"Are you in such a hurry to get rid of me?" Zhang Junshang asked with a pitiful expression.

This has left Lu Shi completely bewildered.

She raised both hands and waved them together, hurriedly explaining, "No, that's not what I meant, don't misunderstand."

Seeing Lu Shi's nervous expression, Zhang Junshang smiled wryly, never expecting that this soldier could smile so charmingly.

He turned to the three elders and said, "Elders, I do have important matters to attend to, so I won't disturb you any longer. However, I would like to ask Principal Feng to lend me Teacher Lu."

“You’re a member of the Military Intelligence Bureau now, so we old folks can’t call ourselves elders. You go ahead with your work. As for Teacher Lu, you can discuss with her what you need her for. We three old guys haven’t seen each other in a long time, let’s go have a drink and have some fun.” Feng Tianxiao spoke on behalf of all three of them.

After saying that, the three of them put their arms around each other and entered the campus.

However, as he was leaving, Lei Cangqiong waved and added a sentence.

“Commander Zhang, non-duty personnel are prohibited from flying in the urban area of ​​J City. So, if you need to go to the city, you can ask Xiao Sun to give you a ride. He also needs to go back to the city for some business. Tell him to come pick me up tomorrow.”

As he spoke, he pointed to the Land Rover parked at the school gate.

Zhang Junshang happily thanked him.

Then, he quickly walked up to Lu Shi and said earnestly, "Teacher Lu, I need your help. Do you have time today?"

"You've helped me so much. Besides, the Military Intelligence Bureau has ordered me to help you, both for public and private reasons," Lu Shi replied with a smile.

During the conversation, the two got into Xiao Sun's car and sat together in the back seat.

Seeing the handsome man and beautiful woman, Xiao Sun was a little dazed, but seeing the stingy Lu Shi, he couldn't help but ask, "Teacher Lu, where are you going?"

“Dingtong Auction House,” Zhang Junshang said first.

"Ah! You're going to today's auction too?" Xiao Sun asked curiously.

"Could it be..." Zhang Junshang's words also carried a hint of surprise.

"Yes, I'll go too. So, are you also planning to bid for the Kunlun Mirror fragments?" Xiao Sun asked excitedly.

Fragments of the Kunlun Mirror.

Lu Shi keenly heard this keyword. Her ears perked up even more.

Hearing Xiao Sun's words, Zhang Junshang breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, we're not competitors. What I want to bid on is... the Magic Stone."

“Magic Stone, do you mean…” Xiao Sun repeated the name, then his expression suddenly changed.

Zhang Junshang raised his right index finger and placed it to his lips as a shushing gesture.

Xiao Sun understood immediately, started the Land Rover, and the vehicle sped away.

Damn it, those two riddle-solving people are just taking advantage of the fact that I don't know anything.

Lu Shi ignored the two of them and closed her eyes to rest on her own.

...

The Land Rover drove for about forty minutes before pulling into a huge tall building.

The five large characters “Ding Tong Auction House” continuously gleamed on the side wall of this high-rise building.

Meanwhile, information about today's auction items is being displayed on the huge exterior wall.

Lu Shi stared at the exterior wall and inadvertently noticed an item up for auction.

Star Silver.

The material used to repair the shapeshifter.

Lu Shi pointed to the introduction of Xingyin displayed on the outer wall and quietly asked Zhang Junshang:

"Commander Zhang, what's the typical transaction price for this Star Silver?"

Zhang Junshang glanced at it and calculated, "Although Star Silver is a relatively precious rare metal, the price of this raw material is not high, at most it's only ten million."

Only ten million?

Hearing this, Lu Shi almost couldn't catch her breath again.

Just how rich is Zhang Junshang?

When he says ten million, it's as easy as saying a thousand.

"What, Teacher Lu, are you interested in Xingyin? Then do me a favor and I'll buy it for you." Seeing Lu Shi's silence, Zhang Junshang instantly understood.

"Okay, what can I do for you?" Lu Shi agreed without hesitation.

“It’s actually quite simple.” Zhang Junshang looked at Lu Shi and said seriously, “I need you to use the Mind Wall to protect me when you’re bidding for the magic crystals.”

"What? You can be attacked during the auction?" Lu Shi was still confused.

