This is a semi-circular venue with not many seats, approximately just over a hundred. The seats are spaced widely apart, with only sparse, dim candlelight distributed along the two sides of the aisle, making it hard for one to discern the faces of the audience.

The stage to the front, however, is remarkably bright, with spotlights of various colors glaring down on it from all angles. A massive cage sits at the center of the stage.

Inside the cage is a beefy man of over two meters tall, his entire body chained rigidly. With his spirit dimmed and his body covered in wounds of varying sizes, the protruding muscles on him still manifest his explosive strength.

Beside this cage stands a man in an extravagantly white suit, his expression wild. He adjusts the high top hat on his head, sweeping his gaze across the crowd, before stomp his intentionally thickened shoes hard onto the floor, eliciting a loud "Thud!"

"Excellent! Sold for 650,000 shells! Congratulations! Distinguished guest. The 13th level Giant Hammer Warrior is now yours! He will satisfy you!"

Several people came onto the stage from the behind, took the cage away.

The man in the suit stands in the center, lowering the brim of his hat with one hand.

"Now we move on to the final lot of tonight's auction! Presenting our grand finale!"

The crisp sound of rattling chains echoed, as Mu Zhou, with his feet bare, slowly walked to the front of the stage, curiously observing everything around him.

As he steps onto the stage, the previously extremely quiet audience seemed as though under a spell, frozen in place. The man in the suit, anticipating this, intentionally gave them a brief moment, before suddenly throwing his arms open, hollering crazily.

"That's right! I felt the same disbelief as you do, when I first saw her!"

With the clack-clack of hurried steps, he dramatically circled around Mu Zhou.

"Such beauty is not reachable by humans! Not a single flaw to be found! A perfect masterpiece!"

"Hey! You're overselling, what if no one buys?"

Hearing such exaggerated praises, Mu Zhou rolled his eyes. After he realized that he was to be auctioned off as a slave, he felt this situation rather... intriguing!

This isn't an experience just anyone could have, and he even had a new plan in mind. You see, this is an auction, and he is the grand finale.

The buyer ought to be a wealthy individual who would likely bring him into a house full of various types of books. He needs those books to understand the knowledge of this different world.

Therefore, he decided to first "sell" himself.

The man in the suit is still continuing his introduction.

"We didn't spend much effort in capturing her, frankly speaking, she stumbled onto us herself tonight! You're in luck, my lady!"

A few soft chuckles came from the spectators below.

"Due to time constraints, we didn't manage to select an outfit that accentuates her beauty, but I don't think that's important. In fact, she doesn't need such mundane items to enhance her appeal!"

A few murmurs of agreement emerged from below the stage.

"Although we haven't had the chance to verify, but I believe some prestigious guests have already used their experience of savoring flowers to discern from the way she walks, that she's still a virgin!"

"You're the virgin!!!!!"

Grinding his teeth inwardly, Mu Zhou decided to tolerate for the sake of books.

"Then..." Lowering the brim of his hat again, the man in the suit stamped his foot hard onto the ground, the sharp and resonant "Thud!" echoed throughout the venue, "Let's begin! No reserve price! Each bid must be increased by no less than 50,000 shells!"

"600,000 shells!"

Almost immediately after he finished speaking, an eager shout echoed in the hall with a heavy panting.

"700,000 shells!"

"750,000 shells!"

"900,000 shells!"

"That's right, fight for it! Once for 900,000! ‘Thud!’ Is there anyone else who's willing to pay a higher price for the possession of this peerless beauty?"

With the man in the suit's crazy proclamation, the atmosphere in the venue reached its boiling point. What used to be a quiet, mysteriously filled hall now resembled a bustling market.

"1,600,000 shells!"

"1,800,000 shells!"

Mu Zhou watched in astonishment as the expressions of the spectators below resemble desperate gamblers.

"Am I... really worth this much?"

Just as he was contemplating whether he really should let himself be sold to a wealthy buyer, an indifferent yet clear voice suddenly wafted through the venue."Im taking this person," the declaration, like a bucket of cold water, poured over the burning auction, bringing its clamoring to a sudden halt. The previously bidding attendees pressed themselves tightly onto their seats, daring not to cast sideway glances. The man in a suit looked like a choked rooster, his eyes bulging with no words escaping his lips. "Shall I repeat myself?" The voice resounded once again, as flat as before.

Mu Zhou turned to the source of the sound, towards a female figure standing under the dim candlelight near the door. A young woman in her late teens, she had a tall, curvy figure, decorated with a resplendent body-hugging gown. A head of soft pink, slightly curled hair adorned with a pure white flower at the left side, and exquisite facial features, she was a beautiful maiden.

"No, no needs...as you wish, Lady Tianlu," the man in the suit lost his previous frenzy, replaced with mindful obedience. With his beckoning, another person dashed from backstage with a box, with Mu Zhou he walked towards the maiden and opened the box. Inside was an elaborately designed collar with a chain.

"Since we didn't sense any magical or combat aura from her, we didn't prepare to use a collar with a restraining effect, umm... would that be okay?"

The maiden glanced at Mu Zhou, "What if she possesses magic or combat skills?"

The man in the suit bowed abruptly, "Ye-yes! You're absolutely right, it was my overthinking." Then he lifted up the box, "She's yours now."

The maiden nodded and reached for the collar in the box, fastening it around Mu Zhou's neck, a "clunk" indicated its lock.

Rather than resisting, Mu Zhou merely felt like the day was full of interesting surprises. The maiden led him out by the chain attached to the collar. Assuming from her way of conducting herself, Mu Zhou guessed she must be the daughter of some noble family. The thought comforted him, as his goal was only the books.

They climbed onto a luxurious carriage waiting outside. The maiden stared at Mu Zhou for a while, her lips parted slightly, "What's your name?" she asked.

"Umm...Mu....Mu..." her intense stare gave Mu Zhou goosebumps.

"Mu Mu? A nice name." She continued her stare at him, without saying another word.

Mu Zhou replied with silence, ignoring her piercing gaze and got engrossed in observing the scene outside. The carriage moved past gradually empty streets lined with magical, multicolored lampposts that turned up out of nowhere. When the dark settled in completely, the carriage stopped before a white front gate.

The maiden jumped off the carriage first, showing more than intended due to her vigorous movement, Mu Zhou got a glimpse of her white undergarment - he shook his head and also climbed down.

A huge courtyard with a snow-white castle-style building, well-groomed lawns, and a jade stone path extending towards a mansion. As they entered the courtyard, a pair of young girls in maid uniforms stood aligned along the path bowed down when they saw her, "Welcome, Lady Tianlu!"

"Wow, what a pomp and show." Mu Zhou thought to himself, but kept walking calmly without the slightest hesitation.

The castle's interior was not overly luxurious, but had a soothing, girl-like charm - very smooth and natural. The maiden asked a nearby maid about her sister - she was in the study room. Nodding at Mu Zhou to follow her, she led him through a complex structure towards a large room, apparently a girl's room filled with various decorations. She swiftly opened a big wardrobe full of various dresses and said to Mu Zhou, "Choose one to change into."Mu Zhou stared at the multitude of items inside the large cabinet: mini skirts, formal dresses, and even girl's clothing such as silk stockings, shaking his head vigorously...