My Twin Sugar Mommies and Two Systems are 100 Years Late! Volume 2 – Chapter 7.
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"I choose the Array-Breaking Stone."
The Treasure-Seeking Compass could find high-grade items, but he already had the system to purchase treasures from. Plus, Array Formations were truly scary for anyone who had little to no knowledge of them.
The Arrays he had come into contact with so far—such as the space-bending formation at Bliss Sanctuary—did not attack him. But recalling how he could not detect their source or how to disable them made him uncomfortable.
[Host, are you sure?]
"Yes."
[Very well, Host! Your chosen item has been added to the Warehouse. You can retrieve it with but a thought. Same goes for the Body Tempering Technique. Although you have mastered it, there are still 6 chances left for it to be comprehended.]
Yan Anle was pleasantly surprised. "Then I can put it up for auction or give them to someone under me to cultivate?"
[Yes, Host. But, unlike you, they will have to rely on their own comprehension, dedication, and luck to master it.]
"Good!" He nodded, pleased. "Another income stream and a means to strengthen my subordinates."
[Next, I will settle your earnings from today's auction.]
Yan Anle rubbed his palms as the information on the screen updated.
[In today's auction, you successfully auctioned a total of twenty-seven items.]
[The system's total base worth of the items was 3,815 Low-grade Spirit Stones. The total amount they were auctioned for is 7,283 Low-grade Spirit Stones.]
[Therefore, you have earned 3,468 points and the equivalent of 7,283 Low-grade Spirit Stones has been added to your coffers.]
"Seven thousand Spirit Stones…" Yan Anle bit his bottom lip. The sharp pain made him believe he wasn't asleep.
He patted his chest and muttered, "System, can I convert Spirit Stones earned from auctions to Points? Measuring it by the difference between base price and auctioned price is a bit..."
[Myriad Worlds] did not hesitate to douse that flame of greed with a bucket of freezing water, [No. Not now, not ever.]
"Ugh," he groaned dramatically and held his chest like he had been struck by an arrow.
[Myriad Worlds] added, [Right now, the difference is not much. However, when you auction higher quality items, you will come to find that the price they are auctioned at can reach double, triple, or even quintuple the starting bid.]
Yan Anle: "..."
The system changed the subject, [Host, would you like to see your updated status now?]
"Yes, show me!"
Name: Yan Anle. Race: Human. | Age: 113 Years. | Gender: Male.
Spell Cultivation Base: None. Body Cultivation Base: Fifth Level Viscera Forging.
Special Physique(s): Three Thousand Treasures Body (Divine-grade).
Special Bloodline(s): Nether-Fire Butterfly Bloodline (Immortal-grade) (Fusion: 22.8%).
Spirit Root(s): Five Elements Spirit Root (Low-Tier Immortal-grade).
Cultivation Technique(s): [Core: Essence Integration Body Tempering Art (First Chapter: Great Perfection Mastery)] [Auxiliary: None].
Dao Techniques: None.
Divine Abilities: [Acquired: 30-Second Ad. Dual Cultivation God Emperor's Dharma Eye.] [Innate: None.]
Auction House Name: Prosperity Abode.
Auction House Staff: 21 Regular. 1 Manager/Hostess.
Auction House Reputation/Influence: [Pacified Grace Star: Obscure Auction House]
Functions: [Staff Management] [Myriad Worlds Warehouse] [Auction House Structural Management] [Auction House Operational Rules Management] [Auction House Customers Management] [Myriad Worlds Shop].
Available Missions: [No Rest For The Money Grubber I]
Myriad Worlds Auction Points: 3,468.
Owned Items: [First Chapter of Essence Integration Body Tempering Art (6 Comprehension Chances Left)], [Array-Breaking Stone (7th Grade)], [Auction House Owner's Dao Robe], [Auction House Owner's Mask], [1 * Seven-Fold Time Distortion Array (Mid-Tier Immortal-grade)], [1 Drop of Heavily Diluted Heaven's Tears Potion], [5 Nascent Soul Pills], [Equivalent of 7,283 Low-grade Spirit Stones], etc.
