Shi Feng opened with 30 gold coins, causing the price to jump considerably.
Some NPCs of second‑rank professions shook their heads; although this skill book was quite good, the price was a bit steep, so they all gave up bidding.
Shi Feng was about to sigh in relief.
«35 gold!»
A booming voice echoed throughout the auction hall.
Shi Feng turned his head and almost cursed.
The bidder wasn’t a melee profession but a fourth‑rank female mage.
Mages have always been the wealthy ones in the Divine Realm; for a fourth‑rank mage, thirty‑fifty gold is just pocket change for a magical research experiment.
«Too bad.»
Shi Feng shook his head, stopped bidding—he only had just over 30 gold, couldn’t compete even if he wanted to, and if he had known the auction house sold this skill book he wouldn’t have sold his gold coins.
Although Shi Feng withdrew from the bidding, other fourth‑rank melee professions continued to compete, and the price of Flame Thunder Rage kept climbing, reaching 45 gold—making it the most expensive item aside from equipment above level 100.
«45 gold, first time.»
«45 gold, second time.»
At that moment Shi Feng heard the system prompt.
System: The Gleaming design diagram you sold in the auction house has been sold; after deducting the fee, 2 gold 31 silver have been deposited into your backpack space.
System: The Gleaming design diagram you sold in the auction house has been sold; after deducting the fee, 2 gold 44 silver have been deposited into your backpack space.
System: The Gleaming design diagram you sold in the auction house has been sold; after deducting the fee, 2 gold 27 silver have been deposited into your backpack space.
…
A string of system prompts, at least over twenty, left Shi Feng stunned.
He couldn’t figure out what was happening; during his time in Blackwing City, so many people had bought the Gleaming design diagram that his wallet instantly bulged.
His wallet bulged, and without hesitation Shi Feng shouted, «46 gold!»
«45 gold, third time!»
«This gentleman just bid 46 gold—is anyone willing to go higher?»
«49 gold.» The fourth‑rank female mage frowned slightly.
Shi Feng now felt confident; if the female mage was determined to buy it, he surely couldn’t outbid her, but this skill book was of little value to her, and he couldn’t believe anyone would spend a fortune on it.
«55 gold.» Shi Feng decided to take it in one go, without incremental bidding.
55 gold for this skill book was an astronomical price; the female mage wasn’t a sucker and immediately withdrew.
Other NPCs seeing Shi Feng’s high bid looked at him like an idiot—even learning a skill from a third‑ or fourth‑rank profession instructor costs only a dozen gold, and the skills are far better; spending 55 gold now is simply foolish.
However, NPCs don’t understand the player’s world: for a player, mastering a powerful skill early on greatly boosts strength, especially a rare area‑of‑effect skill that also stuns, bringing endless benefits later—worth even 100 gold.
With no NPCs bidding, the white‑bearded old man finally struck the hammer.
«Congratulations, Mr. Blackflame, you’ve won Flame Thunder Rage!»
Shi Feng happily paid 55 gold, obtained Flame Thunder Rage, and immediately clicked to learn it.
Flame Thunder Rage is a god‑tier skill for early monster grinding and PK; having it, Shi Feng thought of many more ways to grind monsters and level up.