The frog gestured for the dancer to open the first basket. Everyone assumed it contained food, but instead it turned out to be a beautifully crafted dagger.
The dagger was clearly very sharp, its blade gleaming with a cold light. Seven or eight crystals were inlaid on the hilt, giving it an elegant yet luxurious feel. Beside it lay a silver paper scabbard, covered in intricate patterns.
The giant frog gestured for the dancer to bring out a dagger and let the audience see it up close. The first row quickly gathered around, praising the exquisite dagger, with some even picking it up to examine it and nodding in approval.
After touring the area once, the giant frog returned the dagger to the stage, teasingly asking, "Has anyone figured out the mystery behind it?"
Everyone was captivated by the dagger's forging craftsmanship and magnificent appearance, failing to notice the hidden secrets within.
The frog laughed and swiftly drew his dagger, stabbing it into the dancer's chest. The dancer had no time to dodge; she coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground.
Everyone was shocked and couldn't understand the frog's intentions. The spectators on the second floor also frowned in displeasure; a perfectly good auction had been turned into such a mess, it was truly a spoilsport.
Just then, the frog said, "Get up!"
The dancer who had just died from vomiting blood actually stood up, wiped her mouth, and spun around in place.
The audience buzzed with discussion. Frog spoke up, "This is the most exquisite part of this dagger. Once the right person wins the bid, they can take it home, study it carefully, and unlock its secrets. There is only one of its kind in the world. The starting bid is five thousand taels!"
This dagger can be used to fake death! Everyone was very interested and bid against each other. In the end, it was won by a young man selling brocade for thirteen thousand.
Next, the second basket was opened, revealing a ring. Its unique feature was its oversized face, which looked quite conspicuous on the hand. The ring setting was gold, and the face was studded with numerous gemstones.
The frog, still speaking clearly, quoted, "This ring can be used as a concealed weapon or an escape tool. Let me show you how to use it."
The dancer held a bowl of water, pressed the ruby on her ring, and then gently flicked the ring, causing some transparent powder to fall into the bowl. She then poured the water onto the ground, creating a steaming mist.
The frog explained, "Whether to poison or administer the antidote is entirely up to you. That's the first mystery of this ring."
The dancer then put the ring on her hand, extending her right hand to show it off. She then pressed the emerald on the ring with her left hand, and the ring sprang open, a thin steel wire shooting out and piercing a beam. The dancer was pulled by the wire and thrown onto the beam.
The frog said to Qiu Zeyu on the second floor, "Please, Master Qiu, help me bring the dancer down! Thank you!"
Just as Qiu Zeyu was about to get up, Murong Xingchen asked in a low voice, "You still say you don't know each other!"
Qiu Zeyu rolled his eyes. "I really don't know her!" With that, he leaped onto the beam and caught the dancer steadily.
The big frog took out two taels of silver and threw it at Qiu Zeyu, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Master Qiu."
Qiu Zeyu instinctively accepted the two taels of silver, feeling humiliated, and stuffed it into his pocket. He then bowed to the frog, clasped his hands in greeting, and flew upstairs to sit down and continue drinking and watching the play.
The frog continued its hawking, "You've all seen the wonder of this ring! If you want to surprise us, just use it a little more, and it will surely shine! Starting bid: five thousand taels!"
The ring was quickly sold for 15,000 taels of silver.
Next, darts, bows and arrows, and repeating crossbows were auctioned off!
The crowd was already scrambling to bid, their eyes gleaming with excitement. They hadn't expected so many amazing items at their first auction. Just as everyone was anticipating more treasures, Frog Hero announced, "There's only one item left for today's auction, the grand finale! A martial arts treasure!"
With the sound of gongs and drums, a table with a wooden box on it moved automatically to the center of the stage!
Everyone craned their necks, including the three viewers on the second floor.
The wooden box was the one that Wang Feng had hidden under his bed before, and now it was placed in front of everyone.
The giant frog touted, "This box is no ordinary item. From the imperial court to the martial arts world, countless people covet it! It was no easy feat for the Frog Hero to obtain this treasure, hence the high starting bid of 100,000 taels!"
A murmur rippled through the audience when suddenly dozens of men in black appeared from various corners, wielding swords and knives, eyeing the wooden box on the stage menacingly.
A young man in a tiger-skin coat stood up from the crowd, laughed loudly, and somersaulted onto the stage. "I never thought I, Qi Qiuping, would have such luck! This treasure is mine today! Anyone who doesn't want to die, get the hell out of here!"
Although Qiu Yuxian on the second floor was sweating bullets, she knew today was a rare opportunity, and she couldn't forget her goal. She was also ready to do her best for her husband.
The Emperor did not know who Qi Qiuping was, and Liu Xun also shook his head, indicating that he was unaware of the matter.
Someone in the audience recognized Qi Qiuping and stepped forward, brandishing a large knife, saying, "Who do we have here? It's just a thief! What, you've gotten bold! You dare to rob someone openly now?"
The crowd burst into laughter, gripping their weapons tightly, ready to fight at any moment. Yet, they all looked at the giant frog with a hint of apprehension!
The giant frog hadn't expected Qi Qiuping to cause trouble, but the anesthetic had already run out. Pressing the switch again would unleash a barrage of hidden weapons, inevitably resulting in countless deaths and injuries.
The giant frog mocked Qi Qiuping, "What's wrong? Not broke at home? Trying to take my auction items for free? Don't you even know if you're lucky enough to do it!" With that, it took out a gun from its spatial storage, aimed at Qi Qiuping's knee, and hit him squarely.
Qi Qiuping had no time to react and immediately knelt on one knee. Seeing their leader injured, the brothers immediately pounced on the giant frog on the stage.
Qiu Yuxian on the second floor felt very distressed, but she remained motionless, only clenching her hands tightly.
The crowd below the stage also broke into a melee, settling scores and seeking revenge. Some even tried to snatch weapons that had been knocked away, and the whole thing turned into a chaotic brawl.
The giant frog and Qi Qiuping lunged at the wooden box at the same time! But the person who had won the ring in the audience snatched it away.
The man, overjoyed as he held the box, hadn't even turned around when a sharp sword cleaved him from head to toe, separating the box from the man.
In an instant, everyone's attention was focused on the box, and swords flashed and screams filled the air.
At this moment, Qiu Yuxian flew down from upstairs and caught her husband, asking, "Are you alright?"
"Get the box first!" her husband urged.
Qiu Yuxian drew her sword and charged from the stage into the audience.
The box passed from hand to hand, and no one managed to get their hands on it completely! Just as everyone was in chaos, Qiu Zeyu signaled his guards to act. Three thousand highly skilled guards appeared simultaneously. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the crowd tried to escape, but were quickly subdued.
Finally, the wooden box was returned to the stage! Qiu Zeyu, receiving a signal from the Emperor, returned the box to the giant frog!
The big frog never expected that its meticulously planned get-rich-quick scheme would end like this. Needless to say, the person sitting on the second floor, as steady as a mountain yet wielding such power and authority, must be the Emperor.
So the frog, holding the box in both hands, knelt down towards the yellow-vested man on the second floor, shouting, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Only then did everyone notice the distinguished-looking man in the yellow vest upstairs! They all surrendered and bowed their heads in submission!
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