Remark: The match has been lit, but be careful. A random gust of wind may blow it out if you aren't careful.
– – – –
"Finally, all those 'N/A' are no longer there to burn my eyes." He wore a satisfied smile after perusing it. "Now, let's see. What is the new mission all about?"
[Mission Title: No Rest For The Money Grubber I.
Mission Type: Escalating.
Mission Details: Raise the Reputation/Influence of Prosperity Abode to the Town/City Grade.
Deadline: 7 Days. Compulsory: No.
Estimated Difficulty: Low.
Completion Reward: 1,000 Spirit Crystals
– – – –
He was curious. "Spirit Crystals? What are those?"
[Item: Spirit Crystal.
Grade: Mortal.
Description: A Spirit Crystal is a condensed mass of Spiritual Qi that is not only purer than Peak-grade Spirit Stones but also has the ability to draw on the ambient Spiritual Qi to replenish itself.
Note: One can call it a self-replenishing Spirit Stone. It is best used as the core energy source for Arrays and powering Artifacts and Puppets designed to operate autonomously for extended periods of time. The grades are Mortal, Immortal, and Divine.]
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Yan Anle's eyes lit up as he re-read it. "This item… It has the Seven-Fold Time Distortion Array's name written all over it!"
After a pause, he probed, "By the way, what are the Reputation ranks of Auction Houses?"
[Master, this System ranks Auction Houses based on influence and reputation like this: Obscure, Town/City, Prefecture/Regional, Provincial, National, Continental, World-Wide, World Cluster, World Sea, Divine, and Universal.]
"Sounds very straightforward."
[Myriad Worlds] asked, [Host, before you continue, would you like to start paying off your debts now?]
His lips that had started to curve upward froze. What a time to douse my flame of excitement!
"How much do I owe again?"
[200,000 Points.]
He bit his bottom lip. "How about I redeem some items for tomorrow's auction first, then you can take the rest?"
[Myriad Worlds] agreed.
Next, the system's Shop appeared before him. There were various categories: Arrays, Pills, Potions, Herbs, Forging Materials, Cultivation Manuals, Heavenly Materials, Earthly Treasures, Puppets, Talismans, Gu Worms, and so on.
"There is even an entry for Corpses?" Yan Anle wore an odd expression at some point.
[Myriad Worlds] escorted him the whole way, [Host, as the Auction House currently has the Peak of Foundation Establishment as its ceiling, you can only purchase items up to the Low-tier Eighth-grade.]
He randomly dove into the Puppets section and found that it was indeed the case.
"Humanoid Puppets, Corpse Puppets, Beast-Shaped Puppets, Plant-Based Puppets—so many types!" Yan Anle's eyes sparkled at the variety. Then his attention shifted to the prices of the highlighted listings and his brows furrowed, forming a strange character on his forehead.
"50,000 Points for a Tenth-grade Puppet?"
[Master, this particular Puppet comes with self-repair and self-cultivation capabilities. It can cultivate all the way up to the Peak of the Core Formation Realm, and its cultivation speed is not low. If you put this up for auction, all those Sects and Clans will bid crazily for it.]
"Up to the Core Formation Realm?!" He thought about it and nodded in agreement. "They'd practically be purchasing the equivalent of a guaranteed future Elder." He smacked his lips and bitterly admitted, "A pity, I'm still a pauper." Then he asked, "Can you filter out items that cost above what I currently have in stock?"
[Yes, Host.]
In tandem with Myriad Worlds' words, the items on the screen were reshuffled, and only items that fell under the price of 4,000 Points remained.
"I'll take that Low-tier Ninth-grade Eagle-shaped Puppet." He scrolled for a bit, then settled on one. "Although it can't self-cultivate or self-repair, its other capabilities—flight, Early-stage Foundation Establishment combat prowess, and size alteration—would make it fatally desirable for those at the Early-stage Foundation Establishment and below. Even those who are stronger may find it useful at critical moments."
[Master, this item costs 950 Points. Are you sure?]
"Yes."
[Congratulations, Host, on redeeming the [Low-tier Ninth-grade Pure Cloud Eagle Puppet]! It has been added to the Warehouse and can be retrieved with a thought.]
