"Th-this… how did the price change this much? Isn't this just price gouging?"
"Exactly! A hundred Immortal Martial Stones was already expensive enough, and now it's jumped to five hundred? That's enough for me to open dozens of black crystal stones!"
Staring at the altered characters on the sign, the crowd wore expressions of displeasure, and protests erupted one after another.
"Isn't Young Master Chu Feng and the Holy Maiden of the Starfall Sacred Land worth five hundred Immortal Martial Stones?"
"Pay it or don't — that's for you to decide. But without five hundred Immortal Martial Stones, don't even think about going up," said the Ghost Sect Hall elder.
It had to be said that this move by the Ghost Sect Hall elder did indeed stop quite a few people in their tracks.
If one hundred Immortal Martial Stones could still be grudgingly accepted, then five hundred was truly beyond many people's tolerance.
Yet despite the five-hundred-Stone price tag deterring a number of visitors, there were still some willing to spend that kind of money — not for anything else, but simply to catch a few more glimpses of Chu Feng and Xia Yun'er.
"Why don't we go to the third floor instead?"
Seeing that a large crowd was still trailing behind them, Chu Feng turned to Xia Yun'er and suggested.
"Forget it. With Elder Xingyi here, they wouldn't dare do anything. Besides, the black crystal stones on the third floor are far too expensive. If we're just here for fun, there's no need. The ones on this second floor are just right," Xia Yun'er said.
And just as Xia Yun'er had stated, the quality of the black crystal stones on the second floor was noticeably superior to that of the first.
At the same time, however, the prices were considerably higher. The smallest black crystal stone in the surrounding area cost five hundred Immortal Martial Stones.
And the largest was priced at three thousand.
That said, this was absolutely not the biggest one here, nor the most expensive.
If the second floor's black crystal stones were already priced like this, one could only imagine what the third floor's stones must cost.
"Elder Xingyi, Junior Sister Xia — what are you doing here?"
Just then, a surprised cry rang out. Looking over, not far ahead on the second floor, several figures were walking toward Chu Feng and his group.
The one leading them was Song Yunfei, the Holy Son of the Starfall Sacred Land.
Beside Song Yunfei was Ren Xiaoyao of the Bliss Valley.
Besides Song Yunfei and Ren Xiaoyao, a number of younger disciples from the Starfall Sacred Land and the Bliss Valley followed behind them. There were also some who weren't from either of those two powers, but judging by their attire, they clearly came from prestigious families.
The moment Song Yunfei and Ren Xiaoyao spotted Chu Feng, their eyes filled with resentment. Especially when they noticed that Xia Yun'er was standing right beside Chu Feng in a manner that could only be described as the gentle clinginess of a little bird nestled against its companion.
Song Yunfei's eyes nearly bulged out of his head with fury.
So he had no intention of greeting Chu Feng at all — he simply ignored him entirely.
"Senior Brother Song, I accompanied Young Master Chu Feng to attend this auction. We had some time to spare, so we decided to stroll through the stone gambling grounds. What a coincidence that you're here too," Xia Yun'er said.
Xia Yun'er was as gentle as ever, and as courteous as ever.
Yet that single sentence — "I accompanied Young Master Chu Feng" — struck deep into Song Yunfei's heart.
Chu Feng could even sense a thick killing intent emanating from Song Yun'er's eyes.
"I never expected that Junior Sister Xia would be interested in stone gambling as well. In that case, come with me — your senior brother will pick out a few black crystal stones for you. I guarantee you won't leave empty-handed," Song Yunfare said.
"No need to trouble yourself, Senior Brother Song. Young Master Chu Feng and I will simply browse at our leisure." And with that, Xia Yun'er declined Song Yunfei's offer without the slightest hesitation.
Yes — she refused him, and she did so with utter directness.