Realms In The Firmament

“Thirteen thousand!” Another voice sounded somewhere.

The second bid appeared.

After all, it was something powerful enough to create two divine weapons.

“Fifteen thousand!” A middle-aged man shouted.

“Twenty thousand!” A man with a big beard raised up the price by five thousand. Apparently, he wanted to scare away the competitors.

“Twenty-one thousand!”

…

However, twenty thousand purple spirit coins were far less than enough to force these people back. Some others did not give in, just kept raising up the number.

Master Xiao seemed to be worried, and also a bit annoyed. ‘No wonder the Brotherhood Alliance wouldn’t do that for me. The highest price they had ever obtained in the auction before was nineteen thousand purple spirit coins. Now, one small piece of Feather Bronze has already broken the record, and the number is still rising… Are these people in the Limitless Ocean all so rich?’

Finally, somebody shouted hastily to the crowd. “Guys, gentlemen, please. Master Xiao needs the Feather Bronze to make his vertical bamboo flute. If you don’t actually need it for anything special, why don’t we step back a bit and give the chance to Master Xiao… When Master Xiao made his vertical bamboo flute, we can listen to his beautiful songs again. Isn’t it wonderful?”

Master Xiao’s pretty face didn’t look indifferent anymore when he heard the man speaking. He cracked a warm smile.

‘Well, it appears there are clever people in the Limitless Ocean. People are supporting me after all.’

‘It feels so good.’

‘That is right. If I can get easily have the Feather Bronze, I won’t hesitate to put on some shows in the City of Chaos. They can take it as a gift from me, as a return for the favor!’

‘However, I don’t think it is necessary to play songs that consume my soul power. They won’t understand anyway.’

Unexpectedly, when that man just finished speaking for Master Xiao, many people in the bidder’s block stared at him with anger in their eyes. They were apparently extremely annoyed.

After that, somebody made an awkward smile and said in a weird tone, “Well, let’s think about what this brother just said. I think he means that the great Master Xiao’s vertical bamboo flute is important, while our weapons, which accompany us for a lifetime are nothing. Do I get it right? No matter how important our weapons are for us, we must give the metal to your great Master Xiao. Is that what you mean? Isn’t it?”

The man anxiously said, “I… I didn’t mean it… I didn’t say it… What I said… Master Xiao’s song… You know… When he played his vertical bamboo flute…”

“Why should I care about how he plays with his vertical bamboo flute? He can blow whatever he wants! He can refuse to blow it too! I don’t care! Besides, even if he does put on a show somewhere, do you think we can all go? Think about it. How many times has he played his thing in the Limitless Ocean? Will he play it only for me? Alone?”

Another man sneered.

Somebody agreed with him. “That’s absolutely true. Even if Master Xiao can play the songs from heavens, do you think we have time to listen to him all day? Our weapons stay with us every second! It accompanies us for a lifetime! Isn’t it clear which side means more to us?”

“Absolutely true! We won’t mistreat ourselves for somebody else’s benefit!”

“Let’s assume that I give it up now. Does Master Xiao know who actually has given up for him? Will he know who did the favor for him? It is such a stupid idea to give up a chance for something unreliable! I am not going to do such a stupid thing!”

“Well, I don’t know if Master Xiao would remember me. He may forget about you too. But he definitely won’t forget that man who spoke for him! That must be the pretty master’s fanboy! Look how stupid he becomes! We must remember how f*cking stupid that man is! It actually opened my eyes!”

“That’s right! We are having a fair competition here! Who gives the highest price gets the lot! If Monarch Xiao can pay more than every one of us, he can surely have the Feather Bronze. If you want me to just give it up for him, I should say f*ck off.”

“I don’t accept it either. What is the Limitless Ocean? This is a world of danger. Death is everywhere. To give up the chance that could save my life someday for a song that I may never be going to hear? Abso-f*cking-lutely not!”

“Listen to a fart, and I can smell something afterward. Listen to a song? I get nothing! Why would I do that?”

“Master Xiao? Who the f*ck is this Master Xiao…? I am a rough man who never listens to songs. Oh, I do, but I only listen to the songs sung by the ladies in the brothel… They absolutely blow much better than this Master Xiao with my flute in their mouths…”

“Hah hah hah…”

“Absolutely not!”

