Chapter 133 On the Eve of the Auction, Sikong Changfeng's "Pyramid Scheme" Promotion

The news of the reopening of Changqinglou Tianqi flagship store (Taiji Hall) was like a drop of cold water falling into a boiling oil pan, instantly causing a stir among the powerful and wealthy circles of Tianqi City and even the entire Beili.

However, what drove people even crazier was the top-secret leaflet titled "Changqinglou's Development Outline for the Second Half of the Year," which was distributed along with the opening announcement.

It is unknown which "kind-hearted person" (actually, it was a cunning thief hired by Xiao Se) printed thousands of these leaflets overnight and quietly slipped them into the cracks of the doors of various royal mansions, aristocratic families, and top merchants.

At dawn, just as the first rays of sunlight illuminated the magnificent glazed tiles of Tianqi City, a violent coughing sound came from the Pingnan Marquis's residence in the east of the city, followed by the crisp sound of a teacup shattering.

"Cough cough cough... Ten... Ten thousand taels of gold?! A bowl of soup?!"

The Marquis of Pingnan, who was over seventy years old and had been bedridden for many years, held the thin leaflet in his hand, and his cloudy old eyes suddenly shone with an unprecedented brilliance.

His fingers trembled violently as he pointed to the large characters on the flyer: "Resurrection from the dead, increase your power by sixty years." His voice was hoarse, like a broken bellows, "Quick...quick, prepare the car! Go...go to Changqing Tower! Even if I have to sell everything I own, even my ancestral home, I will bid for this 'Nine-Turn Resurrection Soup'!"

The same scene was playing out simultaneously in every corner of Tianqi City.

For these powerful and incredibly wealthy old foxes, money is just a number, and they've already enjoyed power to the fullest. What they fear most now, what they crave most, is only one thing—longevity!

After the battle at Sunset Pass, Su Changqing, the owner of Changqing Tower, had already been mythologized to an unparalleled degree of power. A being capable of "slaying the heavens with a single strike," who would dare disbelieve his claim of bringing the dead back to life? Who would not believe it?!

In an instant, the underground banks, pawnshops, and even the national treasury (which Xiao Se was secretly manipulating) of Tianqi City experienced an unprecedented flow of funds. Countless amounts of real gold and silver were packed into boxes and continuously flowed towards the imperial palace.

……

Meanwhile, Changqing Tower, which was at the center of this storm, appeared unusually calm.

There are two days left until the auction.

The originally spacious main hall of Taiji Hall has been transformed by Sikong Changfeng in an extremely "extravagant" manner.

He somehow acquired hundreds of bolts of the finest Shu brocade, which he used to cover the surrounding walls and pillars. He even built a white jade platform three feet above the ground in the center of the main hall, covered with soft Persian carpets, and surrounded by exotic flowers and herbs that exuded a faint spiritual aura (all of which he had taken from Su Changqing's Changqing Realm).

"How is it? Isn't my setup impressive enough? It absolutely matches the high-end, classy image of Changqing Tower!"

Sikong Changfeng held a gold-threaded folding fan in his hand, standing below the high platform. While directing several Snow Moon City disciples to hang red lanterns, he proudly showed off to Xiao Se, who was sitting behind the counter drinking tea.

Xiao Se raised his eyelids, glanced at the extravagant setup that resembled a royal concubine selection ceremony, and poured cold water on it without any mercy.

"It's grand, yes, but it looks a bit like a nouveau riche taking a concubine. Besides, you've made this hall so gaudy; what if the master comes down and sees it, complaining that you've ruined his 'understated luxury' taste, and docks your pay?"

"Deduct wages?"

Sikong Changfeng shuddered, glancing instinctively at the second floor, and lowered his voice, "No way? I did this to create a lively atmosphere, to sell that bowl of soup at an exorbitant price! Do you know how hard I worked?"

"What do you know?"

A lazy voice suddenly came from the second-floor stairwell.

Su Changqing, wearing a loose blue bathrobe and carrying a dozing polar bear cub (Big White) in his arms, slowly walked down the street in flip-flops.

He glanced around the hall, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Sikong Changfeng, are you turning this place into a brothel? Why are you hanging so much red cloth? To attract romance?"

"Sir! I'm innocent!"

Sikong Changfeng quickly ran to the stairwell and explained with a fawning expression, "This is called 'hunger marketing plus environmental enhancement'! You see, those old men have plenty of money, but the richer they are, the more they care about appearances. The more mysterious and luxurious we make this environment, the more valuable they'll feel this bowl of soup is! That's called psychological suggestion!"

"Psychological suggestion?"

Su Changqing raised an eyebrow, looking at this dignified Gun Master with a half-smile.

"Looks like you've been studying business a lot lately. Alright, since you're so confident, I'll leave this auction entirely to you."

