"Grandmother, what Gu insect is this?" The young girl pointed at the central counter on the third floor, asking curiously.
The tree house was divided into three levels. The first floor sold exclusively First Transformation Gu Insects. The second floor dealt in Second Transformation Gu Insects. The third floor offered Third Transformation Gu Insects.
The higher up one went, the fewer Gu Insects there were, and the higher their prices.
Of course, any Gu Insect displayed for sale in the tree house was relatively rare and precious.
Gu Yue Yao Ji followed her granddaughter's gaze and saw a tall, slender tree stump shaped like a cylindrical barrel. Five branches grew from its top, resembling five human fingers that intertwined in the middle.
A round, ball-shaped Gu Insect, no larger than a thumb, was entwined by slender twigs. Nestled among verdant green leaves, it radiated a silver-white glow.
"This is the Silver She Li Gu. It can only be used once, but it can instantly elevate a Third Transformation Gu Master's cultivation by one minor realm," Gu Yue Yao Ji explained slowly.
The She Li Gu was also part of a series of Gu Insects.
The First Transformation variant was the Bronze She Li Gu, designed exclusively for First Transformation Gu Masters. The Second Transformation variant was the Red Iron She Li Gu, effective only against Second Transformation Gu Masters. The Third Transformation variant was this Silver She Li Gu.
At the Fourth Transformation, there existed the Gold She Li Gu.
"The asking price alone is thirty thousand Yuan Stones — so expensive!" The girl stuck out her tongue in shock.
Gu Yue Yao Ji nodded. "This Gu Insect will sell for at least fifty thousand Yuan Stones in the end. Alright, we've seen about everything here. Let's go to the main counter at the first-floor entrance. There should be a result for the Wine Worm by now."
The First Transformation Gu Insects in the tree house each had a limited display time of only half a day once a bid was placed. Unbid-on Gu Insects, however, remained on display until someone placed a bid.
Second Transformation Gu Insects were displayed for one day. Third Transformation Gu Insects for two days.
The rule might seem strange at first glance, but in practice, it had been refined through experience into the most suitable method for buying and selling.
The main counter.
"What? The Wine Worm has already been bought by someone else?" Gu Yue Yao Ji's brows furrowed the instant she heard the result. She felt her bid had been quite generous. She had been at least eighty percent confident of securing the Wine Worm. She hadn't expected to fail.
"Hmph! Who's being so terrible, stealing my little Wine Worm?" the girl asked with puffed cheeks.
"Yao Le." Gu Yue Yao Ji admonished the girl with a single word.
The girl pouted her cherry lips and obediently fell silent.
The shop assistant behind the counter was a Second Transformation female Gu Master. She gave a slight bow and answered the girl: "I'm very sorry, but customer information is never disclosed. That is our trade's rules — please understand."
It was precisely because information was not disclosed that many customers' concerns were allayed, allowing them to bid freely without reservation.
Sometimes, people clearly wanted certain items but could only yield out of courtesy. After all, they were all members of the same clan — they would see each other constantly.
But with this method of sale, private bidding circumvented the problem of personal relationships entirely.
Why should such a wonderful item necessarily go to you, just because you happened to be someone's elder, relative, or friend?
Never underestimate the dark side lurking within every person's heart.
And secret transactions were precisely what allowed that dark side to emerge.
Gu Yue Yao Ji pondered for a moment. "I understand the trade rules. Rest assured, young lady — I won't ask for the buyer's name. I merely wish to inquire about the final transaction price."
The female Gu Master bowed again. "I'm truly sorry, but the price must also remain confidential. However, I can assure you that the transaction price was the highest among all bids. Jia Fu's trading company has always been built on good faith."
"Hmph, young lady — do you know who I am?" Gu Yue Yao Ji's face darkened as she let out a displeased cold snort.
"What's going on?" Just then, a middle-aged male Gu Master of the Third Transformation rushed over.
The tree house had been under constant Gu Master surveillance throughout, so any disturbance was immediately known.
"Manager," the female Gu Master greeted the middle-aged man at once.
The man waved his hand at her. "You may step aside. I'll handle this."
He then turned to face Gu Yue Yao Ji directly and smiled. "So it's Lady Yao Ji. This must be your granddaughter — what a clever and charming child."
Seeing that this man was also a Third Transformation Gu Master, Gu Yue Yao Ji's expression softened slightly, but she still wanted to know the transaction price.
The male manager found this somewhat thorny.
He was a veteran of the caravan and one of Jia Fu's trusted aides. Having traded for many years, he had a deep understanding of Gu Yue Stockade's situation. He knew exactly who this elder before him was.
For their purposes, they would rather offend Gu Yue Chi Lian or Gu Yue Mochen than offend Gu Yue Yao Ji. The latter's influence was second only to the clan leader, Gu Yue Bo.
The manager thought for a moment and said: "How about this — since Lady Yao Ji wishes to purchase the Wine Worm so much, I'll make the decision to privately arrange for one to be brought over. To be completely honest, we have three Wine Worms in stock, and Jia Fu himself personally determined where each one would be sold. You should know, Lady, how precious the Wine Worms are. As for the price in Yuan Stones, we can simply settle the bill based on your bid."
But Gu Yue Yao Ji shook her head slightly and tapped her cane on the ground with a soft thud.
"I don't wish to take advantage of any such favor. The price... let it be based on the transaction price of that Wine Worm that was just sold."
"This..." The manager hesitated, for he could clearly see what Gu Yue Yao Ji was really after.
Gu Yue Yao Ji feigned displeasure and continued pressing the male manager. "What — is the price perhaps so high that you're worried I can't afford it?"