Chapter 1117: Chapter 1116: Turning the Tables
On the auction stage, Tang Yun’er channeled True Qi into the ancient books and secret books, and then several large characters suddenly emerged in the center of the auction platform.
Solar Eclipse Sword Technique, First Style: Daybreak at High Noon.
Second Style: Newborn Blazing Sun.
"Solar Eclipse Sword Technique."
Ling Chen’s eyes lit up slightly. Just from the look of it, this Swordsmanship seemed to be an extremely exquisite sword art.
"The starting bid for this Martial arts is 800,000 Spirit Nurturing Pills. If any of you are interested, don’t miss it."
As soon as Tang Yun’er said this with a warm smile, the hall only fell silent for a moment before someone immediately called out a price, and there seemed to be quite a few people eyeing this item. As a result, in just a few short minutes the price had already broken past 1.5 million Spirit Nurturing Pills.
Ling Chen smacked his lips. It seemed there were indeed many people in the Penglai Island Territory with deep pockets. Compared to them, he really was the very picture of poverty. Fortunately he wasn’t very interested in this Martial arts. This Solar Eclipse Sword Technique undoubtedly overlapped somewhat with his Red Sky Sword, and in terms of power and finesse, it was probably slightly inferior to the latter.
Thus, under Ling Chen’s spectator-like gaze, this appetizer-level Holy Grade Martial Arts finally stopped at 1.8 million Spirit Nurturing Pills, and was then taken into the bag by a Black-robed Swordsman whose face bore a long, narrow scar.
Stimulated by this first round of Holy Grade Martial Arts, the atmosphere of the auction quickly heated up. Although the prices of the next few items didn’t quite reach that level, they weren’t far off, and the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly fiery.
Ling Chen, however, remained unmoved by this fervor. Compared with those wealthy giants of the Penglai Island Territory, he was far too lacking. After all, the auction had only just begun. Later on, the prices would definitely climb higher and higher.
Moreover, the items being auctioned off truly failed to stir his desire to buy. The only thing he was waiting for now was the Cold Condensing Pearl that Shen Bingxin had tasked him with.
With the conclusion of several lackluster rounds of bidding, the auction clearly began to gradually enter its proper rhythm. The items brought out for sale started to soar in price, and among them were some fairly good things that even someone as composed as Ling Chen felt a slight temptation for. But after a bit of deliberation, he still chose to give them up in the end.
For things that weren’t truly necessary, there was no need to waste money.
"Dong!"
After one item was successfully auctioned off at a decent price, another piece was respectfully carried up by a Maid. Ling Chen’s gaze swept over, and his reclining body abruptly straightened. A hint of surprise surged in his eyes.
Because on that silver tray, there was a bead of icy blue!
This bead was crystal clear through and through, without the slightest impurity, and it emanated wisps of icy cold aura.
"This item is called the Cold Condensing Pearl, a cold-attribute Treasure born of heaven and earth’s creation. For those who practice ice-attribute Cultivation Techniques, it has a unique, heaven-favored effect and can help Practitioners push their Cultivation Technique one step further."
A faint smile hung on Tang Yun’er’s pretty face. "The starting bid for this Cold Condensing Pearl is 1.5 million Spirit Nurturing Pills."
"1.6 million."
Not long after hushed whispers rippled through the vast auction hall, a Male wearing blue robes of icy hue was the first to call out. His powerful voice, wrapped in True Qi, resounded throughout the venue.
"1.7 million." The blue-robed Male’s bid had just fallen when another person spoke up after a brief pause.
Ling Chen didn’t rush to bid. At this price, there was still some distance from the Cold Condensing Pearl’s true value. He would wait until the bidding voices had mostly died down before making his move.
The price of the Cold Condensing Pearl was quickly driven up to 2.8 million, and only then did the shouting begin to subside.
Generally speaking, a single Cold Condensing Pearl went for about this much, so the 5 million Spirit Nurturing Pills Shen Bingxin had given him was more than enough—just in case of emergencies.
"3 million."
Once the timing was right, Ling Chen finally called out a bid.
With the price of 3 million announced, the bidders who had been competing earlier all fell silent and did not continue.
"What is someone from Lingyue Island doing bidding on this Cold Condensing Pearl?"
Ling Chen’s actions naturally caught the attention of Yuwen Lin and the others from Desolate Fire City.
"No idea. How about we raise the price and mess with him a bit?"
Wei Renjie grinned beside him and said.
Yuwen Lin nodded, a chill flickering in his eyes. Then he let out a cold smile and called out a price, "3.5 million."
Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but look over in unison, staring at Yuwen Lin in surprise. The other party had just raised the price by 500,000 in one go; that kind of increase was a bit much.
"Why is someone from Desolate Fire City joining in the fun too? Are they deliberately causing trouble?"
Lin Wan’s face looked somewhat unpleasant. Ling Chen had been about to secure the Cold Condensing Pearl, yet Yuwen Lin suddenly interfered, forcibly pushing the price up. This was clearly targeted.
"4 million."
Ling Chen remained expressionless and said nothing more, simply continued to raise the bid.
"This brat really is loaded."