Su Changqing walked to the specially made white jade platform, threw Da Bai on the soft cushion, and then lay down comfortably, casually picking up a grape and stuffing it into his mouth.

"However, I must make this clear beforehand. The starting price for this 'Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Soup' is 100,000 taels of gold, and each bid must be at least 10,000 taels higher. If the final price is less than 300,000 taels..."

Su Changqing held up three fingers, a hint of capitalist ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

"Whatever the shortfall, Sikong Changfeng, you'll use your shares in Snowmoon City to make up the difference. If that's not enough, you can pawn your black gold spear and stay here washing dishes for me for the rest of your life. Understand?"

"Three...three hundred thousand taels?!"

Sikong Changfeng's voice suddenly split, and the gold-threaded folding fan in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

He originally thought 100,000 taels was already an astronomical price, and selling it for 150,000 taels would be incredibly lucky. 300,000 taels?! That's three million taels of silver! Is this some kind of broth or dragon meat?!

"What? You lack confidence?" Su Changqing's eyes instantly turned dangerous.

"Yes! Absolutely!"

Sikong Changfeng sensed the faint killing intent emanating from the man, his legs went weak, and his survival instinct kicked in instantly. "Don't worry, sir! Even if I, Sikong Changfeng, have to use my silver tongue to talk until the sky falls, I'll raise the price for you! What's three hundred thousand taels? I'll sell it for you for five hundred thousand taels!"

"Very good. Now it's time to see your performance."

Su Changqing nodded in satisfaction, ignored him, and turned to look in the direction of the kitchen.

"Wushuang! How's your 'Enlightenment Sword Bamboo Shoots' coming along? We're having a soft opening tomorrow. If you dare overcook the bamboo shoots and ruin the texture, I'll melt down all thirteen of your broken flying swords and turn them into an iron pot!"

"Here it comes!"

The kitchen door was suddenly pushed open.

Wushuang, with her hair slightly messy from the soot, excitedly ran out carrying a jade plate covered with a silver dome.

"Sir, please try this! I guarantee it's the most perfect dish I've ever cooked in my life!"

Wushuang carefully placed the jade plate on the low table in front of Su Changqing, and then, with a reverent expression, slowly lifted the silver cover.

"Buzz—"

The moment the silver cover was lifted, an extremely sharp yet fragrant sword intent, accompanied by white steam, instantly filled the hall!

The bamboo shoots on the plate were sliced ​​thinner than a strand of hair, each one distinct and translucent, as if carved from the purest jade. And on the surface of those bamboo shoot slices, faint, yet exquisitely pure, wisps of crimson sword energy subtly flowed!

"This is……"

Sitting behind the counter, Xiao Se suddenly looked up, a look of shock flashing in his eyes.

He could sense that the sword intent contained in that plate of bamboo shoot shreds was actually from the same source as the peerless "Great Ming Vermilion Bird," and even more restrained and pure! This was no dish; it was clearly an unparalleled sword talisman condensed from sword intent!

"Not bad, the presentation is acceptable."

Su Changqing wasn't as surprised as Xiao Se. He simply picked up his chopsticks, casually picked up a bamboo shoot shred, and put it in his mouth.

"Click."

A crisp chewing sound rang out.

Su Changqing closed his eyes and savored the moment.

"You've improved your control over the heat, and you've incorporated about three-tenths of your sword intent. However, the flavor is a bit bland; remember to add more salt next time. Also, the killing intent in your sword intent is too heavy and lacks smoothness. It's easy to make people irritable if you eat it."

Su Changqing put down his chopsticks and gave an extremely professional double comment: "Food and martial arts".

"Yes! Your guidance is excellent! I'll go back and make the improvements right away!"

Wushuang was overjoyed, bowed deeply, and then rushed back to the kitchen like a gust of wind, carrying the plate. Even a single word of affirmation from Su Changqing was more exciting to him than breaking through a cultivation level.

"These young people are all obsessed."

Sikong Changfeng watched from the side, unable to help but grumble to himself. Back in the day, he was a renowned genius in the martial arts world, so why did he feel like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world when he arrived at Changqing Tower?

"Chief Steward Sikong."

Su Changqing suddenly called out to Sikong Changfeng, who was in a daze, "Don't just stand there. You'll have to work hard these next two days. Go and send an invitation to every single wealthy merchant, powerful figure, and even those old monsters who are practically half-buried in Tianqi City."

"Remember, the invitations must be made with the finest gold leaf, and bear only one sentence: 'The First Evergreen Pavilion Divine Auction, Highest Bidder Wins.' Understand?"

"Understood! I'll handle it perfectly!" Sikong Changfeng accepted the order and ran off to prepare.

Watching Sikong Changfeng's departing figure, Su Changqing yawned, lay back down on the soft couch, and closed his eyes.

