Douluo Continent: Steadily Growing Stronger in Shrek Academy

Chapter 281 A Boring Auction

"We've trained 100 female slaves like this at our auction house, which is ten groups. So, the top ten bidders can each take one group," Qingning added.

"The auction begins! Guests may place their bids in two different ways!" With the hammer down, Qingning once again announced the start of the auction.

Soon, people started making bids.

"I'll provide thirty able-bodied men," said a greasy middle-aged man.

With the first one taking the lead, the other nine bidders quickly followed suit, raising their number paddles.

Since there was more than one item being auctioned, all nine bidders submitted their bids at the starting price. Strangely, all nine bidders used able-bodied men from their families to participate in the auction.

For them, losing thirty able-bodied men in their clan or sect wouldn't have much of an impact, and they could still operate normally; but for the auction house, or even the Heavenly Soul Empire, this would suddenly add three hundred able-bodied men to their workforce, which would be very worthwhile.

These women are of little use in the war, and even if they were, they wouldn't be as useful as men, so this deal is very worthwhile for them.

This is also in line with the plan for this auction.

"Disgusting!" Qian Renxue's voice was icy cold.

"Sister Renxue, these are things we can't change," Lin Chen said.

Although Lin Chen's strength is now arguably the greatest in the world, there are still some things that he cannot change.

Qian Renxue didn't speak again, but she still stared at the light screen inside Lin Chen's spiritual sea with disgust.

With bidders, there will naturally be those who raise the price.

"Thirty-two able-bodied men!" shouted a greasy man with a Mediterranean head of hair.

"I'll put up thirty-fourth," said another bald man missing a front tooth.

"Thirty-second place!" said a man with a receding hairline that almost reached the top of his head and a row of yellow teeth, with a lewd smile on his face, making his extremely yellow teeth clearly visible.

Seeing the various offers appear before her eyes, Qing Ning smiled happily.

The higher the bid, the more money she gets; auctioneers' salaries are usually a percentage of the auctioned item's final price.

Ultimately, the first item was successfully sold to ten bidders. Although it did not bring any monetary value, it directly provided the Heavenly Soul Empire with more than three hundred able-bodied men, making it a worthwhile deal.

"The following is the second item."

A staff member came up and handed Qing Ning a metal disc that was about one centimeter thick.

"Soul Guidance Array Plate! This array plate is a level six soul tool, with technology originating from the Sun Moon Empire. It can be used not only for individual self-defense but also to create a protective shield on one's own family or sect's territory, with an effect equivalent to the defense of several Soul Emperors. Starting bid: 50,000 gold soul coins, or ten strong men! Ten lots in total, highest bidder wins!" After the introduction, Qing Ning directly stated the starting price.

"It seems that the Heavenly Soul Empire has more than one item up for auction this time!" Lin Chen said.

"Yes, the royal family has really gone to great lengths to send more people to fight the Sun Moon Empire. All those soul tools that they were reluctant to use before are now being put to use," Zhou Lin said.

At his level, he knows a lot of information.

Ultimately, this auction item sent about two hundred able-bodied men to the Heavenly Soul Empire.

The auction proceeded smoothly, with prices rising higher and higher. One of the level-eight fixed-position soul-guided cannon shells instantly brought thousands of able-bodied men to the Heavenly Soul Empire.

For some large families or sects, these people still exist.

In their eyes, these people were not as important as this level-eight fixed-position soul-guided cannon shell, so they handed it over to the Heavenly Soul Empire without hesitation.

Even without them, the sect can continue to operate. Just like when Lao Ma laid off staff to the point of exhaustion, the company was still running as usual the next day, and its efficiency did not decrease at all.

"The next item to be auctioned is a thousand level-six soul tools and sealed baby bottles. I believe the baby bottles are of little use to me and have always been in short supply on the battlefield. The starting price is ten million gold soul coins, and each bid must be at least two million gold soul coins."

Everyone present fell silent instantly.

Good heavens, how is this any different from asking for an exorbitant price?

"Or, you can exchange five thousand able-bodied men for these one thousand milk bottles! Note that there are only two of these items available for auction. Just like the previous level eight fixed-position soul-guided cannon shells, the auction house doesn't have any more to offer."

This time, there was still silence. Exchanging five thousand able-bodied men for a baby bottle was really not worth it, but it was something they needed to consider carefully, even for large families.

While everyone remained silent, Zhou Lin slowly raised the number plate in his hand.

"Ten million gold soul coins!"

For him, the most important thing now is to protect the Zhou family. As for money, that's the last thing they have to lack.

Seeing Zhou Lin bid, another person raised their bidding paddle.

"Ten million gold soul coins!"

Lin Chen recognized the person opposite him immediately; it was none other than the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, which he had saved earlier.

The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School is one of the few sects that has such confidence.

"I'd like to ask, if the starting price for the same item is the same, does the person who offers their head or the person who offers their money get priority?" At this moment, a burly man's voice rang out throughout the room.

His voice was extremely loud, and everyone present could hear it clearly; it was obvious that he had used his soul power to amplify it.

Qing Ning remained unfazed and said, "If all the items are at their reserve price, then those who use able-bodied men to participate in the bidding have priority in obtaining them."

Hearing her say this confirmed some people's suspicions.

This auction was nothing short of human trafficking, exchanging people for goods. As a result, many members of small and medium-sized sects and families left one after another.

"Hahaha, that makes things easier. My Black Tiger Gang has no shortage of men; I'll provide five thousand strong men!"

"Alright, now this esteemed guest is offering five thousand able-bodied men in exchange for this item. According to the rules, he has priority in acquiring it. The two esteemed guests who just paid for the auction need to continue bidding to determine the final owner of this item." Qing Ning's voice rang out, her arm first reaching towards Lin Chen and the others, and then turning to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School's private room.

Zhou Lin smiled slightly and said, "Fifteen million gold soul coins."

"Alright, fifteen million gold soul coins. Would the other VIP in the private room like to join?"

Ning Feng'er smiled slightly and said, "Twenty million gold soul coins."

On this continent, if we're talking about who's the richest, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School is second to none.

"Ten thousand!"