Chapter 57 - 57 54 Being Contrary

57: Chapter 54 Being Contrary 57: Chapter 54 Being Contrary The auction was a grand affair, with a vast hall that was almost fully occupied. Representatives from the three major families of the Capital, the Royal Family, the Jun family, and the Xie family, all sent key figures from their sects, indicating the high importance they attached to this event. From the Royal Family side, it was Xia Yuwen who led two elderly men dressed in splendid attire, while the Jun family was represented by a middle-aged man with a profound aura. He was none other than Jun Shan, previously the planner behind an assassination attempt against Ye Xuan, along with his son, Jun Wuyan, Ye Xuan’s defeated opponent. The remaining Xie family was represented by a middle-aged man in blue, unfamiliar but evidently holding a significant position within the Xie family. Once everyone was seated, although Ye Xuan and his companions were seated in a less conspicuous spot, they still caught the attention of others. Upon seeing Ye Xuan with Xia Xun, Xia Yuwen only coldly snorted without saying much. Although he was displeased by Ye Xuan’s presence, he had a mission on this trip and chose to avoid entanglement with Ye Xuan for the time being. However, this did not mean he would disregard the incident that just occurred. “It’s Ye Xuan, he really did come to the Capital, so audacious.” From another side of the room, upon seeing Ye Xuan, Jun Wuyan’s expression darkened abruptly. Since his defeat by Ye Xuan in last autumn’s hunt, his reputation in the Jun family suffered greatly. Now, seeing Ye Xuan not just boldly appearing in the Capital but also seated together with Xia Xun, Jun Wuyan harbored a deep hatred towards him. “That kid has the backing of a powerful figure, naturally he’s bold.” Jun Shan glanced towards Ye Xuan, his eyes flickering coldly but mixed with a hint of wariness. It was common knowledge that three days ago, Jun Ze had been assassinated by an unnamed Martial Sect Master; linking this with the past assassination attempt on Ye Xuan that had been thwarted by a mysterious master, it seemed likely these assassinations were connected to Ye Xuan! Searᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. These two masters might be the same person! In the past, when the Jun family was hostile to the Ye family, they had never encountered a master of the Martial Sect level. However, ever since the assassination attempt against Ye Xuan, such masters continued to appear, forcing them to speculate if Ye Xuan had found a formidable supporter. Now, with Ye Xuan arriving alone in the Capital, it only deepened their suspicions—why would he act so brazenly if not for the protection of a powerful master? “We have Martial Sect Masters in our Jun family too; have them take action, we must kill this kid,” Jun Wuyan stated gravely. Hearing this, Jun Shan shook his head, “Do you think the Xia family and other powers of the Great Xia Kingdom’s Martial Sect Masters in the Capital are just sitting idle? Acting now wouldn’t only fail to kill the kid but could likely expose us. Plus, we still don’t know the exact skill level of the Martial Sect backing Ye Xuan. Until we figure out the reality of Ye Xuan’s protector, we cannot act recklessly.” “Damn, does this mean we just let this kid enjoy himself freely? When will we get the chance to avenge Uncle?” Jun Wuyan gritted his teeth in hatred, claiming to seek revenge for Jun Ze, but in truth, he was eager to crush Ye Xuan to alleviate his own hatred. “Who said there isn’t a chance?” A cold glint flashed in Jun Shan’s eyes, suggesting he already had a plan brewing, “Worry not, the right opportunity will soon arise.” From a distance, Ye Xuan’s gaze fell on Jun Shan and his son, who were quietly conversing. Currently, he might be relying on the occasional intervention of Granny Ning to gain an upper hand, but once he regained Xia Yanzeng’s strength, even if the Jun family’s Martial Sect Master made a move, they wouldn’t be able to touch him. Ding Ding! While Ye Xuan’s thoughts churned, a series of urgent chimes rang through the auction hall, and quickly, the room hushed. At the center stage of the hall, the alluring figure of Lady Hua Rui entered the sight of everyone. “Is it starting?” Ye Xuan slightly raised his head, curious about the auction. The Spiritual Items Workshop in the Capital ought to be more impressive than those in Tianyang County; he wondered if he might encounter some rare treasures. “Ladies and gentlemen, first of all, thank you for attending the Spiritual Items Workshop’s auction. I believe you will be thoroughly satisfied with the items being auctioned today.” Lady Hua Rui flashed a smile, her face as lovely as peach blossoms, her every casual movement exuding allure, tickling the fancy of many men beneath the stage. If it weren’t for the fact that this was the territory of the Spiritual Items Workshop, they would probably be itching to rush up and ravish her. However, while the venue had its share of lecherous souls, other guests, indifferent to such affections, were already losing patience. Lady Hua Rui, knowing well the ways of conducting an auction, moved aside after a brief introduction, allowing an elderly-looking auctioneer to take the stage and proceed with the auction. