Chapter 226: The Frenzied Auction
It was definitely too late to cancel, after all, this concerned the black market’s credibility. If they played around like this, the Deep Blue Black Market would be done for.
After thinking it over repeatedly, Qu Suxin sighed worriedly.
“In that case, let’s increase the defensive forces during the auction.”
“Yes.”
The female secretary nodded, then respectfully withdrew.
………..
The Deep Blue Black Market’s auction was generally held on the 3rd day, lasting about two hours, with the specific start time at 2 p.m.
So on the 2nd day, Lu Li didn’t go out at all, instead accompanying Yao Yifei to wait for the auction to begin.
Yao Yifei was giving Lu Li “preventive shots” on the side, so that he wouldn’t be hit too hard later.
“This time, our main goal is to broaden our horizons. Forget about bidding in the auction. Everyone who can attend the auction is basically richer than us, and they have more good stuff on them too.”
Lu Li nodded.
He still had that much self-awareness. After all, after studying diligently for 16 years, how could he compare to generations of accumulation?
The two first took the elevator to the sixth floor. After showing the auction invitation, the attendant waiting there respectfully led them into the elevator.
Led by the attendant, the two arrived in a small private room.
The entire auction had no connected audience seats; each was a separate private room.
The overall design of the auction was oval-shaped. Besides the central auction stage, the surroundings were all individual private rooms.
These private rooms were made of special materials, rendering any spatial type or spirit detection type skills useless here.
Just this auction venue alone cost over 20 billion to build.
Yao Yifei sincerely exclaimed, “The auction is really huge.”
“The Qu Family is indeed going all out.” Lu Li nodded in deep agreement.
The room butler respectfully asked, “Honored guests, there’s half an hour until the auction begins. Do you need any entertainment services?”
“No need.”
Yao Yifei instantly understood what service it was, so she unhesitatingly refused on Lu Li’s behalf.
Lu Li: “…”
Lu Li thought he still wanted to broaden his horizons.
But upon seeing Yao Yifei’s warning gaze, Lu Li awkwardly shut his mouth.
Perhaps feeling her approach was too overbearing, Yao Yifei blushed and said, “If you’re bored, I can provide something for you.”
Hearing this, Lu Li’s eyes lit up.
There was such a good thing?
“As a coordinator, my dancing is world-class.” Yao Yifei said, lifting her chin.
“I really didn’t know that.” Lu Li looked at Yao Yifei curiously.
He had rarely paid attention to entertainment matters before, and he seldom followed Yao Yifei’s news, so naturally he didn’t know she could dance.
“Coordinators must learn dancing, singing, acting, arena performances, and I’m good at all of them.” Yao Yifei said spiritedly.
In the coordinator field, she had indeed achieved remarkable success.
“You two, leave first.”
Yao Yifei said to the butler in the room.
The room butler got it instantly and quickly led the attendant out of the room.
Yao Yifei then released her Espeon.
The two Pokémon danced elegantly in the room.
Yao Yifei’s waist was soft like a willow, yet burst with astonishing power in every leap. Her dance was like bamboo swaying in the wind—soft yet not weak, firm yet not rigid.
Her steps were light and agile, as if every note danced under her feet.
Lu Li finally understood the joy of the ancients. It turned out that in an era without phones or the internet, people could still be this happy?
After over half an hour of high-intensity movement, Yao Yifei stopped, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and gently sat back beside Lu Li.
“How was it? Isn’t this better than the service you wanted?” Yao Yifei asked.
It was indeed very good.
Lu Li nodded seriously.
“Alright, the auction is about to start.” Yao Yifei suddenly focused intently ahead.
In front of the sofa was a huge transparent floor-to-ceiling window, allowing a clear view of everything on the auction stage from here.
As the host announced the official start of the auction, he ordered the attendant to bring out the first auction item.
“Pokémon Secret Treasure—Fire Gem!”
“Appraised by the auction house’s appraisers, this Fire Gem is of extremely high quality. Starting bid is 100 million, with minimum increments of 1 million.”
“Now, the auction begins!”
