Chapter 279 Entering the City, Flower City! (3.5k)
“You two, hold on!”
The tall officer saw Su Jiu and the other about to leave, and quickly called out to them. Then, he took a key from his pocket, laughed heartily, and tossed the key over.
“It’s inconvenient to fly in Flower City. This is the key to a Pika. If you don’t mind, you can use it for transportation. The black one not far ahead is it.”
“Thank you…”
Upon hearing this, Su Jiu turned around and walked over slowly, catching the key with a smile. He cupped his fists lightly. Just as he was about to turn away, he paused slightly, turned back, and said to the officer very seriously, “This matter definitely has the Black-clad Bishop playing a role behind the scenes. I hope this officer can notify the military or the Dragon Hunters as soon as possible to send Battle King Level experts to resolve the issue.”
“Okay…” Responding, the tall officer was stunned for a moment, then asked somewhat puzzled,
“But Elder, aren’t you here to capture that Black-clad Bishop?”
Obviously, he, like the priest, regarded Su Jiu as an expert specifically here to deal with Ancient God Sect events. However, hearing Su Jiu’s answer, it didn’t seem like that was the case.
“Me? I’m just here to attend the auction.” Su Jiu chuckled, used the key to honk the Pika to confirm its location, and then walked over.
“Ka!”
“Oh, you’re here for the auction too? However, I know the auction house manager. When you go later, I’ll give him a call. Whether it’s for selling items or for an auction room, he’ll arrange it all for you.”
Just as the former opened the car door, the tall officer’s voice rang out with a hint of helpless laughter, and then he added.
“Thank you!”
Su Jiu smiled, turned back and thanked him repeatedly, opened the car door, started the engine, and then thought of something. He turned his head and said to the tall officer behind him,
“Please don’t expose my identity and location to others.”
It was still inconvenient for others to know her identity. If the Black-clad Bishop also attended the auction, and she concealed her identity, then both of them would be in a game of wits in the shadows. Who could know who would win?
“Yes!”
Hearing Su Jiu’s rather solemn instruction, the officer’s expression immediately became serious. He watched the Pika rev up and speed away, then slowly withdrew his gaze and waved to the soldiers and civilians behind him, shouting:
“Don’t mention anything about what happened today. That adult has important tasks to complete. If your leakage causes the adult’s matters to fail, you’ll be thrown in jail!”
“Understood (Yes).”
The people around felt the oppressive aura of the tall officer. After looking at each other for a while, they responded sporadically.
…
As they approached and drove into the Pika, the vast city at the end of the avenue gradually appeared within Su Jiu’s and the other’s sight. Even within this city, there were clusters of camellia trees, but the surrounding terrain was like rolling dragons, appearing particularly steep, which was indeed suitable for these camellia trees to grow.
“What a beautiful city…”
Parking the Pika on a slope, Su Jiu rested her hands on the guardrail, smelled the faint fragrance, and gazed at the camellia flowers blooming profusely in the distant city, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.
This Flower City truly lived up to its name.
Within the enormous city, the word “Flower” was not diminished. Stretching to the end of the slope, there were not only camellia flowers but also some small five-petaled flowers of other colors intertwined. Sunlight poured down, and after the rain, the dewdrops on the flower buds reflected a faint light, appearing quite peaceful and beautiful.
Anyone knowledgeable would know that these were not ordinary camellia flowers. These flowers were bred from camellia as the seed and some Plant Demons. Only Flower City in Chuan Yu could undertake such a grand operation to arrange them.
Faintly hearing bursts of beast roars, Su Jiu’s gaze swept over the crowds coming and going below the slope. She found that some people were leading small Warrior Class monsters on leashes like they were walking dogs, with prices attached to those monsters, like during a big promotion…
When she saw a student-like person asking someone for the price and then haggling, she understood that these people were likely here for the same purpose as her, to sell monsters.
However, before selling the monsters, she had more important things to do – to list the Floating Life Blossom in her hand at the auction house and then use the money she bought to purchase the Nine-Transformation Soul-Returning Grass.
She also wanted to buy some herbs that could enhance her own strength or E Huo and Bairnis’s strength. She wasn’t particularly interested in the dragon egg; the most important thing now was to increase her strength.
In the Merit Store, because she only had Level 1.5 Praise, she could only buy things that provided energy. What truly made Su Jiu’s eyes water was that after reaching Level 2 Praise, she could buy things that enhanced Extraordinary Attributes, but even the cheapest option cost a hundred thousand.
The previous night, Su Jiu had consumed the item that enhanced Extraordinary Attributes that she had extorted from the old man of the Lin family. That herb did enhance her ice attribute. Su Jiu was originally about 90% away from Tier 2 Ice Extraordinary Attributes, but it suddenly reduced by ten percent. Now the distance was about 80%. If she still wanted to improve, she either had to cultivate slowly or take that herb or potion again.
“Let’s go. The auction is not far from here, over on Yulin Road.”
Su Jiu lightly called out, suddenly walked behind Bai Zhi, took her opponent’s delicate hand, and chuckled, “Let’s walk down Flower City’s streets together. I’ll also build up my reputation for selling high-level bloodline monsters on the street.”
“Don’t suddenly grab my hand…”
Suddenly having her arm held, Bai Zhi was startled. She looked at Su Jiu’s arm holding hers, then quickly withdrew her hand. Glancing at Su Jiu’s surprised and confused face, Bai Zhi remained silent for a moment. She felt a strange sense of unease. She pursed her lips, grabbed Su Jiu’s hand, and gently linked arms with her, saying softly, “It’s my turn to hold you once, isn’t it?”
