Tang Sect's Zang Xin, Fierce Competition

Before the sound had fully faded, a second chime rang out, followed by a third, a fourth...

"VIP 79 bids four billion," Wan Wan announced. In less than a minute, the auction price had been pushed to four billion. This was no small sum—it had already entered the top ten highest prices in Sun Moon Auction House's history. The moment Wan Wan finished speaking, golden words appeared on the Soul Guidance Screen. "VIP Room 4 bids five billion." Wan Wan's voice was noticeably more excited as several spotlights shone on VIP Room 4, and the livestream cameras focused there as well. Before anyone could recover from their surprise, more golden words appeared. "VIP Room 6 bids six billion," Wan Wan exclaimed excitedly, inwardly marveling at how extraordinary these influential figures were. Their bids rose by a full billion each time. "Six and a half billion!" a bidder in the VIP seating section called out directly. He was an ordinary man, the head of Eastern Region No.1 Real Estate Company. "VIP 23 bids six and a half billion."

Golden words appeared again. VIP Room 7 bid seven billion. Inside VIP Room 2, Yun Ming stared directly at the auction platform and named his price. Feng Wuyu, seated beside him, understood at once and immediately entered the number onto the Soul Guidance Screen. "VIP Room 2 bids eight billion."

The moment eight billion was announced, everyone in the VIP seating section frowned. Their hands hovered beside the buttons as they weighed their options, not daring to follow the bid lightly. After hesitating for a moment, Qian Gu Dong Feng in VIP Room 4 named a price of nine billion. "VIP Room 4 bids nine billion." Even Wan Wan's heart raced when she announced that figure. Not just at Sun Moon Auction House—even including other auction houses, there had not been a bidding price exceeding eight billion in nearly a century. The last time had been over one hundred and fifty years ago, when a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone had sold for the astronomical price of twelve billion. In this era, when soul beasts were extinct and soul bones had vanished, the value of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone was self-evident. Such a sky-high price was only natural. Inside VIP Room 5, Gu Ming and the Xu brothers, Xu Lin and Xu Chuan, were discussing whether to bid. "Teacher, I think the pills to come will be even more expensive. It would be best if we could secure the first one," Xu Lin suggested. "Mm, I think so too." Gu Ming nodded and signaled Xu Chuan to place the bid. "VIP Room 5 bids ten billion!" Wan Wan called loudly. The entire venue erupted, and this price frightened off quite a few people. Most viewers watching the livestream were dumbfounded. Hearing ten billion, they swallowed with difficulty. Such an amount of money usually appeared only in their dreams. The price held for over a minute before changing when Wan Wan began to ask for further bids. "VIP Room 7 bids eleven billion."

"Keep following," Qian Gu Dong Feng said in a low voice. He was determined to obtain this first pill. "VIP Room 4 bids twelve billion."

Two minutes later. "VIP Room 3 bids thirteen billion!" Wan Wan was so shocked that her voice nearly failed her. This price had already tied the record for the highest auction price in history. Everyone in the VIP seating section could not help looking toward VIP Room 3, wishing they could see through the glass and find out which important figure was inside. Several people in the VIP seating section could afford to follow a price of thirteen billion, but they hesitated. What if the prices in the following auctions dropped? Inside VIP Room 4, Qian Gu Dong Feng clenched his fists and looked toward VIP Room 3 as well. The VIP rooms were arranged with Rooms 1 and 2 adjacent, Room 3 beside Room 1, and Room 4 beside Room 2; the other rooms followed the same pattern. He merely looked coldly in that direction and did not release his spiritual power to investigate. As the Master of Spirit Pagoda, being assigned VIP Room 4 meant that, in the auction house's eyes, the people in the first three VIP rooms held higher status than he did. He could guess who such people were without being told: Yun Ming of Shrek Academy, the Emotionless Douluo and Amorous Douluo of the Tang Sect, and Hanhai Douluo Chen Xinjie, Hall Master of War God Hall. Though he was reluctant to admit it, the strength and influence of these four people from those three factions truly surpassed his own. The Tang Sect should be in VIP Room 3, but he could not determine who was in VIP Room 1 and who was in VIP Room 2. Whether it was Chen Xinjie or Yun Ming, he had no desire to release his spiritual power and investigate, only to invite trouble for no reason. Yun Ming of Shrek Academy in particular had deep conflicts with Spirit Pagoda. If he gave Yun Ming an excuse, he might seize on it and propose a sparring match. Qian Gu Dong Feng had no wish to suffer that humiliation. Contrary to his expectations, the people in VIP Room 1 were neither Yun Ming nor Chen Xinjie, but Yun Ze and the others. Chen Xinjie was currently leading the Sea God Legion on an outside mission. As the Legion Commander, he could hardly abandon the entire legion and leave. Moreover, although the Chen Family he belonged to was also a great clan, its strength lay in martial power. In terms of wealth, more than a dozen great clans and major factions surpassed them. He knew that even if he attended the auction, he would not be able to win anything. Since he disdained resorting to robbery, he simply chose not to come. Qian Gu Dong Feng had correctly guessed the occupant of VIP Room 3. It was Zang Xin, the Tang Sect's Amorous Douluo. Zang Xin looked like a middle-aged man in his forties. He was tall and slender, with handsome features and beautiful, profound eyes, though his true age was far beyond forty. "When it comes to wealth, my Tang Sect is no poorer than your Spirit Pagoda." Zang Xin smiled faintly as he looked toward VIP Room 4, as though meeting Qian Gu Dong Feng's gaze. Just as Qian Gu Dong Feng could guess that he or the Emotionless Douluo was in VIP Room 3, he had also guessed that Qian Gu Dong Feng and his people were in VIP Room 4. Ordinary people might not know which of Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, Spirit Pagoda, and War God Hall was stronger, but people like them knew perfectly well. The auction house certainly took strength into consideration when assigning VIP rooms. Could Spirit Pagoda possibly rank ahead of the Tang Sect?

"VIP Room 7 bids fourteen billion!" Wan Wan shouted excitedly, growing somewhat exhilarated as the record for the highest auction price in history was broken.

This bid shocked everyone once more. Even Zang Xin was briefly stunned, not expecting his own bid to be surpassed so quickly.

Inside VIP Room 1, Gu Yue Na could not help smiling at Yun Ze beside her. "It seems these people desire the Longevity Pill even more than we imagined. Do you think the auction price for this pill will break twenty billion?"

Yun Ze continued reading his book. "There shouldn't be any problem."

Gu Yue Na smiled. "This pill is so valuable. If you refined a few more, wouldn't we quickly become the richest faction on the continent?"

"Things are precious because they are rare. If there were too many of these pills, they would not be worth nearly as much. Besides..." Yun Ze paused before continuing, "the hidden value of this pill far exceeds its monetary value. Not having it is better than having it."

Please vote with monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, and bookmarks! This is very important to the author, and I hope everyone will support me. Your support is the author's greatest motivation. Thank you, everyone!