"What? Teacher Lu knows the Mind Wall?" Xiao Sun, who had been listening quietly, became excited. Fearing that Lu Shi would misunderstand, she hurriedly explained, "Teacher Lu, you don't know this, but the Top Auction House has a unique feature. During the bidding process, bidders can use magic skills to interfere with each other. If a bidder cannot withstand the interference, they will be considered to have failed the bid."

"Therefore, there is no highest bidder wins here. As long as you can offer the lowest price and suppress everyone else's bid, you win the auction."

"Is there something wrong with this auction house? Why not do something that makes more money and instead make themselves miserable?" Lu Shi couldn't help but want to swear.

"Don't rush! Let me finish," Xiao Sun continued to explain while driving.

After listening to Xiao Sun's long-winded explanation, Lu Shi finally understood.

TopTong Auction House has a mysterious background and organizes auctions every so often.

Moreover, the items auctioned each time are rare and unique, unlike anything found in other auction houses, so there's never a shortage of bidders.

During the auction, participants are not allowed to have physical contact with each other.

However, you can unleash magic to attack the opponent and prevent them from making a bid.

However, damaging items at the auction house will incur tenfold compensation. Those who are stubborn enough to break things will find that the compensation can bankrupt them.

Therefore, few people use elemental attack magic; those who want to cause trouble prefer to use invisible curse magic or mind-based interference magic.

As a result, people or items that can resist mind-attack magic are very popular at auctions.

Therefore, TopTone Auctions is launching more services.

During the auction, the auction house can provide rental services for various defensive magical artifacts.

Of course, the prices are also different.

For example, the rental price of mind-based defensive magical artifacts is astronomical.

Furthermore, the auction venue includes a main hall, VIP areas, and private rooms. The security level has also been gradually increased.

The most expensive private rooms offer the protection of a protective array, making the bidding process more worry-free.

However, the price...

In short, we don't cheat the poor!

After listening to Xiao Sun's explanation, Lu Shi sighed, "Ding Tong Auction House has a knack for doing business."

What a master at making money!

...

At the entrance of the auction house, a row of magicians stood guard. Although they were all novice magicians, they looked quite intimidating.

A long line of people is queuing to enter.

After Xiao Sun parked the car, the three of them lined up and entered the Dingtong Auction House in order.

It seems that even the military region and the magic association, the two major organizations, don't have special privileges.

Lu Shi followed Zhang Junshang into the auction house. Her outstanding appearance even made the guards take a few extra glances.

Upon entering the auction house, Lu Shi carefully examined the enormous space.

In the very center stood a towering auction stage, its lights gleaming brightly.

Surrounding the auction stage was a circular main seating area, the VIP section, typically occupied by high-ranking members and distinguished individuals. These seats displayed brochures introducing the day's auction items and exquisite magical artifacts. These defensive magical artifacts were also a value-added service offered to the VIPs.

Beyond the main seating area are tiered seating areas that decrease in elevation. These seats are divided into different zones according to rank and location. Each zone has a dedicated entrance and staff to provide convenient service to guests. The tiered design ensures an unobstructed view throughout the auction hall, allowing guests to clearly see every item on the auction stage from any seat. And these seats are completely unprotected.

On either side of the auction hall were several private boxes. These boxes were elegantly and luxuriously decorated, providing an ideal viewing environment for VIPs who sought privacy and comfort. Outsiders could not see inside at all.

What Lu Shi noticed was that all the seats were separated and far apart from each other.

This meant that the auction hall, which could accommodate a thousand people, only had seats for a hundred.

Lu Shi was led by two men to the main seating area of ​​the auction stage.

Even the military region and the Magic Association are reluctant to use private rooms.

The price of the private rooms does seem quite astonishing.

The three of them chose a private area in the VIP section, sat down, and waited for the event to begin.

People around also began to sit down, but there was a strong sense of wariness between them.

Seeing the hostility from the people in the distance, Xiao Sun explained to Lu Shi, "Considering that some friendly people or organizations might sit together and cooperate in the bidding, everyone sitting together in each area is someone you know. However, what I want to say is..."

After a pause, Xiao Sun looked at Zhang Junshang and said seriously, "Commander Zhang, today, let's join forces and assist each other, each getting what we need. What do you think?"

"Okay. That's exactly what I was thinking too."

Zhang Junshang readily extended his right hand and shook hands firmly with Xiao Sun.

Lu Shi rolled her eyes.

You'll see what happens when you encounter attacks from mind magic and curse magic...

The foundation of cooperation is making me happy first!