30: Chapter 30 Then I won't be polite.

Wang Shouren was slightly taken aback.

This reaction was not faked.

He originally thought Zhiyao would at most waive his commission or give him a discount, but he didn't expect that the moment she opened her mouth, she offered to give him one for free.

The auction items of Wanbao Pavilion were worth at least several hundred Spirit Stones, and rare treasures could even reach up to a thousand Spirit Stones. This gesture was truly not small.

He was happy in his heart, but on the surface, he frowned and put on a troubled look.

"This is not good. Executive Zhiyao doesn't need to take what happened just now to heart. Besides, that guard just now didn't actually hurt me."

"Fellow Daoist doesn't need to refuse. It's just an auction item. If Fellow Daoist thinks it's worthy, it's Wanbao Pavilion's honor.

If Fellow Daoist is unwilling to accept even a token of apology, I, Zhiyao, will have no face to go to Lotus Pier to see Senior Wang in the future.

If Fellow Daoist insists on leaving, I will let that guard outside pack up and get lost today."

These words were a mix of soft and hard tactics. Wang Shouren pondered for a few breaths, and finally, as if persuaded, he nodded slightly: "Since it is so, then this humble one will impose upon you."

A stone in Zhiyao's heart fell to the ground, and she hurriedly stepped aside to lead the way.

That guard trotted over and knelt by her side, not daring to breathe heavily.

"Go to the Disciplinary Hall yourself to receive twenty whips, and have three months' salary deducted."

The guard's face turned pale, but in his heart, he felt a surge of joy. Although losing three months' salary hurt, it meant that the Executive was no longer holding him accountable. He hurriedly lowered his head and replied: "Yes..."

"Goodness me, is that the Young Lord of the Wang Family? It's a good thing he didn't bicker with me just now..." There were many words similar to this.

As for the tall and thin man, he shrank his neck and hid backward, wishing he could hide himself thoroughly, terrified that Wang Shouren would notice him.

Wang Shouren stood in front of the carved railing on the third floor, overlooking the entire Wanbao Pavilion.

The layout of this third floor was quite exquisite. The entire floor only had one VIP room set up, which was the one behind him.

Maidservants carrying tea and pastries occasionally walked lightly past the corridor; apart from them, there was no one else.

The second floor was a circle of independent private rooms, each with a different insignia hanging on the door. Through the beaded curtains, figures inside could be faintly seen.

Dozens of chairs were placed in the first-floor hall, already filled with Cultivators. Judging by their clothing, most were Loose Cultivators or leaders of small factions, whispering to each other in twos and threes.

Where his gaze swept, someone in a private room on the second floor lifted the beaded curtain to look out, meeting his sight directly. That person was slightly taken aback, then lowered their head and let the beaded curtain down again.

Several gazes were also cast up from the first-floor hall, which were likewise pulled back the moment they recognized his identity.

Wang Shouren understood in his heart.

It seemed that trip to the Dadao Sect was not in vain.

The news spread faster than he expected. Anyone in the Wanshan County market who was somewhat well-informed already knew that the Wang Family of Lotus Pier was not just a pushover good guy who only knew how to raise fish.

He leaned against the railing, his fingertips gently tapping the armrest, and a strange light flashed across the depths of his eyes.

"If you don't show strength, others will only treat you as a sheep. Once you show strength, they will know that the Wang Family is also a fierce tiger capable of eating people."

"My Lord."

A timid voice came from behind.

Wang Shouren turned back. A maidservant of fifteen or sixteen years old was standing with hands lowered by the side of the corridor, wearing the uniform plain-colored long dress of Wanbao Pavilion. Seeing him look over, the maidservant hurriedly lowered her head, her earlobes turning slightly red.

"This servant is called Cuier, responsible for serving My Lord."

"What are the rules for the auctions at your Wanbao Pavilion?"

The maidservant was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting that this Young Lord of the Wang Family didn't even know the rules of Wanbao Pavilion.

But she had been trained and quickly recovered her respectful tone, answering honestly from beginning to end.

"Replying to My Lord, the auctions of Wanbao Pavilion are all personally hosted by Executive Zhiyao. Each auction item starts from the base price, and the highest bidder wins.

