancement?

And they’re effective even for Four-Star Hunters?

…Wasn’t he a Four-Star Hunter himself!?

In a daze, Su Ming envisioned the Contribution Points he had painstakingly earned by selling off all his possessions vanishing into thin air, drifting away from him.

Especially when he saw Qin Qing on stage, smiling gracefully and effortlessly setting the crowd ablaze with just a few words, inciting the wealthy young masters to excitedly shout out bids one after another, Su Ming’s vision darkened.

“This… who can I even complain to…!?”

One second later, Su Ming resolutely joined the fervent bidding war.

The second auction item ultimately sold for 75,000 Contribution Points, landing in Su Ming’s hands.

Not only did Su Ming successfully spend all his Contribution Points, but he also ended up tens of thousands of points in debt.

……

It must be said that the Third Floor auction truly lived up to its reputation.

Aside from the initial Ancient Blade Art Legacy and the set of Body Tempering Alchemy Potions, the subsequent auction items were also quite rare and valuable.

The starting bids for these items were at least 10,000 Contribution Points, with the highest even reaching 50,000 Contribution Points, leaving Su Ming cursing inwardly at the exorbitant prices.

The most terrifying part was that these items were all worth their value, tempting Su Ming multiple times later on. He couldn’t resist the impulse and placed several bids, exuding an Aura of “cutting off his hands after this trip.”

Unfortunately, in the subsequent rounds, Su Ming wasn’t as lucky. Each time he bid, others continued to raise the price beyond what he could afford, forcing him to reluctantly give up.

This further solidified Su Ming’s earlier conviction.

“Contribution Points are crucial. I must earn as many as possible.”

Just from this single auction, so many desirable items had appeared that even he couldn’t help but feel tempted. Su Ming believed that as he ventured through Tianfeng City in the future, he would inevitably encounter even more valuable resources that could aid him.

Even with his Golden Finger, the randomness of the loot still limited Su Ming to some extent, preventing him from freely enhancing his strength as he wished.

But in Tianfeng City, it was different.

Here, there were plenty of resources that could be used to improve one’s power.Today, there might be alchemical potions that enhance physical training efficiency and assist Four-Star Hunters in their advancement. Tomorrow, there could be valuable items beneficial even for Five-Star Hunters, Six-Star Hunters, and even Seven-Star Hunters.

As long as one has Contribution Points, all these valuable items can be acquired.

From now on, Su Ming’s purpose for earning Contribution Points would no longer be solely to accumulate chips for opening packages but also to purchase resources useful to himself.

Under such circumstances, the necessity of forming a team became even more critical.

With a team, Su Ming could earn Contribution Points more efficiently and operate more freely in Tianfeng City.

Moreover, items he obtained from opening packages that were of no use to him could also be sold in exchange for Contribution Points. Whether used to continue opening packages or to purchase resources, both options were viable.

Su Ming had already calculated everything meticulously, waiting only for the first round of startup funds to begin assembling his team.

Meanwhile, as auction items were gradually sold off, the auction Su Ming had long been anticipating finally arrived.

“The next auction item is something so rare that Wanbao Auction House has only handled it a few times.”

Accompanied by Qin Qing’s charming voice, a broadsword was brought onto the stage on a display stand.

“Is that…?”

Those who recognized it grew restless the moment they laid eyes on the broadsword.

“An alchemical weapon?”

Within the hall, many capable Hunters also showed keen interest.

Observing the reactions of the audience, Qin Qing smiled gracefully.

“Xiong Ren, ranked ninety-ninth on the Weapon Leaderboard. Verified by our auction house, its quality is confirmed as Premium, just a step away from Supreme. It has the effect of enhancing the user’s strength, making it the ultimate Sharp Weapon for strength-type Hunters.”

Qin Qing’s introduction first brought a moment of silence to the hall, followed by an uproar.

“That’s actually Xiong Ren?”

“Wasn’t that one of the Mo Family’s former heirlooms?”

“The one stolen decades ago by an exiled branch of the family?”

“Incredible, it’s actually returned to Tianfeng City?”

Many wore expressions of astonishment and surprise.

Even the scions of major Families in the private rooms were taken aback.

“Is this the legendary weapon from the Weapon Leaderboard that the Mo Family lost?”

“A Premium alchemical weapon?”

“A treasure just one step away from Supreme!”

“It seems the Mo Family will go mad over this.”

Some eyed it covetously, some chatted and laughed, and some took pleasure in the situation, all discussing animatedly, much like the crowd in the hall.

