NOVEL FROG Chapter 63: Bing Meilu's Wondrous Slave Auction
Transmigrated back into the body of her child self, can the mighty Celestial Bing Meilu survive in a Xianxia world all the while staving off the advances of arrogant young masters and wannabe protagonists alike?
Why is life so hard for the Icy Beauty?
Any corrections or criticisms are welcome, I hope you enjoy Chapter 63: Bing Meilu's Wondrous Slave Auction
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On the day of the auction, Bing Meilu created a massive frost stage right in the center of a street. A huge banner of ice characters grew up behind it.
"Bing Meiliu's Wondrous Slave Auction! All are invited! Cheap Prices, Strong Slaves! Don't Miss Out!"
Xia Xuefeng and Shen Xinyue were in seclusion, and Li Ji was still managing finances. The rest of her subordinates flanked her as she stood atop the auction stage, smiling serenely.
Xi Fu had a strange expression as he stared at the banner.
"Boss... Do we have to call it a slave auction? We could be mercenaries? Or a private army?" he begged.
"You're a slave, and I'm auctioning your services. Ergo, a slave auction. The name fits perfectly." his boss dismissed.
"Just give up, Xi Fu," Jiang Hu chuckled. "As far as Bing Meilu is concerned, we'll still be slaves even if we become illustrious Saints."
"When we become Saints," Xi Fu fist-bumped Jiang Hu.
Many stopped to gawk at the huge stage. A crowd slowly formed. Soon the first 'customer' arrived. It was Commodore Rampage Sword. He snickered at the sign. Flying over to land by the stage, he waved at Bing Meilu.
"A slave auction, huh? How much for that one?" he pointed at Jiang Hu. "He's a strapping specimen."
"We're not selling slaves, we're renting them. And it's an all-or-nothing deal," Bing Meilu said. "Whoever gives the highest price secures my whole faction's service. Pretty simple concept."
"Very well," the Commodore shrugged. He conjured himself a chair and took a seat in the air.
More random sect members arrived, gawking at the massive ice stage. Soon there were several captains watching silently, not interfering. None of the other Commodores had come yet.
Another Captain arrived, a frown on his face. He boldly strode towards the stage, eye narrowed. Unlike the others, he seemed intent on interfering.
"What is the meaning of this?" the Captain demanded.
"I'm holding an auction," Bing Meilu replied.
"And why are you holding it here? This is the residential district. If you wish to hold an auction, it must be done in the commercial section of the Port."
"Well, there are taxes in the commercial district, right?"
"Yes. Ten percent of all transactions."
"Well, I don't want to pay those. So I'm holding it here instead."
"That-that isn't how that works! You can't just hold an auction in the middle of the street to avoid taxes. This is completely against sect rules!"
"Citation please?"
"Port rulebook page forty-five paragraph three! No major transactions in the non-commercial areas of the Port! By the way, any transaction over five thousand spirit stones a day is a major transaction."
"Ahh- I see. Well, good thing I'm not here for any commercial purposes at all. I just happen to be standing on top of this conveniently placed auction stage, which I can assure you has nothing to do with me, so I can cool my feet on the ice."
"...Is- is that a joke? I, Captain of the Law Enforcement Hall, have never seen such a flagrant disregard for sect rules in my life. Either head to the commercial district and pay your taxes, or I'll be forced to arrest you this instant."
"For what crime?"
"For holding an auction in the middle of a residential street!"
"As I already said, I''m not holding any auctions. What evidence do you have that I am?"
"There's a sign behind you that says 'Bing Meilu's wondrous Slave auction!' Do you have a licence to sell slaves?"
The girl waved her hands, and the banner changed. It now reads 'innocuous Ice Stage! Nothing to see here!'"
"You-You can't just change the sign- I already saw it. It said you were holding an auction!"
"What utter slander! My good brother, Commodore Rampage Sword, did you ever see a sign that said there was an auction?" Bing Meilu asked, waving at the seated Nascent Soul. He snickered and nodded.
"Yup. I've been here for a while, that sign never existed." the man chuckled.
"See? I'm clearly innocent. As for your flagrant violation of sect rules, let's discuss that right now!" Bing Meilu declared, her eyes narrowed.
