I Have Infinite Attributes

C13 – Purchase

“The first item up for auction is a medicinal pill, a first-grade Acquired Essence Gathering Pill.”

“This pill possesses several times the potency of the Element Gathering Powder and won’t impact one’s bone root with impurities, making it ideal for the Acquired Warriors of Icefair.”

The auctioneer unveiled a pale yellow pill beneath the red cloth on the tray.

For Lang Shen, the Innate Stage Castellan of Icefair, the Acquired Essence Gathering Pill was of no use.

But for the others, it was undoubtedly a wondrous medicine, especially for the many warriors in Icefair who had never before laid eyes on such a legendary pill.

“Bidding starts at one hundred taels of silver. Please place your bids,” announced the auctioneer.

No sooner had he spoken than bids began to fly. “Two hundred taels of silver!” called out a voice.

“Three hundred taels of silver!” came another.

The bidding was a cacophony of competing offers until, moments later, the Acquired Essence Gathering Pill sold for eight hundred taels of silver.

Zhou Chulang, ever the well-informed, shared some insights with Zhou Jibo and the others.

“Typically, this Acquired Essence Gathering Pill retails for no more than three to four hundred taels of silver in the capital’s pill shops. The fact that it fetched eight hundred taels here is a testament to the auction’s fervor and the novelty of the pill to many in Icefair…”

“The recent bids were from the Yu family’s Third Elder and a steward from the Zheng family. Though both families are present at the auction, their Patriarchs did not attend.”

Zhou Jibo listened intently, his eyes scanning the Zheng and Yu families.

The Great Elder had tasked Kong Chuyang with watching him, his ill intentions clear as day. The Zheng family was a confirmed adversary, and the Yu family’s stance was still unclear, but likely also hostile.

It was clear to him that he needed to utilize his 100,000 attribute points soon to bolster his strength.

“Coming up next, we have a mental cultivation method, the top-grade Yellow Rank Fallen Leaf Technique!”

The auctioneer’s voice boomed, stirring up a fresh wave of excitement across all three floors of the Glorious House.

Zhou Jibo, however, was hardly intrigued. He rose from his seat amidst the din of bidding and made his way to the edge of the crowd, where he quietly spoke to the Glorious House’s shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Is that so?”

Zhou Jibo gave a firm nod.

Without hesitation, the shopkeeper strode over to Yan Yuanlu at the Myriad Treasure Auction House and whispered something into his ear.

Yan Yuanlu approached with a skeptical frown, eyeing Zhou Jibo critically. “You’re looking to sell martial skills and mental cultivation methods?”

Again, Zhou Jibo nodded. “I have the Dawn Mental Cultivation Method, a low-grade Profound Rank, and the Mountain Splitting Palm, a medium-grade Yellow Rank martial skill. What kind of offer can you make?”

Zhou Jibo had acquired these skills while enhancing his own abilities, but they were now surplus to requirements since he had obtained the higher-grade Frost Mental Cultivation Method and the Mountain Suppressing Palm. It was the perfect opportunity to trade them for more useful martial skills and weapons.

“Do you truly possess a Profound Rank mental cultivation method?” Yan Yuanlu asked, his skepticism palpable.

The Glorious House shopkeeper wisely stepped aside, giving them space. Zhou Jibo recited a few lines from the mental cultivation method and the palm technique from memory. Yan Yuanlu’s demeanor shifted from lukewarm to fervent in an instant. His earlier disinterest, born from the belief that nothing remarkable could come from such a backwater, vanished at the prospect of this unexpected windfall.

“Young man, to have a Profound Rank mental cultivation method and a Yellow Rank martial skill at your age is quite impressive. What’s the quality of your bone root?”

“Earth Spirit, low grade,” Zhou Jibo replied.

Yan Yuanlu inhaled sharply, clearly impressed. “My young friend, your aptitude is remarkable! You’d be hailed as a genius in the capital, and even in the Holy Land, you’d be ranked just below the Holy Son and Saintess.”

“It’s a real shame for someone of your caliber to be in the modest town of Icefair City!”

It was no wonder he possessed such exceptional skills and talent; investing more in his development would certainly be worthwhile.

After a moment of contemplation, Yan Yuanlu offered, “The low-grade Profound Rank Dawn Mental Cultivation Method is worth approximately fifty thousand silver, while the medium-grade Yellow Rank Mountain Splitting Palm is worth about ten thousand. Young man, you show great promise, and I’d like to befriend you. If you’re willing to sell directly to me, I’m prepared to offer seventy thousand silver.”

“If you choose to auction through the Myriad Treasure Auction House, you’ll incur a 10% transaction fee. What are your thoughts on that?”

This mental cultivation method and martial skill could become a treasured family heirloom for a smaller city’s clan. So, while sixty to seventy thousand taels of silver may seem steep, in the context of a family’s legacy, it’s not excessive.

Yan Yuanlu estimated that these two items could fetch at least a hundred thousand taels of silver at auction.

Zhou Jibo reflected briefly before responding, “I’m not particularly interested in silver. I’m looking for a martial skill and a weapon, both of a certain caliber, to complement each other.”

Yan Yuanlu nodded in understanding. “That’s a reasonable request and not hard to fulfill.”

“Since we don’t have a Myriad Treasure Auction House branch here, I’m unable to provide a selection of various cultivation treasures on short notice. Therefore, your choices are limited to the items I’ve brought with me this time.”

“Within the eight items up for auction, there are a couple that should meet your criteria. The Cool Breeze Sword Technique, a Yellow Rank medium-grade martial skill, and the Blood Stripe Sword, a Yellow Rank low-grade weapon, are collectively valued at forty thousand taels of silver. Would you be willing to trade your mental cultivation method and martial skill for these two items plus thirty thousand taels of silver?”

Are you referring to the sword technique?

After a moment’s thought, Zhou Jibo agreed, “Yes, that exchange works for me.”

“Then we have an agreement.”

Yan Yuanlu summoned a scribe and secured a private room. Zhou Jibo recited the Dawn Mental Cultivation Method and the Mountain Splitting Palm, which the scribe diligently transcribed.

Simultaneously, he instructed his staff to deliver two items shrouded in red cloth to the room.

This move instantly drew the gaze of all those gathered.

Lang Shen, the Castellan of Icefair, inquired, “Mr. Yan, the Myriad Treasure Auction House has prepared ten treasures for our bidding. With only the second item sold and the third yet to start, why are you withdrawing two items so abruptly?”

“Aren’t you planning to auction off these two treasures anymore?”

Yan Yuanlu responded, “These two items have already been purchased for a hefty sum in advance, so I’ve had to withdraw them from the auction. Today, we’ve auctioned off two treasures and sold two others. That leaves us with just six treasures remaining. Please, everyone, continue to place your bids.”

He then respectfully bowed to Lang Shen and added, “Please don’t be offended, I’m simply conducting business and didn’t mean to dampen your spirits.”

Lang Shen replied, “I’m not upset. I’m merely curious about who in Icefair City offered a price that even the Myriad Treasure Auction House couldn’t turn down. And what exactly was that price?”

Yan Yuanlu smiled and said, “In our line of work, we must respect the privacy of our clients. That’s a rule we cannot break.”

Just then, someone stood up and called out, “Mr. Yan, is the bidder you’re referring to Zhou Jibo from the Zhou family?”

The crowd on the third floor was puzzled upon hearing the name Zhou Jibo. Zhou Chulang, Zhou Tong, Zhou Youqing, and the rest of the Zhou family rose to their feet to see who had spoken.

Upon identifying the shouter, Zhou Chulang couldn’t help but curse, “What a despicable character.”