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are now starting the auction with the first item, an Earth-grade Weapon, the Shattered Xuan Steel Axe.” Behind the elderly man, a beautiful maid presented a silver tray with a silver broad axe about a zhang long resting upon it. The surface of the axe was smooth, and faint runes seemed to appear and disappear on it, sending forth an unusual sharpness. “This Shattered Xuan Steel Axe was forged by a master Artifact Refiner in our Spiritual Items Workshop. Its edge is so sharp it can split hairs and cleave through iron as if it were mud. Even the densest True Qi defenses are no match for it, making it a formidable weapon for killing and combating enemies. The starting price for the Shattered Yuan Steel Axe will be 50,000 taels of gold.” As soon as the old man’s voice fell, the room erupted with calls of bids, while Ye Xuan scrutinized the Shattered Xuan Steel Axe and soon shook his head slightly. The axe was highly praised by the auctioneer, but in practical use, it likely had several flaws. Moreover, the skills of the Artifact Refiner seemed not so proficient, particularly in handling such weapons—he suspected that while the axe was sharp enough, it might lack the appropriate weight, and thus seasoned axe users might find it awkward to wield. Though not everyone present had the discernment of Ye Xuan, and the golden plaque of the Spiritual Items Workshop was still there, even if the fractured steel axe had defects, it still caused quite a stir. In the end, this fractured steel axe went to a fierce-looking man for 150,000 taels of gold. 150,000 taels of gold was hardly considered high in the capital, since the fractured steel axe was just the appetizer, with the main events naturally following. The second item to be brought to the auction stage was an Earth-grade Cultivation Technique known as Pure Element Skill, which also sparked a fierce scramble, as beyond the clans and sects, it was very difficult to purchase such items outside. Not long after, the Pure Element Skill sold for a high price, which, in Ye Xuan’s view, was much higher than its intrinsic value. It had to be said that the Spiritual Items Workshop’s money-making ability was truly impressive. Ordinary items from outside, once packaged on this auction stage and extravagantly praised by the elderly auctioneer, would see their value soar. However, low-tier auction items could affect the reputation of the auction house, so those brought to the stage were still relatively decent. As a dazzling array of treasures successively reached the stage, however, Ye Xuan’s attention began to wane; he closed his eyes to rest, for these items were not what he needed, and what he awaited had not yet appeared. “Next, we will auction a set of Earth-grade herbs, with a starting bid of 80,000 taels of gold.” As the elder’s voice fell, Ye Xuan also looked toward the auction stage, only to see that on two silver trays, there were four different herbs, among which the Green Origin Vine was present. “This Spiritual Items Workshop is rather cunning,” Ye Xuan said with a chuckle, shaking his head. Any of these Earth-grade Spiritual Medicines was somewhat niche but still valuable. If auctioned individually, the price would probably not be very high. Putting the four herbs together undoubtedly broadened the target range. At this moment, Xia Xun beside him also seemed somewhat interested, clearly having something in this set of herbs that caught her fancy. “Is there something you need in this set of herbs? How about we collaborate? I only want the Green Origin Vine, and if we win, the other three herbs will be yours,” Ye Xuan said, turning his head slightly. “Okay,” Xia Xun’s eyes sparkled as she nodded. The starting bid for this set of herbs was 80,000 taels of gold, with the final transaction price probably being at least 150,000. Even as a princess of the Royal Family, her financial resources were limited, and tens of thousands of taels of gold was not an amount she could easily produce. “90,000!” “95,000!” “…” The enthusiasm for this set of Spiritual Medicines was actually lower than for the previous auction items. Coupled with the high starting price, fewer people participated in the bidding. “150,000.” As bids were already sparse, this sudden offer surprised the audience, and many astonished gazes turned toward Ye Xuan, marveling at his bold spending. The bid, originally not even reaching 100,000, was raised by half in an instant. Stunned by Ye Xuan’s aggressive bidding, those who were originally somewhat interested in this set of herbs shook their heads in resignation. Competing with such a person was not a wise move. “It’s him.” Lady Hua Rui, who was backstage, noticed Ye Xuan bidding and her charming eyes suddenly lit up. As soon as the 150,000 bid was made, silence fell over the auction house. The elderly auctioneer looked at Ye Xuan with some admiration; the real value of these herbs was certainly more than 150,000. If it had continued in normal bidding, it would definitely have exceeded this figure. Yet, Ye Xuan’s single bid had deterred any competition. “160,000.” Just when everyone thought that Ye Xuan was about to take the herbs, an unexpected voice rang out, causing quite a stir, and Ye Xuan also frowned slightly, following the sound to see a youth in purple smiling mockingly at him, unmistakably Jun Wuyan.