The Supreme God of Martial Arts
Chapter 157 A Fierce Bidding (Part Two)

He had been wanting to keep a low profile. He even thought thatalthough he would have to speak loudly, he could change his voice bymaking it really hoarse and by that logic, unrecognizable.

What balderdash all of this was! All of this hiding and crouching wasnot to Austin's liking at all. Had he had a better option in mind, hewouldn't have resorted to such tactics. But then Raymond was thereand that too, with a bone to pick would have been the quickest to replaceout the voice as Austin's. This whole dilemma of hiding and not hidinghad no solution. After all, just because he disguised his voice oncedidn't mean that Austin was saved. He had to bid again and foolishlyhope that he would go undetected by Raymond whenever he openedhis mouth to bargain!

Austin’s fears were not unfounded. The moment Raymond heard hishoarse voice, he looked in his direction, as if the voice rang a bell.

He even leaned forward and traced the source of the voice in thecrowd. When he finally looked at the corner where Austin stood, Austinhad nowhere to run or hide.

So what else, Austin allowed himself a bitter smile.

As the drama was playing out silently between Austin and Raymond, asexy voice distracted the tense atmosphere. Somehow, this voicesounded even more attractive than the auctioneer's. "You are sogenerous, my boy," a woman said slowly and sexily. "But it's a pity that Iwant to buy this swordsmanship, too. I'm sorry, but I will offer twohundred and thirty thousand vital energy crystals!"

the woman declared, chuckling to herself. She had shown herdetermination by marking up twenty thousand vital energy crystalswithout showing any hesitation.

Her charming voice instantly diverted the attention from Austin to her.And rightly so. She had a stunning figure, both hot and slim to ogle atas she sat curling up in a chair that was covered with leopard print. Shelooked as supple as a willow, and as enchanting as a seductress

"It's Trish! The Trish from the Flower Blooming Sect!"

Someone among the crowd said out loud in excitement, happy to haverecognized this bidder.

The Flower Blooming Sect had a legendary reputation for more reasonsthan one. A noted sect in the Violet Orchid Empire, besides thetraditional big five, its members were mostly women, most like Trish.“Two hundred and forty thousand vital energy crystals!"

said Austin without a second thought, in a tone which seemed tochallenge anybody to go higher.

"Oh, my sweet boy. You see, I really want to buy this swordsmanshipand add it to my collection, of all the things. Could you just spare it forme? You are such a lovely boy and I like you very much, so could youplease repay my affection by giving it to me?"

Trish asked, still smiling flirtatiously. In order to lure Austin into givingup on the swordsmanship, she kept leering at him. She was exquisitelydainty and beautiful in a glimpse. Not many men would have been ableto hold their ground in the face of such persuasion. In fact, she hadnow stirred sexual feelings inside more than one man in the room.Feeling the fire in the pits of their stomachs, some of them even startedto imagine pressing themselves against her warm and soft body. Theycould picture in their mind how they would become excited and losethemselves hearing the beauty moan and exhale with pleasure, as theytasted her rosy lips.

But it didn't work for Austin at all. “Are you kidding me? It's not meantfor collectors! What a waste of money to haggle for it just to put it onthe shelf!" Austin secretly complained. “I will be a fool if I surrender it toyou. A set of swordsmanship would be of no value if no one learns andpractices it!"

thought Austin, rolling his eyes with disapproval.

"Two hundred and fifty thousand vital energy crystals!"

“Two hundred and sixty thousand vital energy crystals!"

"Two hundred and seventy thousand vital energy crystals!" To Austin'sannoyance, the offers suddenly went higher and higher. . .

One after another, many cultivators joined in to bid seeing that Austinand Trish competed for it. Feeling emboldened by their recklessness,some cultivators thought that either Lady Luck or Trish would showerthem with her attention. So once the bidding got injected with this kindof enthusiasm, the price kept climbing up.

Soon enough, the Flower Blooming Sect wasn't the only one scramblingfor the swordsmanship with Austin. Many other powerful sects hadjumped in the race to bag it.

The auctioneer was chuffed by now. To stoke the competition further,the silver-tongued woman went on calling out the bids and bumpingup the price, until the offer for this Illusory Swordsmanship went ashigh as three hundred thousand vital energy crystals, within a veryshort time.

At this point, few cultivators felt inclined to go any higher, and the pricewent up another thirty thousand energy crystals before the competitionstopped.

Three hundred and thirty thousand vital energy crystals was Austin'soffer. Seeing everyone finally become quiet after his last bid, Austinbreathed a sigh of relief.

Those cultivators were willing to compete mainly because it was a level4 martial arts skill.

But since its shortcomings were there for all of them to see, it wouldnot be worth a price higher than the last bid, especially for those whocouldn't even use it well.

"Three hundred and thirty thousand vital energy crystals! Do I hearthree hundred and forty thousand vital energy crystals?" the auctioneerpressed on.

"Three hundred and thirty thousand vital energy crystals! Any otheroffers?”

she inquired again. Looking towards the crowd, she was hanging outfor a better offer. But when she found that most cultivators shook theirheads, she raised her hammer and was about to set the hammer price."Wait!"

someone suddenly demanded, with a hint of anger in his voice.

The auctioneer paused, and turned to look at the man with a confusedlook on her face.

It was Raymond. The auctioneer was surprised for a split second, butseeing him rise up, she smiled again and asked, "How may I help you,our distinguished guest from the Flaming Sun Valley?"

Raymond didn't deem her important enough to respond to herimmediately.

Instead, he ignored people's stares and turned to fix a stern look atAustin, who again was trying to hide in the dark corner knowing whatwas to ensue.

"Nothing, it's just that I have taken a sudden interest in this IllusorySwordsmanship, because of a friend of mine. I will give three hundredand fifty thousand vital energy crystals!"

Raymond announced in a cold, hard voice.

Austin leaned on the wall with resignation, a wry smile spreading overhis face.

Like it or not, it seemed that Raymond was right on his heels anyway.