Soul Emperor Martial God

Chapter 134: Chapter 133: Treasures, Starlight Stone

”There’s no fun in this, the seventh stalk, Xiao Yi bids 200,000 taels. Family Head Guu, if you desire it, feel free to join the bidding,”

Xiao Yi said indifferently.

”You...” Family Head Guu’s face turned utterly dark.

His previous insistence on getting the seventh and eighth stalks was because he wanted to secure the two Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng at the starting bid of 150,000 taels each.

”Purple Flame, can you do the Guu Family a favor?” Family Head Guu slightly softened his tone.

”Being one of the renowned geniuses of Northern Mountain County, you must be aware that my son Guu Changkong is the Chief of the Sword Hall at the Sky-splitting Sword Sect. If there’s an opportunity, I’ll introduce you to each other, which would be beneficial.”

Family Head Guu was speaking pleasantly, in reality, he was just trying to pressure Xiao Yi using Guu Changkong’s reputation.

At this moment, Bai Family Master, who was beside Xiao Yi, said coldly, ”Family Head Guu’s words are not suitable.”

”As I know, Guu Changkong joined the Sky-splitting Sword Sect ten years ago and has been in arduous training to become the Chief of the Sword Hall.”

”Ten years ago, he was merely ranked 12th on the Northern Mountain Ranking; to think that’s worth boasting about.”

Bai Family Master knew what Family Head Guu meant and naturally would not let Xiao Yi suffer any disadvantage.

Hearing this, Family Head Guu’s face turned icy, and he no longer spoke, instead, he directly bid, ”250,000 taels.”

”300,000 taels,” Xiao Yi immediately placed his bid, then continued, ”Family Head Guu, please feel free to bid. If you go above 300,000 taels, Xiao Yi will no longer compete with you.”

”You...” Family Head Guu’s face turned cold again. He didn’t really want it at that price.

Yet, he intended to raise the bid further, knowing that Xiao Yi would continue to bid as well; he wanted to make Xiao Yi lose more money.

However, Xiao Yi’s statement directly aborted his plan.

He didn’t know if Xiao Yi’s words were true or false.

He didn’t dare to gamble.

After a while, he could only sit down angrily and stopped bidding.

No one on the first floor placed a bid.

They were well aware that this was a struggle between the Guu Family and Purple Flame, or between the Guu Family and the Bai Family; they didn’t have the right to participate, and they especially didn’t want to offend these two major powers.

At least over a stalk of Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng, it was not worth it.

After all, the Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng had to be paid for; it wasn’t free.

In the end, undoubtedly, Xiao Yi secured both the seventh and eight stalks for 300,000 taels each.

The ninth stalk also went for the same price of 300,000 taels.

All together, the nine stalks of Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng totaled over two million taels, leaving Xiao Yi’s purse completely empty in one go.

But, to have acquired all nine stalks of Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng was certainly worth it.

Bai Family Master, who was watching Xiao Yi pay each time, briefly showed a look of surprise on his face.

”Young Brother Xiao Yi, I didn’t see it coming that you could be this wealthy.”

”With over two million taels, even a major power like the Guu Family would feel the pinch if they spent that much at once. And yet, you seem unbothered, not frowning in the slightest.”

”Heh heh,” Xiao Yi laughed.

The auction continued in an orderly fashion.

Subsequently, for each item that started bidding, the guests on the first floor couldn’t help but instinctively glance up at Xiao Yi in the VIP box.

They were genuinely afraid that Xiao Yi would suddenly come out with a high bid again, something they couldn’t possibly match.

Xiao Yi gave a wry smile. He did not bid on any of the subsequent auction items; mainly because he wasn’t interested, and secondly, because he was out of money.

Seeing this, the guests on the first floor finally breathed a sigh of relief and showed satisfied smiles.

In their eyes, Xiao Yi was being considerate. By purchasing all nine stalks of Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng earlier, and not competing for the later auction items, he was indeed giving them face.

During the event, a Subspirit Artifact drew Xiao Yi’s attention slightly.

Named the Divine Armor, it was not just outstanding in defense but could also temporarily increase one’s speed to the Mysterious Profundity Fifth Layer for half an hour.

For low-level Martial Artists, it was indeed a precious life-saving treasure.

In the end, it was purchased by one of the family heads on the first floor.

Time passed second by second.

The auction had been ongoing for several hours.

Dozens of precious items had also been auctioned off.

Soon, it was time for the final coveted artifact, which completely pushed the atmosphere of the auction to its peak.

The auctioneer had his own way of conducting the auction.

The first climax of the atmosphere was the debut of a Peak Xuan Rank Martial Technique; the second was the eight stalks of Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng; and the third was this final auction item.

”Please bring out the last auction item.”

As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, the prominent figures in the five VIP boxes on the second floor all had serious expressions on their faces.

Xiao Yi glanced at Bai Family Master’s reaction and knew, what he was waiting for was this last auction item.

When four strong men placed the auction item on the display table, the auctioneer announced loudly, ”The final auction item, Starlight Stone.”

Almost the instant the auctioneer’s words fell, the entire auction house became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Every person’s ears echoed with the three words ”Starlight Stone.”