As the host announced the start, different bids kept coming from various rooms.
Lu Li said softly, “Starting with a Pokémon Secret Treasure—what must come later?”
He had attended Jin Duoduo’s auction before, and compared to this one, there was simply no comparison.
“That’s why I told you not to hold any hopes for this auction.” Yao Yifei comforted from the side.
Lu Li nodded.
In the end, that Fire Gem was won for 250 million.
Pokémon Secret Treasures generally had prices but no market. Though some said they were around 100 million, anyone who believed that was a fool.
Lu Li, who hadn’t seen much of the world before, had believed it.
But now…
“Fuck! This is just an information cocoon, noble families, alliance—you all deserve to die!” Lu Li cursed inwardly.
As the auction neared its end, the auction items became increasingly rare and valuable.
From Pokémon Secret Treasures to Heavenly King Breeding Notes, then Heavenly King Training Notes.
What Lu Li hadn’t expected was that in elite trainer circles, those Heavenly King Breeding Notes and Training Notes were actually more valuable than Pokémon Secret Treasures.
“How can Heavenly King Trainer Training Notes be more valuable than Pokémon Secret Treasures?” Lu Li asked puzzled.
“Heavenly King Breeding Notes might record unique Pokémon Item crafting methods, Training Notes even secret techniques. Plus, knowledge can be shared, not used up.”
Lu Li said, “But Pokémon Secret Treasures are non-renewable resources too.”
Hearing this, Yao Yifei smiled meaningfully and countered, “Who do you think these Heavenly King Trainer notes help the most?”
Lu Li fell into thought.
Those craving knowledge were definitely commoners, since noble families had inheritances and didn’t need other Heavenly King Trainers’ notes—or at least not as much.
Realizing this, Lu Li had a sudden epiphany.
Yao Yifei sneered, “This is one of the ways noble families suppress commoner trainers, and one of the most effective.”
In Lu Li’s view, Pokémon Secret Treasures were surely more valuable than those Heavenly King Trainer Breeding Notes, because he had a cheat.
But commoner trainers without cheats didn’t think so.
Heavenly King Trainer notebooks fetched around 300 million each, almost every one.
“Aren’t they afraid of being scammed?” Lu Li asked puzzled.
Yao Yifei shook her head: “For those wealthy families, gaining even one-tenth of a Heavenly King Trainer’s knowledge for 300 million is a steal.”
“Plus, this is the Qu Family’s auction house—its credibility is guaranteed.” Yao Yifei added.
“The next auction item is a Gliscor with Heavenly King Level Qualification. Starting bid 200 million, minimum increments of 2 million.”
A new round of bidding began.
Watching the numbers climb, Lu Li exclaimed, “This is too crazy!”
“This isn’t crazy at all.” Yao Yifei felt a bit tempted; after all, she was a Flying Type trainer.
Gliscor might not look great, but at least it wasn’t ugly.
Starting talent at Heavenly King Level meant normal nurturing would guarantee at least Heavenly King Level Gliscor; with a Pokémon Secret Treasure, it could reach Champion Level.
Thinking of this, Yao Yifei was deeply tempted.
But seeing the increasingly outrageous bids outside, the fire in her heart gradually cooled.
It wasn’t that she lacked the money—as a world-class coordinator and part-time Gym Leader, her total assets exceeded 10 billion.
Among most Gym Leaders, she was considered wealthy.
But the problem was Gliscor wasn’t worth it.
In the end, the Gliscor was won for 500 million.
“Are high-qualification Pokémon prices this outrageous?” Lu Li couldn’t help asking.
Yao Yifei explained, “More precisely, high-qualification Pokémon Eggs are this outrageous.”
Lu Li continued, “Isn’t it said no one can detect a Pokémon Egg’s exact qualification?”
“Didn’t you hear the host? Offspring of a Champion Level Gliscor—saying Heavenly King is conservative.” Yao Yifei rolled her eyes at Lu Li.
Feeling looked down on, Lu Li muttered, “What if it mutates?”
“Professional breeders already checked that Pokémon Egg. No mutations, that’s why it’s at auction.” Yao Yifei explained.
