Chapter 616 - 251: Why Bother Competing, Just Buy It All
Chapter 616: Chapter 251: Why Bother Competing, Just Buy It All
However, as the major powers around the Tingtao Sea gradually revealed their identities, the Loose Cultivators below grew even more curious. Where exactly did Xiao Chen come from?
"Six hundred ten thousand—no, six hundred sixty thousand!"
A new price was called from Room B5, followed by a voice saying, "This Token is extremely important to a nephew of mine. I ask that my fellow Daoist do me a favor."
True Monarch Can Ye raised an eyebrow. ’This collusion is a bit too obvious.’
But since the other party had raised the bid to six hundred sixty thousand and hadn’t tried to lowball, he decided to pretend he hadn’t heard anything.
"Seven hundred thousand!"
Xiao Chen silently placed his bid.
One of the Loose Cultivators did some quick mental math and exclaimed, "My heavens! He’s already spent one million five hundred thousand Spirit Stones, and he still has this much money!"
A Cultivator next to him immediately realized, "If you add another seven hundred thousand, won’t that be over two million?"
This comment seemed to be a jab at the Yi Family, but no one else picked up on it.
Still, everyone had noticed this point and was secretly shocked.
But for Master Kaiyue, Thunderbolt Spear, and the others, their shock was mixed with a host of new speculations.
Take Master Qingluan, for example, who had previously failed to win the Four Seasons Frost Fruit. He was now fuming. "Hmph. Squandering his elders’ Spirit Stones just to show off. In my opinion, he’s just another spoiled silk-pants."
Of course, he only said this within his private room and didn’t shout it out.
However, among the Loose Cultivators below, many had long since grown red-eyed with envy.
Master Qingluan had only muttered his comment after hearing some Loose Cultivators making similar jealous remarks.
But Thunderbolt Spear, sitting beside him, thought differently. He offered a reminder, "Junior Brother, it would take our sect several years to accumulate that many Spirit Stones."
Master Qingluan was taken aback, then quickly asked, "Senior Brother, are you saying he’s from one of those two powers?"
The so-called "two powers" referred to the recently emerged Clarity Sect and Chongzhen Temple.
Thunderbolt Spear shook his head. "I’m about fifty percent certain. I’ve heard that disciples of the Flame Manipulation Sect have even appeared in the West recently. The situation is growing more and more complex."
"So it might not be one of those two, but he definitely comes from one of the Hidden Dao Lineages."
"In any case, anyone who can produce that many Spirit Stones is definitely not a Loose Cultivator."
The realization dawned on Master Qingluan. "So they’re likely trying to make a name for themselves at this auction."
’No wonder he’s bidding so crazily,’ he thought.
Recalling the Four Seasons Frost Fruit from before, he curled his lip again and muttered, "Hmph. In the end, it all comes down to having powerful backers."
Quite a few people shared similar thoughts.
No one believed that a person who could casually spend two million Spirit Stones—someone richer than even the Yi Family Ancestor—could possibly be a Loose Cultivator.
Even True Monarch Yun Feng, inside the A-Class Private Room, thought the same.
He too considered the Hidden Dao Lineages, and his thoughts went even further; he suspected Xiao Chen was likely connected to the recently active Qianyuan Sect.
.
With a high bid of seven hundred thousand Spirit Stones, Xiao Chen successfully won the Cangran Secret Order.
But at that moment, he was thinking to himself: ’The auction is almost over. Why haven’t I seen the Red Moon Dew yet?’
’Could it have been intercepted on its way here?’
Fortunately, Luo Hanxiang timely presented a Qinghua Porcelain Bottle. "Everyone, this next Spiritual Object is also related to a Secret Realm."
"It comes from the Guiyun Secret Realm, which just recently concluded..."
"After a dual-appraisal process, we have confirmed this is a full, completely intact bottle of Red Moon Dew..."
After a detailed explanation, she finally announced, "In summary, the starting bid is set at eight hundred thousand Spirit Stones."
Hearing such a high starting bid, the Loose Cultivators below were immediately captivated.
"Good heavens, the starting bid is that high?"
"Ai-ya, I might not earn eight hundred thousand Spirit Stones in my entire lifetime."
"I disagree, Zhang. Even if you add your next life, it still wouldn’t be enough."
...
Although the Loose Cultivators couldn’t afford it, it was a different story for the Major Sects.
Someone immediately called out a bid, "I bid one million Spirit Stones!"
As expected, this triggered a wave of gasps.
"One million two hundred thousand Spirit Stones!"
"I’ll add another one hundred thousand!"
"I bid one million three hundred thousand Spirit Stones!"
"Two million."
"I bid one million... huh?"
The occupant of Room B7 stopped mid-sentence, suddenly feeling that something was off. Did someone just bid two million?
"The Daoist in Room B24 has bid two million!"
Luo Hanxiang called out excitedly, "Two million, going once!"
The hall below instantly fell silent.
Even True Monarch Tie Shan in Room A6 stared wide-eyed.
He had also set aside two million Spirit Stones to contend for the Red Moon Dew and was just waiting for the other bids to level off before making his move.
He never expected that by waiting, he would lose the chance to even place a bid.
"Wait a minute, does he even have that many Spirit Stones?"
Someone in Room B3 suddenly spoke up. "The Daoist in Room B24 has already spent two million two hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Now he’s calling out another high price."
"I believe the Commerce Association should verify his financial standing to ensure the fairness of the auction."
Of course, the supposed verification was just an excuse.
He’d simply had a sudden idea and wanted to use this opportunity to have the room opened, hoping to get an early look at who the bidder was.
"That won’t be necessary. I trust no one here would engage in fraudulent behavior."
True Monarch Can Ye suddenly interjected, "However, to prevent any confusion from the flurry of bids just now, please state your bid again so everyone can hear it clearly."
By now, he already viewed Xiao Chen as a representative of a Hidden Dao Lineage.
Thus, he wasn’t worried about him lacking Spirit Stones.
Hearing the challenge, he deliberately decided to do Xiao Chen a favor as a gesture of goodwill.
This both demonstrated the magnanimity of the Feiye Commerce Association and provided an out; if Xiao Chen truly didn’t have enough Spirit Stones, it could be passed off as a mistake in the bidding.
"I bid two million."
Xiao Chen’s calm voice rang out once more.
This time, everyone heard it loud and clear. It was indeed two million.