“You little rascal…”
Feeling the warmth from her arm, Su Jiu covered her mouth and chuckled with her left hand. Then, she let the other person link arms with her, looked up at the sky which was almost evening, summoned a Warrior Class Coldstream Crow, held it in her right hand, and walked towards the slope.
The backs of the two were elongated, intertwined like two branches of the same tree.
After descending the slope and walking a not-too-long distance, the marble-textured archway, like the arms of a giant, encircled them. Above it, the Yulin Road sign, with a faint yellow glow, appeared in Su Jiu and the other’s sight.
Glancing at the student who left with a smile behind her, Su Jiu had a faint smile on her face. The Coldstream Crow in her hand had disappeared. Holding her phone and looking at the 2.5 million Long Guo Currency that had been credited, she was also happy. She had intentionally sold it so cheaply.
It wouldn’t be long before her reputation would be established.
On Yulin Road, there was a long line of people, and the noisy clamor spread, deafening their ears. The pubs lining the street were already packed.
As expected of this huge auction house, even though the auction was still about two days away, Su Jiu could already see people from other countries along the way.
Taking a few more steps, standing at the end of the surging crowd, Su Jiu looked up at the colossal auction house that appeared before her and couldn’t help but exclaim. It indeed felt like an international grand auction. The plaque on the auction house read “Language of Flowers,” which seemed to fit Flower City’s naming style.
Compared to this “Language of Flowers” auction house, the former Old Count Sam’s auction house was undoubtedly less impressive.
At the entrance of the Language of Flowers auction house, dozens of youths in black suits stood straight. Their sharp eyes, like those of an eagle, constantly scanned the crowd coming and going.
Judging from the aura subtly emanating from these youths, six of them had reached the War General level, while the others, although not having very high cultivation, had all reached the Advanced Stage Warrior level.
Even the waiters were equipped with War General level strength. It seemed that the strength of “Language of Flowers” was indeed extremely formidable. At least, a mid-stage Battle King like Count Sam, in his old age, couldn’t summon so many War Generals to watch the door.
Taking out two half-face masks from the storage bag, Su Jiu dangled the masks in front of Bai Zhi, who was clinging to her arm like a little bird, and gently asked, “White Fox or Dragon Princess? Which one do you want?”
No matter how formal the auction was, Su Jiu wanted to conceal her identity. Firstly, to avoid being recognized by that Bishop in advance, and secondly, her top-grade herb [Floating Life Blossom] was not so easy to sell. With so many influential people gathered here, if someone took a liking to it, she wouldn’t have to worry about her official identity being discovered if she had to defend herself.
Scanning the two masks that Su Jiu had prepared long ago, Bai Zhi pointed to the White Fox half-face mask, took it, and put it on. Her entire demeanor became somewhat ethereal. Perhaps because her foundation was already good, it carried a sense of elegance that didn’t match her personality.
Su Jiu also put on her mask, the Dragon Girl half-face mask, which completely covered her face. Her aura immediately became cool and aloof, completely dispelling the silly aura she had.
“It’s so big.”
Following the crowd, Su Jiu and the other walked slowly into the auction house. The vast space within made her momentarily lost in thought again, before she quickly recovered and walked towards the center of the hall.
Inside this auction house, giant screens were hung all around, displaying countless auction items. Su Jiu took a rough glance and saw some blank spaces, apparently providing promotional space for new sellers.
Her gaze swept past behind her and stopped at a doorway for sales appraisal. Su Jiu paused slightly, then walked over slowly. Her gaze penetrated the door, seeming to see a few appraisers in black and gold embroidered clothes gathered around an Alchemical Item.
“May I ask if you two are from the eastern border? Are you Da Niu’s superiors?”
As Su Jiu’s gaze wandered, a venerable voice with some confusion rang out. Su Jiu immediately turned her head and saw an old man with white hair and beard, wearing a black robe embroidered with camellias.
Beside him followed a girl in the same attire. The girl, as if appraising a fake identity, sized up Su Jiu and the other. Then she turned to the old man and raised her eyebrows, saying, “Uncle Shan, you must have mistaken them. How could these two dressed as students be Brother Da Niu’s superiors?”
“Miss Ling’er, don’t be mischievous! These are guests.”
Hearing the girl’s words, the old man’s face immediately stiffened, and he softly reprimanded the girl. However, he also looked at Su Jiu and the other with some suspicion. Da Niu, as a city commander, his superiors should also be Battle King level experts. How could they be two young girls?
But he still politely cupped his fists and apologized, “My apologies to you both. Miss Ling’er is a bit mischievous. I apologize on her behalf.”
Waving her hand, Su Jiu was somewhat surprised and pointed at herself and the other, asking, “Wearing masks, can you recognize us?”
“Because of your attire… it seems a bit immature here at the sales department.” Looking at Su Jiu and the other’s clothing, the old man pondered for a moment, then said quite seriously.
Upon hearing this, Su Jiu was slightly stunned. She glanced around at the others and found that they were either wearing combat uniforms or were dressed very maturely or had noble identities. Those people were also curiously looking at Su Jiu and the other.
“…”
After a moment of silence, Su Jiu slowly took out the Floating Life Blossom from the storage bag and extended her hand to the old man. Then she slowly opened it, revealing the snow-white flower bud with shimmering crystals.
“Actually, I have something I would like to entrust your auction house to sell.”