“Bid! You want it, you bid for it! You have the money, you stand up. Poor bastards shut the f*ck up!”

“You are a poor bastard! You are all poor bastards! Twenty-six thousand!”

“Holy hell? Are you f*cking messing with me? Do you think you are richer than me? Thirty thousand!”

The entire place was in a mess. Master Xiao was utterly provoked.

Somebody had stood up and spoke for him, and actually displeased the entire crowd. People even called him a fanboy.

That was such a disgrace to him that he had never endured before in his life!

He had heard that cultivators in the Limitless Ocean were all lawless people. Now as he finally experienced it in person, he finally believed that these people had no courtesy.

If they just refused to give up the metal for him, he wouldn’t feel offended so much. An auction house was a financial competition after all. Whoever had more money won the game. However, he was so angry about people being rude and impolite to him.

Master Xiao usually appeared as an easy-going gentleman, but now he was uncontrollably angry!

At the back of the bidder’s block, the other Master Xiao, Ye Xiao, sitting comfortably on the chair, leaning backward, showing a pleasing smile in his eyes.

It appeared it was a good decision to give the metals to the Brotherhood Alliance. It was going to be as good as Ye Xiao expected.

Only an organization of a local force could get the highest price in the auction.

Only the Brotherhood Alliance wouldn’t care about any other influential people in the world.

In fact, there was one thing in Ye Xiao’s heart. He was sure that the Brotherhood Alliance had planted quite a lot of people in the bidder’s block.

Otherwise, things wouldn’t come to such an extreme situation so soon. Master Xiao was pushed to the opposite side against the entire crowd now.

As long as Master Xiao wanted to get the metal, people would try their best to stop him. As the price was raised upper, the salesroom earned more…

‘Well done. Good job.’

Ye Xiao was quite satisfied with the current situation.

The price of that piece of Feather Bronze had been rising and rising. It had already reached the line beyond the rational number.

The auctioneer was like in a heat of love potion, extremely excited.

“Forty-two thousand! A forty-two thousand appears… Anybody else? Any more bid? The legendary Feather Bronze is right here! Ah! Ah! Ah! Forty-four thousand! We have a forty-four thousand over there! Forty-four thousand from our honorable guest. Number One Hundred and Eighty-six… Forty-five thousand! Forty-five thousand… It has been centuries since a top-class rare metal appeared in an auction… Wait! Forty-seven thousand, from hour honorable guest, Number One Hundred and Ninety-three… Oh! Oh! Oh! Ah! Forty-eight thousand from Number One Hundred and Thirty-one… Oh! Oh, oh, oh, oh… Ah… Fifty thousand! Fifty thousand over there! Anybody else? Any more bid! Come on! Fifty thousand, calling once… This Feather Bronze is the only piece that has ever appeared in the Human Realm Upon Heavens for the last three million years… Anybody? Any more bid? Over there… Fifty-two thousand over there! Fifty-two thousand now… Anybody else? This could be the only chance in your life! Fifty-four thousand! Fifty-four thousand over there… Fifty-four heavenly thousand from our Number Two Hundred and Forty-nine bidder! Anybody else? Any more bid? This is the great Feather Bronze we are selling here! It turns moral irons into divine weapons! Come on! Ah! Ah, ah, ah, ah…”

The auctioneer must be crazy at the moment. He kept telling the crowd how great the Feather Bronze, and intentionally drag it on and on.

When he spoke that long speech out, he said it without a stop. Holding his breath for such a long time, he had his face turn totally red, but he didn’t seem to stop yelling.

The bidders who had called their bids were all so pissed by the auctioneer at this moment.

‘What the hell is wrong with you? The Feather Bronze has nothing to do with you! You are just an auctioneer! Why are you working on it so hard? I am going to f*ck you up, you f*cking bastard!’

‘F*cking moron! Every number you shout-out, we have to pay one hundred billion yellow spirit coins to bid!’

‘You bastard! Do you think we earn our money easily? Do you think the wind blows money into my house?’

‘Are you addicted to the Feather Bronze fantasy?’

The price was getting higher, and more and more people stopped bidding.

“Sixty thousand!” Master Xiao finally called his bid. The price was boosted up to sixty thousand purple spirit coins.

He had been staying self-restrained for a long time. In the end, he was sure there were only three people who were able to continue the competition, so he figured it was time he got in.

