Mad to the point of lawlessness!
A descendant of a true titan, no doubt about it.
Upon hearing Old Wan’s report, Tong Zhaolin smiled, a look of satisfaction on his face.
Youth is meant for recklessness; if a person in their twenties were as calm and reserved as someone in their thirties or forties, they’d likely have no future.
Yang Qian was arrogant, but Li Zhonglou was even more so!
He dared to teach him how to behave in front of so many people.
This piqued Tong Zhaolin’s interest greatly; he wanted to see just how Li Zhonglou would manage it.
“Old Wan, let him do whatever he wants. Don’t interfere,” Tong Zhaolin instructed Old Wan before returning to the monitoring room, observing every move at the auction via the large screen.
He specifically asked for the camera to focus on Li Zhonglou.
This time, he wasn’t questioning Li Zhonglou’s identity, but was genuinely captivated by this arrogant, overconfident Boss Li who acted as if he owned the world.
He simply wanted to see Yang Qian make a fool of himself.
It wasn’t just him; all the VIPs in the auction hall had abandoned their plans to bid on items.
They were all focused on the impending clash between the two.
This event today would serve as a great topic of conversation for a long time, and a source of amusement.
Yang Qian’s nostrils flared, his gaze filled with extreme malice.
His attempt to monopolize the auction had been ruthlessly crushed by Li Zhonglou.
Seeing the fourth item, an ancient painting, being brought out, he unhesitatingly placed a high bid. This time, Li Zhonglou couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge him, letting him bid into silence.
The auctioneer was visibly excited.
After so many years, this was his most profitable day.
Once this auction concluded, he would earn commissions that normally took him years to accumulate.
Yang Qian had already become a walking bank in his eyes.
Excitedly, he announced, “Young Master Yang has acquired this treasure!”
Yang Qian’s face darkened as he provocatively taunted, “You little punk, why don’t you dare to respond?”
“I see you’re all talk and no substance! Don’t tell me you’re broke, cowardly, or spineless?”
Li Zhonglou didn’t even turn his head, too lazy to engage.
Bai Jing asked softly, “Why aren’t you bidding against him anymore?”
“The time isn’t right, I’m waiting,” Li Zhonglou’s words held a hidden meaning.
Bai Jing didn’t quite understand. She was a complete amateur and couldn’t tell which items were good or bad, feeling they were all the same.
But Li Zhonglou had a clear understanding of the situation.
Items like these were ordinary and offered no room for engagement. It would be unwise to get caught in another bidding war.
Yang Qian wasn't foolish enough to give him a second opportunity to humiliate himself.
The only way was to find a special item to compete for, using his money wisely.
As for whether such an item would appear, Li Zhonglou couldn't guarantee it.
However, given that this auction might be Tong Zhaolin’s way of testing his discernment, there was likely to be a rare antique that wasn’t easily identifiable.
Of course, this was all speculation, and no one could confirm his hunch.
But the arrow was nocked, and there was no turning back.
Li Zhonglou could be quite hot-tempered at times, but at this moment, he was more composed than anyone else.
He was unhurried, letting Yang Qian’s taunts and sarcasm wash over him, as they couldn’t harm him in the slightest.
Items were brought onto the stage one after another. During this time, Li Zhonglou also placed bids sporadically, even deliberately making mistakes on two inexpensive items.
He acquired a Hetian jade pendant for 120,000 and a tourmaline necklace for 280,000.
During this period, Zhou Ya, the middle-aged man by Yang Qian’s side, returned with the diamond ring.
“I thought you little punks had some real skills, but it turns out it’s all just talk!” Yang Qian said triumphantly, believing Li Zhonglou had exhausted all his tricks.
He then showed off a four-carat diamond ring: “After the auction, I’ll let your woman choose between you and me.”
“What right do you have to compete with me!”
He was no longer his opponent.
As for the taunts about teaching him a lesson, they were just empty threats.
Slowly, he forgot about the losses he had previously suffered.
He was gradually regaining his pride.
Meanwhile, Li Zhonglou’s excessive restraint began to draw disdain from the audience.
“I was quite optimistic about that young man, but I never expected him to be so incapable. I really misjudged him…”
“Yang Qian still has the capability; not everyone can compare to him.”
“Young Master Yang is so handsome, spending money without hesitation. He’s truly the epitome of my ideal man!”
…
Many young men and women began to switch their allegiance, joining in to mock Li Zhonglou in support of Yang Qian.
Onlookers never tired of drama, but this quietness dissatisfied them.
The more Li Zhonglou remained silent, the more disappointed they became.
Conversely, he was being thoroughly put down.
Not only the guests present but also those in the control room were sighing.
The security guards considered Li Zhonglou to be all talk and no substance.
Only Tong Zhaolin’s eyes narrowed, and he remained silent.
He too couldn’t figure out what Li Zhonglou was doing. He had spoken so boldly and arrogantly, yet now there was no action, only passive acceptance of blows.
Was he holding back? Or was he waiting for an opportunity?
Even Bai Jing was getting anxious, a blush rising on her delicate face, not from shyness but from anger.
If they were anywhere else, she would have beaten that rich second-generation brat Yang Qian soundly.
She grumbled softly, “Aren’t you going to make a move? If he continues to play us like this, we might as well leave now!”
Her voice clearly carried a hint of resentment.
“Haste makes waste…” Li Zhonglou started to advise her.