"E-excuse me?" he demanded, eyes narrowing.
"Slandering a fellow member of the sect, with such a ridiculous accusation that I was dodging taxes by holding an auction in the residential district! In flagrant violation of all morals of man and heaven, you maliciously sneered my name in front of the whole sect with no evidence, no doubt fishing for a bribe, you corrupt strumpet! Commodore Rampage-Sword, I demand you uphold justice and arrest this layabout immediately!"
The Captain fell utterly silent, too shocked to even know how to respond. No evidence? She had literally just told him her plan. He was actually just dumbstruck, staring at her in silence for several full seconds of sheer disbelief.
The silence was broken by uproarious laughter. Daoist Rampage Sword burst out laughing wiping tears of joy from his eyes.
"That's-haha-right? What do you have to say for yourself, Captain Fangtian?" Rampage-Sword chuckled. "It appears I'll have to disciple-haha-you?"
Of course, as a customer, Rampage-Sword also did not want any interference. A ten percent tax also meant he would have to pay that much extra.
"You can't do anything to me!" Captain Fangtian narrowed his eyes. "I'm a neutral party. If you dare act against me, you'll push me into the hands of one of your rivals. This girl has blatantly broken sect rules, and you know you can't interfere in my-"
"Oh? Do you think I got the nickname Rampage-Sword, by making rational political decisions? Or do you think I got it by killing fools who disrespected me?"
The jovial atmosphere disappeared from the Commodore in an instant, a sharp and dangerous aura rising in the air.
"So why don't we test if I'll do anything to you, Captain of the Law Enforcement Hall? If you don't leave in the next ten seconds, we'll see what can happen faster, you 'joining one of my rivals,' or me crippling your cultivation base?"
Bing Meilu almost thought the Nascent Soul was bipolar, with how fast his attitude seemed to change, from jovial to murderous in the blink of an eye. After a moment, Fangtian spat on the ground, and turned on his heel, striding away angrily.
"Good! Very good, Commodore! I'll remember this!"
Ordinarily, even a Commodore would not have the ability to act so blatantly corrupt as Rampage-Sword just had, dismissing the Elder of Law Enforcment's objectively correct accusation against Bing Meilu. The Armada had very strict rules of law enforcement and generally did not shy away from punishing high-ranking sect members.
Unlike most sects, who had to tread carefully against punishing their high-ranking members, lest they leave for a rival power, the Armada had no rivals anyone could leave to, at least, nor in the Bird Talon Continent.
However, law and order in Seventieth Port Snake had been slowly eroding over the years. As the rivalry between the four Commodores grew hotter and hotter, it escalated further, with more and more bold actions. With every incident the Divison Commander did not intervene in, the Commodores grew more unbridled in their competition and open acts of corruption.
Whether it be sabotaging each other, not providing resources to those aligned with enemy factions and more, the silent Division Commander had never intervened, and it eventually became clear he had a Laissez-faire attitude towards the rivalry of his successors.
Bing Meilu would never tolerate such internal infighting in any power she ruled, but she didn't mind it in Port Snake, since it was only to her profit.
"An auction? I hope brothers don't mind if I attend?"
A second Commodore appeared from thin air, flying over to hover by the stage. Flanked by several captains, this was Commodore Black Heartflame, the publically acknowledged strongest Nascent Soul in the Port.
Over the next hour, many more people arrived to see the huge event, and soon, all four Commodores and their factions had arrived. No one else tried to intervene, and so Bing Meilu began her auction.
"Greetings fellow Daoists. This one is Bing Meilu, a humble Lieutenant of the seventieth Port Snake. It just so happens I've come into possession of a large group of slaves, each of whom possesses incredible martial prowess."
She waved her hand, and Xi Fu stepped forward. His ebony-hafted spear in hand, a powerful piercing Qi erupted from him.
"Captain Xi Fu! While only at the fourth stage of Core Formation, his masterful Spear Cultivation leaves him a terrifying force to be reckoned with! Do any from the crowd wish to test their martial skill against Xi Fu? If you win, you can have him for free!"
"Captain Hong Fu of Rampage Faction will exchange pointers," Commodore Rampage-Sword snapped his fingers.
