A Bidding War at Astronomical Prices

"VIP Room One bids eighty million gold coins!"

Xue Ningyi read out the number without batting an eye, but many people below the stage were utterly stunned. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Mystic Pattern Sect was wealthy enough to rival a nation.

"VIP Room Three bids twenty million gold coins, plus ten sixth-tier medicinal pills."

An even more shocking bid followed, hitting everyone harder than the offer from VIP Room One. Gold coins no longer meant much to many powerful cultivators, but medicinal pills were the hardest currency anywhere.

What they did not know was that Xiao Yan, the owner of that bid, was equally helpless. Even counting everything he had, he possessed only twenty million gold coins. He truly had no more than that.

He had previously emptied out Han Feng's entire fortune and gained a huge sum. However, the Xiao Clan had always relied on the forces behind Xun'er. Although Xiao Yan knew their safety was absolutely guaranteed, there were still many places where money was needed. Thus, he had given everything he had taken from Han Feng to Xiao Zhan and his two brothers to ensure their quality of life.

That left him with only the medicinal pills he had refined during this period.

Twenty million gold coins plus ten sixth-tier medicinal pills was an extremely terrifying price. Whether it was the Heroes Alliance in Room Two or the other major factions, all fell silent.

"Father, that thing will definitely be useful!" Wan Qing, who had met Xiao Yan once before, said from VIP Room Two.

The man before him rebuked him, "The items later on are of even greater significance. This price has already exceeded the limit of what I can bear."

"Am I going to lose to him again?" Wan Qing clenched his fists as he looked toward VIP Room Three beside them, the resentment and jealousy in his eyes nearly overflowing.

Yet the man in front of him selectively ignored the scene.

"What I have given you has never been inferior to what Xu Yingwu received. If you want to prove that you are better than him, the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly is your opportunity. The Heroes Alliance does not support useless people."

Before Wan Qing could react, a voice interrupted the emotions he had painstakingly worked up.

"One hundred million gold coins! VIP Room One bids one hundred million gold coins."

"Hiss." Even Xiao Yan sucked in a sharp breath at that price.

The frenzied increase left Zi Yan's mouth dry. She looked at Xiao Yan, her face full of embarrassment, but her desire for the blood essence kept her from saying that she would give up.

"Damn it, let's go all in! Add everything!" Xiao Yan rarely cursed.

"VIP Room Three bids twenty million gold coins and twenty sixth-tier medicinal pills!" Even Xue Ningyi sounded unnatural as she announced it.

"Twenty? Are sixth-tier medicinal pills cabbages?"

"The Mystic Pattern Sect and the Echo Sect are going head-to-head! Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's sky-high bid, Lu Zhi in VIP Room One was not angered. Instead, he was delighted and could not help laughing aloud.

The elderly man surnamed Liu stepped forward and asked with concern, "Young Master, shall we raise the bid further?"

"There is no need. We were only trying to lure Xu Chengzze into taking the bait. If we bid any higher, what if that old fox does not bite? Now we have one fewer opponent to deal with later."

As he spoke, his hand reached toward the intimate area of the maid beside him. Her soft moans echoed continuously within the VIP room. The four old men showed no reaction, but Lu Chen behind Lu Zhi had his face turn the color of pig's blood when those sounds reached his ears and two maids, nearly naked, entered his field of view. Yet he still did not dare make any unusual move.

Lu Zhi caught sight of Lu Chen from the corner of his eye, his gaze filled with mockery and pity.

With Lu Zhi's withdrawal, the five drops of blood essence naturally fell into Xiao Yan's hands. However, Xiao Yan had also practically become penniless.

Zi Yan muttered guiltily, "Sorry..."

Xiao Yan held up one finger before Zi Yan. "Gather medicinal herbs for me for a year."

Though Xiao Yan had only said it casually, Zi Yan, who normally had such a strange temper, surprisingly did not argue. Instead, she nodded seriously.

Xiao Yan exchanged a look with Xiao Xun'er, who said, "It seems this blood essence truly is very important to Zi Yan. Brother Xiao Yan is taking advantage of her predicament."

Xiao Yan helplessly rubbed his nose. "You saw it too. Zi Yan agreed to it herself." With that, he completely relaxed and lay back in his chair. The rest had nothing to do with him anymore. He was already broke, and the blood essence was far from the auction's grand finale, proving that the items to come would be even more astonishing.

As for the next three items, not only Xiao Yan, but even Yao Lao clicked his tongue in amazement.

A scroll containing an Earth-Tier Advanced Flight Dou Technique was purchased by the Heavenly Snake Mansion.

A Nine-Petal Star Spirit Sunflower capable of enhancing one's soul perception was bought by the Heroes Alliance.

There was even a map related to the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly, suspected to point to Dou Saint Ruins. Once such a treasure appeared, the major factions nearly leaped to their feet in a frenzy to seize it. More than ten factions took turns bombarding the auction with terrifying offers, until the Mystic Pattern Sect secured it through an utterly reckless investment.

Every one of those items perfectly matched Xiao Yan's needs. An Earth-Tier Advanced Flight Dou Technique could practically be considered the most precious item beneath Heaven-Tier Dou Techniques. Once used, unless one reached the Dou Zun realm, there would likely be no way to catch him. Having possessed the Purple Cloud Wings and Three Thousand Lightning Movement, Xiao Yan had already tasted the benefits of speed. Once his speed improved, even his fighting style could become more varied.

According to Yao Lao, if he absorbed the Nine-Petal Star Spirit Sunflower, his soul strength could nearly return to its peak. It was an absolute treasure for nourishing the soul.

As for that map, anything in the Douqi Continent connected to the word "Saint" would cause a bloody storm at the very least. And those ruins might be located within the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly. It was practically tailor-made for Xiao Yan's current situation.

But money could stump even a hero.

His wealth was simply a drop in the bucket before such treasures. Even if he had not competed for the blood essence earlier, it still would not have been enough. Xiao Yan could only watch and envy them.

If only I had a powerful faction backing me too, Xiao Yan sighed inwardly.

"Who says you do not?" Yao Lao replied.

"Teacher, are you saying...?"

"You will know when we reach the Central Plains," Yao Lao said mysteriously.

"The Central Plains..." Xiao Yan naturally knew how extraordinary the Central Plains, the heart of the Douqi Continent, were. But he still had too many things to do. For now, he could only think about it.

"Honored guests, only the final auction item remains. But it will absolutely make your trip worthwhile. As for this next item, even the Gold Alliance Chamber of Commerce weighed the matter repeatedly before deciding to sell it. It is the unquestionable centerpiece and star of today's auction." Xue Ningyi's voice slowly rang out.

"To be honest, this is also the first time I have seen such a marvelous treasure. If any guest is willing to buy it today and give it to Ningyi, I am willing to offer myself in return."

As soon as Xue Ningyi said this, quite a few people in the hall began shouting that they would buy it and give it to her.

Those with slightly stronger self-control began pondering what kind of earth-shattering treasure could astonish even the Gold Alliance Chamber of Commerce's public leader.

Almost everyone in the VIP rooms sat upright, waiting for the show to begin. More or less, they had all learned some inside information.

"If the Dou Saint Ruins merely offer a possibility, then this next item can truly allow its owner to lay hands on the Saint realm."

Xue Ningyi's simple sentence plunged the auction hall into dead silence, while countless hearts churned with raging waves.