CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 28: RECORD-BREAKING PRICE

"Crack!"

Amidst the discussions among the crowd, in Box Number Seven, the tea cup that Nie Yuan had just picked up was crushed into pieces by his grip.

He only felt a bit stifled and extremely frustrated.

Ji Chen, that opportunistic fellow, was showing off by bidding on behalf of the Eldest Princess, putting on airs in front of him. Yet, he couldn’t openly expose him, fearing to offend the Eldest Princess.

This kind of feeling made Nie Yuan feel as disgusting as if he’d swallowed a pile of flies.

"Sixty thousand... one thousand Spirit Stones!"

He took a deep breath and, in a low voice, announced another price.

Clearly, this was his actual limit.

If Ji Chen continued to bid higher, no doubt Nie Yuan would have to concede.

Though unwilling, when he thought of the real competitor being the Eldest Princess rather than Ji Chen, the wastrel, he felt somewhat relieved.

At least he didn’t truly lose to Ji Chen.

However, Ji Chen’s act of fox pretending to be a tiger still irritated him greatly.

Just last night at the Celestial Saint Garden, he had already born grudges against him.

Looks like this time, no matter what, he has to teach Ji Chen a lesson.

With this in mind, he sneered silently.

"Seems like Young Sect Leader Nie’s bidding is quite strained, perhaps he’s out of Spirit Stones?"

Ji Chen’s mocking voice came from Box Number Three, "If so, I’ll bid just a bit higher, sixty thousand and two thousand Spirit Stones."

Nie Yuan gritted his teeth but remained silent, knowing that Ji Chen aimed to provoke him.

Finally, after taking a deep breath, he tried to adjust his mindset, not wanting to bicker excessively with Ji Chen here.

"Once the auction ends, it’ll be your turn," he coldly muttered to himself.

"Sixty thousand two thousand Spirit Stones, is there any higher bid?" Zhao Geng’s voice echoed across the venue once more.

"Sixty thousand two thousand Spirit Stones, first call..."

"Sixty thousand two thousand Spirit Stones, second call..."

"Sixty thousand two thousand Spirit Stones... third call!"

"Sold!"

With a decisive hammer strike, the Cyan Emperor Sword was finally won by Ji Chen at a price of sixty thousand two thousand Spirit Stones.

The transaction was swift, Zhao Geng personally brought the wooden box containing the Cyan Emperor Sword to Box Number Three and received the sixty thousand two thousand Spirit Stones from Ji Chen.

However, when Zhao Geng discovered that besides Ji Chen, the Eldest Princess Qu Luoning was also present in Box Number Three, he couldn’t help but be surprised.

But Zhao Geng didn’t share the same thoughts as Nie Yuan, thinking that Ji Chen was bidding on behalf of the Eldest Princess.

Because with the upcoming auction of that Profound Tier Middle-Level Martial Technique, as the host and as the Elder of the Zhao Family, he naturally knew some inside information.

There was a connection between that Profound Tier Middle-Level Martial Technique and the Lingyun Sect. Though he didn’t fully understand, Zhao Geng could roughly guess that this martial technique was likely provided by the Lingyun Sect.

Thus, when Ji Chen was bidding earlier, he didn’t think the other was calling out prices recklessly, rather that Lingyun Sect actually had the financial capability to participate in the bidding.

As for the origins of this Profound Tier Martial Technique, Zhao Geng only assumed it was the heritage left since the days when the Lingyun Sect was still glorious.

He could never have imagined that this martial technique was actually imprinted by Ji Chen himself.

...

Shortly after the transaction was completed, Zhao Geng returned to the auction stage.

The main event arrived.

The final item of this auction was finally brought out.

"The next item up for auction is a Profound Tier Middle-Level Martial Technique named ’Celestial Dragon Seal.’ Regarding the origins of this seal technique, we apologize, our auction cannot disclose this information to you."

"Without further ado, let’s start the auction directly. The starting price for the Profound Tier Middle-Level Martial Technique Celestial Dragon Seal is fifty thousand Spirit Stones, with each increase no less than one thousand. Gentlemen, you may begin bidding now."

"Haha, waited long enough, finally! I’ll be the first to bid, fifty thousand Spirit Stones!"

"Fifty thousand one thousand!"

"Fifty thousand two thousand!"

"Fifty thousand three thousand!"

"..."

With Zhao Geng’s announcement, the venue was instantly filled with a clamor.

In the box rooms on the second floor, many people bid in succession, making the competition extremely fierce.

Unlike the Cyan Emperor Sword.

A Profound Tier Middle-Level Martial Technique brought much greater value to any power.

Also, hence, those major figures who came for today’s auction were all aiming for this Celestial Dragon Seal.

So now, there was nothing left to hold back, as they all shouted out the prices they could bear, determined to acquire this martial technique.

"Sixty thousand!"

"..."

"Sixty-five thousand!"

"..."

"Seventy thousand!"

In just a short moment, the price continued to rise, already reaching a lofty seventy thousand, surpassing the price of the Cyan Emperor Sword.

In Box Number Seven, Nie Yuan sighed deeply, though he had foreseen this outcome, he still felt a lingering reluctance.

On this trip to Celestial Essence City, the Spirit Stones he brought were already insufficient to participate in further bidding.

"One hundred thousand!"

"One hundred thousand one thousand!"

"One hundred thousand two thousand!"

"One hundred thousand three thousand!"

About a quarter of an hour later, the auction finally arrived at its climax.

The atmosphere in the venue reached a zenith.

By now, the price had already been driven above one hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

This nearly broke the highest record in the auction house over decades.

And by this point, those still able to bid and compete in the venue were few and far between.

Now only a few remained in the bidding.

They were some elder monsters from top families, clearly having made adequate preparations for this auction, and moreover, some even sold off substantial family properties beforehand.

"Isn’t the Eldest Princess planning to make a move?" Ji Chen couldn’t help but ask.

Because throughout the process, Qu Luoning hadn’t involved herself.

"There’s no meaning in participating in such a bidding process, all that’s needed is to place the final bid." She calmly replied.

Hearing this, Ji Chen indeed found it a reasonable logic.

He was just curious, wondering what price Qu Luoning would eventually offer?

After all, since this Celestial Dragon Seal was imprinted by him, once the auction concluded, apart from some fees deducted by the auction house, the remaining Spirit Stones would all belong to the Lingyun Sect.

"I bid one hundred and twenty thousand Spirit Stones!"

Ultimately, the number of competitors dwindled significantly, and everyone seemed to have reached their limits.

Qu Luoning didn’t hesitate any longer; she raised the price directly from one hundred and ten thousand to one hundred and twenty thousand at once.

"One hundred and twenty thousand?!"

"Huh? It’s Box Number Three? But it’s not Ji Chen, and the voice sounds like a young woman?"

"The Eldest Princess’s voice!"

Someone in the crowd exclaimed, recognizing the owner of this voice.

"What? The Eldest Princess actually came too?"

"What’s going on? Why is she sitting with Ji Chen in Box Number Three?"

"Since when has Lingyun Sect become so close to the Royal Family?"

Upon realizing that the bidder was the jewel of the Chu Kingdom, the whole crowd couldn’t help but start discussing, their faces filled with surprise and puzzlement.