Gao Wu: Oh no! Young Master Zhen is a cultivator!

Lin Ran composed himself and said seriously, "Humor is just my least noticeable strength."

"Is that so?" Zhao Yanran said meaningfully, "It seems I still know too little about Young Master Lin."

Lin Ran replied seriously, "Being too curious will only hurt you."

"If I can see through Young Master Lin's heart, I'm willing to pay any price." Zhao Yanran's eyes were filled with eager anticipation.

Lin Ran curled his lip: "All you ever think about are good things."

"Can't Young Master Lin give me a chance?"

"We're of different genders, and we won't be happy if we force ourselves to be together."

Zhao Yanran's expression changed several times, and she finally realized that Lin Ran was teasing her. She could only laugh helplessly and say, "Young Master Lin is joking again."

"Didn't you start the joke?"

"Alright, I have important business with Young Master Lin."

Zhao Yanran's smile faded, and her tone became more serious: "I mentioned to Young Master Lin yesterday that there's an auction tonight. Would Young Master Lin like to come along?"

Lin Ran hesitated slightly: "Aren't there any restrictions on participating in this auction?"

"Of course there are restrictions." Zhao Yanran waved the invitation in her hand. "I can bring one companion."

"Okay, let's go together tonight." Lin Ran hung up the call, and Chu Xining immediately came over.

She grabbed Lin Ran's arm, her expression relentless: "I want to go too."

Lin Ran shrugged: "I don't have an invitation."

Although there was no invitation, Lin Ran could use the Xuan Chen Pearl to create an illusion and bring people in, but it seemed unnecessary.

"I'll figure it out myself." Chu Xining looked thoughtful.

Seeing this, Bai Ruolin's eyes flickered, as if she had also made up her mind.

That evening, Lin Ran arrived at the entrance of the training center, where Zhao Yanran was already waiting.

She wore a purple cheongsam that accentuated her slender waist and stunning figure, and her hair was styled in an updo, adding to her mature charm.

Seeing Chu Xining and Bai Ruolin behind Lin Ran, she showed a slightly apologetic expression: "I only have one invitation, so I can only bring one person in."

Chu Xining took out a gold-embossed invitation from her handbag and shook it at Zhao Yanran: "I have my own invitation."

After saying that, she stepped forward and took Lin Ran's arm, as if to assert her ownership.

On the other side, Bai Ruolin also took out an invitation: "I happen to have one too."

Zhao Yanran took a deep breath and gave an awkward but polite smile: "Hehe, what a coincidence."

The auction was held on the top floor of the Kyoto International Convention Center.

The entrance was carpeted in dark gray, and two rows of security personnel in black uniforms stood on either side, each wearing a miniature body camera.

The security guards at the entrance verified the invitations of the four people one by one, scanned the anti-counterfeiting code on the invitations with a device, and then stepped aside to make way for them.

The venue was larger than I had imagined, with a giant crystal chandelier hanging from the dome, making the entire hall as bright as day.

The auction platform in front was a single piece of black marble, with a ring of pale gold spiritual energy shield generators embedded in its surface.

There were already quite a few people seated in the dozen or so rows of seats below the stage.

The four people took their seats in order of the number given to them by security.

Shortly after, the auctioneer took the stage.

A middle-aged man in his fifties, dressed in a black suit, with his hair neatly combed, held an auction gavel in his hand.

He walked to the auction stage, raised his hand to lower it, and waited for the whispers in the hall to subside before speaking.

"Welcome to this auction."

"All the items up for auction today come from various secret realms, including fragments of cultivation techniques, divine weapons, rare treasures, and a seventh-order crystal core."

"We would like to reiterate the rules of this auction: bidding is valid, and the highest bidder wins. The venue has a top-tier security team, so you need not worry about the safety of your belongings."

"Without further ado, the first item will be presented immediately. Ladies and gentlemen, open your eyes wide and bid with all your might."

The staff brought the first item to the auction table.

In the center of the tray lay a yellowed, thread-bound booklet with a tattered cover, appearing somewhat incomplete.

