Chapter 2184 - Failing to Steal the Chicken

A moment later, Feng Wuji inwardly shook his head.

Xiao Jian might be domineering, but how could he possibly compare with Su Yi?

Su Yi is an unparalleled legend unafraid of even Master Gods!

As for Xiao Jian... Hah! He’s just relying on his identity as a Torch Dragon. He wouldn’t dare be so prideful otherwise.

Soon, Su Yi had acquired the broken sword, Unfettered Wanderer.

Rather, Unfettered Wanderer had returned to its original owner.

Next, Madam Qi Wei sold off one rare and precious treasure seldom seen on the market after another.

However, the crowd obviously wasn’t that interested.

Su Yi seized the opportunity to purchase three unparalleled divine medicines useful for treating injuries. In the process, he spent close to two hundred Undying Divine Crystals.

When the prominent experts in attendance saw this, they couldn’t help but be jealous. By now, they finally knew with certainty that the Torch Dragon expert, XIao Jian, was simply rolling in dough. He was throwing his money around left and right without reservation!

Eventually, Madam Qi Wei introduced an altogether different treasure. “This is a secret map of the Extreme Lightning Demon Cave. It’s the work of a Master God of the Qilin Trading Company."

Su Yi noticed that Feng Wuji perked up at the sight of it, and he seemed unusually attentive.

When the other gathered experts looked at Feng Wuji, their expressions left ample room for thought.

By now, the entire Southern Flame Divine Province knew that the Rahu Yao Ancestor of the ancient Feng Family had been badly injured and that he was trapped in the Extreme Lightning Demon Cave. No one knew whether he was alive or dead!

Su Yi finally dared say with certainty that his guess was right on the mark. Feng Wuji was here to help the Rahu Yao Ancestor!

But he hadn’t anticipated that the old-timer had been bold enough to explore the Extreme Lightning Demon Cave of all places.

That was one of the most famous forbidden zones in the entire Southern Flame Divine Continent. It was more than just dangerous; even Master Gods risked almost certain doom!

“I want that map. Please, set a price, Madam Qi Wei,” Feng Wuji said decisively.

“Heh heh.” The golden-robed old man of the Severed Heavens Demon Court chuckled. “To tell the truth, this old man is quite interested in that map, too. I won’t back down so easily.”

Feng Wuji’s expression darkened.

The other attendees, meanwhile, got ready to sit back and watch a spectacle.

Not everyone wished for the Rahu Yao Emperor’s safe return!

The Severed Heavens Demon Court certainly didn’t, because its founder, the Severed Demons Demon Master, was bitter enemies with the Rahu Yao Ancestor.

The two had fought for countless years. By now, the Severed Heavens Demon Court and the Feng Family got along like fire and water.

Thus, the Severed Heavens Yao Court would be among the happiest to see something happen to the Rahu Yao Ancestor!

Feng Wuji knew this too, and his expression was extremely unsightly. He suddenly realized that with the golden-robed old man here, he’d have to open a vein to buy that map, and that’s assuming he even managed to acquire it!

“I’ll start bidding at fifty Undying Divine Crystals,” Madam Qi Wei said with a smile. “The minimum increment is five Undying Divine Crystals.”

“One hundred crystals!” Feng Wuji didn’t hesitate to offer a high price.

“Two hundred!” the old man in golden robes said with a laugh.

“You...” Feng Wuji glared at him. “Niu Kui, you old bastard. Are you trying to cast aside all pretenses of cordiality with the Feng Family?”

“Be polite, little fellow. This is an auction, and all are free to bid as they please. If you want the map, outbid me.” The golden-robed old man, Niu Kui, said with a narrow-eyed grin.

The other prominent attendees watched inquisitively.

Niu Kui’s behavior is quite insidious, but it’ll only benefit the Qilin Trading Company in the end.

Who could fail to realize that Niu Kui was deliberately antagonizing Feng Wuji, and that his ultimate goal was to make the young man pay a ridiculous price for the map?

The only way for Feng Wuji to prevent this was to give up, but could he do that? If the Feng Family wanted to save the Rahu Yao Ancestor, they needed that map, even if they had to pay an arm and a leg for it!

Feng Wuji took a deep breath and said, “Three hundred pieces!”

But he’d only just said this when Niu Kui cheerily raised five fingers and said, “Five hundred!”

“Niu Kui!!” Feng Wuji gnashed his teeth, his eyes bloodshot and his expression hideous.

Five hundred Undying Divine Crystals was an astronomical sum. The Feng Family could afford it, but this was just a map; it was in no way worth that kind of money. They were undoubtedly getting ripped off.

“Is five hundred not enough? Then I’ll raise my bid to six hundred!”

Madam Qi Wei furrowed her brow; it seemed she didn’t want to see any more of this. “Sir, you’d best make sure you have enough Undying Divine Crystals on hand before bidding any further. Otherwise...”

But before she could finish, Niu Kui laughed. “Madam Qi Wei, rest assured, I know my limits.”

“Seven hundred pieces!” Feng Wuji gnashed his teeth. “Raise the price any further, and I swear I’ll...”

It would have been obvious to anyone that Feng Wuji was frantic with anger and on the verge of losing it completely.

But before he could even finish the threat, Niu Kui said provocatively, “Eight hundred Undying Divine Crystals. I’m curious. Is the Feng Family really going to give up on saving the Rahu Yao Ancestor because they’re too stingy to part with a little cash?”

Feng Wuji slapped the table, his eyes full of blatantly unconcealed murderous intent. “Niu Kui, you old bastard! Are you really sick of living?”

Niu Kui sat there calmly and laughed, “Young man, you really need to learn to keep your cool. This is the Qilin Trading Company; it’s not a place for you to lose your temper.”

