"Gene Scholar's Research Notes?" Feng Lin's eyes lit up as he stared at the chip, remaining silent for a long moment.
A gene master was a profession that ran parallel to cultivators—completely different yet complementary. In simple terms, cultivators embarked on the path of cultivation by awakening mythical genes, while gene masters delved deep into the study of genes, developing them into an esoteric discipline and applying them to create all sorts of wondrous things. One was the scholar, the other the warrior; one pursued truth, the other wielded超凡 power.
Those who had awakened mythical genes but had not yet truly become interstellar cultivators were usually called apprentices. Feng Lin was currently a cultivator apprentice, needing to evolve his basic genes into a primal gene to formally step through the threshold of cultivation. Similarly, gene masters faced a massive hurdle; before succeeding, they were called gene scholars, equal to cultivator apprentices and not yet true gene masters.
The chip Feng Lin had his eye on turned out to be a gene scholar's research notes. It was like a pillow arriving just as he felt drowsy. Though it was only introductory knowledge, for Feng Lin, who intended to walk the path of a gene master, this was a gift delivered to his doorstep that he absolutely couldn't miss. The only trouble was that these notes were being traded through an auction. The starting bid wasn't expensive—just 5,000 star coins—but if people went wild, the price could climb, and with only 40,000 star coins on him, it might not be enough. Yet this was something he was determined to obtain. That made it tricky!
Feng Lin frowned, standing still as he racked his brain for a solution.
"What's wrong? Did you find something you like?" The virtual美女 sales assistant keenly sensed his dilemma and approached to ask.
"I want to buy these research notes! But they're up for auction, and I only have 40,000 star coins left—probably not enough!" Feng Lin saw no reason to hide it; for professional matters, he should listen to professionals.
"Gene Scholar's Research Notes?" Seeing what Feng Lin had his eye on, the virtual美女 sales assistant's data flickered before her eyes, and she reached a conclusion. This guy wanted to become a gene master? Gene mastering was a money-burning profession. To achieve mastery, besides needing extraordinary talent, one had to constantly pour in money—instruments, materials, techniques—all of which required funds, the more the better. The more money you threw in, the faster you learned. Gene mastering was such an odd profession, but once you succeeded, it was also one that generated massive wealth, ensuring you never worried about money for life. Yet, out of ten thousand people studying mythical gene knowledge, not one might become a gene master. One in ten thousand—it was a mix of risk and opportunity.
A tycoon, an absolute tycoon! This guy actually wanted to learn gene master knowledge and was willing to spend money on it—he must be loaded! In the virtual美女 sales assistant's analysis, Feng Lin's status as a customer shot up rapidly. If before he was just an ordinary customer, now he was a VIP client. The AI system automatically adjusted her approach, making her face appear even sweeter.
As a sales assistant, prying into a customer's secrets was a major taboo. To leave a good impression on Feng Lin and retain this potential big spender, the intelligent optical brain system of the Thousand Gold Mall manipulated the virtual美女 sales assistant to enthusiastically offer advice, chuckling lightly, "That's simple!"
"Oh?" His problem seemed easy to her, a virtual beauty, and Feng Lin's interest was piqued as he waited for her to continue.
This virtual美女 sales assistant was an AI system, and using big data analysis, her conclusions were far more reliable than a human's. Since Feng Lin had asked, she naturally wouldn't beat around the bush. "The Thousand Gold Building has many transaction methods, but most fall into two categories: direct sale and auction. Direct sale is cash on delivery, no need to elaborate. But some items are very rare and unique, so they're traded through online virtual auctions, where the highest bidder wins. Auctions have their nuances and require strategy. These research notes aren't a hot auction item; the starting bid is 5,000 star coins, so there won't be many competitors. I suggest you bid 10,000 star coins right off the bat."
"Hmm!" Feng Lin nodded. Though jumping the price that much at once felt a bit like being taken for a ride, he didn't care about the extra 5,000. What mattered was whether this would actually secure the notes.
Sensing his hesitation, the virtual美女 sales assistant explained, "Every time the auction price breaks through 10,000 star coins, it's a major hurdle that can scare off many troublemakers!"
"But what if someone else keeps bidding?" Feng Lin asked again.
"Simple! Just add 100 star coins on top of their bid!" The virtual美女 sales assistant smiled confidently.
"100 star coins?" Feng Lin confirmed he hadn't misheard.
"Yes! 100 star coins, no more, no less. That's the minimum increment for these research notes. By repeating this a few times, you subtly convey that you'll follow through at any cost, making those with weak resolve back off on their own. If it were a true gene master's notes, they'd be priceless, but these are just beginner-level scholar notes—no one's willing to pay a huge price for them. You have a good chance of getting them for very little." The virtual美女 sales assistant said with assurance.
There was so much to consider in auctions! Feng Lin nodded, silently admiring how clever this approach was.
Soon, nine o'clock arrived. The virtual auction on the Thousand Gold Building's network had officially begun. People could place bids remotely online, and once won, the item would be delivered by intelligent robots. One rare item after another entered the auction mode, from low to high, with the later items becoming more precious. Feng Lin waited patiently, and soon the third item came up—the research notes.
The moment the auction started, he immediately bid, "10,000 star coins!"
The virtual auction fell into a long silence, with the active IDs going dead.
It worked! These potential competitors didn't respond for a while, seemingly intimidated by Feng Lin's jump to 10,000 star coins. Maybe he could clinch it just like that.
"10,000 star coins, going once!"
"10,000 star coins, going twice!"
With no bids for a while, the virtual auction system began its countdown. If it reached the third call, the gene notes would belong to Feng Lin.
Just as victory seemed within reach, someone finally couldn't resist and started bidding.
"11,000 star coins!"
This person added a full 1,000 star coins in one go. But it didn't stop there—once someone took the lead, others followed suit.
"11,500!"
"12,000!"
"13,000!"
...
The auction gradually heated up, with prices soaring. Soon, it broke through the 10,000 mark again, reaching 20,000 star coins. Feng Lin's heart sank. He hadn't expected so many unexpected competitors to appear; the competition was fiercer than he'd imagined. But these gene scholar research notes were something he was determined to obtain—he couldn't give up. Even if it meant spending all 40,000 star coins he had, he wouldn't regret it. Feng Lin was a decisive person; once he made up his mind, he didn't hesitate much.
He called out his new bid.
"20,100 star coins!"