"The stage is set, now it's up to these fat sheep to see how much fun they can provide me."

……

Two days later.

In front of the Taiji Hall in Tianqi City.

Night fell, but the entire palace was illuminated as if it were daytime by countless huge red palace cages.

Most of the normally heavily armed Imperial Guards had been withdrawn, replaced by two rows of uniformly dressed guards (made up of elite disciples from Snow Moon City) who were exclusive to the Evergreen Pavilion and wore uniforms with the word "Evergreen" embroidered on their chests. They all stood tall and proud, exuding an imposing aura.

A long line of extremely luxurious carriages stretched across the square in front of the Taiji Hall.

Those who stepped down from the carriage were all important figures in Tianqi City and even the entire Beili, whose every move could cause an earthquake.

There was a high-ranking official of the current dynasty with gray hair, supported by others; there was the richest man in Jiangnan with a beer belly and his fingers adorned with jeweled rings; there were even several martial arts elders who usually lived in seclusion in the mountains for decades, but now broke through their barriers for that sliver of hope.

They usually disliked each other and even had a blood feud, but the moment they stepped into the Taiji Hall, they all unconsciously restrained their aura and became like well-behaved primary school students.

Because they knew that in this place, in front of this man, all their power, wealth, and martial arts skills were just a joke.

"The Marquis of Pingnan has arrived!"

"The General Who Guards the Distant Lands has arrived!"

"The head of the Shen family from Jiangnan has arrived!"

As the welcoming disciple (played by Lei Wujie, who has a particularly loud voice) shouted, the atmosphere in the main hall gradually reached a climax.

Once all the guests were seated, the once noisy hall instantly fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes were fixed on the white jade platform in the center of the hall, covered with red silk. There, their fate tonight, and perhaps for the rest of their lives, would be decided.

"when--!"

A clear, crisp sound of a gong rang out.

As the red silk on the high platform slowly rose, a middle-aged man dressed in a magnificent purple robe, holding a gold-threaded folding fan, walked onto the auction stage with a professional fake smile on his face.

It was none other than tonight's chief auctioneer—Sikong Changfeng.

He took a deep breath and glanced around at the powerful and wealthy people below the stage, whose eyes were filled with fanaticism and who seemed to want to devour him. The resentment that Su Changqing had squeezed out of him miraculously transformed into a sense of exhilaration in control of the whole situation.

"Ahem! Good evening, distinguished guests!"

With a "whoosh," Sikong Changfeng unfolded his folding fan and fanned himself twice in a flamboyant manner, the sound carrying throughout the entire venue through his profound inner strength.

"Welcome to the Changqinglou Tianqi flagship store, the venue for the inaugural 'God-Level Auction'!"

"I am the auctioneer for tonight, Sikong Changfeng."

"Enough with the small talk. I know why everyone's here tonight."

Sikong Changfeng put away his folding fan, turned around and walked to the tray covered with a red cloth in the center of the high platform.

He didn't immediately lift the red cloth, but instead spoke slowly in a seductive, almost pyramid-scheme-like tone:

"All of you here stand at the pinnacle of power and wealth in this world. But have you ever considered that when death comes, will you be able to take these things with you?"

"cannot!"

"But today, in this Changqing Pavilion, in this place where Mr. Su is personally in charge!"

"You can buy—life!"

These words instantly ignited the atmosphere in the entire room!

Those important figures who had been putting on airs were now breathing heavily, their eyes bloodshot, like a pack of hungry wolves that hadn't eaten for three days and three nights, staring intently at the tray.

Sikong Changfeng was very satisfied with the effect. He took a deep breath and suddenly ripped off the red cloth!

"Buzz—!!!"

An extremely rich medicinal fragrance, which even transformed into a visible golden mist, instantly exploded within the hall!

On the tray, there lay a small, exquisite bowl carved from millennia-old warm jade.

The bowl contained half a bowl of strange soup that shone with a dazzling golden light, as if it contained some kind of great law of heaven and earth.

Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Soup!

"This...this fragrance...I only took one sniff, and I actually felt that my internal energy, which had been stagnant for ten years, was starting to loosen?!" A martial arts elder was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes.

"It really is a miracle drug! It really is a miracle drug!"

Marquis Pingnan reached out his hand with trembling hands. If it weren't for the guards stopping him, he would have even rushed onto the stage to snatch it.

Sikong Changfeng looked at the group of people below the stage who had gone mad, and a "butcher"-like smile appeared on his lips.

He picked up a small wooden mallet and struck the gong heavily.

"Changqinglou's special Nine-Turned Resurrection Soup, only one bowl available!"

"Starting bid: 100,000 taels of gold!"

"Each increase in the price must be no less than ten thousand taels!"

"The auction now begins!"