Madam Qi Wei sighed. “Please, calm down, Young Lord Feng.”

Feng Wuji’s expression shifted erratically, but in the end, he could only slump and return to his seat in dejection. He really couldn’t give up on acquiring that map!

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

But then, a voice transmitted directly into Feng Wuji’s ears.

“I’ve got a map of the Extreme Lightning Demon Cave, too. If you need it, I’ll give it to you for just one hundred Undying Demon Crystals.”

Feng Wuji’s heart shook. He could tell that this voice belonged to Xiao Jian!

“How am I supposed to trust you?” Feng Wuji transmitted back with no outward change in expression.

“I’m an outsider. I wouldn’t sink so far as to deceive you, and besides, doing so would do me no good.” Su Yi drained a cup of wine.

He really couldn’t bear to see any more of this. Feng Wuji was so desperate to acquire that map that Niu Kui was leading him around by the nose.

In light of his acquaintanceship with Feng Wuji, and also because he had an extremely poor impression, Su Yi didn’t mind taking this opportunity to lend a hand.

“Young man, it’s your turn to bid,” Niu Kui reminded with a smile. “Rest assured that this old man isn’t the ruthless sort. If you really bid an astronomical figure, I’ll naturally have to relinquish the map.”

The other attendees looked at Feng Wuji with pity.

Niu Kui’s obviously got him in the palm of his hand.

But against all expectations, Feng Wuji said expressionlessly, “Very well. I won’t bid any further. I’ll just have to give the map to you.”

A deathly silence fell over the room. Everyone was gobsmacked.

Niu Kui’s smile froze, and it seemed he dared not believe it. “Are you sure? The Rahu Yao Ancestor’s life and death are on the line. Are you sure you want to give up on the map?”

When Feng Wuji saw the flabbergasted look on the old man’s face, he suddenly felt incomparably satisfied, and he couldn’t help but smile. “I know that, but I also understand that I’m not fated to own that map. It’s rightfully yours, you old bastard!”

“....” The crowd didn’t know what to say.

Niu Kui’s old face was suddenly incomparably ashen. His hair and beard bristled, and he was so angry that he almost coughed up blood.

Fuck! That little shit tricked me!

“If the ancient Feng Family finds out that you gave up on the map, will you be able to bear the consequences?” Niu Kui asked gravely.

“Are the Feng Family’s affairs any of your business?” said Feng Wuji. He felt increasingly satisfied, and his smile was radiant. “But allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate you. For the low, low price of just eight hundred Undying Divine Crystals, the map is yours!”

The corners of the crowd’s lips twitched, their expressions strange.

Niu Kui slapped the table and gnashed his teeth. “You tricked me, you little whelp!”

Feng Wuji teased, “What, you want to fly off the handle?”

He paused, then looked at Madam Qi Wei. “Madam, might I ask what happens if someone wins a treasure, but doesn’t have the money to pay for it?”

Madam Qi Wei gazed pityingly at Niu Kui before responding. “According to the rules of the Qiling Trading Company, they are to be severely punished.”

“Severely punished? How so?” Feng Wuji asked with great interest.”

Madam Qi Wei smiled. “Those who break their contracts must pay ten times the original price as compensation. If they can’t do that, they can only pay in blood.”

It was just a few light, airy sentences, but Niu Kui’s expression darkened, and he was inwardly frantic. “Madam Qi Wei, please, rest assured. I’ll gather the Undying Divine Crystals even if I have to sell my belongings for scrap metal to do it!”

His heart dripped blood, and he felt like he was about to fly off the handle. He longed for nothing more than to lunge at Feng Wuji and rip him to pieces.

Many of the others couldn’t help but look at him with pity.

This is what they call ‘trying to steal a chicken, only to lose the rice you tried to bait it with!’

Niu Kui dared not renege on his bid, as doing so would offend the Qilin Trading Company. Not even the Severed Heavens Demon Court would be able to protect him then!

“Someone, deliver the map to Fellow Daoist Nui Kiu,” ordered Madam Qi Wei.

Niu Kui slumped in shame. When he watched the attendant deliver the map, his gaze was a bit vacant.

Feng Wuji couldn’t help but burst into sputtering laughter.

Satisfying! That felt absolutely wonderful!

He couldn’t help but glance at the young man seated in the corner.

That Torch Dragon Xiao Jian is a great guy! I can definitely get along with him!

The auction went on a while longer, but the attendees had largely lost interest. When Madam Qi Wei picked up on this, she announced the end of the assembly.

After the auction, Madam Qi Wei approached Su Yi once more. “Fellow Daoist Xiao, if you aren’t a fan of tea, might I offer you Hundred Fruit Divine Brew instead? It’s a specialty of the Qilin Race. Care to try it?”

Su Yi was briefly stunned, but just as he was about to respond, someone bellowed, Niu Kui roared, “Wait!”

He shot to his feet, his gaze sinister as he pointed at Su Yi. “Were you the one who killed Lesser God Wen Long of the Severed Heavens Demon Court two days ago!?”

Everyone was startled.

Xiao Jian actually did something like that?

“Wen Long?” Su Yi said casually. “I don’t know who that is, but I did indeed kill a blind, ignorant fool two days ago. He was most likely a member of your Severed Heavens Demon Court.”

“....” The crowd didn’t know what to make of that.

He’s admitting it so easily?

“It really was you!” Niu Kui’s eyes blazed with murderous intent, and he said gravely, “Madam Qi Wei, there’s a blood debt between that boy and my sect! I urge you not to offer him any protection after he leaves the Qilin Trading Company!”

The crowd was instantly solemn. It was obvious to all of them that Niu Kui was thoroughly enraged.