He had been wanting to keep a low profile. He even thought that although he would have to speak
loudly, he could change his voice by making it really hoarse and by that logic, unrecognizable.
What balderdash all of this was! All of this hiding and crouching was not to Austin's liking at all. Had he
had a better option in mind, he wouldn't have resorted to such tactics. But then Raymond was there
and that too, with a bone to pick would have been the quickest to find out the voice as Austin's. This
whole dilemma of hiding and not hiding had no solution. After all, just because he disguised his voice
once didn't mean that Austin was saved. He had to bid again and foolishly hope that he would go
undetected by Raymond whenever he opened his mouth to bargain!
Austin's fears were not unfounded. The moment Raymond heard his hoarse voice, he looked in his
direction, as if the voice rang a bell.
He even leaned forward and traced the source of the voice in the crowd. When he finally looked at the
corner where Austin stood, Austin had nowhere to run or hide.
So what else, Austin allowed himself a bitter smile.
As the drama was playing out silently between Austin and Raymond, a sexy voice distracted the tense
atmosphere. Somehow, this voice sounded even more attractive than the auctioneer's. "You are so
generous, my boy," a woman said slowly and sexily. "But it's a pity that I want to buy this
swordsmanship, too. I'm sorry, but I will offer two hundred and thirty thousand vital energy crystals!"
the woman declared, chuckling to herself. She had shown her determination by marking up twenty
thousand vital energy crystals without showing any hesitation.
Her charming voice instantly diverted the attention from Austin to her. And rightly so. She had a
stunning figure, both hot and slim to ogle at as she sat curling up in a chair that was covered with
leopard print. She looked as supple as a willow, and as enchanting as a seductress.
"It's Trish! The Trish from the Flower Blooming Sect!"
Someone among the crowd said out loud in excitement, happy to have recognized this bidder.
The Flower Blooming Sect had a legendary reputation for more reasons than one. A noted sect in the
Violet Orchid Empire, besides the traditional big five, its members were mostly women, most like Trish.
"Two hundred and forty thousand vital energy crystals!"
said Austin without a second thought, in a tone which seemed to challenge anybody to go higher.
"Oh, my sweet boy. You see, I really want to buy this swordsmanship and add it to my collection, of all
the things. Could you just spare it for me? You are such a lovely boy and I like you very much, so could
you please repay my affection by giving it to me?"
Trish asked, still smiling flirtatiously. In order to lure Austin into giving up on the swordsmanship, she
kept leering at him. She was exquisitely dainty and beautiful in a glimpse. Not many men would have
been able to hold their ground in the face of such persuasion. In fact, she had now stirred sexual
feelings inside more than one man in the room.
Feeling the fire in the pits of their stomachs, some of them even started to imagine pressing
themselves against her warm and soft body. They could picture in their mind how they would become
excited and lose themselves hearing the beauty moan and exhale with pleasure, as they tasted her
rosy lips.
But it didn't work for Austin at all. 'Are you kidding me? It's not meant for collectors! What a waste of
money to haggle for it just to put it on the shelf!' Austin secretly complained. 'I will be a fool if I
surrender it to you. A set of swordsmanship would be of no value if no one learns and practices it!'
thought Austin, rolling his eyes with disapproval.
"Two hundred and fifty thousand vital energy crystals!"
"Two hundred and sixty thousand vital energy crystals!"
"Two hundred and seventy thousand vital energy crystals!" To Austin's annoyance, the offers suddenly
went higher and higher. . .
One after another, many cultivators joined in to bid seeing that Austin and Trish competed for it. Feeling
emboldened by their recklessness, some cultivators thought that either Lady Luck or Trish would
shower them with her attention. So once the bidding got injected with this kind of enthusiasm, the price
kept climbing up.
Soon enough, the Flower Blooming Sect wasn't the only one scrambling for the swordsmanship with
Austin. Many other powerful sects had jumped in the race to bag it.
The auctioneer was chuffed by now. To stoke the competition further, the silver-tongued woman went
on calling out the bids and bumping up the price, until the offer for this Illusory Swordsmanship went as
high as three hundred thousand vital energy crystals, within a very short time.
At this point, few cultivators felt inclined to go any higher, and the price went up another thirty thousand
energy crystals before the competition stopped.
Three hundred and thirty thousand vital energy crystals was Austin's offer. Seeing everyone finally
become quiet after his last bid, Austin breathed a sigh of relief.
Those cultivators were willing to compete mainly because it was a level 4 martial arts skill.
But since its shortcomings were there for all of them to see, it would not be worth a price higher than
the last bid, especially for those who couldn't even use it well.
"Three hundred and thirty thousand vital energy crystals! Do I hear three hundred and forty thousand
vital energy crystals?" the auctioneer pressed on.
"Three hundred and thirty thousand vital energy crystals! Any other offers?"
she inquired again. Looking towards the crowd, she was hanging out for a better offer. But when she
found that most cultivators shook their heads, she raised her hammer and was about to set the
hammer price.
"Wait!"
someone suddenly demanded, with a hint of anger in his voice.
The auctioneer paused, and turned to look at the man with a confused look on her face.
It was Raymond. The auctioneer was surprised for a split second, but seeing him rise up, she smiled
again and asked, "How may I help you, our distinguished guest from the Flaming Sun Valley?"
Raymond didn't deem her important enough to respond to her immediately.
Instead, he ignored people's stares and turned to fix a stern look at Austin, who again was trying to
hide in the dark corner knowing what was to ensue.
"Nothing, it's just that I have taken a sudden interest in this Illusory Swordsmanship, because of a
friend of mine. I will give three hundred and fifty thousand vital energy crystals!"
Raymond announced in a cold, hard voice.
Austin leaned on the wall with resignation, a wry smile spreading over his face.
Like it or not, it seemed that Raymond was right on his heels anyway.
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