Tang San ate until bursting before finishing the meal.
“Boss, thank you. Your meal was delicious.”
Tang San nodded very courteously to the boss, and with a flick of his wrist a silver spirit coin landed on the counter.
“Young man, what’s this?”
The boss stared blankly, and hastily called out to Tang San and Xiao Wu who were already leaving.
Tang San turned his head and smiled:
“It’s what you deserve.”
Saying this, he pulled Xiao Wu away with large strides. To him, this wasn’t just as simple as lunch.
Xiao Wu felt Tang San’s hand grip hers tightly, and the smiling expression on his face seemed to have recovered to normal. She was always astute, and without asking anything headed towards the auction house in an elated mood.
When they came close they could truly appreciate the scale of the round building.
By Tang San’s estimation, this half sphere sprouting from the ground had a diameter of at least five hundred meters, and was eighty meters tall at its peak. Even though it was inferior to the Great Spirit Arenas he had seen before, he knew that this place was only an auction house and didn’t need room for spectators.
Moreover, this was the capital of Heaven Dou Empire, and every spot of land was worth its size in gold. From this could be clearly seen how significant the position of the auction house was in Heaven Dou City, and how profound its background.
The auction house’s entrance was semicircular, and just like the auction house itself was milky white. In front of the door stood four tall young women.
These young women had clearly passed rigorous selection. Not only were they all about one meter seventy five tall, their figures extremely well shaped, and without need to mention their pretty appearance was had a great amount of sex appeal. They appeared twenty years old at most.
They wore long dresses that even concealed their arms, without revealing any skin. But the dresses were extremely tight fitting, an amply drew the outlines of their beautiful curves.
The snow white dresses were embroidered with silver designs that vaguely resembled words, but neither Tang San nor Xiao Wu could make them out. The four young women all moved identically, with both hands held up in front and smiling, and though the smiles were professional, they still easily gave people a good impression.
Chapter 073: Heaven Dou Auction
Part 1 (TL by Bagelson)
Seeing two people approach, one of the four young women took three steps forward to greet them, bowing slightly as she spoke:
“Guests, is there anything you require assistance with?”
Xiao Wu said:
“This is the auction house. We want to go in for a look.”
The young woman was stunned, even though she didn’t hold any contempt because of Tang San and Xiao Wu’s age, it was still the first time she had ever seen visitors like this. But she still patiently said:
“I’m sorry, honored guests, may I ask whether you have the bidding qualifications certificate?”
Xiao Wu stared blankly,
“Bidding qualifications certificate? What kind of thing is that?”
The young woman smiled slightly, saying:
“Only guests possessing a bidding qualifications certificate may enter the auction house to bid. Certification exists in several different levels, of them the threshold to enter is ten thousand gold spirit coins. In other words, you must prove you have assets to an amount of ten thousand gold spirit coins and can participate in bidding. This is to ensure people cannot enter to bid maliciously. Please forgive me.”
Xiao Wu turned her head to look at Tang San,
“Ge, do you have ten thousand gold spirit coins?”
Tang San somewhat helplessly shook his head. Even though he had earned a lot at the Great Spirit Arena, a figure like ten thousand gold spirit coins was still too much.
Seeing Xiao Wu’s disappointed expression, Tang San couldn’t help saying:
“Isn’t there some other way to get inside?”
The young lady said:
“It’s still possible under another condition: if you are selling something you can also enter the auction hall. But to sell something requires passing our Heaven Dou Auction’s special appraiser’s valuation, the value must exceed ten thousand gold spirit coins for qualifications to join the auction. If the auction is successful we will take ten percent of the sale price as commission.”
Selling something? Tang San and Xiao Wu looked face to face, and Tang San’s heart twitched. Searching his chest pocket he pulled out an item.
It was a black little case, only about palm sized, on top were fastened rings and locks, the case was completely black, and on the front was a set of tiny holes.
“Then we’ll auction this.”
Tang San flashed the little case in his hand.
“What is this?”
The young lady wasn’t scornful when Tang San took this thing out, having worked here for a time she knew that sometimes the more bizarre an item was the more valuable it was.
Xiao Wu feigned mystery:
“Don’t you have appraisers? Didn’t you say before that you had appraisers to have a look at the value, right?”
The young lady had realized that this went beyond her, and hastily held out an inviting hand,
“Please follow me.”
While speaking, she started walking into the auction house with small steps.
Inside the auction house wasn’t any feeling of glorious splendor. The floor was milky white marble, and on all the walls were all kinds of reliefs. The relief sculptures didn’t have a lot of color, appearing simple and forthright, extremely elegant. Besides the reliefs were still some display windows on the walls. Inside were arranged goods like porcelain or armor and such. If they didn’t know what this place was, Tang San and Xiao Wu might have mistaken it for a museum. The young woman who led them all the way acted very professionally, pausing every ten steps or so to make an inviting gesture, accurately showing the direction. She took Tang San and Xiao Wu straight to the side of the gall, where a signboard with the words ‘appraisal’ hung over a room.
