#548 - Buy a Maid for My Nephew (4000 words)
“Starting price, 0.”
As the auctioneer's words landed, the entire auction house erupted.
“Five thousand high-grade spirit stones!”
“Six thousand high-grade spirit stones!”
“Seven thousand high-grade spirit stones!”
“Eight thousand!”
“Nine thousand!”
One person after another began to bid, voices rising and falling.
Almost everyone was waiting for this final auction item.
So when this auction item was presented, there was no need for any further demonstrations; everyone brought out their highest budget.
How many spirit stones would it take to build a national-level protective formation?
And how many spirit stones would it take to maintain it for a year?
Xu Ming was also sitting in his seat, stunned.
At this moment, Xu Ming hadn't even reacted.
Wait.
Why was the daughter of the Starfrost Sect's leader being auctioned?
And why was it causing such a high level of interest?
Xu Ming looked at Lu Xiaoliu, who was sitting next to him, hoping that Mr. Lu could give him an answer.
But Lu Xiaoliu just sat there calmly, as if nothing had anything to do with him.
When he should be talking, Mr. Lu didn't say a word.
When he shouldn't be talking, Mr. Lu was rambling on and on.
For a moment, Xu Ming didn't know what to say.
“Puzzled, aren't you?”
Just then, Lu Xiaoliu, as if he finally couldn't bear it anymore, looked at Xu Ming with a smile.
“Why is the daughter of the Starfrost Sect's leader being auctioned, and why is it fetching such a high price?”
Lu Xiaoliu looked at Xu Ming with an expression that seemed to say, "Ask me quickly, ask me! If you're curious, just ask, and I'll tell you."
Looking at Mr. Lu's almost boyish appearance, Xu Ming sometimes really didn't think Mr. Lu was a gentleman from White Deer Academy.
But Xu Ming was indeed very curious, so he could only satisfy Mr. Lu. Xu Ming earnestly asked, “This junior really doesn't understand, why is this happening? Please enlighten me, Mr. Lu.”
Xu Ming admitted that this daughter of the Starfrost Sect's leader was indeed very beautiful.
But in this world of cultivation,
simply being beautiful was useless.
Admittedly, lust was human nature, and some people even became more lustful as their cultivation level increased.
But.
That was only in comparison.
For the vast majority of cultivators,
unless they truly fell in love with someone, women were just convenient objects.
It was a very simple matter.
If you let a cultivator choose between one of the top ten beauties on the Beauty Roll and a celestial weapon that would submit to them,
almost all cultivators would choose a celestial weapon.
Because with a celestial weapon, your strength would be greatly enhanced.
But if you had a beauty, what then?
Others could still kill you easily.
Of course, if you had great strength and enough spare money, buying a beauty to satisfy your emotional needs and some primal desires wasn't impossible.
But here's the problem: was this girl really worth that much money?
Unknowingly, the price for this girl had already reached tens of thousands of spirit stones.
This was definitely a huge sum of money.
If it was just to buy the ownership of this girl, was it necessary?
Anyway, Xu Ming absolutely didn't believe it.
“Do you know the Snow Demon Kingdom?”
Lu Xiaoliu adjusted his sleeves and asked Xu Ming with a smile.
“I do.”
Xu Ming nodded and told Lu Xiaoliu the information he had heard.
“The Snow Demon Kingdom is also known as the Snow Kingdom. Although it is located in the Southern Border Demon Kingdom, in reality, it is only because most of its territory is in the Southern Border Demon Kingdom's territory.
The Snow Demons are located in the far north, bordering the Southern Border Demon Kingdom and the Northern Wilderness.
It is a very large kingdom, and the Snow Kingdom generally doesn't cause trouble. Its relationship with neighboring countries is actually quite good.
Also, because the Snow Kingdom's strength is indeed strong, neighboring countries will not provoke the Snow Kingdom for no reason.”
“That's right.”
Lu Xiaoliu nodded with a smile.
“The Snow Kingdom has a top beauty on the Beauty Roll, you know that, right? Originally named Bai Bing, in reality, her real name is Xue, just that one word.”
“Please enlighten me, sir.”
