"Hehe, it wasn't unfair! Your character was simply bad!" Xiao Hua said with a smile, raising his hand. "This old man bids fifty-one high-grade Qi Stones!"
"Aiya, Fellow Daoist Xiao!" Fu Zhiwen cried hastily. "You bid too early. The moment others see it, they'll know you're determined to get it!"
"Exactly! Since I'm determined to get it... then this Xiao naturally has to let others know!" As he spoke, Xiao Hua narrowed his eyes and looked across at the opposite side, where Young Master Duanmu was located.
"Fifty-two high-grade Qi Stones!" Sure enough, Young Master Duanmu's leisurely voice drifted over.
Xiao Hua answered with confidence, "Fifty-three..."
Fu Zhiwen immediately understood Xiao Hua's intentions. Young Master Duanmu was likely Xiao Hua's greatest obstacle in bidding for this jade slip—perhaps even his only obstacle. No matter when Xiao Hua opened his mouth, Young Master Duanmu would certainly repay the favor from last time. Since that was the case, why shouldn't Xiao Hua speak up earlier?
"Ah, what a pity!" Fu Zhiwen stomped his foot. "Fellow Daoist Xiao, there may be even better things later! You made him repay that favor too early!"
"Not early, not early!" Xiao Hua replied just as leisurely. "This Xiao has gained a great deal from this auction. This item should be the last one I bid on! This Xiao will have no use for anything that comes afterward! Besides, even if there is something later, this Xiao can simply keep bidding. Who would be afraid of them?"
Sure enough, just as Xiao Hua had expected, Young Master Duanmu bid only once and said no more. It seemed he truly meant to repay Xiao Hua's favor. Meanwhile, somewhere within Ming Yue Palace, Zhu Qing, Young Master Zhu, who had been watching the entire auction with a dark expression,