Inside the room was a row of tables, behind which stood eight black-robed appraisers, all of different ages, hastily valuing some goods.
The young lady said to Tang San and Xiao Wu:
“This is the room for ordinary appraisals. If I may I would trouble you guests as to the characteristics of the item.”
While speaking, she brought the two to an appraiser on the left, handing over the small case.
“Appraiser number one, I would trouble you. These two guests wish to put this item up for auction.”
The appraiser subconsciously accepted the metal box. As his gaze fell on it he immediately displayed an astonished expression, turning it over for a look as he said:
“Forgive my ignorance, may I ask what this is? The manufacture is extremely elaborate, but I don’t know what applications it has?”
Tang San smiled slightly, saying:
“I call it a Powder Shooting Shadow[ (含沙射影) It first appeared in the fight against Zhao Wuji. The name is an idiom that means “attacking someone by innuendo”.], it’s a kind of weapon.”
“Weapon?”
The appraiser was even more astonished, this was the first time he had seen such a delicate weapon. Originally he had still looked down on Tang San and Xiao Wu as just a pair of youths, but right now the disdain vanished,
“Is it possible to see a demonstration?”
“Here?”
Tang San picked up the Powder Projecting Shadow from the appraiser’s hand,
“My item is poisonous. I’m afraid here isn’t the best.”
Hearing the word ‘poisonous’, it wasn’t just the appraiser in front of them that paid attention. The seven appraisers to the side couldn’t help cast glances towards them, their expressions filled with astonishment.
Appraiser number one somewhat embarrassed sa
id:
“If you’re unable to prove its effect, there is also nothing we can do to set its price. Our auction house has a special area dedicated to testing weapons, shall we go there to take a look?”
Tang San nodded.
“Let’s.”
The young woman in charge of receiving visitors didn’t leave them, and still followed at their side together with appraiser number one. They brought Tang San and Xiao Wu through a sliding door behind the appraisal area.
Perhaps the owner of this auction house was very fond of circles, but even the interior doors of the auction house were semi circular, giving a very thorough feeling.
Tang San couldn’t help sighing in admiration from just a brief observation, not only was the scale of the auction house large, but moreover everything was clear and orderly, the division of work explicit. The appraiser brought them to a weapons laboratory about one hundred square meters in size, the four walls of the room were covered in tightly fitting steel plates, and was completely empty.
Tang San gestured at the receiving young woman and the appraiser to move behind him, raised the Powder Shooting Shadow in his right hand and lightly pressed the trigger.
Chichichichichichi—— A continuous series of low squeaking sounds echoed, followed by a yellow mist drifting out. Tang San had added this new poison mist not long ago. After the Powder Shooting Shadow had undergone his improvements it could also shoot three times, just like the Godly Zhuge Crossbow. Only its power was a bit weaker than the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, but each time it could shoot thirty six steel needles.
Tang Sect’s mechanical hidden weapons were mainly sorted according to power. Like the reason the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle was ranked among the best wasn’t because of how concentrated its attack was, but rather its attack power.
The Godly Zhuge Crossbow’s attack power was already frightening, three times that of the Powder Shooting Shadow.
But the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle was five times stronger than the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, its shooting speed and penetrating power could be imagined, it was basically an undodgeable hidden weapon.
A succession of intense jingling sounds rose from the wall ten meters away. Tang San stretched out his hand, urging his spirit power and using Controlling Crane Catching Dragon to gather the poison mist, one finger shooting out a strand of Blue Silver Grass to absorb it.
He pointed to the opposite wall:
“Please.”
The appraiser quickly walked forward. As he saw the state of the steel wall, he couldn’t help breathing in deeply,
“Such a potent weapon.”
The three cun long steel needles hadn’t quite pierced into the steel plate halfway, the tail ends still quivering. From the blue liquid color it could be seen they were poisoned, and that still didn’t include the yellow mist that puffed out when they were fired. Such penetrating power was already something common Spirit Masters couldn’t withstand.
Tang San said:
“My Powder Shooting Shadow can shoot three times after being loaded with steel needles, each time accompanied by a confusion type poison mist. The steel needles themselves are coated in paralysing poison, and the toxin will take effect as soon as they have pierced the skin. By my calculations, it would be a certain kill against a thirtieth rank spirit master or lower. Against thirtieth rank or higher, Spirit Masters without the ability to resist poison should very easily be affected. The steel needles are easy to make and can be reused. I can also offer a bottle of paralysis poison.”
Tang San walked over to the steel plate, raising his right hand and wordlessly pulling out the steel needles, once again pushing them into the Powder Shooting Shadow. The poison didn’t have any effect on him whatsoever.
Mysterious Jade Hands didn’t just make his hands as hard as iron, they also isolated them from all poison.
Watching Tang San collect all the thirty six steel needles that were shot out, the appraiser finally came back to himself.
