"Sect Master Li Xuan, we have a mission to participate in the Nine Realms Auction. If we bid for the Mountain River Sheji Diagram, there won't be much left." Elder Geng Tian could no longer sit still upon seeing Li Xuan bid again.
Previously, the bidding for the Chen Wu Divine Needle had already cost eleven hundred million Taiyuan Crystals. If they were to win the Mountain River Sheji Diagram now, there would be very little left. As an elder of the Wood Pavilion, Elder Geng Tian could only offer his counsel.
Li Xuan smiled slightly upon hearing this, then his lips moved, clearly transmitting a message to Elder Geng Tian. Zhou Qingzi and the others saw this and did not intervene, as it was a matter for the Wood Pavilion.
A moment later, Elder Geng Tian's expression changed. After seeing Li Xuan nod in acknowledgment, he slowly nodded and sat down, a hint of surprise visible in his demeanor.
Zhou Qingzi and the others became curious. Li Xuan had managed to dissuade Elder Geng Tian with just a few words.
"Two billion one hundred ten million Taiyuan Crystals!"
At the same time, the crisp voice that had bid earlier spoke again. The crowd's curiosity was instantly drawn away.
"Two billion one hundred twenty million Taiyuan Crystals." Li Xuan showed no panic at the opponent's bid. He increased the price by another million Taiyuan Crystals and waited.
Li Xuan knew that this move would surely enrage the opponent, but their bottom line would soon be revealed under that anger.
"Two billion two hundred fifty million Taiyuan Crystals!"
Indeed!
As Li Xuan increased the bid by another million Taiyuan Crystals, the opponent was clearly unwilling to engage in this prolonged bidding war. At this moment, Li Xuan simply smiled slightly and continued, "Two billion two hundred fifty million one hundred thousand Taiyuan Crystals."
"Damn it!"
In a private room, a silhouette of a young woman smashed a teacup on the table as Li Xuan bid. Upon closer inspection, it was a young woman.
The young woman glared fiercely at the direction of Li Xuan's private room before bidding again, "Two billion three hundred million Taiyuan Crystals!"
"It seems I underestimated her." Li Xuan looked with surprise towards the direction of the private room and then said, "Two billion three hundred ten million Taiyuan Crystals."
"Two billion three hundred million..." The young woman, burning with anger, was about to bid without hesitation. However, before she could finish, an old man standing beside her quickly restrained her.
"Young Mistress, our objective for this trip is not the Mountain River Sheji Diagram. The current price is already too high. If we continue to be stubborn, I fear it will delay the important matters assigned by the Family Head. Young Mistress, please let go of the Mountain River Sheji Diagram. The Family Head's important matters cannot be delayed."
The old man spoke with great anxiety, and the four men standing behind him looked at the young woman helplessly.
The young woman paused upon hearing this, then her eyes shifted, and she nodded, "Alright, I'll give up on the Mountain River Sheji Diagram. But this person has been deliberately opposing me, and I absolutely cannot let him have it so easily."
"Young Mistress, this is an auction. Although that person is somewhat unscrupulous, he is still within the rules. Moreover, the power behind the Nine Realms Auction is not weak. We cannot act impulsively." The old man said helplessly, trying to persuade her.
The young woman nodded impatiently and quickly said, "Two billion five hundred million Taiyuan Crystals!"
With the young woman's bid, Jiang Wan'er, who was about to speak, stopped. After glancing at the young woman's private room, she then shifted her gaze to Li Xuan's private room. This bid had directly increased the price by nearly two hundred million Taiyuan Crystals.
It appeared she intended to make a final bid.
At this moment, Li Xuan, inside his private room, frowned slightly upon hearing the young woman's bid. Such a large increase was indeed surprising to Li Xuan.
However, this price was still within Li Xuan's acceptable range. After a moment of contemplation, Li Xuan spoke again, "Two billion five hundred ten million Taiyuan Crystals."
