System Auction Shop, I'll sell out across all realms!

The reaction of Li Xuanqing, the head of the Li family, was even more direct.

He was writing in his study at the time.

Upon hearing the news, the pen tip struck the paper, leaving an egg-shaped mark, ruining the entire piece of calligraphy.

"What a pity!"

His Li family ranked second among the four major families.

We have plenty of money, but what we lack are these kinds of rare and valuable items that are hard to find.

Now that a mercenary group has beaten him to it, the frustration he feels is no less than that of the Xiao family.

Finally, Li Xuanqing's face darkened, and he said in a deep voice:

"Prepare the spirit stones. I will personally attend the auction in five days."

……

Zhao Tiankuo, the head of the Zhao family, showed no mercy whatsoever.

He was practicing his boxing in the yard when he heard the news. He stopped his stance, wiped his sweat, and laughed:

"Those old fogies in the Xiao family are truly useless."

"Even with the elders present, a bunch of brutes managed to steal the prize. There's a reason why the Xiao family has declined."

After saying that, he shook his head, and his smile slowly faded.

With the acquisition of a Tier 3 top-grade spirit sword, the Mad Lion Mercenary Group's strength has greatly increased.

Their status in the city is likely to change in the future.

Those mercenary gangs, those desperate thugs, never dared to challenge the four major families, no matter how arrogant they were before.

Now that they have a Tier 3 top-tier item in their hands, who knows what they might do?

The four families were surprisingly united in their attitudes.

It's unbelievable that a small, newly established auction house could produce such a treasure.

He also regretted not sending anyone to keep an eye on things today, letting the Mad Lion Mercenary Group get a huge advantage for nothing.

And there was also a hint of secret joy!

As one of the four great families, the Xiao family has lost face big time this time.

With the elder present, a group of mercenaries still managed to steal the items. Where did they put their face?

The Xiao family is declining more and more. This used to be something people talked about in private, but now it's something they can probably say openly.

The three companies made their decisions at almost the same time:

Five days later, I went to that auction house in person to take a look.

If there's something really good, we have to get it.

We can't let scum like the Mad Lion Mercenary Group get away with this again.

We can't let good-for-nothings like the Xiao family occupy positions without contributing anything.

……

At this moment, the city lord's mansion presents a completely different scene.

The mansion was completely silent; even the servants standing under the eaves held their breath.

Inside the council hall, City Lord Liu Cang sat in the main seat.

Without saying a word, he rested his fingers on the armrest and tapped them lightly, one tap at a time.

Below the hall, the steward, bowing low, had already repeated what he had just said twice.

Seeing that the city lord did not react, he did not dare to say anything more and just bowed and waited.

Liu Cang did hear it.

They were terrified!

A top-grade Tier 3 spirit sword?

He was the only one in the entire Xuantian City to possess such a thing.

That was passed down from the previous city lord; it is the city's most prized possession and is never shown to the public lightly.

Nowadays, a newly opened auction house can easily put things up for sale.

Are you kidding me?

So, the owner of that auction house must have at least some items even better than Tier 3 top-grade items.

Otherwise, who would dare to put such a treasure as an ordinary auction item?

If a normal person were to obtain such a treasure, wouldn't they hide it away, afraid that others would find out?

But this person put such a treasure up for auction?

Either he has a problem with his brain.

Either they simply don't care.

It now seems more likely that the second possibility exists.

After all, cultivators are nourished by spiritual energy every day, so how could their minds possibly be flawed?

When did such a person arrive in Xuantian City?

Countless thoughts flashed through Liu Cang's mind.

Which major sect sent them?

There is an even wider world beyond the Great Yan Dynasty.

It's perfectly normal for disciples from major sects to carry several high-level magic treasures when they go out for training.

Or is it a member of some reclusive family who has come out to make a name for himself?

Or perhaps it's a pawn planted in Xuantian City by some powerful force?

……

Regardless of the type, none of them are people that a mere city lord like him can afford to offend.

Liu Cang has been in this position for twenty years and has seen too many people and too many things.

Those who are arrogant and domineering never end up well.

Those who bully others by relying on their power will eventually run into trouble.

He's been able to sit comfortably in his position until today thanks to just two words:

Knowing what's good for you.

Know who you can mess with and who you can't.

Knowing when to be firm and when to be soft.

A person who can casually take out a top-grade third-tier spirit sword for auction.

This is the kind of person Liu Cang absolutely cannot afford to offend!

He was merely an official sent by the Great Yan Dynasty to manage this city.

Why risk your life for such a meager monthly salary?

Moreover, his cultivation level wasn't top-notch, and his background wasn't particularly strong.

The reason they survived is because of their cautious and prudent approach over the years, never offending anyone.

He can't afford to offend this kind of person, nor does he want to.

Liu Cang's fingers stopped, and he spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable composure:

"Prepare all the spirit stones for the auction in five days. I'll go and see it in person."

The steward paused for a moment, then looked up at the city lord.

This doesn't seem like you...

Shouldn't the city lord act like the boss and make that person pay protection money?

However, he didn't dare to ask any more questions, and the steward quickly lowered his head.

He replied "yes" and left.

Silence returned to the council chamber.

Liu Cang leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and began to tap the armrests lightly with his fingers again.

……

At this moment, the spacious hall of the Zhutian Auction House was completely empty.

The white jade chairs were neatly arranged, and the moonstone emitted a cool glow, illuminating the entire hall as bright as day.

There were only three people in the huge venue.

Lin Tian sat on the edge of the auction stage, with Wang Wei and Wang Teng standing on either side below.

They are reporting the progress of the past few days to Lin Tian.

Several days have passed since the auction ended, but Lin Tian has not been idle.

He had Wang Wei and Wang Teng post notices throughout the city and recruit a group of waiters and guards.

The day the notice was posted, people lined up for the entire street to apply.

The Zhutian Auction House has become quite famous now; being able to work in such a place is a source of pride.

Wang Wei was in charge of selecting guards, requiring them to have a cultivation level of at least the late stage of Body Refinement.

Only those who can work as temporary workers!

After much deliberation, they selected thirty-two men, each with a robust physique and bright eyes.

Standing at the entrance, he exuded a much stronger aura than before.

Wang Teng was in charge of recruiting waiters, and the requirements weren't high.

As long as they were clever, diligent, and tight-lipped, they were fine, and in the end, they recruited about twenty people.

The group consisted entirely of young men and women, all dressed in matching blue long gowns.

Moving around the auction house, wiping tables, arranging chairs, and tidying up the backstage area, she was busy but well-organized.

Now, the Zhutian Auction House truly resembles an auction house.

It was no longer Lin Tian fighting alone with two guards.

Instead, it has manpower and a system with rules.

Lin Tian wasn't the type to handle everything himself; he delegated tasks.

I only need to manage the most important part – auctioning off the items!

However, something even more important happened in the past few days.

The attitude of the pawnshops and shops in the city changed.

Previously, when Wang Wei and Wang Teng went to purchase items, the shopkeepers there heard it was from the auction house in the north of the city.

They all ignored them and acted sarcasticly, refusing to sell them any second-tier items.

Those at the first tier are only willing to make a move if they've chosen the leftovers.

It's different now.

Times have changed!

……