Before he could finish, a small, dark, square object was brought out.
Upon seeing the object, Li Zhonglou’s eyes lit up, and his unfinished words turned into: “Sorry to keep you waiting, watch this!”
This small item, seemingly just a block, was shiny and black all over.
It was a flat rectangular shape, but in the center, there was an indentation. That recess was neither round nor square, but a peculiar, horned rhombus.
Everyone present looked confused, no one able to discern what this object was.
Only Li Zhonglou, despite appearing outwardly calm, had secretly clenched his fists.
A trace of sweat beaded on his palm.
It wasn’t nervousness, but excitement.
He was all too familiar with this item; he had searched for it day and night.
He had scoured every corner of Yong'an without success, believing it had vanished into thin air.
But unexpectedly, it appeared when he least expected it!
This object was precisely the "base" that he and his senior sister Lin Ying had been tirelessly searching for!
The base for holding the peerless treasure, "Shi Bo Qiong"!
Along with his excitement, Li Zhonglou felt a great sense of confusion.
How did this item travel from Yong'an to Zhonghai?
The院长 (Dean/Director) Aunt had said she gave it to Yan Bin, and Yan Bin died not long after, yet the item appeared in Zhonghai.
This was completely beyond his expectations.
No wonder he couldn’t find it in Yong'an.
As for the real reason, he believed Tong Zhaolin knew something, and he would have to skillfully extract information from him after the auction.
“Is… there anything special about it? It looks like metal, yet also like dirty wood,” Bai Jing tried to identify the base, her face full of confusion.
Let alone her, no one present, except Li Zhonglou, could understand it.
Even the auctioneer was spewing nonsense, introducing it as: “This is an accessory crafted from extraterrestrial meteorite, with a history of over a hundred million years. It is a rare specimen of a meteorite.”
“Starting bid, eight thousand!”
The auctioneer’s introduction wasn’t detailed, as it was completely unnecessary.
After all, this auction was merely Young Master Yang’s personal stage performance.
As expected, as soon as the words fell, Zhou Ya, standing beside Yang Qian, raised his hand high and called out, “Twenty thousand.”
He couldn’t understand this item himself, and any appraiser would be curious about something they couldn’t decipher.
He had accompanied Yang Qian to this auction with the intention of finding a bargain.
Yang Shao would definitely not like such an item, but he intended to acquire it.
“You like it? I’ll give it to you. Bid higher, bid much higher!” Yang Qian, seeing Zhou Ya voluntarily raise his hand, understood his intention and said triumphantly.
“Thank you, Young Master Yang,” Zhou Ya chuckled slyly.
Li Zhonglou heard their words clearly and calmly increased the bid to fifty thousand.
He knew that the more something was valued, the less one should rush.
But in terms of momentum, he had to appear aggressive, solidifying the impression in Yang Qian’s mind that he was merely bluffing.
He was determined to obtain this base.
He had to get it, no matter the cost.
There were no other options.
“One hundred thousand!” Zhou Ya immediately followed.
Li Zhonglou hesitated for several seconds, only slowly raising his paddle when prompted by the auctioneer: “One hundred and fifty thousand.”
“Two hundred thousand,” Zhou Ya replied without hesitation.
After all, Young Master Yang was the one paying, so he felt no heartache. Moreover, Young Master Yang’s battle with this fellow was ongoing; although he had the upper hand, he hadn’t completely crushed Li Zhonglou yet.
Therefore, he intended to use this meteorite accessory to completely humiliate Li Zhonglou.
Having said that, he turned to Li Zhonglou, revealing his gummy smile and sneering, “Kid, don’t blame me for not warning you. Picking this up won’t be a pleasant experience.”
He was bluffing, making Li Zhonglou think he didn’t care about the item.
This way, Li Zhonglou would surely try to calculate how high he should bid to be safe, lest he end up taking it like the previous two items.
In reality, he was also determined to acquire this item.
The two faced each other, sparks flying.
Li Zhonglou’s gaze was as deep as an abyss, neither happy nor sad, making him impossible to fathom.
Without any further words, he directly raised the bid: “Two hundred and fifty thousand.”
“Adding five thousand five thousand? What’s wrong, getting weaker? Are you even a man?” Yang Qian sneered, mocking him.
“Let me tell you the truth, my men are already outside Li Bao Zhai. I said today you won’t leave Li Bao Zhai.”
“Even if you surrender and beg for mercy now, it’s too late!”
“Unless, you publicly present your woman to me with clasped hands.”
This was naked humiliation, with no intention of sparing Li Zhonglou; instead, it was to crush him underfoot and grind his dignity to dust.
Bai Jing’s pretty face turned cold, and anger flared in her beautiful eyes. She was about to stand up and warn him.
But Li Zhonglou grabbed her hand: “Don’t fall into his trap; he’s trying to provoke us.”
Hearing this, Bai Jing realized she had lost her composure. She forcefully suppressed her anger and closed her eyes.
Li Zhonglou glanced at Yang Qian, his expression indifferent, then turned back without a word.
He chose to simply ignore him.
This attitude further infuriated Yang Qian, like a punch thrown with all his might hitting cotton, with nowhere to vent his strength.
Gritting his teeth in anger, he roared, “Old Wan, finish him for me!”
“Five hundred thousand!”
Instantly, the value of the base was pushed to an unbelievable level.
Both sides were determined to win, and it was a battle of who was more aggressive.