Lu Li nodded, then curiously eyed the next auction item.
“Charmander Pokémon Egg, offspring of a Heavenly King Level Charizard. Starting bid 100 million…”
Lu Li: “…”
Toward the end, they started auctioning Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon Eggs.
“Dratini Pokémon Egg, parental qualifications unknown. Starting bid 100 million.” The host announced.
Since the Dratini Pokémon Egg’s parental qualifications were unknown, fewer people bid this time.
Hearing this, Lu Li quickly formed hand seals to activate his Spiritual Vision Eye.
Heavenly King Level!
Lu Li’s heart tightened—this was another bargain opportunity.
Not a huge bargain, since Pseudo-Legendaries were outrageously expensive anyway, but it was a Pseudo-Legendary, and one with Master Qualification.
Noticing the change on Lu Li’s face, Yao Yifei asked, “What? You interested in this Pokémon Egg?”
Lu Li nodded.
Lu Li, about to speak, paused.
With his current assets, he definitely couldn’t afford a Pseudo-Legendary. Aunt Liu Li’s card had only 300 million, and it was nearly spent.
“Do you like Dragonite?” Lu Li asked in return.
Yao Yifei smiled and nodded: “Dragonite looks goofy and silly, but I actually like it a lot. I’ve never found a way to buy a Dratini—today’s thanks to you.”
Lu Li nodded, “If you trust me, bid on this Pokémon Egg. It’s perfect for you.”
“Of course I trust you.”
Yao Yifei rolled her eyes at Lu Li. Was she the brainless type? After all they’d been through, how could she not trust his abilities?
“300 million!” Yao Yifei bid directly.
“310 million!”
“320 million!”
“400 million!” Yao Yifei bid again.
“450 million!”
Seeing someone still chasing, Yao Yifei gritted her teeth and went to 500 million.
Though her net worth was over 10 billion, most was real estate; liquid funds were only about 700-800 million.
Shelling out 500 million at once was already crippling for her.
“530 million!”
Another room’s member bid.
“550 million!”
In the end, it was just Yao Yifei and that relentless rival.
Yao Yifei gritted her teeth: “600 million!”
This time, her rival finally didn’t bid, and Yao Yifei sighed heavily in relief.
If it kept climbing, she’d have to mortgage real estate.
After successfully winning the Pokémon Egg, Yao Yifei eagerly asked, “Now can you tell me this Dratini’s qualification?”
Lu Li: “Heavenly King Level.”
“Hiss~”
Yao Yifei sucked in a cold breath.
With a Pokémon Secret Treasure, Dragonite was guaranteed Master Level at least. A Heavenly King Level Qualification Dratini was far more valuable than a Heavenly King Level Qualification Rufflet.
“No wonder you told me to bid—this time I finally got the bargain.” Yao Yifei said excitedly.
Lu Li rolled his eyes at Yao Yifei. If he had that much money, would it be your turn for this bargain?
The Dratini Pokémon Egg was like an appetizer; the real highlights came next.
After the Heavenly King Level Qualification Garchomp was brought to the stage, the auction atmosphere instantly peaked.
Everyone at the auction went crazy. The Dratini Pokémon Egg only reached 600 million because its qualification was uncertain.
But Heavenly King Level Qualification Garchomp was solidly Master Qualification.
Yao Yifei said enviously, “No need to think about this one. Next are the noble families competing—let’s just watch the show.”
Lu Li nodded, then stared fixedly at the two cloth-covered cages.
Though covered by cloth, Lu Li still saw the divine glow.
Meaning the things in those two cages might be Divine Items, or even Divine Beasts!
Divine Items couldn’t be caged, so only one possibility.
Those two cages very likely held Divine Beast Cubs.
But how was that possible?
Even the world’s stupidest spendthrift wouldn’t sell a Divine Beast Cub.
As for adult Divine Beasts in the cages?
Don’t joke.
Even adult Divine Beasts without Authority, once mature, were Master Level Pokémon. If Master Level Pokémon could be confined, it wouldn’t be called the Divine Realm.
