The Battle for the Spirit Fire

Shen Luo could not help grimacing. The Black Tortoise Carapace was astonishingly expensive: its starting price was already equal to that of a Top-Grade Magical Artifact.

At those words, most of the people who had been tempted to bid gave up. Plenty could afford three hundred Immortal Jade, but that was only the starting price. The final price would clearly be far higher.

They might have found it expensive, but others did not. Wealthy bidders immediately entered the fray, and after several rounds, the price of the Black Tortoise Carapace quickly rose to five hundred Immortal Jade.

The latest bid came from a short, plump man in fine clothes, who had silenced everyone else.

The man gritted his teeth. He had clearly staked his entire fortune on that bid.

"Five hundred and fifty Immortal Jade!" a voice called.

Golden Kui General had finally made his move, raising the price by fifty Immortal Jade at once. He certainly had money to spare.

The short man shuddered, then slumped like a deflated ball.

"Heh, Fellow Daoist Jin is interested in the Black Tortoise Carapace too? In that case, I'll join the fun. Five hundred and eighty Immortal Jade." Moon-Sleeping Lay Buddhist chuckled and raised his hand.

"Six hundred Immortal Jade!" Golden Kui General seemed determined to have the carapace and immediately raised his bid.

"The Great Tang Government Office has deep pockets, but I have some means of my own. Six hundred and fifty Immortal Jade." Moon-Sleeping Lay Buddhist opened his folding fan with a smile.

The rest of the hall fell silent. No one else bid; they simply watched the two men compete.

"Eight hundred Immortal Jade!" Golden Kui General added a full hundred and fifty without hesitation, startling everyone present.

Moon-Sleeping Lay Buddhist's expression darkened.

"I'm determined to have this