"See, he still bid! Hmph! Even if I can't buy it, I won't let this brat get it easily!" As Li Xuan bid, the young woman, who had been anxious moments ago, suddenly cheered. The old man beside her shook his head helplessly.
"Two billion five hundred ten million Taiyuan Crystals. Are there any other esteemed guests who wish to bid?" After Li Xuan's bid, no one from any of the private rooms continued to bid. Jiang Wan'er asked as before, but as before, no one responded.
"Since there are no further bids, I declare that the Mountain River Sheji Diagram belongs to Private Room Number Seven. Congratulations to our friend in Private Room Number Seven. It is rare to successfully win two consecutive auctions on our Nine Realms Island." After waiting for a few seconds, Jiang Wan'er announced the result.
Hearing Jiang Wan'er's announcement, Li Xuan's face showed no joy. He couldn't help but realize that the woman who had bid earlier had clearly set him up.
Although this price was within Li Xuan's acceptable range, being set up like this felt uncomfortable. After all, an extra nearly two hundred million Taiyuan Crystals, no matter how many Taiyuan Crystals Li Xuan had, he was unwilling to be a sucker.
Inside the private room, Zhou Qingzi and the others had also noticed this. Therefore, even when they heard Jiang Wan'er announce Li Xuan's successful bid, they did not offer their congratulations.
"Esteemed guests, the third item for auction is called the Taiyao Jinzhai. Although its level is only that of a Chaos Spirit Treasure, its power should not be underestimated. 'Unbreakable' is a fitting description for the Taiyao Jinzhai. I shall say no more."
"This item starts at one hundred million Taiyuan Crystals. Each bid must not be less than one million Taiyuan Crystals. Esteemed guests who are interested may now bid." Fortunately, Jiang Wan'er quickly moved on to the third treasure, drawing everyone's attention.
"Taiyao Jinzhai, this item is very suitable for our Gold Pavilion!" After listening to Jiang Wan'er's words and seeing the display, Zhou Qingzi exclaimed excitedly.
The Taiyao Jinzhai, filled with the aura of metal, was brilliant and clearly a divine weapon. For Zhou Qingzi, it was exactly the item needed for the Gold Pavilion's mission.
"One hundred fifty million Taiyuan Crystals!"
"One hundred sixty million Taiyuan Crystals!"
"..."
"Two hundred thirty-five million Taiyuan Crystals!"
As soon as Zhou Qingzi finished speaking, bids from various private rooms immediately erupted.
"Sect Master Zhou, this item is indeed very suitable for your Gold Pavilion. Considering the prices of the previous two items, the Taiyao Jinzhai should not exceed two billion Taiyuan Crystals. To complete the mission on the first day, I, Zhu Bing, offer my early congratulations, Sect Master Zhou." Zhu Bing said with a smile.
"Haha, I didn't expect it either. This is only the third item, so there's no reason to hesitate. This is just the beginning, and I believe the treasures everyone needs will appear soon." Zhou Qingzi nodded and smiled.
"One billion three hundred seventy-eight million Taiyuan Crystals!"
"One billion three hundred eighty million Taiyuan Crystals!"
"..."
"One billion four hundred five million Taiyuan Crystals!"
The bids continued to rise. Li Xuan glanced at Zhou Qingzi. Although he was determined to acquire the Taiyao Jinzhai, Zhou Qingzi showed no intention of bidding. However, Li Xuan knew that Zhou Qingzi would most likely win the bid for the Taiyao Jinzhai.
If Supreme Mulian Xin had given Li Xuan fifty billion Taiyuan Crystals to bid on wood-attribute items, then the other four pavilions were likely in the same situation.
At present, the price was a negligible threat to Zhou Qingzi. Furthermore, it should be remembered that the Taiyao Jinzhai was merely a Chaos Spirit Treasure, and its price would certainly not surpass that of the Mountain River Sheji Diagram.
As time passed and the bidding calls subsided, Zhou Qingzi exchanged a glance with Elder Jintian and then directly stated, "One billion six hundred million Taiyuan Crystals!"