"One million two hundred and ten thousand!"
The Patriarch of the Zhou family was still bidding. He could still afford to pay over a million Super Soul Crystals.
"One million three hundred thousand."
"One million three hundred and ten thousand!"
"My god, numbers one and three are completely at each other’s throats."
"Old Zhou, you’re losing your mind. To think you’re actually competing with the Mou family."
A guest in a VIP room shook his head repeatedly. Although the Mou family had a rule that the highest bidder would win the auctioned items, could anyone really outbid them unless they willingly backed down? Even if someone managed to win, wouldn’t the Mou family be infuriated? They might not cause trouble in broad daylight, but what about behind closed doors?
At the venue, the only one excited was the youth holding paddle number 1887. The higher the price went, the happier he became. Later, when he encountered the resources he needed, he would be able to bid boldly without worry.
"One million five hundred thousand!"
The member of the Mou family seemed to have lost his temper, directly raising the bid to 1.5 million. After shouting the price, he couldn’t help but declare, "I am Mou Liubing! This Qishan Evergreen Ivy is of immense use to me, and I am determined to have it!"
His words clearly carried a hint of a threat.
"Patriarch, should we keep bidding?"
The Patriarch of the Zhou family remained silent, his brow furrowed as he seemingly weighed the value. The Qishan Evergreen Ivy was priceless and rarely seen on the market. This price wasn’t actually that high, so he could still afford to push further. The problem was that Mou Liubing had already announced his identity and declared his absolute determination to win the ivy! Could he really feign ignorance and continue bidding?
"Sigh, forget it. Let him have it."
Since VIP Room Three had fallen silent for a long time, Hongyue began the countdown. "VIP Room One bids one million five hundred thousand Super Soul Crystals! Is there any higher bid? One million five hundred thousand Super Soul Crystals going once! One million five hundred thousand Super Soul Crystals going twice... Everyone, seize the opportunity. A treasure like the Qishan Evergreen Ivy isn’t something you can encounter just anytime."
Although Hongyue did her best to encourage everyone to continue bidding, the venue remained incredibly quiet. No one wanted to offend the Mou family at a time like this.
"No one else?" Hongyue looked slightly disappointed but quickly masked it with a smile. "One million five hundred thousand Super Soul Crystals going for the third time! Sol—"
Just as Hongyue was about to drop the hammer, Ye Xuan immediately raised his bidding paddle.
"One million five hundred and one thousand."
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
As soon as those words left his mouth, all the guests—whether in the second-floor VIP rooms or the main hall—fixed their stares on him. Everyone’s eyes were filled with shock. They hadn’t expected anyone to place a bid under such circumstances. Did this person not take Mou Liubing seriously at all?
"Who is this kid? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before."
"Holy shit, look at his chest! His clan insignia is actually a Golden Dragon. His family sure is arrogant! But pardon my ignorance, I’ve never heard of any major family using a Golden Dragon as their totem."
"Could he just be another arrogant hothead who doesn’t know any better?"
In VIP Room One, Mou Liubing also stared at Ye Xuan, his eyes instantly turning icy. To think an unknown brat would dare to snatch something from him.
"One million six hundred thousand!" Mou Liubing raised the bid once again, instantly adding a hundred thousand.
Yet, Ye Xuan didn’t back down in the slightest. He raised his paddle again.
"One million six hundred and one thousand."
"He raised it again!"
Mou Liubing felt his anger flare. This brat only added one thousand to the price each time. Was he doing this purely to provoke him?
"One million..."
He was just about to shout his next bid when the old man resting beside him with his eyes closed suddenly opened them. Shaking his head, the old man said, "Don’t raise the price so high. Acting on impulse will only allow the auction house to line their pockets. Liubing, are you truly determined to get this Qishan Evergreen Ivy?"
"Grandpa, of course I am! You know that with this Spirit Medicine, I’ll be able to swiftly break through into the Demon Spirit Realm!"
"Alright. I’ll buy it for you then." The old man nodded and then called out, "One million six hundred and ten thousand. Little friend, give me, Mou Dahai, some face."
Mou Dahai was Mou Liubing’s grandfather and the Eighth Elder of the Mou Family. Within the Mou family, his status was incredibly high. Previously, he had been bidding on Earth-grade weapons on behalf of the Mou family. But for this Qishan Evergreen Ivy, he intended to pay out of his own pocket to buy it for Mou Liubing.
A price of one million six hundred thousand Super Soul Crystals was equivalent to sixteen thousand Demon Soul Crystals. This price was by no means low. After all these years, he had only managed to save up nineteen thousand Demon Soul Crystals in total.
When Mou Dahai finished speaking, Ye Xuan’s expression didn’t waver in the slightest. This was the first time he had ever heard the name Mou Dahai. He didn’t even know what the man looked like. What face could a complete stranger possibly demand from him? Did sharing the surname ’Mou’ automatically make him noble?
Without a second thought, he raised his paddle again.
"One million six hundred and eleven thousand."
Ye Xuan’s action sent the entire venue into an uproar. Everyone’s eyes widened and their jaws dropped. They felt the blood rushing through their veins. This brat was way too arrogant! The Eighth Elder of the Mou Family had politely asked for some face, yet he simply bumped the bid by another thousand! Things were going to escalate drastically now!
This was no longer a matter of whether or not he was giving face; this was an outright slap to the Eighth Elder’s face!
At this moment, Mou Dahai’s expression completely collapsed. In Mou Family Town, there was almost no one who would dare to deny face to the Mou family! However, he tried his best to restrain his anger and called out again, "One million six hundred and twenty thousand."
Ye Xuan showed no courtesy as he raised his paddle. "One million six hundred and twenty-one thousand..."
"One million six hundred and thirty thousand! Little brother, as the saying goes, always leave a way out so we can meet on good terms in the future. Do not turn a path of survival into a dead end!"
Mou Dahai’s words now carried a blatant threat. His old, wrinkled face was brimming with murderous intent.
"Are you threatening me?" Ye Xuan chuckled faintly and raised his paddle again. "One million six hundred and thirty-one thousand."
Adding just one thousand every single time. It was as if he was treating the other party like a complete joke.
"You!"
Mou Dahai was finally enraged. A surge of Frenzy aura erupted from VIP Room One. But just as this aura manifested, Hongyue’s voice rang out.
"Guest in VIP Room One, that’s enough! I could pretend not to hear you threatening another guest earlier, but what are you trying to do now? This is the World Auction House! Do you think we will tolerate your insolence here?"
A blood-red Spiritual Qi suddenly burst forth from Hongyue’s body. Her aura was actually even stronger than Mou Dahai’s!
The World Auction House had branches in every Three-Star Main Town. The formidable power of the faction backing it was simply unimaginable.
Mou Dahai immediately retracted his aura. He called out once more, "One million seven hundred thousand. Little brother, just consider it as me owing you a favor. I, Mou Dahai, am claiming this Spirit Medicine."
His words stunned the crowd at the venue. A favor from someone in the Mou family was absolutely invaluable! Not only would this brat get out of this unscathed, but he could also call upon Mou Dahai for help in the future. For instance, if he wanted to join the Four Great Halls, Mou Dahai could make it happen with just a single sentence. This kid had hit the jackpot!
Everyone assumed that Ye Xuan would compromise this time. Mou Dahai’s offer had not only given him a graceful way out but also presented him with a golden opportunity.
However, Ye Xuan’s next move completely blinded everyone with disbelief. He raised his paddle again, without a shred of hesitation! If he had hesitated even slightly, he would have lost.
"One million seven hundred and one thousand."