Chapter 285: Big Brother Ximen Hao
The guests on the main floor were clamoring with excitement. Some were calculating how to obtain what they wanted, while others were already thinking about taking the treasure from whoever won the bid if they lacked the strength to protect it.
The auctioneer smiled sweetly as she waited for the commotion to die down.
"This humble girl knows many honored guests cannot wait any longer, so this humble girl shall not waste everyone’s precious time."
She lightly clapped her hands.
A beautiful maid in a revealing dress walked onto the stage, carrying a jade tray covered with a crimson silk cloth. Every movement she made was graceful, carefully displaying the item before the audience.
Seeing the scene, Wei Chen could not help comparing the maid to the booth babes he used to see at car shows in his previous life. He never bought a car. He was just there to enjoy the view.
The auctioneer gently lifted the silk cloth while winking and sending a seductive smile toward the guests on the main floor.
Resting atop the tray was a stalk of deep crimson spiritual herb. Its seven leaves shimmered with a faint golden glow, while strands of spiritual qi drifted around it like tiny wisps of mist. A rich medicinal fragrance spread throughout the hall the moment it was revealed.
"Our first item is the Seven-Leaf Crimson Soul Orchid!"
The hall immediately erupted into discussion.
"A Seven-Leaf Crimson Soul Orchid?"
"I thought that herb had gone extinct centuries ago!"
"So the rumors were true. This time, the Heaven Soaring Dragon Grand Pavilion really has unimaginable treasures."
"As expected of a once-in-ten-thousand-years auction! This is only the first item, and we already get a treasure like this! I can’t imagine what kind of treasure they will bring out as the finale."
"Yes! As the final treasure, whoever obtains it had better prepare a powerful defensive formation before returning home. Otherwise, there will definitely be a war!"
The auctioneer waited for the commotion to settle before continuing.
"This herb has matured for eight hundred years. It is one of the finest ingredients for refining the Soul Tempering Pill, which can significantly strengthen the soul. Even if consumed directly, it can nourish the soul, strengthen one’s spiritual sense, and greatly increase the chance of breaking through to the Soul Transformation Realm!"
"As everyone knows, treasures that improve the soul are among the rarest heavenly treasures. This orchid was discovered deep within an ancient secret realm, guarded by a Soul Transformation Realm spirit beast. Three Soul Transformation experts and dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators joined forces before finally obtaining it."
She paused just long enough for everyone’s anticipation to build.
"The starting bid is one million spirit stones."
Silence fell over the hall as everyone eyed one another. With a treasure like this, there would definitely be someone determined to monopolize it.
But then...
"One million two hundred thousand!"
The moment the voice rang out from the eastern seating area, like a clap of thunder, the hall erupted into a fierce bidding war.
"One million five hundred thousand!"
"Hmph! Two million!"
"Two million three hundred thousand!"
The bids rose almost instantly, each one louder than the last.
The wealthy cultivators showed no intention of holding back.
Inside the VIP rooms, many guests merely watched with calm expressions.
"This is only the first item."
"The true treasures haven’t appeared yet."
"Let the youngsters fight over it."
However, one of the VIP rooms quietly lit up.
"Five million."
The calm voice came from behind the mirrored window.
The entire auction hall instantly fell silent.
The cultivators on the main floor all stared upward.
Someone had just more than doubled the current bid without the slightest hesitation.
The auctioneer’s smile became even brighter.
"As expected of our honored VIP guest. Five million high-grade spirit stones. Does anyone wish to bid higher?"
At that moment, Song Wan, who had been playing Uno, paused. She turned toward the direction of the voice.
"Huh? This voice... Elder Brother?"
The voice was familiar to her. It belonged to her elder brother.
Hearing this, Ximen Hao spoke with interest in his voice.
"Oh? This is interesting. It seems Young Master Song has finally reached the threshold of the Soul Transformation Realm!"
In the auction hall, the auctioneer declared with finality.
"Anddd... the first item, the Seven-Leaf Crimson Soul Orchid, goes to our honored guest in the East VIP booth! Congratulations!"
The auctioneer smiled sweetly as she nodded, signaling for the scantily dressed maid to take away the first item and bring out the second.
After a brief moment, the scantily dressed maid gracefully returned to the stage, once again carrying a jade tray covered with a crimson silk cloth.
The auctioneer smiled as she looked across the audience.
