Dragon Raja 2; Chapter 79: Dragons’ Feast (7)

Dragon Raja 2

It was certainly an arrogant demeanor—spending money lavishly while also showing off as if money meant nothing, only coming here out of love for art and flirting. Lu Mingfei was impressed.

As the starting bids increased, the competition concentrated more in the VIP section. The smaller items earlier were just appetizers, but this gourd vase was the main course, and the bidding became intense.

Anjou bid a few times, but it seemed like he was merely helping to drive up the price for fun. Once the bid went over 20 million, he stopped and began telling some joke, making the lady beside him giggle.

Lu Mingfei began feeling bored. Other than the fact that all participants were hybrids, there was nothing particularly special about the auction. Everyone adhered to the rules; no one had lost their temper and started using their Yanling powers. And by now, the bidding had gone beyond what he could afford, as his mission fund was only 2 million.

“23.1 million, once!”

“23.1 million, twice! Last chance, please make your bids.”

“23.1 million, three times! Sold!” The auctioneer brought down the gavel.

The entire room erupted in polite applause. This item’s conclusion served as a nice ending—it was listed last in the catalog as today’s finale.

“Next, we have a special segment for today—just as always, ‘An Unexpected Encounter.’” The auctioneer smiled.

Lu Mingfei froze, noticing the excitement lighting up in Tencin’s eyes.

“What’s the encounter?” Lu Mingfei asked.

“‘An Unexpected Encounter’ is the fun part,” Tencin, who seemed to like Lu Mingfei, explained patiently. “After the main auction ends, as a bit of extra entertainment, they present some unusual items. They’re usually little trinkets, but sometimes there’s a hidden gem you can get at a low price. Not long ago, someone bought an old Renaissance painting during an ‘Unexpected Encounter.’ The brushwork was a bit crude, and its condition wasn’t great—it was signed by one of Da Vinci’s students. Such items are considered entry-level among insiders, so the final price wasn’t high. But later, the buyer used UV light to examine the painting and discovered another layer beneath it—a genuine Da Vinci, complete with a signature.”

“That’s hitting it big!” Lu Mingfei exclaimed.

“Exactly! After the top layer of paint was removed, the value increased fivefold. Back then, oil painters often reused their canvases, painting over old works. But who would’ve thought a student would cover their teacher’s painting?”

“Such luck!” Lu Mingfei marveled.

“Your task today is to bid for an item in the ‘Unexpected Encounter.’ Based on certain information, it’s extremely important to us,” Anjou’s voice sounded in his ear. “Win it, at any cost.”

Lu Mingfei shivered slightly, suddenly feeling alert. Was it finally his turn?

A giant black case was wheeled in by one of the auctioneer’s assistants. The auctioneer placed his white-gloved hand on the case, smiling as he looked around the room, but he didn’t hurry to open it. It was like those street performances—before smashing a stone on their chest, they’d have to boast and build anticipation.

“This is an extraordinary lot that shocked every auctioneer who saw it. It’s incredibly beautiful—a pinnacle of craftsmanship. However, unfortunately, we do not know its history, nor even its era, so we can’t determine a proper starting price. With the seller’s consent, this will be a rare zero-reserve auction, with the bidding increment allowed to be as little as one dollar.” The auctioneer raised a finger. “A great opportunity, not to be missed, starting at just… one dollar!”

There was a stir in the room; this was something new, and it piqued everyone’s curiosity. The auctioneer seemed pleased with the atmosphere—his first step at marketing was a success.

He slowly opened the lid of the case, his voice filled with mysterious allure, “A mythical weapon… an alchemical sword collection!”

A dark metallic gleam flowed along the crack as the case opened. Lu Mingfei froze. He suddenly felt as if the thing inside was alive—he could hear a familiar breath coming from within.

The lid was fully opened—alchemical swords? Seven Deadly Sins! It felt like reuniting with an old acquaintance.

Lu Mingfei had once used one of these swords to kill the dragon king Norton—Norton himself had forged these weapons to slaughter dragons. Lu Mingfei had lost it in the Three Gorges Reservoir and never expected to see it again.

Would someone really be willing to part with a weapon of this caliber? And for it to fall to the level of a zero-reserve price? It was like an emperor auctioning off his throne after getting too excited about selling positions of power! He was bewildered.

“Looks familiar, doesn’t it? The Seven Deadly Sins—you and Nono mentioned in your report that you found this set, but it was lost during the ascent.” Anjou’s voice came through softly, sounding full of admiration. “An alchemical creation that surpasses its era, a priceless artifact!”

Lu Mingfei shuddered silently. He fully understood the value of this thing—he had only pulled out the smallest of the swords, and the metal’s roar had been like a dragon’s. With these swords, one held the power to grant life or death. But he didn’t like this set, and losing it hadn’t seemed like much of a loss to him, because he harbored a shadow in his heart… When these swords were wielded, slaughter was inevitable, and even the person wielding them had no choice.

Lu Mingfei had never been able to tell whether, underwater, he had stabbed Dragon King Norton or the brother who had taught him interview skills—Old Tang.

But now it had returned before him, like a ghost seeking retribution, haunting him once again.

“Exquisite craftsmanship, perfectly preserved, blades sharp as if newly forged. The design resembles various weapons—Chinese horse-chopping sabers, Tang swords, Japanese katanas, wakizashi, Damascus swords—all housed within the same box, with secret latches to unlock…” The auctioneer was eloquent.

Meanwhile, the assistants were on stage demonstrating the sharpness of the swords—slicing cucumbers, cutting rolled bamboo mats, chopping through iron nails… The auction house probably couldn’t explain the item’s history, so they were just showing off its sharpness. The display was all too familiar to Lu Mingfei—like the enthusiasm of TV shopping channels selling whitening or slimming products.

“A replica, perhaps? No matter how well it’s preserved, there shouldn’t be zero imperfections,” someone from the VIP section questioned. “It looks like a Swiss army knife straight off the production line this year!”

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