What is "Spending Money Like Dirt"?

After the white-haired old man made his bid, the auction hall immediately fell silent.

Of course, they were weighing whether they were qualified to obtain it. Some were waiting to see how the price developed, while others were considering whether, after winning the Bodhi Pill, they had the strength to protect it from being snatched away by others.

This silence lasted for about three minutes before a hoarse voice broke out in a sinister laugh.

"Xuan Yin, you old bastard, you're in such a hurry. Since that's the case, I'll join in as well.

"My Demon Sect bids forty million gold coins. Heh heh... Our Demon Sect is indeed quite interested in this Bodhi Pill."

"Demon Sect?"

Hearing of this unfamiliar faction, Xiao Xuan did not pay it much mind. At most, it was merely a Dou Zong sect.

Looking at the man, Xiao Xuan saw that his appearance was rather bizarre.

His body and limbs were no different from those of an ordinary person, except his skin was covered in dense, ink-black scales. As for his head, it bore a savage snake's head.

The snake head looked lifelike, its tiny snake eyes coldly staring at everyone.

"Mo Lie, you old immortal bastard! You actually dare compete with me? I bid forty-five million!"

Elder Xuan Yin flew into a rage. He had long held a grudge against the Demon Sect, and now that enemies had met, their eyes naturally burned with hatred.

After fiercely glaring at Mo Lie with his pair of sinister eyes, he raised his bid toward the auction stage once more.

In response to Elder Xuan Yin's bid, Mo Lie let out a hissing laugh before naming another price.

"Then my Demon Sect bids fifty million!"

"You win!"

Upon hearing Mo Lie's bid, Elder Xuan Yin angrily flicked his sleeve. Clearly, he did not intend to continue competing.

"Does anyone have a higher bid?"

Zhuge Jing silently watched the conflict between the two from the side without saying a word.

The fiercer these bidders fought, the better. No matter what, when the snipe and clam fought, the fisherman profited. She only needed to wait quietly for large amounts of money to pour into her pocket.

"Then... fifty-one million."

The people in several other auction rooms finally began bidding. From the sound of the voice, the bidder was actually a woman.

The woman wore an elegant pale-yellow dress and stood quietly in the auction room. Graceful as jade and refined in bearing, she exuded noble poise and dignified generosity. Her breathtaking beauty and elegant temperament were no less impressive than Zhuge Jing's.

"Fifty-two million."

After the woman made her bid, a man's voice followed. Everyone's gazes once again swept toward the person who had called out the price.

He was a rather handsome young man, around twenty-five years old. With his arms crossed over his chest, he leaned against his chair and smiled at the woman who had bid earlier.

"Lady Yu, it is truly my honor to see you here."

"Lord Chen, I hope you have been well."

The woman known as Lady Yu looked calmly at him, her beautiful eyes showing no ripple as she continued bidding.

"Fifty-five million."

"Lady Yu, what boldness. Unfortunately, Wang is determined to obtain it today, so I cannot graciously yield it to you. I bid sixty million!"

The crowd below watched the two put on their little performance and were briefly stunned. A moment later, they recovered and carefully considered their words.

Before long, someone cried out in shock.

"Lady Yu... Lord Chen...

"Could they be members of the Yu Clan and Chen Clan, two of the Four Great Clans of the Imperial Capital?"

There were Four Great Clans in the Imperial Capital. These clans wielded tremendous influence there, and even the Di Clan Liuyun had to treat them with caution.

Thus, people in the Imperial Capital were almost universally aware of them. However, the members of these four great clans had always kept a low profile. No one had expected this auction for the Bodhi Pill to draw them out.

There were very few people in the Imperial Capital capable of bidding sixty million, and among them, what sort of identities could those surnamed Chen and Yu possess? The answer was obvious.

By now, the price had been raised to sixty million. After hesitating for quite some time, Mo Lie of the Demon Sect bid sixty-five million.

Yet the moment he spoke, Chen raised the price again to seventy million.

Faced with such a powerful competitor, he could only shake his head and give up on the bidding.