Spirit Stones are accepted during bidding. If Spirit Stones are insufficient, items can also be used to discount and exchange. Of course, for you, My Lord, there is certainly no need to exchange items for a discount."

Wang Shouren nodded slightly, thinking this was similar to the auctions in his past life, and asked again: "Will you protect the privacy of the bidders?"

The maidservant hesitated for a moment, her tone becoming a bit cautious: "This... Replying to My Lord, Wanbao Pavilion has never had rules in this regard. Those who come here to auction are all decent Cultivators, and nothing has ever gone wrong..."

"Got it." Wang Shouren waved his hand, signaling her to withdraw.

The maidservant bowed as if granted a great amnesty and quickly retreated to the end of the corridor.

Wang Shouren turned around, looking back down at the red-velvet-paved auction stage downstairs, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

If privacy is not protected, then it's meaningless.

There were still a few Cultivation Techniques obtained from Loose Cultivators inside his Storage Pouch. He originally planned to take this opportunity to casually dispose of them, but since Wanbao Pavilion did not keep secrets for bidders, then forget it.

Letting people who Cultivate the same Cultivation Technique know that their signature skill was put on the auction stage would definitely lead to tracing the source, which would be troublesome again by then.

As he was pondering, a clear and resonant bell chime suddenly sounded from the first floor.

The spiritual lamps on both sides of the auction stage lit up simultaneously, their soft glow illuminating the entire hall as bright as day.

The noisy conversations on the first floor gradually subsided, and everyone's gaze concentrated on the auction stage.

Zhiyao walked out from behind the beaded curtain on the side of the stage with graceful steps. Her purple robes shimmered with a faint luster under the reflection of the spiritual lamps, making her the most eye-catching focus of the entire auction house.

She stood still in the center of the auction stage, her gaze sweeping past each private room on the second floor one by one, and finally looking up at the railing on the third floor.

Across that glazed window, their gazes met. She nodded slightly, her lips parted lightly, and an extremely faint voice transmission fell into Wang Shouren's ears.

"Fellow Daoist Shouren, if there is any auction item you take a fancy to, you can send me a voice transmission. By then, this concubine will naturally have a way to give it to Fellow Daoist, and will not put Fellow Daoist in a difficult position."

Wang Shouren nodded slightly.

"Acceptable."

On the auction stage, Zhiyao was full of smiles. With a light lift of her jade hand, piece after piece of auction items were brought to the front of the stage by maidservants.

"Three bottles of Green Origin Pills, starting price three hundred Spirit Stones, each increment must not be less than fifty."

As her voice fell, several people in the first-floor casual seating raised their placards.

This Medicinal Pill was the most practical for advancing cultivation and never lacked buyers.

After a few rounds of bidding, it was sold for five hundred and twenty Spirit Stones, and was won by a Clan Chief of a small cultivation Family in a second-floor private room.

Wang Shouren leaned against the railing of the third floor, watching expressionlessly.

Although Green Origin Pills were good, there were still a few bottles of captured inventory in the Lotus Pier warehouse; it wasn't worth spending money on this.

"One hundred catties of Dark Iron Essence, starting price five hundred Spirit Stones."

Zhiyao lifted the red silk on the tray in the maidservant's hand. A fist-sized, pitch-black chunk of iron quietly lay in the tray, glowing with a cold metallic luster under the light. "Produced from the dark iron mine in the northern border of the Yue State, it took three years of quenching by earth fire to form, an excellent material for refining High Grade defense Magical Artifacts."

This was the real valuable cargo.

Wang Shouren's gaze narrowed slightly. People in the first-floor casual seating had already started whispering to each other, but no one raised a placard for a long time.

Ordinary Loose Cultivators couldn't use such things even if they bought them.

"Five hundred Spirit Stones." Wang Shouren's voice came down from the third floor. It wasn't loud, but it made the entire hall fall silent for a split second.

Zhiyao looked up with a smile in her eyes: "The third-floor VIP bids five hundred Spirit Stones. Is there any further bid?"

No one responded.

"Five hundred Spirit Stones for the first time, for the second time, for the third time—sold." Zhiyao dropped the gavel, feeling bitter in her heart.

This piece of Dark Iron Essence could fetch at least seven hundred in previous years, but today, as soon as the Wang Family Young Lord opened his mouth, stubbornly no one dared to follow.