Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Auction (Part Three)

All the private rooms on the second and third floors erupted into fervent discussion.

Could it be that the Violet Gold Chamber of Commerce made a mistake in their sale? This item looked rather worthless, yet its oddity was undeniable. Purchasing it at this price would surely yield a handsome profit, and even if one had no use for it, gifting it to the esteemed envoy—or perhaps to the president of the chamber—might earn a cultivation technique as a reward, enough to strengthen their sect considerably.

“I bid one hundred and fifty thousand mid-grade spirit stones,” declared the middle-aged man in one of the private rooms, having finished his deliberation.

“One hundred and fifty thousand mid-grade spirit stones, once. One hundred and fifty thousand, twice. If there are no further bids, we’ll start the countdown, and the item will be sold,” the auctioneer announced.

“Old Ghost Fang from Violet Cloud Sect has placed a bid. If he wants this item, he must know its value. If it contains a supreme cultivation manual, then our White Snow Peak will be doomed to eternal mediocrity, forever third among the sects, never able to surpass them,” murmured the white-bearded elder. After a dry cough, he raised his voice, “I bid one hundred and seventy thousand mid-grade spirit stones!”

How could such a useless thing fetch such a high price? The new president’s method of driving up the bids was quite effective. Linna silently admired him, her respect for him growing ever deeper.

“One hundred and seventy thousand, once. One hundred and seventy thousand, twice. One hundred and seventy thousand, three times. If there are no further bids, the countdown will end and the treasure will be sold,” Linna continued her countdown.

Downstairs, the crowd watched in astonishment as an unfamiliar item incited a bloody bidding war among the VIP rooms on the second and third floors. Clearly, this item must be worth a fortune.

“I bid one hundred and eighty thousand mid-grade spirit stones,” called out a middle-aged man in a pale blue robe and a mask, his voice hoarse as he rose to his feet.

Dao Sansheng grew anxious—this was his chance to return. No matter the cost, even if it meant spending his entire fortune, he had to win this item.

Just as Dao Sansheng was about to place his bid, a voice rang out from a private room on the third floor.

“Two hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones,” a man announced coldly.

“Two hundred thousand, once. Two hundred thousand, twice. Two hundred thousand, three times. If there are no further bids, the countdown will end and the item will be sold,” the auctioneer declared.

All eyes turned toward the remaining bidding rooms. Inside the Violet Cloud Sect’s room, the middle-aged man glanced at his companions and took a deep breath.

“The man’s voice sounds impatient. I’ll try one final bid. If I fail, so be it. There’s no point in offending someone without even delivering the gift,” he muttered, then called out, “Two hundred and ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones!”

“Two hundred and ten thousand, once. Two hundred and ten thousand…” Linna’s words were cut off by a shout from the White Snow Peak elder in the room below.

“Two hundred and sixty thousand mid-grade spirit stones!” After his bid, the white-bearded elder looked around at his companions. “We can’t let that old fox have it. White Snow Peak must not concede in this matter—we cannot allow Violet Cloud Sect to buy anything we cannot comprehend.”

In the third-floor room, Lin Zhi was furious. He had just been assigned to this task and had barely enjoyed two minutes of excitement before encountering such trouble. Could anyone in this world possibly recognize the star map? No one should know its purpose; even he had only learned of it after seeing it.

“Two hundred and sixty thousand, once. Two hundred and sixty thousand, twice. Two hundred and sixty thousand, three times. Countdown ending, the auction is nearly over. Any more bids?” Linna inquired repeatedly, then resumed the countdown.

“Two hundred and sixty thousand, five times. Two hundred and sixty thousand, six times. Two hundred and sixty thousand, seven times.”

As the countdown reached this point and Dao Sansheng was about to bid, the third-floor private room interrupted once more.

“Three hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones,” came the voice, accompanied by the crack of a cup being crushed.

Hearing this, the middle-aged man from Violet Cloud Sect ceased bidding. The White Snow Peak elder, seeing no further offers, also fell silent.

“Three hundred thousand, seven times. Three hundred thousand, eight times.”

“Three hundred and ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones!” The first room to bid on the second floor entered the fray again, the leap in price unprecedented.

“Three hundred and ten thousand, once. Three hundred and ten thousand, twice. Three hundred and ten thousand, three times. Final countdown—are there any more bids?” Linna inquired once more.

The third-floor room was now empty, and Lin Zhi had appeared beside Fox Meier on the second floor.

“Who’s in that room? Check it for me.”

His words were slow, each syllable crisp and forceful.

“President, that is the VIP room of Zi Chenyu, young master of the Zi Fancheng Estate,” Fox Meier replied fluently, though with a trace of doubt on her face.

Lin Zhi’s figure flickered, vanishing from the second floor and reappearing in the third-floor room.

“Am I being paranoid? Perhaps they truly don’t recognize it—my bids merely aroused suspicion. Even the Chamber’s appraisers were baffled. Who else could know, unless they came from that other world?” He was startled by the thought, but quickly dismissed it as impossible.

“Three hundred and ten thousand, nine times. Three hundred and ten thousand…” Linna’s next words were cut off as another figure stood up in the hall.

“Three hundred and twenty thousand!” The voice was strained, as if the bidder had staked everything he had, his eyes wild with a look of utter desperation.

“Three hundred and twenty thousand, once. Three hundred and twenty thousand, twice. Three hundred and twenty thousand, three times. Without further bids, the countdown will end and this treasure will belong to the young master,” Linna announced, noticing the man’s hands trembling with excitement.

In the third-floor room, Lin Zhi sneered at the young man bidding below. “Dare to compete with me, Lin Zhi? You’re courting death.”

As Linna began her countdown, Dao Sansheng shouted, “Four hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones!”

His eyes were alight with a burning resolve, fixed unwaveringly on the scroll upon the auction platform.

“Brother Dao, spending so much on an unknown item is not worth it. Save your spirit stones for something better later. The auctioneer is just encouraging you to bid—it’s all a tactic,” Zhang Jinqian interjected, hoping to dissuade Dao Sansheng.

“Junior Brother Zhang, I understand,” Dao Sansheng replied, but inwardly he had already resolved to risk everything he possessed.

“Four hundred thousand, once. Four hundred thousand, twice. Four hundred thousand, three times…” Linna began the countdown. Lin Zhi considered bidding again, but when his gaze swept over the second-floor room, he paused.

“Zi Fancheng… Looks like I’ll be visiting your estate soon. Let your son keep the item safe for me for now.”

“Four hundred thousand, seven times. Four hundred thousand, eight times. Four hundred thousand, nine times…”

“Sold!” Linna called out as the wooden gavel fell.