The auction hall was now so silent that a needle drop could be heard. It could be said that only Wang and Han remained in the competition for the Bodhi Pill, and a new round of their contest began.

"Seventy-one million."

"Seventy-five million."

"Eighty million."

"Eighty-seven million."

"One hundred million gold coins!"

"..."

"Whoa..."

That guy from the mysterious box again—just who was he?

Zhuge Jing looked toward that box again, her childish face and the fox immortal in her mind.

Xiao Xuan had perfectly demonstrated the principle of spending money like dirt: anything that could be solved with money was no problem at all.

"Who are you, sir? Are you determined to make enemies of my Chen family?

"If you yield this to me, you will certainly be an honored guest of the Chen family in the future."

Lord Chen's expression darkened, but he did not want to casually offend such a lavish spender.

With such means, his background was likely no less impressive than Lord Chen's own.

"Haha, at an auction, financial strength is king.

"Did Lord Chen not bring enough money? Would you like to go back and return after bringing enough?"

"Hmph... You've got quite a sharp tongue!"

"O-One hundred million gold coins! Is there anyone willing to bid higher?"

Lady Yu and Lord Chen both frowned slightly. After a moment, they sat back down, clearly giving up on the bid.

Zhuge Jing's voice trembled at that moment, from sheer excitement.

It had doubled—no, increased several times over.

In the end, the Bodhi Pill's auction price stopped at one hundred million.

"Since no one else intends to bid, Zhuge Jing hereby announces that the Bodhi Pill has been sold to the mysterious distinguished guest in the Heavenly Box for one hundred million!"

Upon hearing Zhuge Jing announce the result, the surrounding crowd could not help but sigh in amazement.

One hundred million! This price had probably broken the record for the highest auction price since the auction house had opened, hadn't it?

As Zhuge Jing's voice fell, Lord Chen slowly rose to his feet. Then, under the gazes of the crowd, he walked expressionlessly toward the auction house's back area.

As the auction ended, people in the auction house began to rise and leave one after another.

However, those leaving carried more or less a cold, murderous intent.

Seeing this, Xiao Xuan could not help but sigh inwardly. It seemed a slaughter was about to begin.

"The auction may be over, but the real show has probably only just begun..."

Xiao Xuan stood up and headed straight toward the auction house's back area.

It was time for him to collect the Ice Spirit Cold Saliva and the Bodhi Pill.

Auction house, exchange counter.

Xiao Xuan slowly walked through the crowd, looking in no hurry to claim the items he had won.

"Friend ahead, could you stop for a moment?"

A faint voice came from behind Xiao Xuan. He frowned and turned to look at the person who had called out to him.

"It's you?"

Xiao Xuan raised his brow slightly. He had not expected the person calling him to be Lord Chen, who had bid for the Bodhi Pill.

"What is it?"

Xiao Xuan's expression remained calm. He did not believe the other party had called him over for no reason.

"You are indeed straightforward, friend. Then I'll be direct."

A smile appeared on Lord Chen's face as his gaze slowly fixed upon Xiao Xuan.

"I am quite interested in the Ice Spirit Cold Saliva and Bodhi Pill that you won, friend. Might you be willing to part with them? I will certainly offer you a price that satisfies you!"

Xiao Xuan merely sneered inwardly at those words. So he really would not give up until he hit a wall. Xiao Xuan had known the other party would say this, so he answered blandly, "I paid a high price for them. They are not for sale."

"Brat, my young master has taken a liking to your things. That is your good fortune. Don't fail to appreciate it!"

Seeing Xiao Xuan's response, the grim-faced middle-aged man beside Lord Chen immediately sneered.

"Uncle Hua, be more polite. This friend is merely still considering it."

At the side, the smile on Lord Chen's face grew wider, though it looked utterly malicious.

"Isn't that right, friend?"

After speaking, he looked at Xiao Xuan again. His smiling eyes were now as sharp and pressing as blades.

A tiger that did not show its might was truly being treated like a sickly cat carrying gold through the streets.

"Hmph..."