Xu Ming became more and more confused by Lu Xiaoliu's roundabout way of speaking.
What did that Xue girl from the Snow Kingdom have to do with this girl? And what did it have to do with the Starfrost Sect?
In Xu Ming's view, these were completely unrelated matters.
“This matter, ah, is a long story. I only found out recently.”
Lu Xiaoliu said slowly.
“Xue's mother is the Queen of the Snow Kingdom. This Queen of the Snow Kingdom has a lover, and this lover is the leader of the Starfall Sect.
First of all, you need to know that the Queen of the Snow Kingdom cannot marry someone from outside the Snow Kingdom.
But the two of them fell in love with each other.
In this situation, the elders of the Snow Kingdom naturally wanted to break them up.
But some things are just uncertain.
The two of them gave birth to a daughter.
Here's where it gets interesting.
Their daughter, ah, can be said to be one person, but also two people.
I don't know why.
When their daughter was born, these twins had a vague and inexplicable connection.
In other words, although they are different individuals and two different souls, their senses are connected.
If one person eats something, the other person will also have a certain sense of fullness.
If one person cultivates, the other person will also have corresponding insights into the Great Dao.
Doesn't this sound great?
If two people cultivate together, it's like double the cultivation, and the speed at which your realm increases will also double.
This is something every cultivator dreams of.
But everything has two sides.
Similarly, if one person dies, the other person will also die.
One of these twins is named Xue.
One is named Lin Xingluo.
Although the Queen of the Snow Kingdom and her lover were together and gave birth to a pair of daughters,
this matter was still a taboo.
The elders of the Snow Kingdom would not agree to them being together.
On the contrary, the elders of the Snow Kingdom also issued an assassination order, determined to kill the other man and erase this shameful history.
Therefore, after the man escaped the layers of pursuit, he came to the Western Regions and established the Starfrost Sect, and Lin Xingluo followed her father to the Starfrost Sect.
Xue remained in the Snow Kingdom.
At the time, the Red Beauty List only included Xue of the Snow Country, and not Lin Xingluo. This was because the two were essentially the same person, so choosing either one for the list was acceptable.
It was also possible that Xue's status was more noble than her other sister.
Therefore, to the world, they preferred such a noble and pure woman.
Thus, the person who ultimately made it onto the Red Beauty List was the princess of the Snow Country, and not this girl currently being auctioned.
Alright, it seems the topic has strayed a bit too far, let's get back on track.
Aside from their identities, their physiques were also special. If they could cultivate together, not only would it be like living as immortals, but their cultivation would also increase rapidly.
However, the prerequisite is that these twin flower sisters cultivate with the same person simultaneously.
Let me think...
It's almost like having a congenital sacred body.
Also, you need to know that although the Star Snow Sect's current situation is terrible, you need to be clear about one thing: the Star Snow Sect has not yet been destroyed.
And do you think the Snow Country would not recognize Lin Xingluo?
That's impossible.
Do you understand what I'm saying?
“…”
Xu Ming lowered his head in silence.
Xu Ming naturally understood what Mr. Lu was saying.
Firstly, Lin Xingluo looks exactly like Xue, a woman in the top ten of the Red Beauty List.
When a person conquers a woman in the top ten of the Red Beauty List, even if she's just a "substitute," it's still very satisfying.
Not to mention that Lin Xingluo is not a substitute for Xue; they are originally twin sisters.
Secondly!
Because Lin Xingluo's sights, sounds, and feelings are all connected to Xue.
So, if you can take in Lin Xingluo, you can do some mischievous things.
Just thinking about conquering a woman and having her twin sister feel the same way...
This is a fatal temptation for anyone.
Even Xu Ming felt a bit excited just thinking about it.
Thirdly, if you can take in Lin Xingluo, it would have special significance for both the Star Snow Sect and the Snow Country. These are two major sects!
Let's not talk about the Star Snow Sect for now.
When you control Lin Xingluo, how do you think the Snow Country will view you?
Finally, their physiques are suitable for dual cultivation.
Actually, to be precise, it should be triple cultivation.
