"Now, for the second item of this auction, we have here a sword forged by the master of the Steel Searing Heaven peak, elder Lu Yue himself.

"This sword was made with steel produced from..."

As the elder in charge of the auction conducted his business smoothly, Xuhan finally understood how this auction event worked.

Each item displayed in the auction had at least one speciality and after the auction was officially over, many similar products would be sold outside the auction hall, except they would be normal products made specifically for lower level disciples. This auction actually was more of a showcasing event where senior disciples or those with more money than necessary would buy something a tad too fancy than the rest of the ordinary disciples.

Older disciples and some elders were preparing the temporary shops for the after-auction marketing campaign outside the hall. The poor disciples who would be feeling envious after seeing the items sold in the auction were bound to be attracted to similar looking item sold outside at a cheaper rate, albeit the items' less impressive function.

This was another psychological tactic to dupe the simple minded disciples into buying these knockoffs from within the sect...

Xuhan couldn't help feeling that whoever established these tactics in this sect was a black hearted merchant.

The sword that was being showcased right now was made personally by a peak master. It was of a much higher quality compared to the swords that would be sold outside, with two special enchantments cast on it that could probably save the wielder's life in some specific situations.

Proportionately to its enhanced functionality, the items sold in the auction were much more expensive than those sold outside.

Xuhan wasn't very interested in the auction itself. He didnt have some heaven defying knowledge library or discerning eyes that could identify rare materials or artifacts that were being displayed; that was Mu Ran's forte.

And it didnt take much time for this fact to take effect. After half a dozen more items had been sold, Mu Ran finallly started competing for an "ordinary looking piece of rock" with some random senior disciple who looked pissed about the fact that an outer court disciple dared to go against him.

"Boss, why are you drooling over that piece of rock that no one except that scary looking senior wants to buy?"

Although Xuhan knew that the rock was probably another cheat item, he couldn't help asking this after noticing the fuming opposition bidding for the rock like their life depended on it.

"Xuhan, you must understand, not everything is what it seems from outside. I have a hunch that the rock is a very useful treasure. "

"...Just a hunch? You're willing to make an enemy out of that scary looking guy over there just over a hunch?"

"Hmph! What I, Mu Ran, want to possess, will be mine one way or other. How dare that villain dare to covet my treasure?! He is courting death!"

"Erm...boss, that's not YOUR treasure yet, right? The auction hasn't ended. And why are you calling him a villain when he just wants to buy the rock legitimately?"

"Hah, what a joke! Since I have set my eyes on this, who but a malicious villain dares to snatch it from me? It's mine! Whoever dares to oppose me deserves death by a thousand cuts."

Looks like Boss was a bit too immersed in his "ruthless protagonist" form.

Mentally lighting a few candles in the memory of this poor senior disciple who didnt know he was "courting death" , Xuhan decided to take a walk outside to relieve his feet.

However, as soon as he got up, he felt an ominous gaze on his back.

Of course, he wasn't some sort of clairvoyant who could innately sense the so called "killing intent". Simply said, the gaze was like a cool breeze caressing his back. It made him shiver fearfully and break out in sweat even before he could understand what it was. The pressure brought by the focus on him was nearly physical.

Slowly turning around, Xuhan carefully examined the crowd. It only took a few seconds to spot the source of the ominous feeling.

Not far from his seat, a familiar girl was venomously glaring at him and Mu Ran.

Wait, wasn't that the girl who challenged Mu Ran that day?

He remembered his boss bragging about how he had defeated her so thoroughly that she had to be carried to the medicine pavilion...

Unable to beat my boss, she has focused on poor little me?

But that wasn't the end. Upon further examination, Xuhan found another gaze locking in on him.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

It was the senior disciple who had just lost to Mu Ran in the auction. He looked like he was contemplating whether kidnapping Xuhan would make Mu Ran give away the rock as a ransom.

'Maybe it's better if I just sit here and,' Xuhan immediately plopped down back on his seat and relieved the sudden cold chill inside his limbs by slowly massaging them.

Soon, all the items were either sold or set aside after being displayed. Xuhan slightly edged forward on his seat, anticipating the upcoming "stunt".

"Now, that all the promised items have been displayed, we, on behalf of the sect's authority, would like to promote a book," the elder in charge of the introduction of items announced loudly, a strange gleam in his eyes stimulating the imagination of all the disciples present.

"A book?"

"Did I hear that right? When has this sect ever promoted books?"

"What could this book be about?"

"Whose book could be promoted by the authorities of the sect? Which famous author has this much influence?"

Chatters like these could be heard all over the hall. But the elder didn't give the audience much time to digest the announcement.

With a simple gesture from the elder, a book appeared on the middle of the raised stage.