[You have 2,518 Myriad Worlds Auction Points remaining.]
"At this rate, it seems that the next auction can only have five or four items," he calculated.
[Host, it's not about quantity but quality.]
"...You're right."
[What would you like to purchase next, Host?]
Yan Anle thought for a moment, then asked, "Are there Spirit Pets in the Shop?"
[Host, the current level of the Auction House does not allow for the sale of living beings. Please level up the auction house to at least the Provincial level.]
He clicked his tongue, then picked out three other items: a bottle of pills, a sword, a pair of boots, a simple Disguise Technique, a Combat Technique, and an Array Plate.
Their individual prices and quality were all lower than the flight-type puppet. These would serve as the appetizers, and the puppet as the finale of the next day's auction.
These expenses brought down his points to 610.
He pondered for a moment, then said, "I should get something for the newly recruited Staff. This will be the carrot. When someone messes up, I can bring out the stick. Myriad Worlds, any recommendations within my current means?"
[Master, how about grinding some pills and diluting them in water before sharing it for them to drink?]
Yan Anle wore an enlightened expression. "Like Marrow Cleansing Pills?"
[Yes.] Myriad Worlds paused, then reminded, [Master, you still have Vouchers for redeeming pills. Would you like to use those instead?]
"Let's go with that." He stroked his cleanly shaved chin and decided, "Okay, that should be enough for now. Of the remaining 610 Points, take 500 to pay off my debt."
[Done. You now have 199,500 Points of debt remaining.]
He closed the system and opened the Disguise and Combat Technique Manuals. As promised by the system, the comprehension was instant and he mastered them to perfection.
His status was updated.
[Auxiliary Techniques: Ten Faces Transformation Art.] [Dao Techniques: [Seven Skies Fist (Profound-grade) (Mastery: Perfection)].]
He stood before a mirror and changed the color of his pupils from golden to their original color within seconds.
He smiled, satisfied, before turning to exit the room.
Seeing his appearance, Dou E was startled. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Y… Young Master, is that you?"
He grinned and spread his arms out wide. "Dou E, I made a breakthrough in my cultivation and have regained my youth."
Dou E's eyes turned moist and she threw herself into his arms, hugging him. "That's good… That's good! Young Master can indeed cultivate now!"
The two hugged for a while, and Yan Anle patted her back until he felt it was enough and pulled away. He handed her a bottle of pills and instructed her, "Of these nine Marrow Cleansing pills, keep one for yourself and another for Pan Ting. As for the rest, crush them into powder and dilute them in water before distributing them to the recruited staff."
Dou E nodded obediently before recalling, "Young Master, what about Sister Sun?"
"About her…"
– – – –
Meanwhile, outside the Mobile Secret Realm.
Sun Ziyun went through the motions of her task and returned to the Private Courtyard after only a few minutes.
She sat in Yan Anle's rocking chair with her eyes closed, surrounded by the Ruo Sisters—Bingruo, Yuruo, and Feiruo—who fanned, massaged, and fed her.
The fan and fruits were no common items. They radiated Dao Rhymes and were clearly treasures. The group was mostly silent apart from Bingruo, who hummed a beautiful tune that made one feel like they were in a beautiful and peaceful garden, away from the troubles of the world.
The others listened with relish until she suddenly stopped and, like them, glanced in the direction of the Residence's entryway. The Ruo Sisters shared a look before they, the fruits, and the fan disappeared into the void.
Sun Ziyun's silver-gray hair turned to black and her horn disappeared before her eyelids fluttered open to reveal a pair of orange serpentine eyes that quickly changed to human brown ones. She watched the Courtyard's gates slam open with a mildly displeased expression that soon faded into an unreadable one.
There were two intruders, both ladies. However, one followed behind the other with a subservient posture and less exquisite dressing. The one with the higher cultivation base and haughty demeanor that contrasted her 'kind fairy' beauty sparked some recollection within Sun Ziyun's mind.
"Isn't that one of Yan Anle's cheap siblings?" She soon recalled the name. "Yan Linglong, was it?"