“Sixty-one thousand!”

It was the man who first stood up and refused to give up the metal for Master Xiao. He actually stood up right against Master Xiao now, and he talked to Master Xiao with a big smile, “Master Xiao, I mean no offense. I do like to let you blow the flute for me, but I love my sword more. After all, it is the one who will be my partner for the rest of my life… I am sorry.”

People in the crowd were all shocked when they heard what the man said, and then the crowd burst into a wild laughter.

Master Xiao was surprised as well, and then his entire face turned red as if it was going to bleed.

It was definitely humiliating to say those words…

‘I do like to let you blow the flute for me…’

All the men who heard this were shocked…

‘But I love my sword more. After all, it is the one who will be my partner for the rest of my life…’

What was that? Was it about a romantic story? Was it about the eternity of love?

‘That was so nasty… That is a really nasty man…’ Everybody was having the same thought while everybody was laughing.

It was pretty impressive to think of some nasty words like that.

That man was definitely a nasty man who did not care about politeness at all!

Master Xiao couldn’t say a word.

Although everybody knew what that nasty man meant by saying those words, it was all indication. After all, Master Xiao did play a vertical bamboo flute.

That man did only want to spend his life with his dear sword, so he wouldn’t give up the metal for Master Xiao’s flute play…

It was true, and there was nothing wrong about it.

“Sixty-five thousand!” Master Xiao almost spat out a mouthful of blood because of his anger, but he pushed the anger down in his heart.

He couldn’t keep pretending to be that gentleman anymore. With his fierce eyes, he stared at that man. If his sharp eyes could kill, that man would have been slaughtered and ripped into pieces.

“Sixty-six thousand.” That man kept raising the price and smiling.

Two other men who were pretending to join the competition eventually gave up when they heard the number, so they sat down and turned quiet.

Apparently, the number was way beyond their ability to pay.

“Seventy thousand!” Master Xiao gritted his teeth.

Master Xiao had to keep going with it. As the auctioneer said, he might never be going to get another chance if he missed this one. Giving up the Feather Bronze meant giving up the enhancement on the weapon for ordinary cultivators. However, for Master Xiao, giving up the Feather Bronze meant giving up on his future!

“Seventy-one thousand!” That man was still smiling, staring at Master Xiao with a sneer in his eyes.

“Seventy-five thousand!” Master Xiao took a deep breath. His eyes looked more vicious now.

“Seventy-six thousand.” That man was shaking his neck, making a clicking sound. He sighed and said, “Well, every time when I get nervous, my neck has this problem… It seems I do need somebody to play my flute for me… It should be relaxing… Oh, but I have really pissed Master Xiao off right there… He is not going to even talk to me, not to mention play the flute for me…”

“Ignoramus!” Master Xiao finally couldn’t hold down his anger. “Watch your mouth!”

“Ah? What?” That man looked at Master Xiao. He looked surprised and wronged. “What? I… What did I do? I was telling the truth, wasn’t I? Wait a minute… Are you telling me you are going to stop playing the flute? Oh, no. It is such a loss for an ignoramus like me! Oh, my heavens. You know what… We are rough men… And we really are big and rough…”

The crowd burst into a wild laughter in chaos again.

‘Holy hell, that bastard! Listen to that nasty talk! That is audacious and contemptible!’

‘Look how he disgraces the pretty young master… Yet he actually pretends to be innocent.’

‘It is true that anything is possible as long as you live long enough to see it?!’

“You… You contemptible person!” Master Xiao’s entire face turned red. He stared at that man with his sharp eyes as if he was going to swallow that man right away.

“What? How am I a contemptible person? What did I say wrong? I didn’t say anything wrong!” That man threw up his hands and looked confused. And then he pretended to be enlightened, and he said, “Oh, I see! Master Xiao, you think I am humiliating you, don’t you?”

“Aren’t you?” When Master Xiao asked this, all the others asked the same question in their hearts.

‘What is humiliating if that doesn’t mean humiliating? If that wasn’t humiliating, I think all abusive words could be compliments.’