A scarred man flew into the air from the Rampage Faction. He had a sword by his side and wore green turtle shell armour over his captain robes. His looks resembled Hong Hui, whom Xi Fu had crippled. The two captains made their way out into the air, far away enough to be safe.
"Till surrender or inability to fight," Xi Fu said.
His opponent nodded, drawing his sword. He bowed and then attacked.
"Heart-Rending Slash!"
An arc of sword-Qi exploded, dancing towards Xi Fu in an instant. The Captain stood still, silently floating in the air. Then he thrust his weapon.
"Cloud Carving Spear."
The terrifying, dominating pressure of Heaven Defying Spear Intent erupted. Even miles away, many spectators began to sweat and wince at the pressure.
A huge river of Qi lanced forward from Xi Fu's spear. It tore through the sword-Qi and slammed directly into Hong Fu, who let loose a scream of agony. The green armour the man was wearing shattered, and his legs were sliced away, as the attack continued forward, unimpeded.
Xi Fu silently retracted his spear intent from Hong Fu's wounds, watching as the man fell from the sky, slamming into the ground and bouncing several times, before coming to a rest.
The Cloud Carving Spear shot downward, tearing a huge gash into the ground, several miles long. Spectators watched in silence and shock.
One move? It was over that quickly. Furthermore, it had clearly not taken much of Xi Fu's Qi. His burning aura still emanated from his like a star in the sky, barely diminished.
"Hong Fu was at the ninth stage of Core Formation!" someone said. "How could he fall so easily? To a fourth stage?"
"You actually awakened Martial Intent in only Core Formation?" Commodore Rampage Sword asked aloud in shock.
At the revelation, many looked at Xi Fu in awe. There was only one person with Sword Intent in all of Seventh Port Snake, the Sword Cultivator Rampage-Sword, who had awakened the Rampage Slaughter Sword Intent upon becoming a Nascent Soul.
Of course, Xi Fu had actually achieved Spear Intent while in Qi Condensation, and Embryonic Spear Heart while in Foundation Establishment. But Bing Meilu didn't feel the need to expose all her cards yet.
Silently, the spearman flew back to the stage. Many spectators clapped and cheered at the show.
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"Why the hell was he so weak?" Xi Fu complained. "I was excited to fight another weapon cultivator- but he's actually just trash?"
"The Rampage Faction isn't as strong as it seemed to us back in the day," Jing Hu agreed.
"Yeah, we used to be their dogs, but if that is a representation of how strong their captains are- I think we could take 'em out," Daoist Seagreen nodded.
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"As you can see, my dear customers, the proud fighters of the Bing meilu's Faithful Slaves Faction are all combat experts, forged in the fires of war. They can even easily win fights against those far stronger than them. Captain Jiang Hu!"
The tall, black-horned sabre fighter strode to the front of the auction stage, giving a dramatic bow.
"Jiang Hu, seeking pointers!"
This time no one from the crowd came out. After Hong Fu had his legs torn off, they no longer dared.
"Xi Fu, why don't you and Jiang Hu show us some moves?" Bing Meilu ordered.
The two of them took off, floating in the air. Both readied themselves for combat, Qi sloshing through their bodies.
Two world-shaking auras rose, more dangerous than any Core Formation should possess. Even the Commodores watching seemed shocked at the intensity of the Qi rolling from the two.
"Raaaaargh!" a piercing dragon roar split the air. Scales burst from Jiang Hu's skin and malformed wings grew from his back. The crushing aura of bloodline suppression erupted from him. Even watching from a distance, everyone could feel a natural instinct to flee before a predator.
"A-a Redscale clan member?" someone asked in confusion. "Since when has Crimson Saber Jiang Hu had such a bloodline?"
"I've seen Redscale before- I've never seen any of them who could do that?"
Fiery red light erupted around the sabre fighter like a fiery Heaven Star had appeared in the middle of the sky.
"Are you quite down?" Xi Fu smirked. "You don't have to show off so much?"
Jiang Hu chuckled, his voice eery and reptilian.
The two vanished and an explosive ringing pierced the air. Xi Fu's spear scraped against Jiang Hu's scales, like a nail against a chalkboard.
"So fast- I couldn't even see them move?" The strongest captain from the Tang Faction remarked in shock.
