Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 246: Three Million Gold for a Broken Relic

From the shadows of a private VIP room tucked into the upper tiers, a figure sat motionless, wrapped in a dark, hooded cloak.

Nie Fengzhuo’s presence was like a still pond—calm on the surface, yet hiding unseen depths.

Only the faint glint in his eyes betrayed the spark of interest ignited within him.

Below, an attendant carried out a small, ornate bracelet resting on a silk cushion.

Its surface was weathered, faint etchings barely visible under the dim lantern light, yet the air around it seemed to ripple subtly—as though unseen waves were emanating from it.

Lan Yuerong’s voice was clear, though tinged with deliberate reservation.

”This item, according to our appraisers, appears to be an ancient soul-nurturing artifact. While its exact grade cannot be confirmed, it is estimated to be around Earth-Grade in classification.”

Her words drew polite but unimpressed murmurs.

To most cultivators present, an artifact that strengthened the soul was niche—useful, perhaps, for Alchemists, Formation Masters, or those walking dangerous soul cultivation paths, but hardly something worth fighting over when Heaven- and Earth-Grade treasures awaited.

Not to mention that it looked almost worn out and possibly not in good shape.

Several clan heads glanced over it, their eyes already shifting toward the next potential bid, dismissing this as an item put after a good treasure to earn some money.

But in Nie Fengzhuo’s hooded shadow, his gaze locked onto the bracelet with unwavering intensity.

”Master, is this the artifact that can help you?”

Master Du Changsheng, he murmured silently in his mind.

”Yes! This is no ordinary trinket, boy. Its core is fractured, yes—but it was once part of a complete artifact that could temper a soul to withstand heavenly tribulation.”

Nie Fengzhuo’s lips curved faintly beneath the hood.

”Then it’s mine!”

The auctioneer, still smiling professionally despite the disinterest in the crowd, made the customary opening call:

”The starting bid will be set at fifty thousand gold. Do I hear—”

”One million gold!”

The words were calm, but they rolled across the hall like a stone dropped into still water, sending ripples through the crowd.

Heads turned sharply toward the VIP balconies.

One million gold—for something that might not even work?

Even Lan Yuerong’s brows arched slightly before she quickly masked it with a polite smile.

”Ah... one million gold from the esteemed guest in VIP Room Nine. Do we have another bid?”

A murmur of speculation spread through the audience.

Some scoffed, thinking the bidder was a fool.

Others frowned, realizing that if someone of that wealth wanted it so badly, perhaps there was more to the bracelet than met the eye.

But it could also be a trick from the Auction Hall to raise the price, so not many wanted to take the risk—especially when it involved one million gold.

From his VVIP room, Bai Zihan’s gaze flicked upward toward the source of the voice.

He couldn’t see through the shadows of the hooded figure, but he knew who would want this kind of artifact.

Apart from him, there was only one person he knew that would want something that could strengthen the soul.

Li Jianhong snorted audibly from his seat.

”To throw away gold like that... idiot,” he muttered, though his eyes lingered on the bracelet with a touch of doubt.

Nie Fengzhuo, however, leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping once on the armrest, waiting for his victory.

No immediate counter-offers came. The auctioneer’s voice rang out once more, this time with sharper enthusiasm.

Anyway, this price is already 20 times more than what they thought they would fetch, so they don’t have any problem giving it away.

”One million gold... twice! One million gold—”

”Two million!”

The voice was unhurried, deep, and unmistakable.

The auction hall froze. Dozens of heads swiveled toward the VVIP balcony belonging to the Bai Clan.

Even those who had been half-listening straightened in their seats.

Bai Zihan sat there in perfect composure, one hand resting lightly on the armrest, his gaze fixed lazily on the stage—as if the doubled price meant nothing to him.

Whispers erupted instantly.

”Two million? For that broken thing?”

”He has been quiet for the other powerful treasures but bid so high for such a broken item?”

”Has Young Master Bai gone mad?”

From behind the dark hood, Nie Fengzhuo’s eyes narrowed. His hand, halfway to lowering the bid paddle, paused midair.

He had deliberately set his first offer so high—one million gold—to scare away opportunists and prevent needless competition.

No one sane would have gone higher for something so worn out.