The book wasn't particularly thick or intimidating. But its dazzling appearance was definitely impressive. The covers were made of crystalline materials that softly glowed. The bindings were designed like snowflakes intertwining together, crimson coloured like the sect's insignia.

Bright gold letters with crimson outlining on the cover shone like a beacon, attracting the eager audience's gaze.

HOW TO MAKE A HAREM : A PERFECT GUIDE TO A BLISSFUL MARITAL LIFE

The outbreak of whispers was subtle, very sneaky and alarming at the same time for those not in the know of the flow of events beforehand.

The biggest question at the moment was...

Why the hell would Crimson Snow Sect promote such a book that looked even less credible than love potions found in the streets of the mortal world.

The whispers soon grew louder and evolved into a ridiculous commotion.

"What the hell is this?"

"Is this some sort of a prank?"

"Have you no shame?"

"Hah, this sect will do anything for money."

"Do they take us for morons?"

Many shouts like these were heard over the commotion. The elder hadn't even had the chance to give a neat description. The crowd was jeering at him blatantly.

Han Xuhan, the main perpetrator of this disaster, didn't look disappointed in the slightest by the negative reaction from the crowd.

His eyes held an anticipatory glow, as if awaiting the right catalyst to take charge...

"SHUT UP YOU BUFFOONS!"

'There it is.'

A boisterous young man stood up from his seat and glared at the crowd that was still throwing ridicule toward the sect.

"I, Xu Feixiong, have absolute faith in the integrity of my sect. It may look ridiculous and funny to those who harbour different thoughts in their heart when it comes to this aspect, but I know for sure that since the sect has decided to promote this book, it is a treasure worth buying!"

'Marvelous performance.'

With two sentences, the laughter from the crowd was snuffed out, a very predictable outcome.

Whoever dared to laugh on or disagree with this young man would be indirectly insulting the authorities of the sect.

'But this isn't the end, was it?'

'Come on, Xu Feixiong, complete the combo', Xuhan grinned as his anticipation rose higher.

"Hmph! Trash like you all who has no respect in their heart for their own sect... I cannot comprehend why the sect even bothers to bear with disciples like you who obviously lacks filial piety and the simplest ethics. Do you take the authorities for a joke? You don't even deserve to bid for these treasure, I'll buy it myself!"

'There there; wonderfully done, albeit lacking in the vocabulary a bit. But it's okay, it doesn't matter right now...'

Xuhan's grin grew wider. This was a good setup by the greedy elders.

"Elder Li, what is the base price of this book? There is no need for you to describe the worth of this book to these unfilial scums who dare to ridicule and look down on their own sect. Just name the price."

"Ahem...the starting price is fifty spirit stones, with each increase having the base of 5 spirit stones."

"Eighty spirit stones, I'll take it," the young man loudly announced with visible pride. Every elder present in the hall looked at him with an warm gaze full of approval.

Meanwhile, the crowd had already changed their stance. They were not exactly stupid. It was obvious that this passionate young man had just received the grace of the authorities concerned. The more important factor were the indirect blows to those who were ridiculing the sect loudly. They were being labelled as bad disciples unworthy of the sect's care one-sidedly.

But the flow of the events was so smooth that almost no one could adapt to the situation properly.

Almost.

"What do you mean by calling us unfilial scums ? We were simply taken aback at the sudden surprise, " one quick witted disciple finally managed to get back his bearings.

"Yeah, that's right. How can you insult us like that?!"

"We were just surprised, that's all."

The voices started to pick up in volume.

Even if they didn't trust the credibility of the book, they didn't want to be labelled as bad disciples either.

The uproar spread like wildfire. Some over enthusiastic disciples even started bidding for the book, trying to make themselves look better than the rest of the hypocrites.

In the end, the book, labelled as special handwritten edition signed by the sect master himself, was sold at the sky high price of one hundred and fifty spirit stones.

Of course, there was also a part of the crowd who were very interested in learning the contents of the book. After all, the sect wouldn't promote a typical trash like this, right?

For these curious bunch, the shops awaited where normal mass copied version of this book would be sold at a much cheaper price.

The biggest sufferers of this incident was obviously the couples among the disciples.

"Honey, the sect wouldn't be selling this for show. It wouldn't hurt to buy a cheap copy and take a look..."

"I'm merely curious my fair lady. I am only buying this to see why this is being promoted. "

"I wouldn't cheat on you. How could I?! I'm just buying it to get into the elders' good grace."

Awkward explanations like these were heard many times after the auction was over. The single disciples bought the cheaper copies for reasons that did not need to be explained, while the disciples with a daoist partner at their sides were trying to console their counterparts while they looked at the books with a strange smiles...

Half an hour after the end of the auction, all the copies of the book was sold out, with many more disciples left unsatisfied by the lack of production.

"Heheh...I should go get my first haul," Xuhan laughed sinisterly after seeing the complaining disciples and left to search for elder Shen.