“No, no, no… You are wrong. What I meant was the real art of vertical bamboo flute playing… Come on, it was not that kind of flute that you would imagine… You got me wrong, Master Xiao. Oh, look. When I said to blow the flute, I meant you blowing your own flute, not blowing my thing… I think I must make it clear for you… Really… You got me wrong…”

That man was so solemn, and then he started to talk to Master Xiao like he was giving a lesson to the young man. “Master Xiao… You… You got to keep your mind clean! Do not think too much of those nasty things…”

“Hah hah hah hah…” All the people in the hall started to laugh. The crowd was in a mess.

Somebody actually got down to the floor because they laughed too loud. Some spat out the water they had just drunk into their mouth.

‘Not blowing my thing?’

‘Oh, my f*cking heavens… Can’t it be more undisguised?’

‘He has humiliated Master Xiao to hell, yet he actually accused Master Xiao for being erotic! What a nasty man he is!’

Master Xiao was shaking because of his anger. His face started to turn dark purple.

“Yes. Yes! I know, that you are just a man who plays the vertical bamboo flute… I really do not want you to play the thing for me… Wait. Yes, I did want you to play it for me… No… Wait. I didn’t mean my thing… I mean… Anyway… I don’t want you to play the thing for me… Oh, wait. I just remember this. Did you tell me to watch my mouth? What did you mean by that? Do you want me to blow it for you? No way. I can’t do it. I mean, I am not capable of it. I never do that. I don’t blow a flute. I don’t blow your flute or your thing… I can’t play either… Well, you can, can’t you? You are good at it. Why don’t you just do it for yourself? Why do you want me to do it for you?”

In the end, that man nodded and continued saying, “I may be better than you at playing swords, but blowing something… I am not as good as you. You are professional after all. We all know you are.”

Many people around him shouted at the same time, “He is not as nasty as you either!”

“Hah hah hah… Please, I am flattered…” He actually cupped his fist to the crowd with that sinister smile on his face.

“Puff!” Many people spat out a mouthful of blood in shock.

‘There is actually a man who is so nastily talkative. This is an eye-opening!’

The man didn’t stop easily, so he turned to Master Xiao and said, “You are good at playing the vertical bamboo flute indeed. The audience is always obsessed. You have played the vertical bamboo flute for so many times, haven’t you? That man who spoke for you earlier, trying to stop us bidding, must be obsessed. He just loves the way you blow it…”

‘You have played the vertical bamboo flute for so many times…’

‘He just loves the way you blow it…’

That man wanted to provoke Master Xiao as much as he could, so he spoke out more disgraceful words, getting that fanboy into the scenario.

He was such an incredibly talkative man!

Master Xiao was shaking, staring at that nasty man, slowly growled to that man word by word, “You will regret this. You will definitely regret this… I will make sure of it.”

“Oh, no. I am so scared. The famous Master Xiao threatens me.” That man pretended to be terrified and then proudly raised up his head. He said, “What? Famous Master Xiao, huh? You are just playing the vertical bamboo flute to earn your livelihood, aren’t you? And you actually so arrogantly said you would make me regret? What? Do you think you can bite me? I am not going to let you!”

The man was so mean and he stopped at nothing. It was getting nastier now.

Master Xiao took a deep breath, trying to hold down the anger in his heart, and shouted loudly to the stage, “I will pay a hundred thousand purple spirit coins!”

He finally realized that it would bring himself more pain and disgrace to talk to that nasty man. He was never going to win that game.

Therefore, he decided to take the Feather Bronze as soon as he could, and there would be nothing lest to talk about.

However, ending the quarrel was one thing, but the grudge was never going to end easily. Master Xiao would never go easy to the man who kept humiliating him!

The fierce and vicious eyes of Master Xiao had proved it.

“A hundred thousand… Oh…” That man exclaimed and frowned. After thinking for a while, he said, “I would have never expected that a man who blows the thing for a living could be this rich. Well, I give up… That’s expensive… Way too expensive…”

“Oh… How many flutes does he have to blow to make a hundred thousand…”

As he tried to humiliate Master Xiao for the last time and gave up bidding, he kept shaking his head. He was going to sit down in frustration, but something else happened.

“Wait!” Master Xiao’s cold eyes gazed on him again.

The man was shocked, and he said, “What is it? Do you want to blow it for me tonight because you are so happy to get the treasure?”

Things were already so intense, yet this man actually still kept trying to provoke Master Xiao, and it was becoming more and more undisguised.

He was apparently going to tease Master Xiao to the end of his life.

…