538: Chapter 538 Top-Tier VIP Treatment!

The first day of the month, evening.

The auction center of the Peng City Lingbao Trading Firm was like a gold-swallowing beast crouching in the twilight, its entire body ablaze with brilliant lights.

Thousands of Immortal Spirit Lamps floated in the air, their soft glow illuminating every scale of the exotic beast carvings on the archway with meticulous detail, emitting a cold sense of pressure.

From the beast's mouth, a non-stop surge of people was being swallowed.

A seemingly endless line snaked from the entrance all the way to the corner of the long street, crawling forward at an incredibly slow pace.

"Good heavens, there are way too many people this year! I heard the grand finale is a damaged Spirit Immortal Artifact!" A Loose Cultivator carrying a giant sword stood on his tiptoes, his Face filled with longing for an Opportunity.

"A Spirit Immortal Artifact? Forget it!" His companion beside him threw cold water on his hopes. "That's prepared for those large Sects and prestigious families. We'd be lucky to snag a decent True Immortal Artifact!"

The noisy discussions merged into a low hum, thick with the scent of wealth and desire.

Su Chen and his group arrived at the main gate.

He took one look at the crowded, long line, and his handsome brows furrowed slightly.

"How long will this take? Forever?"

"Boss, we'd better hurry. If we're late, there won't even be a place to stand!" Qian Duoduo had already rolled up his sleeves, preparing to use his spherical physique to push his way in.

Su Chen grabbed him by the back of his collar.

"What for?" Qian Duoduo looked bewildered, as if to say, "If we don't queue, are we going to fly in?"

Su Chen didn't say a word; he just slowly fished out that black gold jade certificate from his Storage Ring.

The item "Shopkeeper Shen" had forced upon him—he had just tucked it away like a piece of scrap paper at the time. Now was the perfect time to test its worth.

Under the envious or jealous gazes of countless Cultivators, Su Chen held the jade certificate and ignored the long line, walking straight toward the VIP passage on the left side of the gate, which was almost deserted.

At the entrance of the passage, two silver-armored guards stood solemnly. Their Qi was restrained but potent, and their gazes were like cold iron, scanning everyone who tried to approach.

Seeing Su Chen walking over leisurely, one of them was about to raise a hand, the words "No unauthorized entry" yet to leave his mouth.

Su Chen casually flashed the black gold jade certificate.

The guard's raised arm instantly froze in mid-air.

His gaze jerked from Su Chen's overly handsome Face down to the jade certificate.

When he clearly saw the "Hong" character pattern on the jade certificate, stamped in Divine Gold and flowing with mysterious Dao rhythms...

His expression shifted at a visible speed, completing a transition from "cold gatekeeper" to "filial son."

"Valued... Valued Guest!"

The guard's voice trembled, and his waist bent at an incredible angle, nearly folding ninety degrees.

"You... Why didn't you say so earlier!"

He spun around abruptly and, using all his cultivation, bellowed toward the depths of the passage. His voice echoed through the sky, filled with excitement and trepidation.

"Reporting to Steward Liu! A holder of the headquarters' black gold Supreme jade certificate has arrived!!"

This one shout caused the Cultivators queuing at the entrance to explode into a frenzy!

"What? A black gold Supreme jade certificate? Did I hear that right?"

"Isn't that the legendary highest credential that only the Lingbao Trading Firm's headquarters can issue? The holder's status is equivalent to the branch manager of West Qingyou Prefecture!"

A series of footsteps, so hurried the person seemed about to trip, immediately came from deep within the passage.

A slightly plump middle-aged steward wearing an exquisite Spirit Brocade Robe came scrambling out. His Face was covered in an extremely professional, flattering smile, every wrinkle spelling out "Welcome."

"Oh my! This Young Master! We've kept you waiting; it's our negligence!"

The steward's gaze swept over Su Chen rapidly. Seeing that Face and his overall aura, he no longer had any doubts. Rubbing his hands together, he was so enthusiastic he looked ready to kowtow to Su Chen on the spot.

"You are holding a black gold Supreme jade certificate issued directly by the headquarters! There are only a few in the entire West Qingyou Prefecture! You are the first Valued Guest to use one!"

"Please, please, please! The Number One Heaven-Grade Private Box has already been prepared for you. I will personally lead the way!"

Su Chen raised an eyebrow.

Box Number One, the best view, the first to use it.

The bullet comments in his mind rolled past unhurriedly.

[Good grief, this is some "weasel giving New Year's greetings to the chicken" top-tier VIP service. To slaughter me, this merchant guild even made the bait out of Dragon liver and Phoenix marrow.]

[Box Number One has the best view, which means every single move I make will be exposed to the thousands of eyes in the hall. This is clearly putting me on the grill, making me everyone's target.]

[On the surface, it's supreme honor, but in reality, it's pushing me into the most Advanced slaughterhouse and handing me the sharpest knife.]

But he didn't refuse.

Refusing would instead make him look guilty.

Since they had already set the stage, if he, the protagonist, didn't show up, wouldn't that be giving them no Face?

As for how the play would unfold, he knew what to do.

"Lead the way," Su Chen said flatly.

Under the steward's personal guidance, the group passed through the shimmering passage and entered the interior of the auction center.

Qian Duoduo followed behind, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an Immortal Beast egg.

He tugged on Su Chen's sleeve and whispered in shock, "Boss, the Number One Heaven-Grade Private Box! Such prestige! In our Wanbao Pavilion, only the Old Ancestors of various Holy Lands could sit there!"

"I know."

"Boss, aren't you excited?"

"No."

"Why not?!"

Su Chen glanced at him, his gaze like that of a master looking at an ungraduated apprentice.

"Free things are always the most expensive."

"You're a businessman; don't you understand this logic?"

Qian Duoduo's mouth snapped shut instantly.

He understood. He understood all too well.

But after understanding, his heart, which had just been heavily wounded by a million Immortal Stones, began to throb with pain again, and he felt incredibly anxious.

Jian Buping walked at the very back, his hand always on his sword hilt. His gaze swept over both sides of the passage, silently memorizing every exit and every dark corner where people could be lying in ambush.

His intuition told him that within this magnificent cage, there was more than one man-eating tiger hidden away.

Reaching the end of the passage, a door carved entirely from Ten-Thousand-Year Warm Jade slid open silently to both sides.

Number One Heaven-Grade Private Box.

It was spacious enough to hold a small-scale team battle.

Beneath their feet was a carpet made from an entire Starry Sky Beast Hide. Spiritual Qi misted around it, and stepping on it felt as soft as walking on clouds.

By the window was a reclining chair carved from a single piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Warm Jade, facing the massive auction stage below. The view was excellent, providing a clear sight of the entire hall.

After the steward respectfully invited Su Chen inside, he made another round of arrangements.

Spirit tea brewed with Heavenly Immortal Spring water, Seven-Apertures Exquisite Fruit that ripened once every thousand years, and two top-tier True Immortal realm maidservants standing by with lowered heads—everything was of the highest specification.

Su Chen ignored the delicacies and beauties, directly slumping into the warm jade reclining chair that was so comfortable it felt like one's bones would melt.

Comfortable.

Su Chen relaxed completely, waiting for the show to begin.