He looked to his Commodore, who watched the fight with intent eyes.
Jiang Hu's slashed outwards, a burning line of molten metal Qi erupting from his Redgold Bright Saber. Heat soared into the blade, which lit up like a blazing bonfire, growing shaper and shaper the hotter it became.
"Steel Slash Slays Serpent!"
"Cloud Carving Spear."
An enormous explosion ripped through the air, the shockwave pulverizing the ground and forming a crater like a meteor had fallen. As the smoke cleared, the two became visible, blurs repeatedly clashing with the sound of metal on metal.
'Their raw strength is already nearing the Nascent Soul realm?'
At that moment, all four Commodores came to the same realization. Whichever faction secured this auction... would definitely win! They had to have them!
"That's good enough. Get back!" Bing Meilu ordered.
The two came to a halt, looks of disappointed and restrained bloodlust in their eyes. They obediently flew back to the ice stage.
At that point, all eyes fell on Bing Meilu.
'Who the hell is she, who can control those monsters while being a Realm lower than them? How the hell did that happen?'
"But the BMFS faction does not just possess a few individual gems. We also have members who can work in concert with each other... Everyone give it up for the Elemental Five!"
The pentuplet walked to the front of the stage and gave their own humble bows, as their auras rose into the air.
"They're wearing Lieutenant robes... but all five are in Core Formation?"
"S-seven Captains? That's more than two of the main factions combined?"
Before now, there were only twenty captains in Port Snake. With Seven, the BMFS faction had already outpaced every other faction by a huge amount. Not to mention, the captains they did possess were clearly immensely powerful for their Realm.
"While only in the first stage of core formation, the Elemental Five possess shocking skill in working together. If any of the watchers, even the Commodores, can defeat them in three moves, you can have my faction for free."
That was a massive claim. Bing Meilu was directly asserting that none of the Four Commodores could defeat the Elemental Five in three moves. While Core Formation experts were impressive... They were nothing compared to a Nascent Soul. She couldn't possibly think five fresh Captains could survive the attack of a Commodore?
"I'll take you up on that offer!"
Commodore Black Heartflame appeared at the stage in a flash. The Elemental Five bowed in unison politely.
"Since I'm already lowering myself to fight some juniors, I'll just use one move," the Commodore said. "If you can block that, I'll admit defeat."
He teleported himself and the five dozens of miles away from the port, to a forest. At this point, only the other three Nascent Souls were capable of seeing the fight, with how far away it was.
Commodore Liyang waved his hand, and a spiritual projection appeared, allowing the other viewers to see what was happening. This was good etiquette when it came to being a peanut in the gallery.
In the forest, Commodore Black Heartflame floated above the Elemental Five. A black fire appeared in his hands. He thrust his palm forward, and the fire gently shot towards them, about the size of a small apple.
The strongest Core Formations could destroy cities. But even a weak Nascent Soul could erase mountain ranges and empty lakes. They were capable of permanently altering the world's landscape. In the Commodore's opinion, no matter how profound the formation, it could not possibly survive an attack from him. In fact, he would have to hold back to avoid harming the Captains.
As it approached them, the Elemental Five closed their eyes... and then the Commodore's attack disappeared.
"Wha-what the hell just happened?" someone asked in confusion. "Did- did he miss?"
After a moment, Heartflame appeared back on the stage, a desperate look in his eyes.
"You said I'd get three attacks right?"
Everyone fell silent in shock. he'd just publically said he'd only attack once... and now here he was, begging for a redo? It was an utter loss of face for the position of Commodore.
"Sure, I did say three. Feel free to try again," Bing Meilu waved her hand dismissively.
The Commodore teleported back away, appearing back in the forest. This time, a massive spear of black fire appeared in his hand, the length of three houses. He flew into the sky and hurled it down at the five.
The entire forest was immediately flatted as gale-force winds exploded outwards, tearing massive trees from the ground like they were but leaves. The massive spear, a full-force Fourth Realm attack- disappeared mid-air, like it had never been there.
Commodore Liyang's spiritual projection zoomed in on Black Heartflame, who had a look of complete shock and confusion on his face.
"It happened twice? How the hell are they doing that?"
"Hey! Look at the Commodore! What is he doing-"
"He's burning his essence blood?"