Yet Bai Zihan had not only challenged him... he had doubled the price without hesitation.

A faint muscle in his jaw twitched.

(Does he... know?)

Master Du Changsheng’s voice murmured in his mind, just as curious:

”Could it be this Bai Zihan recognizes the artifact’s true core?”

But then shook his head. There was no way that was possible considering that information about the artifact is unknown and he also only vaguely heard about it.

Nie Fengzhuo’s gaze darkened.

(Or perhaps... Bai Zihan had recognized me—and was deliberately making things difficult.)

This made much more sense than the first reason.

Still, no matter the reason, now he has to compete with Young Master Bai and he turns out to be quite a difficult opponent.

Directly raising the price to 2 million, double what he bid for.

On stage, Lan Yuerong’s smile brightened considerably, sensing the tension like a predator catching the scent of blood.

”Two million gold from the Bai Clan! Do we hear another?”

Inside the shadowed VIP room, Nie Fengzhuo’s fingers stilled on the armrest.

Two million!

It was already the limit of what he could muster, but for the sake of his master, he knew that he couldn’t be stingy.

What he has now is all thanks to his master.

”2 million and hundre—”

Before he could even finish the sentence...

”3 Million!”

Bai Zihan directly raised the price to 3 million, equivalent to the price of Earth-Grade Cultivation Technique.

Silence!

Bai Zihan has been quiet all this time but when he bid, it was like he didn’t even check his bank.

Even Li Jianhong who previously tried to mock Bai Zihan for being mock couldn’t help but be confused.

(Just what was that artifact?)

Is it really that valuable or is Bai Zihan just bidding on whim?

No one could figure out but everyone knew that none could possibly offer more than him for the worn out bracelet.

Nie Fengzhuo’s jaw almost fell off when Bai Zihan said 3 Million. He thought he could compete but that seemed to be out of reach for him.

Lan Yuerong’s honeyed voice floated across the auction hall.

”Three million gold, going once!”

”Three million gold... going twice—”

Nie Fengzhuo watched reluctantly as the item which could help his master slip away in front of his eyes.

(Should I just steal it?)

For his master, he was willing to do anything. But that was even more impossible.

Stealing from Bai Zihan? Who was he kidding?

Better focus on Dragon and Phoenix Competition and perhaps exchange this bracelet with some other treasure with Bai Zihan.

He believes that Bai Zihan didn’t know the artifact and just bidded on a whim.

”Three million gold—sold!”

The gavel struck, and the hall erupted in a wave of applause and murmurs.

Up in the VVIP balcony, Bai Zihan’s gaze remained on the stage, unreadable. Only the faintest curve at the corner of his lips betrayed his satisfaction.

In the shadows above, Nie Fengzhuo sat unmoving, the darkness around him seeming colder than before.

The bracelet was soon placed into a lacquered case and carried toward the Bai Clan’s VVIP room.

Bai Zihan didn’t even look at the servant as they presented it—he simply extended a hand, brushing his fingers across the weathered surface.

The faint ripples of energy pulsed like a distant heartbeat. Cold, yet strangely alive.

”Senior... what exactly is this thing?”

In the depths of his consciousness, the Immortal Emperor’s Soul stirred. A voice, ancient and resonant, flowed into his mind, tinged with faint amusement.

”This is indeed an ancient soul-nurturing artifact. Once, it was called the Mirror of Nine Reflections. In its complete form, it could temper a cultivator’s soul through nine cycles, each more perilous than the last.”

Bai Zihan’s eyes lowered slightly, the lamplight glinting off their depths.

”And now?”

”Now? Broken. A shadow of its former self. The core is fractured, its outer shell weathered. Still... even like this, it can nourish the soul, mend minor injuries, and sharpen spiritual sense over time.”

Bai Zihan’s fingers tapped lightly on the armrest. His tone was casual, but the question that followed carried an undercurrent of intent.

”Would it... help you recover?”

There was a brief silence within his mind, like an immortal pausing to weigh her words. Then—

”Yes! However, your Soul-Confining Artifact is better than this.”

Bai Zihan’s lips curved faintly. He closed the lacquered case and rested it beside him.

”Then, you can keep it! Anyways, it is better to have two Soul Nurturing Artifacts than one!”