In one of the private rooms, a woman who had been sitting leisurely suddenly sprang to her feet.

“Xiong Ren has reappeared?!”

She was both shocked and overjoyed.

Beside her, a youth slightly younger than her also exclaimed with immense excitement.

“Sis! It’s Xiong Ren! Our Xiong Ren!”

The youth’s voice snapped the woman out of her daze of delight.

“We must acquire it!”

Without hesitation, she made the decision.

Not because it was a legendary weapon on the Weapon Leaderboard, but because it was Xiong Ren—a Family treasure that rightfully belonged to them.For their clan, the significance of Xiong Wu was extraordinary, incomparable to ordinary alchemy weapons.

Now that Xiong Wu had reappeared, if they failed to retrieve it, they would truly bring shame upon their Family.

“Get ready to make our move, Xiao Zhu.”

The woman immediately said this to the young man beside her.

“Understood, sis.”

The young man nodded without hesitation.

Qin Qing’s voice appropriately rang out once more.

“Fine-Grade Alchemy Weapon: Xiong Wu.”

“Starting bid: 70,000.”

“Bidding begins now.”

Though both were Fine-Grade items, as an alchemy weapon, Xiong Wu was far more precious than the previous set of Body Tempering Alchemy Potions, with its starting price nearly matching the latter’s final bid.

Yet there were plenty of bidders.

“75,000!”

“80,000!”

“85,000!”

“90,000!”

“92,000!”

Xiong Wu’s price skyrocketed, rising more dramatically than any previous auction item, nearly doubling in no time.

“100,000!”

Finally, with the appearance of a determined female voice, the first item in this auction to break 100,000 emerged.

Even so, there were still many bidders.

It couldn’t be helped—Fine-Grade alchemy weapons were rare even in Tianfeng City, let alone renowned weapons on the weapon rankings, making them the finest among Fine-Grade items.

Many years ago, most alchemy weapons on the weapon rankings were of this level. It wasn’t until more powerful Sharp Weapons were forged that Fine-Grade alchemy weapons were gradually phased out of the rankings.

Now, the alchemy weapons ranked in the top 80 were all Superior-Grade, while the top ten were of the highest quality Divine Grade, hailed as Sub-Divine Artifacts.

The remaining dozen or so lower-ranked alchemy weapons, though still Fine-Grade, had remained on the rankings without being removed, proving they were among the best of their grade, possessing power second only to Superior-Grade.

This caliber of alchemy weapon had passed through Wanbao Auction House only a handful of times, highlighting its rarity and value.

Now that one had finally appeared, even if this weapon had extraordinary ties to that Mo Family, many were eager to try their luck at acquiring it.

If successful, even a Six-Star Professional wielding this weapon could achieve a significant boost in combat power.

Thus, bidders emerged one after another.

“Bid! Bid all you want!”

In the private room, Su Ming watched the soaring bids, inwardly overjoyed and nearly beside himself.

For him, the higher Xiong Wu’s price, the better. Ideally, someone would get carried away and push it past a million, allowing him, a newcomer, to earn a million in a day and become a millionaire.

Su Ming fantasized like this, thoroughly enjoying the competitive scene before him.

Of course, breaking a million was just a pipe dream.

Treasures worth that much were likely few and far between across the entire world.

Xiong Wu was nearly at the bottom of the weapon rankings and couldn’t possibly exceed a million.

And so it was.

“500,000!”When the woman in the private booth spoke again with a tone of assured victory, the bidding in the auction hall finally ceased.

Qin Qing, who had previously leveraged her charm to raise bids for Xiong Wu several times, observed the crowd below. From their expressions, she could tell that this price had exceeded what most could afford.

500,000 Contribution Points—such a staggering sum was beyond the means of any individual. Only major Families, powerful factions, or large teams had the audacity to offer such a contribution value.

“Sold!”

Thus, Qin Qing decisively struck the gavel.

Xiong Wu, the divine weapon ranked ninety-ninth on the weapon leaderboard, was ultimately sold for five hundred thousand.

“It seems our startup funds are secured.”

Su Ming grinned, beaming with joy.

After Xiong Wu’s success, only one final item remained in the auction.

That closing item turned out to be a Hazardous Species Egg.

In the end, the egg fetched a final bid of 550,000 Contribution Points.

“Meow…”

Little Hai’er, who had witnessed the spectacle firsthand, grew somewhat despondent, requiring Su Ming to comfort her for quite some time.

With that, the auction concluded.

(End of Chapter)