Yuwen Lin looked at Ling Chen with some surprise.
"Judging from this kid’s look, he seems hell-bent on getting that Cold Condensing Pearl." The smile on Wei Renjie’s face grew colder and colder. "In that case, we can make them bleed good and hard."
"Four million Spirit Nurturing Pills is no small sum, Nephew Yuwen. Our target this time isn’t the Cold Condensing Pearl, but that final auction item."
At this moment, that grey-robed Elder from Desolate Fire City couldn’t help but frown, and reminded Yuwen Lin.
"Elder Gong, please rest assured, we’re only making this kid bleed a bit, we won’t actually buy this Cold Condensing Pearl." Wei Renjie, nearby, said with a smile.
"I know. But even playing around has to have a limit. Don’t try to be clever only to backfire and mess up our plan."
Elder Gong said coldly.
"Hehe, Elder Gong, you’re overthinking it. Master already said, this auction will be centered around me. This is a perfect chance to stomp on Lingyue Island; if we miss it, there won’t be a next time."
The chill in his eyes grew denser. Yuwen Lin continued to raise the bid, lifting his hand. "Four million five hundred thousand."
"That bastard!"
Even with Lin Wan’s temperament, at this moment she wished she could rush up there and beat Yuwen Lin to a pulp to vent her hatred.
"Four million six hundred thousand."
Ling Chen seemed to frown slightly, then finally called out a price.
"Hahaha, the brat’s chickening out. Looks like he’s almost at his limit. Interesting, this is so interesting."
Seeing this scene, Wei Renjie couldn’t help bursting into laughter. This feeling of toying with people—especially when the ones being toyed with were Lingyue Island’s disciples—was insanely satisfying.
"Four million eight hundred thousand."
Yuwen Lin likewise was all smiles, feeling rather pleased with himself. But this was his last bid; at this critical juncture, it was almost enough. His goal was already achieved—to make Ling Chen feel some serious heartache. He had never truly wanted this Cold Condensing Pearl.
This thing, what use did he have for it? Four million eight hundred thousand was practically a sky-high price. He still had to keep Spirit Nurturing Pills to compete for the final auction item later. So this Cold Condensing Pearl, there was no way he was taking it.
"Ling Chen?"
Lin Wan couldn’t help looking over at Ling Chen. At this point, should they keep bidding or not?
However, Ling Chen still wore that breezy, unruffled look, sitting there like a fisherman on the dock, not anxious in the slightest. They saw him suddenly stand up from his seat, then clasp his hands from afar toward Yuwen Lin and the others. A smile even surfaced on his face as he said, "Since Young Master Yuwen is so deeply enamored with this Cold Condensing Pearl, how could I have the heart to snatch away what someone loves? A gentleman helps others achieve their desires. Today I’ll be a gentleman for once—the Cold Condensing Pearl, I’ll yield it to Your Excellency."
Wasn’t this guy banking on him being determined to obtain the Cold Condensing Pearl so he could make him bleed a fortune? With Ling Chen’s temperament, how could he possibly let Yuwen Lin have his way?
"What?"
Yuwen Lin and Wei Renjie’s faces changed drastically almost at the same time. They had never imagined Ling Chen would give up bidding at this critical moment. Hadn’t this guy just looked like he was obsessed with that Cold Condensing Pearl? How was he giving up so easily?
Before they could come back to their senses, Tang Yun’er on the stage had already announced the result, her clear voice ringing out, "Congratulations to Young Master Yuwen Lin for successfully winning this Cold Condensing Pearl with a bid of four million eight hundred thousand."
As her words fell, quite a few people turned to Yuwen Lin to offer congratulations, congratulating him repeatedly.
"You two idiots!"
Elder Gong’s face had turned completely overcast by now, dark as iron. "I told you not to play with fire, but you just wouldn’t listen. Now look at you, dropping a rock on your own feet—spending four million eight hundred thousand to buy a Cold Condensing Pearl. What exactly are you planning to use it for, keeping cool in summer?"
Everyone from Desolate Fire City cultivated fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques. This Cold Condensing Pearl might be useful for others in cultivation, but for people of Desolate Fire City, it was completely useless. Even if they wanted to sell it now, unless someone desperately needed it, who would buy this thing?
And it just had to be at this critical moment.
Most people were here for that final auction item. Especially the major powers—they were extremely cautious about how they used their Spirit Nurturing Pills. Who would spend a huge sum at this time to buy something useless or of only minor use?
Even if you took a Cold Condensing Pearl outside to sell, you absolutely wouldn’t get a price as high as four million eight hundred thousand.
"Damn it, we actually got countered by that brat!"
Yuwen Lin was seething with rage inside. He had thought he had Ling Chen completely in the palm of his hand, but had never expected to get bitten back instead.
"Brother Yuwen, even if we lost four million eight hundred thousand Spirit Nurturing Pills, we still have over ten million in hand. We should still have a good chance at winning that final auction item." Wei Renjie’s face was also ugly, his gaze flickering as he spoke.
Now, all they could do was cling to that hope—that the final auction item wouldn’t be bid up to some absurd price.
