"What's going on with you people? The next item was supposed to be our snuff bottle, how could it change just like that?"
"Does your auction house have any integrity at all? You must return our snuff bottle to its original order! Otherwise, this is not over!"
It was Min Ziqiong's parents.
Seeing that their snuff bottle was about to be auctioned, seeing that they were about to gather the ransom, they never expected that the organizers would temporarily change the order, causing the time to gather the ransom to be delayed by at least another hour!
And the thought of their good son suffering so much at the Shennong Sect during this hour made Min Ziqiong's mother unable to help but want to shed tears.
However, the organizers showed no reaction to Min Ziqiong's parents' protests.
They even withdrew their snuff bottle decisively without even looking at the two of them.
This scene made Min Ziqiong's mother's heart ache with anger, but she was helpless.
If she endured, at least the auction could continue after an hour;
If she didn't endure, the two of them would be asked to leave the venue immediately!
For the sake of her good son, Min Ziqiong's mother ultimately chose to endure.
At the same time, she took out all her anger on Ying Chen.
"It's all that dog that's relying on the power of its master! He's acting like a lackey next to a big shot and thinks he's superior, does he really think people flatter him because of him? It's all because of the owner of that villa!"
"Bah! If it weren't for the fact that I'd offend the villa owner, I would have stood up and exposed him long ago! Now look, even the Ma family and the Han family are fawning over him. He even dares to flirt with people from the Iron Hat Qu family! Pitiful and lamentable, we end up living worse than a dog!"
Min Ziqiong's mother said indignantly.
She mistakenly believed that Ying Chen was being doted on by everyone simply because the villa owner was backing him.
Even a dog has to be looked at by its owner; one had to admit that even a dog from a big shot's family was more noble than most people.
"Stop scolding, it's not good if people hear. Shi Boqiong's auction is about to start, and I'm actually very curious about how much this item will eventually sell for. Let's watch the auction!"
Min Ziqiong's father whispered to persuade.
"Hmph, coward! I'll scold him, what can he do to me?" Although Min Ziqiong's mother was tough-mouthed, she finally stopped slandering and focused her attention on the auction stage.
"Everyone, please welcome the highlight of our auction – Shi Boqiong!" The host shouted in high spirits, as if he had been injected with chicken blood.
And soon, a 14-sided cube in a bulletproof glass case was brought up.
Also on stage was a renowned expert in archaeology.
His name was on the appraisal list of this Shi Boqiong.
The expert took the microphone and first gave a string of nonsense, talking about the historical significance and value of Shi Boqiong.
Then, in his personal capacity, he guaranteed the authenticity of Shi Boqiong.
After that, amidst the impatience of the audience below, he announced that the bidding for Shi Boqiong had officially begun!
And as the ultimate treasure of this auction, there was no need for the host to stir up any extra atmosphere.
The audience below directly raised their bidding paddles.
"Ten million!"
The starting price of Shi Boqiong was raised to an eight-digit figure right from the start!
"Big-eyed Jiang, you think ten million can get you such a treasure? Are you looking down on yourself too much, or disrespecting the big shots present? I'm not talented, but I offer twenty million to entertain everyone!"
As soon as the price of ten million was called out, someone immediately doubled the price.
Although everyone knew that Ying Chen was determined to get this item, what if Ying Chen changed his mind?
Wouldn't they have gotten a bargain?
Besides, in an auction, the highest bidder wins.
Ying Chen might have the intention to get it, but without money, it would be useless!
With this mentality, everyone launched a fierce and anxious bidding war for Shi Boqiong.
And each bid was in units of tens of millions!
This made many people below tremble with fear, and the host on stage temporarily forgot his duty, just smiling foolishly as he listened to the numbers.
"One hundred million!"
Finally, someone pushed the price into the nine-digit range!
At this number, it could be said that ninety percent of the people present had been eliminated, leaving only a handful of big shots qualified to bid!
"One hundred million, the current bid for Shi Boqiong has reached one hundred million! Is anyone else bidding?"
"You must know that this is a plaything of the First Emperor! By bidding for this item and holding it in your hand, you will be traversing two thousand years of time to have a conversation with the First Emperor across the ages, and feel the spirit of the First Emperor unifying the world!"
"Most importantly, the Ancestral Dragon Qi of the First Emperor is still preserved on it! Who wouldn't want to have an extra trace of dragon qi, and it's the Ancestral Dragon Qi of the First Emperor! This is something that cannot be bought with even more money!"
It had to be said that this host did have some skills.
With a few casual words, he displayed his extraordinary ability to stir up emotions and entice people.
Several big shots who were about to give up below were suddenly moved!
Not for anything else, but for the trace of dragon qi that might be left on Shi Boqiong!
People of their status could hardly advance any further. It was basically at a point where human effort was impossible, and they could only seek solace and help from the ethereal gods and Buddhas.
This was why the more distinguished a person was, the more they believed in things like feng shui and metaphysics.
And dragon qi, especially the Ancestral Dragon Qi from the First Emperor, was undoubtedly the highest level in feng shui metaphysics!
They did not expect to become true dragons, but they would be satisfied if they could transform into a flood dragon with this trace of Ancestral Dragon Qi!
Compared to this, spending one or two hundred million yuan seemed insignificant.
"One hundred and thirty million!"
As expected, as the host's voice fell, a big shot immediately raised his bidding paddle.
And he directly increased the price by thirty million!
This figure made everyone present exclaim in admiration.
However, before the exclamation of the crowd had ended, another bid was heard.
"One hundred and fifty million!"
The crowd continued to marvel.
In a short period of time, the price of Shi Boqiong continued to rise, and in just a few minutes, it had approached the two hundred million mark!
Such a price instantly stunned many people.
Two hundred million, just to buy a collectible!
If it was truly sold at this price, it would probably be written into the history of auctions in the Dragon Country!
However, what no one expected was that the real climax had just begun!
"Two hundred and fifty million!"
A seemingly very low-key old man, with just one bid, announced such an astronomical price!
Wow!
The entire venue erupted in an uproar.
Everyone looked at the old man with shock and disbelief.
Only after someone explained the identity of the old man did everyone suddenly understand.
It turned out to be a big shot who lived overseas!
His assets were as high as tens of billions.
It was not surprising for such a person to spend hundreds of millions to bid for Shi Boqiong.
"Alas, where is that guy who is pursuing Qu Jianping? Why hasn't he made a move yet?"
Everyone suddenly remembered something and looked at Ying Chen.
At this moment, Ying Chen's eyes were slightly closed, as if he were detached from the world, immersed in his own world.
"Heh heh, in my opinion, this kid is scared! A bid of two hundred and fifty million, who wouldn't be scared? Others spend over two hundred million to at least get Shi Boqiong, while he spends over two hundred million and only gets a smile from a beauty. Anyone who isn't a fool knows this deal isn't worth it!"
"Tsk, I thought he was some hidden big shot when I saw him acting so confident and determined before. Turns out he's nothing special! And he still wants to pursue Qu Jianping? Forget it!"
Everyone mocked and sneered.
Beside them, Qu Jianping also frowned slightly.