C21 At the Auction

Transforming into a Three-legged Golden Toad, it promptly tossed the pangolin into its mouth, crunching it twice before swallowing it whole.

Witnessing the elephantine Su Bai dispatch the pangolin with ease, the Fox Demon siblings hung their heads, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Indeed, the boss was unparalleled!

Reverting to human form, Su Bai dusted off his hands.

"Let's move on!"

They were at a mountain stream encircled by three peaks.

The spiritual energy from these mountains converged here, enriching the area and nurturing numerous rare and precious treasures.

Typically, such a coveted spot would be claimed by formidable demonic beasts.

Yet, due to its proximity to three mountains with their own rulers, each king vied for this territory, inadvertently leaving it without an owner.

Leaving Mount Fang behind, Su Bai arrived at this location.

Aside from its renown for dense spiritual energy, it was also famously known for another reason: trade.

The three neighboring mountains, and even regions beyond, recognized this as the prime venue for auctions and trading.

The items on offer ranged widely, from spiritual herbs and medicines to captured demonic beasts destined for consumption.

Where there was demand, a market thrived.

Naturally, to preserve peace, an informal rule was in place: no violence once within the mountain stream.

Su Bai, accompanied by the two fox demons, surveyed the entrance before deciding to venture in for a closer look.

The two sentinels made no move to obstruct Su Bai and his companions.

Su Bai could sense that the guards' strength surpassed his own by a tier.

A Level Four Demonic Beast could rule a mountain.

Yet here were two such formidable creatures relegated to gatekeeping!

Clearly, this mountain stream was a den of hidden talent.

Once inside, the scene opened up dramatically, resembling a human settlement.

Su Bai even noticed numerous humans strolling the streets. Here, even the lowest-ranked Demonic Beasts were of Level Three. The realization made Su Bai break out in a nervous sweat.

Stalls lined both sides of the road, bustling with both Demonic Beasts and humans. They coexisted peacefully, engaging in trade and auctions. Su Bai found the sight incredibly surprising.

Today marked a large-scale auction, making the area around Mount Fang buzz with more activity than usual. Uniformed Demonic Beasts, weapons in hand, patrolled the vicinity.

These beasts had tempered their wild natures, appearing docile and devoid of any ferocity.

"The open-air auction is about to begin, everyone come and have a look!"

It was unclear who shouted, but in response, the Demonic Beasts and humans who had been trading at their stalls quickly packed up and rushed in a common direction.

Su Bai joined the flow of people and made his way to a plaza.

It was a vast square capable of accommodating a thousand people, designed in a circular shape with eight towering stone pillars at its perimeter. Something atop the pillars glinted in the sunlight.

At the center stood a half-transformed Demonic Beast with a turtle shell, gripping a gong.

With a forceful strike of the gong by the Turtle Demon, the once chattering square fell into a hushed silence.

"Thank you all for coming. Our bi-monthly auction is now officially underway," announced the Turtle Demon.

The crowd erupted into cheers, which subsided as the Turtle Demon struck the gong once more. In a grave voice, the Turtle Demon declared, "Without further ado, let's start the bidding for our first item of the day."

Brilliant light emanated from the eight stone pillars, casting a massive screen in the center of the square. Every action of the Turtle Demon was displayed with crystal clarity.

Su Bai watched, fascinated. It was a spectacle seldom seen, and he couldn't fathom the technology behind it.

But then again, in a world that transcended the bounds of physics and chemistry, the existence of such a screen was hardly out of place.

"Up for bid is the Lime Fruit, which significantly boosts one's defensive capabilities. I'm sure many here will find it indispensable. The starting bid is two spirit stone taels!"

"I bid three taels!"

"Four taels here!"

"Five taels, and nobody better outbid me!"

The lime fruit quickly sold for seven spirit stones.

Su Bai recalled the old Taoist's storage ring, filled with a bunch of shiny stones that appeared to be spirit stones. Since there weren't many, Su Bai had been reluctant to use them.

"Up next for auction is a Water Spirit Fruit. It was harvested by a fire-type kin, who has entrusted us to sell it for a good price. The starting bid is five spirit stones!"

"I bid seven taels!"

"I bid eight taels! With this fruit, I'll be able to evolve!"

"…"

The auction was in full swing.

Some items had Su Bai practically drooling.

Regrettably, as it was Su Bai's first time at an auction, he hesitated to place a bid.

"Our next lot is a level two demon beast, a cat slave. This cat slave is specially trained to meet all sorts of needs for its master, promising an experience of sheer ecstasy. The opening bid is ten spirit stones!"

Displayed was a scantily clad, half-transformed demon beast. It sported enticing ears atop its head and a white tail, with its clothing leaving little to the imagination.

It was clear that this cat slave was intended for human clientele.

"I bid fifteen taels!"

"I bid twenty taels!"

The price of the cat slave soared, causing Su Bai to break out in a sweat.

Eventually, two human cultivators were red-faced and neck-thick in their heated bidding war over the cat slave.

The cat slave finally sold for eighty taels.

The buyer's face twitched as he handed over the spirit stones, clearly feeling the pinch.

Yet, upon seeing the cat slave descend, the human cultivator seemed somewhat consoled.

As soon as the cat slave stepped down, the cultivator eagerly embraced it and hurried off. Su Bai was convinced the man was off to indulge in unsavory activities.

Flipping the bird at the swiftly vanishing figure, Su Bai turned back, glancing instinctively at Su Xiaoman.

She was gazing at him with her big, doe-like eyes, a shy expression on her face, leaving Su Bai puzzled.

"What's the matter?"

Su Bai inquired, a note of curiosity in his voice.

"The outfit that the cat demon was wearing... I, I want to try it on for you!"

"Uh!"

Su Bai paused briefly, then a sly grin spread across his face.

"Alright, I'll get a set for you in the future! We can delve into it together when we're alone!"

Su Bai felt his days of bliss were just around the corner.

The auction continued. Having not been in this world for long, Su Bai saw it as a perfect opportunity to broaden his horizons.