"Our second item is something that many honored guests have been eagerly waiting for."
She slowly lifted the silk cloth.
Resting on the tray was an ancient jade slip, its surface covered with countless tiny golden runes. Every now and then, faint streams of wind qi flowed around it before quickly dissipating.
"A Heaven-rank movement technique, Phantom Sky Steps!"
The hall instantly erupted.
"A Heaven-rank technique!"
"Impossible! Even first-rate sects treat Heaven-rank techniques as their greatest inheritance!"
"I’ve heard of Phantom Sky Steps! Isn’t that the movement technique created by the Gale Sovereign nearly four thousand years ago?"
The auctioneer nodded with a smile.
"That is correct."
"This technique allows the user to move like the wind itself. When mastered, every step leaves behind an illusory afterimage capable of confusing both the enemy’s eyes and spiritual sense."
"It is suitable for cultivators of every attribute and can be cultivated from the Foundation Establishment Realm all the way to the Soul Transformation Realm."
"As for its origin, this jade slip was discovered inside the ruins of the Gale Sovereign’s tomb."
She paused briefly.
"Unfortunately, only the movement technique survived. The inheritance itself had long since vanished."
"However, after careful appraisal by the Heaven Soaring Dragon Grand Pavilion’s grandmasters, this jade slip has been confirmed to be genuine."
"The starting bid is three million high-grade spirit stones."
Before her voice had even finished echoing...
"Four million!"
A powerful voice immediately rang out.
"Four million five hundred thousand!"
"Five million!"
"Hmph! Six million!"
This time, even several VIP rooms began lighting up one after another.
Unlike medicinal herbs, a Heaven-rank movement technique could become the inheritance of an entire clan.
Its value was immeasurable.
The venue became even more lively as the bidding war intensified. This time, even Yun Feng could not sit still. He had already thrown out a bid that represented nearly all of his wealth, only to be immediately outbid. He slumped back into his seat, looking utterly defeated.
Seeing this, Ximen Hao smiled.
"Yun Feng, Yun Feng, Yun Feng. If you really want it, all you have to do is ask me nicely, and this big brother will bid for you. Of course, your contract to serve the Ximen Clan will need to be extended by another hundred years. How about it?"
Hearing this, Yun Feng felt as though he were hearing the voice of a devil trying to tempt him.
"N... No! Definitely... no!" Yun Feng refused, but Ximen Hao could clearly see the struggle in the eyes of his former nemesis.
"Six million, going once..."
The auctioneer’s voice began counting, each word striking Yun Feng’s heart like a heavy hammer. He gritted his teeth, doing everything he could to suppress his desire.
"Ooooh... It’s counting! It’s counting!"
Hearing this, Yun Feng clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails dug into his palms, drawing blood.
"Big..."
Yun Feng barely managed to utter a single word.
"Huh? What did you say?"
Ximen Hao leaned closer and cupped a hand behind his ear as if he could not hear him.
"Big Brother Ximen... please... bid... bid for me..."
Yun Feng’s voice was barely above a whisper.
At that moment, he felt as though he had lost something important.
Hearing those words, Ximen Hao burst into laughter before immediately raising his bid.
"Twelve million!"
The moment the price was called out, the entire venue fell silent. Everyone turned to look at the VIP booth where the voice had come from in awe. No one dared to bid against it, but...
"Thi... Thirteen million!" a voice from the western VIP booth called out. His voice was clearly trembling.
"Pathetic! Twenty-four million!" Ximen Hao doubled the price once again without the slightest hesitation.
This time, the people throughout the venue nearly wanted to kneel before Ximen Hao’s sheer audacity.
Wei Chen watched the scene unfold and could not help but think to himself.
Damn... This guy’s special power is basically the same as Bruce Wayne’s, huh?
At this time, the mirrored window of the western VIP booth opened, revealing a young master dressed in white. A faint smile rested on his lips, and he held a folding fan in his hand. He was the very embodiment of a refined scholar while still carrying the imposing aura of an expert.
"Friend in the center VIP booth, I am Long Ao Tian! I have been searching for this technique for a long time. I traveled a great distance and did not prepare enough spirit stones. May this friend give this humble one some face and relinquish the bid? This humble one will remember this favor."
The young master named Long Ao Tian spoke with a confident smile.
It appeared! The ’Long Ao Tian’ It finally appeared! Wei Chen screamed inwardly.