"A fragment of the 'Mountain-Splitting Fist' manual. Excavated from ancient ruins, missing the last third of the chapters. After mastering it, one's internal energy will increase by 30%."

"Starting bid: 30 million. Each bid must be at least 1 million higher."

After the auctioneer finished speaking, the audience was silent for a moment, and then someone in the front row raised their paddle.

Thirty-one million.

"Thirty-three million."

"Thirty-eight million."

The bidding was in full swing, with number plates being raised and lowered.

The price quickly surpassed 50 million and is still climbing.

Lin Ran leaned back in his chair, too lazy to even lift his eyelids.

This tattered scroll might be a life-saving trump card for others, but it was meaningless to him.

Finally, the gavel fell, and the incomplete scroll of "Mountain-Splitting Fist" was sold for 80 million, to a bald middle-aged man in the front row.

Then, the second item was brought out: a well-preserved ancient scroll.

"The Herbal Body Tempering Scripture. A body-refining technique passed down from ancient pharmacists. When practiced in combination with soaking in spiritual herbal liquid, the skin after completion can rival the skin of a third-tier mutated creature."

"Starting bid: 20 million; minimum increment: 1 million."

Several martial artists sitting in the front row took turns raising their paddles, and the deal was eventually sold for fifty million.

The person who bought it was an elderly man with gray hair. After taking the picture, he immediately got up and left the venue, as if he had come specifically for this item.

The third item was a short, dark purple blade with fine electric arcs flowing along its surface.

"Purple Lightning Shattering Star Short Blade. The blade is lightweight, and when swung, it generates a weak electric current that can briefly paralyze the enemy."

"Starting bid: 35 million, with each bid increment no less than 1 million."

The bidding for this short blade was much fiercer than the previous two, with bidders stretching from the first row all the way to the tenth, and the price quickly surpassed fifty million.

It was eventually sold for 70 million, and the winner was a young woman wearing a black bodysuit. When she took the dagger, the corners of her mouth were clearly upturned.

When the fourth item was brought out, there was a noticeable commotion in the audience.

In the center of the tray lay a pale green jade pendant, its surface translucent and emitting a soft glow under the light.

Even through the spiritual energy shield, one could sense that it was continuously absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy.

"The Spirit Gathering Jade Pendant can gather spiritual energy and increase cultivation speed by 20%. Its value is self-evident."

"Starting bid: 50 million; each bid must be at least 1 million higher."

As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, several numbered paddles were simultaneously raised.

"Fifty-five million."

"Sixty million."

"Seventy million."

Chu Xining picked up the number plate and held it up: "Eighty million."

Someone in the front row turned around and glanced back, then a voice came from the second row: "Eighty-five million."

Chu Xining raised the number again: "Ninety million."

The voice in the front row paused for two seconds, seemingly weighing its options, before adding again: "Ninety-five million."

Chu Xining glanced at Lin Ran, who shook his head slightly at her.

This thing has limited effectiveness; it's not as good as the simplest spirit-gathering array.

Spending hundreds of millions of dollars in cash to buy this kind of thing is clearly not worth it.

Chu Xining was obedient; seeing that Lin Ran wouldn't let her continue holding up the number plate, she immediately put it back on her seat.

A young man who didn't raise his paddle at all ended up raising the price from 200 million to 230 million, sealing the deal.

The items were brought to the display stand one by one, and then sold off one by one.

The slightly tired auctioneer picked up the water glass on the stage, took a sip, cleared his throat, and put on a professional smile again.

"Thank you all for your enthusiasm for the previous lots. The next lot is quite special; it's an antique mirror."

A staff member in a cheongsam placed a tray covered with red silk on the display stand.

The auctioneer held a corner of the red silk and gently lifted it.

Beneath the red silk was a palm-sized bronze mirror, its surface dull and unremarkable.

"The nameless ancient mirror has the effect of emitting a blinding golden light that causes dizziness. The starting bid is fifty million, and each bid must be at least one million higher."