The Highest Bidder Wins, Driving Wu Changkong Mad

Han Li nodded slightly.

His budget had been within four million, yet he had ultimately spent 4.5 million. Though it was somewhat more than expected, it was still within an acceptable range.

Including the three million he had spent on the Dragon Scale Fruit earlier, as well as the money for the Blue Vein Vine, he still had roughly 25.5 million left.

He still needed to buy the Millennium Sea Dragon Marrow later and bid on Spirit Ascension Platform entry cards, so his funds were fairly ample.

The auction continued.

After several lots, the auctioneer cleared her throat, and the smile on her face grew even wider.

"Next up is a set of items: three Primary Spirit Ascension Platform Entry Cards."

"I hardly need to explain the purpose of the Spirit Ascension Platform. All of you soul masters here know it well."

"The starting price is 100,000 Federal Currency."

As soon as she finished speaking.

The atmosphere in the venue visibly heated up.

Spirit Ascension Platform entry cards had always been popular auction items.

Especially for young soul masters with talent but no connections, this was their only path into the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Wu Changkong immediately raised his bidding paddle.

"200,000."

"200,000, this gentleman has bid 200,000."

The auctioneer immediately followed up.

"250,000."

"300,000."

"350,000."

The price rapidly climbed among several buyers.

Although Spirit Ascension Platform entry cards were popular, they generally sold for only 300,000 or 400,000. Any higher and they were no longer worth it.

Thus, after the price reached 400,000, noticeably fewer people continued raising their paddles.

"400,000. Any higher bids?"

The auctioneer looked around.

"500,000."

Wu Changkong raised his paddle again, directly pushing the price to 500,000.

The venue fell silent for a moment.

A price of 500,000 had already exceeded the market value of three Primary Spirit Ascension Platform Entry Cards.

As a result, most buyers chose to give up.

Then, the auctioneer swept her gaze across the room. Seeing no one else bid, she raised the small hammer in her hand.

"500,000, first call."

"500,000, second call."

Just as the auctioneer was about to call the third time, a voice rang out from a corner of the venue.

"600,000."

Wu Changkong's brow furrowed slightly as he looked toward the voice.

It had come from the back rows of the venue, where the lighting was dim and the crowd dense.

He could only make out a figure sitting in the corner. It seemed to be wearing something over its face, making its features impossible to discern.

He withdrew his gaze and raised his paddle again without expression.

"700,000."

The bids rose quickly.

The atmosphere in the venue began to turn subtle.

Quite a few people's gazes shifted back and forth between Wu Changkong and that corner.

Anyone with eyes could tell...

These two were butting heads.

And naturally, the one bidding was Han Li.

He sat in the shadows of the corner, with no expression visible beneath his mask.

He needed Spirit Ascension Platform entry cards.

These three suited him perfectly.

And since this was an auction...

Naturally, the highest bidder won.

He made his bid, and others made theirs.

It was fair competition. There was nothing wrong with that.

Wu Changkong bid 700,000.

Naturally, he could bid higher.

Han Li raised his paddle again.

"One million."

The moment those three words left his mouth.

The entire venue erupted.

"One million? For three Primary Spirit Ascension Platform Entry Cards?"

"Has he gone insane? Those things are worth, at most, 400,000 or 500,000."

"Where did this fool come from? Even if he has money, he shouldn't spend it like this."

Whispers rose and fell throughout the room as everyone discussed the mysterious buyer who had bid one million.

Some people seated in the front rows even turned around, trying to see who exactly that masked person in the corner was.

But the lighting was too dim for them to see anything.

The auctioneer was excited as well.

One million was far beyond her expectations.

Her face blossomed with a smile as she turned her gaze to Wu Changkong, her tone clearly urging him on.

"One million!"

"This gentleman has bid one million!"

"Is there anyone higher?!"

Wu Changkong's expression finally changed slightly.

It was not that he could not afford it. One million was nothing to a Six-Ring Soul Emperor like him.

But he was not an idiot. Three Primary Spirit Ascension Platform Entry Cards normally cost 300,000 or 400,000. He had already called 700,000, which was absurd enough.

Either the masked person opposite him truly did not know the market, or he was deliberately driving up the price.

But for Tang Wulin...

In the end, he could only raise the bid.

He needed Tang Wulin to improve his strength as soon as possible.

After all, Class Five's students were no longer worth counting on. He had placed all his hopes on Tang Wulin.

And Tang Wulin needed a Hundred-Year Soul Spirit, which required entering the Spirit Ascension Platform.

"1.1 million."

Wu Changkong raised his paddle, his voice turning colder.

"1.2 million."

Han Li's voice followed immediately, without the slightest hesitation.

"1.3 million."

"1.5 million."

Under the two men's competition, the price soared all the way upward.

With every increase...

The discussion in the venue grew louder.

Some were excited, some shocked, some shook their heads, and some simply watched the show.

After all, such a scene was rare at Eastsea City's auctions.

"Two million."

"2.3 million."

"2.6 million."

"Three million."

When Wu Changkong called three million, the venue instead fell quiet.

Everyone's eyes focused on the corner where Han Li sat, waiting to see whether the mysterious buyer would continue bidding.

Han Li merely smiled faintly.

Of course, he could keep raising the bid.

He still had more than 25 million in his account. Forget three million—even if it rose to five million, he could afford it.

But from the beginning, he had never intended to truly buy those three cards.

He merely wanted Wu Changkong to bleed a little more.

Besides...

If he wanted Spirit Ascension Platform entry cards.

There would be more at the next auction. There was no need to rush.

Thus, Han Li tilted his head slightly toward Wu Changkong and spoke in a calm, polite tone.

"Since you need them..."

"Then I'll yield them to you."

After saying that, he put down his bidding paddle, leaned back in his chair, and stopped bidding.

Another commotion swept through the venue.

Some could not help laughing, while others shook their heads and sighed. Still others looked at Wu Changkong with complicated expressions.

Wu Changkong nearly collapsed inside.

He had inexplicably paid six times the price...

How could anyone be happy about that?

Buying three Primary Spirit Ascension Platform Entry Cards for three million would make Wu Changkong a laughingstock if word got out.

That masked guy had jacked up the price and then run, clearly toying with him.

Yet at that moment, his expression remained cold and stern, revealing no sign of losing composure.

In the end, he withdrew his bidding paddle expressionlessly, as though none of this had ever happened.

After the auction ended, everyone left one after another.

The venue doors stood open as the crowd streamed out, noisy conversations echoing through the corridor.

Most people wore expressions of satisfaction or regret as they discussed the auction that had just taken place and exchanged their thoughts.