“Honored guest, even though it’s made from common materials, this weapon certainly is more elaborate than anything I’ve ever seen. Perhaps it might not be much use to other Spirit masters, but to ordinary people it’s a superb weapon. I’m prepared to give it a price of ten thousand gold spirit coins, what do you think?”
Tang San had only spent twenty gold spirit coins on making this Powder Shooting Shadow. Of course, that was only the material costs. On the entire Douluo Continent, he was the only one with the craftsmanship to create it.
Tang San nodded with a smile, handing over the Powder Shooting Shadow to the appraiser,
“No problem. Then put it up for sale. Now we’re qualified to join the auction.”
The receiving young woman to the side hastily said:
“Of course. Our auctions run constantly for twenty four hours of the day. All auctions are conducted at the heart of the hall. Please follow me. Your item will very quickly appear for auction, I’ll first bring you to handle the procedures.”
The procedures weren’t complicated, only setting up a gold spirit coin card with the auction house’s affiliated bank.
Through this bank Tang San could obtain the corresponding price after his item was sold and the commission was deducted. He could also place bids, with the condition that he couldn’t exceed his funds at the bank.
At the same time the receiving young lady gave the pair a simple introduction to the rules here.
As the biggest auction house in Heaven Dou Empire, it was possible to bid for any items here.
The first rule of the auction house was to never ask about the seller. Moreover they couldn’t reveal the circumstances of bidding in the auction house outside.
Part 2 (TL by Bagelson)
Twenty four hours constant bidding, without rest.
Every night was a time when top quality items were auctioned. Within those two hours only buyers with cash deposits in excess of one million gold spirit coins could participate. Any other time, any bidder could join.
The rules were very simple, but Tang San still noticed that this uninterrupted auction no doubt brought immense profit to the auction house. The auction of one precious thing would bring a ten percent commission, from some points of view that wasn’t much, but in fact, the accumulated wealth was terrifying.
Even so much that the profits must be enormous even compared to the Great Spirit Arena.
“Take us to the auction, please.”
Led by the young woman, Tang San and Xiao Wu finally got what they wanted, entering the heart of the Heaven Dou Auction.
The core of the auction was on the second floor. From the main hall there were eight staircases that led inside. Before entering the auction, the young woman gave them each a mask, telling them they everyone had to wear them in order to enter, out of security considerations for the customers. Next time nobody would receive them.
The young woman brought them directly to the entrance to the center of the auction before turning around and leaving. There were other attendants within the auction heart.
Compared to the young woman that brought them, the dress of the attendants here couldn’t help but make Tang San’s face and ear bright scarlet.
They also wore white clothes, and it was still dresses, but the feeling they gave people was entirely different.
The attendants within the auction were all female, around the same height as the young woman who brought them, but their figures were even more fiery.
The sleeveless white dresses they wore had wide open lapels at the chest. The short skirts barely passed seven cun[ 7寸 = 23.3cm] below the waist, exposing soft delicate thighs. Adding white high heeled shoes, they were even more exceptionally enticing. The deep gorge between their breasts, the pert but swelling under the short skirt, there was nothing that didn’t rouse the imagination.
Despite Tang San’s staunch willpower, he still couldn’t help looking several times. After all, he was still a normal man.
There was a sudden pain at his lower back
, and by his ears Xiao Wu’s menacing voice,
“What are you looking at? You’re not allowed to look.”
Tang San swallowed the pain and hastily said in a low voice:
“Do you take me for fatty! Let’s go inside.”
Xiao Wu used her own, taller compared to Tang San, stature to as much as possible block Tang San’s line of sight as that provocatively shaped attendant brought them into the heart of the auction.
The heart of the auction gave people a feeling more like a large auditorium, at a size similar to the central main Great Spirit Arena, at the center was a circular platform, surrounded by rings of seats.
They were altogether arranged into five sections. The three rows closest to the platform were red, and moving successively out from there the next were black, purple, yellow and white. Clearly it was set up according to the different levels of the bidders.
The receiving young woman had previously told them that the innermost red seats were accessed via a special passage, with special security personnel for protection. That was the area for so-called million level VIP’s, moreover one still had to be a person of considerable status to obtain red VIP qualifications.
The black seats outside was the common million level VIP area, anyone could enter and become a black guest as long as they had money.
Further out, purple was the five hundred thousand purple level guests, yellow was the hundred thousand level common guests, and the white area furthest out was also the largest area, where the most common guests like Tang San and Xiao Wu were seated.
The attendant brought the pair to the white area, indicating they could freely choose where to sit. Perhaps it was because Tang San and Xiao Wu were too young, or that their guest qualifications were too low, but the attendant wasn’t in any way enthusiastic, only very professionally brought them to their seats, even so much that she didn’t even have the professional smile of the previous receiving young woman.
Tang San was indifferent, but Xiao Wu was somewhat resentful,
“Hmph, arrogant snobs. Dressed like that, it’s clearly to seduce the wealthy. What did they do to grow that big?”
While speaking, Xiao Wu looked down at her own budding chest.
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 131