The auctioneer seemed to have anticipated the crowd’s reaction and continued, ”Starting bid for the Starlight Stone is two million taels; each bid increment must not be less than one hundred thousand taels.”

He spoke loudly, but his eyes were directed towards the second floor.

Clearly, he knew that only the major powers in the second floor boxes had the qualification to bid.

”Starlight Stone,” Xiao Yi’s heart also jolted at that moment.

He had once thought that the bigwigs in the five VIP seats were waiting for something far from ordinary.

Yet, he never expected that it would be the Starlight Stone.

The Starlight Stone is even more precious than a Spiritual Artifact.

Because it can enhance a Spiritual Artifact.

Whether it’s a Low Grade Spiritual Artifact or a Mid-grade Spiritual Artifact, with the addition of the Starlight Stone and some refining, it can immediately ascend to a High Grade Spiritual Artifact.

Simply put, it is a very high-grade material that is also quite miraculous.

This is no longer just a treasure; it is a great treasure.

Its preciousness surpasses everything. According to Xiao Yi’s knowledge, in the history of Northern Mountain County, it has appeared less than three times.

Including this time, it would be the fourth.

No wonder the atmosphere of this auction is so unprecedented, the so-called dozens of treasures before were merely embellishments for it.

No wonder the Shengbao Trading House united with the two powerful local commercial families to host it together; common powers simply cannot protect such treasures.

The starting bid for the Starlight Stone is two million taels, but Xiao Yi knew that the final price would certainly be an even more astronomical figure.

As expected, someone in the VIP seats on the second floor immediately placed a bid.

”Two million taels.”

”Two million two hundred thousand taels.”

”Two million five hundred thousand taels.”

The price continued to skyrocket.

The guests on the first floor were purely spectators, entirely lacking the qualifications to bid.

”Three million taels.” At this moment, Bai Family Master placed his bid.

”Unless something unexpected happens, the bidding for the Starlight Stone will end here,” Bai Family Master said sternly.

The other four families were all powerful clans within Baiwu City, their Family Heads having Mysterious Profundity Ninth Layer Cultivation.

And the maximum amount of cash they could produce in one go was about two million five hundred thousand taels at most.

Bai Family’s direct bid of three million taels was enough to deter them.

With Bai Family Master, a Mystic Breakthrough Realm Martial Artist, at the helm, the Bai Family’s influence and financial power were naturally far superior to any of the other four.

The scene quieted down once again.

Bai Family Master showed a smile, as if without accidents, the Starlight Stone would be his.

But the so-called accidents are always unexpected.

”Three million one hundred thousand taels.” Suddenly, from the Wang Family’s VIP seats, a bid was called out.

The five VIP seats were held by Bai Family, Wang Family, Zhao Family, Zhong Family, and Guu Family respectively, all being major clans within Baiwu City.

”Three million one hundred thousand taels?” Bai Family Master furrowed his brows and muttered to himself, ”The situation I least wanted to see has arisen.”

”Have they teamed up?” Xiao Yi asked.

Bai Family Master nodded.

Sure enough, after Wang Family placed their bid, Zhao Family no longer spoke; within Baiwu City, the two families had always had a good relationship.

”Three million two hundred thousand taels.” This time, Guu Family made a bid, while Zhong Family did not bid.

Clearly, Guu Family and Zhong Family had teamed up.

”This is troublesome,” Bai Family Master said, his face showing a lack of confidence as he listened to the bids from Guu Family and Wang Family.

”Four million taels.” The next second, Bai Family Master made a decisive decision, calling out firmly.

Auctions are not only a competition of wealth but also a game of psychology.

Bai Family Master’s bid, exceeding by eight hundred thousand taels, was meant to intimidate the other four families.

However, with the Starlight Stone being such a great treasure, no one could give it up easily.

”Four million one hundred thousand taels,” Wang Family bid again.

”Four million three hundred thousand taels,” Guu Family promptly raised the bid.

”Four million five hundred thousand taels,” Bai Family Master called out.

But Xiao Yi could clearly see that Bai Family Master was almost gritting his teeth as he made the bid. Obviously, this bid was reaching his maximum capacity to afford.

Four million five hundred thousand taels was an extremely astonishing figure.

The scene fell silent once again.

Xiao Yi was also secretly amazed, never expecting to see such an intense bidding war today.

After a while, the Wang Family Patriarch stood up and said in a loud voice, ”Bai Family Master, if I’m not mistaken, four million five hundred thousand taels is already your limit, is it not?”

”Ha-ha, my Wang Family bids four million six hundred thousand taels. I don’t believe anyone can outbid this amount; if so, Wang Family will concede.”

Clearly, the alliance between Wang Family and Zhao Family could only come up with this price.

”Damn it,” Bai Family Master’s face turned extremely ugly.

Four million five hundred thousand taels were indeed Bai Family’s limit.

Just then, a triumphant voice sounded.

”So, Bai Family Master has stopped bidding? Then, I, Family Master Guu, will not hold back.”

”Wang Family, Zhao Family, you should also give up.”

”My bid is four million eight hundred thousand taels,” the voice of Guu Family Head resonated through the entire auction.

The faces of the Bai Family, Wang Family, and Zhao Family turned very unsightly.