If the princess of the Snow Country is difficult to deal with, but you have already controlled her sister, and they even share the same feelings, can't you gradually corrupt the princess of the Snow Country through Lin Xingluo?
This is entirely possible.
"Mr. Lu, now that you say that, I do understand, but Mr. Lu, how could Lin Xingluo be sold to Xifeng City? Just like you said,
The Star Snow Sect hasn't even been destroyed yet.
Even if the Sect Leader of the Star Snow Sect died, and the Star Snow Sect is now in a critical situation, it's impossible for them to sell their own Sect Leader's daughter…"
"Heh heh heh," Lu Xiaoliu smiled, "Didn't you just say the reason yourself?"
"I…"
Just as Xu Ming was about to say something else.
Suddenly, Xu Ming completely understood.
At this time, Lu Xiaoliu also revealed all the remaining information:
"Junior Nephew, when common people are starving, they can sell their wives and daughters. What's the difference between the cultivation world and mortals?
Now, the Star Snow Sect is already collapsing.
Moreover, the elders of the Star Snow Sect are not selling their own daughters, they are selling other people's daughters.
And the Star Snow Sect is in the Western Regions, barely considered a demonic sect of the Western Regions.
Junior Nephew, why do you think they wouldn't do such an outrageous thing?
It's just that Lin Xingluo has a lot of value, and she must be a virgin.
Otherwise, Lin Xingluo would be greatly discounted.
Otherwise, Lin Xingluo wouldn't even know where she is now."
"Doesn't the Snow Country care?" Xu Ming asked.
Lu Xiaoliu shook his head: "The Snow Country wants to care, but it's too late. They don't even know that the Sect Leader of the Star Snow Sect is dead.
The Snow Country is now in a state of isolation for some reason.
No citizen of the Snow Country can leave the Snow Country.
Similarly, no one can enter the Snow Country.
So, the Snow Country itself is confused about this matter.
And the elders of the Star Snow Sect just want to sell Lin Xingluo for a good price, then divide the spoils, and finally join other demonic sects to live a free and happy life, that's all."
Listening to Mr. Lu's explanation, Xu Ming looked at the girl in the golden cage in the middle of the auction stage, and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
"Everyone…"
When Lin Xingluo's auction price reached an exaggerated figure of 20,000 high-grade spirit stones, the auctioneer's voice spread throughout the entire auction hall.
Everyone who heard the auctioneer's voice subconsciously closed their mouths and stopped bidding.
"Everyone, this Lin Xingluo, Miss Lin, has been taken care of by maids all the way to Xifeng City, and she is completely a virgin.
There is a recording stone next to her, recording everything from the moment she was captured. No man has approached her, and the entire process has been recorded.
It can be said that this Miss Lin Xingluo is truly innocent, and has not been seen by anything, not even her hand has been touched."
As soon as the auctioneer's words fell, the entire hall erupted in fierce discussions.
Even Xu Ming gasped.
Good heavens.
This auctioneer is too good at it, right?
Such a pure and innocent woman is naturally easier to fetch a good price.
A piece of jade, no matter how precious, will be greatly discounted if there is even a slight flaw.
But if it is a perfect and flawless piece of jade, it will be priceless!
"Twenty-three thousand!"
"Twenty-four thousand!"
"Twenty-five thousand!"
"This old man doesn't have that many things, but! I am willing to exchange a half-immortal weapon."
Lin Xingluo's price is getting higher and higher.
As the price got higher and higher, fewer and fewer people participated in the bidding.
After all, there are not that many rich people.
"Thirty thousand high-grade spirit stones plus a half-immortal artifact, once!"
"Thirty thousand high-grade spirit stones plus a half-immortal artifact, twice!"
"Thirty thousand high-grade spirit stones plus a half-immortal artifact, three…"
Just as the auctioneer was about to close the deal, and Lin Xingluo was about to belong to a middle-aged greasy uncle.
Lu Xiaoliu raised Xu Ming's sign:
"An immortal weapon."
"唰!"
In an instant, everyone looked in the direction of Lu Xiaoliu.
Lu Xiaoliu's lips curled up, and he said calmly: "An immortal weapon, in exchange for this woman, to be given to my junior nephew as a maid."
