Bai Ye stepped forward and asked, "Auction?"
The stall owner nodded. "Auction."
As he spoke, the stall owner gestured to the surrounding crowd, indicating that there were already quite a few people.
Bai Ye asked, "Open bid, or blind auction?"
The stall owner replied, "Blind auction."
Bai Ye nodded, then stepped aside and took out a slip of paper to ponder.
The trading value of the Lei Ya Nu Shou was not very high. As a black-grade weapon, it was in the mid-to-low tier among black-grade items.
However, the Lei Ya Nu Shou had a significant fluctuation in its tier.
The reason for this was an effect called Lei Ya, which allowed the weapon to discharge electricity and entwine it around the blade for attacks.
At the same time, this effect could be applied to any lightning-attribute means for an additional bonus, achieving a strengthening effect.
This was also why Bai Ye wanted the Lei Ya Nu Shou.
The power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, when paired with the Lei Ya effect, would be explosively amplified.
Furthermore, the Thunder Flash, a lightning-attribute Dao technique from the Five Spirit Curses, could also be combined with the Lei Ya effect. In fact, the effects of all three could completely stack.
And precisely because of the Lei Ya effect, the quality of the Lei Ya Nu Shou could fluctuate. Although it was black-grade, as long as one had sufficient lightning-related means, the power of the Lei Ya Nu Shou could reach red-grade in terms of pure destructive force.
It was even possible, though not entirely certain, to reach gold-grade.
But the issue lay in its applicability.
While Bai Ye felt this weapon suited him well, it did not mean the Lei Ya Nu Shou suited everyone.
The Lei Ya effect required the addition of other lightning means to be valuable.
Meanwhile, Bai Ye did not know the vendor's reasoning for holding a blind auction.
In Bai Ye's opinion, a weapon as specialized as the Lei Ya Nu Shou would be better suited for a stall with bartering.
Perhaps someone proficient in lightning techniques might happen to need a weapon like the Lei Ya Nu Shou. If the demand was clear, they might even be able to exchange black-grade items.
But with a blind auction, given the characteristics of the Lei Ya Nu Shou, it was unlikely anyone would offer a direct trade.
As Bai Ye mused, he wrote down "Insect Breathing."
He did not write down the two Blood Demon Arts on the slip of paper.
Blood Demon Arts, with their significant side effects, were not suitable for a blind auction as they would naturally depreciate in value. To sell them at a good price, one had to find someone who specifically needed them, making negotiations easier.
If he didn't write down the Blood Demon Arts, there was no need to write down the Ghost Blood either.
Ghost Blood was convenient for trading only when paired with Blood Demon Arts. Otherwise, if someone wanted a Blood Demon Art but lacked the means to become a demon, it would be a joke!
Thus, Bai Ye wrote "Ning Shuang Sword" on the paper and glanced around.
There were a total of six people participating in the blind auction. Not many people wanted the Lei Ya Nu Shou, as not everyone possessed lightning means to trigger its Lei Ya effect.
This meant the competition was not intense, but to secure it with a high probability...
Bai Ye thought for a moment and then wrote "Meito Shieki" on the paper.
Exchanging three blue-grade items for the black-grade Lei Ya Nu Shou was not a loss in terms of quality alone. A three-for-one trade was essentially an equivalent exchange, but considering the specificity of the Lei Ya Nu Shou, the other party was making a profit.
However, to be safe, after Bai Ye folded the paper and handed it to the stall owner, he took another slip and wrote "Pulse Dual Guns" on it.
Both were black-grade. In terms of quality, they were equivalent. Although the Pulse Dual Guns were at the bottom of the futuristic weapon tier, they were still futuristic weapons.
Moreover, firearms were relatively versatile, with no other limitations besides needing energy cores.
Therefore, Bai Ye also wrote down the quantity of all his energy cores.
He left two slips of paper, but the stall owner clearly had no intention of starting the auction immediately. He likely felt the number of people was too small. After a while, someone impatiently urged him. The stall owner, seeing that no one else intended to bid, finally began to unseal the slips.
Everyone had to wait patiently while the stall owner reviewed everything.
This was the troublesome part of blind auctions; it was too time-consuming.
But since they wanted the item, they had no choice but to wait.
...
Meanwhile...
After Gao Ming entered a room and reported Bai Ye's intention to sell the forbidden zone, the people inside became somewhat chaotic.
Some shook their heads, while others pondered.
"He's a con artist," someone said unhappily. "How can a forbidden zone be bought? Are we just going to believe him when he says it?"
Gao Ming interjected, "First of all, it's unlikely to be a fake forbidden zone. The other party showed an item for entering the Primordial Realm, meaning he can indeed enter the Primordial Realm."
The person remained dissatisfied, shaking his head. "Even if he can enter, what do we exchange with? Who knows if the output of the forbidden zone is worth it?"
Someone chimed in, "Moreover, the Primordial Realm is likely near the Great Wall. We have people there, and I recall there are clues about this forbidden zone, but it simply cannot be opened."
Another woman interrupted, "Precisely because of that, I think we should trade. A forbidden zone that cannot be opened currently represents an absolutely extraordinary forbidden zone, which already proves its value."
"Heh?" the previous person scoffed, "One month, two months, three months? Ridiculous!"
"You!"
"Forget it!" Gao Ming said, "Luo Ben, I know you have the Den Den Mushi. Take it out and use it. Let the captain decide this matter."
...
The Evil Spirit Troupe fell into a dispute due to Bai Ye's appearance, while Bai Ye's blind auction was nearing its end.
"Whose slip is number 7?"
The stall owner held up a slip of paper.
Bai Ye raised an eyebrow and stepped forward. "Mine."
The stall owner said, "Let's verify the items. Are there any issues, or did you write something incorrectly? If everything is correct, I will complete the transaction with you."
Bai Ye nodded, then looked at the slip. "Everything is correct."
The stall owner nodded, signaled for everyone else to disperse, and then removed the stand, going to a side with Bai Ye to complete the transaction, clearly not wanting others to observe.
Upon reaching a corner, the stall owner took out the Lei Ya Nu Shou. Bai Ye didn't need to see it through a screen to know it was correct; the Lei Ya Nu Shou's design was too unique and easily recognizable.
The hilt resembled a mythical beast with its mouth agape, jet black in color. The guard was lightning-shaped, with a black metal outer ring, and the main body of the blade was a pale blue crystal.
The blade was long. Compared to a typical longsword, the Lei Ya Nu Shou was about a forearm's length longer. While it looked like a sword due to being double-edged, the blade was thick, making it perfectly suitable for chopping like an axe.
The stall owner said, "This is my item. Bring out yours as well, let's inspect each other's goods."
Bai Ye nodded and began to take out his items.
To Bai Ye's surprise, the other party did not choose the Pulse Dual Guns, which were also black-grade. Instead, they chose the Insect Breathing, along with the Ning Shuang Sword and the Meito Shieki.